A New Outlook

Recently I began planning the 2011 itinerary and focus for my church’s youth ministry where I serve as the leader. In my times of prayer and meditation, God has been showing me new and innovative ideas to continue reaching out to and involving our teens. I am getting excited that I get to implement such creative initiatives, and I know that my teens will enjoy them.

Sometimes we can get into a bit of a routine in our service to the Lord. Our participation becomes like a habit and we perform our responsibilities like a machine. We can even let the fire that God lit in us die down to glowing embers, and we lose the zeal we originally had.

However, all of that complacency changes when we get before God and allow Him to show us His vision and plans for every area of our lives. God has a way of making everything fresh, and His ultimate creative process can invigorate any situation.

I love how God can take the ordinary and make it extraordinary! Nothing is routine when God is involved. He always brings forth a new way that always delivers sound results. It’s just our responsibility to move with God in the change, so that our lives can continue to thrive with vitality. Variety is the spice of life as they say.

Take some time today to allow God to breathe new life into you where your service to Him is concerned. Allow Him to remind you of the call that you have, and open yourself to hearing His fresh take on your position. Let God quicken your spirit anew with His inspiration.

Verse of the Day: Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? Isaiah 43:19a

Winds of Change

It’s starting to get chilly here in Chicago again. I must admit, I love the fall. I love the changing of the leaves and the feeling of being bundled in a coat. It’s not super hot and it’s not super cold. The crisp air is so pleasant, and I feel that fall is the perfect season.

I’m amazed every year though by the people who just can’t let go of summer. Despite the plunging temperature, men refuse to don jackets and women still parade in open toed shoes. They dress oblivious to the cold and as a result, many of those same people wake up with colds and the flu later on in the season.

Often in life we too can be stubborn to change with the seasons. God may be trying to bring us into a new place, a higher level, or have us face down a new challenge. Yet we are still content with where we currently are, and fight to stay in our comfort zone. As a result, we can send ourselves down roads of unnecessary detours and trials we could have avoided if we would have just gone with the changes God ordered.

God ordained seasons so that the earth could be replenished and refreshed. Too much of any one climate can cause stagnation and decline. Even the desert gets rain and has cool temperatures at times. So, don’t try to fight against God when you feel the winds of change blowing. Get excited and keep moving! Know that whatever season you’re walking into, God is still bringing you to your expected end.

Verse of the Day: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven… Ecclesiastes 3:1

The Official's Official

I am a certified political junkie. It started when I lived in DC during the race of Mayor Fenty. It’s only blossomed and flourished with the election of Obama, and now all of the political unrest has me glued to the blogs, NPR and the news channels. I get a kick out of hearing the politicos strategize, theorize, and legitimize only to come back later and retrace their steps. Plus, I believe it is important to keep track of the pulse of those who are controlling our nation.

Today is Election Day for the US, and it stands to be one of the more important elections held in recent memory. America is stumbling, our residents are angry and bewildered, and we are all looking to our elected officials to navigate us through this mess we’ve made.

I have my own personal convictions about who and what party can help remedy the situation. As a believer, however, I know the ultimate decision lies in God’s hands. No matter which party is control, or who takes the reigns as the leader of a state, God allows each and every person to take office as He sees fit.

So, today as I monitor the polls, I’ll be in constant prayer that God will guide the fingers and pens of the voting public to ensure that the right people for each job is selected. No man can save, only God. As long as we continue to keep God as the center of our Union, we cannot go wrong.

Verse of the Day: The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Proverbs 21:1

What's My Motivation?

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending two services that celebrated the lives of two saints. One was a service where a minister preached his last sermon as a pastor, retiring after 45 years of service. The other was a homegoing celebration for a woman who passed away after a battle with cancer.

Although the meetings were held for two drastically different reasons, both of them highlighted a similar theme. Everyone who spoke about the honorees talked about the persons’ ability to serve with love in spite of the situations. They spoke on the person’s leadership through service, and how that service led others to the Lord.

This got me thinking about my own life’s service and what someone might say looking back over the legacy I have left in my wake. I know that I am not one who shies away from work or fulfilling an assignment. But I know that I often serve out of duty or necessity rather than out of a heartfelt love.

This realization led me to say a prayer asking God to help me to always serve with a spirit of love. I have to remember that everything I do is to be out of the love I have for Christ, and no matter what the situation, He is the one I am aiming to please. I can mask my irritations, frustrations, and bad attitude from people, but God always sees my heart. (I Samuel 16:7) If I serve to please the Lord with a heart of love, it will flow out into my actions and cause others to see Jesus all the more clearly.

Verse of the Day: …whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31

Thanksgiving Friday

It’s Friday again! God has been good. I am so thankful to be in the land of the living!

This week I am thankful for God’s joy. As I am expecting great things, my heart has been bubbling up with joy knowing that my future is better than where I am right now! The Bible is true, my heart has been glad and my spirit is benefitting from the happiness.

I am also grateful for the Word of God that helps me stand in the face of the enemy. Even while I have been expecting great things, other issues have popped up, trying to steal my joy. But I determined in my mind to stand strong, believing that God would be faithful to his word. I’m praising God because I am still smiling and jubilant in spite of how things may appear.

So, as you go into your weekend, keep expecting greatness and keep pulling up the joy of the Lord! God will stay faithful to the righteous. Be blessed!

Verse of the Day: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Expecting Great Things!

Currently, I am enjoying Jonathan Nelson’s song Expect the Great. Every time I hear it, I am encouraged and remember that God has plans and is doing great things for my life! It’s so exciting to know that God has you in mind.

Now, those of you who know me understand that I am a pessimist by nature. I enjoy stoic sarcasm over sugary cheeriness, and I usually view the glass as half empty versus half full. This may be an odd view for a Christian, but it’s where I am right now. (Pray for me if you feel I need deliverance.) However, that song challenges my thinking to come to a different level.

As a child of God, great things are in my future! Though I may be facing a crisis, despite my present situation, regardless of what I may think about things, God is going to do exceedingly, abundantly, above what I can ask or think! (Ephesians 3:20) So, that provokes me to take my thinking higher. Hey, if God can do exceedingly over what I think, I should definitely motivate myself to bring my thoughts up as high as I can in God!

Expecting great things also brings on a more positive attitude. You can’t help but smile and feel invigorated when meditating on what you know that God is about to do for you. It causes you to react differently to the things around you while you wait for the manifestation of the promise. I must say, I have been smiling more the past few days as I muse on what God is bringing into my life.

So, today: Expect the Great! Expect God to turn things around. Expect God to fulfill His Word. Expect God to move in your situation. You’re already depending on Him to be the Lord of your life. Now, expect Him to act as that Lord!

Verse of the Day: ...I have never seen the godly abandoned… Psalm 37:25 (NLT)

You Know What to Do

It’s so amazing to know God’s call for your life! It gives you a sense of direction and purpose and allows you to align yourself to fulfill His will. It’s a great feeling to be at peace knowing that you are living your life according to the direct leading of the Lord.

This can mean a whole different story when God’s calling you to do something you have no desire to do! This past week I have been studying the book of Jonah. Here is a man who was determined to run away from the call of God on his life. His running, however, only brought him turmoil and trouble until he finally succumbed to the will of God.

I know there has been many times where God has called me to do something or say a word to someone, and my whole being resisted. I tried to ignore His tugging, acting like I hadn’t heard Him. I tried to rationalize why I shouldn’t act. Still, the Lord kept me unsettled until I came into obedience with what He was asking of me.
Once I finally gave up the struggle and walked in His calling, I obtained peace of mind and spirit. And, usually, the very thing I was afraid of doing brought about such a blessing in another person’s life that my moment of discomfort or anxiety amounted to nothing.

Maybe God is tugging at your heart to do something for Him. Are you fighting His will? Are you acting like you didn’t hear what He said? God has a way of pausing our progress until we get in His will. Jonah had plans to move to a completely different city to escape God, but the Lord stopped Jonah’s plans with a great storm. Are you experiencing a roadblock because of your own disobedience? Are the winds and waves raging because you are ignoring God’s quiet voice? Take some time to repent and get back in the will of God! You won’t find peace until you do.

Verse of the Day: ...Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. Jeremiah 7:23