Live life together

God has blessed us all with many things that we often take for granted. One such thing(s) is friends and church family. Take a moment and think about the people God has placed in your life that have been there when you needed a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear to speak to. Probably more than one person came to your mind. Perhaps it was a close friend or family member. Or maybe it was someone from your church that came along to support and lift you up.

Isn’t that something we should strive to do as a church? Here is some scripture that should inspire us to put forth a more conscience effort to help our Christian brothers and sisters:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
 9 Two are better than one,
   because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
   one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
   and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
   But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
   two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Over a year ago there was a father and husband that went through an unbelievable struggle regarding his health. At times it seemed all hope may be lost. But his brothers and sisters in Christ rallied around him and supported him and his family like nothing I had ever seen. By the grace of God he pulled through and is a walking testimony of God’s wondrous power.

Now a year after his ordeal he is an inspiration to others in our church and community. Recently there was a circumstance that arose with a church family regarding the health of a very special friend. This young man began interceding for the family and supported them as he was supported – setting aside his own schedule and spending time with them to encourage and speak of God’s provision.

I pray we can all learn from this example. As a church body we should be looking for opportunities to support those around us. Do we want to be the one that stands by while our church friends and family suffer.

Can you think of someone in your church, community, school, family or work environment that may be struggling? Are you going to stand by, or are you going to use your experiences and testimony to lift them up in their time of need.

Send a Facebook message, text, call them or stop by. Then be amazed at how much your support will encourage them. God has placed us in each other’s lives for a reason. So let’s live life together!

Counting your blessings

When considering what it is God wants us to do, too often we find ourselves looking for “greener grass”. If we lose our focus it is easy to go from searching for God’s will to looking for a better life. We wake up one day and our car is out of style, or the TV is not big enough anymore, or our new phone is already out of date. And so it begins, the cycle of always wanting more.

I speak from experience.

After having difficulties and questioning if it was from God, I began to look for something new. Surely this struggling situation was not God’s plan. I felt I had to look for something new and better. This became my obsession. God had to open a new door and lead me to “greener pastures”, because life was just too hard. My focus became finding something better, instead of finding the One who could make me better.

Through this situation God taught me the importance of being content. I am constantly working on being satisfied with what God has already done for me and my family. Everyday when I come home from work and see the family waiting with smiles and hugs I am reminded of how many blessing I already have. Recently, God has blessed us even more with the news of our third child on the way. Just another reminder that God is in control and will orchestrate His will…in His time.

Take a moment to reflect and notice the small things God has done. These reminders can reassure you that God will see you through difficult times. Please know it is not the car you drive, the phone you use or the newness of your electronics that determine your worth in God’s eyes. If those things become your focus then you will become easily overwhelmed and distracted.

When you begin to feel overwhelmed, or that your life is missing something, or question if you are in God’s will, just count your blessings and be content where God has you…which is right where He wants you.

At the intersection

Sitting at an intersection last Saturday, my wife asked if we could go visit some friends. We had already been out all day and I was getting tired. She even said how tired and sore she was, but she so badly wanted to see these wonderful people that we had not visited in about six months.

To be honest, getting home and putting my feet up was the only thing on my mind. But something on the inside urged me to go straight so we could reunite with and spend some time with our friends. Instead of turning right to go home, we made our way straight through the intersection and headed toward their home. What a good time we had. We laugh. We loved. We encouraged…and we were encouraged.

The “intersection” is often used in religious and motivational circles as a way to illustrate decisions we face. The truth in this illustration is simple. Everyday we face decisions and have to choose which direction to go. From which job to take, to which church to attend, all of us go through “intersections” every day of our lives.

Maybe you are at a stop sign as you read this. Perhaps you are not sure whether or not to go straight, or turn left or right. It is easy for us to look at the different options and decide what we may think is best for us. But that is not enough for most decisions we face. We need to search for God’s will and listen to that “urge” we hear on the inside. The Bible tells us in Proverbs that if we seek God, He will direct our paths. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves to simply take a moment, slowdown and see what God would like us to do…at the intersection.

It is not about you

My little girl turned 6 yesterday. Hard to believe how fast times flies. We had a great time celebrating, eating cake, opening gifts and spending time together. But one thing stuck with me more than anything else. While watching the evening movie (birthday tradition) the birthday girl quickly shouted “wait”. She became full of excitement and ran to her school desk. Little did I know what she was up to.

My Princess returned to the living room with her hands behind her back and exclaimed “I have something for everybody!” She started with her brother and proceeded to give all of us a card – more specifically a Valentine’s card that she made for each one of us. Her plan was to give them out on Valentine’s Day, but she forgot, so she interrupted her Birthday to give some smiles, laughs and hugs to the rest of us.

How many of us would be willing to interrupt our daily routine to bring love to someone else. We are too often so self absorbed that we cant see past the end of our own nose. But we need to remember life is not about “me”. Life is about using your God given talent to share His love and joy with others.

I challenge you to take time out of your daily routines to be “interrupted”. Allow God to minister through you to those He brings into your life. It is okay to set aside your agenda and your plans to touch someone else. Just as my daughter “paused” her life for just a moment to brighten the spirits of those around her, you can do the same thing for those around you that may be in need.

How many interruptions can you find today?

Get to know God today

Have you ever been walking through the mall or a large department store with your spouse or kids and been separated from them without notice? How do you find them? You certainly would call there name and listen for their voice. Their voice is like a beacon leading you back to them. But how do you recognize their voice in the midst of the noise and excitement in a large setting like a mall or department store?

To answer that question it is important to understand the basic concept that grounds any relationship – communication. The reason you can recognize your spouse’s voice over several isles in the grocery store is because you know them. You have spent time with them and developed a relationship. Communication with your spouse has enabled you to recognize their voice, even if you can not see their face.

In Matthew chapter 7 Jesus tells of the importance of knowing Him. Knowing Jesus as your personal Savior is so much more than going to church, working in a Sunday School class and volunteering your time. In order to truly know Jesus, you have to build a relationship with Him by spending time with Him. Communicate with Jesus on a regular basis and you will be able to recognize His voice, even you can not see His face.

Do you recognize Jesus’ voice? If not or if you are unsure, take a few moments to ask Him to come into your heart and get to know Him. He wants to have a relationship with you. I challenge you to deepen your communication with God. Get to know Him in a personal manner, and listen to Him call your name.

Cleaning up the house

The last few days my wife and I have been re-arranging the house. No room has been safe or left unturned – from bedroom, dining room to school room and a newly created play room. The layout of our house has been the same since we moved in over 4 years ago, with only minor tweaks here and there. But we wanted change and felt the urge to clean up and rearrange.

Funny thing about cleaning and moving furniture is that dust and dirt collect under and behind stagnate items. Especially after four years worth of stagnation. It did not matter how clean our house was, those hidden areas always present challenges when they have not been cleaned in a while.

In praying today I was reminded that keeping our spiritual life “clean” is very similar. We need to take time to examine those secret and hidden areas that no ones else sees to insure we are pure before the Lord. If we neglect to do so, then dust and dirt can build up. This can come in the form of bitterness, complacency and loss of focus on God’s plan for your life.

Be challenged today to examine yourself and see what is gathering in those hidden areas of your life. If needed, ask God to help you clean the dust and dirt away today. Just like my wife and I discovered new ways to use the space we had (create a play room for the kids), perhaps God has new ways to use you for His purpose if you take time to “clean up.” Do not let you life become stagnate!

Sometimes a laugh is needed…even in the ER

Have you ever just been so frustrated that it makes you laugh at yourself or the circumstance? Sometimes we just need to take a step back and look over our situations, which are often not as serious as we think. There will always be trials we face, but try to add some humor when possible.

We all know that sharing your story can help you relate to others. So let me share a somewhat funny story from a hospital experience I had. You can read it HERE.

Have any unusual stories that may spread some laughter? Share them below in the comments section. We all can use a laugh!