Full Sacrifice

“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  John 15:12-13

   

     The cruise ship, the Costa Concordia, struck rocks off the west coast of Italy and began to take on water.  Chaos ensued.  Passengers screamed, people began to fight over life jackets, men pushed past women and children, and many tried to launch the lifeboats half-full.   In the turmoil, a crew member by the name of Manrico Giampedroni, 57, had a decision to make.  Stay on the ship and help the passengers or save himself.   Valiantly, Manrico searched for passengers in the wet and cold hallways of the ship... returning time and time again to places where people screamed out in terror.  One by one, he led people to the safe arms of those in the life boats.  Before long, the skies grew dark and visibility fell to zero.  In an effort to rescue even more passengers, Manrico slipped and fell in the rising water and broke his leg. 

 In scripture, Jesus teaches us to love others the way He loves us.  

Completely...sacrificially...wholly.  We are to love others with a type of love that is unique and unconditional.   One, that when displayed, makes others see the reflection of Jesus Christ.  The King of Kings and Lord of Lords paid the ultimate price for those He loves... you and I.   He willingly carried His cross, was nailed to it’s beam, and gave up His life.  For us.  For you.  God gave His one and only Son so that we could better understand the extent we are to go in loving others.  Today’s verse says there is “no greater love” than this... sacrificing self...putting personal needs second to the needs of others...giving it all... for those that God puts in our path.  How far would you go to show love?

    

Mother Teresa once said “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.”  I think that’s true.  Love knows no end.  When we give of ourselves and sacrifice fully for others, we simply find the ability to love more deeply.  

36 hours after the accident, rescue workers found Manrico Giampedroni.

Alive and well.  Shaken and in pain, but alive.  

Who needs you to love them at that level today?  Who needs you to sacrifice for them... to boldly step into their life and rescue them... regardless of the danger or possible turmoil?   It’s my prayer that you would not only discover that person but would have the courage to love without limits.

Giving It All

John 15:12-13 says, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  

Liza was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. He hesitated for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, ‘Yes, I’ll do it if it will save Liza.’  As the transfusion progressed, he lay in a bed next to his sister and smiled, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, ‘Will I start to die right away?’  Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give her all of his blood.  He was willing to lose everything to save the one he loved.

Sacrifice, selfless generosity, full commitment... these are the things of love.  Real love.  The love that Christ showed on the cross for mankind... and the type of love He asks us to demonstrate to those we call family or friend.   Are you willing to lose everything for the sake of another?  You may never be called to... but it’s this kind of dedication and devotion that changes the world. 

Balance?

Many see life like the croaking of a frog.

RIBBIT  -  rest  -  RIBBIT   -  rest.  -  RIBBIT - rest

Perfectly metered...equally paced.  Off, on, off, on.   Work, home, work, home.  A perfect    blend. This is NOT life.  You may hear this in a swamp but you won’t see it in your neighborhood.  We get into trouble when we feel like our lives should live up to this unrealistic expectation.  It simply isn’t possible or necessary.

Life is much more like the song of the bird.  Music... loud, soft, long rests and short blasts.  Melodic...flowing...pausing...restarting.  It isn’t loud crescendos all the time... often it’s calm melodies... thoughtful passages where great focus is placed on the benefit of the entire piece over one grouping of instruments.  Sometimes it gets very loud and stays there... only to give way to a necessary silence.  A time to catch your breath, turn the page, and continue playing.  Unequally paced...intentionally asymmetrical.

The key to a fulfilled life is seeking Christ in all things... realizing that we should be focused on His rhythms over the hard cadence of what the world deems to be healthy.

I love the way this verse from Matthew talks about it.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Recover your life.   Unforced rhythms of grace.  Real rest.

Only through Christ.
Jesus didn’t try to balance His ministry... spending equal time with His disciples and those He came to serve.  Instead He knew that He had a limited time to make an impact for the Kingdom...

He gave His all to fulfill His purpose...
Intentionally poured into His family when He was with them...
Involved those He loved in what He was doing...
Stayed connected to God through honest communication in prayer..

It wasn’t balance He was after... it was rhythm.   The world may have said He wasn’t balanced... and they would be right.  He wasn’t going for parity.  He was fulfilling His purpose.

We should do the same.

Thrive where you’re planted... make the most of the season you’re in... and dance to the perfect rhythm of life by following Christ.  Give up the pursuit of balance and embrace the ebb and flow of God’s timing and mission for your life.

Let the frogs croak... you weren’t meant for the bog anyway.  

Smile!

It’s been said that laughter is like changing a baby’s diaper... it doesn’t permanently solve any problems, but it makes things more acceptable for a while.   So true!  When we are upbeat, positive, and keep our sense of humor... good things happen.  Doctors tell us that happy people decrease their chances of heart attack, high blood pressure, and hypertension.  And those are just the medical benefits!  

The Bible reminds us in Proverbs 17:22 that “A joyful heart is good medicine”  But how can we remain happy throughout our trying days?  Psalm 16:11 answers that by saying that we can find joy in God’s presence.  So that’s the key!  Stay close to God... and He will give us the joy that allows us to laugh when others are anxious and have peace when the world seems dark.  When we deliberately stay in God’s Word, talk with Him consistently through prayer, and worship Him through our actions... we draw closer and become filled with more joy in the process.   Want to be happy and healthy but find yourself stressed and worried?  Get closer to the One who gave you both the reason and ability to smile!

Making Things Right

The bewildered family removed and read the mysterious note from the envelope left at their door... it read: “I am truly sorry for any pain or heartache that my actions may have caused your family.  I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me.  As an adult, I realize how sentimental items like this can be.  Sincerely regretful, a dumb kid who wants to right a wrong.”  Inside the envelope was four gold rings that had been stolen from the family 15 years before.  Long forgotten.  

A letter from a remorseful thief that was a decade overdue...  Although the act of returning the rings brought closure... why the delay?  Far too often we act the same way... we wait before we seek forgiveness.  Sometimes too long.   The Bible tells us in Matthew 5 that if we have something hanging over our heads, we should reconcile the situation quickly.  Offer the apology... seek forgiveness...and then move forward.  Don’t let too much time pass between the offense and the opportunity to make things right.  Not only will our conscience be clean... we may save or even strengthen an existing relationship!

Rest and Reset

Leonardo da Vinci spent hours in deep meditation and prayer as he worked on his famous painting of the Last Supper.  It has been said that he spent hours just reading God’s Word or days on his knees with hands lifted skyward in between his moments of genius with paint and canvas.  He spent so much time away from the project, at one point, the monks that lived in his community became concerned.  They asked him, “Why do you spend so much time with us in prayer when you have come here to work?”  His answer was simple:

“When I pause the longest, I make the most telling strokes with my brush.”

Today we’re are going to have a lot going on.  Deadlines, appointments, sandwiches to pack in lunch boxes, and tests to take.   If we’re not careful, busyness, fatigue, and worry will try to rob us of the joy that Jesus wants us to have.  How can we counter the frantic pace?  By following Jesus’ example (just as da Vinci did)... and take time out to pray.  Purposefully get by ourselves for a few minutes and talk with our heavenly Father.   These aren’t just moments of rest... but a time to reset.  To remember our priorities... think through our decisions... bring our troubles to the feet of the One who gave us our own.  And when we do, at the end of the day, we will look back and see the last twenty four hours of our life as the work of art that it was designed by the Lord to be.  

Pausing the Longest

Leonardo da Vinci spent hours in deep meditation and prayer as he worked on his famous painting of the Last Supper.  It has been said that he spent hours just reading God’s Word or days on his knees with hands lifted skyward in between his moments of genius with paint and canvas.  He spent so much time away from the project, at one point, the monks that lived in his community became concerned.  They asked him, “Why do you spend so much time with us in prayer when you have come here to work?”  His answer was simple:

“When I pause the longest, I make the most telling strokes with my brush.”

Today we’re are going to have a lot going on.  Deadlines, appointments, sandwiches to pack in lunch boxes, and tests to take.   If we’re not careful, busyness, fatigue, and worry will try to rob us of the joy that Jesus wants us to have.  How can we counter the frantic pace?  By following Jesus’ example (just as da Vinci did)... and take time out to pray.  Purposefully get by ourselves for a few minutes and talk with our heavenly Father.   These aren’t just moments of rest... but a time to reset.  To remember our priorities... think through our decisions... bring our troubles to the feet of the One who gave us our own.  And when we do, at the end of the day, we will look back and see the last twenty four hours of our life as the work of art that it was designed by the Lord to be.  

Mirror Image

It has been said that one of the greatest evidences of God is His breathtaking creation.  A sunset over the deep blue waters of the ocean... the smell of a colorful spring flower.... the way the earth glistens after an afternoon rain... All beautiful and all on purpose.  We serve a God who values magnificence.  “The beauty of the cosmos,” one writer penned, “is God’s signature.  He could have made an ugly world and a loathsome universe.  But He is a God of beauty, and we must worship Him in the beauty of His holiness.”

Maybe while you are reading this, you are in front of a mirror.  If not, take a second and find one to stare into.  Stare into the image you see.   You know what?  That face is beautiful.  Exquisite.  Those eyes... hand made and color tinted by God.  The hair... each strand placed (and counted) by the Lord Himself.  Ephesians 2 tells us that the image you are looking at right now is the best work God can do.  He says it Himself...You are His masterpiece...you are loved... and you are more stunning than the brightest star in His sky.  God made you beautifully (and he knows and values beauty!).  Today, if the world tries to make you feel less than exquisite, remember what you see now... and keep in mind that God’s words to describe you are far more accurate than those of your peers.  

Right and Wrong?

In a recent USA today poll, 87% of U.S. adults believe in the existence of sin.  The paper defined sin as “something that is almost always considered wrong, particularly from a religious or moral perspective.”  The top two sins mentioned?  81% of the people said adultery followed up by 74% condemning racism.  What surprised me was the decline in other things once considered sin... only 45% said that sex before marriage was one... and just 30% said the love of money was a problem.  

What were once clear issues seem a bit clouded.  What used to be considered by most to be wrong is now much more accepted as “normal” behavior.  Problem with a poll like this... Fundamentally, we don’t get to decide what’s sin and what isn’t.  Scripture tells us in 1 John 3:4... “Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.”  Sin is when we miss the mark... but not a mark drawn by us, society, or man-made law.  It’s missing God’s standard.  Regardless of what the world says is right and wrong... the only real measuring stick is the truth of God’s Word.  It’s one thing to believe in the existence of sin... it’s something else to remember Who defines it and why avoiding it is important.  

Loneliness

Chuck Swindoll tells a story about a Kansas newspaper where someone took out a one-line ad targeted at lonely people.  The ad read, “I will listen to you talk for 30 minutes, without comment, for $5.00”  Before long, the person was receiving 10 to 20 calls per day.  

Loneliness is a pain that many endure...and most will do nearly anything to make it stop.  Maybe you’ve experienced it.  Maybe you’re going through it right now.  Deafening silence... alone with thoughts that seem to have you feeling hopeless and helpless.  God wants you to know something... He’s there.  Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us that “the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  God understands when you don’t have words to express your feelings.  He stands by your side when others run out.  He is there to double your joy and take away your grief... and He promises that it will always be that way.   Feeling lonely?  Write down today’s verse and keep it with you.  And when the enemy tries to convince you that you’re by yourself... remind him that he’s a liar.   You are never alone.  God is with you.  And you are loved more than you will ever know.  

The Fountain of Youth?

A pencil (remember those...) with a hard lead will write about 30,000 words or draw a line 30 miles long before wearing out.  A 100 watt light bulb will burn about 750 hours before it is done for good.  That one dollar bill in your pocket?  It will circulate for about 18 months before it has to be destroyed.   It seems that nothing lasts forever... even us.  The average lifespan for a human being?  78.3 years.

Everything wears out.  But did you know that the Bible gives us several ways to lengthen our lives?  The first way is to fear God.  Psalm 34:11 and Proverbs 9:11 tell us that fearing the Lord leads to wisdom... and that wisdom helps us to live longer.  The second way?  Live obediently.  Deuteronomy 4:40 says that if we obey all of God’s commands... we will live a long life.  The last way to lengthen our life?  Honor our parents.  Exodus 20:12 gives us that insight.  Let’s not waste our time searching for the fountain of youth... everything we need is in God’s word... and when we follow it, He promises to give us more heartbeats to be with those we love.  

Wisdom

Researchers have concluded that there is more information in a single issue of the New York Times than a citizen in London during Shakespeare’s time would have had access to in a lifetime.  We live in an age with over 600 million websites... billions of facts... and 24 hour access to all of it.  Information is easy to find... but is it something we should dedicate our lives to gathering?  Maybe there’s something more...

Proverbs 4:7 says “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.  Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”  The Bible tells us that it’s wisdom, not just facts, that we should pursue.   Information is wonderful... but when it’s acquisition becomes the only goal, it tends to invite pride into our hearts.  When we know more... we sometimes think we’re more valuable or important.  Not so.  Scripture tells us that head knowledge is great but moving it down to the heart and using it to change the world is far better.  Seek wisdom not just facts... and you’ll be well on your way to reaching your God potential.

Turning and Stopping

If you’ve ever gone skiing before, you know how exhilarating and beautiful it can be.   However, strapping two pieces of wood to your feet and plummeting down a mountain is not for the faint of heart... so it’s important to learn how first.  The problem with beginning skiers isn’t the forward movement... it’s turning and stopping.  Many rookies wait until they want to move right and then try to turn hard with both feet.  That just doesn’t work and often frustrates them.  What they quickly discover is that they simply need to look to the right and their body will naturally turn that way.  Where they look is the direction they go.  

Scripture tells us similarly that what we see steers us toward what we will do.  In Matthew 6:22, we read ““The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,”   Want to think Godly thoughts?  Put yourself in environments where Christ is seen and lifted up!   Need to steer yourself to a life of obedience?   Put things in place that visually remind you to prioritize your relationship to God over any other.  Keep your head up and your eyes focused on God and His direction for your life... and you’ll find yourself racing down the mountain toward greatness.  

Free?

The zoo is an interesting place.   Modern zoos have eliminated cages and replaced them with “natural” habitats... where the animals feel as though they are in a familiar place with every creature comfort they could ever want.  Twice daily, zookeepers come in and feed them perfect cuts of meat or high quality grain... their water supply is clean... and they sleep in man-made structures built to resemble nature’s finest.  It’s everything an animal could ever hope for... or is it?  

So often, real freedom is confused with the perception of freedom.  People spend their lives in luxury... all their needs and wants are taken care of... yet they still find themselves trapped.  So how do they get out?  The Bible tells us in John 8:36 that when we live in a relationship with Christ, we are truly free.  No more limitations.  When we give ourselves to Him and let Him take over, we get to experience His power, grace, strength, and provision.  No matter how comfortable we try to make it... a cage is a cage.  Find yourself still missing something?  Seek Christ and unlock the door to a life of  true liberty and purpose.  

All Things

In 1924, two men set out to conquer the ultimate mountain climbing prize... to reach the summit of Mount Everest.  Their first attempt failed miserably... part of the team died along the way and those that returned home felt an overwhelming sense of failure.  Soon after, the same two men tried it again... and had the same result.  A press conference followed the second try and the men were asked if they’d ever try again.  Here was one of their responses: “’Everest, we tried to conquer you once, but you overpowered us. We tried to conquer you a second time, but again you were too much for us. But, Everest, I want you to know that we are going to conquer you, for you can’t grow any bigger, and we can!’”

As you listen to this today... there may be a mountain standing in front of you.  It might be finances, relationships, self-worth, debt... every mountain is different.  But let me assure you... every climber is not.  Every single person has the opportunity to connect with Christ... and in turn... has a power source that is unmatched.  Philippians 3:14 tells us that we can do ALL THINGS through Christ.  He is the source of our energy... the strength in our weakness... and is there to help us back up when we fall.  Feeling overwhelmed by the mountains in your life?  Stop trying to climb them without Jesus.  He knows the way to the summit and will carry you if you’re willing to let Him.  

Measuring Up?

In January of 2013, an interesting story came to light about a young man named Matt who lives in Perth, Australia.  After entering a Subway sandwich shop and ordering the footlong sub... he came away sorely disappointed.   You see, he returned to his seat and actually measured the bread.  The result?  It wasn’t even close to the advertised 12 inches that the word “footlong” implies.  When challenged in the media, Subway responded that the word “footlong” is a used to describe the sub and not to be used a a measurement of length.

This got me to thinking about a verse that says the same thing about us... Romans 3:23 tells us “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”    No matter how good we try to be... no matter how much we do... none of us will ever measure up to perfection.  Why?  Sin.  And it’s because of sin that all of us miss God’s mark from time to time.  But take heart.   If we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, that sin is forgiven and we are separated from it forever.  Let’s live as advertised... not perfect but exonerated.  Not flawless but faithful... striving toward our God-potential.  

**Note** It was great to see so many 1st time guests at our campuses this weekend!  Enjoy the books... and join us for our book study starting October 30th - 6AM at our Cooper City Campus in South Florida!

Age is Just a Number

Ben Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence at age 70.  Nelson Mandela was not named president of South Africa until he was 76.  Ray Kroc took full ownership of McDonalds at 59 and continued to grow the company into his 80s.  Moses had lived 8 decades before he led his people out of Egypt.  And last but not least... the Apostle John was writing scripture into his 90s.

You might have heard the expression “Age is just a number”... but to the Godly... it’s not just a count of years...it’s an opportunity!  The Bible tells us in Psalm 92:12-14 “But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.   For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house.  They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.”   Find yourself getting older?  Don’t see it as an excuse to coast!  Today’s passage tells us that you have (or will have) the ability to produce fruit... to change the world... long after those around you choose to retire.  Remember, as long as your heart beats and your lungs take in air... you have a purpose.  Go after every minute... and leave a legacy that honors God and makes an impact in the lives of those that He puts in your path.  

Experience

It has been said, “The only thing more painful than learning from experience is not learning from experience.”  A very true statement.  In fact, what we gain from our past is vital to future success.  The Bible calls this Wisdom... and it’s not as hard to attain as one might think.  It’s simply a matter of intentionality.  In Proverbs 3, it says: ““Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.”  

Want more wisdom?  Want to make better decisions?  Rather than just “getting past”  your challenges, briefly go back and look for the lesson in them.  Once you find one... store it away.  You never know when what seems meaningless now will become priceless in a future situation.  Once applied, these bits of wisdom help others and at the same time put meaning and perspective to our trials.  

Different Speeds

A 67 year old man known only as “PH” has been diagnosed with a very unique condition.  He hears words before a person’s lips even begin to move!  How does this happen?  Light and sound travel at different speeds, so when someone speaks, both visual and audio signals arrive at different times to our eyes and ears.  Thus, they are processed at different times in our brains.  The brain, in turn, syncs them together to make it look like both arrived simultaneously and the lips match the sound.  In PH’s case... they are kept separate and life looks like a badly dubbed movie!

This condition made me think of Isaiah 65:24: “I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!”   God doesn’t need our lips to even move... He hears our hearts... long before we decide to pray about something.  If you ever find yourself looking for the right words to say before you talk to God, don’t worry yourself.  God is well aware... in fact... He’s already working where you can’t see Him on the solution. 

Another World

C.S. Lewis once wrote "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

We often forget that we are temporary residents here on Earth... and for the brief time we are here, we have a purpose and a goal:  to share the great news of Christ with the world!   But ultimately, God has created us for much longer than that!  Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that God has set “eternity in the hearts of men.”  If you are a Christ-follower, you will live forever... and all the stresses, strains, and sadness you may be feeling as a part    this planet will eventually give way to everlasting peace.   Until we return home, let’s commit to living every day as effectively as we can... to change this world for Christ so that many more will spend their forever in the presence of the One that created them for greatness.  

Box It Up

When pop culture icon Andy Warhol died in 1987, he left behind more than just art.  As estate executors went in to clean out his home, they discovered a mountain of clutter.  His five story New York house was so packed full of objects of all kinds that at the time of his death, Andy lived in just two small rooms.  

Sometimes I wonder if we do something similar in our minds.  We live with clutter.  Past messes, mistakes, and missteps...  Things we haven’t forgiven ourselves for take up space... forcing us to live small, cramped, and restricted lives.  If that’s you... it’s time to make some room.  Remember, when we ask God to forgive us, Psalm 103 tells us that He does and separates us forever from what we did wrong.  Box up and throw out those things that have tried to define you, confine you, and remind you of the past.  Dance in the new open space and celebrate the second chances that Christ so mercifully gives.  

Let God Be God

Just a few months ago, history was made as the mini-series “The Bible” was aired to record numbers of viewers.  Soon after, the actor who portrayed Jesus was invited to speak to a group of Christian leaders at the National Religious Broadcaster Convention.   They asked him how he felt to play such an important role.  His answer?  “How can you play the Son of God?  You can’t.  What I had the privilege of playing was simply the words of Christ and taking the journey of the Scriptures.”

It was a very humble answer from an actor who understands that he is just that... an actor.   Nobody can properly play Jesus.  So why do so many try in their own lives?  They worry... stress... try to control things... and in so many other ways attempt to be Lord.  Deuteronomy 4:35 tells us that “the Lord is God and there is no other.”   Find yourself trying to be God over your own life?  I’ve got good news.  You don’t have to be.  In fact, you can’t be.  Let God be God... and spend all of that energy praising Him for Who He is and what He does daily for you.