Making the most of Today

The Lord is active and alive and doing things all the time. However, many of us can get focused on the future or the past and miss some of what He is doing today. God is moving each and every day; we only need to eyes to see and ears to hear. This note discusses some simple points about seeing and hearing "today".

Many times we can live with the expectancy that "someday" or "sometime" the Lord is going to move and we are going to be a part of it. While this is a true statement it is easy to lose a sense of expectancy if we only look to something in the future, or some big thing. In addition, worry can enter in and cloud the issue, as we are stressed or concerned about pending issues, things that might come up at home, or work, or in our businesses, or finances, or in our relationships.

It is also true that we can get focused on the past, when we get caught up in regrets or missed opportunities or disappointments. There are times when we can actually get weighted down with some guilt and shame, and when that happens our focus can become inward and negative. As this happens we also can miss out on what the Lord is doing today.

In Matt 6, Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow, for we have enough issues to deal with today.

In Rom 8:1 Paul told us that there is no longer any condemnation that we are free in Christ - we do not need to let the past weigh us down.

Simply speaking, the Lord has set things up so that our relationship with Jesus can help us each and every day. We don't have to make this a big thing or try to formalize it, in fact the more we simply relate with Jesus the easier it is. (I find that I make life and Christianity too difficult, and the simpler and basic I am, the better life is, and the freer I am.)

Today is the day I need to look to and the time I need to cherish. Each day is a gift from the Lord - this is the day that the Lord has given, I will be glad and rejoice in it.

What is in your hand?

When God called Moses, in Ex 3, to be the deliverer of the people of Israel from the land of Egypt, the first reaction from Moses was to back away from the call. He had excuses and responded with a pretty weak answer asking who was he to do this work.
The Lord did not let him off the hook, He revealed to Moses that He was the I AM, the God who is alive and active and fills the now - He is the God of the present time, He is alive in the present time.
Then in Ex 4 the Lord asked Moses, what is in your hand? A rod, that which Moses had been daily using as he cared for the sheep. Every day he was leading and caring for the sheep - the Lord was showing him that he had ability and authority. He not only took away Moses' excuses, but commissioned him and empowered him for the task at hand. There are so many other accounts of God doing this in lives - those who were called to lead and move forth in ministry and action.
God is still in the business of comissioning and empowering His people today, and He will ask the same question - what is in your hand?
Each of us have been invested with gifts and abilties - and most all of us use them so much more than we realize. God is still calling us to ministry and leadership today, He continues to bring revelation - where He interacts with us and opens our eyes to what He is doing in us, and what He wants to do through us.
This is not something any of us need to work up, this does not involve taking a class, getting more training, or doing more practice. No - what this is about is recognizing that each of us have been invested and empowered by God, and we simply need to be and do what we are.
It is time to see what is in your hand and start expressing what He has put in your life, to start being the person He has already made you. Many are in tough situations, even as you read this, and you may think, not me, who and I, it is not my time. Well, I would challenge you to simply open your eyes and see what is in your hand, and then start being who God has already made you to be.
Today is the day.

Look for what God is doing, not what you want Him to do

I like to listen to music and sermons and podcasts on my ipod when I go on walks, or ride my exercise bike, etc. Over the last couple years this has been a great way for me to praise the Lord and to hear what people from around the world are doing.

Today I listened to a short message by John Eldredge from his new book, called Walking with God. I was struck by his honesty and candor about how often he gets frustrated or upset or disappointed when God does not do what he wants God to do.

I too experience many times where I get focused on "my agenda" that I can miss what Jesus is speaking to me. I so want Him to come through for me on my terms, or in the way I want Him to - and this can be with (supposedly) all the right intentions. Whether it be in praying for others, or meditating on the Word, or simply enjoying His presence... so many of those times are simply wonderful. However, I do have those times were I look for what God is not doing and miss what He is doing.

It was so refreshing to take this time to refocus on the Lord and simply keep it simple. If you have read other materials I write, you will find that I stay pretty basic and practical. Over the years I have found my theology getting more devotional and focused on Jesus. What a blessing it is to enjoy His presence and enjoy Him in the moment. He is alive and His Spirit is ever active, and the more we can see what He is doing, the more we will please Him and enjoy Him.

God bless you all.

Ambassadors for Christ

When are in Christ, we are new creatures. He not only works in our lives, but He works through our lives.

2 Cor 17-21
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

This section of scripture is so powerful and so simple.

He has made us new. He has reconciled Himself to us - meaning He has make it so we can be in relationship with Him. This is unconditional love, where He desires relationship so much that He makes a way for us to be free from sin. (Rom 6:14 sin will no longer have dominion over us)

And He does more - He then gives to us the ministry of reconciliation. He makes us His representatives, His ministers, His ambassadors. He fully invests Himself in us and authorizes us, commissions us to go forth and reach out to others so they too can be free from sin and be in relationship with Him.

This is awesome and this is powerful, and it is easy - because He has done all the work. The power of the resurrection is in us and God is able to work in and through us to help make a positive difference in the world.

Jesus went about doing good and helping people, whether it was groups,or just one person. Each and every person is important to the Lord and He loves them all. He loved us and as we have responded to Him and entered into a personal relationship with Jesus, we are now able to be His ambassadors, to share and demonstrate His love.