On Purpose!

We’ve all had those moments when we intended to do something but never got around to it. We meant to clean up the back yard but it was easier to sit on the couch and watch TV. We meant to send thank you cards but never got to the store to purchase them. We meant to get healthy but it was so easy just to go through the fast-food drive through for dinner.

Psychologists have a phrase for that kind of action. It’s called the intention-action gap. It’s the difference between what we say we will do and what we actually do. And if you are like me, I find myself living in the gap too many times.

There is a story about an eight-year old boy who becomes king of Judah. His name is Josiah. His story is found in 2 Kings 21-23. He had ever opportunity to live in the gap but chose to follow God. His grandfather, Manasseh, created idol worship throughout all of Judah. Then Josiah’s father carries on that ungodly legacy. But we find Josiah decided…intentionally…to follow God. He tore down and obliterated all the idols and idol worship in Judah and brought his people back to God. That kind of action doesn’t happen on accident.

As we live our lives, we may find we really do want to be in God’s Word every day. We really do want to have a meaningful prayer life. We really do want to surround ourselves with good, wholesome people. We really do want to dedicate our income and material possessions back to God. We really do want to serve people like Jesus served people. But all those things will not happen by accident. You and I have to be intentional if we want that kind of life. So what did Josiah do to turn it all around?

Well, one, he had a responsive heart for God. He heard the Word of God read for the first time at age 27. It changed his heart…led him toward God. He allowed God’s Word to sink into his soul. He was a different man almost immediately. That’s called conviction. Being in God’s Word everyday will allow us to be pulled toward God and the life He wants us to live.

But Josiah also humbled himself. That’s probably the hardest thing for any human to do. To de-throne yourself and say that someone else has a better idea than you takes resolve. Jesus says in Luke 18:14, “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” So, if we are to move in this direction how do we get there?

We ask for help. Josiah asked his mentors and friends to go to bat for him. So equally, I have 5 guys in my life who I’ve given permission to ask me hard questions, to kick me in the seat of my pants when I’m not acting like Jesus, to journey with me through the good and hard times. They are men I could call at 2AM and they’d be right there. They don’t judge me but remind me that there’s a better way with Jesus.

Finally, Josiah tore his clothes and wept. That’s a physical representation of a changed heart. So too our lives should represent that we follow a risen Savior. Our lives should look like Jesus in the way we talk, treat other people, honor our spouse, discipline our kids, in our work ethic…the list goes on. The world should be able to look at your life and say, “There is something very different about that person in a great way.”

So get out of the gap and live on purpose. Be intentional about how you live your life, knowing we are here to lift up the name of Jesus. He is our hope and Savior. Blessings on your journey.

You have MUCH power here.

Some of us like down time. You know, when it’s quiet and you can collect your thoughts. However, we can’t stay there very long. We were created to be in community. Think about the last time you laughed with a friend so hard you stomach hurt. What about the late night shenanigans moment when you toilet papered someone’s yard…What about the moment you told something that was very private to a close friend and they hugged you up in affirmation?

Yes! We’ve all got moments that we remember when we lived heartily in community. We were made for community…to be together. Now, there are no promises it will always be light and airy with the people we chose to live out life with but tough or easy, we were made to journey together.

God have us family, both physical and spiritual. And in those families we learn what it means to live out loud. There are people in your life that you can name right now that helped you be the person you are today. Go ahead. Say 4 names out loud that poured into you, affirmed you, walked with you, held you up, and cheered for you. Do you remember how you felt? Like someone cared and knew you. But living in community isn’t always about receiving. It’s also about giving.

So now, it’s your turn to pour. Who are the 3-4 people right now that you are walking with? Who are the people in your life that you are affirming and cheering for? You do you pour into?

As people who have been gifted by God, we are equally called to share that giftedness with others. Now, it stands to reason that of course you’d cheer for your kids or grandkids. You no doubt are affirming your spouse. Those are given. I mean if you aren’t pouring into them, who will. So beyond those people, who this year have you chosen to walk with.

You know, Paul in Ephesians 4:11 reminds us that we have gifts and it’s our responsibility to equip God’s people to do his work and build up other Jesus followers. If you find yourself creating excuses of why you are not doing that, I feel you. We all could create multiple reasons why we can’t cheer for, affirm or pour into anyone. But then, I’d look like every other person in the world but we’re called to be different.

No matter where you are, decide today, right now, in this moment, you’re going to be different…that you’re going to pay it forward. Someone lifted you. Now, it’s your turn. May God grant you the vision to see who you can walk with. May God allow room and margin on your calendar to find someone to affirm and cheer. We were made for community. The call as a follower of Jesus is to live that way. Blessings on your journey.

Time for lavish living is now!

When you’re young and in junior high, you are searching for yourself and ways to fit in, be cool, grow up. I lived in Glenwood, AR in the 7-8th grades and I was searching for myself. About 3 years ahead of me at church was a guy named Doug and he seemed way cool. He had long hair, drove a cool car, seemed to know what he wanted in life. I wanted to imitate him, hang out with him, be him. I’m certain he had many flaws (which I did not see) but one he had I began to imitate. He cracked his fingers. So I began doing that because I thought it was cool. Now, I’m 51 and I still crack my fingers all the time. I wished I had set me sights on loftier things to emulate.

It makes me think about our goals for what we want to emulate. What is it that we truly desire? Who do we want to look like? What habits are we latching on to that will help move us toward where we’d rather be?

It’s time. It’s time we lived in a way that screams “we love Jesus”. It’s time to live lavishly so the world will take notice. It’s time to literally live in a state of worship to God everyday of our lives, not just on Sunday. Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, “…give yourselves to God because of ALL he has done for you…YOU be a living sacrifice for him.” Paul is calling us to imitate Jesus with our very lives. We realize to do that, we’ll need to worship him every day of the week, not just on Sunday mornings. So, how can we worship every day?

Well first, we must submit our schedules to him. Give him time, which includes coming together as God’s people on Sunday. But you and I must also commit to daily prayer and reading God’s Word if we are going to discover how we are called to live in this world and know how to imitate Jesus from Nazareth.

Too many do not submit their calendar to God and pay the price of shallow follow-ship. We all want to be followers of the risen King not just traveling with him. Find a rhythm in your daily journey to be in prayer and be in God’s Word, the blueprint for how we are called to live.

Secondly, we are to use our gifts, our talent to serve other people. The Holy Spirit has gifted us with at least one talent. Some of us have multiple talents. But whether great or small, use what you’ve been given for God’s glory every single day. Let your light shine for him. We must become less so that he becomes more. Find a way to serve in ministry at your local church, in your community or at your workplace. Worship Jesus with your servant heart.

Lastly, use your resources to spread the story of what Jesus has done for all of us. If you’re not giving to your local church, then you’re not submitting to the leadership of the church you are a part of. Our call as people who follow Jesus is to share in multiple ways the story of God and how much He loves this world he created. It’s a scary thing to give up something you’ve worked so hard for but doing so will remind you that you trust God to provide for your needs while you are helping someone else discover that Jesus cares for them just like he cares for you.

You see, worship is more than a Sunday morning event. It’s something we do Every. Single. Day. Worship will cost you something. It may cost you time, the use of your giftedness, or your resources. But that’s our call as people who follow a risen Savior. Every day, live lavishly as you sing your praises for what God has done for you by the way you live your life! Blessings on the journey.

Beautiful Interference

What does loving God will all your heart, sou, mind, and strength look like? How would someone, looking at my life, agree that I have given my everything to love my Creator? How would I, at the ripe old age of ninety-four (I have years before I hit that magic number, by the way), look back at my life and feel the satisfaction that in every facet of my life, I gave it to God? What would the fruit of my desire to put God first in my life look like?

It doesn’t stop with just loving on God. It also means I must love other human beings—no matter their skin color, physical disability, nationality, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, number of tattoos, political party affiliation, preference of music style (although in my opinion, country music is the best), marital status—I love people exactly as much as I love myself, no exceptions.

Alright already, I get that; I understand what Jesus has said. But what does that look like, as it comes to realization in my own life? How could I feel confident that I am journeying in the direction that the Rabbi, Jesus, is walking? How could I know I’m following close behind him? When do I know that his dust has settled on me?

I believe too many times, as followers of Jesus, we get wrapped up in the “rule-following” of religion rather than the tidal wave of love that is Jesus. As followers, we believe that using the “spiritual clipboard” to check off the things we are doing or not doing is what God, through his Son, Jesus, wants us to do. However, based upon Jesus’ scathing rebuttal of the “clipboard checkers” (that is, the religious leaders of his time) in Matthew 23, I feel God has called us to live a life that many of us miss—a call to love God and love people with no strings attached…unconditionally. Jesus reminds us to love God with everything we have, and to love people with that same intensity in Mark 12:30-31.

Jesus calls us as his followers and says, “The most important commandment is this…you must love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these two.”

So, how have you loved today? What has your tone and body posture been like with others? Did you start the day in prayer and God’s Word? How have you positioned yourself to live this out in your family, in your work place, in your neighborhood? People know you claim to be a follower of Jesus. Live in such a way that there is never any doubt! Blessings on your journey.