11/16/2011
Opportunity Risk
“The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'
"The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.
"'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.'
Matthew 25:24-30 The Message
I have not written a blog post in a while. I have been terribly busy with school and sometimes did not really have anything valuable to contribute (or so I thought). I think it’s been all writing papers and dealing with life as usual for me these last few weeks. But a couple of weeks ago, God had me spend a considerable amount of time in prayer and fasting. I have several different things going on in my life and I was really confused as to how I was going to do them all, so I did nothing instead. I just kept going with the flow of things, which meant just go to school. I figured it was ok to just be still until I knew which way to go. But God put a sense of urgency in me to take steps in the direction He had already given me to do. Part of the reason I left my job in 2010 was to start a ministry that would be a non-traditional ministry. But because I didn’t know what that looked like, I just kept it in the planning phase in my head. But there are some practical things I could be doing right now to get that going. I just wasn’t doing it. God gave me a swift kick in the butt to get me going and now I’m back, taking action again. That is the fortunate part of the story for me.
In this passage in Matthew 25, Jesus is using a parable to illustrate what the Kingdom of God is like. He is basically saying that God gives us all something that we have to make use of in this world. Some people have multiple “talents” and to others He has given just one. But all of us have the responsibility to not just sit on what we have been given. Eventually, the Master will return to collect on what he has given you to use. And if He finds that you have buried it, then the bible says things will not be good for you.
Many people think that by taking a risk and going out to use what God has given them will end up in such failure that they sit and do nothing. They think that it is better to play it safe and make sure that they don’t lose what God has given them. But the bible speaks contrary to this idea. The bible actually says that if you don’t use it you will lose it, and the Master will NOT be happy about that. Yes, God is loving and forgiving, but the risk that you think you are taking by using what He gave you is NOTHING compared to the risk you take by not using what He gave you.
The servant who buried his talents said that he knew the character of the Master and figured that it would be better to play it safe instead of risking what he was given. But the problem with this line of thinking is that he said that he KNEW the Master. His actions did not line up with what he said. If he knew the Master, why would he bury what he was given? This passage speaks to Christians today who claim to know God. If you truly know God, why would you think that you have the right to sit on what you have been given without consequence? Most people function under the assumption that this passage is speaking about the future return of Christ, so they figure they have their whole lives to get busy on what God has given them. I am telling you now that this message is not just for some random future date when Jesus comes back. This message is for now! You have no idea when the window of opportunity that God is giving to you will close for this season, so instead of assuming that you have all the time in the world to get busy using your gifts, you are better off using what you have in the best way you know how until God gives you more instruction. It is better to be found using your gifts and talents than not. Even if you mess it all up, at least you tried. The worst thing you can do according to Scripture is do nothing. That is a recipe for disaster in the kingdom of God. Make the best of what you have been given without fear, and God will reward you with an opportunity that is well worth the risk. To those who think they know God, act like you know God and move.
If God is calling you to start a business, then move. If God s calling you to go back to school, then move. If God is calling you to start a ministry (Shayna), then move. If God is calling you to write a book, then move. If God is calling you to move to another city, then move. If God is calling you to buy a house, then move. If God is calling you to do whatever, then move. If God is calling you to it, then God has already given you what you need to make it happen. It is up to you to use what you’ve got to get what God (and you) want. God is not asking you to use anything He hasn’t already given you. The servant in the parable wasn’t asked to use the five talents of someone else. Just the one he was given. You have no idea when your door will close or if you will have time to try again. If you feel like you have been sitting on what God gave you out of fear, then repent and start moving again. You may find that God is gracious enough to give you another chance. Move in faith, not fear.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Spirit of Religion
The Spirit of Religion
“The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. These liars have lied so well and for so long that they've lost their capacity for truth. They will tell you not to get married. They'll tell you not to eat this or that food—perfectly good food God created to be eaten heartily and with thanksgiving by believers who know better! Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks. Nothing is to be sneered at and thrown out. God's Word and our prayers make every item in creation holy.” 1 Timothy 4:1-5 The Message
When I had my conversion experience in 2000, I was incredibly hungry for the word. So much so that I went out and bought a bible and began to read it from beginning to end. Since I didn’t attend a church, I just thought it was a good idea to read the bible and do what it said to do until I could find a church home. I got to a particular chapter in the book of Leviticus that told the Israelites not to eat pork, so I gave it up too. I felt like if God said don’t eat it, then there is probably something good about that. I hated to give it up because I really liked ham and bacon. But I loved God more, so I decided to give it up anyway.
Years later, I read this scripture and realized that giving up pork wasn’t really necessary to my faith in Christ. But by that time, my body got so used to it that I never went back. So now I don’t eat pork for health reasons, not to be holy. But this morning as I was praying I began to pray against a spirit of religion in someone’s life. And that prayer led me to this scripture again. It deals with the false teachings and deception of people who force a particular set of rules upon others in the name of religion, or as they may say, in the name of Jesus. But our faith in Christ has nothing to do with rules and regulations or who can be the most holy by abstaining from this or that. The premise behind our faith is that Christ did it for us. If you try to “be saved” by adding a bunch of restrictions to your life that God never asked you for, then you are in danger of inviting a religious spirit into your life. And the religious spirit invites a seductive spirit.
Now don’t think that I am telling you that your life should have no discipline whatsoever and that you should just do whatever you want since Christ paid it all. Any mature believer in Christ cannot live recklessly and think it’s ok. But what we learn in our walk with Christ is how to let the Holy Spirit be our guide, not our rules. If you begin to make your rules your guide, then you are basically saying that you trust them more than you trust God. And maybe in some areas of your life, you need to do that because you don’t yet know how to let God keep you in that area. But as you mature, you will have to let go of the rules and trust your position in God as His child and as someone who has committed their life to Him. God may start you with a rule, but lead to to His Spirit.
It’s like a parent raising a child. Good parents begin to let go of the reigns a little as the child demonstrates maturity in order to teach them how to function as an individual. When you are young, you need the protection of your parents who are teaching you how to function in this world. But as you get older, they have to trust that what they have sown into your life will hold you. So you don’t see many 18 year olds with a 5 year old’s “bedtime”. Or you may have a later curfew at age 16 than you did at 9. The rules tend to diminish in favor of your parents trusting you to use what they taught you to be your guide. Otherwise, you would never learn how to think for yourself.
With a religious spirit, the necessity for people to have rules to govern them is essential because the goal is for you never to think for yourself. Just follow the rules. Don’t ask any questions. It may be taught under the guise of trying to keep you holy, but in truth it is actually inviting a spirit of seduction into your life. The more rules you lay upon a person, the more their spirit will attempt to fight to be free from that bondage. Think back to kids you knew whose parents held the reigns so tightly on the children. Many of them may have even been the stereotypical “preacher’s kid”. But when they got a chance to be free, what did they do? They went BUCK WILD! I have seen some crazy examples of people who seem to live double lives, where one minute with their family they are the most straight laced kid you would ever see and the next they were going crazy in the club. I’m sure we all know people like that.
This religious spirit is subtle. But it’s effects are devastating. As the scripture says, it turns people away from the faith. It seduces them into thinking that there is some standard of behavior that is necessary at all times and if you cannot meet it, you would be better off not even trying. It makes people think that because they don’t drink or smoke or have sex or eat pork that they are better than people who do. But don’t think for one minute that these things are the source of any holiness you may have. It’s one thing to abstain from these things out of love for yourself and for your God. But it is another to do these things in an effort to be seen as holy and look down on other people for not doing them. You may very well be inviting a seductive spirit into your life. And there is no telling what that spirit will do.
This religious spirit is prevalent in our churches. And the more rules they have, the greater the devastation of people straying from the truth. They may argue and say that scripture says, “Be ye holy for I am holy” and that is why the put so much emphasis on behavior. But the scripture never said act holy. It says be holy. Holiness is a state of being not a state of doing. If you can “be” holy then all of your actions will come from that place. And the only way scripture tells us to “be holy” is to abide in Christ. Then you will “do” holy things. But if your rules lead you, you will disappoint yourself every time. And the more you disappoint yourself the easier it is to stray away. And the easier it is to stray away, the more likely it is that the seductive spirit will make you do more things that you will be ashamed of. And the more that spirit can make you ashamed, the easier it is to hide from the God who loves you anyway. And the more you hide, the more works you will want to do to get back into God’s good graces. And there the religious spirit has you. Back to a works based life, where faith in Christ is irrelevant. Who needs the cross when you have service? If your acts of service can make you clean, then the cross was unnecessary and Jesus should have just kept performing miracles. It would have been a lot less painful. But Jesus did go to the cross. Not to force you to give up meats or to not get married or to beat yourself up every time you make a mistake. He went to the cross so you can trust in the fact that there is nothing you can do to win God’s love for you. God’s love has nothing to do with you. God’s love is about God’s love for you. It is up to you to respond, not to replace it with your good deeds. Pray for us all.
“The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. These liars have lied so well and for so long that they've lost their capacity for truth. They will tell you not to get married. They'll tell you not to eat this or that food—perfectly good food God created to be eaten heartily and with thanksgiving by believers who know better! Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks. Nothing is to be sneered at and thrown out. God's Word and our prayers make every item in creation holy.” 1 Timothy 4:1-5 The Message
When I had my conversion experience in 2000, I was incredibly hungry for the word. So much so that I went out and bought a bible and began to read it from beginning to end. Since I didn’t attend a church, I just thought it was a good idea to read the bible and do what it said to do until I could find a church home. I got to a particular chapter in the book of Leviticus that told the Israelites not to eat pork, so I gave it up too. I felt like if God said don’t eat it, then there is probably something good about that. I hated to give it up because I really liked ham and bacon. But I loved God more, so I decided to give it up anyway.
Years later, I read this scripture and realized that giving up pork wasn’t really necessary to my faith in Christ. But by that time, my body got so used to it that I never went back. So now I don’t eat pork for health reasons, not to be holy. But this morning as I was praying I began to pray against a spirit of religion in someone’s life. And that prayer led me to this scripture again. It deals with the false teachings and deception of people who force a particular set of rules upon others in the name of religion, or as they may say, in the name of Jesus. But our faith in Christ has nothing to do with rules and regulations or who can be the most holy by abstaining from this or that. The premise behind our faith is that Christ did it for us. If you try to “be saved” by adding a bunch of restrictions to your life that God never asked you for, then you are in danger of inviting a religious spirit into your life. And the religious spirit invites a seductive spirit.
Now don’t think that I am telling you that your life should have no discipline whatsoever and that you should just do whatever you want since Christ paid it all. Any mature believer in Christ cannot live recklessly and think it’s ok. But what we learn in our walk with Christ is how to let the Holy Spirit be our guide, not our rules. If you begin to make your rules your guide, then you are basically saying that you trust them more than you trust God. And maybe in some areas of your life, you need to do that because you don’t yet know how to let God keep you in that area. But as you mature, you will have to let go of the rules and trust your position in God as His child and as someone who has committed their life to Him. God may start you with a rule, but lead to to His Spirit.
It’s like a parent raising a child. Good parents begin to let go of the reigns a little as the child demonstrates maturity in order to teach them how to function as an individual. When you are young, you need the protection of your parents who are teaching you how to function in this world. But as you get older, they have to trust that what they have sown into your life will hold you. So you don’t see many 18 year olds with a 5 year old’s “bedtime”. Or you may have a later curfew at age 16 than you did at 9. The rules tend to diminish in favor of your parents trusting you to use what they taught you to be your guide. Otherwise, you would never learn how to think for yourself.
With a religious spirit, the necessity for people to have rules to govern them is essential because the goal is for you never to think for yourself. Just follow the rules. Don’t ask any questions. It may be taught under the guise of trying to keep you holy, but in truth it is actually inviting a spirit of seduction into your life. The more rules you lay upon a person, the more their spirit will attempt to fight to be free from that bondage. Think back to kids you knew whose parents held the reigns so tightly on the children. Many of them may have even been the stereotypical “preacher’s kid”. But when they got a chance to be free, what did they do? They went BUCK WILD! I have seen some crazy examples of people who seem to live double lives, where one minute with their family they are the most straight laced kid you would ever see and the next they were going crazy in the club. I’m sure we all know people like that.
This religious spirit is subtle. But it’s effects are devastating. As the scripture says, it turns people away from the faith. It seduces them into thinking that there is some standard of behavior that is necessary at all times and if you cannot meet it, you would be better off not even trying. It makes people think that because they don’t drink or smoke or have sex or eat pork that they are better than people who do. But don’t think for one minute that these things are the source of any holiness you may have. It’s one thing to abstain from these things out of love for yourself and for your God. But it is another to do these things in an effort to be seen as holy and look down on other people for not doing them. You may very well be inviting a seductive spirit into your life. And there is no telling what that spirit will do.
This religious spirit is prevalent in our churches. And the more rules they have, the greater the devastation of people straying from the truth. They may argue and say that scripture says, “Be ye holy for I am holy” and that is why the put so much emphasis on behavior. But the scripture never said act holy. It says be holy. Holiness is a state of being not a state of doing. If you can “be” holy then all of your actions will come from that place. And the only way scripture tells us to “be holy” is to abide in Christ. Then you will “do” holy things. But if your rules lead you, you will disappoint yourself every time. And the more you disappoint yourself the easier it is to stray away. And the easier it is to stray away, the more likely it is that the seductive spirit will make you do more things that you will be ashamed of. And the more that spirit can make you ashamed, the easier it is to hide from the God who loves you anyway. And the more you hide, the more works you will want to do to get back into God’s good graces. And there the religious spirit has you. Back to a works based life, where faith in Christ is irrelevant. Who needs the cross when you have service? If your acts of service can make you clean, then the cross was unnecessary and Jesus should have just kept performing miracles. It would have been a lot less painful. But Jesus did go to the cross. Not to force you to give up meats or to not get married or to beat yourself up every time you make a mistake. He went to the cross so you can trust in the fact that there is nothing you can do to win God’s love for you. God’s love has nothing to do with you. God’s love is about God’s love for you. It is up to you to respond, not to replace it with your good deeds. Pray for us all.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Victor or Victim?
“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." John 10:18 NIV
The other day, I was laying in the bed thinking about my life over the past year and a half. I have been provided for in ways that I would have never thought were possible. But I have also been in need in ways I never imagined. And on that particular day, I had an overwhelming sense of peace, even though I think most people in my financial situation would be puling their hair out. I recall that two ears ago, I made 80% more money than I did when I filed my tax return the year before. To most people that would spell financial disaster. And it does feel like that sometimes. But at the same time, I know that this is exactly where I need to be. It’s strange. I have peace in the middle of a storm, just like God promised.
But what makes it worse is that I chose this life. For some people, this type of stuff happens to them as a result of life circumstances. Maybe they lose their job, or become ill, or have to take a pay cut to care for loved ones. But for me, I choose this life, on purpose. Truthfully, that makes me feel different. Everytime, I cannot make a payment when I am used to making it, I still feel different. Everytime I am supposed to get paid for some work I did, but there is a delay, I feel different. Everytime I look at my bank account and wonder if I will have enough to go grocery shopping or get gas, I still feel different. And I feel different because I choose to do this. I am not a victim of my circumstances. No body is doing this to me. I followed my God to a place where He led me and He has promised to take care of me. And He has done just that.
Jesus spoke to his disciples about his death in the above passage. He is letting them know that no one is going to take his life from him. He is willingly laying it down for a specific purpose. And he has the authority to change his situation at anytime. There is a reason for him to have to die this way. But no one should feel sorry for him or treat him like a victim. He is doing this on purpose, as strange as this may sound. It has to be done this way.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to go where Jesus leads. And the result of some of where he leads is not always pleasant. It is not always filled with the type of financial benefits that some say we will get. It is not always filled with riches and fame. Sometimes the blessing is in the power that you have to choose not to be wealthy, and still have the same peace and authority that some people equate to money. Sometimes, what God is showing us is that it is not in having that gives you the power, it is in choosing to lay down your life, for a greater purpose that becomes the power. Because if you choose it, then you also have the power to get out of it at anytime. But if you are constantly playing the victim role, you will never be able to see your authority. No one is doing this to me, I am choosing this life and one day I will choose to take this life up again and live it with the true authority I have which is not rooted in money or possessions.
Many prosperity gospel preachers would have you believe that the moment that you start to live your life for Jesus, everything becomes easy. You suddenly have more money, more fame, better health, whatever you may need. But the truth is, if God gives you any of that stuff, then your boasting is not in having it, it will be found in giving it up. Following Christ is not about what you obtain. It is about what you sacrifice. You don’t have to be a follower of Christ to get stuff. But it takes supernatural power to give up what most people spend their life trying to get. Yet once you get it, God may ask you to give it up in order to make sure you recognize who is truly in control. Think about some of the greatest stories in the bible related to this: Abraham, Hannah, Paul, David, Jesus. There is a point in your life when you realize that anything you want can be yours if God wants you to have it. But when and if you get it, it is never about you. And your power lies in the fact that nothing but God has a hold on you. Because He gave you the power to lay down your life, and to take it up again. You are not a victim. No matter what people may think. They might feel sorry for you or think that you are not making wise decisions. But if that’s what they think, they need to see it again from another perspective. You are not being killed, you have laid down your life.
Following Jesus is not easy. Let me not lie to you. And God will not ask you to give up something you never possessed. But what you cannot give up, actually possesses you. And as long as that possesses you, you do not yet fully belong to God. When nothing in this world can hold you, you are actually more powerful than you know. I knew that when I was planning to leave my job a year and a half ago that I was going to have to quit. I was trying to plot to see if I could get fired so that I could get unemployment (true confession). But something in me knew that this was not going to work. I had to choose this. And because I chose this, I feel more powerful than life choosing this for me. It gives me strength when I need it. It gives me hope and it give me power. I can take up my life at any time, but I choose to keep going and wait for God to take me down the path. It makes me a victor and not a victim. So I encourage any of you who feel like God is calling you to lay something down, to do it. Because eventually you will not possess that thing that he is asking you to lay down. The difference will be in how much power you feel you have in the midst of it. Will you be the victim or the victor? Will you be the one blaming the devil for what he is doing or the one who knows that nothing the devil does can harm you because you chose this? It’s easy to have life happen to you, just keep living. Something's going to go wrong eventually. But laying down your life puts you on the offensive. You have the chance to choose your life and your death. You are not living as a victim. You will have more power than you will ever know.
The other day, I was laying in the bed thinking about my life over the past year and a half. I have been provided for in ways that I would have never thought were possible. But I have also been in need in ways I never imagined. And on that particular day, I had an overwhelming sense of peace, even though I think most people in my financial situation would be puling their hair out. I recall that two ears ago, I made 80% more money than I did when I filed my tax return the year before. To most people that would spell financial disaster. And it does feel like that sometimes. But at the same time, I know that this is exactly where I need to be. It’s strange. I have peace in the middle of a storm, just like God promised.
But what makes it worse is that I chose this life. For some people, this type of stuff happens to them as a result of life circumstances. Maybe they lose their job, or become ill, or have to take a pay cut to care for loved ones. But for me, I choose this life, on purpose. Truthfully, that makes me feel different. Everytime, I cannot make a payment when I am used to making it, I still feel different. Everytime I am supposed to get paid for some work I did, but there is a delay, I feel different. Everytime I look at my bank account and wonder if I will have enough to go grocery shopping or get gas, I still feel different. And I feel different because I choose to do this. I am not a victim of my circumstances. No body is doing this to me. I followed my God to a place where He led me and He has promised to take care of me. And He has done just that.
Jesus spoke to his disciples about his death in the above passage. He is letting them know that no one is going to take his life from him. He is willingly laying it down for a specific purpose. And he has the authority to change his situation at anytime. There is a reason for him to have to die this way. But no one should feel sorry for him or treat him like a victim. He is doing this on purpose, as strange as this may sound. It has to be done this way.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to go where Jesus leads. And the result of some of where he leads is not always pleasant. It is not always filled with the type of financial benefits that some say we will get. It is not always filled with riches and fame. Sometimes the blessing is in the power that you have to choose not to be wealthy, and still have the same peace and authority that some people equate to money. Sometimes, what God is showing us is that it is not in having that gives you the power, it is in choosing to lay down your life, for a greater purpose that becomes the power. Because if you choose it, then you also have the power to get out of it at anytime. But if you are constantly playing the victim role, you will never be able to see your authority. No one is doing this to me, I am choosing this life and one day I will choose to take this life up again and live it with the true authority I have which is not rooted in money or possessions.
Many prosperity gospel preachers would have you believe that the moment that you start to live your life for Jesus, everything becomes easy. You suddenly have more money, more fame, better health, whatever you may need. But the truth is, if God gives you any of that stuff, then your boasting is not in having it, it will be found in giving it up. Following Christ is not about what you obtain. It is about what you sacrifice. You don’t have to be a follower of Christ to get stuff. But it takes supernatural power to give up what most people spend their life trying to get. Yet once you get it, God may ask you to give it up in order to make sure you recognize who is truly in control. Think about some of the greatest stories in the bible related to this: Abraham, Hannah, Paul, David, Jesus. There is a point in your life when you realize that anything you want can be yours if God wants you to have it. But when and if you get it, it is never about you. And your power lies in the fact that nothing but God has a hold on you. Because He gave you the power to lay down your life, and to take it up again. You are not a victim. No matter what people may think. They might feel sorry for you or think that you are not making wise decisions. But if that’s what they think, they need to see it again from another perspective. You are not being killed, you have laid down your life.
Following Jesus is not easy. Let me not lie to you. And God will not ask you to give up something you never possessed. But what you cannot give up, actually possesses you. And as long as that possesses you, you do not yet fully belong to God. When nothing in this world can hold you, you are actually more powerful than you know. I knew that when I was planning to leave my job a year and a half ago that I was going to have to quit. I was trying to plot to see if I could get fired so that I could get unemployment (true confession). But something in me knew that this was not going to work. I had to choose this. And because I chose this, I feel more powerful than life choosing this for me. It gives me strength when I need it. It gives me hope and it give me power. I can take up my life at any time, but I choose to keep going and wait for God to take me down the path. It makes me a victor and not a victim. So I encourage any of you who feel like God is calling you to lay something down, to do it. Because eventually you will not possess that thing that he is asking you to lay down. The difference will be in how much power you feel you have in the midst of it. Will you be the victim or the victor? Will you be the one blaming the devil for what he is doing or the one who knows that nothing the devil does can harm you because you chose this? It’s easy to have life happen to you, just keep living. Something's going to go wrong eventually. But laying down your life puts you on the offensive. You have the chance to choose your life and your death. You are not living as a victim. You will have more power than you will ever know.
Monday, September 26, 2011
A Word About Prayer
A Word About Prayer
“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name . . .” Matthew 6:7-9 NIV
Have you ever been in a church service or in the presence of someone who is praying and hear them use a bunch of words to address God, before they even get to anything substantive? Maybe they start calling out the various names of God in their prayers: “Lord God Jehovah, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Maker of Heaven and Earth, Ruler of Nations, Lord of All . . .” On and on and on. All of this before they even get to the very thing they are praying about. I wonder if they know that it’s not necessary?
Jesus tells his disciples not to pray like this. In that day, the “pagans” as the bible calls them, used to heap all kinds of titles and praise words on their god in order to win their affection so that they could get what they wanted. They would introduce their prayers with things to “butter up” their God, hoping to get their god’s attention. But those who walked with Jesus were instructed not to pray this way. Jesus told his disciples to pray from a position of intimacy with their God. Not from a position of begging for “stuff”.
He tells his disciples to address God as “Father”. That describes a relationship. You don’t go to someone you are in relationship with heaping on a bunch of names before you ask for something from them. If you do, they usually know something is up. You want something from them that they will probably say no to. So you feel the need to butter them up first before you ask. Jesus says that God already knows what you are going to ask for, so there is no need for all of the babbling beforehand.
When I call my Dad, I don’t hit him with all of his titles before I get to the gist of what I’m calling for. If I called and said, “Father of Shayna, Erica and Rick; Husband of Donna; Son of Jannette and Herbert; Teacher of students; Resident of Mt. Airy; Owner of a White Car; Former Changer of My Diaper . . .” he would think I’d lost my mind. That’s not how you address someone with whom you have a relationship with. I just leave it at “Hey Dad”. And then proceed with the conversation.
For those who are in relationship with God as our Heavenly Father, there is no need to go on and on and on before you come before Him in prayer. Jesus has already made it possible for you to simply say, “Hey Dad”. There is nothing wrong with praising God for who He is, but it is not necessary for talking to Him on the regular. Don’t think that you are out of order for simply talking to your father. Those who feel disconnected may think they need to start off their prayer with the babbling, but know that it is not necessary. As a matter of fact, I think God would like it very much if you just say, “Hey Dad”. Especially if you have not spoken to God in a while. That doesn’t change the fact that you are still His child. You don’t have to work your way back up to get in good with God again. He already knows what you want to talk about. He just wants you to know that you can talk to Him. No mater how far away you feel you are. Don’t pray like someone who has no relationship with God. You already do. Just say, “Hey Dad”. I am sure He will answer.
“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name . . .” Matthew 6:7-9 NIV
Have you ever been in a church service or in the presence of someone who is praying and hear them use a bunch of words to address God, before they even get to anything substantive? Maybe they start calling out the various names of God in their prayers: “Lord God Jehovah, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Maker of Heaven and Earth, Ruler of Nations, Lord of All . . .” On and on and on. All of this before they even get to the very thing they are praying about. I wonder if they know that it’s not necessary?
Jesus tells his disciples not to pray like this. In that day, the “pagans” as the bible calls them, used to heap all kinds of titles and praise words on their god in order to win their affection so that they could get what they wanted. They would introduce their prayers with things to “butter up” their God, hoping to get their god’s attention. But those who walked with Jesus were instructed not to pray this way. Jesus told his disciples to pray from a position of intimacy with their God. Not from a position of begging for “stuff”.
He tells his disciples to address God as “Father”. That describes a relationship. You don’t go to someone you are in relationship with heaping on a bunch of names before you ask for something from them. If you do, they usually know something is up. You want something from them that they will probably say no to. So you feel the need to butter them up first before you ask. Jesus says that God already knows what you are going to ask for, so there is no need for all of the babbling beforehand.
When I call my Dad, I don’t hit him with all of his titles before I get to the gist of what I’m calling for. If I called and said, “Father of Shayna, Erica and Rick; Husband of Donna; Son of Jannette and Herbert; Teacher of students; Resident of Mt. Airy; Owner of a White Car; Former Changer of My Diaper . . .” he would think I’d lost my mind. That’s not how you address someone with whom you have a relationship with. I just leave it at “Hey Dad”. And then proceed with the conversation.
For those who are in relationship with God as our Heavenly Father, there is no need to go on and on and on before you come before Him in prayer. Jesus has already made it possible for you to simply say, “Hey Dad”. There is nothing wrong with praising God for who He is, but it is not necessary for talking to Him on the regular. Don’t think that you are out of order for simply talking to your father. Those who feel disconnected may think they need to start off their prayer with the babbling, but know that it is not necessary. As a matter of fact, I think God would like it very much if you just say, “Hey Dad”. Especially if you have not spoken to God in a while. That doesn’t change the fact that you are still His child. You don’t have to work your way back up to get in good with God again. He already knows what you want to talk about. He just wants you to know that you can talk to Him. No mater how far away you feel you are. Don’t pray like someone who has no relationship with God. You already do. Just say, “Hey Dad”. I am sure He will answer.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Jehova Jireh? My Provider
Jehova Jireh? My Provider.
“I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:18-19 NIV
One of the hardest parts of living by faith in your finances is getting used to the reshaping of your mindset. If you are, like me, used to living in a condition of surplus, then living according to your needs being met is a real challenge. It’s not even that I had a whole bunch of money before, but it was certainly more than I have now. I don’t even think I recognized how much surplus I had until I didn’t have it anymore. I was used to working on a budget, putting some money away for savings and investing, giving, traveling, going out with friends, giving gifts, all with my paycheck. But now, I have no regular paycheck. I get money at random times for various clients that come through at the times when I need it. And usually it has nothing to do with me doing any advertising for them. They just come. Now, if I didn’t know where I was spiritually at this point in my life, I would probably quit school, focus exclusively on my business and get back to the place where I was more comfortable. And believe me, it’s tempting. But God does show me where He has me at this moment, so I continuously fight the temptation. And I also know that this is just a season.
Paul was speaking to the Philippian church about his own financial condition in the above passage. He was living off of the money he made from making tents and whatever else he needed from the support for the churches he started in various towns or cities. He never really put the burden of supporting him on the people, but the Philippians gave out of their hearts for taking care of Paul and his needs. Paul said in the previous verses that he had learned to get along with means and also to get along without them, and one thing he had come to realize is that he can do all things through Christ who strengthened him. That’s what that scripture means. Whether Paul had a lot or a little, he could survive and be content with where he was at the moment. God was his true source, and God touched the hearts of people to help Paul when he needed it. And for that, Paul prayed that God would give them all they needed. Their concern for him was genuine and even though they were not the richest church that Paul helped to start, their kindness and generosity was unmatched. And the people who gave touched Paul’s heart.
I have received so much from people during this time in my life. And it always comes when I need it. Whether it is a service I provided through financial planning or just a person choosing to give me a gift, I am truly grateful. And I have learned how to get along with means and how to get along without. And I, too, know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I pray a special blessing over those who have helped me in any way during this time. Those who have chosen to bless me as I bless others, and those who God has laid on my heart to bless, even when I think I am so broke. I have still been able to give to others. I have not missed a thing. As a matter of fact, I have done even more now then I did when I had a paycheck. So hopefully this encourages others to truly learn to trust God in their financial situation, whatever it may be. If you have means, don’t put your life in it, but learn to share freely. If you don’t have means, learn to see the provision of God in this place, and you will be able to handle it even if He chooses to take you out of that place into a season of abundance. But Christ gives you the strength to do it all. And if you don’t have it then maybe you don’t actually need it the way you think you do. That is something else I’m learning. Just because I want to take care of it financially right now doesn’t mean that I need to. God is still in charge.
“I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:18-19 NIV
One of the hardest parts of living by faith in your finances is getting used to the reshaping of your mindset. If you are, like me, used to living in a condition of surplus, then living according to your needs being met is a real challenge. It’s not even that I had a whole bunch of money before, but it was certainly more than I have now. I don’t even think I recognized how much surplus I had until I didn’t have it anymore. I was used to working on a budget, putting some money away for savings and investing, giving, traveling, going out with friends, giving gifts, all with my paycheck. But now, I have no regular paycheck. I get money at random times for various clients that come through at the times when I need it. And usually it has nothing to do with me doing any advertising for them. They just come. Now, if I didn’t know where I was spiritually at this point in my life, I would probably quit school, focus exclusively on my business and get back to the place where I was more comfortable. And believe me, it’s tempting. But God does show me where He has me at this moment, so I continuously fight the temptation. And I also know that this is just a season.
Paul was speaking to the Philippian church about his own financial condition in the above passage. He was living off of the money he made from making tents and whatever else he needed from the support for the churches he started in various towns or cities. He never really put the burden of supporting him on the people, but the Philippians gave out of their hearts for taking care of Paul and his needs. Paul said in the previous verses that he had learned to get along with means and also to get along without them, and one thing he had come to realize is that he can do all things through Christ who strengthened him. That’s what that scripture means. Whether Paul had a lot or a little, he could survive and be content with where he was at the moment. God was his true source, and God touched the hearts of people to help Paul when he needed it. And for that, Paul prayed that God would give them all they needed. Their concern for him was genuine and even though they were not the richest church that Paul helped to start, their kindness and generosity was unmatched. And the people who gave touched Paul’s heart.
I have received so much from people during this time in my life. And it always comes when I need it. Whether it is a service I provided through financial planning or just a person choosing to give me a gift, I am truly grateful. And I have learned how to get along with means and how to get along without. And I, too, know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I pray a special blessing over those who have helped me in any way during this time. Those who have chosen to bless me as I bless others, and those who God has laid on my heart to bless, even when I think I am so broke. I have still been able to give to others. I have not missed a thing. As a matter of fact, I have done even more now then I did when I had a paycheck. So hopefully this encourages others to truly learn to trust God in their financial situation, whatever it may be. If you have means, don’t put your life in it, but learn to share freely. If you don’t have means, learn to see the provision of God in this place, and you will be able to handle it even if He chooses to take you out of that place into a season of abundance. But Christ gives you the strength to do it all. And if you don’t have it then maybe you don’t actually need it the way you think you do. That is something else I’m learning. Just because I want to take care of it financially right now doesn’t mean that I need to. God is still in charge.
Monday, September 12, 2011
You Have a Song
You Have a Song
“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” Psalm 96:1 NIV
Last winter, when we had our crazy blizzard conditions, I was outside shoveling the snow. I had my iPod on and was listening to a great song I love by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir called, “Wonderful to Me”. The song is just a simple song of adoration and worship to God, but it is extremely soothing. You can feel the love that the singer has towards God. It invites you into their intimacy and calls you to embrace your own intimacy with God. A good worship song is supposed to do that for you. To take you into a deeper place with God. A place where all is well.
But as I continued to listen to the song, I started thinking about my own words and what I actually want to say to God when I’m in that place with Him. I started thinking about my own song. I have an intimate relationship with God. I have things that I can sing about. (Not necessarily sing them well, but it is heartfelt). It’s nice to listen to the words of other people and their relationship with God, but we have our own words. You have a song that you can sing to God that reflects who He is to you. And it’s a song that no one else can sing like you.
When we think of intimate relationships, we know that those relationships are precious. People that we are intimate with know things about us that no one else knows. We share things with them in a way that is special. We might have private jokes, or sayings that only the other person understands. We might have nick-names for each other that no one else quite gets and you don’t want everybody calling you that name. It’s reserved for those special people in your life with whom you share intimate details of yourself. It’s the beauty of having intimacy. To know that there is another person on this earth that is so close to you that they know a lot of what you know about you, and sometimes more. And this is the relationship we have with God, if we go there.
Maybe some of us don’t want to go there with God because we feel unworthy to be invited into that type of intimacy. Maybe we have done things that we are ashamed of and don’t want to be exposed. But the beauty of having that relationship with God is that none of it matters. He already forgave you, before you even knew you needed to be forgiven. He forgave you so that you could be intimate with Him. Anybody you are intimate with probably has had to forgive you or you forgive them at some point. It’s one of the prices of intimacy. You know too much. You can be your full self, the good, bad and ugly. But this intimacy is energizing. And it can make you want to sing!
When I finished my shoveling that day, I wrote a song to God. I’m not going to write it out here. It was just for Him, unless He tells me to share it with others. It’s not the first time I’ve written a song or a poem to God. But it was a reminder that I can get all enamored with someone else’s song, but I do have one of my own as well. I wrote another one about a month ago and actually put that one to music. Maybe I’ll share that one day or give it to a musician to turn into something, but I was happy just to have my own song. And I’m sure you do too. I’m sure you can think of something to praise God for today. You have a song. Just the fact that He calls someone like you to be in intimate relationship with Him is worthy of something! You don’t have to be a songwriter to do this. You just have to be in relationship. If you have ever been in love before, you probably did something that seemed stupid to express it; a poem, a song, a rap. We have all probably come out of ourselves for love at some point. The same is true in our relationship with God. How about you show God just how you feel about Him today. Even if it starts out with anger or hurt or frustration. At least it’s honest. And it’s how you feel. Not someone else. And that is what God wants. An honest relationship. Can you write God a song today?
“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” Psalm 96:1 NIV
Last winter, when we had our crazy blizzard conditions, I was outside shoveling the snow. I had my iPod on and was listening to a great song I love by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir called, “Wonderful to Me”. The song is just a simple song of adoration and worship to God, but it is extremely soothing. You can feel the love that the singer has towards God. It invites you into their intimacy and calls you to embrace your own intimacy with God. A good worship song is supposed to do that for you. To take you into a deeper place with God. A place where all is well.
But as I continued to listen to the song, I started thinking about my own words and what I actually want to say to God when I’m in that place with Him. I started thinking about my own song. I have an intimate relationship with God. I have things that I can sing about. (Not necessarily sing them well, but it is heartfelt). It’s nice to listen to the words of other people and their relationship with God, but we have our own words. You have a song that you can sing to God that reflects who He is to you. And it’s a song that no one else can sing like you.
When we think of intimate relationships, we know that those relationships are precious. People that we are intimate with know things about us that no one else knows. We share things with them in a way that is special. We might have private jokes, or sayings that only the other person understands. We might have nick-names for each other that no one else quite gets and you don’t want everybody calling you that name. It’s reserved for those special people in your life with whom you share intimate details of yourself. It’s the beauty of having intimacy. To know that there is another person on this earth that is so close to you that they know a lot of what you know about you, and sometimes more. And this is the relationship we have with God, if we go there.
Maybe some of us don’t want to go there with God because we feel unworthy to be invited into that type of intimacy. Maybe we have done things that we are ashamed of and don’t want to be exposed. But the beauty of having that relationship with God is that none of it matters. He already forgave you, before you even knew you needed to be forgiven. He forgave you so that you could be intimate with Him. Anybody you are intimate with probably has had to forgive you or you forgive them at some point. It’s one of the prices of intimacy. You know too much. You can be your full self, the good, bad and ugly. But this intimacy is energizing. And it can make you want to sing!
When I finished my shoveling that day, I wrote a song to God. I’m not going to write it out here. It was just for Him, unless He tells me to share it with others. It’s not the first time I’ve written a song or a poem to God. But it was a reminder that I can get all enamored with someone else’s song, but I do have one of my own as well. I wrote another one about a month ago and actually put that one to music. Maybe I’ll share that one day or give it to a musician to turn into something, but I was happy just to have my own song. And I’m sure you do too. I’m sure you can think of something to praise God for today. You have a song. Just the fact that He calls someone like you to be in intimate relationship with Him is worthy of something! You don’t have to be a songwriter to do this. You just have to be in relationship. If you have ever been in love before, you probably did something that seemed stupid to express it; a poem, a song, a rap. We have all probably come out of ourselves for love at some point. The same is true in our relationship with God. How about you show God just how you feel about Him today. Even if it starts out with anger or hurt or frustration. At least it’s honest. And it’s how you feel. Not someone else. And that is what God wants. An honest relationship. Can you write God a song today?
Friday, September 2, 2011
For the Love of Money
For The Love of Money
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” - Matthew 6:24 NIV
Today, I went back to school since being off for the summer. It’s been quite an eventful year for me. I went to Rome for a month, Canada for a weekend, New York for dinner, went to an Eagles game out of state, ate out at some pretty nice restaurants, started a real estate business, finished my final edits on my book and all of this happening while I am in the worst financial condition of my adult life. It is the most ironic thing in the world to me. I have never felt so rich and so poor at the same time. I love it and I hate it. I love it when I see God do something for me that only He could do. And I hate it when I want to do something that I don’t have the money for and have no real prospects of getting it.
I would have never advised a client to do the things that I am doing financially right now. Never in a million years would I have ever thought that the choices that I am making would be a good idea. Ever. I still wouldn’t advise anybody to do what I’ve done: Leave a well-paying, lucrative career in a top financial firm to go back to school to study how to help empower urban neighborhoods economically and spiritually; all after buying a house that was twice the size and expense of your perfectly good house; starting a business that helps anybody with their finances regardless of asset level or income; conduct workshops for people who can’t pay you; Write a book that will hopefully sell enough copies for you to make a few dollars. . . I could go on. I feel like an idiot most days when I actually think about it. And today, after talking to a company I owe money to about when they might get the money they are owed, I went from being in a really good place to being in a really down place. Just in a matter of two minutes.
I got some really great news about my book, better news about my real estate business opportunities and had a really good day in class discussing strategies to help empower the urban poor. And in one conversation, I was brought low. And it was driving home after that conversation that I got a revelation about the place that I am in right now financially and why it is necessary. I am breaking up with money. And breaking up is hard to do.
I’m a capitalist. My favorite game as a kid was Monopoly. I had my first business at 10 years old. I work for commission because I hate working for a salary. I loved money. I loved what it could do. I loved the feeling of having it. I loved the thrill of making it. I love the security I thought it provided me. I loved the joy it gave me when I had it. I loved helping other people make it. I loved giving it. I loved investing it. I loved saving it. I loved using it. I loved money. And if God is going to use me to build His kingdom, I can’t love money. I have to love Him more.
When you love money, even with good intentions, you can hurt people. And since God is in the people business, he won’t let you love money but for so long and keep hurting people. Eventually you are going to have to choose. And if money is winning in your life, then he might just let you go along until money shows itself to be what it truly is: A selfish lover. Money doesn’t love you. Money only loves itself. And since in intimate relationships, you become one with your lover, you too, will become selfish. Eventually you take on the character of money and it controls you and everything you do. It becomes the filter for everything you desire. It can overpower your will and make you it’s slave. Just like an abusive lover. It will use you for its own pleasure and then drop you when you can’t give it what it needs to thrive: power. As long as money has power over you and your life, you will always be it’s slave. As long as you consult your money before you consult your God, you will know who your master really is.
I have been breaking up with money for a while. We both knew that the relationship was going bad, but I didn’t have the courage to do anything about it. I knew that I had given money far too much power in my life and it was ruining my relationship with God. So God stepped in and gave me the courage to walk away. But every now and then I am reminded that I still have feelings for money. Like an old lover who calls you out of the blue. You moved on with your life, started to live again without them. Thought you were over them, until they called you. And that phone call sent you into an emotional spin that you didn’t even know was possible. You still have feelings for them. And you are not as strong as you thought. So you can’t just say that you are over them. You are still in process.
That’s where I am with my relationship with money. God is helping me to put Him in the place where money used to rule my heart. And I don’t know if that battle will ever fully be won in this lifetime, but I can do my part to make sure that I stay out of positions to give money that power over me again. When I look at what God has done for me without money, I am amazed that what I thought money would do, God did. He is showing me how to put money in it’s place as my servant, not my master. I am learning how to tell money what to do for me and not be ruled by what it wants me to do for it. And as long as I don’t forget that my God loves me and my money doesn’t, I will be in good shape. It’s remembering that in times of need that is the hard part. Y’all pray for me. . . As a matter of fact let’s pray together. I think we might all need help in this area.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” - Matthew 6:24 NIV
Today, I went back to school since being off for the summer. It’s been quite an eventful year for me. I went to Rome for a month, Canada for a weekend, New York for dinner, went to an Eagles game out of state, ate out at some pretty nice restaurants, started a real estate business, finished my final edits on my book and all of this happening while I am in the worst financial condition of my adult life. It is the most ironic thing in the world to me. I have never felt so rich and so poor at the same time. I love it and I hate it. I love it when I see God do something for me that only He could do. And I hate it when I want to do something that I don’t have the money for and have no real prospects of getting it.
I would have never advised a client to do the things that I am doing financially right now. Never in a million years would I have ever thought that the choices that I am making would be a good idea. Ever. I still wouldn’t advise anybody to do what I’ve done: Leave a well-paying, lucrative career in a top financial firm to go back to school to study how to help empower urban neighborhoods economically and spiritually; all after buying a house that was twice the size and expense of your perfectly good house; starting a business that helps anybody with their finances regardless of asset level or income; conduct workshops for people who can’t pay you; Write a book that will hopefully sell enough copies for you to make a few dollars. . . I could go on. I feel like an idiot most days when I actually think about it. And today, after talking to a company I owe money to about when they might get the money they are owed, I went from being in a really good place to being in a really down place. Just in a matter of two minutes.
I got some really great news about my book, better news about my real estate business opportunities and had a really good day in class discussing strategies to help empower the urban poor. And in one conversation, I was brought low. And it was driving home after that conversation that I got a revelation about the place that I am in right now financially and why it is necessary. I am breaking up with money. And breaking up is hard to do.
I’m a capitalist. My favorite game as a kid was Monopoly. I had my first business at 10 years old. I work for commission because I hate working for a salary. I loved money. I loved what it could do. I loved the feeling of having it. I loved the thrill of making it. I love the security I thought it provided me. I loved the joy it gave me when I had it. I loved helping other people make it. I loved giving it. I loved investing it. I loved saving it. I loved using it. I loved money. And if God is going to use me to build His kingdom, I can’t love money. I have to love Him more.
When you love money, even with good intentions, you can hurt people. And since God is in the people business, he won’t let you love money but for so long and keep hurting people. Eventually you are going to have to choose. And if money is winning in your life, then he might just let you go along until money shows itself to be what it truly is: A selfish lover. Money doesn’t love you. Money only loves itself. And since in intimate relationships, you become one with your lover, you too, will become selfish. Eventually you take on the character of money and it controls you and everything you do. It becomes the filter for everything you desire. It can overpower your will and make you it’s slave. Just like an abusive lover. It will use you for its own pleasure and then drop you when you can’t give it what it needs to thrive: power. As long as money has power over you and your life, you will always be it’s slave. As long as you consult your money before you consult your God, you will know who your master really is.
I have been breaking up with money for a while. We both knew that the relationship was going bad, but I didn’t have the courage to do anything about it. I knew that I had given money far too much power in my life and it was ruining my relationship with God. So God stepped in and gave me the courage to walk away. But every now and then I am reminded that I still have feelings for money. Like an old lover who calls you out of the blue. You moved on with your life, started to live again without them. Thought you were over them, until they called you. And that phone call sent you into an emotional spin that you didn’t even know was possible. You still have feelings for them. And you are not as strong as you thought. So you can’t just say that you are over them. You are still in process.
That’s where I am with my relationship with money. God is helping me to put Him in the place where money used to rule my heart. And I don’t know if that battle will ever fully be won in this lifetime, but I can do my part to make sure that I stay out of positions to give money that power over me again. When I look at what God has done for me without money, I am amazed that what I thought money would do, God did. He is showing me how to put money in it’s place as my servant, not my master. I am learning how to tell money what to do for me and not be ruled by what it wants me to do for it. And as long as I don’t forget that my God loves me and my money doesn’t, I will be in good shape. It’s remembering that in times of need that is the hard part. Y’all pray for me. . . As a matter of fact let’s pray together. I think we might all need help in this area.
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