Monday, February 27, 2017

Stop Counting

One of my biggest fears in life is that I'm not living out my fullest potential as a Christian... and the sad truth of it is, is that I know that I'm not.
I will never, ever reach a point where I can sit back and say,

"Okay, I've done enough."

Enough discipleship, enough ministering, enough outreach, enough investing in people, enough forgiving people, enough giving to the poor and needy, enough sharing the word of Christ to those that need it, etc.

I will never be able to say I've done enough.

Now don't read that the wrong way. I'm not saying that there is a required amount of anything for Christ that we need to do. I'm also not saying that we have to do so much to get into heaven. But I will quote James here in saying, "Faith without works is dead." I can have faith, but is it real or alive if my life isn't showing it? Faith without works is dead.

It's all too simple to take the short route and be complacent. That's the route I take when in my mind I start saying things like, "Well, I gave $5 to the guy with the sign on the corner so I think I’m good for the next week.”

That’s not what faith is about, and I think more importantly, that isn’t what Jesus is about. Jesus was the one that saw people and saw their needs, and He did what He could to serve, heal, help, and minister to them. Not just when it was convenient, not to get in his quota for the day, but because that is who He was... that is who He is. 

I know that I will never amount to that kind of goodness, compassion, and love that Jesus always showed to people, but I could at the least shine a glimpse of that goodness, that compassion, and that love. 

I don’t want to ever be satisfied with doing just enough.

 Escaping the this complacent or "just enough" mindset is incredibly difficult. Our minds are wired to keep score and to keep count of everything. But it is this mindset that we have to get rid of. If we're never satisfied with how much we're doing as Christians, maybe then we could change the world. When we start counting all of the good things we’re doing, it becomes a chore. Or a list. I don’t think all the lists we keep really matter to God, instead, it’s our hearts. God wants to see hearts that want to give, want to love, and show compassion every single chance they get. By those standards, I don’t need to count all the things I’ve done—I just need to start consciously making the decision to think less, and to do more.

I encourage you tonight to think about your faith and how you are living it out. How do you treat the people around you? How much time, resources, and effort are you giving to meet the needs of others? How much time, resources, and effort do you keep to yourself or use on other things?

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” –Hebrews 13:16


And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” –Galatians 6:9-10

Monday, February 20, 2017

Grace

Grace.
I can't imagine my life without grace.

It's allowed me to live, to be, and to become.
It's let me breath, breath in, and breath out.
It's picked me up out of ashes, and changed me into something more.
Someone who is worthy, who is valuable, and is loved.
Someone who makes mistakes, but can get back up.
Not just a second chance, but a third, a fourth, and so on.
Because no matter how hard I try, I just always get it wrong.
It welcomes me in and gives me a place to belong.
Grace that sees beyond chances, and just sees a heart that matters.
Grace that gives me a purpose, and keeps forgiving as I try to fulfill it.
Grace that gives freely, gives often, and gives always.
It heals me, it catches me, it changes me.
It’s replaced my brokenness with a story of meaning.
It’s changed me from nothing into something,
When I fail, grace gives me a future.
When I fall, grace picks me up.
When I stand at the edge, thinking about giving up, grace captures those thoughts and gives me hope.
Grace doesn’t care about what I do, but rather who I am.
It doesn’t count my mistakes, or even the good things I count on my hands.
It finds me, it keeps me, it holds me, it entangles me.
It sees me, it frees me, it guarantees my eternity…
Yet, I sit here undeserving, often ungrateful, and still complaining.
I sit here wanting more, always wanting something.
But ever so gently and swiftly, grace still finds me.

Grace.
I can’t imagine my life without grace.

Monday, February 13, 2017

The Shepherd

Psalm 23English Standard Version (ESV)
The Lord Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
23 
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.



The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

There are so many different names we have for God, but out of all them this one is one of my favorites—The Lord is my Shepherd. I used to really like thinking of God as my Shepherd because I always related that to Him guiding and protecting me. But recently I’ve been reading Psalms 23 over and over again and this idea has started to take on another meaning.

I think why I love it so much is because it reminds me that I don’t have to be in control. I’m not the one in charge. I don’t have to worry about everything spiraling out of control, because God is My Shepherd. He leads me beside still waters, and He restores my soul. He brings me to green pastures, where I have just enough if not more. He gives me what I need, and I have no reason to want. I lack nothing when I am a part of his flock. I have a safe resting place in Him, and at the end of the day that is all I need.

It’s a Monday, but I already know it’s going to be a very long week and I have a very busy schedule. But I also know that at the end of the day, My Shepherd will restore my soul, and provide just what I need to make it through each day. It is those quiet moments, even just the couple minutes a day even spent hanging out with the Shepherd that keep me going.

So whatever lies ahead for you this week, remember that Our Shepherd has a quiet and still place for you. Find that place and find rest. Let Him restore your soul.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

–Matthew 11:28-29