Focus

This morning I sat down to enjoy the National Prayer Summit leading into #GC19 and I had difficulty concentrating. Three things are keeping me from giving my full attention; I am tired, I am cold, I am hungry. 

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Yet, as I strive to focus, to listen, and to pray this morning, it occurs to me that these are not simply physical struggles for me right now. 

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I am spiritually tired. O God wake me up to Your desire for my life and You desire for Your Church. 

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I am spiritually cold. O God light the “fire” of Your Holy Spirit within me, my prayers, and Your ministry through me.

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I am spiritually hungry. O God feed me through Your Word, Your Spirit, and Your Church.

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What might be keeping you from focusing, hearing, and responding to God today?

I Need Help

I went to lunch today. At the moment I walked in the individual working was already complaining to a customer.

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She was hurried and rude as she took my order. She told the woman in front of me; “We just opened so you’ll have to wait for ice”. A gentleman came in after me and she yelled; “I’m all alone back here, it’s going to be a while”. Several minutes later a young man walked in and she yelled; “Oh no, we’ve had too many customers. Either you’ll have to wait or the food is going to suffer”.

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It wasn’t until later, when a co-worker came in that I came to understand that she was upset because she was there all alone. 

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I don’t share this to complain but, instead, to share a thought.

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Do we sometimes complain those we are called to serve because we are feeling overwhelmed? Do we sometimes hurry and rush those that we are called to share with because we feel overburdened? Do we sometimes yell at those that we are called to help rather than taking our needs to the one that can come along side us and give us peace and lift our burdens? 

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If you are feeling overwhelmed or overburdened today, God cares and can help. Perhaps He is simply waiting for you to call out to Him for assistance.

Farmers Need The Rain

Record rainfall has flooded many roads and fields. And, inevitably, someone calls out in ignorance “but the farmers need the rain”. 

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It is true, the farmers need the rain. The farmers need the rain to prepare the ground for the planting of the seed. The farmers need the rain to nurture the plants and help them grow throughout the season. The farmers need the rain to prepare for the planting and for the harvest. But, there comes a time when the farmers do not need more rain. 

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It occurs to me that - just as rain is God’s preparation for the ground and nutrients for the plants preparing them for harvest - Bible studies within The Church prepare The Church for the planting of seeds - evangelism - and for nurture Christians as we grow and mature in our faith. 

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But, just as there comes a time when the farmers do not need more rain, there comes a time when The Church does not need more Bible study. There comes a time when believers must open the doors, walk out into the world and begin to sow the seed of God. There comes as time when The Church must plant the truth of Jesus into the lives of those that are lost, hurt, and in need. There comes a time when Christians must help make the fields ready for harvest. 

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This is the call on The Church today.

The Wait

People are waiting 8, 9, 10, 11 hours - in the rain - for the newest roller coaster at Universal Studios in Orlando. And most of these people are saying that the ride is  “totally worth the wait”.

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What are you willing to wait for? 

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So often we talk about the things that we want - that we need - that we are desperate for. But are we willing to wait? Are we willing to ask - to seek - to labor - - and to wait? 

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What are you desperate for right now?

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What are you waiting for right now?

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Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

Leadership Confidence

I was preparing to preach from Exodus 13 and 14 this morning - a well known passage detailing the Israelites crossing the Red Sea - when God grabbed my heart. .

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Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptian you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (14:13-14) THEN THE LORD REVEALED HIS PLAN OF DELIVERANCE TO MOSES.

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Could it be that God’s deliverance through the Red Sea, utilizing Moses, hinged on Moses’ faith and declaration of victory in God?

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We need to be people faith and conviction. We need to be leaders that proclaim victory and deliverance through the Lord’s power even when we do not have all - or any - of the details of God’s plan.

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Will we step forward in faith and proclaim victory in God and through God? 

#preparetheway

Temptation

This guy often has trouble going to sleep. When he has trouble going to sleep, he gets bored. When he gets bored, he peels the paint off of his wall. When he peels the paint off of his wall, he gets in trouble.

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This evening he was having trouble going to sleep again. I sat with him as he stared at the wall and he told me how much he wanted to peel at the paint but he knew that he would get in trouble if he did. At first I told him to stop focusing on the wall, to roll over and look away from the temptation. Then I asked him if he wanted me to lay down with him - to lay between him and the wall. He said “yes”.

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As I laid there, watching him go to sleep and keeping him away from temptation, it occurred to me how necessary it is for each of us to have that person in our lives that we can share our biggest temptations with. We all need someone that is willing to lay everything else down to keep us away from giving in to the thing that will lead us to trouble.

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Tonight consider; “Who is “that person” for you?” And, give thought; “Who are you that “someone to?”

You Are Powerful

God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

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Many people are going through life fearing what lies ahead - afraid to speak and act - operating in a mode of timidity, uncertainty, and apprehension.

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Yet God, through His Spirit, offers a better way; power, love, and self-discipline.

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This means that we can - you can - be boldly confident - courageously assured in all things. We are given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. And we are called and commissioned to use this power to affect others for Jesus - in love - and to live a life of obedience to Jesus - through self-discipline.

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Today, own this. Be filled with God’s Spirit. Be powerful. Be loving. Be obedient. Be self-disciplined.