Saturday, March 25, 2006

God Built the Spiral

You know, it is so cool when we run into something and it confirms for us that God is really doing some cool stuff and it isn't just at our little local church.

I just happened on a blog - http://pastormike33.blogspot.com/ - that shows that this whole "emergent church" movement or whatever is more than some fad or some catchy name of a group of pastors or churches. There are churches all over the country which are rethinking what church is all about and how to "do church" in a way that is meaningful and helps people learn to live like Christians. The mega-church movement had us thinking about how to "grow" our churches. But growing our churches is not about numbers - it is about growing disciples.

Wouldn't it be nice to know that Sunday morning is not the sum total of the average Christian's faith experience?

God has laid out a path that we are to walk - in the very steps of Jesus. I hope that every day I am better and better at keeping my feet in His footsteps.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Strength for Today

Today's sermon was on Ephesians 3:16-20, and the main point was that it is what is on the inside that makes us able to live a life "worthy of the calling."

The Holy Spirit dwelling in us gives us strength in our inner being, so that we are rooted and grounded in love, and are able to do the things that Ephesians 4, 5, and 6 will tell us to do. We are also told that this is how we can begin to grasp how wide and high and deep and long the love of God is for us. Grasping this can free us from the self-love that keeps us choosing sin, and help us to choose holiness.

This is not going to happen all at once. Our sanctification is a lifelong process - daily living, choices minute by minute, leaning on the strength of the Spirit, calling for the Father's help - this is how we live a holy life.

So next time you are confronted with the thing that always "gets" you, call out to God for strength for today. He will answer. He will give strength.

I can hardly wait until next week.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Contentment as We Climb

Yesterday I was reading Philippians 4, where Paul talks about being content no matter what our circumstances. I was challenged by this. I always find it easier to focus on what I don't have and how to go about getting it than on being content.

Yet, we are supposed to derive our self-identity and -esteem from our positional righteousness and heavenly citizenship in Christ rather than on our possessions and accomplishments here on earth. It is so easy to forget that God owns it all anyhow. All good and perfect gifts come from above, so I may think I have done things, but really God works through me to do good. He gave me my job, and I should rest thankfully in that. He gave me my car, my home, my family, my friends, and my gratitude for all this should overflow into peace and contentment.

All of that is great, but the best part is that this world is not my ultimate home. I have an ultimate eternal home in a place where there is no sorrow, no tears, no pain, no decay - a perfect place, with God Himself, forever, especially prepared for me. Remembering that is where contentment comes from. I can take anything for the short period of time that is this life. I know there's Light at the end of the tunnel.