Apr 18

A God-Sized Dream

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All of us have dreams of some kind. From the time we are little until the day we die, we dream about the many possibilities for our lives. When I was a kid, I wanted more than anything to be a professional athlete. As you can probably tell from my writing this, this dream didn’t work out so well. However, this didn’t keep me from trying. I’m sure most of you can relate to my BIG dream. Maybe you didnt want to be a professional athlete, but a doctor, a lawyer, a businessman or woman. We all at some point in time had BIG dreams for our lives, and maybe you still do.

What about the dreams you have for your spiritual life? Do you have dreams for what you want to become? For what you hope to accomplish for the Lord? I’m afraid when it comes to dreaming about things of a spiritual nature, our dreams are too small. For example, I asked our young people what kind of dreams they had for making a difference in the Kingdom of God. They responded with things like: teaching people about Jesus, being a good example or helping those in need. Don’t get me wrong, these are good dreams, really. However, I feel as though these dreams are too small. The sad thing about this type of mindset is that it’s the same with adults who have been Christians for many years. Our dreams for making an impact are small. Why not dream about becoming an elder, preacher or missionary. Instead of wanting to teach people about Jesus, why not have a specific list of people you want to teach?

Why is it that when we dream about our lives we dream BIG dreams, but when we dream about our impact in the Kingdom of God we dream small dreams? I think it’s past time for us to dream God-sized dreams. You say, what is a God-sized dream? A God-sized dream is a dream that is so big others might say, “You can’t do that.” God-sized dreams are what some might call, “Ridiculously insane.” A God-sized dream might look like:
• Joseph, a Hebrew, becoming the 2nd most powerful man in all of Egypt.
• Moses helping the Israelites escape Egyptian captivity.
• Jonah preaching to a wicked Nineveh and stirring their hearts to repentance.
• Twelve ordinary men turning the world upside down.
• Converting one of the biggest persecutors of the church,Paul, and watching his impact on the lives of others.

Christians need to start dreaming God-sized dreams. We should be dreaming big about what we can do for the Lord while we have time on earth. As long as we have God on our side, nothing is impossible (Mk. 10:27). The apostle Paul said, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Eph. 3:20). Did you catch that? God is able to do abundantly more than all we ask or imagine! It’s time for Christians to dream big as to what we can accomplish with God’s help.

What’s keeping you from dreaming God-sized dreams? Fear, failure, friends, reputation, lack of confidence, lack of trust? David wrote, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act” (Psa. 37:4-5). Do you trust God enough to help you accomplish your God-sized dream? Just the other day I came across this quote, “When we dare to dream the dreams God has for us, we will be amazed at what He does in and through us!”

Friends, the size of our dreams reflects the size of our God. How big are you dreaming?

Now that’s Something to Think About!

Apr 11

Bible Day Camp 2012

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Location: Karns Church of Christ

Date: May 29 – June 1

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Ages: Completed Kindergarten thru 5th Grade

Cost: $30 (This is for supplies and snacks)

What to Bring: Sack Lunch (Tuesday – Thursday); Lunch will be provided on Friday

 

Applications due back to Karns church of Christ by Wednesday, May 23.

Call Justin Morton for more information (865) 691-7411.

 

Clink the link below in order to download an application!

http://karnscoc.org/otherdocs/KarnsDayCamp2012.pdf

 

Apr 02

SOMETHING BETTER THAT LASTS FOREVER

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Christians do many things which can only be explained because we believe in heaven. I believe this is why the writer of Hebrews 11 stopped in the middle of his “By faith” statements and wrote, “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city” (Heb. 11:13-16).

The writer interrupts his “By Faith” statements because he wants us to consider why certain people do what they do for their faith. Why is it the people mentioned in Hebrews 11 decided to live drastically different from the rest of the world? The answer to this somewhat puzzling question, for those who cannot wrap their mind around this kind of audacious behavior, is the people listed in the Hall of Faith (Heb. 11) understood something better was waiting for them. They were willing to give up what they had here on earth because they knew they couldn’t keep it anyway. Paul wrote, “For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of it” (I Tim. 6:7). The faithful heroes mentioned in Hebrews 11 gave up what they could lose in order to gain what they could not lose. These people of faith realized it’s all about heaven!

 

Strangers and Exiles (v. 13)

We sing a song called, This World Is Not My Home. The first stanza says…

                                     This world is not my home,

                                    I’m just a passing through.

                                    My treasures are laid up,

                                    Somewhere beyond the blue.

The patriarchs lived on this earth with the idea that they were nothing more than strangers and exiles. They understood that their true citizenship was in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Why is it that some Christians today live their lives as if they are going to stay here forever? Friends, we are nothing more than strangers and exiles here on earth. This world is not our home!

 

Longing (14-16a)

The patriarchs were “seeking” a homeland. However, this homeland was not the earthly place they had left, for if it was, “They would have had opportunity to return.” Instead, they were longing for their true homeland, heaven… which is far better than this world we currently call home. These patriarchs did what they did out of faith, because they were homesick for heaven. When was the last time you were homesick? When was the last time you were homesick for heaven? Was there ever a time you were homesick for heaven? Friends, you and I need to start longing for our true homeland, heaven.

 

Reward (v. 16b)

The writer of Hebrews points out that God was not ashamed to be called their God.  He looked down on those patriarchs and was proud of them because of their faith. In fact, God was so proud of these heroes of faith, He prepared for them a city.  Did you catch that? God Himself is the one who prepared this city for people of faith.  How awesome is that? Guess what, friends? In the end, God will feel the same for Christians who live lives of faith. He is preparing for you a city, a place to call your home, a place where you have citizenship, a place where you are not a stranger or exile; God is preparing Heaven just for you!

Everything we do as Christians points back to our faith in heaven. You see, what you believe or don’t believe about heaven and hell will affect the way you live your life. When you truly come to terms with this world not being your home, and you begin to understand you belong at home with the Father in heaven, you will do things that can only be explained because of your faith in Something Better that Lasts Forever!

Now that’s Something To Think About!

 

Mar 26

Faith: Description and Action

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The whole Christian life is about faith. No one can point out one aspect of the Christian life that doesn’t involve faith. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions concerning faith in our culture today. For instance, some people might say, “Faith is believing what you know isn’t true.” Others might go so far to say, “Faith is the opposite of rational thought.” Still there are others today who confuse faith with feeling; if they don’t feel it, it must not be true.

What is Faith?

For as long as I can remember, I was taught that faith was, “The assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). Perhaps a better translation might be, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not seen.”  But what does that really mean? I think Philip Yancey said it best when he said, “Faith means believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” Faith believes what others do not believe. Faith sees what others do not see. Faith does what others do not do. Friends, faith is an important aspect in the lives of Christians.

What Does Faith Do?

Faith leads to great things. It leads us to accomplish things we might not normally accomplish.

Read Hebrews 11 and notice all the great things people did because of their faith:

  1. “By Faith…” Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain.
  2. “By Faith…” Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death because he pleased God.
  3. “By Faith…” Noah constructed an ark.
  4. “By Faith…” Abraham went out not knowing where he was going.
  5. “By Faith…” Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter but chose rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Each of the people listed accomplished great things for God, not because they were great, but because their faith was great. Every person who has ever done something worthwhile, started with a small amount of faith. Take Peter as an example: he had enough faith to get out of the boat and walk on water (Matt. 14:22-33). What about Paul?  He had enough faith to preach the Gospel in spite of the persecution he would endure. Faith leads us to great things!

Faith brings about trials. Living by faith often means finding oneself in adverse circumstances. Read Hebrews 11:35b-38 and notice all the trials mentioned that were brought on because of faith. Think back to Daniel when he was thrown into a den of lions (Dan. 6). What about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they were placed in the fiery furnace (Dan. 3)? Both of these instances were brought about because of the faith of these young Hebrew boys. Perhaps you have experience trials because of your faith. For example, maybe you were asked to do something for your boss that was unethical (lie, cheat, steal, etc.). If that’s the case then your faith has brought about a trial. You can either chose to be true to your Christian values and moral and disobey your boss, or you can disregard your Christian values and morals and obey your boss. Faith brings about trials!

Faith acts even when it’s inconvenient and unfavorable. For some Christians, things have to be convenient before they will get involved in the work of the church. Circumstances have to be in their favor before they will act upon the words of the Lord. Friends, if we wait for things to be convenient or in our favor before we act in faith, we’ll be waiting a long time. One thing you notice when you read Hebrews 11 is the heroes mentioned never stopped and waited for convenience and favorable circumstance. David didn’t wait for Goliath to get sick. Gideon didn’t wait for God to give him more men. Abram didn’t wait until moving was convenient for him and his family. Joseph didn’t allow the inconvenience he faced to keep him from being faithful to God. Faith acts even when it’s inconvenient and unfavorable!

Friends, it’s easy to read Hebrews 11 and think, I could never be a person like those mentioned in the Hall of Faith. However, I strongly disagree. You see, I believe Hebrews 11 was preserved for us so that we could see what faith looks like in the lives of believers and go out and live that way. My prayer is that all Christians will live in such a way that their names can be added to list mentioned in the Hall of Faith.

Now that’s Something to Think About!