Growing Pains

I was reminded yesterday about growing pains from my oldest son who asked, "Dad, did you ever have pains in your knees when you were growing up" and I answered, "yes" and his next question, "How do you get rid of them?" and my answer, "You don't, they are a part of growing up and the pain comes with the territory". Our church is going through serious growing pains.There are changes in our worship team coming, growing out of our current facility, finances being tight, ministry on a shoestring budget and the list goes on. At points remembering back to my own growing pains as a kid I would give anything just to make them go away but now I realize that I would look much fatter at 4' than I do at 5'11". I'm thankful today for the growth even though I had to endure the pain.

We know that growing pains hurt and we also know that, for the most part they are worth it after we see the results. But what if we could see that in the midst of the pain. Could there really be joy in the midst of the journey? What would that look like? Well, I'll let you know so stay tuned...

What's it like...

To have a place that you can call home and be so proud of that you would shout it from the mountain tops, telling everyone you know about how awesome your church is. That's what was happening in Thessalonians ch. 1. Paul is saying how wowed he is by all the stuff he his hearing about 3rd person. I love it when that happens. To this day I am still hearing about cool thing that are happening at my old church in Tampa and I think to myself, "How cool is that?" We need more people and more churches doing this. Churches that invite people into a place where they can meet God and have real transformation because of the cross and people who are so radically changed that they are telling everyone they see. Man, that is cool!

Knight Rider Rides Again

So I'm still on the fence with this one. I'm going to watch it but I'm a little skeptical. I mean, come on, who can replace Mr. Hasslehoff?! Okay any thoughts? Are you going to tune in?

Try this!

Found this on Corey Mann's blog. I can't do it but it really makes me laugh.

Go ahead...you know you want to

James Chapter 4 says a mouthful but what gets me is what he says in verse 8:

Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.
James 4:8 (NLT)

I know what it says but do I know what it means? Remember those Suzuki commericals where the kid is coloring and something is saying "stay within the lines" but the kid doesn't listen. I think it's more fun to color outside the lines but even more than that it's more creative. God made us that way. We are creative beings not intended to do the same thing over and over again. Variety in my relationship with God has been the best thing for me. I'm not sure I could handle the monotony of drawing close to him the same way everyday. I know that we must have some staples in our lives like healthy habits in order to connect like maybe a specific time of day or a particular place, but maybe it's time to explore some new ways to connect. Maybe it's showing up for a prayer meeting that you wouldn't normally go to or taking a walk through nature. I'm not sure what it is for you but for me I like to change it up and it works. So I'm going to keep getting creative and draw outside the lines a little more and watch God show up. Draw outside the lines.

Stop braggin and get wise!

Dang, sometimes you can read a scripture a hundred times and miss something. I love that about God. He never ceases to amaze me! Our culture and people in general have learned the how to's of just about everything from losing weight to boiling a pot of water. Read the fine print! James said in chapter 3:

13 If you are wise and understand God's ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don't brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise!
James 3:13 (NLT)

Bam! You want wisdom go ahead and ask for it but here is the practical side of your prayer. This could be equated to the portion of us drawing close to Him. In black and white "live a life of steady goodness...and if you don't brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise!" Hot diggity Dog! I love when God's word just slams unto me like that! I've gotta keep this in mind for today.

Mercy vs. Judgment

James chapter 2 prescribed to me this morning a healthy dose of mercy. Verse 13 says,
"because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment."

That leaves me wondering, when am I not merciful? Than answer is when I forget my judgment. Stick with me. Recently I have found myself becoming a little frustrated sometimes with the students I minister to. They have so much great potential for God but they either don't see it or choose to ignore it. In moments of my frustration I want to jump up on my soap box and tell them what they are doing wrong and how to get it right. Can I stop right there for a second. That's where mercy escapes me. I've forgotten the fundamental thing I deserve, death. I'm flawed and always will be to some degree or another. I haven't arrived as much as I think I have. I'm not all that. But when I get around people that are flawed in areas that maybe I used to be but not so much anymore I get an unrealistic expectation that they should not have that flaw. Why is that? Do I think my flaws aren't as bad as theirs are? How dumb is that.

Mercy comes down to one word, awareness. If I am aware of how flawed I am and how much I need God's mercy in my life I will be more quick to extend the same mercy that I am so in need of. Father, may your mercy prevail over my life and may I become evermore aware of the judgment I deserve and yet the mercy you have given me. Help me to be filled with that mercy today. Amen.