This morning as I am preparing for my day with the Lord - I looked back over a section of Piper's book and found this note I had written. Don't EVER be a second-hander!
They don't live for the joy and satisfaction of achievement and obedience to the Lord - they live with one eye on their action or work, and one eye on their audience.
Our audience can be anyone. Our boss, our co-workers, the congregation if we are a worship leader or teacher/preacher, our spouse, our kids...you get the idea.
No lasting joy can ever be found in this kind of existence.
A second-hander is someone with a lack of true confidence in the Lord, in their calling - trying to compensate for their deficiencies by looking for compliments.
I KNOW without a shadow of doubt, there have been seasons in my life that I could be classified as a second-hander, but my prayer for this work day is that I'll stand strong in the Lord. Work with a God-given confidence that allows me to make decisions well and love those around me.
So I challenge each of you today - don't be a second-hander - no matter where God has placed you, at home, in the office, in whatever situation you find yourself as long as of course it's a place of obedience, be strong in Him.
Showing posts with label JOY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label JOY. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
what I learned today
This is actually still churning within me as a result of my study on vacation.
There is so much - where to begin...
Growing up in the church, so many of the 'believers' I knew seemed sad - as if being a follower of Christ meant they had to be constantly serious and on task to obey every rule known to mankind. They said they believed in eternal security and yet lived an outwardly terrified life as if their salvation might at anytime be revoked. It didn't make sense to me as a kid.
What I'm beginning to discover is that what Christ desires for us, what we were created to be and what attracts the lost more than perhaps any other single thing - is when they see our Joy in Christ.
The old song "What the World needs now is love sweet love" really translates into a universal desire to be loved and cherished and what the worldly love never finds is lasting satisfaction which we know is found only through relationship with the creator of love. And only through that relationship do we find true joy. For when we have hope in Christ - we're sure in our eternal destination there is truly no room for paralyzing fear. or loneliness. The world cannot make us sad unless our focus turns toward the world and the temporary stuff it offers us instead of keeping our eyes eternally focused.
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord
I'm sure this has no circumstantial boundary - no limitation of any kind that would justify a believer to ever be less than delighted with the Lord.
The Bible talks about how Paul was sorrowful yet always rejoicing and we know of many missionaries who have given all yet felt they never made a sacrifice. How can this be? Can this type of focused delight even happen in America where we all have too much?
John Piper's book - Desiring God has strengthened my resolve to find out how to live this way.
I have made the statement - "He or she steals my joy", about people I was struggling with. I have to wonder if that deeply hurt my Savior! It is a choice to allow my joy in Him to be stolen, no one can take it. It is only when my relationship with Christ is as it should be that I can experience any lasting joy.
Piper says God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him...
Is it possible as an American to be satisfied - ever? I've said it before and I still believe it may be true - perhaps America is the most deceived of all nations? The nations where people are persecuted for their faith - there is no doubt who truly loves and knows Him and who does not. Here - it's become kind of gray...if asked most people would probably still say they believe there is a God, but sadly their life, their lack of joy and constant striving for more says otherwise.
I'm beginning to believe that everything God created me to be, to accomplish, to strive for is contained in - Delighting In Him - so much so that everyone can see Him and not just all the stuff I accomplish.
Are you joyful? Does the world wonder what you have that they don't? Is there a peace deep within you that leaks out when everyone else seems to live in a state of stress and panic and deep dissatisfaction?
Let's all take a step toward an eternal Delight that no man, no event, no trial can ever extinguish! Let's be filled with joy found only in our Savior!
There is so much - where to begin...
Growing up in the church, so many of the 'believers' I knew seemed sad - as if being a follower of Christ meant they had to be constantly serious and on task to obey every rule known to mankind. They said they believed in eternal security and yet lived an outwardly terrified life as if their salvation might at anytime be revoked. It didn't make sense to me as a kid.
What I'm beginning to discover is that what Christ desires for us, what we were created to be and what attracts the lost more than perhaps any other single thing - is when they see our Joy in Christ.
The old song "What the World needs now is love sweet love" really translates into a universal desire to be loved and cherished and what the worldly love never finds is lasting satisfaction which we know is found only through relationship with the creator of love. And only through that relationship do we find true joy. For when we have hope in Christ - we're sure in our eternal destination there is truly no room for paralyzing fear. or loneliness. The world cannot make us sad unless our focus turns toward the world and the temporary stuff it offers us instead of keeping our eyes eternally focused.
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord
I'm sure this has no circumstantial boundary - no limitation of any kind that would justify a believer to ever be less than delighted with the Lord.
The Bible talks about how Paul was sorrowful yet always rejoicing and we know of many missionaries who have given all yet felt they never made a sacrifice. How can this be? Can this type of focused delight even happen in America where we all have too much?
John Piper's book - Desiring God has strengthened my resolve to find out how to live this way.
I have made the statement - "He or she steals my joy", about people I was struggling with. I have to wonder if that deeply hurt my Savior! It is a choice to allow my joy in Him to be stolen, no one can take it. It is only when my relationship with Christ is as it should be that I can experience any lasting joy.
Piper says God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him...
Is it possible as an American to be satisfied - ever? I've said it before and I still believe it may be true - perhaps America is the most deceived of all nations? The nations where people are persecuted for their faith - there is no doubt who truly loves and knows Him and who does not. Here - it's become kind of gray...if asked most people would probably still say they believe there is a God, but sadly their life, their lack of joy and constant striving for more says otherwise.
I'm beginning to believe that everything God created me to be, to accomplish, to strive for is contained in - Delighting In Him - so much so that everyone can see Him and not just all the stuff I accomplish.
Are you joyful? Does the world wonder what you have that they don't? Is there a peace deep within you that leaks out when everyone else seems to live in a state of stress and panic and deep dissatisfaction?
Let's all take a step toward an eternal Delight that no man, no event, no trial can ever extinguish! Let's be filled with joy found only in our Savior!
Thursday, December 11, 2014
the church
Today I got to watch 'the church', the real church as God intended.
Our GoMissions team has worked under the leadership of my precious friend Darlene, and organized the distribution of
the gifts that our congregational members had contributed for the neediest families in Richland County. It was definitely a blessing to witness.
People sat and prayed and discussed their lives with Crossroads volunteers and I saw more tears of joy in one day's time then I've seen in years. One lady said she had just told her children there would be no Christmas this year, but that she would try to take them shopping as soon as the holidays were over and she saved up some money by working overtime at the gas station. Her husband had left her and she was trying to keep the family together.
She was overcome with tears of joy as she watched the volunteers bring her children's gifts to the table where they sat. They then prayed together and after sitting for nearly an hour talking, she made her way back home to her tiny house and 3 kids and unknown future.
The circumstances that were shared with our volunteers are stories that bring perspective to our own lives. Days we feel sad or disappointed usually have no foundation when measured against the hopelessness of those we served today.
The Lord permitted us to serve people today that society considers less fortunate, but I don't know... Sometimes those who have too much, who never have to wonder about having enough or the ones slighted I imagine.
I have to be very honest and say there are seldom times in my life that I've worried about going without something, and today I saw people that spend their lives feeling hopeless. They needed help, and somehow the Lord allowed the people of Crossroads to fill that need.
As always with this event, we are the ones blessed the most. Such a privilege!
 |
| The volunteers praying before beginning |
Our GoMissions team has worked under the leadership of my precious friend Darlene, and organized the distribution of
the gifts that our congregational members had contributed for the neediest families in Richland County. It was definitely a blessing to witness.
People sat and prayed and discussed their lives with Crossroads volunteers and I saw more tears of joy in one day's time then I've seen in years. One lady said she had just told her children there would be no Christmas this year, but that she would try to take them shopping as soon as the holidays were over and she saved up some money by working overtime at the gas station. Her husband had left her and she was trying to keep the family together.
She was overcome with tears of joy as she watched the volunteers bring her children's gifts to the table where they sat. They then prayed together and after sitting for nearly an hour talking, she made her way back home to her tiny house and 3 kids and unknown future.
The circumstances that were shared with our volunteers are stories that bring perspective to our own lives. Days we feel sad or disappointed usually have no foundation when measured against the hopelessness of those we served today.
The Lord permitted us to serve people today that society considers less fortunate, but I don't know... Sometimes those who have too much, who never have to wonder about having enough or the ones slighted I imagine.
I have to be very honest and say there are seldom times in my life that I've worried about going without something, and today I saw people that spend their lives feeling hopeless. They needed help, and somehow the Lord allowed the people of Crossroads to fill that need.
As always with this event, we are the ones blessed the most. Such a privilege!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
weekend report
An unexpected family illness caused plans to change for the weekend. But Milo stepped in and God was there!
I will try to list the songs from our setlist, although I don't have the cue sheet with me~
Our Setlist:
Joyful, Joyful
announcements on video
Joy To The World
Amazing - Brewster
Jesus Paid It All
Message: Joy pt. 2 - Tim Armstrong
Exit song: Joyful Joyful
To watch our services on line go to www.crossroadswired.com
To see what other ministries used in their worship services go to www.theworshipcommunity.com
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