Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Dec 04

Always Be Ready

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Sunday afternoon, my partner and fellow minister here at Karns, called to inform me  he wasn’t feeling well. He wanted to know if I could preach for him that night. I agreed to preach and to my knowledge, I was able to get through it even though I wasn’t nearly as prepared as I normally am when I stand up to proclaim God’s Word.

As I spent time reflecting on Sunday, I kept coming back to the same thought. I kept thinking about how important it is to always be ready. It’s a thought I think all people would agree is a great idea, but it’s something very few people are good putting into practice.

I don’t like the feeling of being unprepared for anything. Whether its public speaking, an exam or an important conversation, I like to always be ready. As some might say, “I like to have my ducks in a row.”

As Christians, there are several things we need to always be ready for. Consider just a few:

  1. To Bear Other’s Burdens. Life is hard and sometimes it just slaps you across the face. When this happens, we all need someone to sit, listen, talk, cry and encourage us, don’t we? Paul encourages us to bear the burdens of others (Gal. 6:2). Opportunities to act on this may come at unexpected times. We must always be ready when such an opportunity presents itself.

  2. To Give An Answer For Our Faith. Many people claim to be Christians, but how many can defend their faith? Peter reminds Christians to always be ready to defend the faith (I Pet. 3:15). Part of my responsibility as a disciple of Christ is to be ready to defend Christ to unbelievers, even when it’s unanticipated.

  3. To Do Good. Paul reminded the churches of Galatia to always do good when the opportunity presented itself (Gal. 6:10). How many times a time do we pass up an opportunity to do good for someone else, because it’s inconvenient for us? As we go about our daily lives, we must always be ready to lend a helping hand. Who knows, it could make an eternal difference.

  4. To Obey God.  I’m sure most of you reading this post want to obey God, otherwise you probably wouldn’t have continued reading this far. The problem is not that we don’t want to obey God; the problem is we are not always ready to obey God. Take Daniel and his 3 friends as an example. In each situation they found themselves in (Dan. 1:1-21; 3:1-30; 6:1-28), they didn’t wait until that moment to decide to obey God. No, they made up their minds a long time in advance. You and I must always be ready to obey God no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in.

  5. To Welcome The Lord. We don’t know the day nor the hour in which our Lord will return (Matt. 24:36-44). Paul tells us He will come like a thief in the night (I Thess. 5:1-2), this indicates it will be at an unexpected time. When we least expect it, our Lord will return. We must always be ready!

This past Sunday was a good reminder for me of the importance of always being ready. I never know when something is going to happen and I’m going to be asked to fill in on the spot. As I laid my head down Sunday night and thought about the events of the day, I thanked God for the reminder to always be ready and made myself a promise I intend to keep; I’m going to always be ready. What about you?

QUESTION: In what area mentioned do you struggle the most when it comes to always being ready? I’d love to hear from you.

 

Nov 14

LABELS: Seeing As God Sees

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We just recently held our annual Fall ADVANCE for our student ministy. I have to say, I believe this was the best ADVANCE I’ve ever been a part of. The students were awesome and had some great things to say about the lessons presented.

Due to the positive feedback I’ve received, I am making available the keynote lessons I presented. It is my hope and prayer these lessons will be a blessing to everyone who reads them.

To find out more about downloading a copy of the lessons, continue reading below.

We live in an age were people label everyone they know. Some people wear the label: funny, smart, popular, honor student, kind, cool and athletic. Others wear lables like: uncool, dorky, outcast, loser, reject, worthless and stupid.

This three part series is a study devoted to helping us learn to see ourselves and others the way God sees us. Below are the titles for each lesson provided.

1. Wait! Seeing Past the Label

2. Seeing YOU as God sees YOU

3. What Label Defines You?

Click here to download LABELS – Seeing As God Sees

Nov 08

Careless Words

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The last couple of days I have noticed a trend on social media outlets. It’s a trend that can leave a negative impression on those who are non-Christians. The trend involves friends and acquaintances who are Christians using careless and hateful words to describe others. Most of the wording has been used in reference to the results of the election. Many people, both those who are happy with the results and those who are unhappy with the results, have used words and language that is not becoming of a child of God.

Anytime we speak and/or post something for public viewing, we must be careful about the words we use. Jesus said, “I tell you, on the Day of Judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt. 12:36-37).

Friends, we MUST be careful about the words we use. Whether they are spoken or written, our words should always be used to build others up and not to tear others down (Eph. 4:29).  You are entitled to your own opinion, just be careful as to the words you use to express that opinion.

Now that’s Something to Think About!

Oct 19

One Big Mistake…

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What do Benedict Arnold, Tiger Woods, Jephthah, Judas, Thomas and Peter all have in common? Each of these men are remembered for one BIG mistake. Benedict Arnold had a successful military career but is remembered for his treason. Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golfers to ever play but is remembered for his repeated acts of adultery. Jephthah was a great leader in Israel who is mentioned in the Hall of Faith in the book of Hebrews, but he is remembered for the tragic vow he made before God. Judas was an apostle of Jesus who carried the disciples’ money bag but is remembered for his kiss of betrayal. Thomas went outside the Roman empire and helped convert thousands to Christ but is remembered for his doubting the resurrection. Peter preached the first Gospel sermon but is remembered for his denial of Jesus.

In spite of the fact that each of these men had more successes than failures, they are remembered for one BIG mistake. People don’t reflect on all the good they did, only their brief moments of weakness. What if no matter how much good we do, others only remember our failures and moments of weaknesses? What if after we’ve passed from this life, all people can say about us centers around our mistakes?

Friends, let’s be careful to live our lives in such a God-honoring way that when others go to speak evil of us, they have nothing to say because we are remembered for the good and not for the mistakes we made. This doesn’t mean we will be perfect and never mess up, it just means our God-honoring life will outweigh our mistakes and failures.

“For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.” (2 Cor 8:21)

“That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”  (Phil. 2:15)

Now that’s Something to Think About!

 

Oct 18

When It’s Time For A New Heart Part 3

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Today is the final post in the series, “When It’s Time For A New Heart.” If you missed part 1 click here or for part 2 click here.

God was displeased with the people of Judah for their disobedience. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God told the people He was going to give them a new heart (Eze. 36:26). But why? Why did the people of Judah need a new heart?

They Didn’t Live To Please God

Judah’s problem stemmed from the fact they didn’t live to obey God (v. 27). God was going to put His spirit in them so they would walk in His statutes and obey His rules. The people were living to please themselves. It was about what made them happy. They weren’t living their lives to please God, that’s why they were in need of a new heart.

As Christians, the greatest commandment we have is to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Matt. 27:37-38). Our greatest desire should be to love God and want to serve and obey Him. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15). I love Miranda with all my heart. It is because of my great love for her, I try my hardest every day to please her and make her happy. You probably do the same thing with your spouse. Just as we love our spouses and try to please them, if we truly love God, we are going to live to please Him.

I’ve come across several people whose aim is to please God above everything else…but what about my life? As I go about my daily life, do I ever stop and consider if what I am doing is pleasing to God? Too often we are so busy we never consider whether what we are doing is pleasing to God. In fact, a lot of times if we do stop and think about what we are doing, it’s so we can decide if our current situation is pleasing to us. Think about it, we spend more time deciding how to please ourselves then we do God.

When our lives are so consumed with what pleases us and not what pleases God, we need a new heart.

I’m prayerfully asking each of us to consider the depths of our hearts. Although no one else can see the condition of your heart, God can (I Sam. 16:7). God sees whether or not your heart truly belongs to Him. He can see whether or not your heart is impure.

After David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and was convicted of his sin, he prayed to God, “Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew your steadfast spirit within me” (Psa. 51:10). Why not do the same right now.

Remember friends, the condition of our heart determines the outcome of our soul. The people of Judah were in the mess they were in because of the condition of their hearts. Don’t allow the condition of your heart to continue to go untreated, make an appointment with the Great Physician today.

Now that’s Something to Think About!