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Devotion Archive Feb. - July 2006
Commitment
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2 NIV).
Paul instructs the followers of Christ to, "offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God..." I once heard a preacher say that the problem with living sacrifices is that we keep crawling off of the altar. And that is so true. Many times we want to be involved with Christ (for the benefits He offers), but we really don't want to be committed. The reality is that with God, it's all about commitment...commitment to the Lord, commitment to the family He has blessed us with, commitment to His church, and a commitment to our neighbor. I am writing this in the morning at about the time when most people normally eat breakfast, so let me use an example that all of us can identify with. The difference between "involvement" and "commitment" is like having a breakfast of eggs and ham: the chicken was "involved" but the pig was "committed." The truth is that Jesus is committed to each of us, and He demonstrated this commitment through His life, death on the cross, and His resurrection.
One of the most practical helps for raising our level of commitment to the Lord is by simply following the directions of verse 2. Paul says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is..." God wants more than our weak and occasional involvement. He wants us to know and be committed to the proper path for our lives. And by committing our time, our thoughts, our resources, our lives to the pure and right things of God, He will strengthen our commitment to Him and allow us to see clearly "...His good, pleasing, and perfect will" for our lives.
Dr. Dale Talbert
I’m writing this after receiving a few days of R & R in the hill country. We love the hill country. Marcia’s grandfather lived in Wimberley for over 25 years and her family still has his home that sits on the Blanco River; so we are blessed to be able to head up there a few times a year and enjoy life at a much slower pace than the usual speed in the fast lane. This time, after our visit, we all headed down to San Antonio for a couple of days. We stayed at a wonderful place that has a “lazy river”. Have you ever floated down a lazy river? If you haven’t, you are missing out! This is truly “lazy” at its best! Once you get in the water that feels a little cool, you realize that it really is just the right temperature on a hot July, Texas day. I lost track of how many times I had floated around this lazy river because I enjoyed looking up into the blue sky, floating under big cedar and oak trees and leaving life behind. This is a wonderful way to enjoy your family as well! My girls love to float around the river with their daddy. Sarah likes to push her dad’s float so that we are going faster than everyone else. Another observation I made was that it didn’t matter what age you are; everyone did the lazy river at his or her own pace. Our five year old nephew, Andrew, likes to put his goggles on and swim around the river at lightning speed. We’ll be barely floating by on our tubes when around he comes quickly passing us by for the third time to our one time around! Then, there is us older folks (me included!) who never do get off of our tube. We just let the river take us where it will.
John 7:38 tells us, “If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from that person’s heart” (NCV). Have you ever thought about the fact that a river reaches places that its source never knows? A river is persistent, overcoming all barriers. Sometimes it’s steady and on course, but at other times it faces an obstacle. Yet, somehow, it always manages to work around the obstacle. Many times it comes out even broader and stronger than before.
John challenges us to let our rivers flow - our rivers of joy, our rivers of proclamation, and our rivers of commitment. It’s so important to remember where the flow begins . . . The source . . . Jesus Christ. Like the river, not knowing all the places it will reach, we, too, as Christians can touch lives that we don’t even realize. A smile on our face, commitment in our area of service to our church, and the evidence of our relationship with the Savior should all be flowing from our life which comes from The source . . . Jesus.
God has put a river in each of you. Don’t let the obstacles of life stop you from being persistent and becoming even mightier than ever. Share your joy! Channel that joy into serving Christ in our church as we lift our praise to Him every week!
Tom Tillman
Associate Pastor, Music & Worship
Who Packs Your Parachute?
(Including an excerpt from I’m No Hero by Charlie Plumb)
Have you ever heard a speaker that captivated the audience? As I sat in a darkened convention hall, one spotlight beamed on an eight by eight feet square. In that light stood former Navy Captain J. Charles Plumb. Captain Plumb flew 74 successful missions over North Vietnam before being shot down and held in captivity for six years. His story of survival is remarkable, but his question resonates in my mind to this day, “Who packs your parachute?”
I encourage you to read the following excerpt from Captain Plumb’s book, I’m No Hero, and ask yourself, “Who packs your parachute?”
Recently, I was sitting in a restaurant in Kansas City. A man about two tables away kept looking at me. I didn't recognize him. A few minutes into our meal he stood up and walked over to my table, looked down at me, pointed his finger in my face and said, "You're Captain Plumb."
I looked up and I said, "Yes sir, I'm Captain Plumb."
He said, "You flew jet fighters in Vietnam. You were on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down. You parachuted into enemy hands and spent six years as a prisoner of war."
I said, "How in the world did you know all that?"
He replied, "Because, I packed your parachute."
I was speechless. I staggered to my feet and held out a very grateful hand of thanks. This guy came up with just the proper words. He grabbed my hand, he pumped my arm and said, "I guess it worked."
"Yes sir, indeed it did", I said, "and I must tell you I've said a lot of prayers of thanks for your nimble fingers, but I never thought I'd have the opportunity to express my gratitude in person."
He said, "Were all the panels there?"
"Well sir, I must shoot straight with you," I said, "of the eighteen panels that were supposed to be in that parachute, I had fifteen good ones. Three were torn, but it wasn't your fault, it was mine. I jumped out of that jet fighter at a high rate of speed, close to the ground. That's what tore the panels in the chute. It wasn't the way you packed it."
"Let me ask you a question," I said, "do you keep track of all the parachutes you pack?"
"No" he responded, "it's enough gratification for me just to know that I've served."
I didn't get much sleep that night. I kept thinking about that man. I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform - a Dixie cup hat, a bib in the back and bell bottom trousers. I wondered how many times I might have passed him on board the Kitty Hawk. I wondered how many times I might have seen him and not even said "good morning", "how are you", or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor. How many hours did he spend on that long wooden table in the bowels of that ship weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of those chutes? I could have cared less...until one day my parachute came along and he packed it for me.
The apostle Paul reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all you heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” (Colossians 3:23) Whatever you do - whether you pack parachutes or jump from jets - remember whose you are and for whom you work. The God of all eternity is faithful to pack our parachutes, so when we take that leap of faith, we can jump confidently knowing our parachute is packed. No matter what you do in this life, you make a difference in the lives of others – be sure your parachute is packed and help pack other chutes along the way.
Brenda Shuttlesworth
Director of Church Ministries
Scorpions are a new part of my family’s life. Now that we live in the “country,” or should I say neighborhood with wildlife, we have new uninvited guests coming over. That is not normally a problem except these guests have long tails with a stinger on the end. I have seen scorpions before, even killed a few while working at a children’s camp in the hill country. However, I am not used to seeing them on my stove or having Brooke call out to me to come and kill the scorpion in her shower. Last night she had the second visitor try to join her as she cleaned up from her day of babysitting and going to an Astros game.
Well what is my point in all this babble about scorpions? The answer is REALITY! For most of my life I recognized that scorpions exist and that they have a stinger that would probably hurt but they never REALLY affected my life. Yes, they are there but so what. What is that to me? Then it happened. I was back by the dog pen picking up a fence post and as my hand slid down the hot post suddenly the post got much hotter. I knew the metal post was in the sun but I was surprised by the extreme burning sensation I received by grabbing it with my bare hand.
Ouch!!! I screamed and quickly dropped the hot fence post. But, to my surprise, with the post falling to the ground was one of our new found guests also dropping to the dirt. I quickly did my version of the Texas two step on my uninvited guest and ran briskly to the house for aid. Long story short, I survived and humbly tell you that it wasn’t as bad as my ego would like for you to think. Of course, that is because I didn’t have an allergic reaction to the sting and my finger didn’t fall off either. In fact, after 24 hours, I didn’t even feel the results of the sting and could only talk of my heroic adventure with the scorpion.
I wonder if our relationship with God is sometimes like my experience with scorpions. We know He exists and might have even “seen” His work a few times. But do we live as if He is REAL? Or do we go through life ignoring His presence until something happens in our life and the sting of it makes us recognize that God is present? I am not saying that God goes around stinging us. In fact I believe the exact opposite. I believe He seeks after us to love us and to lift us up. But often times we don’t view God as being really real and leave living our life up to us.
Would you and I live differently today if we REALLY believed that Jesus was in love with us and that He is REALLY the Son of God? In Luke 22:70-71 the religious leaders were holding Jesus on trial attempting to find a reason to crucify Him so they asked Jesus if He was the Son of God. His response was, “you are right in saying I am.”
Today, you and I can trust that Jesus is REAL and that He REALLY wants to be our Lord.
Mike Davis
When our granddaughter, Taylor Grace, comes over, we sometimes play a game with one of her dolls. She hides her doll under a blanket and then asks me where her baby went. When I say I don’t know where her baby went, she says, “Maybe she got your car keys, and went into the garage, and, and, and pressed that butt-ton, and, and, and the garage door came up, and, and, and then she got into your car, and, and, and, and, and drove to LUBYS. (That is how the game ends. Then we start over. We can play this game for hours.)
I have been reading a book by Florence Littauer entitled, Making the Blue Plate Special. In the book, Florence, along with her two daughters, Marita and Lauren, remind us of the significance of creating family legacies. A legacy can be anything that bonds families together and creates a bridge from the past, to the present, to the future. A legacy also carries with it “values” that a family has shared through several generations. You may look like your Uncle Bill or Aunt Betty, but a particular object passed down from one generation to the next can indicate the characteristics that helped form who you are. Legacies are filled with history.
One of the saddest moments of my life came over twenty years ago when I met with the children of a man who died without a church or pastor. I was asked to officiate his funeral. A few days later, I wrote this poem about that experience.
I met with them
In a small room with a big couch
At the funeral home down the way.
A pleasant meeting with strangers.
They appreciated that I would come
At such short notice.
“Tell me about your dad,” I asked
In reverential tones.
Silence. Silence.
“We should tell you the truth, I suppose,”
Confessed the oldest son. Then pausing said,
“We hardly knew him.”
“He was busy.
We left home and
Never found our way back.”
“Can you say some words and
Mark his grave with a
Stone?”
I said some words.
Not enough and too much.
Prayer by a grave. Then polite goodbyes.
A man lived and died.
He left a stone and
Silence. Silence.
Life does not have to end that way. It is never too late to build a legacy and leave a gift to those you love and who love you. And it can be as simple as a trip to LUBYS, imaginary or otherwise.
Pastor Walton
My family and I recently spent a glorious week in Branson, Missouri. If you haven’t been, I strongly recommend it! Amidst the majesty of God’s creation and more beautiful music than you can imagine, lies more craft malls than one can count. At one such shop, my husband purchased a gift for me…a mousetrap. Now, this was not just any mousetrap, but a trap with a message. The snare was cocked and ready to snap, but the inscription caught my eye, “To complain…push red button.” Obviously, the “red button” springs the trap and catches your finger. This funny little curio is a visual reminder to me of what a complaining bunch we are.
Of what do we have to complain? We are such a blessed country and a fortunate people, yet we complain about the least little thing. As I pondered the gift, I opened my Bible to Philippians 4:11-13. Here, Paul shares the secret of contentment. Throughout his life, Paul experienced some pretty rough times: hunger, cold, ship wreck, jail, beatings, you name it. No matter what the circumstances of life were, Paul was content. What was his secret? Scripture affirms that we can be content in the fact that God is our strength through every circumstance of life. Whether good or bad, plenty or want, health or sickness, God is God and He is in control.
Paul’s life was forever changed by a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Your life can be, too. During VBS one of our children shared with me how Jesus has transformed her life. She said, “Jesus picked me up, turned me around, and took me to a happy place!” Has Jesus picked you up and turned you around? If so, you’re in the happiest place of all. What we must remember is that God is faithful and we can do everything, regardless of the circumstances of life, through Christ, who is our strength.
Next time you want to complain, think about Paul and remember the mousetrap with a message. Then, you might think twice. Don’t get caught in the trap!
Brenda Shuttlesworth
Director of Church Ministries
On my 13th birthday my parents gave me a book of letters from different men who had been a part of watching me grow up. Of course when I opened the present and saw only a book I was upset because I had wanted a new Wilson A200 Baseball Glove. While at the moment I was frustrated with my gift, I now claim it as one of my most priceless possessions. There are letters in this book from men who I love and respect, and those who have since gone on to be with the Lord. Both of my grandfathers, my pastor who I had the privilege of knowing very well, and an Olympian who held the title of “The World’s Strongest Man” (Paul Anderson) all passed away within two years of me receiving this special book.
I’m telling you about this because there is one special letter in the book that I was reminded of just a couple of weeks ago as I wrote a letter to one of our graduates. My uncle who is another man, who I respect and admire, wrote me a letter that has stood out in my mind above all others. It was entitled “Your Moment of Magnificence.” I would like to share with you a portion of this letter to maybe challenge or encourage you.
Moment of Magnificence Every man faces this moment and may indeed face many. How he reacts will determine the quality of all his life. This is not to say that if you choose wrong you cannot lead a good and successful life but it is to say that once the moment has passed it will never come at the same level again. You will have no advance warning. This moment is different in all men’s lives. It may be a moral crisis; it may have to do with choices you make regarding friends. It will come after many small decisions have built the groundwork and developed a pattern in your life. But make no mistake it will come and you will choose. You have to be sure that you are prepared and the only way to prepare is to begin now living as if your next decision, your next moment, is the moment your life will turn upon.
Let me give you an example of a man who failed in his moment of magnificence. In Ohio there was a football coach who was at the top of his profession in wins and respect for many years. In addition he was a beloved man. His deeds of charity and thoughtfulness were legend among his community and state. He was a hard taskmaster but held the admiration of everyone who knew him and the good deeds of the field. However, he had a major character flaw – a temper that he did not learn to control. He had many years and many trials and chances to learn to control the temper but chose not to control his temper in little things.
One night in a major college bowl game, an opposing linebacker intercepted a pass that sealed defeat for this coach’s team. The coach in a moment of rage ran to the opposing player and hit him. Of course the coach had exhibited his temper before but in that moment before millions on TV he ruined an entire life of good deeds and respect. He was fired in disgrace and later died a beaten man.
Woody Hayes the much loved a respected coach of Ohio State failed in his moment of magnificence. The important thing to see is that he failed in that moment because – he did not spend his life preparing for his moment. He and everyone else knew that he had a violent temper and yet he did not prepare throughout his life on little issues by controlling his temper on small things. He failed the simple test because he was not prepared. He was given an office at the college and still spent his days doing the same types of good deeds as before, but his life was nothing compared to what it could have been had he responded correctly in his moment of magnificence.
Another man met his moment of magnificence in the Garden of Gethsemane after living a life preparing for the moment. When the moment came, he responded correctly because he had spent a lifetime in preparation. He simply made the decision the same way he had made all the ones leading up to the most important one. Remember the battle for Jesus was won in the Garden because that is where he made the decision. The cross was then the act, the culmination of that decision. The decision was of course “not my will but yours be done”.
I want to succeed when my moment or moments come. How about you? Let’s start today preparing for our moment!
Justin Holcomb
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff!
This past January 1, Marcia and I lost our brother-in-law to a very aggressive stomach cancer. He had found out about it only four months prior. This kind of makes one revaluate life in seeing what the big issues are and what really is not that big a deal at all. In thinking about that, I recently re-read a little book that sits on my shelf that I think everyone should read. It’s called, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff . . . and it’s all small stuff, by Dr. Richard Carlson. I like the book because of the title! I don’t think one has to go beyond the contents to digest the meat of this book. Each chapter title seems to be a sermon in itself. I selected my favorite chapters (there are 100!). Look at this great advice and see how you are doing or where you need improvement:
Develop Your Compassion
Don’t Interrupt Others or Finish Their Sentences
Do Something Nice for Someone Else – and Don’t Tell Anyone About it
Let Others Have the Glory
Let Others Be “Right” Most of the Time
Become More Patient
Be the First One to Act Loving or Reach Out
Ask Yourself the Question, “Will This Matter a Year From Now?”
Surrender to the Fact that Life Isn’t Fair
Allow Yourself to be Bored
Lower Your Tolerance to Stress
Repeat to Yourself, “Life Isn’t an Emergency”
Spend a Moment Every Day Thinking of Someone to Thank
Smile at Strangers, Look into Their Eyes, and say Hello
Set Aside Quiet Time, Every Day
Imagine the People in Your Life as Tiny Infants and as One-Hundred-Year-Old Adults
Seek First to Understand
Become a Better Listener
Choose Your Battles Wisely
Become Aware of Your Moods and Don’t Allow Yourself to be Fooled by the Low Ones
Life Is a Test. It is Only a Test
Practice Random Acts of Kindness
Choose Being Kind over Being Right
Tell Three People (Today) How Much You Love Them
Practice Humility
When in Doubt about Whose Turn it is to Take Out the Trash, Go Ahead and Take it Out
Spend a Moment, Every Day, Thinking of Someone to Love
Every Day, Tell at Least Person Something You Like, Admire, or Appreciate About Them
Remember that Everything Has God’s Fingerprints on It
Resist the Urge to Criticize
Write Down Your Five Most Stubborn Positions and See if You Can Soften Them
Just for Fun, Agree with Criticism Directed Toward You (Then Watch it Go Away)
Search for the Grain of Truth in Other Opinions
Breath Before You Speak
Become a Less Aggressive Driver
Relax
Read Articles and Books with Entirely Different Points of View from Your Own and
Try to Learn Something
Practice Ignoring Your Negative Thoughts
Be Happy Where You Are
Think of Your Problems as Potential Teachers
Lighten Up!
The Next Time You Find Yourself in an Argument, Rather than Defend Your Position,
See if You Can See the Other Point of View First
Live This Day as if It Were Your Last. It Might Be!
Matthew 6:34 says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”. Amen? So in other words, don’t sweat the small stuff! The verse before that tells us to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and that all these things will be given to you as well.” I challenge you to heed the advice from the Carlson book. Pick a few and start today.
Tom Tillman
Associate Pastor, Music & Worship
It’s very quiet around the Talbert home which is a little unusual. Two of our three children are gone for two weeks to Camp Ozark in Mount Ida, Arkansas. At this moment, the most interesting thing around our house is watching our five year old rearrange and redecorate her big sister’s room. Mallory is making the most of this opportunity by watching her sister’s TV, sleeping in her bed, listening to her iPod, and wearing some of her pajamas (by the way there is a big difference in their height). Mallory has decided it is fun to have the extra attention for a little while.
The most difficult thing for us as parents, regarding our children’s camping experience, is the amount of time that we must go without speaking to them. For two weeks our only form of communication with Madison and Brayden is letters sent through the mail. That’s right. No phone calls to or from home. So in their luggage we sent envelopes, stamps, plenty of paper, and pens. Then every night before we go to bed Kim and I get on the camp’s website and look for photographs the staff posts from the daily activities. The truth is that we are so eager to catch a glimpse of our children that we check it throughout the day.
Our eagerness to communicate with our children and to catch a glimpse of their faces got me to thinking about my relationship with the Lord. I have to ask myself from time to time, “How eager am I to communicate with God? Am I spending time with Him in prayer, not only talking but listening to Him? Am I eagerly seeking to catch a glimpse of Him in His Word and in the events of everyday life?”
God’s Word says, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13 NAS). Consider also Jesus’ Words when He said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matt. 5:6 NAS). Here we have an awesome truth because it is founded on an incredible promise made by God. Our Heavenly Father says that our part is to seek Him. His part is to make Himself known! If you and I will be eager to meet with Him and do so diligently, we will see Him as He wants to be seen. I have heard it said that, “In your life you will have just as much or little of God as you want.” The two key questions then become: 1) How much of God do we want in our lives? and 2) What are we going to do about it…TODAY?
Let me encourage you to spend time each day praying about those things God places on your heart and then listening for His direction. Look daily into His Word and eagerly seek to gain new glimpses of Him and His plan for your life.
Well I have to go now. It’s been a couple of hours since I checked the summer camp photo page, and I am just sure that if I look hard enough I’ll find some smiling Talbert kids.
Dale Talbert
Just when we thought the city elections were over a runoff gives us a few more weeks of campaign letters and advertisements. Why? Because none of the original candidates had a majority of the votes. Wow, I guess having a majority is quite important.
Have you thought about whether or not you are a part of a majority? I often feel as if I am by myself in the battle called life. Fighting for what I believe in or my perceived needs (wants). Screaming for my views to be heard. Begging for anyone to care about Mike. Truth be known, when I finally hear myself screaming and begging I soon realize that my selfish nature has taken me prisoner and I am walking the plank of “it’s all about me”.
So, after I nearly drown in self pity and barely escape from the ropes of selfishness tied around my wrists, I am reminded that my purpose is to be screaming and begging for God to be honored and known. But once again, am I all alone in this endeavor? What is the “majority” doing? I want to be a part of the “majority”. Isn’t that where all the influence is? Isn’t it in the majority that things get done, people listen and respond. What can I do? I am only one person.
Joshua 23:8-10 (The Message)
8 Hold tight to God, your God, just as you've done up to now.
9 God has driven out superpower nations before you. And up to now, no one has been able to stand up to you. 10
Think of it—one of you, single-handedly, putting a thousand on the run! Because God is God, your God. Because he fights for you, just as he promised you.
The vote just came in. Me + God = majority.
According to Joshua, God is God and that is enough for me to be able to move thousands. I’ll take that majority any day of the week.
The awesome thing is; it is available for me - and YOU - every day of the week.
Hold tight!
Mike
Christians Aren't Perfect
Charles Swindoll in his book, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, wrote about a bumper sticker he saw on the back of a car that passed him while he was doing about 65. It read, “Christians Are Not Perfect, Just Forgiven.” He saw the same sticker on a VW Bug that had a parking ticket under the wiper. He said he tried to imagine the police officer who checked the license number and saw that message – Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.
Swindoll knows that most non-believers don’t understand this truth. What’s more, many Christians do not understand it. It is easier to condemn Christians who have cracks in their lives than to try to understand that being a believer in Jesus is not the same as being perfect. Christians are instructed in the Bible to live our lives to honor Christ. We are also told we can seek God’s forgiveness when we fail.
I like Maya Angelou’s verse about what it means to be a Christian:
Christian
When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting “I’m clean livin.”
I’m whispering “I was lost,”
Now I’m found and forgiven.
When I say… “I am a Christian”
I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble
and need CHRIST to be my guide.
When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak
and need HIS strength to carry on.
When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed
and need God to clean my mess.
When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are far too visible
but, God believes I am worth it.
When I say… “I am a Christian”
I still feel the sting of pain,
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.
When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not holier than thou,
I’m just a simple sinner
Who received God’s good grace, somehow.
Maya Angelou
Isn’t it great that being a Christian is more about God than it is about us!
Dr. Charles Walton
Senior Pastor
Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head
Do you remember that old B.J. Thomas song: “Raindrops keep fallin’ on my head, they keep fallin’…but there’s one thing I know…” That one thing is God never changes. In a world filled with constant modifications and alternate transformations, our God is eternal. If we believe God and His Word are constant, then why do we fear change? I found the answer in the most unusual place: The DaVinci Code!
Do you ever stop and ask, “What’s the big deal with all this DaVinci Code hype?” I made my share of comments when the book came out and finally decided to read the novel, and I discovered it was a good read. Your typical murder mystery: a murder, a cover-up, a romance, and a case solved. A good story, but a story, nonetheless. What I did carry away from that book is a compelling quote, “…men go to far greater lengths to avoid what they fear than to obtain what they desire.”
How true that statement is! We seem to avoid anything that even smells of change, and change is what we often fear. In fact, one would think that change is a four-letter word! We like constancy and comfort, and change forces us to question. Change happens, for the good or for the bad, it happens and will continue to occur.
If we avoid change because we fear it, then what do we desire? Our desire should be to love God and love each other. His Word is eternal and always true, and His Word reminds us that God never changes. In Malachi 3:6 the prophet writes, “I the LORD do not change.” God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow! The storms of change rage through our world; and even though we can’t wait for the storms of life to blow over, we can learn to work in the rain. Raindrops keep fallin’ on my head, they keep fallin’…but, there’s just one thing I know: God is constant and His Word is reliable to guide us through every circumstance of life.
I love the wisdom of the late Dr. Fred Rogers, known the world over as Mr. Rogers: “In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.” God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason: we need to listen twice as much as we speak! Our God is big enough for the questions we have and His Word always guides us, so listen to Him.
If you read or see the DaVinci Code, remember: change happens. We humans tend to exert excess energy avoiding what we fear, and we do fear change. The reality is that change happens, but if we hold firm to the timeless truth of Scripture and trust in the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow, we can indeed learn to work in the rain!
Brenda Shuttlesworth
Director of Church Ministries
Behind the Scenes
Jesus said to the servant “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. John 2:7-9a
I have been reading and studying the book of John over the past few weeks and I must say, I have noticed a lot of new things. One of which has to do with this story of when Jesus turned the water into wine. A miracle had happened – but only a few people knew about it. Most of the people at the banquet continued eating and drinking without a clue that heaven had visited their party. Who knew? Only the servants.
As I looked at this passage and started applying it to my life, I began to see that this same thing happens again and again in our lives: Behind the scenes, God is actively at work accomplishing His purposes, changing hearts, and orchestrating circumstances, but most of us are clueless. Only the servants know.
I want to be one of the servants. I want to be one of those people Jesus comes to and says, “Do you have a few minutes? I want you to help me with this miracle.” Then, as He gives instructions, I simply do what He says and watch Him work.
My problem is that I find myself being too busy to even notice that my Heavenly Father wants to use me. Even deeper than that, though, is the fact that I find it difficult to put myself in the place of a servant. A servant doesn’t receive much praise, Heck, they’re hardly noticed. Why would anyone sign up to be a servant?
Well that’s me, and the attitude I recognize I need to avoid if I want to truly be used by my Lord. How about you? Are you a servant? God is looking for individuals who are willing to work behind the scenes, and then watch Him work miracles.
This week let's look behind the scenes and see what God is really up to.
Justin Holcomb
Student Minister
Step back, take a long look, how is my time spent? Is it worth it in the end?
A person once said, "when it is time for me to die, I want to know that that is all there is left for me to do." When your life is over, will you know without a doubt that your life was complete in the Lord? The question we must ask ourselves is what is truly important to us? Is our time well spent and is how our time spent what I want my children to realize is important to us? These questions I know as a parent, distract us each day.
Let's take a look at the book of Ecclesiastes and its writer Solomon. Solomon was incredibly wealthy and intelligent. He spent the majority of his time wanting more than he already had. He wanted more possessions and sought to gain even more achievements. Sound familiar? Solomon looked over his life realizing that he had had it all and had done it all, yet still felt empty. He continued to search desperately for what was missing in his life. Chapters 1 and 2 of Ecclesiastes share with us how Solomon tried to find satisfaction apart from God.
At the end of chapter 2, Solomon is made aware of the fact that all the time he had spent on pleasure and wealth were meaningless because no pleasure, wealth or enjoyment of these things can take place without God because they come directly from Him. Taking a long look at his life, Solomon came to the realization that most of his life was spent without Christ. These were the times that caused him to feel empty and unfufilled. The first verse of chapter 3 reads, "There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven." Solomon goes on to tell us that one should be happy and live life to the fullest, that this is God's gift to us. Don't get too excited just yet. Solomon reminds us that in order to enjoy God's gifts to the fullest, God must remain the center of our hearts. In chapter 3, verse 11 it says, "God had made everything beautiful for its own time, he has planted eternity in the human heart,". Christ must be our first breath of each day. Everything we do, say and of course our time must reflect who He is in our lives, especially in the eyes of our children.
Stop, be still, and know that all the time we are given, however short or long belongs to the Father. Oh, that's right; we don't know how much time we are given. Be cautious and use the time we are given wisely.
Kerri Edwards
Director of Childen's Ministries
According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, song birds
begin their dawn chorus of singing because when they wake there is not
enough light for them to feed; they focus on singing instead! Just as
songbirds begin their day singing in the dark, we need to learn to listen
to our Heavenly Father in our dark moments. In an age of Oprah, Dr. Phil
and the internet, we are faced with many opportunities to fix the problems
in our lives, rather than dig into God's Word for answers, or listen to
our Father in the stillness and quietness of the night.
Often, Satan throws darts our way and hopes to confuse and confound us in
our journeys. Kind of reminds me of an old story:
There was once a farmer who grew melons. He had a farm of perfect melons,
but one day someone else noticed his perfect melons and started stealing
the melons. The farmer didn't know what to do until one day he came up
with a brilliant plan. He would put a sign out in the middle of the
melons that said, "one of these melons is poison". He was so proud of
himself for coming up with such a clever plan. He made the sign, put in
the middle of the melon patch and realized that his plan was brilliant,
for the melon stealer stopped stealing the melons. Several days passed
and none of the melons were missing . . .. until one morning, the farmer
went out into the melon patch and saw another sign that he had not made.
He slowly walked up to the sign and read what it said . . . "Two of these
melons are poison!"
You see, the farmer tried to take things into his own hands but he was
dealing with someone much more shrewd than he! He had to destroy the
entire crop.
Satan is that shrewd character - always one-step ahead, trying to throw us
off track. Just remember, no matter the darkness you are in, no matter
the darts that the devil throws your way, claim this scripture:
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
Now that's worth getting up early to sing about!
Tom Tillman
Associate Pastor, Music & Worship
Author Calvin Miller, in his book, The Unfinished Soul, tells a story of a nice Baptist man who became a werewolf. The man was a woodsman who lived with his wife in a small cabin deep in the forest. He trapped wolves to make a living.
One night the steel jaws of one of his traps snapped on the leg of a wolf, or so it seemed. When the Baptist trapper arrived early the next morning after the sun was up, the wolf had turned back into a man. The trapped man begged for his life, but the woodsman decided to leave him in the trap until darkness fell. When the hapless creature turned back into a hairy wolf under the power of the full moon, the trapper could then kill him for his fur.
On his way home, however, the trapper was scratched by a strange thorn. By the time he reached his cabin, his wife noticed he was showing signs of wolfiness. The trapper was definitely becoming a werewolf, just like the unfortunate man he had left in his steel trap. Suddenly, he felt remorse. The Baptist woodsman rushed back to the trap and released the “werewolf” who had been begging for his life. He washed and bandaged the man’s wounds as he sought his forgiveness. The released werewolf explained how difficult life could be without a werewolf support group. His own group met at the nearby Lutheran Church. The Lutheran werewolf invited the Baptist werewolf to join the group. The new werewolf gladly accepted the invitation. He realized he probably could never go back to his own church where werewolves were usually skinned.
The point of Miller’s tale is that there is at least a little “wolfiness” in all of us. A church should be a place of healing. The story of Jesus is the story of God’s power to overcome any obstacle.
Easter is a reminder that no sin is greater than the grace and power of God. No one’s wolfiness will ever be greater than the power of the empty tomb.
Pastor Walton
As I write this, I am sitting in the hunting lodge of an “outfitter” near the Panhandle of Texas with my son Brayden. About a year ago he became convinced that we needed to try our skills at turkey hunting. For planning this kind of trip, I knew that I would need some help. So I contacted a family member, Cody, who has his own business as an outfitter and made the necessary arrangements to secure a date on the calendar. The day I told Brayden I had booked the trip was filled with “thank you Daddy” and multiple high fives.
Somewhere on our Creator’s calendar is a date when all of us must make a final trip. This trip, too, requires some planning and preparation as well. Two thousand years ago, Jesus gave up His life for all of us on a cruel cross. After three days in a tomb, He rose from the dead and ascended to the Father where He says, “I go to prepare a place for [my followers]” (John 14:2). It is safe to say that Jesus has taken care of the most difficult part of the preparation process.
In 1994, as a young man in my 20’s, I felt fear and had no sense of peace regarding eternity and my place in it. There came a day when I realized that I needed to prepare to meet my Creator. So on March 6th, as God’s Word was proclaimed, I decided to get prepared for the trip of a lifetime. On that day I thanked Jesus for His preparation and asked Him to be my Savior, or “outfitter,” for all of eternity.
Fast forward to the present. Brayden and I are prepared and counting the minutes until we leave the comforts of our outfitter’s hunting lodge to achieve the purpose for which we came. Maybe turkey hunting, or any type of hunting trip, is not for you. But one trip is a requirement for all of us. Someday we will all stand before our Creator (see Rom. 14:10-12). Jesus has already made the necessary preparations to “outfit” each of us for life. Your part is to simply call on the Outfitter (Rom. 10:13).
As you consider your part of the preparation process, let me encourage you to do one or more of the following:
- Accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord today. (see “The Answer” at fbcconroe.org)
- Remember when you became a Christ follower and let this day be filled with “thank You Jesus.”
- Help someone else prepare by praying for them and telling them about Jesus.
Dale
I am parked on one of the highest observation points in Burnet County. This rest stop and picnic area is located inside Longhorn State Park, site of Longhorn Caverns, on Park Road 4. Below me, as far as I can see for fifty miles, is the grandeur of the Texas Hill Country. In the nearer distance is Packsaddle Mountain and below it, Lake LBJ. This is part of the Highland Lakes area of Texas. The view is majestically beautiful.
More immediately below this point, as I look southwest, is a hundred acres or so of newly turned farmland. Most of this area is covered in Mesquite, Cedar, and Prickly Pear cactus, so a cleared spot this large is rare. The muted brown color of freshly plowed earth contrasts with the pale green pastures and Mesquite thickets surrounding it.
To my right the valley deepens to form Inks Lake, also part of the Texas Highland Lakes. A Cooper’s hawk makes a circle or two overhead before disappearing behind a line of Cedar trees and down into a nearby ravine.
Closer is a stand of Yucca cactus, their tops overflowing with large, off-white blooms that cascade down into the center of the plants. At the base of these cactus plants begins a blanket of gorgeous spring wildflowers. Texas bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, Indian blanket, and occasional splotches of red poppies stretch for a hundred yards.
The outside temperature is a little less than sixty degrees and a steady breeze chases me back to the car for my jacket. The afternoon sky is dappled with clouds and every few minutes the sun disappears, changing the bright colors below into a pallet of pastels. The familiar haze on these hills waxes and wanes so that the scene is continually changing as the view attempts to etch itself into my mind.
Several miles away, I watch a rancher’s tiny pickup truck meander along a dusty road. Just west the newly plowed field I mentioned earlier, a herd of Black Angus cattle grazes on fresh March grass. The pickup stops at a gate and the cattle come running. The rancher brings protein pellets or some other feed with him so often that the cattle associate the rattling of his old truck with food. This is pure Texas.
The clouds suddenly thicken and the winds deepen the early evening chill. Shafts of golden sunlight pierce the sky at an angle of west to east. A park ranger drives up with a friendly wave and pauses to ask if I am okay. I tell him I am more than okay, I am inspired by this amazing view. He says, “Yes sir. Sometimes I come up here just to thank God. I can see Him better up here. This gives you a different perspective, doesn’t it?” I don’t answer out loud but my mind is saying amen.
Remember that Cooper’s hawk I told you about? He’s back. The wind’s constancy allows the hawk to soar with easy effort. For a moment he was floating barely thirty feet above my head. What must it be like to have the hawk’s perspective?
For two hours or more today I found a place to say thank you to God. I needed these hours. They refreshed my soul.
I need an occasional mountaintop. We all do. No matter how difficult things are in our lives, we need to find a way to thank God for his blessings. And if you can’t see your blessings, get up on a mountaintop. Gratitude is a matter of perspective. God owns it all and it is all yours.
Pastor Walton
Have you ever heard the old saying, “She doesn’t have the sense God gave a goose?” My daddy seems to think that geese are pretty silly and that we humans tend to imitate these honking creatures. When I hear such an axiom, I pause to ponder whether or not I have the sense of a goose. Do you have the sense of a goose?
In order to answer that question, we need to know a few things. First of all, why do geese fly in “V” formation and what happens when the lead goose gets tired? Do all the geese take a break, do they scatter to the four corners of the wind, or does another goose become leader?
Science has made some magnificent discoveries about geese: they do indeed flap their wings and fly in “V” formation. That’s not earth-shattering news, but do you know why they do what they do? In answering the “why” we see the complexity of geese.
The next time you see Geese heading South for the Winter, flying along in V formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way: as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in V formation the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are.
When the Head Goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs with people or with geese flying South.
Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. What do we say when we “honk” from behind? Are we discouraging the gaggle or encouraging the flock?
Finally, and this is important, when a goose gets sick or is wounded and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly, or until it dies. Only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that!
The prophet Isaiah wrote, "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those that hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
If we have the sense of a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are. People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another. If we slow down or seem to loose our way, our leader needs to give us a gentle nudge and encouraging word. When the task seems to difficult, remember: It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs. Then we will soar on wings like eagles. We will run and not grow weary. We will walk and not be faint.
Do you have the sense of a goose? I sure hope so!
Brenda Shuttlesworth
Director of Church Ministries
Opportunities are Everywhere
God can use us in amazing ways. Many times though, we don’t see it coming. A few years ago I had the opportunity to share at a summer camp on a college campus. After the service, I went backstage to help counsel students who had responded to the invitation. But I stopped by the restroom on the way. As I entered the bathroom, a seventh grade guy followed me in. After a few awkward pleasantries, he said, “I’ve never been saved before.” He told me this in the bathroom! After we walked out of the restroom (we washed our hands of course) I had the privilege of introducing him to Christ.
Opportunities to serve and share Christ are everywhere. The trick is learning to see them. Once we realize that we can literally serve Christ 24/7, things get interesting. During our Sunday Small Group time, we have been studying the church and how it began. One of the most influential men in the life of the church was Paul. In Acts 28, we find out that Paul was going to find himself in jail for a long time. For some people, this would have been a huge letdown. But for Paul? No problem. He didn’t allow pesky details like imprisonment keep him from faithfully sharing the gospel every day.
This week let’s try and follow Paul’s lead. Together, let’s look for ways to take advantage of every opportunity we find, to serve Christ.
Justin Holcomb
Student Pastor
Have you ever eaten at a cafeteria? In this part of Texas, a popular cafeteria is Luby’s. Luby’s has an assortment of meats, vegetables, salads, breads, and desserts. There are potentially dozens of choices to make as you push your tray along the food line.
A lady in front of me the other day got a small salad, a cup of soup, a small serving of meat, green beans, cornbread, and iced tea. I put a heartier meal on my own tray. She probably did not appreciate me staring at her food, but I thought she was very disciplined considering what I had managed to pile up.
Even though our food choices were completely different (I had liver and onions) we shared something in common. We both reached the end of the line with what we had put on our own trays.
The trouble with cafeterias is that there is no one to blame but ourselves for what ends up on our tray. At a cafeteria, if it’s on your tray, you did it!
Have you noticed how much life is like a cafeteria line? Every day we make choices. We choose to put things on our tray – or not. Each day we decide what we allow to influence us, how we will respond to others, what our attitude will be. Every day we say yes to some things and no to others.
Someone said it like this: “Sooner or later we all sit down to a banquet of consequences.”
If you are piling up the wrong things, remember that you are in charge of your own tray. Take control of your choices. When you get to the end of the line and you don’t like what the cashier is ringing up, there won’t be anyone to blame but yourself.
Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That includes what ends up on your tray.
He Will Quiet You With His Love
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
We all need Him to quiet us with His love, don’t you think? When you got up this morning, did you think of what you could do for His Kingdom or did you start worrying about all the activities you had to complete before the sun went down? You may need Him to quiet you with His love.
If you have been gossiping to someone, you need Him to quiet you with His love. When you are in your darkest moment, in grief, or dealing with something deeply personal, know that He can quiet you with His love.
The blessing of letting our God quiet us with His love, is that his love for us is new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). That’s worth waking up for every day! We all need to spend more quality time in worship with our Father every day. Make it a huge priority!
Did you watch the Olympics? We have watched practically non-stop since the games began. I’m still trying to figure out that Curling thing! No matter what the sport, these Olympians have shown courage, dedication and strength. Can you imagine what kind of showing our Olympians would have if they only practiced once a week? It’s not really any different regarding our walk with the Lord. He longs to spend time with us every day to help and strengthen us for the road ahead.
If we do that, we won’t have time to gossip. We won’t be thinking negative thoughts or tearing others down. Our “busyness” will be more focused on Him. If we fix our eyes on Jesus, He will work in our hearts and we will be much more dedicated to following Him rather than preoccupied with other concerns.
So the next time you hear someone engage in gossip or negativism, tell them you’re not concerned about those issues because you have enough of your own!
Besides. . . keeping our eyes on Jesus is a full time job! Let Him quiet you with his love today.
Tom Tillman
Associate Pastor, Music & Worship
Do you know your ABC’s? Okay, then join me in singing the ABC song…are you ready? Here we go; A B C D E F G…H I J K LMNOP…Q R S…T U V…W X…Y and Z now I know my ABC’s won’t you sing along with me.
Very good! I think that is the best I’ve sounded in years. I’ve been thinking how silly it would be for those of us that know our ABC’s to stop there and not take the next step. To just let the alphabet be known but not used for the purpose it was created. To let the power of the spoken and written language to sit idle and unused. To have the knowledge of the alphabet yet not participate in the goodness of it.
Do you believe God is really the creator of this universe? Did God send Jesus to be our savior? Did God really raise His Son from the dead?
Did you answer yes? Be careful…that means you want more than just the ABC’s. That means you believe in the awesome power of our God. Check out what Paul says to believers in Ephesians 1:18 – 20
18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead…
Wow! That is Power with a capital “P”. That’s enough strength to transform us into a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!).
Do we really believe that God has given us that much power in our lives? If so, it’s time to take the next step and allow God to transform us in a way that can only take place through His power, His strength. I’m going to guess He can handle that. In fact, my guess is that He is waiting for us to let His power loose in our lives in order to see real transformation take place.
Or we could know about His strength and power in our lives as believers and sit idle and be unused. We wouldn’t (and don’t) do that with the ABC’s, why would we with the power of God. Let God sing a new song of transformation in your life this week. Take the step and tell me next Sunday how God moved in a powerful, mighty way.
Mike Davis
A Penny for Your Thoughts
Do you remember the expression, “A penny for your thoughts”? It has been a while since I have heard anyone say those words. Why is that? Maybe it is because a penny is not as valuable as it once was, or it might be that we are afraid of sharing our thoughts so we don’t ask others. No matter the reason, our thoughts truly are valuable and hopefully worthy of sharing.
Paul, in a letter to the church in Corinth wrote, “Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now!” (2 Cor. 5:16b NLT). Before his conversion Paul had faulty thoughts about Jesus Christ. Saul, as he was previously known, was a tremendous threat to anyone living for and proclaiming Christ. His destructive actions were the evidence of faulty thoughts.
Then one day on the road to Damascus, God changed Paul’s way of thinking. Acts 9:20 lets us know that Paul’s new way of thinking led him to immediately begin proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God.
Personal Reflection:
“How did my life change after meeting the Savior?”
In his letter to the Christians in Rome, and believers everywhere, Paul wrote “…let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Rom. 12:2b NLT). How, practically, is this to be experienced in our lives? Paul says it is by “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5b NAS). Daily we must intentionally choose to focus our thoughts on God. Time given each day to the Word of God, prayer, and Christian friends can do a lot to keep misguided thoughts from creeping in and shaping our actions.
Personal Reflection:
“Have my thoughts about Jesus continued to develop resulting in a greater realization of my purpose in life?”
Romans 8:5 (NLT) says “those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” Early in my Christian walk I heard the following statement: “Sew a thought, reap a habit. Sew a habit, reap a character. Sew a character, reap a destiny.”
So how ‘bout it? A penny for your thoughts. God’s Word lets us know that our thoughts are worth much more than a penny or any monetary value can purchase. In fact those thoughts, shaped by God’s Spirit, can impact eternity and build a Kingdom.
Dale
Last week I received an email from a friend. I pray it pierces your heart as it did mine.
Isn't it strange how a 20 dollar bill
seems like such a large
amount when
you donate it to church, but
such a small amount
when you go shopping?
Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when
you're at church, and how
short they seem when you're
watching a good movie?
Isn't it strange that you can't
find a word to say when
you're praying,
but you have no trouble
thinking what to talk about
with a friend?
Isn't it strange how difficult
and boring it is to read
one chapter
of the Bible, but how easy
it is to read 100 pages of
a popular novel or ZANE GREY book?
Isn't it strange how everyone
wants front-row-tickets
to concerts or
games, but they do whatever
is possible to sit at the last
row in Church?
Isn't it strange how we need to
know about an event for
Church 2-3
weeks before the day so we can
include it in our agenda, but we can
adjust it for other events in
the last minute?
Isn't it strange how difficult it
is to learn a fact about God to share it
with others, but how easy
it is to learn, understand,
extend and repeat gossip?
Isn't it strange how we
believe everything
that magazines and newspapers
say, but we question the words in the
Bible?
Isn't it strange how everyone
wants a place in
heaven, but they don't want
to believe, do, or say anything
to get there?
(Author unknown)
In Revelation 1:3 it says, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it, for the time is near.” My prayer is that as a parent I will be obedient in keeping Christ first in the lives of my children and teaching them about Him as I wake, walk, talk and sleep. My desire is for my children to see Jesus in me every day, in every decision, in my attitude and in how I respond to others. I must admit it is a monumental task, yet a task that means Life or death for my children. I do not know the moment or the hour Christ will return for us, therefore I must not rest until my children know and accept Christ as their very own. No sports event, music lesson, or school program can take precedence over this one crucial task. It isn’t strange, it is Life or death.
Kerri Edwards
15 truck loads of dirt, 20 pallets of grass, 10 healthy teenagers, one sore preacher and voila, a lumpy carpet of green now surrounds our new home. I never dreamed it would be so much work to make a new residence look like a new home. Now all I have to do is tug my super duper tripod sprinkler around the front and back to make certain our new investment grows. And you all know what that means. If it does grow, then I get the pleasure of mowing this new carpet of grass.
The recent rains have been a blessing as the watering chore is lessened by the “free” stuff from heaven. That part of the growing process is easy, as God does the watering I stand watching and waiting for the evidence of life. I hope as I view each small section of sod for the patchwork of colors to soon become one congruent shade of summer green.
What about our growth? Jesus is concerned about OUR growth. (I'm not sure what He thinks of my grass!) He wants us to become more like Him. When man was created in God's image that, at least in part, meant we would grow more like the Father as we matured.
Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3: 1 -18 , "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..." (vs. 18a) Some "greening up" and growth should be taking place in our lives.
But, it takes some hard work and maybe an occasional tug to get us motivated. If your life were a yard of grass, would it be green and growing? Would the lawn mower be tested by your rapid growth and healthy blades of grass? I am sure I am not the only person outside working on my yard hoping it will at least show some sort of life. Will you give your spiritual growth some attention as well? Are you finding a source of living water and Son to help give you what it takes to be spiritually healthy and vibrant? I hope so and maybe the growth we experience together will be so healthy that our neighborhood will give us the yard of the month sign.
Growing together,
Mike Davis
Associate Pastor, Connection Ministries
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