What I'm Thankful For
It is Thanksgiving! Here is what I am most thankful for! #1 Relationship with Jesus Christ. I am grateful for His grace in my life. The fact that He loves me despite of myself is amazing. He has blessed me beyond what I ever will deserve. Only through His sacrifice am I free to live for Him. I'm grateful for His love!
#2 I'm thankful for my wife! I enjoy spending time with Cassidy whether it is in our home, around town or on the road. She is an encourager to me and a teammate as we serve God. She continually reminds me that she believes in what God has called me to do in life and ministry. She also knows me enough to tell me the truth. I love serving God with her at church and on the road. We have a blast together! I never thought I'd have this much fun!
#3 I'm thankful for family! Earlier this past week, we spent time with Cassidy's side of the family in Belleview, FL. Next, we drove up to Greenville, SC to spend time with my side of the family. I'm thankful for a loving family and especially grateful for my brothers (Justin and Jeff) and my Dad for encouraging me in my faith!
#4 I'm thankful for friends that love Jesus. We had a blast serving alongside friends from college this past weekend! I spoke and Cassidy sang at the "Be Awakened" Disciple-Now in Palm Bay, Florida. Warren did a great job putting the weekend together and Josh did a great job leading worship. I'm grateful for the student leaders who pour into students every week. I'm thankful for the many college students who give of their time to encourage students to follow Christ!
#5 I'm thankful for being able to serve in the ministry. God has blessed me to have the strength to serve Him in ministry. I'm thankful for my friends, small group, my students, staff and church. I'm grateful that God wants me to be a part of His story.
What about you? What are you thankful for?
Who Do Your Pour Your Life Into?
In today's fast-paced, Facebook/twitter saturated culture, who has time to invest in other people? Are we to busy with "our" life to pour the love of Jesus into other people? Pouring into others takes consistency, commitment and a love for people. It is looking at people through the eyes of Christ. It is hurting with people when they hurt. It is rejoicing with those who rejoice. It is dying to yourself so that the power of Christ can pour through you. For me, the times I am most irritable and critical is when I am only thinking of myself. The world tells us that if we look out for our own desires then we will be "happy." If this were true we would see a lot of happy people! Most of what I see are people who are hurting, lonely and looking for love.
Do you wait until others pour into you before you begin to pour into others? Do you sit on the sidelines with expectations of others to make you happy? You see, when we serve others by pouring into their life, we receive the joy of Christ. Jesus loved without expectation. He loved and poured into others all the way to the cross. Jesus' love is not meant to be sealed in containers. It is to be channeled with an intentional decision to love until it hurts. Is this difficult? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes!
My brother Justin (j-robproductions) finished a new short film called "The Cup." He did an awesome job!
"This simple short film leaves you with a question "Who do you pour your life into? Yourself or others? In our insane, busy schedules we've become so self-centered and we don't even know it. The backbone of this film is "Selfishness disguised as everyday life."
Who are you pouring your life into? Yourself or others?
Empty Words
"Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Ephesians 4:29 (NLT).
We all communicate. We use body language, facial expressions, and words. Words are powerful! How many times have we heard, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?" Almost everyone agrees this statement is false! We all remember the words that were spoken to us 10+ years ago. The words sting just as much as the first time. Our words can be empty with defeat of filled with life to encourage others.
God has been chipping away at me, especially in how I use my words to people. Some of the time it is not the words I'm using, but the attitude and heart of what I am saying to my friends, students and my wife. We have tremendous power with our words. We can use opportunities to speak life into others or to tear them down. I have been guilty so many times of using empty words to hurt others because of my own insecurity and self-preservation. Insecurity masks itself as a bold confidence many times. How many times have I used empty words that are filled with defeat rather than victory? My prayer is that my words will give life and grace for people to have hope in Christ. Jesus said, "And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak" Matthew 12:36. We will take an account of our words, we need to be wise in our words.
God has been chipping away at me, especially in how I use words in my prayers. Am I going to Jesus first and worshipping Him every day? Many times I focus on reading my Bible looking for a new message idea, topic or illustration. Instead God is telling me to consume my heart into His heart. Be still. Listen. Stop. Wait. The urge to do more is the tempting response in ministry when we are hurting. Those who are facing the most spiritual warfare and discouragement are the ones on the front of the battle lines. The world teaches that peace is found in surrender to selfishness. Empty prayers are saying "pre-packaged" statements that are filled with tradition. God desires honesty, transparency and humility. God desires a clean and contrite heart.
I don't know about you, but I don't want to go through life with empty words to God and others. Are you using words to build others up or tear them down?