Tag Archives: faith

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Shine Bright!

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There is a lot of talk about churches becoming relevant to our culture!  I am all for our doing whatever it takes to reach people for Jesus, but we need to make sure that we are reaching people for Jesus and not just attracting a crowd.  Jesus said in John 8:12  “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  Light is not a tool that we earn, it is a gift that we posses!  Jesus is the light and when we accept Him, we become the light.

In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus put it this way:  “You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”  As we share Jesus by shining our light in the midst of the darkness, people will be attracted to God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness!

We do not have to dumb down holiness to make it attractive to a lost and dying world.  In fact, when we dumb it down, it ceases to be real holiness.  We need to raise up the bar of discipleship and let the world know that if you are going to be a Christian, it means more than attending church and going through the motions.  To be a Christian means denying self, taking up our cross and following Him.  And this is the best and brightest way to shine our lights into this dark world – by denying self, taking up our cross and following Him!  (Matthew 16:24)  I’ve got some work to do!  SHINE BRIGHT!

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Fired Up Friday!

Together Is Better!

Together Is Better!

Friday tends to be one of those days when we are tempted to make it all about us.  We have been busy all week long – giving ourselves to someone or something else and it would appear that now it is almost time to make it about ourselves.  Before we make the leap, I want to share some thoughts that the Holy Spirit has been laying on my heart.  And let me be the first to say:  “I’ve got some work to do!”

Jesus said:  “If any man would come after (follow) me, then he must deny (surrender) himself, take up his cross (sacrifice) and follow me!”  This is what it means to be a Christian!  Being a Christian is about so much more than getting out of Hell and into Heaven!  It is so much more than going to church and going through the motions.  Being a Christian is about living in a relationship of following, surrender and sacrifice!

I often hear “church attenders” make so many excuses about what they can and can’t do, about what they are and are not going to do.  And what it really boils down to, is this one question:  Are you going to be a Christian or not?  If you are going to be a Christian, then you are going to follow Jesus because you have a “want to” to follow Jesus.  If you are going to be a Christian, then you will surrender your will to His will, because you truly believe that His will is better!  If you are going to be a Christian, then you will sacrifice everyday, multiple times throughout the day, because you know and appreciate the sacrifice that Jesus made for you!

Let’s stop making excuses!  Let’s start making a difference!  Let’s really be what we say we are!  I am a Christian!  I choose to follow Christ!  I am excited about surrendering my will to His will!  I count it all joy to be able to sacrifice for His glory and other’s blessing!  I am following Jesus and I know that I am on a journey of “right direction!”  Let’s do it together!  The journey is so much more enjoyable when we do it together and I do it better when I have someone that I can help and someone that will help me back!  I just can’t wait to see where God is going to take us together!

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FAITH!

The Bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen!  We mess faith up when we put it in a person or thing that it was never intended to be placed in.  Faith was created by God and for God!  We need to put our faith in God, His power and His will!  I believe in people and I, often times believe in them so much, that I put my faith in them – the problem is this:  When I put my faith in people, I take away from my faith in God!  I need to keep my faith, all of it – in God!  Every time that I put my faith in people, I am let down and disappointed.  I am expecting way to much!

We need to love people, walk with people and grow in life together with people, but we need to keep our Faith in God and His will for our lives!  People will let you down, not because they mean to, just simply because they are people.  God will never let you down, and He will always be available to pick you up, if you will just have faith in Him!  Trust God and He will provide the faith that you need to keep trusting Him every moment of every day!