Don't get me wrong, running out of gas is not always a bad thing, even in ministry.
At times it is cleansing ~ being drained breaks me down to the truth of who I am. It reveals the reality as I am too tired to fake it. It drains me of all the things I may have in my tank that Im holding on to that I won't let go unless I empty myself of them.
At times it is clearing ~ Draining also brings me to a place where I live more simply as I learn what I really need to live life.
Jesus taught us that
The bible tells us that as a child......
Luke 2:52 (ESV) And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
and through His life..........
Hebrews 5:8 (ESV) Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
Jesus understood what it meant to be drained. Though He is fully God He is fully Man and spent time in the empty zone. But through this cleansing and clearing Jesus grew in grace and learned to trust the filling of God.
In fact before Jesus entered ministry He spent 40 days in the desert being cleansed and cleared of all that would hinder Him from being successful. How did it work out for Him? Every temptation of Satan failed. But there is something I want you to know about this place of draining.
Mark 1:13 (ESV) And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
There was never a time where God nor His angels were far from Him
It was these times of cleansing and clearing that brought Jesus even closer to His Heavenly father and they taught Jesus two things.
The Value of being Emptied of Self
and the Value of being Filled by God
I know that you might think that all of the negitive things draining of you life might sink you, but I suggest you open the drain and let them out. Get down to who you really are and what you really need to live life, and then let God, who is never far from you, minister to you to fill you back up with what can only come from heaven.
Do that today, just don't really drink drano or you might wake up and literally see God.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Fear is a Drain, Faith is a Filler
When it comes to doing ministry, no one was more successful than Jesus Himself. For three years Jesus invested himself into others lives. The Disciples were encouraged, served, taught, and when Jesus was done, they reached THOUSANDS with the Gospel.
In fact what Jesus started was so effective that even today it prospers in our own lives.
2,000 years is a pretty good run.
How did Jesus have such a successful ministry? I mean if most pastors who begin ministry do not end their ministry well, and most Christians who begin serving God so full of faith and excitement end their years sitting in a pew. What have we missed?
What was not translated to us through the last 2,000 years that has caused such a switch.
What did Jesus do and teach that we are not? How did Jesus live with the demands and stress of ministry without becoming depressed and over stressed? Where did Jesus get His strength from, the depth of compassion, wisdom to make right decisions, and the power to do miracles?
Its simple. Jesus filled up before He poured out. While we are always running on a quarter tank. He never ran on the edge.
Have you ever done that with your car? I remember in the Storm of 2007 when Astoria lost power for days and you couldn't get out of town. My truck had a quarter tank of gas. I was panicked because I knew I could not get far and yet I still had to go places and with every mile I could feel the fear drain me emotionally. I know of people who always run their vehicle on a quarter tank and their always looking for a gas station. There is nothing more fearful than running out of fuel in the desert on a Harley. Once your out your walking.
Is that what you are doing with your ministry? With your Life? Are you constantly stressed as you live on the edge of an empty tank. Wondering what happens when it all runs out?
While we will discuss the way of Life that Jesus taught for success tomorrow, I would love to see you seriously consider this thought.
Are you currently living your life and ministry on a quarter tank? Are you going as far and giving as much as you can but wondering how long you can go without running empty?
Pray and let God know that your tired of being tired. Let Him know that fear of failure is draining you. Let Him know, Your Ready to be Filled.
In fact what Jesus started was so effective that even today it prospers in our own lives.
2,000 years is a pretty good run.
How did Jesus have such a successful ministry? I mean if most pastors who begin ministry do not end their ministry well, and most Christians who begin serving God so full of faith and excitement end their years sitting in a pew. What have we missed?
What was not translated to us through the last 2,000 years that has caused such a switch.
What did Jesus do and teach that we are not? How did Jesus live with the demands and stress of ministry without becoming depressed and over stressed? Where did Jesus get His strength from, the depth of compassion, wisdom to make right decisions, and the power to do miracles?
Its simple. Jesus filled up before He poured out. While we are always running on a quarter tank. He never ran on the edge.
Have you ever done that with your car? I remember in the Storm of 2007 when Astoria lost power for days and you couldn't get out of town. My truck had a quarter tank of gas. I was panicked because I knew I could not get far and yet I still had to go places and with every mile I could feel the fear drain me emotionally. I know of people who always run their vehicle on a quarter tank and their always looking for a gas station. There is nothing more fearful than running out of fuel in the desert on a Harley. Once your out your walking.
Is that what you are doing with your ministry? With your Life? Are you constantly stressed as you live on the edge of an empty tank. Wondering what happens when it all runs out?
While we will discuss the way of Life that Jesus taught for success tomorrow, I would love to see you seriously consider this thought.
Are you currently living your life and ministry on a quarter tank? Are you going as far and giving as much as you can but wondering how long you can go without running empty?
Pray and let God know that your tired of being tired. Let Him know that fear of failure is draining you. Let Him know, Your Ready to be Filled.
Monday, May 5, 2014
I've Been to the Mountain Top......and the Valley and I get tired of both
I know its been a while since I have blogged but I have been learning about my faith and was working it out not only to share it, but to live it.
Ministry in all forms, full time/part time/volunteer can take its toll on a life. Its not that serving God is bad, but it can be consuming. Most people start out meaning well but few end well. It is said that most Pastors will not retire from ministry but will quit. I don't think that its only Pastors as I have seen over the last 25 years so many people passionately serve God only to quit because of a multitude of reasons but usually because they are weary.
and I know what the bible says.........Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV) 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
This verse was used quite extensively in my spiritually formative years but as many other things I learned from the bible this passage too can be easily manipulated to guilt people into serving rather than encourage them in their service.
I say all of this to bring you into something that I have been learning and want to share with you.
Successful ministry is not found in the busyness of the work, nor is it found in the size of the work. Successful ministry is found in the faithfulness of the worker. and I am not talking about OUR faithfulness through weariness as some might say the above passage speaks of. But the Fullness of our Faith as we perform the work and the impact that this faith makes on those around us.
So over the next few days I will be sharing some of the things I am learning on this subject to hopefully encourage you in your walk with Jesus to success.
So if you would, please begin by reading John 15:1-7 and tomorrow we will take a step deeper into the word.
Ministry in all forms, full time/part time/volunteer can take its toll on a life. Its not that serving God is bad, but it can be consuming. Most people start out meaning well but few end well. It is said that most Pastors will not retire from ministry but will quit. I don't think that its only Pastors as I have seen over the last 25 years so many people passionately serve God only to quit because of a multitude of reasons but usually because they are weary.
and I know what the bible says.........Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV) 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
This verse was used quite extensively in my spiritually formative years but as many other things I learned from the bible this passage too can be easily manipulated to guilt people into serving rather than encourage them in their service.
I say all of this to bring you into something that I have been learning and want to share with you.
Successful ministry is not found in the busyness of the work, nor is it found in the size of the work. Successful ministry is found in the faithfulness of the worker. and I am not talking about OUR faithfulness through weariness as some might say the above passage speaks of. But the Fullness of our Faith as we perform the work and the impact that this faith makes on those around us.
So over the next few days I will be sharing some of the things I am learning on this subject to hopefully encourage you in your walk with Jesus to success.
So if you would, please begin by reading John 15:1-7 and tomorrow we will take a step deeper into the word.
Monday, February 24, 2014
From the Shallows to the Deep
One of the greatest joys in the Gospel ministry is to see the difference Jesus Christ makes in the lives of those who know Him. Over the last few weeks I have been watching a young woman who came to us a few years ago and I wanted to share her story from my vantage point.
This woman came to us broken. Very broken. She was hurt deeply by a multitude of things but worst of all by religion. Her husband was at his wits end and his last hope of saving their marriage was to involve her in newLife. So we did.
The first thing I remember we did was connect her to a very mature woman in Christ who too had been deeply wounded but knew how to take that hurt and turn it into holiness. This mature woman's love and devotion pierced through the hurt of her broken heart and the healing began.
Over the next couple of years this newly healed young woman began to transform into the loving, kind, beautiful woman that had been hidden for so long. Her heart began to grow and grow but its one thing to live for Christ on the mountain top and another to live in the valley.
As it so happens one day that valley came. Her heart was hurt again and I wondered how she would process the pain. Would she go back to the protection of her past or would she press through in Christ. I wondered, Would she LIVE forgiveness and grace. I will be honest this is always a scary place for a Pastor and I was seriously concerned.
What happened? She navigated her hurt through a godly grace and a Christ~Like Forgiveness. On this side of her hurt I can with great assurance know that this young woman is no longer a student of a mature woman's Love and devotion but has become a teacher with a mature woman's love and devotion.
As her Pastor I am happy to know that her ability to navigate forgiveness has changed her life by encouraging her marriage, enhancing her ministry, and honoring her Savior.
Through the work of many at newLife, She has gone from the shallow waters and rocky shores of her pain into the deeper things of God and I couldn't be more pleased.
This woman came to us broken. Very broken. She was hurt deeply by a multitude of things but worst of all by religion. Her husband was at his wits end and his last hope of saving their marriage was to involve her in newLife. So we did.
The first thing I remember we did was connect her to a very mature woman in Christ who too had been deeply wounded but knew how to take that hurt and turn it into holiness. This mature woman's love and devotion pierced through the hurt of her broken heart and the healing began.
Over the next couple of years this newly healed young woman began to transform into the loving, kind, beautiful woman that had been hidden for so long. Her heart began to grow and grow but its one thing to live for Christ on the mountain top and another to live in the valley.
As it so happens one day that valley came. Her heart was hurt again and I wondered how she would process the pain. Would she go back to the protection of her past or would she press through in Christ. I wondered, Would she LIVE forgiveness and grace. I will be honest this is always a scary place for a Pastor and I was seriously concerned.
What happened? She navigated her hurt through a godly grace and a Christ~Like Forgiveness. On this side of her hurt I can with great assurance know that this young woman is no longer a student of a mature woman's Love and devotion but has become a teacher with a mature woman's love and devotion.
As her Pastor I am happy to know that her ability to navigate forgiveness has changed her life by encouraging her marriage, enhancing her ministry, and honoring her Savior.
Through the work of many at newLife, She has gone from the shallow waters and rocky shores of her pain into the deeper things of God and I couldn't be more pleased.
3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Apples or Rotton Oranges
I don't mean to be so harsh but I have to say it. I HATE my Galaxy s4. I know I know its not good to hate, but I do. As an IPhone user for four years I was encouraged to try the Android System mainly because for some stupid reason Apple created the I Phone 5 with a tiny screen and I can't see it very well. But from the first day, I knew this transition was a wrong one and here is why.
#1 To do Anything with the Android you have to go through at least 6 steps to accomplish even the most simple of tasks. It reminds me of using my debit card at a grocery store and having to go through several screens just to purchase a $3 item. UGH.
#2 You can't pick the phone up without screwing something up. Literally, every time I pick it up I either erase an app, change a page, dial a number I didn't mean to dial, or send an empty text. I have even accidentally added photos to my background without understanding how they got there. Every swipe, drop of sweat, or gas bubble affects what happens on this phone.
#3 Yes, there are more apps available than the I Phone, but most of the apps are garbage and there is no clear way of knowing if the app is any good without downloading it onto your phone.
I never had any of these problems with my Apple Product. But it did make me think for a moment about the Church.
There are many churches just like the Android system.
To be a part of the church there are several hoops you need to jump through just to attend and no simple explanation how to navigate even the simplest of tasks.
You can't attend without offending someone. Literally every time you attend there is something negative about the experience. Its not intentional but it happens that either you offend or are offended.
Yes churches have many ministries as well as many activities, but most of them are garbage and there is no way of knowing if the activity is any good except you attend.
As soon as I can I am going back to the simple beauty of the I Phone. It was created to be a purposeful as well as powerful tool for mankind. And so was the Church.
Some may prefer the Android church, I'll stick with the 52 days of the Apple church.
A Purposeful as well as Powerful tool for mankind to connect with a God who seeks the simplicity of faith.
Steve Jobs was no fool.
#1 To do Anything with the Android you have to go through at least 6 steps to accomplish even the most simple of tasks. It reminds me of using my debit card at a grocery store and having to go through several screens just to purchase a $3 item. UGH.
#2 You can't pick the phone up without screwing something up. Literally, every time I pick it up I either erase an app, change a page, dial a number I didn't mean to dial, or send an empty text. I have even accidentally added photos to my background without understanding how they got there. Every swipe, drop of sweat, or gas bubble affects what happens on this phone.
#3 Yes, there are more apps available than the I Phone, but most of the apps are garbage and there is no clear way of knowing if the app is any good without downloading it onto your phone.
I never had any of these problems with my Apple Product. But it did make me think for a moment about the Church.
There are many churches just like the Android system.
To be a part of the church there are several hoops you need to jump through just to attend and no simple explanation how to navigate even the simplest of tasks.
You can't attend without offending someone. Literally every time you attend there is something negative about the experience. Its not intentional but it happens that either you offend or are offended.
Yes churches have many ministries as well as many activities, but most of them are garbage and there is no way of knowing if the activity is any good except you attend.
As soon as I can I am going back to the simple beauty of the I Phone. It was created to be a purposeful as well as powerful tool for mankind. And so was the Church.
Some may prefer the Android church, I'll stick with the 52 days of the Apple church.
A Purposeful as well as Powerful tool for mankind to connect with a God who seeks the simplicity of faith.
Steve Jobs was no fool.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Try Listening
Margin ~ To create space in life
He (the Preacher) said that it was important to create margin for things that were most important. But I didn't listen. I came home and went to work and worked hard.
He (the Preacher) said that if margin was not created by you it would be created for you. But I didn't listen and margin came. The space that was created was from the emptiness of creativity.
He (the Preacher) said that when margin came, even on its own, I should live in it. But I didn't listen and closed up the margin. Too much to do.
He s(the Preacher) said that if I closed up the margin that was created by not creating margin myself the result would be burn out. But I listened to that. I've burned out before and it always hurts.
So I opened up that margin again.
I canceled meetings with people and spent meetings with God. He spoke, I listened. I spoke, He answered. It was the inspiration and information that I needed to live better and work smarter and make the space in my life more enjoyable.
And all I had to do was listen and create space in life for God.
Maybe I need to get my ears cleaned?
He (the Preacher) said that it was important to create margin for things that were most important. But I didn't listen. I came home and went to work and worked hard.
He (the Preacher) said that if margin was not created by you it would be created for you. But I didn't listen and margin came. The space that was created was from the emptiness of creativity.
He (the Preacher) said that when margin came, even on its own, I should live in it. But I didn't listen and closed up the margin. Too much to do.
He s(the Preacher) said that if I closed up the margin that was created by not creating margin myself the result would be burn out. But I listened to that. I've burned out before and it always hurts.
So I opened up that margin again.
I canceled meetings with people and spent meetings with God. He spoke, I listened. I spoke, He answered. It was the inspiration and information that I needed to live better and work smarter and make the space in my life more enjoyable.
And all I had to do was listen and create space in life for God.
Maybe I need to get my ears cleaned?
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