Actions and Belief: Why Sound Doctrine Matters

Our actions always spring from what we believe. 

Paul tells Timothy to "watch his life and doctrine closely" (1 Timothy 4:16)

Our doctrine can very well determine the path we shall journey through life on. If I hold fast to the promises of God, the truth of scripture, not wavering, but clinging to them in earnest then I shall see the goodness of God in my life and the next. I shall journey through life with purpose as I pursue my God-given destiny. 

If I choose to hold to a different doctrine that rejects the truth of scripture, causing myself to waver in confusion. Then I shall buy into deception as I create a god that fits my own needs and wants.

I will not walk in my God given destiny, but instead I shall wander aimlessly as I attempt to reach the next greatest pursuit in trying to fulfill, yet again, another empty American dream.

The Insecure Woman: What That Low Cut Shirt Actually Reveals

Modesty is not a characteristic that most women ascribe to. Those who dress immodestly wouldn't tell you the reason they do so is because of a deeper heart issue, but in reality that's whats going on. 

They wouldn't tell you that their father never told them that they're beautiful, so they dress in low-cut shirts and hi-cut shorts to get the attention of men to fill the void their father never did. They also wouldn't be quick to tell you the reason they flaunt their curves is because they are deeply insecure about themselves. Deep down they hate how they look, they constantly compare themselves to other women wishing they had her perfect curves or her perfect hair, so they hide from their insecurities by posting cute selfies, hoping to get lots of comments and likes to help them feel better about themselves. In all reality, no matter how many likes or comments they get it doesn't seem to fix that gnawing dissatisfaction with how they feel about themselves. 

Then it goes past dressing immodestly to giving herself away sexually. She believes that sex will make her feel beautiful, if men want her she must be desirable and beautiful she tells herself. When she doesn't realize what's actually going on is that men are using her. She strips her own self of dignity and respect through her immodesty. She presents herself to men without such characteristics. In that moment she is no longer a true woman, but an object to be used. The man also, in this moment, strips himself of his own dignity, honor and respect as he objectifies himself to be used by this woman. She uses him to try and meet that deep need for affirmation. Yet, nothing is met, she still longs for affirmation and to actually believe that she is beautiful. 

Maybe losing a few pounds, getting a new haircut or a cute outfit will do the trick. Nope, nothing seems to help. She swims in a pool or her own misery, but she hides it behind cute outfits and flashy make up. 

She wishes she were someone else, but she can't escape. She's dug herself a hole so deep she's convinced herself there's no way out. The only way to deal with her pain is to bury it, deny it and convince herself it isn't really there. 

She gets married thinking, this will do it! Problem is, she comes in with the grand expectation that her husband will mend all of her wounds. He'll make her no longer feel insecure, she'll feel better about herself, because of him, but because she married an imperfect human being she realizes that he just can't meet her expectations, so she moves onto the next man hoping this one will fit the bill. 

I saw myself becoming this woman years ago, if not for the love and healing that I have found in Jesus Christ I'm certain I would have become her. 

Wholeness and joy cannot be found in what the mirror says or how many guys line up to tell you that you're hot stuff. No, only true joy, peace and satisfaction is found in knowing Jesus Christ. 

He affirms me as beautiful. In Him, I know that I am beautiful. I have a joy that cannot be taken from me, a peace that sits within my heart and contentment that envelopes my very being. It's His love that my heart beats for, its His purpose that directs my path. I long for more of Him in my life. 

I find that as I do that I become a woman that draws people in, not because of tight clothes or sexy mascara, but because of my smile, my hope and my countenance that speaks life and peace. 

A true woman is one whose heart is at rest. She does not run after pleasure or run aimlessly trying to fill some deep need in her soul for love, because the woman who is at rest already knows what love is. 

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God"- 1 John 4:7

God is love. Stop running, listen to the words that bring forth freedom! Rest in the one who created you. He has made a better way for you. 

Jesus said, "I came that they may have life, and that they may have it to the full"- John 10:10

Jesus says, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19

Full Time Ministry: Doing Less to Do More

Working in full time ministry is not so much about ministering as it is about preparation.

The minister who neglects preparation will be overcome by the battle and overwhelmed by spiritual warfare. They will fall prey to doubt, fear and insecurity. They will inevitably give in, due to lack of preparation.

Those in full time ministry must remember that God is more concerned about their "being with Him" then His is about their "doing for Him".

If you go and be with your Father, you will find that He will prepare you for the battle, HIs word will guide you, His faith will fill you. His Spirit will empower you. Now, when it's time to minister you're ready, because its God who ministers through you.

Now, stop doing so much for God, burning yourself out and just go be with Jesus. When its time to minister God will raise you up, but don't feel the need to raise your own self up for fear of being classified as lazy, unmotivated or afraid. Let God and His word be your motivation. Drink deeply of its truth, hear His voice more clearly and you'll find yourself maximizing your time in ministry by doing less that does more for the kingdom. Instead of doing more that does little for the Kingdom. Due to being motivated by our own egos, or fears or outside voices we feel forced into filling up the calendar when we neglect to ask God about it first.

Those in full time ministry, be encouraged! It is by far one of the most difficult and challenging vocations, but God is FOR YOU! Do not give in or give up. He goes with you and before you. Just don't try to jump ahead of Him 

Perseverance: Holding Fast in the Midst of LIfe's Greatest Suffering

"perseverance must finish its work"....James 1:4

In the midst of our darkest hour is when we are able to experience Jesus Christ in all of His fullness.  It is there that we can relate with the Christ on the cross.  We must choose in our darkest hour to persevere, just as the Son of God choose to persevere for us on our behalf as he hung on a cross on Calvary's Hill. 

God is challenging me to a season of perseverance.  Most of us just want to give up and throw in the towel in the midst of deep suffering.  We wish to release ourselves from this pain so we choose to resign from it, flee from or or bury it so that we no longer have to deal with the depth of our suffering. 

I'm holding fast to the promises of God that call me to persevere, that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and that the eyes of the Lord range back and forth throughout the entire earth to strengthen those who hearts are fully committed to Him.

I remember Joseph who was sold into slavery, but did not give up hope and God blessed him for his perseverance.  I remember Job who endured such great suffering and loss that his wife told him to curse God and die, yet Job held fast to perseverance in the midst of suffering and God blessed him ten-fold.  Ruth held fast to the Lord in the midst of her desolation and God, by His grace brought deliverance for her. 

It is rare that God's greatest blessings are not first proceeded by life's most painful moments.  In fact, I'm almost convinced that we must always experience a deep loss or pain before God's greatest blessings. 

So many choose to give in, the suffering becomes to great and they miss out on the beautiful story that God wanted to write.  They miss out on the blessing to come because in the middle of their pain they could not see the beautiful story that God was weaving so instead they gave up. 

Hold fast to Jesus in your greatest moments of pain.  Do not give up or give in for there is hope for you in Jesus Christ.  I am believing that as I persevere a blessing will come.  If not in this life, then surely in the next. 

Lord Jesus, you are joy.  You are hope, life and peace.  Your word is full of people who chose to believe you in the midst of their suffering.  I choose to walk in that same faith, believing that you are using this to make me more like your Son, Jesus.  You are teaching me about the gospel in ways that I would never have experienced if I had not walked through this. 

My prayer is that you would refine my character, make me more like your Son and that soon you might bring deliverance, but even if you choose to make me wait I know that I have a Savior who walks with me.   Let perseverance finish its work in me.  In Jesus name, Amen. 

Faithfulness: Behind Closed Doors

Sunday morning worship should not be a good judge of how faithful someone is to Christ. What we do in front of others should not determine how committed we are to Christ. For example, raising hands in worship, singing a solo, offering prayer or even preaching a sermon should never define someone's faithfulness towards Christ.

Faithfulness is authenticated when the doors are closed and no one else is looking. The question becomes, will I be faithful and obedient to God's will above my own when its not for show? Will I choose to flee from my sin and respond in love when my spouse gets on my nerves? When a friend betrays me or when my waitress forgets to fill up my drink. When I come face to face in the heat of the battle with temptation, will I choose to give in or will I flee because of my love for Christ?

When the doors are closed do you turn to your vices? Is alcohol, anger, bitterness and rage what you turn to more than Christ? What is your life truly founded upon on an average Monday when no one is looking?

Everyone always wants to look good to other people. I'm speaking towards my own struggle here. We seek the approval and praise of others more than the praise and glory of an all-knowing and righteous God. We want to do lots of stuff for God, forgetting that one of our main purposes in being a Christian is just knowing Him. Throughout the week is the word of God our delight, do we sing and make music unto the Lord during an average Thursday? Do we treat that Mcdonald's worker with the same respect and love we would if we were entertaining angels?

Truth is, one cannot minister well if one's relationship to God is on the rocks. Yes, God certainly uses moral failures to do His will. We see that all throughout scripture, but those who failed never stayed there in their sin. They rose above it through the repentance.

If you and I really want to be transformed we've gotta get real about who Jesus is. Jesus called those who wished to follow after Him to die to themselves daily and to walk as He did. This is not call for the weak, but only for those who wish to join with King Jesus in battle. It is only for those who are willing to join in the Lord's army, to become a soldier for Christ giving up complete control to their commanding officer.

If only we would join alongside our King on daily basis, truly, we would see our lives, communities and churches transformed. If only we would be so brave to move past people pleasing church to God-honoring worship throughout the week we would see lives be healed and the broken be made brand new.

Yes, and so today on an ordinary Thursday I chose to die to myself and to live for my King, even when no one else is looking.

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I'm Kind of a Big Deal: Teens and Self-Directed Worship

Today's youth culture is experiencing a worship problem.  The act of worship is not something they lack.  They have no problem worshipping.  However, the object of their worship is misguided and misdirected.  

They live in the midst of a culture that has told them its totally acceptable and even honorable to worship themselves. The worship of self isn't all together obvious.  It's usually quite subtle.  It's difficult to ascertain at first, but once the surface has been scratched, self-directed worship starts to ooze from the cresses of materialism, pride, selfies, "likes", and how many followers one has on Twitter.  

I wonder what would happen if we really starting getting into the lives of these young people who hide behind their smartphones and Facebook statuses.  A lot of the time a Facebook status or Tweet reveals a teenager who is crying out to belong or who wishes someone would notice the pain they feel so deep in their soul.  

Social media has opened up a whole new window into the soul of a teenager and adults who don't care to dig too deeply allow teens to be taught by Google and YouTube instead of by true wisdom and real relationships with adults who can speak truth into their lives.  

Misdirected worship makes selfish, hedonistic people.  Life becomes all about them, what they can gain, and receive instead of what they can give and who they can serve.  

Worship of the one True God causes us to take the focus off ourselves and plugs us into a plan far greater than one that we could ever dream or imagine.  It teaches us to say no to self and yes to sacrifice and service.  It points us to hope and joy in Jesus Christ.  It gives life and peace, real, lasting peace.  Not temporary happiness or fleeting hope.  

We will always worship something.  Teenagers will choose to follow the message of the culture if no other message if being taught to them.  Jesus calls us to live set apart lives.  For us to be in the world, but not of it.  When was the last time you spoke the words of truth into a teenager who has been misguided believing they need to run the race of popularity and self-worship like everyone else?  

They need your wisdom.  They need the hope and joy of Jesus Christ.  They need adults who would be willing to invest in their lives.  To give of their time to teach them.  Lets not allow our children to be taught by the culture anymore.  There is a better way offered in Jesus Christ for all who would call on His name.  

A Youth Ministry on Fire: The Role of the Holy Spirit

Without the Holy Spirit at work in our youth ministries they will certainly fail.  While the apostles were being persecuted by the Sanhedrin, Gameliel, a Pharisee said,  “I advise you, leave these men alone, let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Zondervan, Acts 5:38-39)

Gamelial knew that if these men were from God, being empowered and lead by the Holy Spirit of God that nothing could stop the work they were doing.  On the same note, he understood that if they were not from God and acting out of their own power that their plans would fail. 

We as Youth Ministers should take seriously these words of wisdom from the Jewish Pharisee.  If we truly want vibrant youth ministries alive with students who deeply love and adore Christ we must have ministries that are lead and directed by the life giving power of the Holy Spirit.  

A Youth Minister who tries to put plans in place without seeking God wisdom through the Spirit will find themself frustrated and angry, because their efforts constantly fail.  It might have a “flash in the pan” type of excitement at first, but programs without God’s Spirit behind them will soon come crumbling down.

A Youth Ministry that is centered on Christ, is one that is centered on the Spirit.  It is the Spirit who convicts students of sin, it is the Spirit who transform them and calls them into a deeper walk with Jesus.  It is Christ inside that student, alive and well that draws them away from deception and into the light. 

Students don’t need better programming, they need to see the power of the Holy Spirit displayed.  They need to have an encounter with the living God.  They need to see and savor Jesus Christ for themselves and a Youth Ministry that is saturated in the Spirit will certainly bring about the power and that truth for students to see.  Students don’t need more games or fun.  They need authentic Christianity being lived out and preached by the power of the Holy Spirit.   

What we draw students with is what we will shape them to be.  If we draw them with games and fun, we’ll make them selfish consumers, but if we draw them with the Spirit and the word of God, then we will make disciples.  Sure, we may not have BIG youth groups, but that isn’t the point.  God has called us to make disciples, who in turn make disciples.  As difficult as it is, we must stay focused on the BIG picture and not allow numbers to define our ministries, but we must do the hard work of discipleship.  Where we may not see results for 15 years! 

 If we remain obedient and faithful to God lifting high the name of Jesus and trusting only in the power of the Spirit to transform our students lives then we will see the lost be found, students run from sin and new life really begin!