Heartbroken?

At Potential Church, we talk to so many people who are suffering.  Maybe they experience a dating breakup, a failed marital relationship, or just an overwhelming sense of failure or loss.  I turn to this scripture as I provide counsel...

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

I love this verse.  Simply put, it says that when we hurt... God is there.  But lets look at it a little closer.   More specifically...the word “brokenhearted”.  Ever felt that way?   Have you ever had your heart broken?  Maybe she said I do... but really didn’t.  Maybe you risked it all... and lost it.  Perhaps you were abused, misused, or accused and it hurt.  You’ve cried all you can cry and now look skyward... desperately hoping for a sign from God that everything will be ok.  

Today’s verse is for you... the brokenhearted and crushed.  God is near.. He saves you from the pain.  This scripture doesn’t say that He’ll get to you... or that He’s thinking about you... it says He’s NEAR you.  Next to you.  With you.  His loving arm over your shoulder and His eyes filled with empathy and concern.  

But God is there for a reason... not just to comfort... but to strengthen you.  God wants to remind you that you weren’t created to suffer.   You weren’t knit together to be a victim.  You weren’t designed to be in pain forever.   So what can you do to feel better?  

Choose.

Walter Anderson writes, "I am responsible. Although I may not be able to prevent the worst from happening, I am responsible for my attitude toward the inevitable misfortunes that darken life. Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have -- life itself."

Every day that our lungs take in air is a blessing.  Every new set of 24 hours is a fresh opportunity to begin the journey back.  If your heart hurts today... choose to give it to God.  Decide on joy over sadness.  Focus on counting blessings not burdens.  God will be there.  Always.  When you are wounded... He heals.  Remember, you are far too valuable to this world... don’t let your pain define, restrict, or outright stop you from accomplishing the destiny for which you were created.   

Find yourself in an emotional pit today? Allow God to strengthen and heal you... and then choose to begin the walk out of it.  You can do it.  I’ll be praying for you as you do.   

Real Competition

A former chaplain of the US Senate, Richard Halverson once said... "Want to be a winner? Compete against yourself, not somebody else. Outrunning your rival doesn’t mean you ran your best race. You can win over another and still not fulfill your potential. It’s true in all of life. To be your best, you must compete with yourself. It’s life’s biggest contest.”

In Galatians 6, the Bible says, "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions.".   One of the biggest barriers to personal success is the comparison of ourselves to others.  You are the only one qualified to be you... and that’s what God made you to do!    Are you ready to move forward and improve?  Stay in your lane, check your own motives, work on improving yourself, and remember... your only real competition is the you of yesterday.  Keep moving forward!

Get Active

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9

Researchers have discovered that athletes have a higher pain tolerance than non-athletes. It seems both men and women who play team sports can stand more pain than those involved in other less intense activities.  Their recommendation?  If you deal with a lot of everyday pain... get active... you’ll feel healthier and more resistant to discomfort.  

Great advice!  But when it comes to the pains of life... many of us do the opposite.  When it hurts...we retreat... we become afraid.  Timid.  Unsure of what God can do or if the pain will ever end.  Scripture tells us in Joshua 1:9 to be strong!  Be courageous when it hurts because God is with us!   When life gets challenging, don’t shrink back or  just stand there in pain... step boldly forward... stay active and connected to God...  and soon you’ll find yourself stronger and more tolerant to what used to hurt you.  

Dark Spot

In August of 2010, Ron S. of Brewester, Massachusetts had a problem.  Doctors discovered an “ominous dark spot” on one of his lungs. They feared the worst.  Multiple tests were run but all came back inconclusive.  There was only one thing left to do... surgery.  The mass was removed and sent to the labs.  After a couple of days it was concluded that it wasn’t cancer at all... it was a pea that had somehow worked its way into his windpipe and then his lung.  The moist environment of the lung had caused it to sprout.  

How much time do we spend dreading those “ominous dark spots” in our lives.  We work ourselves up... preparing ourselves for doom and gloom... only to find that what we dread isn’t what comes to pass.  Over 90% of what we worry about never happens.  9 out of 10 sleepless nights are pointless.   We allow the unknown to grow in the dark damp environment of our minds..holding us prisoner to fear and worry.  Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has plans for us... He knows what’s coming... and He’s already ahead of us preparing the way.  No need to doubt, dread, or waste time wondering where the next “dark spot” may come.  Take time to trust!   When we do so, life gets easier and our faith grows stronger!

Why We're Here

In a Charlie Brown cartoon strip Lucy asks, "Why do you think we're put on earth, Charlie Brown?" Charlie replies, "To make others happy." Lucy says, "I don't think I'm making anyone very happy . . . Of course, nobody's making me very happy either." Then in the final panel, Lucy screams at the top of her lungs, "Hey, somebody's not doing his job!"

Have you ever wondered why we’re put on earth?  Is it Lucy’s reason?  Are others meant to serve us?  Are we meant to always be happy?

No.  God never promises consistent happiness... in fact, He tells us that we will struggle at times:  John 16:33 “ Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows... “

So why are we here?  To endure life?  To simply get through our days?  

Absolutely not.  Life is much sweeter than that!  Charlie Brown had it right... the reason we exist is for others.  It’s why we breathe and it’s why we’ve been given the gifts that we have.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:7, “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” 

He further tells us in Galatians: “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  

Can you imagine a selfless world?  People getting up in the morning just to remind those they do life with that they matter... 

To bring hope to the hopeless...

To mend instead of rip...

To forgive the undeserving...

To provide for someone knowing they could never return the favor...

To make others happy... 

Seem unfair?  Why should we be the ones taking care of others?  What if nobody takes care of us or makes us happy? 

That’s not the mission or the goal.  We aren’t here to always be happy with things... we’re here to be more like Jesus Christ. We’re here to bring Him glory.  We’re here to share His good news.  We’re here to praise Him in the good things and the bad.  We’re here to represent Him to those that don’t know Him.  We’re here to rescue those God puts in our path.  We’re here to love Him without reservation... and we’re here to love those He created even when we don’t agree with them or feel like doing so.  

And when we do these things... God (and He alone) will give us a joy that circumstance can’t take away and people’s opinions can’t tarnish.   The secret to happiness isn’t so secret... 

It all starts with a priority list that has God at the top... others next... and ourselves a distant but blessed third.  

This One

Let’s start off our week by talking about the third step of obedience….

A man is walking along the shoreline of an ocean when he comes up on a little boy standing in the midst of thousands of starfish that had washed up along the shore. The man watches the little boy as he picks up a starfish and one by one throws them back in the sea. The man watches for several minutes then walks up to the boy and asks, "What are you doing?" The little boy answers, "I'm saving these starfish so they won't die." The man says to the boy..."There are too many to save, it won’t make any difference." 

Some would say that the man has a point.. after all...there are so many starfish on the beach... what will throwing a few back do?  How can the kindness and generosity of one boy make a difference?  Truth is... one person can’t do it all.  

But one person can do something.  And when enough people do something... big things happen.  Lasting change occurs.  What once seemed unachievable becomes reachable.   Every act of generosity matters... and every sacrifice... every gift... every commitment toward helping someone become the person they were created to be is important.   

You have to answer two important questions:  

1)  Are you obedient in your giving?

2)  Are you able to part with the temporary to affect the eternal?  

When you follow God’s directive to be generous… you put yourself in a position to be blessed.  So many are wondering why they aren’t experiencing the breakthrough in their lives…  could it be because they have shifted into worshiping the provision and not the Provider?   When we give of our resources, God does something supernatural with the money… making it far more effective than if we’d spent it ourselves.   

Looking back at the starfish story... I want to share with you what the boy said in response to the man’s discouraging words:

“The man says to the boy..."There are too many to save, it won’t make any difference." 

The little boy reached down and picked up another starfish and said, "it will make a difference to this one" as he threw it into the ocean.”

You may hesitate to give because you don’t think it matters... that your commitment won’t make a difference.  Let me assure you... it does.  Your kindness...your faithfulness...and your generosity in supporting the vision of Potential Church affects not only campus development now... but will help assure that future generations will discover and grow in Christ just as you have.    It’s my prayer that we wouldn’t see giving as just an opportunity to give resources... but understand it as a chance to change lives with what God has blessed us with.  Let’s come together... all of us... and make a difference for the Kingdom. 

God Jersey

Author Art Hill shares a story about our second step of obedience from the message last weekend:  baptism.

After church one Sunday afternoon, a four-year-old boy said, very seriously, "Daddy, will you let me baptize you?" The father laughed it off as a joke but then realized that his son was serious, because he kept asking him, "Daddy, will you let me baptize you?" Finally, not knowing if his son even knew what "baptism" meant, the father said, "Okay son. You can baptize me." The son then came very close to his father, looked intently into his eyes, and said, "You're getting sleepy. You're getting sleepy. . . " 

So many are confused by what baptism is.  The boy in our story thought is was a form of hypnosis…  Others see it as a way to wash off a sinful weekend… still others as a method to get to heaven.  So what is it?   None of these.  

Instead, baptism is an outward expression of an inward decision.  It’s what comes after you pray the prayer of salvation that we talked about in yesterday’s post.  I often refer to it as putting on your “God jersey”… showing the world that you are on God’s team.  We do it by immersion (dunking underwater) because that’s what they did in the Bible… and any believer can do it (or do it again).  It doesn’t get you to heaven… it doesn’t wash off a bunch of bad choices… it’s simply a chance to express the decision you’ve already made to follow Christ with your life.  It’s showing the world that you belong to Jesus… in a very public way.

Many ask me if Christening counts….  They want to know if the baptism that happened to them as little babies still holds up.  Yes.  Baptism as an adult by no means negates the Christening that your parents did for you when you were too young to remember.  In fact, it completes it.  When they had you sprinkled as a baby, they were committing to raising you in a way that honored God.  And now, as an adult, you are confirming their intent.   When you enter the waters of baptism by your own decision, you are telling them… yes… you wanted me to follow God in my life… and I have… and now I’m telling the world.  

If you have yet to be baptized, and have already prayed the prayer of salvation…. what are you waiting for?  Jesus Himself did it.  And why?  Because He wanted us to follow in His beautiful footsteps and be baptized as well.  Ready to follow Him in obedience?  Ready to put on your God jersey?  Let me know in the comments below.

Let's Do It Again

Not long ago, there was a commercial for Kodak where a dad takes his little girl to a public pool with the purpose of teaching her how to dive off the diving board.  As she climbs the high ladder and looks down into the water...she freezes.  It’s a long way down... the water looks intimidating...  What will happen if she leaps and lets go?

She looks over the edge of the board.  And can’t move.  Legs solidly in place.  Unmoving.  Unsure.  Dad tells her to jump.  He reassures her it will be fine.  That she will be safe.  That he would never let anything happen to her.

Doubt is a powerful entity.  Our Heavenly Father wants us to jump but often....

We need reassurance.  We need security.  We need proof.  We need God to do something first…  And so we stand in the same place.  Expressing our needs at the end of a great leap...

But need doesn’t move God’s heart.

“Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.’
But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. ‘Tell her to go away,’  they said. ‘She is bothering us with all her begging.’  Then Jesus said to the woman, ‘I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.’  But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, ‘Lord, help me!’  Jesus responded, ‘It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.’  She replied, ‘That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.’  ‘Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.”    Matthew 15:21-28

This Gentile woman needed her daughter to be healed... she begged and pleaded.  And interestingly enough... Jesus didn’t say a word to her.  Was He being mean spirited or cruel?  Of course not.  He was on task... doing what He had been sent to do.... serve God’s chosen people, the Israelites.   He knew He couldn’t (and wasn’t meant to) get to everyone who asked for His time.

She persisted.  Crying her needs into the air... seeking reassurance... a guarantee... proof that miracles still happen.  She expressed her needs to God... but it wasn’t what she said that made Jesus change His course of action.

It was her faith.

It wasn’t what she needed that moved Christ... it was what she believed.

Faith is what God is looking for.  Persistent and unshakable faith.  Belief that...

That the pool will be deep enough....
That your prayers will be strong enough...
That your God is big enough...

Faith moves God’s heart.  It defeats doubt... eliminates fear... and reminds us that we are never alone or uncared for.  This Gentile woman believed Jesus could heal... With her whole heart she knew she could count on Him.   And, because of her faith, Jesus granted her request.  Instantly her daughter was restored.

God knew her needs...but it was faith that healed that little girl.

At the end of that Kodak commercial, the girl closes her eyes and jumps... trusting in the depth of the water and the words of her father.  Splashing down and quickly popping back up, she looks over to the deck and tells her dad... “Let’s do it again, daddy!”

God will always be enough.  Don’t doubt.   And remember, God knows your needs before you even have them... but it’s not His knowledge of your needs that fixes things...

It’s your faith in His ability to do it.  

And when you take that leap... and God catches you... you’ll tell Jesus the same thing...

“Let’s do it again”

Good

"The Lord is good to everyone.
    He showers compassion on all his creation.  All of your works will thank you, Lord,
 and your faithful followers will praise you  They will speak of the glory of your kingdom;  they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds
 and about the majesty and glory of your reign.  For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
 You rule throughout all generations.  The Lord always keeps his promises;
    he is gracious in all he does.  The Lord helps the fallen
 and lifts those bent beneath their loads.  The eyes of all look to you in hope;
 you give them their food as they need it.  When you open your hand,
 you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing."  Psalm 145:9-16

Don’t let your circumstances or emotions determine your opinion of the goodness of God.  He is and always will be the same.

Unflinchingly in love with you... Committed to helping you discover and reach your potential... Intentionally nudging your heart to obedience... Lovingly whispering encouragement to your soul.

Even when we don’t understand why
Even when we don’t see the fruits of our labor
Even when the skies grow cloudy and the rains fall in our lives
Even when the enemy tries to convince us otherwise...

God is good.  

I may not understand the world but God is good.
Bad things may happen but God is good.
I may feel life is unfair but God is good.
I may not see the destination and get frustrated in the road to get there...

But God. is. good.

Do you believe that?
Give Him thanks today.

All the Rocks in the World

As I was starting to look at movies for our upcoming Fall kickoff (starting Sept. 6/7), I ran across a scene from Forrest Gump.  And although it isn't part of the series... I thought I'd share some insight from one of it's most powerful moments...

Toward the end of the movie, Forrest’s lifelong friend Jenny returns to the site of where she grew up.  Memories of her past abuse and neglect flood back into her mind... and she begins to pick up rocks and throw them at the walls of her old house.  Finally, Jenny quits throwing the stones and breaks down into sobs...

Forrest’s response?  “Sometimes there just aren’t enough rocks.”

Some of you reading this today have been hurt.  Deeply.  The kind of pain that makes you cry out when nobody’s looking and withdraw emotionally when nobody seems to understand.

God wants you to hear some words of comfort today.

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

All the rocks in the world won’t solve the problem.  But God, the Savior, the Alpha and Omega hears your cries... and He wrote that verse for you.  You aren’t alone.  You do matter.  What happened in your past wasn’t something you deserved... it wasn’t something that you caused... and it wasn’t something you were meant to carry for the rest of your life.

Today, I invite you to take that burden and lay it down at the foot of the cross.  Jesus is strong enough to handle it... and is calling you to do so.  Don’t turn back to get it... leave it there.  Take that scenario that has been playing over and over in your mind and replace it with the words of today’s verse.

Or this verse:  Phil. 4:13  “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Or this one: Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,”

Or lastly, this one:  Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles;  they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Take some time today, and allow God to comfort your soul, start to heal your wounds, and dry your eyes.

He’s the only Rock you’ll ever need.

The Gift of You

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”  Galatians 5:13

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.”  1 Cor. 4:1-2

“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,”  Matthew 20:26

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ...” Philippians 2:1-30

“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”  John 12:26

“Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.’”  Mark 12: 29-31

We are here with a purpose.
We all have gifts.

Our gifts are not for us.
They are to serve others.

Serving His people is what we were created to do.  Loving on the lonely... reaching out to the hurting... serving those that are seeking Christ.  

The road to our God potential leads us through the valley of selflessness... putting others first... sacrificing so that people we may not even know can come face-to-face with a Savior who sacrificed everything on their behalf.

And we get to do that.

We get to be servants.

Let’s make today a time of using our God-given gifts to care for those that He brings our way.

Lives will change and God will get the glory.

He Always Will Be

How often do we forget the power of God?   Sometimes it’s when we are in financial crisis... other times we get scared when the doctor tells us she found something on our X-rays.  Fear sets in.  Storm clouds gather.  We feel helpless, hopeless, and alone. Can God REALLY do what the Bible says He can?

I think some of the most common doubting takes place when it comes time to pray.   Is God listening to me?  Does He even care?  If He does hear me... what will his answer be?  What if He says “wait”  or even  “No..”  What will I do then?  If you’ve ever found yourself wondering the same thing when you pray, today’s verse has good news for you  Ready for it?  Here it is:

“If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”  -  Romans 8:31b 

God is for you.  

Read that one more time...  God is for you.

Paul asks... “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”

Great question... but doubt no more... God is for you. He has your best interests in mind.  He is your protector, sustainer, provider, caretaker, and loving Heavenly Father.  Even if you question His power... or face challenges and stresses that seem beyond your ability to handle them... God always knows what’s best for you.  Stand strong knowing that even though you may not receive the prayer answer you’re expecting... He is listening.   The response you get will always be the right one.... in the right time... and there is nothing on Earth that will be able to stand against you with the King of Kings in your corner.  

Never give up... Keep going.

Never stop praying... He’s listening.

Never forget... God is for you.

And He always will be.  

  

Cracked Pots

 A water bearer had two large water pots which he carried on either end of a pole slung across his shoulders. One of the pots had a crack in it, so every day as he carried water to his master’s house he arrived with one full pot and one only half full. This went on for two years. One pot was very proud of its accomplishments, while the imperfect pot was embarrassed at its failure. Its distress at being able only to accomplish half of what it had been made to do, resulted in its speaking one day to the water carrier.

"I am so ashamed," the pot said. "Why?" asked the carrier. "Because water leaks out all the way to your master’s house and because of my crack I’ve been only able to deliver half of the load." The water carrier looked kindly at the cracked pot and said, "As we return to my master’s house today, I want you to look at the beautiful flowers along the path."

The pot was a little cheered by the beauty he saw along the way. "Did you notice that the flowers were only on your side of the path?" the water carrier said.  “If your water hadn’t poured out, this beauty would not have occurred.  What you saw as deficiency, the flowers saw as provision.”

Pouring into others matters.  The Bible says it this way...

“Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”  -  Ephesians 4:29b

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” - Hebrews 10:24

   God has called us to do many things while we are here on planet Earth.  One of our primary opportunities is to partner together with others on their journey to reach their God-potential.  You have people in your life right now that need you.  You are their encouragement... your presence brings them comfort... and they are counting on your friendship to help them bloom.   Make every effort to pour into them... be there for them in their times of trouble... and give them the reassurance that somebody really does care.  

Maybe you feel like the pot in today’s story.... broken... unusable...  You aren’t.  God has given you the ability to cheer someone up, carry someone’s burdens, brighten someone’s day, or to let them know that Jesus Christ...the true Living Water... can put flowers where there was once dry land.  When we remember this, and really do it.... we get the blessing and God gets the glory.  

An Important Choice

Unpaid bills, children who don’t listen, a boss who doesn’t get it, a grouchy spouse, and that pain that just won’t go away... sometimes it’s hard to remember that we are supposed to live out Psalm 118:24 It says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Rejoice?  How are we supposed to be overjoyed with so much going wrong?  Easy.  God made today.  Just for you.  He gave you air in your lungs and kept your heart beating so you could experience every second of it.  When trouble comes, He’ll be there.  Feeling alone?  Hurt?  He will never give up on you.  Short of money?  Stay generous...and watch Him provide for every need.  It’s all about perspective and a committed focus on God’s goodness!  You’ve got another 24 hours to change the world... make the choice to rejoice!    

Please Pray

It is the hottest part of the year… and they are running for their lives across the desert sand.  Clutching crosses hidden below their shirts, they find themselves desperate for asylum in a country no longer safe for their families.  

They are being hunted and killed because they believe in the resurrection of Christ.

They are being persecuted because of their faith in the Alpha and Omega… the almighty God.

They are the Christians in Iraq… and they are in desperate trouble.

If you’ve been watching the news lately, maybe you’ve heard of a group called Isis.  Islamic extremists bent on exterminating Christ-followers and eradicating any trace of Christianity from the country.  Some call it genocide.  Others fear that if they are allowed to continue their acts, what little remains of the organized Christ-centered church will be gone forever from that part of the world.

What can we do?  

Pray.

Pray with everything we have for the safety of our fellow believers.  Pray that those who run scared today would enter tomorrow with a renewed sense of hope.  Pray that Christians would regain the key city of Qaraqosh and proclaim Christ’s love from those churches again.  Pray that the God of Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac would step in in a profound way and reverse this tragic turn of events.  

And as our brothers and sisters in Christ evacuate all they’ve known to cities offering asylum… we stand beside them.  Lifting up their cause and praying for their strength.  As believers in the risen Lord, we are all one body in Him.  And when they hurt… we hurt.  When they cry out… we join the chorus.  Let’s commit to stand firmly and pray believing (not hoping) that God will protect and provide for His children in Iraq in the days and weeks ahead.  

For further information, please read this article:  http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/08/isis-persecution-iraqi-christians-genocide-asylum

Patient Not Powerful

Tony Evans, Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Texas, spoke of being on an elevator in a high-rise building. He didn’t like riding elevators because he worried that something would go wrong.  One day it did.  The car he was riding in got stuck in between floors.   He noted that some of the people in the car became frantic. They began to beat on the door hoping to get someone’s attention. Others began to yell in the hopes that their voices would get someone on the surrounding floors to come to the aid. But nobody heard their noise or their cries. Then Evans quietly made his way to the front of the car, opened a little door in the wall and pulled out a telephone. Immediately he was connected with someone on the outside. He didn’t need to beat on the wall to get their attention. He didn’t need to speak loudly in the phone to receive their help. He could have whispered and they would have heard him.

Anger and yelling did nothing to get those people out of the elevator.   Instead, patience and self-control solved the problem.  The Bible talks about this very thing...

“Better to be patient than powerful;

    better to have self-control than to conquer a city.”  Proverbs 16:32

In any relationship, anger and lack of self-control hurt the ability to honestly communicate.  When one side is afraid of making the other mad for fear of setting off an emotional volcano...there is an issue...and before long, all meaningful communication stops.   If we are going to have deeper relationships, we must be in control of our temper...not over-reacting to a situation or a remark.  By doing so, we create an environment where both sides are equally heard... honesty and trust thrive... and God-honoring solutions are reached.  

Following Our Own Advice

It’s hard to handle a hypocrite.  You know the type... “Do as I say...not as I do!”  They like to point fingers, call out errors, and accuse... while doing many of those exact same things in their own lives.  The Bible calls it out in Matthew 7

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend,  ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?   Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

Hypocrisy hurts the ability to honestly communicate.  It wastes energy and erodes trust.  When the words don’t match the deeds, a person begins to doubt.  Which part are they supposed to believe?  What is truth and what isn’t?  Why are they saying those words and their body language or tone is saying something completely opposite?   If what they’re saying is such a good idea, why aren’t they doing it themselves?

We wouldn’t eat at a restaurant where the chef didn’t eat his own cooking would we?  Of course not!  If the food is good enough to serve to others it should be good enough for the one who prepared it, right?   If you find yourself trying to change someone by giving them advice, make sure you aren’t sending a mixed message.  People learn more from what we’re doing than from what we’re saying.   And when those line up... trust builds and relationships thrive.   

Thinking It Through

Winston Churchill once said, "Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."

Have you ever thought about how much time we spend listening?   Whether it be in a business meeting, a relationship, or even with God?  There are many people today that hear every word... quickly respond... and then have to apologize and repair damage because they didn’t think through the possible consequences of their answer.  Active listening is something we have to choose to do...but did you know it something God wants us to do as well?  In the book of James, Chapter 1 and verse 19 it says this:  

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,”

Proverbs 18:13 puts it another more direct way...

“Spouting off before listening to the facts

    is both shameful and foolish.”

It’s much better to spend your time thinking through an answer than mending a fence or repairing relationship damage.  Sometimes you only have one chance to choose the right response in a situation... Be courageous!  Choose to think it through first and answer second... you’ll always be glad you did.  Remember,  two people talking just create noise... one person talking while the other listens creates deeper understanding and connection.  

It's Temporary

Pierre Renoir is a famous French artist who was known for his paintings, mostly depicting family life. But there was one disease that tormented this gifted artist -- he had arthritis that plagued him to the tip of his fingers. Each brushstroke forcing a grimace to his face... It took him a long time to finish one masterful work of art. One of his friends urged him to stop painting and focus on his health. Renoir kept going... even though it hurt.  

God talks about pain in His word:  “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”  Romans 5:3-5

For so many... that level of pain is very real.   Sometimes it comes from a physical condition...other times it’s emotional scarring... relationship damage... poor choices... or even self-inflicted loathing or pity.  In any case, it hurts.  Badly.  But one thing I’ve found in all my years of ministry... pain precedes progress.  What we see as a mountain… a barrier... God allows into our lives so that we can develop the necessary skills and character to become an overcomer... a person who knows what they’ve been through so they don’t have to be scared about what’s coming.  If you are hurting right now as you read this, hold on.  Don’t quit.  I know it hurts.  But I also know this... breakthrough is coming.  Pain is temporary...God is permanent.  He’s not going to give up on you and you are going to be different as a result of your perseverance.   

Who Do You Work For?

Baseball great Joe DiMaggio was a very unique player.   He just never quit.  When asked why he continually gave it all he had (even when the game was out of reach)... DiMaggio smiled and said “"There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first or last time, I owe him my best."

So many times we don’t try to be great because we can get away with good.  We ease up, slack off, pull back, or slow down.  Not because we can’t do it... but because we don’t have to.  We settle for a “C” when our potential is an “A”.... If you’ve ever felt like letting the feeling of “good enough” take over... remember today’s verse:

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”  Colossians 3:23

Joe DiMaggio worked hard consistently because of his inner drive.. his work ethic... and his unwillingness to settle.  He worked for Yankee manager Joe McCarthy.  If you are a Christ-follower... you should work hard, be driven, have a high work ethic, and push the envelope too... but not because you work for a demanding manager.  You work for God.  

Whatever you do... you work for God.  Plumber to pizza maker to politician.... Your boss came to Earth over 2000 years ago and died so that you could be a world-changer.  Defeat the feeling of “good-enough”... push yourself to try harder, work with joy, and represent Christ in everything you do.   Jesus gave all He had.  He held nothing back.  

Why shouldn’t we do the same... all day... everyday.