December 15, 2015

What Do You Want for Your Birthday?

December is a month for some significant birthdays in my life. My precious Mom’s birthday was last week on December 6th. Two dear high school friends’ birthdays are this month.  The birthday of one of my Godly mentor friends is December 26th.

Oftentimes, a simple question is asked to those we love before their birthday: “What do you want for your birthday?” If you are like me, I just want to ensure my loved one is honored in the most meaningful way. Isn’t that what we want for our birthdays…to  know we are loved and cherished?

The most significant person in my life, really in this world, celebrates His birth each December 25th. Isn’t it wonderful that we all adorn our homes in Christ-mas finery and decorate the inside and outside with bright lights in honor of His birthday?  We bake treats, buy gifts and send cards to our most significant loved ones , friends, and coworkers (and even strangers), and go above and beyond to volunteer and do “random acts of kindness” this time a year. Why? Perhaps it truly is all part of His birthday celebration, honoring the Light Of  The World.

However you may feel about Him, one fact is irrefutable. History sets its time stamp of demarcation with Jesus’ birth—BC, “Before Christ”, and AD, “Anno Domini,” Latin for “In the Year of Our Lord.”   Even the Old Testament prophesied Jesus’ birth (especially in the book of Isaiah) at least 700 years before He was born! Isn’t it fitting that we give Him our best as we celebrate His birthday?

When I was growing up, we baked a birthday cake for Christmas Day and sang “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. I will always remember those sweet memories.

So, on this December 15, 2015 AD, in the year of our Lord, 10 days before we celebrate His birthday, I  encourage you to ask Him a simple question:  “Lord, What Do You Want For Your Birthday?”

Then listen…

Could His birthday gift be:

–to reconcile with your loved one…

–to rake the yard of and sit with an elderly neighbor…

–to babysit for a worn-out married couple to have a date night…

–to share your testimony and love of Jesus with your co-worker…

You can almost hear His still, small voice, can’t you?

“Your Heart, Dear One. That’s all I want. Your Heart.”

Reflect:

  • How will this Christmas, Jesus’ birthday celebration, be different from years past?
  • How can we listen and act more intentionally after asking the question, “Lord, what do You want for your birthday?”

Renew:

  • “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” –Colossians 3:23
  • “I am sending Him—who is my very heart—back to you.” –Philemon 1:12.
  • “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the Truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart.” –1 Peter 1: 22

Recharge:

  • After asking, seeking, and listening, what intentional actions in your life have you been prompted to take?
  • Consider baking a birthday cake on Christmas Day and singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. Let’s party!
  • Please leave a comment.
September 22, 2015

Let’s Get Out of the Huddle

Ahhhh…’tis the season. Crisp mornings, where we see our breath. Changing leaves falling, crunching under our feet. We are in the full throws of pumpkin spice, harvest décor and football games on every channel and in every stadium.  Even from my front yard on Friday nights I can hear the high school band playing and football fans cheering at the nearby Cuthbertson High School.

Imagine paying for college or professional football tickets. You’re in the stands, greasy food in your hands. You’re adorned in your favorite teams regalia, the fans are cheering, momentum is building….Your favorite team runs onto the field and gathers in a huddle. The huddle lasts for 10 minutes, then 20, then 40, then one hour! Then they walk off the field. What would you do? How would you respond?

Pastor Harvey Carey is the pastor of  a thriving, mission-minded church in Detroit, MI. Pastor Harvey is the one who gave the aforementioned analogy about the long huddle at a football game.

Located in one of the poorest zip codes in America, Pastor Harvey Carey’s church was identified as one of the top churches in growing people spiritually. He says that some Sundays when his congregation shows up for church, they all walk right back out to go spread God’s love on the streets around the church for that hour.

Isn’t that what we do on Sunday mornings as Christians—huddle for one hour and go off the “field”? How do you think God reacts when He sees us all “huddled up”?

Pastor Harvey’s passionate sermon was quite convicting. I am guilty as charged, sometimes also staying in my Christian huddle of friends and family. Many of us “huddle” from one Sunday, one week to the next. We often don’t actually “play the game” of our faith, loving our neighbor as ourselves, fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28) and serving the “least of these” in Matthew 25. We can go to all these seminars, retreats, and conferences year after year, collecting binders of information on our shelves, which only collect dust. When are we to play the game?

After really feeling convicted about his sermon, I thought of the uplifting seminars and retreats and conferences I’ve attended. Have I been in a “huddle”? Maybe I’m wrong, but I liken them to Spring Training or Boot Camp to condition my/our spiritual muscles for the “game of ministry.” Fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, you are conditioned, you are prayed up, you have done your calisthenics. Let’s get out of the huddle now and play this Game of Life. Go serve! Go minister!

Reflect:

–In what ways are you still in your comfortable huddle? Please comment.

–How will you execute your plans from the huddle and play the game of Life?

Renew:

–“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” –Matthew 25: 40 NIV

–Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…’” –Matthew 28:19 NIV

–“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” –1 Corinthians 9:25 NIV

Recharge:

–Name three “Fields” you will play on this month.

–What is one way your family can help “the least of these’ or your neighbor?

Resource:

— www.citadeloffaith.org

September 15, 2015

It’s a Dew Perspective

Dew on lantana

It was the dew. It caught my eye, made me blink, as the early morning sun glistened over the shimmering landscape.

I was simply blow drying my hair, gazing out the bathroom window at the peaceful backyard as I do daily. On this particular Sunday morning the view made me smile. The beauty overwhelmed me.

The heavy dew refreshed everything and caused it to shine brightly, reflecting light on the grass, flowers, bushes, fence posts, Adirondack chairs. I couldn’t help it. I had to get an up close view. Wearing my church dress and high-heeled shoes, I trapsed through the drenched grass to snap photos of the lantana. The wet grass clippings stuck to my heels, and I didn’t care. The sweet journey was worth the effort.

My heart was enlivened, reminded me of the reassuring verses in Lamentations 3:23-24.

 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every  morning; great is your faithfulness.

What a sweet, dew perspective. No matter what we are going through in life, God’s “dew” of mercy, grace and love is fresh every morning. What hope. What encouragement.

Another way to refresh your soul first thing in the morning, before you even get out of bed, is to download the FREE Proverbs 31 Ministries First 5 mobile app on your phone. Just search in the App Store on your Iphone or Ipad (Android available also) for “First 5.”

An alarm is built right inside the app. Once you set the alarm and swipe it in the morning, you are taken straight into God’s Word for a five-minute inspiring Bible teaching.  One chapter of the Bible is highlighted per day, in order. Currently the book of Genesis is being studied. The book of John was just finished and can all be found in the “Archives” tab.  Amazing and profound Weekend Wrap-up summary videos are featured each Saturday. In 3 ½ years, with just five minutes each morning, you will have read the entire Bible. You can even purchase the “Experience Guide” journal from Proverbs 31 Ministries to enrich the book of the Bible being studied.

As Proverbs 31 Ministries President and friend Lysa TerKeurst says, “We must exchange whispers with God before shouts with the world.”

What hope. Just like the fresh dew in the morning, may we refreshen our hearts daily by going to God’s Word first.

Reflect:

–When have you felt “dried up,” in need of refreshment or morning “dew” for your soul?

–How will you look differently at the morning time and dew?

Renew:

–“In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.” –Psalm 5:3 NIV

–“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.’ –2 Peter 1:19 NIV

Recharge:

–Please join more than 400,000 other people from 199 countries who have already downloaded the First 5 Mobile App. Download it today and tell your friends.

Resource:

First 5 Mobile App

Proverbs 31 Ministries

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