Where Do You Fit?

Acts 16:1a Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy . . .

Add one more name to the growing cast of the early church.  Out from the crowd Timothy steps out.  This young man steps out of obscurity and into a crucial leadership role in the early church.

We have seen this before.  We have seen it with Stephen, Philip, Barnabas, Tabitha, Silas, and on and on.

Even the effective ministry of Timothy’s family can’t be missed -

Acts 16:1b Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.

How important is the ministry of a believing mom!  Then another mention of Timothy’s mother and grandmother as Paul speaks of Timothy -

2 Timothy 1:5  When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

We will continue to witness additions like this on through the book of Acts.  And the additions occur all the way through the rest of the New Testament.  Again and again God raises up regular people.  We are regular people.  We are called into this place of effectiveness in our empowering relationship with Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner[stone], in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Today the story of Acts continues.  As Jesus builds His church, He writes the next chapter of Acts with our lives.  Let Him write your story into His.  Ask Him where you fit.

From Useless to Useful

I know it is all grace.  I know that I have done nothing to deserve God’s love.  I know that Jesus initiated peace before I asked – “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

But there is still a whisper in my heart to make a difference.  I want my work to count. The whisper grows louder.  I look for ways to effect.  I want to leave a legacy.  My whisper now a shout, I want to have an impact.

Understand it is not for my sake or for my name.  My desire is for the Lord.  I want to show Him I love Him.  I want my life to be a blessing to Him.  I want my life to be a response to God’s grace.  And because His grace is amazing, I want life to be a reflection of “amazing.”

That is the conundrum, I want to step up to significance but so often I fall in disappointing failure.  For the answer to this problem we turn to Christ.  Jesus promises to restore and rebuild.  What the world would throw out, Jesus redeems and renews.

Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Matthew 12:20  A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory

Here is where John Mark comes in.  John Mark (Acts 13:13) went from useless to useful.  God takes this young man’s from sitting the bench to being a crucial part of the team. Out of obscurity into significance.

Paul goes from refusing to travel with John Mark to anticipating for John Mark’s arrival.  Calling out for those important to him, calling to those who can truly help, Paul calls out with urgency in his last days -

2 Timothy 4:11b   Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.

There is the fulfillment.  There is God’s faithfulness.  John  Mark = “Useful to me for ministry.”  John Mark is evidence of God at work.

The promise from God for us -

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

All because of the faithful hand of God at work.  From the “bench” to the “team.”  From obscurity to significance.  From the bruised reed, from the smoldering wick, to the hand of Christ.  For you, for me, from useless to useful!

Sources of Joy

In the considerations of Acts 15 the doctrine established is salvation by faith alone.  Hidden behind this crucial doctrine is a noticeable reaction to salvation; Joy, Rejoicing, Blessing, and Happiness.

I took pause at how often Paul and Barnabas told their testimony, stories of what God did through them while reaching the Gentiles with the Gospel.  they 3 or 4 times.  Each time the response to their testimony was rejoicing and excitement.

Even as the doctrine of grace won out, even as the letter announcing “faith alone” was read to the Gentiles in Antioch, they responded -

Acts 15:31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.

I read this and searched for my response.

Would I rejoice?

Where does my joy come from?

What makes me happy?

I know what I have looked to for happiness.  While I have often looked for happiness in healthy places, like my family and my church, I also can admit some rather embarrassing things.  I know how often I have prayed “Lord if I only had” (fill in your own blank) “then I would be happy!”

My “blank” has been everything from a new car to a Buc’s win.  I have even prayed for my hair to be restored.  Honestly I am embarrassed at how shallow my choices have been.  I watched happiness come and go like my hairline.  I have trained my heart to rely on the rolling waves offered by the world.

As I studied and prayed I felt the Spirit challenging me through this Scripture in Acts.  I have sought emotional joy in the wrong places.  I have expected a lasting satisfaction from worldly things.  God has taught me differently.  I need to adjust my mind-set.  I needed Him to retrain my heart.

I was reminded of David’s repentance

Psalms 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation . . .

Psalms 32:2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

I discovered something very simple.  I have found something that was right out in the open.  I learned something I already knew.  My joy does not come from fulfilling the desires of my flesh.

Rejoicing, Joy, Blessing, and Happiness comes from Him.  One of the great sources of happiness comes from His forgiveness.  I already have a reason for Joy, I already have a reason to celebrate.

This changes things, this changes me.

My prayer becomes like David’s

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation . . .”

I can be happy without the new car.  The Bucs can lose and I can be happy anyway.  I can be bald and still be happy.  Life can be hard and joy can remain.

I am forgiven.  I am a child of God’s.  I have a home in heaven.  I have reason for joy.

My prayer for us ~

Lord, thank You for forgiving us.  Lord, restore the joy of Your salvation.  Lord, let us not lose sight of our salvation.  Lord, give me a heart that rejoices in my forgiveness.

Oops!

Along with many little typo’s – I need to make one correction clear.

Some of my typing twisted up and I typed “I love this church?”  Well I thought I typed – “I love this church!?!  As CRAZY as it is!!”

It was a fun albeit crazy evening, squirrel and all.  I think my brain might have gone into a pasta coma, hence my multiple typing boo-boos.

One big SORRY to everyone.

Fellowship

Okay, I know sometimes this is corny, I might say it too much, but here it goes -

I LOVE this church!  ???  Crazy as it is!

We had a ton of fun tonight eating spaghetti and being in fellowship together.  Thanks to everyone who helped.  Thanks for all the desserts. Thanks for all the love.

We had a few hiccups along the way.  This stuff only happens at Calvary Palm Harbor.

I just walked to the back and glanced to the guys cooking in the back.  They had the noodles under control, everyone was fine.  So I went and sat down to chat with my daughter.  Out of the blue I hear this loud boom and I see a bright flash in the corner of my eye.  Almost immediately Jim yells out “That wasn’t us!  A squirrel hit the transformer.  Praise Jesus, I thought we were headed home!”

I had a big smile on my face, thinking “boys, boys, boys.”  Then I saw Miss Joanna stepping high paced back to make sure everyone was alright, always a mom (I mean that as a compliment! Honestly seeing her concern made me think “How sweet.”)

Well as many of you know we lost our a/c, some of the lights, and a friendly little squirrel.  We just went with it and continued on.  God is good!  Florida Power eventually came and everything was fine.

We had good time in worship and communion.  A sweet time!

Thanks for being a part.   Thanks to everyone who worked so hard on this, it was a blast!

Reminder -

Next week no service November 25, 2009.  Have a great Thanksgiving!

Learning to Leap

We sing about amazing grace, but I wonder if that is true for you?  Is God’s grace amazing?

I have heard powerful testimonies, where people speak about God’s amazing grace.  I have read the Scripture and I have heard it taught, Jesus is all that I need.  He is more than enough for me.  But – is it?  Do you know, I mean experience that truth?

I am looking for the place where faith, where God’s grace meets real life.  Have you been there?  I mean do you know God’s grace.  Personally, intimately have you experienced God’s grace as amazing?

This week I read

Acts 14:8-10 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. [This] man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

That is amazing!  That is a “WOW!” ( After I am done praising God and considering this event, I want to bring this story down into my life.)

Okay now what does this mean for me, for you?  What is God revealing to us about His grace?

I notice right away how immediate God’s grace is here in this story.  I recognize how thorough and powerful His grace is towards this man?  I have stopped and considered this healing.  This man was crippled from birth, he never walked before, he was dependant on others, his body was atrophied, his muscles never used.  Yet Paul extends God’s grace and invites this man to stand.

Now just imagine that you don’t know the rest of this story.  How would your faith finish this?  I would have no problem imagining this man slowly grasping, rising, standing, leaning.  Miraculous!  But something far better happened.  This man LEAPED!

Envision this man sitting in his paralyzed place, crippled, trapped his whole life.  He leaps out of that place.

God’s grace pulled this man up.  No one else offered him any hope.  God’s grace fully and completely set this man free.  No leaning, no weakness. Muscles fully formed and strengthened.  Balance and coordination, no need for years of therapy.

This is God’s grace!  This is the grace available to you.  Can you see the potential we have in God’s grace.  We can potentially be pulled up out of a paralyzed place.  God can break the chains.  God can fully, completely set you free.

This is where amazing grace needs to meet you.  The potential is radical.  Have you been there yet?  Has grace grabbed you like that?  Have you lept yet?

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

My prayer for us ~

Lord convince our hearts that Your grace is truly amazing.  Teach us these truths.  Grab us with Your grace.  Give us an honest, rich, understanding of Your grace.  Build us up in our faith.  Lord teach us to trust, teach us to leap, set us free.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Prayer

* Special Note

Please help me with the following post.  I am writing this guide to help people prayer.  It is the first installment for the guide.  It is a little longer then one of my regular post.

Let me know if it is helpful.

I will be getting back to my regular writing in a little bit.  Thanks!

Spending time in prayer

Many express a desire to pray more, but when it comes down to the practice of prayer they find it difficult.  The purpose of this article is simply to equip you for the work of prayer.  God has graciously given us prayer and invited us to spend time with Him in prayer.

Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

Upon reflection this invitation truly is an amazing privilege.  Why don’t we pray more?  Why do we struggle?   The notion sitting in prayer can cause reactions that range from boredom to intimidation.  The fear, boredom, and the busyness can keep us from praying.  We need confront this reality with a responsible maturity and move forward.

Road maps help us to get where we are going.  As you make repeated trips you get familiar with the way to your destination and you need the map less and less.  That is why this article is being written to give you and idea of what prayer can be.  This is a road map for prayer,  so you can learn get on your way.

Do You Know How to Pray?

It is a silly question, right?  Actually we need to ask.  We shouldn’t assume that prayer comes naturally.   Many of us learn to pray by the examples around us.  Sometimes the examples aren’t the best.   We need to pull the map out and make sure we are headed in the right direction.  We all have something to learn when it comes to prayer.

Even the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.  Those of us who feel comfortable with our praying abilities can be humbled when we see even the disciples ask.  Surely the disciples knew how to pray, but they saw a whole new definition of prayer when they witnessed the prayers of Jesus.  They needed to be taught.

As we consider our personal prayer life we should show the same desire to learn from one who truly knows how to pray.  Our prayer should be “Jesus, teach me to pray.”

What does prayer look like?

There is a great variety in prayer.  There have been many different concepts presented to us some false and some true.  We will consider God’s Word to bring us a true and right the example.

When we speak of prayer we realize it is not just the simple memorized prayer from our childhood.  We are talking about much more than one mode of prayer.  There are many kinds of prayer.  Here is a short list for prayer for; meals, our need, other people’s needs, confession, praise, thanksgiving, and healing.  Prayers can be quick, long, public, private, conversational, or memorized.  Prayer can be very different.

We can have quick prayers covering these needs throughout our day.  We can have prayers to begin or close our day.   My consideration here is setting aside a time to pray for a half hour or an hour, as well as a half day or whole day of pray.  First I would like to consider some patterns of prayer in the Word.

The Lord’s Prayer

Luke 11:1-4

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

And he said unto them, when ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.  Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Let Us Pray

The disciples are so moved and motivated by the way Jesus prayed that they ask Him to teach them to pray.  I believe the request is to be instructed in prayer but also to be taught to practice prayer, simply to do it.  We can have all the “know how” but if we don’t actually pray our knowledge is worthless.  Like the disciples we not only need the “how to” but we also need to be disciplined to make time to pray.

The first lesson of the Lord’s Prayer is to simply pray.   From there the Lord’s Prayer truly becomes an outline for us to pray, a prayer map.   Many of us know this prayer by heart and many of us can pray it verbatim.   If you can pray this prayer word for word with your heart engaged and in agreement then by all means you should.  But this not just intended for reciting, we should also step back and realize that it also a “way” for us to pray.  If we look at the structure we can begin to see the “landmarks” along our map for prayer.

We are challenged to take a deeper a deeper approach to prayer.  As we step through each  /////////// you will have the opportunity to make this prayer your own.  Each time you pray this points will be filled with the aspects of your personal life.  This prayer will connect you relationally to your Heavenly Father.

Praise

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

We start our prayer with the instruction of Jesus to address the Father.  We begin a time of praise by acknowledging God and His character – “Father you are holy, righteous, majestic, all-knowing, loving, gracious . . . “ this acknowledgement can continue as you are lead to extol the nature and character of God.

Our acknowledgement of God’s character easily overlaps with thanksgiving.  Continuing to praise the Lord our hearts overflow with thanksgiving, thanking Him for who He is and what He has done.  “Lord thank you for your grace, you have made it so evident in my life today, thank you for the counsel of your Word . . .”

You will have the opportunity to see this line of praise from the Lord’s Prayer expanded with your own personal words.   The richness of this personal praise and thanksgiving becomes strong foundations for the rest of our prayer time.  Praise adjusts our perspective.  Personal praise transitions us on to our next landmark on our prayer map.

Perspective, God’s will, and obedience

“Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.”

We now come to an encouragement to remember and refocus.  This is a time to remember we are headed to an eternal destination, our home with Jesus.  Often we get distracted with life and get consumed with worry.  We forget where we are headed, where we belong.   Jesus could call at anytime. He could call us home today.  Pause for a moment – Think – Today.   Think about it, dwell on it, we could see Jesus face to face today.  That being the case what would you like to accomplish today?  What would you like to avoid?  These considerations tend to remind us what is important.  We are called to refocus our eyes on Jesus.

We could rest here for a moment and consider the throne room of God, His glory, the praise, the angels responding obediently to the Lord.  His will being done.

One day that will occur here, His kingdom will come, His will will be done.

Oh that it would be true in our hearts today.

“Lord I think of Your kingdom, your way, and I can’t wait.  Lord I realize I could see you today, life is brief, help me to live for you.  Show me what is important.  I want to comply to your will.  Help me to be obedient.    Come quickly Lord Jesus.”

A desire for obedience should drive us to Him.  To do His will we will need help, resource, counsel and equipping.     We will need to ask. 

Provision

“Give us day by day our daily bread.”

We need His help.  We need the Lord’s provision.

We should stop and realize that the provision spoken of here is not just for the physical and practical, but the spiritual and relational as well.  We need to prayer for God to provide for our faith.

“Lord, nurture my faith.  Establish me in Your ways.  Teach me Your Word.  Bond my heart to Yours”

The mention of the daily bread reminds us of the daily provision of manna for the Israelites in the wilderness.  The children of Israel were instructed to go out early in the day to gather their manna for the day.  They couldn’t gather for the next day.  The manna would rot overnight.  It needed to be collected daily. Only over the Sabbath were they given rest.  This taught them to be close, consistent, responsible, involved and dependant on God.  We need to stay close to Him.

These same lessons are here in these words “Our daily bread.”  We can not intend to pray one day and hope that will stretch out for the next few weeks.  No, it doesn’t work that way.  We are taught to come to Him daily in prayer, in His Word, and in fellowship with Him.

We tend to forget that this daily bread, in fact all things, comes from Him.  We shouldn’t take credit for God’s blessings.  If you have a job, if you have a talent, a family, friends, good health . . .this is a reminder to give Him thanks and credit.

“Lord I know all that I have is from you, thank you.  Lord, You now my needs today.  You know what I face, Lord I need your provision.”

Confessions

“And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us”

Sin separates us from God.  Sin can hinder our prayers.  We do not want anything to separate us from God.  We do not want anything to hinder our prayers.  We need to confess, to repent, to ask Him to cleanse us.

“Lord forgive me, search my heart, wash me and cleanse, reveal to me areas that need your forgiveness.”

Because we have been forgiven so great a debt, we need to be a forgiving people.  We should not be easily offended.  We should not hold onto bitterness.  We need to let it go, we need to give it to the Lord, we need to forgive.

“Lord you know the hurt I have carried, I bring it to You so that You can heal me, help me.  Lord, help me forgive.  Show me anyone that I need to graciously release in forgiveness. “

These prayers can be personalized according to your situation and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Protection

“And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”

There is so much temptation that pulls at our hearts.  Temptation traps us and distracts us.  It comes at us from all different angles.

“Lord you know my struggles.  Keep me away from those situations that bring temptation.  Direct me away from the very things that pull me down.  Lord build my faith so that I am not so vulnerable to these traps.”

It is not only the reality that we are weak that concerns us.  We also have an enemy, Satan.  The Word tells us he wants to destroy us.  He is strong.  We need God’s protection.

“Lord you know the way Satan is after me.  I need protection.  I need your strength.  I need your help.”

You Belong!

I feel like “Little Orphan Annie.”

Okay after you stop laughing I will explain.

Remember how destitute she was.  Remember all her enemies.  Her story was dark and her future was hopeless.   Until she was adopted.  Hope came out of no where.  Her life was reborn.  Everything was changed for the better.

Sound familiar?  As I read Acts 13 this week I realized the connection.

Acts 13:26b   . . . to you the word of this salvation has been sent.

I felt like I was watching an old “Indiana Jones” map seeing the animated red-line mark the travels of Paul and Barnabas as they extended the reach of the Gospel.  The red-line of Gospel touching heart by heart covering the map.  I stopped and considered the day that red-line reached me.  The day I realized what the shed blood of Christ accomplished as He invited me to a new life.

I was an orphan with a dark life, my future was hopeless, the enemy was one me, but Jesus reached out to me.  He paid the price.  He did all the work.  He made the way for me to be a part of His spiritual family.

Eph 1:5  having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Eph 1:13-14  In Him you also [trusted], after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

We, the believers, belong!  We are accepted!  We are protected!  We have an inheritance!  We are set!  We are secure! We are Loved!

I want to remember that I was once an orphan, but now I am part of the beloved.  I want to always remember that beautiful contrast.  I don’t want to ever forget . . .

Acts 13:26b   . . . to you the word of this salvation has been sent.

Acts 13:38-39  Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

My Prayer for Us ~

Lord it truly is a blessing to call you Father, Dad.  Thank for you for pursuing us, choosing us.  Thank you for our brand new hope.  Lord change us as we are children secure in Your love.  Strengthen us to live in this new hope.  Affirm us and send us to reach out others with this great and awesome love of Jesus Christ.

Amen

New Changes

We had a great service yesterday.  Really just awesome things going on!

Praise God and thanks to everyone that helped us get new chairs.  I received a lot of thanks and appreciation.  The chairs really are nice.

Plus we have new signage on the entrance doors, at our Tampa Rd. entrance, and a BRAND NEW one on Hwy 19!

Now that is what we needed for Church growth!  Comfy chairs and new signs! (jk)  But these new additions really are a blessing.

I also want to continue to thank all the servants that are blessing in so many ways.  Kids ministry, worship, greeters, outreach, special events, women’s ministry, men’s ministry, youth, cafe, clean up and on and on.  Everyone is just an overwhelming blessing.

I love this Church!

To Linger in Prayer

” God’s acquaintance is not made hurriedly.  He does not bestow His gifts on the casual or hasty comer and goer.  To be much alone with God is the secret of knowing Him and of influence with Him.”  E.M. Bounds

So much to do.  Life is a deceptive courter.  The demands of life grow like weeds.  As life heats up my spirit dries up.  My only solution is to spend time in the oasis of prayer.  It is an obvious remedy, but so difficult to implement.  It seems to be within reach, yet miles and miles away.

What is it that hinders us?  What would keep us from a sweet hour of prayer?  These are questions that we each should address.  What has rushed in?  What has distracted us?  Ultimately what is more important then keeping an appointment with your creator?  But reality has shown us prayer is hard to get to.

Instead of getting lost in a sea of guilt, let’s move ahead.  We can do what we can do, look to each other for support, and ask the Lord for help with the rest.

1) Get rid of sin, confess and pray for help

2) Evaluate how you spend your time and prayerfully consider how to adjust.

3) Make time

4) Be reasonable

5) Set a time, make an appointment, make a date.  Here is what we can work towards.  Choose to set aside at least 15-30 minutes in the morning for praying and Bible reading.  Find at least one time during the week to prayer for 30-60 minutes.  Set a half day or whole day aside to spend in prayer with the Lord do this once a month or once a quarter.  Take advantage of the prayer times with the church so that we can pray together.

6) Encourage each other in prayer.  Invite each other to prayer.

7) Testify.

I can honestly say my spirit yearns to spend time with God.  I have done a lot of talking about prayer, it is time to stop talking and start praying.  We live in a time that presents great challenges, we need to pray.  We live with an awareness of the brevity of life, we need to pray.  What better time then this to start.

Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 4:31  And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Acts 12:5  Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Acts 12:12 . . . where many were gathered together praying.

Acts 13:2-3 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

They showed how important prayer is for us.  The time for us to pray has come. Be committed, be refreshed, be renewed, let’s pray . . .

My prayer for us ~

Lord bring a joy and richness to our prayer life.  Bring our hearts to prayer.  Bring us together in prayer.  Teach us to pray.  Direct us through prayer.  Commune with us, love us through prayer.  Father thank you for this gift of prayer.  Reveal to us the value, honor, and priviledge of prayer.  In Jesus name amen.