Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Finding power and praise in life's pits

Many drive Toyotas for good reason. Toyotas are world renowned for their dependability. The reason Toyotas are maybe the world's most dependable cars are because their individuals parts have greater tolerance and durability than those of competing vehicles. One of the joys of our journey we tend to not embrace is the privilege of allowing Christ the opportunity and time to build our tolerance level. Many of you like me are wimps at our best and in need of God's infusion of strength and grace if we're to portray the strength of Christ the way we ought. God seeks to shower grace into our spirits and endue us with the strength we need to experience joy amidst life's problems and pains. Before Paul could speak of his ability to do everything through Christ, His strength; He spoke of the training God gave him to build his tolerance. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little, Phili. 4:12 (NLT) Paul understood that weakness is the gateway to finding our true worth and rejoicing; for genuine joy is not in passing things or our feeble strength but in Christ. God desires us to live with His imprint, REJOICING. As He crafts us in the crucible of reproach, criticism, and need; let's see by faith the outpouring of character, tolerance, and strength He's infusing into our lives. As they say, no pain, no gain. Welcome the growing pains Christ engineers into your experience and you'll have the testimony of Paul, Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice! Phili. 4:4 (NLT).

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Time to live linked in to Christ

I've had much food for thought over the last couple days. Rick Warren said, "It's easier to fight for truth than to live it. It's why there are more defenders (of truth) than disciples." There's much debate over what the primary attribute of God is, whether holiness or love. Today, I'd like to place my ballot for both. The Bible beckons us to be pure in heart but pregnant with love. I'm learning that my need in life moments is more holiness and more love, for just as purity is power in my life, love is strength for my living. It takes a pure heart to show perfect love; but it takes a heart that loves God to have a heart that loves others. Our call is to live as apprentices would live in relation to their teachers, connected at the hip, in our relationship to Christ; following Him wholeheartedly, regardless of our feelings, our enemies, and our "rights." We need to be intentional about raising our bar of discipleship, for living snug close to Jesus, is the best defense and witness to the resurrection life of Jesus within us. As our focus is on living close to Christ and not on our outward expressions of spirituality; we find ourselves aglow with the light and life of Christ. It's then that people listen to our words of faith and truth. I'm passionate about a renewed heart to live as Christ's follower, one in love and truth.
"May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." Eph. 3:19 (NLT)

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Think you all that?

We live in a culture of confidence. Anything deemed weak, powerless, or not eye to eye is out of place, unprofitable, and unworthy of our time and attention. It's little wonder the real needs of society like the homeless, jobless, and "heavenless" are not the object of our time. Like Alexander the Great, we're wounded by the pride of conquest, not seeing that men of Napoleon-like stature, like Paul are the ones God utilizes for His purpose in others. Take Paul, a case study in weakness made strength. He was regarded as strong in letter but a man, who didn't have much stage presence. Though he was well-trained at Gamaliel's feet, Paul's glory was not in His strength but in His message. Life taught Paul that his weakness was to be his boasting 2 Cor. 12:5 he learned that only when brought to his breaking point could he know personal breakthrough. This perspective brought reality and naturalness to what Paul did. First, he lived purely for the gain of others, not their return on his investment, he could do this because he held those he reached out to close to his heart. Second, he was natural and selfless in his way with people, his motives were right; after all, he wanted their good; any benefit he'd know from his investments with others was extra. Paul understood that he'd be what he needed to to others only as he lived in the reality of who he was, nothing. As our nothingness becomes a reality we live in; we're on path to greater influence. Paul knew a grace portion surpassing his need, when he lived in the conscious realization that his weakness was God's grace to him, enabling him to access God's greater power to do the impossible. If your glory is your strength today consider Christ's finest moment, the cross; it's impact on your life and mine is unequaled. Paul prided in his pain, for his pain was key to greater personal growth and impact. Take time to live consciously in your inabilities today as you trust God to do what you do. This is the life that holds God's attention and touches others deeply.