December 31

If you put on a blindfold and walk around, what will happen? How about if you were blindfolded and went shopping – for cloths? How do you think that would go? I was even thinking about paying at the store, you wouldn’t know if you were being taken or not. Why? You can’t see! You will be robbed blind – I mean you’re blind so you get robbed – blind!

1 John 2:11 (NIV84) — 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

Hate = blindness. Sure even in the dark you can see some things, but you are blinded of many things and the details in the things that you can see you can barely make out. The fact is that if you have a hating heart toward ANYONE, you are presently IN darkness. I know how to get out – to turn the light on – to live in the sonlight – love!

1 John 3:1 (NIV84) — 1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!...

The last day of the year I want you to be enveloped in the love of God! Get raptured in it – think about it all day – think about it all 2012! He loves you so much! Get His love in you, more and more, day after day, then loving one another will be your only option. You won’t be able to hate, resent, become bitter or judge others without the message of love and grace pouncing on that judgment and eviscerating it! Oh to have His love, its full revelation working within me. I would love others more unconditionally, love myself more unconditionally and love God with greater passion – it would all be His love flowing through me to someone else! How great a year that would make! Imagine those things that people do that frustrate you, they would be nothing compared with your love for them. How about it? Will you eagerly desire a greater revelation of God’s love?

Ephesians 3:17–19 (NIV84) — 17 … And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

December 30

Sin is “acting contrary to the will of God”. It comes from an archery term to miss the bull’s eye. I think we have taken that term a little too far. Outside the bull’s eye are several more concentric circles, (five by most that I saw). I think we have assigned certain sins to certain circles. What I mean is that some sins are acceptable or nearly acceptable. They are understandable, only human, and fall under the category of, “hey I’m not perfect”, or “everybody…”. My friend Wendell once said that the only hate that is completely allowed in the church is hating your ex. WOW! That’s a stinger! How about hating Pres. Obama? Acceptable? Cheating on your taxes? Am I getting warm? There are things that we “excuse” that cause us death! The things we say about one another and to one another causes so much pain, bondage and death, yet although we would say it is wrong to gossip or be critically judgmental, we may not rank it with getting drunk. In fact, I will wager that we may have talked behind someone’s back critically or gossiped about them doing something like getting drunk (or anything out of the will of God) to others not realizing that in doing so we too were “sinning”.

We need to reexamine what our definition of sin has become and bring it back into line with God’s definition. While getting drunk may ruin many things, backbiting WILL bring death to MANY. I am not advocating getting drunk – do NOT be drunk but be filled with the Spirit! What I am saying is that we have “pet” sins that we think of readily like drinking, drugging, sexing and especially homosexuality. While all these are definitely acting contrary to the will of God, so is cowardice and fear, resentment and judgmentalism and the like.

The book of 1st John is about LOVE! God IS love! I would encourage you to re-read it if necessary and discern what it is saying about God and about us, what His will is for us. Then go back to 1 Cor. 13 and read what love is again, what it does, what it looks like. Oh church, to be rooted and grounded in this love, nothing would stop us!

Psalm 133 (NIV84) —1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!... For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

December 29

At least a portion of 1st John is written so people won’t sin.

1 John 2:1 (NIV84) — 1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

My question to you as you read this book is; What in this book motivates us not to sin?
Search this out.

Sin has become this word that is associated with those things we think are REALLY wrong. It has evolved over the years, and I fear it has become something that it wasn’t intended to be. Words paint pictures right? I am not so sure that “sin” paints the proper picture in the mind of the west.

By many in and out of the church, it is almost dismissed (the word sin) and glossed over. Its consequences have been long forgotten - which is the point! So many acquaint sin with bad but stop there. May I suggest that sin = death, so sin is death. One may saying, “hey, stop killing yourself” and it would be accurate. To the one slamming drugs into the veins we would easily say that, but how about to the one who is complaining to you about someone else? The one who hears “you are killing yourself”, may awaken to the fact that “missing the mark of God” or not doing what God wants is really costly and not merely “bad”. God doesn’t want us not to “sin” because He wants morally upright people, He doesn’t want us to sin because we were made to contain His glory and not death! Yes we all physically die, but there is so much more than the physical! God wants you to do His will because it is the BEST for YOU! It is what He created you for. It will get you to the destiny that He has for you which will bring you the highest satisfaction possible. Not only that, but you will make the mark, an eternal mark that you long for because you were created for that! Our significance is tied into being eternally fruitful. God’s problem with sin surrounds the fact that it hurts the ones He loves. Not only does it hurt us when we do it, but it often hurts others around us. It causes death! No wonder God hates sin – He LOVES US!

December 27

If find it interesting in Nehemiah that the Jews who lived outside the city came and helped build the wall. If we can see the imagery here we would see a lesson for us. The walls, those things that protected people, were in ruins. They had been ruined in the takeover and exile of the Israelites and also after Ezra’s efforts to rebuild the wall. This meant that the people of the city AND the place of worship were left unprotected and thereby in disgrace. Nehemiah was changing that through building up the wall of protection for all to see the greatness of God and that God was again with the Israelites. There is some good stuff there. But check this out:

Nehemiah 3:5 (NIV84) — 5 The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.

There were some people who were above (in their heads) the task of rebuilding a wall for someone else. These men were from a city that was 12 miles to the south and although there were plenty of Jews who did help from Tekoa, the nobles didn’t! Whether they didn’t care or didn’t want to get dirty or didn’t think it was a worthy cause, we don’t know. What we can deduct is this – they wouldn’t help others. They were involved with themselves. Hmmm…. Imagine being mentioned in the Bible… now imagine that you were mentioned because you wouldn’t help.

Others are unprotected and it is our job, our ministry, our right and privilege to help build them up so they can be self-protected. That is discipleship!

Dec 26

Hebrews 13:7 (NIV84) — 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Woe, hoe, wait a minute here. Does this mean what I think it means? Yep! Leaders are expected to live a life of EXAMPLE that can be IMITATED! People are supposed to continue to think about the way a leader conducts their lives and conduct themselves in the same way. I don’t know about you, but that scares me! I would like people to work as hard as I do, to care as much as I do, to own the ministry of the Kingdom as much as I do, to love worship as much as I do and so on…, but there are things about me that I would like everyone to forget! Seriously, my manner of life isn’t always, ahhh… wonderfully godly! This is a lot of pressure here! Jesus, help me – help us!

James 3:1 (NIV84) — 1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

As if we needed more, God continues to warn us in James about being a leader who teaches. I am not sure whether the judgment will come from God or from man, but as I have experienced in ministry, it sure does come from man. There is a lot expected of me! I am under scrutiny more than most! My small mistakes get magnified and remembered and sometimes brought up again and again. It is all too much!

However when I think about the grace of God and His forbearance and love for me, I remember my call with delight. Leading is a privilege, but is not to be taken lightly. I am looked at and talked about, but I lead and teach for Jesus. How about you? The yoke of Jesus is easy and His burden is light. These verses are not BURDENS to be worn, but warnings to be heeded. We cannot take lightly, the call on our lives as leaders. We must respond to it with sincerity and wonder, in awe that God would choose us to lead anybody! He has chosen you (if you are a leader or teacher), because He sees something in you that CAN DO this and thinks you can live a life that is worthy of your calling. God believes in you! So lead, teach and live under the power and mighty working of God and leave the rest up to grace. Give your all to Him!

December 25

I can’t get the song “A Little Longer” out of my head. The lyric, “What can I do for You?
What can I bring to You? What kind of song would You like me to sing?... I can’t thank you enough.” It is the heart cry of someone who is very grateful and just wants to do something for the one they love. What a beautiful picture of a heart of love!

Then the song changes course and the artist sings the Lord’s response. “You don’t have to do a thing, just simply be with me and let those things go, they can wait another minute…” I realize this isn’t scripture, but scripture backs it up! It is such a wonderful picture of our Lord and His heart of love for us. The song continues; “Wait... this moment is too sweet. Would you please stay here with Me, and love on Me a little longer…”

Today is Christmas day – we celebrate Him. May I suggest 2 things? First, spend a little time with Him today and let those “things” wait another minute. I know you have a lot to do, say no to them for a minute and love on Jesus. The second thing is spend some time with those you love. Not just being in the same room, but looking eye to eye and conveying love to them. Let them feel soaked in your love.

Merry Christmas

December 24

Hebrews 12:15 (NIV84) — 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

I come along these passages that I have quoted for years, or half quoted as in this case (the latter half) and my eyes see something that I have never seen before. I got the whole bitter root thing, that it causes trouble, it’s a growing thing, it defiles many and a couple of other life points, but it was the missing the grace of God that jumped out at me. Let me put it in a simple equation:

Missing the grace of God = a growing root of bitterness

Simple yet crazy! It is when we miss, (hustereo- to fail in some measure to attain some state or condition—‘to fail to attain, to not attain, to be behind in) the grace (undeserved or unmerited favor or kindness), we fall into the trap of being bitterness. Bitterness comes from OUR failing to attain a posture of undeserved kindness towards other people (or even ourselves). We tend to treat others as they deserve, or according to what they have done in the past, but that is opening the door for bitterness, and we know that bitterness will cause trouble for MANY people!

Here is a good New Years (New Man/Woman) resolution – extend undeserved kindness to everyone and don’t treat them as their sins deserve! After all, that is what God has done toward us, the least we can do is to do the same to others in honor of Christ.

December 23

We have talked a lot about finances and planting seeds through giving, generosity, hard work and so on in the past month. We all want to reap a good harvest of good things – right? We want a material harvest so that we would be supplied for and beyond that, we want to be a supplying part of God’s arm to others who are in need. There is more to be harvested than that, and those things are more important! We want a harvest of eternal riches – of peace, righteousness and joy in the Holy Spirit! As much as we would like to believe that all we have to do is believe, that isn’t right, we have to obey. That means we have to submit, even when we go through tough times.

Psalm 34:19 (NIV84) — 19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;

One of the tough things that we MUST do to get what we ultimately want and need for this life is to be put under discipline. Sometimes we spend our time running from His discipline, which is fruitless. Going through hard times are not to always be avoided. In training my body, I put it through difficulty! I am about to go to the gym right now and for 45 minutes to an hour, I will push it to its breaking point, lifting weight until I can no longer lift. I will reap a harvest physically for it and that is what I want.

Hebrews 12:11 (NIV84) — 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

You can go through discipline and not be trained by it and have it produce NOTHING! The word for trained (gumnadzo) means vigorous training and control, so if you don’t go through it controlled or put yourself under its control, you will not reap (literally, give back to you, like an exchange). So lean into the discipline, enduring it like a professional athlete or soldier and reap a great harvest!

December 21

Hebrews 11:11 (NIV84) — 11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.

There is a lot written and said about faith so what I am pointing out is not some new revelation, but nonetheless, it is good stuff from the Spirit. Sarah and Abraham were ENABLED (dunimas – translated power and ability) by something or someone. We know that it was God who did it, that is a no brainer, but the phrasing here is something we should consider, “because he considered him faithful who had made the promise”. That is powerful!

Faith sometimes gets put in the abstract for us. It becomes that “thing” that we have to have or attain. This phrase really connects some dots for us. Faith is considering something or someone faithful who made a promise. So faith in God is trusting God to deliver on what He said. In this case, there was nothing that Abraham and Sarah could do but have relations with one another and believe that God would perform a miracle! But get this: God was enabled to fulfill His promise to Abraham and Sarah because of their faith! It isn’t as though God NEEDS our faith to operate – that is silly. However He does fulfill His promise to us WHEN we have faith. Although some may be uncomfortable with this, I am not because I understand that God HAS ALL the power and His power is not limited by me! However, if I don’t believe for salvation, do I attain it? No! Therefore, I can limit the operation of God’s power by my lack of “considering Him faithful to fulfill His promise” to me. Think about it.

December 20

Chapter 10 of Hebrews is one of my favorites! It is such LIFE for those who can understand it! It brings a new view of God towards us, how He sees us, and how we ought to see ourselves.

Hebrews 10:2–3 (NIV84) — 2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,

First we see that the sacrificial system was all about reminding people they were missing God’s mark. We also see here that the ultimate goal of God is for us (His people) to be cleansed once for all, and no longer have guilty feelings (or realities) for our sins! YEA! That is some good news isn’t it?

Hebrews 10:14 (NIV84) — 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Whohoo! Here is more good news! We have been perfected forever! That is how God sees us, that is our standing before Him! Perfect! Obviously that doesn’t mean that we are perfect in our conduct, but it does mean that we have the opportunity to live a life of holiness and guiltlessness. We can stop calling ourselves failures, sinners, bums and the like and start calling ourselves, victors, saints and overcomers! Maybe if we call ourselves and think of ourselves in this light, we may even start acting like that!!!!

So… if God see us like that, shouldn’t we see one another like that? If He sees my kids like that (since they are saved by the blood), shouldn’t I see them like that instead of… How about that person at work or in church that you don’t “care” for too much for because of some behavior that have exhibited in the past or currently - do you see them how God sees them – or do you define them by what they do? Ouch! I am resolute to see people how God sees them and understand that like me, they just need training.

The bottom line is here, how dare we think of ourselves or anyone else with anything other than God’s thoughts. I encourage you to apply this scripture to everyone in the family of God.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV84) — 11 For I know the plans (THOUGHTS) I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

December 19

As I enjoyed the worship, the new songs, the skits, the dance and solo and of course the crescendo of balloons dropping, my soul was satisfied! The satisfaction came from knowing that we did well at pleasing God through the sacrifice of ourselves in worship. I must admit, the attendance was disappointing, and the fact that nobody responded (to me) for the salvation call bummed me out. I wanted our whole church there and so many were missing. People had invited many friends, but few came – HOWEVER – I was looking at the wrong thing! Really! If we only look at the results that we can SEE we are destined for failure and depression!

Someone came up to me after the service and said that they haven’t cried and surrendered like that for a long time. As they sang Surrender, they really had a moment with the Lord. I didn’t see that, but it happened. How about the camaraderie of all the players from sound and projection to set building (wow – were those sets great or what!) to actors to worship team to all the participants who pulled it off and did it well on Sunday? You can’t underestimate what putting a production like this together does to people. As well as people did this unto God! Nobody did this for fame, they did it for God! How awesome is that?! As a pastor, that is satisfying!

We had another incredible production full of high quality performances that (if I can be honest in comparison), you would see at a church 5-10 times our size. That fact is that Hope Chapel Orange Coast is so blessed with great people who have undeniable talent and they use it to perform for the King of Kings! I am proud to pastor such a great people! To everyone who had a hand in this wonderful Christmas production, thank you and I want you to know, heaven enjoyed it too!

December 16

The Word of God is amazing! I was reading Psalm 25 this morning and it is so full of hope, so full of love, so FULL! God’s desire is for us, for us to prosper, for us to know His love, for us to have a good life and not be put to shame! This life doesn’t come without trials and sufferings nor without difficult lessons, but they are all designed to bring us to God and to be more refined! (Psalm 66)

This Psalm talks about the one who lifts his soul up to the Lord. We learn that he is in trouble and has many enemies, but he recounts the Lord’s mercies, His promised intervention, His forgiveness, His protection, and cries out to God in confidence! He fears the Lord and then states that the fear of the Lord brings, instruction, direction, prosperity, release and that God will confide in the person who fears Him!

Lift your soul up to Him today, fix your eyes on the finisher of our faith, recall and proclaim His promises and His covenant with you! Tell Him what you need today and watch God come to your side and deliver, not like some butler, but like a Father who loves His kid!

December 15

We have a God of comfort right? That means that God comforts us right? How did that get translated into God wants us comfortable – all the time? Aren’t there a few scriptures about suffering and enduring?

1 Peter 4:12 (NIV84) — 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.

Does that sound comfortable to anyone? If we are honest, nearly everything we have changed or God has changed in our lives has been, ahh… “uncomfortable”. So where do we get the idea that church should be comfortable? I mean I am all into nice comfy chairs, but as far as our practice, sometimes it is going to get uncomfortable. God is going to ask you for commitment beyond your comfort or He is going to tell you to minister to someone beyond your comfort, or worship wildly beyond your comfort or…, you get the point.

I ran across an uncomfortable verse:

Hebrews 5:7 (NIV84) — 7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

Praying with loud cries and tears huh, well that’s uncomfortable! Imagine getting that emotional and noisy – some are glad Jesus doesn’t go to their church. My theory is this, either you will intercede as the Spirit flows through you, which at times (many) will be loud and passionate, or you will have to be brought to the place where it is unavoidable – where you must cry out loud for help! Choose option #1

As far as comfort goes, we are people of God who are willing to be uncomfortable for the Kingdom. Whether it is ministering to somebody, taking on responsibility, being like David (I will be more undignified than this – talking about his worship of God), in worship or anything else, we are conquerors and will do what it takes to live in that victory.

December 14

It’s Christmas time! A time of joy and giving and peace on earth – well at least peace in my heart – right? The smell of pine in our concrete jungle and the expectancy of children who are giddy with delight for you to open their gifts to you. Ahh… Christmas! Then it happens, a masked man steals the joy and it all becomes a burden to bear. It’s supposed to be fun decorating, but it is another thing on the checklist that looks like Santa’s list for the continent of Asia! What happens on the way to Christmas? The same thing that happens all year long – we become a victim to our “to do” list and our joy gets ripped off.

By 51 you would think I would be out of process and into mastery, but no. Still in process! How about you? If you can admit that you have the same problem, then God can give you a solution – His joy. I was reading the other day and found this:

Hebrews 1:9 (NIV84) — 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

It seems that Nehemiah who wrote by the Spirit:

Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV84) — 10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Had something too – a key to the Kingdom way back then. There is something about joy that the enemy of your souls MUST steal! It is too powerful and able to give you strength and set you above others. It is a power that others cannot ignore. When you are in a room and have joy, especially God’s joy, you stand out, you are magnetic! So don’t let your joy be stolen this season or any other season. Tame whatever beast is trying to steal, or has stolen it. Joy is yours to have and exercise in all situations!

Psalm 28:7 (NIV84) — 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.