significant.....

Had a conversation with a friend recently where he used the words "it is nice to feel important." Now my intentions were not to pick at his words, but I had to interject a thought. I as a man often am focused on "importance" especially as someone who desires to be needed or as my friend LB says "addicted to being a hero." See it is not healthy for me to be important, though it is semantics, important signifies either important or unimportant, relevant or irrelevant, it is judgement based on my limited underdstanding.

Truth is we are all important so we need to see our significance. We are all members of the body. We all bring something, thus we all have value. In that significance I am placing no judgement, rather I understand the value we all bring. That value was the focus Jesus had for me. It had nothing to do with cost He would pay, everything to do with the value of that cost.

Now I would challenge anyone to read Dwight Robertson's book "Plan A, there is no plan b" and step away from that book without being encouraged to understand the value and significance we can all bring to the body of Christ.

what's hiding?

Just the other day I stopped in to buy a sandwich at a deli. People in the seats eating and having their own conversations. People busy working to make orders. Product on the shelves, in the display cases. There was a buzz all over this place, at first glance the scene was so different from what I then noticed. I heard in the back ground the TV programmed to some news network. I could hear the story in the background only to look up to the TV. There across the screen was a big box blocking the program. Inside the box was an announcement from the Satellite provider, "to avoid disruption of service contact customer service regarding outstanding balance." I was profoundly struck by what I realized in that moment.

What hit me is we all have something to hide, we make the outside look all put together. It is the old perception...this is what I want others to see. As if the TV was the eyes of this businesses soul, there it was being disclosed, "All is not as it would appear." Some hide it from others, some try, eventually it becomes exposed. Just another reason I need a Savior in my life, Lord knows as I try to hide it, someone is going to see it. In humility He takes all that from me, He wants it all. The more I seek His grace the more I want to appear put together, it is some less than natural oxymoron...He never hid His wounds for me, He received them for me.

Elevation Church Easter Opener from Elevation Church on Vimeo.
My words will only fall short of the impact this has....turn up the volume, play it over and over. The truth should move those who esteem Him. Here is 2 minutes of truth, hold on.....
Thanks to everyone involved in putting this together for His glory! Jesse, most powerful yet!

Power in weakness.....

In reading through the book of James, many things are written simply that I may understand! Now in the Resurrection season, perspective has been clarified in significant ways. I discover some misconceptions when I think as the world would encourage. Man equates meekness with weakness, humility with inadequacy. God places a high premium on these very attributes that man scorns. The truth is amazingly when we admit our own inadequacy, He shares His total adequacy with us. While the world devalues the man with humility, one who does not thrust himself forward....what if He had not been humble at the cross for me?

Now where do I get this perspective? As Pastor Furtick preached from Isaiah 53:1-6, not your typical Easter message; Pastor drilled home what it is to esteem Christ. What does that look like? What was it like for the pain and suffering as He was pierced for my transgressions and crushed for my iniquities? Pastor asked "Do you hate the sin that put Christ on the cross?" His death was too brutal not to esteem Him, after all He died for me. Now that's perspective, I have got to change......

what level, what risk?

Playing solitaire on the computer I have seen my level of comfort. Instead of risking my "statistics" I prefer to play at a level that allows total comfort, a winning record. I know when my hockey team takes the ice we typically play a better game if we play the first place team, instead of the last place team. We stand the chance of a loss or victory, but we play differently. Are you the underdog or heavily favored for victory?

I am finding I want some predictability in the turbulent seas that is my life right now. I am wanting to play at beginner's level. What is that other than yesterday's success? What am I placing on the line? Am I fighting or folding?

In my journey I am facing giants, the unknown, the odds seem stacked against me. So Biblical reference takes more significance in my walk, what have I been learning? God uses the believer, what that looks like - the weak, the broken, the sinner, the underdog.....
Pastor just shared a message on "4 ways to accelerate escape from no man's land..." His first point was "Take a God lead relational risk." 2 Samuel 12:1-14 Nathan leading David to repentance. Another I think of is Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14, he took a risk from the safety of the pomegranate tree and defeated the Philistines. The odds were not in his favor! I have got to stop feeling sorry for myself, stop waiting on Him. I have to move to Him.....no matter what the outcome I need to step into Him. After all the scripture goes on to say "perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf." If I do not even take the step, how can He act on our behalf? Taking the risk of "act on our behalf" is my part here, have faith, God lead risk, not foolish risk. Taking comfortable risk is no risk at all......