Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Psalm 32 message
Lord humble my heart to your spirit. I have prepared for this message, and mulled over this message, and thought about these verses for years, but that means nothing if you want me to do something else. I want to be sensitive to your call and your leading. Take this message and make it yours. Take me out of the way, and speak to the youth in a way only Your spirit can accomplish. I pray for the students that are at the end of their leash, striving as hard as they can to accomplish their own plans. I pray for myself. Lord show me where I am. I want to be where you want me, not forging ahead, but following behind you! Speak to my heart as you speak to those students hearts!
Chris
Chris
Monday, November 30, 2009
contentment?
Over the last five weeks in youth Sunday school we have been studying a series of messages titled "Stepping Out". The premise of the messages was obedience. The two that stuck out the most were last weeks lesson on Paul while writing 2 Timothy and this past Sunday's lesson on Jonah.
Both men were called to serve God in very similar ways...they were to preach the name of God to the pagan nations. Both Jonah and Paul had very similar out comes in the end...many many many people were converted and began glorifying God. However their means were very different.
Jonah was of course called to Nineveh (which is in Turkey - the far east of the Mediterranean Sea), while Paul was called to go back to Jerusalem. Jonah refused to go to the pagan city and went to Tarshish instead (which is in Spain - the far west of the Mediterranean). We all know how the story ends up. Jonah is swallowed up by a big fish, vomited out three days later, begrudgingly goes to Nineveh, preaches the word, hundreds of thousands are turned back to God, he wants God to destroy the city, he pouts, he whines, and he cries, and he doesn't get his way. Jonah's lack of obedience causes lots of problems for him, however one very huge side effect that i noticed yesterday blew me away.
Paul on the other hand, was begged by his close friends not to return to Jerusalem. His friends, and even Paul, knew that his return to Jerusalem would mean certain death. Paul, despite the warnings and pleas, was obedient to God's call and went to Jerusalem. He was captured, jailed, and later executed. While in the prison Paul penned 2 Timothy. A letter with a very interesting twist that stuck out to me yesterday.
Paul and Jonah had decisions to make, they could be obedient or disobedient. A very interesting outcome to obedience is contentment. Paul's letter to Timothy is a peaceful writing that reflects on a life well lived. Paul, in the face of death, is satisfied with his outcome. Shortly after writing the letter, Paul is beheaded and turned up-side-down to allow all the blood to run out of his body. Yet he is peaceful knowing that he has "fought the good fight, he has finished the course, he has kept the faith". Whereas Jonah...Jonah was just pissed off and not happy about anything.
I know this sounds like common sense, but it hit me like a ton of bricks. If I am experiencing lack of contentment then maybe I am practicing disobedience...just a thought!
Both men were called to serve God in very similar ways...they were to preach the name of God to the pagan nations. Both Jonah and Paul had very similar out comes in the end...many many many people were converted and began glorifying God. However their means were very different.
Jonah was of course called to Nineveh (which is in Turkey - the far east of the Mediterranean Sea), while Paul was called to go back to Jerusalem. Jonah refused to go to the pagan city and went to Tarshish instead (which is in Spain - the far west of the Mediterranean). We all know how the story ends up. Jonah is swallowed up by a big fish, vomited out three days later, begrudgingly goes to Nineveh, preaches the word, hundreds of thousands are turned back to God, he wants God to destroy the city, he pouts, he whines, and he cries, and he doesn't get his way. Jonah's lack of obedience causes lots of problems for him, however one very huge side effect that i noticed yesterday blew me away.
Paul on the other hand, was begged by his close friends not to return to Jerusalem. His friends, and even Paul, knew that his return to Jerusalem would mean certain death. Paul, despite the warnings and pleas, was obedient to God's call and went to Jerusalem. He was captured, jailed, and later executed. While in the prison Paul penned 2 Timothy. A letter with a very interesting twist that stuck out to me yesterday.
Paul and Jonah had decisions to make, they could be obedient or disobedient. A very interesting outcome to obedience is contentment. Paul's letter to Timothy is a peaceful writing that reflects on a life well lived. Paul, in the face of death, is satisfied with his outcome. Shortly after writing the letter, Paul is beheaded and turned up-side-down to allow all the blood to run out of his body. Yet he is peaceful knowing that he has "fought the good fight, he has finished the course, he has kept the faith". Whereas Jonah...Jonah was just pissed off and not happy about anything.
I know this sounds like common sense, but it hit me like a ton of bricks. If I am experiencing lack of contentment then maybe I am practicing disobedience...just a thought!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Deny yourself...
Matthew 16:24 says very matter of fact "if anyone one wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me." Lord, I'm stuck on the deny yourself part. I'm so let down, so turned off, so hurt by some of my most respected colleagues. Their recent actions are more like immature children rather then dignified, educated and professional adults. Fortunately, you did not give me the ability to control the actions of others. As much as I want to go shake them or tongue lash them or wreck shop on them, you have called me to deny myself. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN? Lord, use this time in my life as a teachable moment. Let me not slide through this time leaning towards selfish ambition. You have created me for a purpose, a purpose that is far above anything that I can fashion for myself. I must act submissively towards you and others in authority. I must follow you towards the goal in which you have set out for me. I must do this in a way that draws glory and honor and praise and worship to you. Teach me to encourage and put others before me!
I love you Lord!
Chris
I love you Lord!
Chris
Friday, October 30, 2009
Fall Retreat
Dear Lord,
I want to praise you for who you are! You are an amazing God that has plans so complex and perfect that I cannot and will not ever comprehend them. You are the God of the universe, you set the world into motion. You control the stars like a puppeteer. I long to glorify you with my life. It's the least that I can do. You grant me each day. I praise you that your mercies come new every morning. You are too good to me.
Lord, this is hard for me. It shouldn't be, but it is. Lord, I agree with you that I am wrong. I know that I have taken matters of life into my own hands. I have put my desires and wants over what you would have for me. I have sinned and done what is wrong in your eyes. Bring me back into right fellowship with you. Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Yes there is joy in your salvation and I thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you and thank you for that. I am not mired in the pit of sin, but I am above sin, it has been washed away!
Father, I beg you for the students of the youth ministry. I pray that you would wear down their hearts right now. Leave them hungry all day at school. Give them an uneasy feeling in their hearts. I pray that your spirit would move so hard and fast that it would blow some of them away. I pray that you would bring these students into a real relationship with you. Reveal who you are to them. Reveal to them the worth and meaning that you bring to a life that is wholly devoted to you! Show these kids how awesome life can be!
I love You!
Chris
I want to praise you for who you are! You are an amazing God that has plans so complex and perfect that I cannot and will not ever comprehend them. You are the God of the universe, you set the world into motion. You control the stars like a puppeteer. I long to glorify you with my life. It's the least that I can do. You grant me each day. I praise you that your mercies come new every morning. You are too good to me.
Lord, this is hard for me. It shouldn't be, but it is. Lord, I agree with you that I am wrong. I know that I have taken matters of life into my own hands. I have put my desires and wants over what you would have for me. I have sinned and done what is wrong in your eyes. Bring me back into right fellowship with you. Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Yes there is joy in your salvation and I thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you and thank you for that. I am not mired in the pit of sin, but I am above sin, it has been washed away!
Father, I beg you for the students of the youth ministry. I pray that you would wear down their hearts right now. Leave them hungry all day at school. Give them an uneasy feeling in their hearts. I pray that your spirit would move so hard and fast that it would blow some of them away. I pray that you would bring these students into a real relationship with you. Reveal who you are to them. Reveal to them the worth and meaning that you bring to a life that is wholly devoted to you! Show these kids how awesome life can be!
I love You!
Chris
Thursday, October 29, 2009
what is education?
What does education really mean? Is it a classroom with books and desks and kids and a teacher that pours out knowledge? Is it standards? Is it even learning? Is it regergitating facts in order to appease a man (or woman) in a nice suit, sitting in a comfortable leather chair, in a quiet office over looking a downtown street, sipping tea after their two hour lunch break with a possible campaign supporter? Is it neat? Is it dirty? Does it make sense?
What do you think?
What do you think?
Response to a question about Matthew 24:13
"but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved"
This section of Matthew is talking about the middle point of the seven-year period preceding Christ's second coming, great distress will be experienced. The Antichrist will rise to power. Many people will be deceived by false prophets. This verse does not refer to a personal self-effort at endurance that results in salvation. It instead talks about physical deliverance.
Basically, if the people who follow Christ during the Tribulation can stand firm in their faith by trusting in the Lord, they will be taken up to heaven in their physcial bodies. They would have already been "saved". They will simply be deleivered from the pain and sorrow of the Tribulation. Remember, there is nothing you can do to "earn" or "win" salvation. It is complete trust and faith in Christ Jesus!
let me know what you think!
Chris
This section of Matthew is talking about the middle point of the seven-year period preceding Christ's second coming, great distress will be experienced. The Antichrist will rise to power. Many people will be deceived by false prophets. This verse does not refer to a personal self-effort at endurance that results in salvation. It instead talks about physical deliverance.
Basically, if the people who follow Christ during the Tribulation can stand firm in their faith by trusting in the Lord, they will be taken up to heaven in their physcial bodies. They would have already been "saved". They will simply be deleivered from the pain and sorrow of the Tribulation. Remember, there is nothing you can do to "earn" or "win" salvation. It is complete trust and faith in Christ Jesus!
let me know what you think!
Chris
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)