Phillippi and Dallas

This past week, I walked the streets of Phillippi and Dallas. What impact have I left on those two cities today? Paul's impact walking the streets of Phillippi is still felt today. Why? Because he was not so much concerned with the mark that he left on the tent-making business, but on the business of living for Christ. How sold out to Christ are you?

Galatians 2:20-21 (ESV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

How Much Love?

I have three measuring devices this morning. First, I have a ruler on my desk for measuring small items. Then, in my toolbox, I have a tape measure that I use on many building projects. Last, I have a survey wheel that can measure fence lines. All of these measuring tools have their limits. None of them can come close to measuring the love of our Lord for us. You have great eternal value.

No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

What do you see?

Ask two people who witnessed an accident and you will likely get two different accounts. Take a moment to look at someone, what do you see? So often we let the surface define what we think. What happened before the accident? Where did that person you are looking at come from or what did they go through? Looking deeper widens our perspective. The more we know, the better we see.

“For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Have You Heard that Timing is Everything?

Back in the day, I would set the timing on my car a couple of times a year. If I missed the timing marks, the car ran badly. If I was way off with my timing, the car would not run at all. God set everything in motion and His timing is always on the mark. While we don’t always understand His timing, we need to realize that everything will run smoother in His timing. Take time to read Ecc 3 and make sure that you are in time with the Master.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (ESV)

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

Deep Roots

As I was walking my dogs in the park, I noticed several newly planted trees had died due to the lack of water. A friend of mine opened a nursery a few years ago and named it “Deep Roots.” He opened the nursery within a few years of graduating from high school. Not only have I seen his business take root and grow, but I have witnessed his spiritual roots continue to grow. If you examine his family, you will see that his parents and grandparents have deep spiritual roots. Our spiritual walk has far-reaching effects.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV)

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.

8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Time is running out

How many times have you received a message letting you know that if you did not act quickly, time would run out? In talking about salvation to someone, have you said that now is the time to make your decision? Many times we miss out on blessings that the Lord has for us because we procrastinate or just refuse to do what He calls us to do. Today, claim the blessings God has for you.

Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (ESV)

1 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Little Words Matter

I heard the big words that were said to me. In fact, I only missed one little word. That missed little word kept me from finding what I was looking for. How important are the little words to you?

The Bible is a collection of God’s Word. Nothing should be added or taken away. We are to study His Word. We are to meditate on His Word. We are to hide them in our Hearts.

Matthew 4:4 (ESV)

4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Stay the Course

After a time of intense ministry, Jesus and His disciples sailed for the other side of the lake. They were not alone, for “other boats were with Him.” But when Jesus and the disciples arrived on the other side, were the other boats still with them?

Many times when the storms come, people turn back for fear. When God directs our steps, we need to trust Him even when storms come our way.

Mark 4:35-40 (ESV)

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”

36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Seems Like Endless Options

Have you noticed how many different options there are in beverages? Not only are there countless sodas, but then you add energy drinks and flavored waters—so many choices to quench your thirst. Companies spent $8,000,000 for a 30-second ad during the Super Bowl game to try to convince you that their product could quench your thirst better than others. The woman at the well who encountered Jesus was looking for her thirst to be quenched via the ways of the world. Jesus was all she needed. Where are you looking to have your needs met?

John 4:13-14 (ESV)

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Love is a Package Deal

Love… bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

                                                                        I Corinthians 13:4-7

Wouldn’t it be nice if love were like a cafeteria line? The best part of Luby’s is that I get to choose what I don’t want to eat. What if you could look at the person with whom you live and select what you want and pass on what you don’t. Life with my kids would have been different. Yes on the good grades and nice manners, and yes on the chores. I would pass on the attitude and those clothes and some of those guys my daughter wanted to bring home. But more to the point. How about the spouse? Yes on a good mood and not on the honey due list. And you can think of the rest, and don’t forget the inlaws. But you know what? It wouldn’t be love. Love doesn’t accept just a few things. Love is willing to accept all things.

“Love…bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”

When we love someone, we take the entire package. No picking and choosing. No large helpings of the good and passing on the bad. Love is a package deal.

Time out….what love are we talking about? Paul uses the AGAPE love….Agape love cares for others because God has cared for us. Agape love goes beyond sentiment and good wishes. Agape love forgives the mistake when the offense is high, offers patience when stress is abundant and extends kindness when kindness is rare. Why? Because God offered it to us first.

Did I mention, “Love…bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Such love isn’t easy. But it is the Love that God has for us and he wants us to share with others.

Agape someone today like you have never loved them before and they will see Christ in you.

Perspective

I enjoy watching basketball. The free-throw line is called by many as the charity stripe. When a player is fouled in the act of shooting or if the other team is over the allotment of fouls, the player fouled can shoot free throws. These are considered free points if the player makes the shots. Not only are statices kept on how a player does at the free-throw line, but the teams are also tracked. Players and teams alike take great pride in having a high percentage at the free-throw line. Many of us take pride in being at the top of our game in many areas of our lives. We tend to compare ourselves with others to find satisfaction.

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" Matthew 5:48.

Vision

Do you have a vision? Are you on a mission to get a task done? Many times I find myself interrupted or even redirected from my vision. It seems like there are distractions on every side. Staying focused is something that I must work on to achieve a vision.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 (ESV)

2 And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.

3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Proverbs 29:18 (ESV)

18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

California Stop

Many years ago someone explained to me what a California stop was. They described it as a “rolling stop.” It seems to me that there must be lots of Californians who have moved to our area or are teaching driver’s education in our area. This morning my question to you is not whether you make California stops in your vehicle, but if that reflects your prayer time with the Lord. Do you come to a complete stop from the activities in your life to wait on the Lord?

Psalm 46:10 (ESV)

10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Short Memory

A short memory is said to be good in basketball. If you miss a few shots, a basketball player is encouraged to have a short memory so that they will not give up on shooting the ball. Each shot is a new shot. In the area of sin, we need to have a short memory in that we need to put behind what is past and move toward where God would have us. Seek forgiveness and then move forward.

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)

13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Not My Own

Many times, the question has been asked, “Is your glass half empty or half full? I have concluded that for a believer, that is not even a valid question. The first thing that we need to realize is that we are not our own. We have been bought with a price. Therefore it is not our glass anymore. The Second thing to remember is that God will enable us to do what He has for us to do. It doesn’t matter what is in the glass. He is sufficient.

1 Corinthians 6:20

You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.

2 Corinthians 3:5

Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God

"It's never too late to do right"

Karen and I were stuck in traffic for over 3 hours when I-10 shut down due to a fatality.  We were on the HOV lane headed into Houston from Katy last Thursday.  It wasn’t long before many cars passed us in a zone marked as no passing.  They were getting ahead at our expense.  I knew the police would be occupied with the accident and would not bother with these lawbreakers. How much time could I save if I joined them?  What would that do to my witness? Would anyone I know see me?  These are some of the questions that came to my mind as I had plenty of time to think about their actions.  Then I was reminded that I was not accountable for their actions, only mine.

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.  James 4:17

Take Flight

That was the title of Houston’s First Baptist Church Christmas Program. Not only was it a great production, but the message was for all to hear. Jesus took flight from Heaven to purchase you a ticket to take the flight to Heaven. The greatest message, the greatest gift is that Jesus offers forgiveness and eternal life with the Father. Share the good news!

John 3:16 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Greater Love

How would you define “greater love”? We are commanded to love as Christ first loved us. To love one another! I personally don’t recall any of my friends who have given their life for another; however, I have not completed my education on learning what greater love is.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. - John 15:13

Rerouting

Most of the time that I drive into Houston, I use my phone’s navigation app. Yes, I know where I am going and am very familiar with the route. Yet, I have found great value in allowing an app that I don’t understand how it works to guide me. It tells me when an object is on the road and the traffic conditions. When traffic conditions dictate a time change in my journey, the app I don’t understand how it knows the conditions ahead of me, reroutes my path. However, it is my choice to listen and follow the new directions. Is that not just a glimpse of what God wants to do with us?

Psalm 32:8-9 (ESV)

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

Worry: an opportunity to trust God

When we worry, our minds get an unnecessary workout. As Jesus talked about worry, He redirected our focus onto God. Our worries do not change the character of God. Ultimately, grasping God’s character changes how we handle our worries. God knows what’s going on in your life. He cares about your situation. He loves you. Worry steals your peace and joy, but the Lord gives them abundantly.

“I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy.”

Psalm 34:4–5