More Blessed

There’s an old Chinese proverb that says: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.  If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.  If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.  If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”

If you’ve ever come to the aid of someone in need you know the truth in that statement.  There’s something about being there for a person that gives us a sense of fulfillment… a feeling of greater purpose.  This shouldn’t be surprising if you are a Christ-follower.  Scripture tells us in Acts 20:35 that “It is more blessed to give than to receive”  In Proverbs 11:25 we read “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”  Loving others…serving them… is something that God Himself has instructed us to do.  And when we stay obedient in this, the Bible tells us time and time again that we will be blessed. 

Why Are We 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.  

Ordinary?

Author Philip Yancey wrote about a television show he watched about survivors from World War II.  On the show, soldiers talked about how they spent a particular day in the foxhole.  They described it as ordinary... a German tank drove by and they shot at it... they played cards... a few got involved in some firefights... just a typical day.  Later, they learned that they had just participated in one of the most decisive engagements of the war, the Battle of the Bulge.  To them, it didn’t feel decisive... they were doing what they always did.  But because they held down their position...just miles away, their fellow countrymen could take new ground.

Maybe today started out a lot like those soldiers.  You hit the alarm clock, dressed, ate breakfast, and went to work.  Just an ordinary day.   But your day is far from ordinary.  God’s is in this day... and He’s making things happen.  You may not see the big picture...your position may seem inconsequential to you... but have no doubt... you play a critical role on this planet.  What you are doing matters.  You matter.  There are no small responsibilities when it comes to serving God and all of our efforts add up... no matter what we’re doing for Him.

Yancey finishes that chapter with this statement “Great victories are won when ordinary people execute their assigned tasks...”  Winning this world for Christ is a team effort.  Be the best you that you can be, honor God with your words and actions, and remember... everything matters...even the things that seem ordinary.  When we live that out, before long, the victory over the enemy of this world will be complete.

Missing Greatness

I read a story of a man who played the violin in the Washington DC subway.   On this particular cold and blustery morning, very few people noticed the man on the platform… playing skillfully on his instrument.  They were scurrying to make their next train… looking over their newspapers… pressing their faces close to their phones while they checked Twitter.  After a little while, a lady stopped and placed a one dollar tip in his violin case.   But the recognitions were few and far between.  After about 45 minutes of playing, the man had made $32.00.   After finishing his last piece, to the deafening silence of no applause, the man placed his violin back in its case and headed home. 

What the people passing didn’t know… this was Joshua Bell.  Violin virtuoso.  One of the most talented players in the world.  In fact, just two days before, Joshua had played to a sold-out concert crowd in Boston… where the average ticket price exceeded $100.  

Sometimes greatness is right in front of us and if we aren’t careful, we’ll miss it.  

For many of us at Christmas, the same thing can happen to us.  We can miss the Greatness that this season is all about.  Busyness, family, and the rush of getting everything done can cause us to be blinded to the real meaning of that special night.   The night where Mary and Joseph walked the streets looking for a place to rest… and the innkeeper turned them away to the caves…   The night when angels prepared to sing, shepherds stared into the starry sky in anticipation, and God smiled knowing that His plan for salvation was about to be unveiled.  It was the night when greatness and perfection lay waiting as a human child in the womb of a young virgin… eager to open His beautiful eyes in a world desperate for His presence.  

Greatness was about to appear to the world.  Yet many would miss it.   To some it was just another night… just another star in the sky… just another young boy.  

To some it was just another birthday.   

This Christmas… don’t miss it.  Don’t allow the busyness to get in the way of the beauty of His birth.   Don’t miss the chance to worship Him… giving your greatest gifts to Him… sharing His story with those that might otherwise walk on by.  He is the greatest single human being ever born… and, at the same time, every bit God.   His knowledge is as vast as the sands on the beach… and His compassion is unequalled.   He IS God.  He is greatness personified.   He is our Savior.   Let’s celebrate knowing that He was born with the ultimate purpose….  saving the world!

Why Are We 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.  

Not Done

I've said it many times on the weekends... God isn’t done with you yet.

As Pastor Craig Groeschel says, “If you’re not dead... you’re not done.”

Whatever your past... whatever you see in the mirror... whatever the world has defined you to be....

God sees something greater.

He’s created you for something that only you can do.

Have you forgotten what your smile looks like? What hope feels like? What God’s truth for your life is?

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

This is reality.

Take a closer look at yourself. Not broken you. Not addicted you. Not desperate you. Not financially struggling you.

You. Perfected in the love of Christ. Old life gone... new life begun.

Take today. Tuesday. Start over. Start thinking of yourself differently... you aren’t perfect... you’ve made some mistakes... but you are valuable and important in God’s plan for this planet.

Christ came for you.

Christ died for you.

Christ is here for you today.

And as these truths come into focus... as this new picture develops... crumple up the other one. That was you from yesterday. That was you that struggled. That was you that doubted. That was the old you.

Today you are new.

God makes you that way.

And what a beautiful picture you are!

Living With Purpose

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.  

Purpose of Pain

Mark Twain is quoted as saying “We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it – and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove top. She will never sit down on a hot stove top again, and that is well; but also she will never sit down on a cold one anymore.”

Have you ever been burned by an experience?  Ever felt pain from a relationship and were hesitant to get involved in another one?   Have you ever served on a team and been rejected or disillusioned?  Twain’s quote is accurate however tragic.  Every pain has a lesson... every trial a bit of wisdom.  But it is tempting to get hurt and completely withdraw from ever doing anything like it again.  James 1:4-5 tells us that the purpose of pain is perseverance, maturity, and growth.  If you’ve been hurt, resist the urge to never try again.  Pick yourself up... seek the wisdom to learn from it... and get back in there.  You’ll be glad you did.  

Meaning

The Bible tells us in Matthew 16:26 “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”  

Great questions!    But if we are told that what we gain here doesn’t matter as much as our relationship with Christ... why are so many after the applause of men?   Why do people pursue trinkets and trophies... when God has an infinitely better plan for their lives?  Comedian Jim Carrey once said, “I think everyone should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer.”  So what do we do?  

Keep in mind that meaning doesn’t come from anything that man creates.  God has designed us to be connected to Him... and when we remember that and pursue Him passionately,  we gain what really matters.  

An Ordinary Friday

Do you feel ordinary today?   Plain?   

Good.  

You are exactly the type of person God uses to change the world.  Joseph was a prisoner... Gideon was a farmer... David was a shepherd... Mary was a teenager... Luke was a doctor... Matthew collected taxes... and Peter caught fish long before he was called a “fisher of men”.   

When we read that list, we think “God’s all-stars”  But they didn’t think of themselves that way.  In their minds, they were just regular people doing what God had asked them to do... and changing the world in the process.  

Fact is, every person He creates is knitted together with a purpose.  A destiny.   That includes you.  You may have opened your eyes this morning feeling plain but you aren’t.  God had a plan for those He used in the Bible... and He has one for you.  He specializes in doing extraordinary things through ordinary people who are committed to fulfilling His purpose in their lives.  There’s nothing common about that!

Others

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.  

Here With a Purpose

“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

“And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:42-45

“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

“And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.”  Luke 14:23

“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.  

Forever

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.  

Ordinary

We’re just getting home from an amazing weekend.  We just experienced nearly ten hours of amazing Christian concert worship and a historic Potential Church service at the BB&T Center.  Plus we had lives changed at all of our other campuses outside of the South Florida area during their services!

As I sat and thought about what we were all just a part of… it hit me.  It was something that Hillsong United said in between songs yesterday at the show.  The singer told the audience that the night wasn’t about performing or entertaining… it was about pleasing the only One who matters… God.  He said that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when their only intention is making their Creator happy.

Do you feel ordinary today?   Plain?   

Good.  

You are exactly the type of person God uses to change the world.  Joseph was a prisoner... Gideon was a farmer... David was a shepherd... Mary was a teenager... Luke was a doctor... Matthew collected taxes... and Peter caught fish long before he was called a “fisher of men”.   

When we read that list, we think “God’s all-stars”  But they didn’t think of themselves that way.  In their minds, they were just regular people doing what God had asked them to do... and changing the world in the process.  

Fact is, every person He creates is knitted together with a purpose.  A destiny.   That includes you.  You may have opened your eyes this morning feeling plain but you aren’t.  God had a plan for those He used in the Bible... and He has one for you.  He specializes in doing extraordinary things through ordinary people who are committed to fulfilling His purpose in their lives.  There’s nothing common about that!

Painful Purpose

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.   

Serving Up Happiness

There’s an old Chinese proverb that says: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.  If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.  If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.  If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”

If you’ve ever come to the aid of someone in need you know the truth in that statement.  There’s something about being there for a person that gives us a sense of fulfillment… a feeling of greater purpose.  This shouldn’t be surprising if you are a Christ-follower.  Scripture tells us in Acts 20:35 that “It is more blessed to give than to receive”  In Proverbs 11:25 we read “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”  Loving others…serving them… is something that God Himself has instructed us to do.  And when we stay obedient in this, the Bible tells us time and time again that we will be blessed. Want more blessing in your life?  Make the decision to reach out.  The world may try to convince you to look out only for yourself… but the example that Christ left us was quite the opposite.  Serving others is part of our calling…our purpose here on Earth… and there’s nothing that makes us resemble Jesus more than when we are putting others first.  

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.