As I share in fellowship with other Christ followers, the conversation of favorite verses often comes up. What I like to do is think bigger, and ask what is your favorite book in the bible? For me it is James, as I find myself ministering to others, I am constantly pulling from the book of James. James is noted as being a servant of God. I would hope that someday, people may say that about me. James covers a multitude of what I would call “life issues” trials, temptations, obedience, jealousy, faith, good deeds, gossip, envy, wisdom, submission, humility, wealth, suffering, patience, perseverance, and prayer.
James concludes his writing with a prayer of the faithful, James 5:20 – Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
James is one of the books, which I highly encourage people dealing with almost any issue to read. James is broken down into 5 chapters, I recommend a chapter a day for a week. Like a doctor prescribes medicine, I prescribe the book of James. I have yet to get a bad report back after the week. I often get a great deal of gratitude, because God used James to help do just what James 5:20 teaches.
If you have any of the “life issues” on your mind, take the prescribed book of James. Just give it 5 days, and let me know how you feel!
Also, if you had to perscribe a book what would it be?
I am consistently in awestruck wonder at how God is using me. I have to admit that I love knowing that he is always up to something.
As life unfolds one day at a time, I come to realize that every speed bump, every detour, I take throughout my day is all a part of His wonderful plan. The more I focus on being an obedient follower, the more I recognize that God is truly at work in all that I do. The people He places in my life, the change in schedule, the cancelation of one event that leads to another. All to lead me to where I am right now. To lead me to question what I question, to learn what I learn.
What I love working at along my personal walk in faith is stepping back and seeing the big picture, seeing how God is at work. Learning to see the evidence of Christ takes faith, trust, confidence, acceptance, conviction. It takes a strong and open mind, to release doubt. It is not easy, it takes work, and the more I work at it the more my eyes are opened to the wonders of what God is doing in me, through me, and just how He is using me.
I feel like for many years I have been blind. Blind by doubt, until I feel far enough that God came and picked me up and opened my eyes. There are many stories in the Bible were Jesus opens the eyes of the blind. The more I read and study His word, the more I am convinced of the deeper connection between the words on the page. I find myself in awe and with eyes wide open I see so much more than words.
My prayer for you is that God would open your eyes wider than before. If you commit to obey and trust in Christ I pray you reach a deeper connection with the word of God. Lord help us all to see evidence of you all around us. Amen!
I love calling myself a “tool” I know it may not sound like a cool thing to do, but when I explain the context that I do it in I find myself teaching a valuable life lesson. For my friends who see me on a weekly basis, they will often see me with a jelly band around my wrist. It is like one of the “LIVESTORNG” style bands. It reads “I AM A TOOL FOR CHRIST” and on the other side of it is the verse 1 Peter 4:10.
1 Peter 4:10 – Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
It is a great lesson that we all have unique gifts that God has given to us. He wants to use us. We are his “tools” and the sharper we are, the better we can perform at the task of making disciples. I also sport this band on my wrist to remind myself that I am His tool, and all that I do is not for my glory, but it is for His and His alone. I have often called it my humility band. I use it as a visual indicator that is with me all the time that I must humble myself before God, and allow Him to use me to bring glory to His holy name.
This weekend was a great reminder to me of just how big of a “tool” I am. About 9 months ago I met a friend who was in a very bad place both mentally and spiritually. I was given the opportunity to share Jesus with her. Over the course of the last 8 months I have seen God do amazing things in her life. What gets me even more pumped is to see her bringing new friends to church every week. I go back to the iron sharpens iron thought. God used me as a tool to sharpen her, and now He is using her.
God has also been using me to share this lesson with the high school students at my church. I must admit that I love high school students. If you would have asked me a few years ago what I thought about working this HS students I would have laughed at you, but today it is a totally different story. We are not just talking HS students, but truly young adults. Or as I would like to call them “power tools” young people have energy, they have stamina, and they have the ability to be God’s power tools. Young adults have street smarts with access trough social networks. Today’s generation is caused focused, and can easily build a community of followers to support their cause in just the few clicks of a mouse. We have to view them as “power tools” for the kingdom of God. The greatest thing that I, you, we, can do is help lead them to be power tools for God’s cause.
I try to do just that. Some of the students that I have seen as being power tools within our student ministry, I have given a wrist band to. I tell them just what the band means to me, and how they should be proud to say “I AM A TOOL FOR CHRIST” my hope is that one young adult at a time will understand that being a “tool” (for Christ) is COOL!
Are you a tool for Christ? Feel free to share how God has used you, and made you proud to call yourself a tool.
This Saturday, May 19th 2012 I turn 29 years old. While it is not a milestone birthday, it is a milestone in my personal introspection. In my efforts to become a better man of God, I find myself asking I am worthy enough to be called a leader? Am I setting the right example of a Godly man? Can I even call myself a man? These thoughts weigh deeply within my heart. But as I remain in the word, I am guided to dwell on the words that Paul wrote to Timothy.
1 Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
While I may be questing myself, I have to remind myself to not let anyone look down on me, including myself. John Maxwell is quoted as saying “leadership is influence.” Influence can only come from example. I must remember to remind myself daily that someone is being influenced by my example be it good or bad. No matter how young I may be to some, I am a leader, the true question comes down to am I being a Godly leader?
Birthday Prayer:
My prayer for this new year of my life, is that God will continue to lead me to be a good example of Christ. To expand my influence, and use me to the best of the ability He has given me.
Instead of presents, what would your true Birthday Prayer be?
I came across this post today, and thought is was a great blog. So I wanted to share it with you.
Posted by Dan Foster Business Coach, Speaker, Husband, Father, Christ Follower, Runner, Blogger, Friend, and Home Brewer.
At Building Champions we have a commitment to helping our clients maintain a balanced approach to their life and their business. One of the ways we do this is by asking our clients to complete a Life Planning exercise early on in the coaching relationship.
Through this exercise they identify the most important relationships in their life that they want to be more purposeful in growing and developing. Key relationships like a spouse, children, parents, and friends are often listed as accounts in a client’s life plan.
However, many of my clients struggle to create specific disciplines and commitments that will lead to stronger and healthier relationships with their friends and loved ones. They often find themselves creating disciplines and commitments that are centered on their likes and what they love to do. Unfortunately, these types of self-centered disciplines produce false hope and lead to frustration when the desired end result is not achieved.
In order to help my clients create meaningful disciplines I recommend they shift their focus and ask some basic questions:
- Activities – What does this person like to do for recreation, exercise, fun or just to relax?
- Communication – What is this person’s communication style? Are they more introverted or extroverted? What sort of setting allows them to open up and share their thoughts and feelings?
- Love Language – How does this person receive love? Are they someone that feels loved when they hear words of affirmation, receive a thoughtful gift, spend quality time with you, are served by you, or when they get to be close to you physically?
There are times when a client does not know the answer to these questions and must humble themselves to admit this and go and discover the answers by talking to the other person. What a great demonstration of love and care to ask your key relationships these questions!
If you focus on these areas and answer the questions above when you create disciplines and commitments, you will create a Life Plan that positions you for long-term growth and joy in the key relationships in your life.
Creating the plan is just the first step, now YOU have to execute it.
I came across this poem on a friends blog, and wanted to share it with you. There is a little back story to go along with it. A young man named Jason Lehman wrote this when he was 14 years old. His relatively young age is even more amazing when you read the poem and consider his perspective. We can be grateful to this young man for this wise reflection:
Present Tense
It was spring, but it was summer I wanted, The warm days, and the great outdoors. It was summer, but it was fall I wanted, The colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air. It was fall, but it was winter I wanted, The beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season. It was winter, but it was spring I wanted, The warmth and the blossoming of nature. I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted, The freedom and respect. I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted, To be mature, and sophisticated. I was middle-aged, but it was 20 I wanted, The youth and the free spirit. I was retired, but it was middle-age I wanted, The presence of mind without limitations. My life was over, and I never got what I wanted.
What is it that you want? Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
What did you think of this poem? Can you believe it was written by a 14-year-old? Does it hit home for you?
Today I attended the 2012 Iron Sharpens Iron conference at Calvary Fellowship Church in Downingtown, PA. This was a wonderful day to spend with men who are after God’s own heart. There were some fantastic speakers, as well as great workshops. I just wanted to share some of the resources I learned about today, as you may be looking to start or recharge the men’s ministry in your church. I pray that some of these resources may be useful to you in building up brothers in Christ.
http://www.ironsharpensiron.net/ This is the organization that runs the conference.
http://www.calvary-fellowship.org/ This is the Church that the conference was held at.
http://www.sherwoodbaptist.net/templates/cussherwoodbc/details.asp?id=33770&PID=402910 Alex Kendrick the Keynote Speaker.
http://stuweber.com/ Pastor Stu Weber, Morning session speaker.
http://www.knightsofthe21stcentury.com/About/Us/ Knight’s of the 21st Century, great resource for starting a men’s group.
http://www.gfa.org/ Gospel for Asia – Sponsor organization.
http://www.logos.com/ Logos Bible Software – Great tool.
Quote of the day: “It’s what a man carries in his chest that wins the battle” Stu Weber
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| From Drop Box |
On my way to work today I was behind this car all the way in. I couldn’t help but keep looking at the license plate over and over, It just reminded me that I must keep my eyes on Jesus. Father, thank you for this wonderful reminder this morning.
Hebrews 12:1-2 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (2) We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s
Where is the fine line between the two?
Matthew 7:1-2 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
So are we really entitled to our opinion, or are we just casting judgment?
Let’s look at them one at a time. The dictionary.com definition of opinion is:
- A belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.
- A personal view, attitude, or appraisal.
- The formal expression of a professional judgment: to ask for a second medical opinion.
- Law . the formal statement by a judge or court of the reasoning and the principles of law used in reaching a decision of a case.
- A judgment or estimate of a person or thing with respect to character, merit, etc.: to forfeit someone’s good opinion.
Wow, that highlights what an opinion is. Now let’s take a look at the word judgment:
- An act or instance of judging.
- The ability to judge, make a decision, or form an opinion objectively, authoritatively, and wisely, especially in matters affecting action; good sense; discretion: a man of sound judgment.
- The demonstration or exercise of such ability or capacity: The major was decorated for the judgment he showed under fire.
- The forming of an opinion, estimate, notion, or conclusion, as from circumstances presented to the mind: Our judgment as to the cause of his failure must rest on the evidence.
- The opinion formed: He regretted his hasty judgment.
So in comparing the two I wonder if we are just being hypocritical, in the sense that we often say we don’t judge people, but are entitled to our own opinion. Remember Matthew 7:1 – Judge not, that you be not judged. By forming an opinion you are in fact casting judgment, but I guess we are all entitled to judge others, knowing that we will be judged too.
2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
What is your opinion on this matter?
Proverbs 1:5 teaches us that to be a man of understanding we must seek wise counsel. This verse really hit home with me and through a time of introspection, I have come to find myself seeking wise counsel through building mentoring relationships with elders in my church.
I have come to find that in attending many groups within the church I am either the one of the youngest or oldest in the group. Going on 29 I started to really think about why there was such a gap of young men between 18-3o missing from the church. What is missing is the art of mentorship. Many students fade away after they graduate from high school. Sure some go off to Christian Colleges, some to the military, and some in to the job market. There just seems to be a drop in young leaders who are willing to live by Proverbs 27:17 (As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.) For young men 18-30 is a pivotal time in truly gaining wisdom and understanding of what it means to be a man of God.
So what can be done to fill in the gap? I really started to pray about this, only to learn that the answer to the questions was ME. I am the bridge builder, I have created connections among the elders and students, now I just have to come up with a way to foster a relationship between the two. The Wise Counsel Mentorship Network, that’s it! I started to develop a program to give mentors/elders guides, resources, and other information so that they could start a Mentorship Network within their church. This network would allow graduating students to form a relationship with a mentor, who would help lead them through their college years, and provide wise counsel to help build them up as men of God.
www.wcmn.org was created, and is currently in the process of being built. If you have a need in your church for a Mentorship Program, please contact me I would love to guide you in becoming a part of the Wise Counsel Mentorship Network. Also If you have resources that you think would be helpful to the mentors, please let me know. As this is a new program I am working on I am open to any and all feedback. Please check it out. www.wcmn.org
