Is There Any Encouragement

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I was in a particularly grumpy mood this morning.  I could have made a list of things to complain about. Yet as I began my prayer time and devotional reading I came into a right frame of mind. Soon I was journaling and making a list of things that I am most thankful for. 

As I thought of individuals that I could have complained about my mind went to the words found in Philippians 2:5. 

I turned to Philippians 2 prepared to read of Christ's humility and, as I began to read Philippians 2, I was not prepared for the conviction of the Holy Spirit that followed. 

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? 

Is there any comfort from his love? 

Is there aby fellowship together in the Spirit? 

Is your heart tender and compassionate?

Although these are rhetorical questions shared with the church by Paul, let me invite you to consider them -let me encourage you to ponder them. 

Are you enjoying the encouragement - the comfort - the fellowship - of Christ's presence in your life? 

Are your thoughts - your motives - your actions marked by tenderness and compassion? 

Do you have the mindset of Christ? 

 

RESET: heart

Several nights ago I sat in my living room and God began to move in my heart. He moved me to a new level of passion for His Church and for His Kingdom. He stirred within me the desire to see His Church conquer new ground and to move throughout communities like never before. He stirred within me the hunger to see His Kingdom come on earth. 

Several nights ago I sat in my living room and God began to speak to my mind. He spoke a clear vision to instruct and commission His Church in new ways. He spoke a simple method for directing His Church in ways that enable His Spirit to move and His will to be done. 

Several nights ago I sat in my living room and God gave me a word; "RESET".

 

After God gave me this word - although I did not fully comprehend what He was directing me to - I began to write and dream

I began to write and dream. 

Today, several days later - still struggling to comprehend the magnitude of what God has called me to share - I want to share the first stage of "RESET". 

I am confident that God is not moving in and speaking to me alone. I believe that the hearts and minds of many others are being moved in the same direction. I believe that this movement of God's Spirit is going to transcend denominational, political, racial, and cultural lines. God is about to move through His Church in a powerful way and I believe that He is calling for you and I to join together to accomplish His call. 

This is not a local church ministry. 

This is not a program or an initiative.

This is not a community activity.

This is not a outreach event.

This is a movement of God. 

For those who have a shared passion for Christ's Church and for God's Kingdom, I want to invite you to join me. 

The call to you is simple and clear, a heart for the call. More specifically - the words shared with me - a "missional heart". 

Who is in?

More to come...

O Lord, who else or what else can I desire but You

The following is from A Cry for Mercy by Henri J.M. Nouwen. 

O Lord, who else or what else can I desire but you? You are my Lord, Lord of my heart, mind, and soul. You know me through and through. In and through you everything that is finds its origin and goal. You embrace all that exists and care for it with divine love and compassion. Why, then, do I keep expecting happiness and satisfaction outside of you? Why do I keep relating to you as one of my many relationships, instead of my only relationship, in which all other ones are grounded? Why do I keep looking for popularity, respect from others, success, acclaim, and sensual pleasures? Why, Lord, is it so hard for me to make you the only one? Why do I keep hesitating to surrender myself totally to you?

Help me, O Lord, to let my old self die, to let die the thousand big and small ways in which I am still building up my false self and trying to cling to my false desires. Let me be reborn in you and see through you the world in the right way, so that all my actions, words, and thought can become a hymn of praise to you.

I need your loving grace to travel on the hard road that leads to the death of my old self and to a new life in and for you. I know and trust that this is the road to freedom.

Lord, dispel my mistrust and help be become a trusting friend.

Setting Your Heart for Holiness

Holiness is possible! If it wasn't God would be a liar (Romans 6) and there would be no hope of heaven (Hebrews 12:14).

Set your heart on Christ-like peace

 John 14:27; Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

John 16:33; I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

o   This is a heart that has the peace and knowledge that Christ was victorious over death

o   This is a heart that has the assurance and faith  in Christ’s  promise to us that He will grant us victory as well

o   This is a heart that is confident that Christ is in control of the large and small matters of life.

Set your heart on Christ-like worship

Matthew 15:8-9; “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.”

o   This is a heart prepared to receive the God of all creation

o   This is a heart that craves more of Jesus

o   This is a heart that is deeply connected with His Spirit

Set your heart on Christ-like treasures

Matthew 6:19-21; Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

o   This is a heart that is concerned with matters of heaven

o   This is a heart that desires to build the Kingdom of God

o   This is a heart that longs to do the will of Jesus

Set your heart on Christ-like thoughts

Matthew 15:17-20; Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’

o   This is a heart that has been cleansed from selfish desire

o   This is a heart that is aligned with the will of God

o   This is a heart that has pure motives and actions always.

Set your heart on Christ-like speech

Matthew 12:33-37; “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

o   This is a heart that seeks to honor God with respect

o   This is a heart that aims to encourage fellow believers

o   This is a heart that strives to inspire others with truth

Holy living is all of this – holiness is a heart that is Christ-like. And setting your heart for holiness is all about motive.  

So, what is the motive –  the intent – of your heart?

Remember Hebrews 12:14; “without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Jesus said it a different way in Matthew 5:8; “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

What motives of your heart must you give up - and do away with - for holiness to be a possibility in your life? 

What motives of your heart must you embrace - and better take hold of - for holiness to be a reality in your life?

Just think...what if...

Last night was a multi-state mega-millions lottery drawing with the winnings being $640,000,000! I was talking with a friend this morning about the drawing and they asked if I thought it was wrong to purchase a ticket. As the day went on I thought more about this.

I am not able to judge the motives and the hearts of the people that purchase lottery tickets
I am not in a position to tell people what is honorable to spend their money on and what is not.

Some claim that it is simply entertainment - it's not gambling.
Others argue "it's only a dollar or two" - it's no big deal. 

Tonight I looked up and found that over 1.5 billion tickets were sold for the drawing last night, that is 1,500,000,000 tickets and $1,500,000,000.

According to The Hunger Project 925 million people do not have enough to eat and 1.4 billion people live on $1.25 a day or less. Just think about that for a moment, if we were to spend that 1.5 billion on the 925 million people that don't have enough to eat, each would receive $1.62. That is enough to eat - enough to survive! And, if a dollar or two is "no big deal" why are we doing more?

Maybe this is a good opportunity for each of us to take a step back, to examine our hearts and our motives. Maybe this is a good opportunity for each of us to take an honest look at our priorities and determine what is important to us.

Just think...what if...