Pencils

Mother Teresa once said, “"No one thinks of the pen while reading the letter.  They only want to know the mind of the person who wrote the letter.  That's exactly what I am in God's hand--a little pencil."

When you woke up this morning… how did you see yourself?  The star of your own one-act play called life?  A doormat?  A VIP?  Or maybe as someone who is insignificant in the grand scheme of things.  In any case, I want to assure you this morning that you matter.  You were put on this earth for great things.  But that greatness might not be for what you think.

You weren’t put here on this planet to be great for your own sake but for Gods. 

God must get bigger and we must get smaller. 

Scripture says it this way in John 3:30 “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

Let that sink in a second.  Life isn't about you.  It isn't about me either.  We are tiny pencils writing God’s story that will impact the world.  Some of us will write beautiful stories of love, sacrifice, dedication, and a willingness to serve others.  Others will defy God and scribble out a message of selfishness and greed.   Which are you? 

God wants to write a new chapter for this world using you.  Are you willing to let Him?  Are you able to accept your role as HIS pencil and not your own?  Are you ready to surrender your agenda for Christ's?  Today, take a minute and thank God that He uses someone as broken as you and I to share His message with the world.   

Positive

It has been said, “Being well is more than eliminating the negative.  Rather, it requires the addition of the positive.”  

When I read that statement I thought of our walk with God.  Many times we are tempted to read the Bible as a book of “don’t”s.   I need to stop doing this... quit that... get rid of this habit or that behavior.   And while there are many things God asks us not to include in our lives... only subtracting the bad leads to a life that is one-sided and lacking.  Scripture tells us that alongside the “no”s, we have to have some God-honoring “yesses”.  Colossians 3:10 says to “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.”  Want to grow more like Christ?  Be more spiritually healthy?  Get rid of what is holding you back.. and in turn.. fill your heart with things like love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and patience.   Out with what’s bad and in with what’s good.  And before long both mind and heart will be healthier (and more Godly) than ever.  

Ours

There’s a story told of a northern girl during the Civil War.  It’s said as she watched southern general Robert E. Lee ride past her house on his way to Gettysburg she said, “Oh, I wish he were ours.”   Lee’s reputation was so compelling... his behavior so genuine that even the opposing side wanted his influence...

This got me to thinking... how many people watch us during the course of our day?  I would guess there are far more than we might suspect.  I wonder how many of them look at us and want to be more like us because we are in a relationship with Jesus Christ.  How compelling are we living out our faith?  How genuine is our joy?  2 Corinthians 5 calls us “Christ’s ambassadors”... a big responsibility... but a huge opportunity to show others how wonderful Jesus is!   Let’s commit to living our lives in such a way that even those that don’t know us look at us and want the joy, peace, patience, and strength that only Christ can provide.  

The Rest

“Be still, and know that I am God!”  Psalm 46:10a

There may be no greater killer of progress and joy than stress.  Busyness and fatigue lead to discouraging thoughts and eventually the demise of your commitments to yourself.  Take some time during your week to pray... meditate on scripture... take a deep breath... get alone... 

Even Jesus did this.  He knew the value of getting away and regrouping.   I can already hear you screaming at your iPad... “Pastor.. my day is WAY too hectic for meditation or solitude”  

Then I would say that your day is way too busy.  

I have found in my 20+ years of ministry that people do what they want to do.  If they think it’s valuable enough, they’ll make the time no matter what they have to adjust.  You must first value “being still” before you’ll make it part of your day.  Trust me... once you start, you’ll wonder what took you so long.   Remember, as I’ve said before in my teachings, life is rhythmic.  There are notes and rests... and if you only play all fast notes... the music of life becomes noise.  Rests are as important in beautiful melodies as tones... play both.  In doing so, your blood pressure will improve, you’ll find the margin to accomplish more, and those things that used to drive you crazy will seem less important than they used to.  

Sometimes the most holy thing you can do is sleep.  Pace yourself friends… this marathon we run is meant to be taken in 24 hour chunks.  Don’t borrow trouble from next week or even two hours from now.  Stop.  Breathe.  Rest.  If you don’t intentionally do it, nobody is going to stop you and make you.  No more kindergarten nap times or chances to put your heads down on your desks.  You’re running very hard.  Stop along the way to not only smell the roses… but enjoy their beauty.  Soak in life… make memories… and remember that your Heavenly Father has got your back no matter what.  

Now THAT’S a reason to rest easy!

Live

In the book Scully, there is a dialogue between Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple Computers and John Scully, who at the time was president of Pepsi. Jobs was attempting to recruit Scully for the top job at Apple and he asked Scully, “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?”

Great question. But Jesus asked a similar one centuries before to Peter and Andrew...

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-20

...and to Matthew 

“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” Matthew 9:9

Essentially, Jesus asked... Do you want to spend the rest of your life fishing, tax collecting, etc. or do you want to change the world? Do you want to make an impact here on Earth... or for eternity? 

He’s asking the same thing to us. Think about yesterday... was it lived for Christ? Did you extend grace? Help someone in need? Share the Gospel with someone? Donate, sacrifice, or assist? 

Pray?
Read the Bible?
Make a change that will improve your quality of life?

Who did we choose to follow yesterday? Are we selling sugar water or changing the world?

If you choose Jesus... what does that mean? How does a world-changer live?

- Live unselfishly

Give what you have to those in need - even if they can’t pay you back. World-changers sacrifice willingly so that others can succeed. They are servants here on Earth because they remember that their reward is in Heaven (Matt. 5:12)

- Live intentionally 

Remember that every decision leads you closer to Christ or further away... there are no neutral outcomes. World changers know this and think through every choice. 

- Live hopefully 

Keep your head up. Remember that what you are going through is for a season and will change. Jesus is the Hope of the world and will see you through... remind and reassure others that by following Christ they will make it through their trials as well.

- Live gracefully 

Extend the same grace to those who have hurt you as you have received from Christ. There will be many who are looking for another chance to get it right... be the one who makes it possible. (Matt. 18:22)

- Live purposefully 

Actively pursue your purpose. Don’t let the enemy convince you that you don’t have one. You were created for a reason... don’t stop until you uncover what that is. Your diligence and determination will inspire others to push on to discover their own destiny. 

- Live lovingly 

Many people will cross your path today... love them. See them as God does... not as challenges or strangers... but as fellow masterpieces sculpted by a loving God.

Sugar-water sellers do what they did yesterday. Clinging to the status quo like a security blanket... choosing survival over sacrifice. They tread water in an ocean of mediocrity.

You weren’t born for that. You’re meant to be a world-changer.

World-changers are called by Jesus to stand out... to give everything to Him. 

“Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” Luke 17:33

Today... choose Christ over convenience. Break the mold of yesterday and emerge stronger... ready to drop everything, follow Him, and be a living example of Christ’s heart. 

When He calls you to be His disciple... how will you answer?

Time Off?

On average, people live about 75 years.  And while that seems like a long time… let’s break that down.   That’s around 3900 weeks… 27,000 days… or about 648,000 hours.  Now let’s remove the time we spend sleeping (about 1/3 of that if we’re doing it right…).  That leaves us with about 112 hours a week that we are awake.  Now back in the day, the human race spent 70 of those 112 hours per week productively working.  Today is quite different.  In fact, due to some productivity improvements through technology, the average work week is 30 hours.  

And what do we do with all of that remaining time?  The 82 hours that we are awake and active?  Would you believe that the biggest part of that time is squandered in front of a flat screen?  It’s true. According to statistics, the majority of people passively watch television 4-5 hours per day… and spend many more hours staring at tablets, smartphones, and laptop screens.  YouTube logs in billions of views a day… in fact, the average person watches 15 hours of YouTube videos per week.  

What are you doing with your life?  All of those hours… those ticks of the clock… are you leveraging them to change the world?  Or using them to change the channel?  

Did you know that Einstein, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Abraham Lincoln, and your hard-working great-grandparents all had the same 24 hours per day… they all had time management issues… and they all had to decide what they were going to do with their time awake.  

Some make a difference… other make excuses…all have the same amount of hours per day.  

The Bible addresses this issue of time in the parable of the talents.  Three servants are given some money by their master to manage for him.  Two make more money… while one buries it to keep it safe.  Here’s the master’s reply to the one that squandered his chance: 

“But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it'" (Matthew 25:26-27, NLT).  

The Bible is clear that we are to maximize our time… to see our lives as something given to us by our Creator to invest in His Kingdom and others.  To serve the world… to love those that can do nothing for us in return… to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ… and to enjoy those that God has put around us as friends and family.  

Maybe it’s time to take a technology fast.  Live in the now.  Maybe it’s time to stop seeing the world as photo ops for instagram and maximize your minutes for Christ.   We’ve got one chance on this side of Heaven to change the world for God.  Let’s take today seriously.  There will never be another January 28, 2015.  Ever.  And there will never be another you.  Ever.  Get out there and seize the chance to shine God’s light into a world that is blanketed with darkness.  You’ve got 24 hours… let’s go make a difference. 

A Long Life

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.  

Wonder

I found this story and I want to share it with you today... I’m praying it inspires you as it did me...

“A friend of mine opened his wife’s bedside drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package: ‘This,’ - he said - ‘isn’t any ordinary package.’  He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box. 

‘She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on. Was saving it for a special occasion.  Well, I guess this is it.’  He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral home.  His wife had just passed away.  He turned to me and said: ‘Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion’. 

I still think those words changed my life. 

Now I read more and clean less.  I sit on the porch without worrying about anything. 

I spend more time with my family, and less at work. I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses every day. I’ll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.  I don’t save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to. 

And, on each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day. 

Each day, each hour, each minute, is special. “

Some people live life wondering and some people live life wonderfully.   

The wonderers can’t decide what to do.  Should they use it or store it away for later?  Have the conversation or pretend something never happened?  

They wonder what could have been.

They wonder if it ever will be.

They worry while they’re wondering about things that are out of their control.

Wonderers spend their entire lives counting on a tomorrow that they aren’t guaranteed...borrowing trouble from a future that’s hasn’t come yet...waiting on life to be perfect before they start living it.  

There’s no need to wonder what God’s plan is for us...

Luke 9:62 - “Jesus said, ‘No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.’”  

Get after it!  Live a wonderful life!   When life puts puddles in your path... don’t let them drown you... splash in them!  You are part of God’s family!  The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords paid the highest price, His own life, for you to live in freedom!

God’s word tells us to not hesitate... to not look back... to go after life with a renewed sense of passion and focus.   We should be so busy getting the maximum out of today that we don’t have time to even think about what may happen tomorrow!  We aren’t guaranteed another sunrise... but we do have this one.. this breath.. this chance.. this time.. and this day to make a difference.  

Waiting for the clouds in your life to part before going back outside?  Don’t.  The world is a beautiful place... and you are a beautiful part of it.   If you stay inside too long, you’ll miss the rainbow that’s coming.

Live wonderfully... joyfully... expectantly... 

Hold nothing back for tomorrow.

Today is a special occasion.  

Your heart is still beating.

Get out there and live.

The Speed of Life

The other day I read that the earth spins 1000 times faster at the equator than it does at either one of the poles.  In fact, that’s why rockets are launched closer to the Earth’s midline than further away.  When a spacecraft is launched from around the equator, it is already traveling at a considerably faster speed… thus making it more fuel efficient and quicker to enter orbit.  

Isn’t that true in our lives as well?  The closer we are to the center of things…the faster paced life is.  Some thrive in the environment… while others do whatever they can to retreat to the slower pace of the poles.  But what speed does God want us to live?  

Galatians 6:9 tells us: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”  We have to remember that It’s not about the speed of life…it’s about staying at it and not quitting.   There will be times in our lives where we’ll sprint…and others where we’ll jog.  What God is concerned about is our priorities and our perseverance.  At whatever speed you’re living… are we putting Him first?  Are we loving and serving others?  If so… run on.  Don’t give up on the dream that He’s put in your heart long before you were born.  And whatever you do… in whatever season you find yourself in… at whatever speed life is coming at you…. don’t quit.   Breakthrough is coming… and God has big things planned for you!

Living Intentionally

 62 year old John Brandrick was given a grim diagnosis.... pancreatic cancer... 6 months to live.  John decided that he was going to go out in style!  He quit his job, stopped paying his mortgage, emptied his savings accounts and sold all that he had.  He lived lavishly... enjoying expensive dining, entertainment, and travel.  Problem is... 6 months passed and Mr. Brandrick’s health remained the same.  No deterioration.  No pain.  A follow-up scan revealed that he didn’t have cancer at all.  He never did.  He had been misdiagnosed.  And while relieved, John now faced financial ruin due to the error.  

John lived carelessly because he feared that he was dying.  Some of us live exactly the opposite... we live carelessly because we feel we’re going to live on earth forever.  We build wealth without being generous... avoid a relationship with God because we think we’ll have the chance later... and spend a majority of our time on things that won’t come with us when our life is over.  If this is you... it’s not too late.   Ask yourself... How would life change if tomorrow were my last day of breath?   What would I tell the people in my life that I hold most dear?  What would I do about my eternity?  Scripture tells us in James 4 that we shouldn’t think we know what tomorrow holds... So why not do those things now?  Today?  Secure your place in Heaven by allowing Christ to lead your life.  Tell those around you how you feel about them.  Invest your money in eternal things through the local church.  Make the choice to live with purpose and intentionality... knowing that life truly begins when we prepare ourselves for what happens when it ends.