Want to live? Then die!

Galatians 2: 20

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

There are people even in the church, who have never been able to figure this verse out.

I wonder why dying to self seems so foreign in the church today?

Dying to self means...I want God to have complete control, more than I want to keep it for myself.

And yet there are people who pray every day...read their Bible’s every day, that never figure this concept out.

In order to live forever, death must occur every day.

We should actually practice dying. How well are you doing at that?

The one who dies daily, understands that this is God’s plan for every person.

Yet our carnal minds are in opposition to obeying the Word.

Some folks seem to want things to always go their way.

Just so you know, that’s just not how it works.

Dying to self is actually a good thing, not a bad thing.

Preaching this kind of message in the church today, isn’t very good for attendance numbers.

“Father, You understand my heart, and my needs better than I understand them myself. You know that my spiritual needs far outweigh any physical or temporal needs that I may have.

I know that Your will being done in my life will give me great meaning, purpose and fulfillment beyond anything I could ask for or understand. Help me to die every day. Amen

MVP Practice

Philippians 2: 12

¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence,

work out your own salvation with fear and trembling...

Continuing on my bicycle escapades, I witnessed a number of things I believe God allowed me to hear and see.

There were a group of kids playing and practicing soccer one day.

There’s way too much running, and not enough hitting for me to enjoy soccer.

I have to admit though, this soccer practice seemed pretty intense.

When I was in High School (40 years ago), I hated football practice, but loved the games.

Two a day practices in the summer were filled with some blood, lots and lots of sweat, and normally lots of mosquito bites.

If you didn’t participate in the practices, being in the game was out of the question.

Sunday mornings are for practicing our salvation and growing in our walk of faith, and then the game of life is being played out Monday thru Saturday.

Once again, I’m amazed at the people who are consistently missing practices.

I wonder if we practiced more, maybe we’d have more end zone dances going on during Sunday worship.

How well are you practicing? Are you prepared for the game?

Someone else’s salvation may depend upon it.

Maybe we need more MVP performances during the game, but that’ll be determined by how well we practice... 

Consider the Depths!

Ezekiel 14: 3

³ “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts...

The great poet/teacher/theologian, G.K. Chesterton is quoted as saying...

“A man who will not believe in God, will believe in almost anything.”

On my bicycle adventure on Saturday morning, I heard screams and loud cheering.

Weekends are now filled with loud cries at the local sports complexes.

I can’t help but wonder, if we truly believe in God anymore.

The church in the summer has gotten sparse of its people worshipping God.

Even the Elders during the time of Ezekiel, had taken idols into their hearts.

God answers people according to what they idolize. I wonder what I idolize?

If God would speak to Ezekiel in modern times, what would He have Ezekiel prophesize?

The only thing that can change our idolatry, is true repentance.

Worship is supposed to be the celebration of the covenant we have with the living God.

Have we gotten to the place where we have started to believe in anything?

The book of Malachi in chapter 1 says... “Those who offer God worthless gifts, despise the name of the Lord.”

I need to go back and consider the depth of my worship, and if it’s sincere or not...

Help the Cause!

Matthew 28: 19

¹⁹ “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”...

I’m convinced that after you read this daily devotional, you’ll think I’ve moderately lost my mind.

I’m trying to be extremely conscious of the presence of God, in every activity I undertake.

My intentionality, is to hear the voice of God.

I want to take the vulnerable approach.

Yesterday while riding my bike, I encountered a number of rabbits. Actually, lot’s of rabbits.

I even stopped my bike, and one rabbit refused to run, and then it dawned on me.

This rabbit was smart, because I believe his plan was to help propagate the neighborhood rabbit population.

Since the first litter has already been raised, it’s now time to set the course for the next litter.

In my quiet time, I wondered why the church doesn’t work that way.

Generally we’re too caught up with the things that concern or affect our lives.

Do we take making disciples as a necessity anymore?

That rabbit seemed more than eager to help the cause in his neighborhood.

How eager are you, to see people you love go to Heaven?

I wonder if we don’t see this as our responsibility anymore?

Graduation!

2 Peter 3: 18            ESV

¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

This weekend we’ll celebrate the last of our nieces and nephews High School accomplishments with a celebratory party.

This celebration is a major feat accomplished, and the anticipation of the next level of higher learning.

Peter’s admonition to the church, was to grow  in grace and knowledge as we anticipate the return of Christ.

Statistics show that about 43% of all Americans have never actually read the Bible.

About 60% of American folks think that John the Baptist was one of the Lord’s disciples.

Paul said that we should study the Bible to be approved.

Chloe had to prove what she learned with testing.

She passed with flying colors.

So if 43% of all Americans have never read the Bible, are they still in Kindergarten, spiritually?

How will anyone pass the test, if they’ve never studied the material?

The person who refuses to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, refuses to be blessed.

And yet people seem to be content with their so called, lack of knowledge.

Start today to seek His divine nature.

It’s never too late to graduate to a higher level of learning...

Self-Serve!

Matthew 20: 28      ESV

²⁸ ...”even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

When I was a kid, my folks bought their gasoline at the same gas station for years.

Dick was the manager of the Consolidated Gas Station we patronized, and he was almost like a member of the family.

He knew my folks by their first name, and in those days, he checked the oil and washed the windshield.

I remember when that gas station became a self serve store.

Dick didn’t come out to greet my folks any more, and we had to check our own oil and wash our own windshield.

The self service gas station evolved into something I didn’t think was so pleasant at the time.

It would appear that during that era, we developed a dependency on self.

I go to some places now, and I have to bag my own groceries?!?

I wonder if the church has become self serve?

Are we more self reliant than we’d like to admit?

Bigger churches have been built, so people can come and go as they please, without any expectation or accountability.

Call me old fashioned...but I’m sorry, I’m just not a fan.

I wonder if there are more servants in the church today, or less?

Am I willing to do things God’s way, or my way?

Maybe this life is a whole lot less about me than I thought...

Feelings! Nothing more than feelings?

Deuteronomy 4: 2  ESV

² You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God...

Each and every day, we’re all faced with critical decisions.

Will we respond to the challenges of life according to the Bible, or will we on the other hand, react emotionally?

How much do your feelings, dictate your decisions and direction?

Remember, as this world changes daily, there’s one thing that never changes...GOD.

Hair color changes...body shapes change...even desires change.

Actually, I’m guilty on all three accounts.

I love it when people come to me asking questions relative to their Christian faith.

This response get’s me to laughing every time... “That’s open to interpretation.”

One day we’re all going to find out what was meant for our interpretation, and what wasn’t.

If we stick with the one thing that never changes, (the Bible), we’ll probably be able to control our emotional output.

God’s consistency will help keep our feelings in check.

Actually, feelings come and go.

We can choose to go with God, and then we can live beyond our feelings?

How well do you handle your... “feelings”, when things don’t go your way

Swear!

 Matthew 23: 19         ESV

²⁰ So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.

Debbie and I had a life planning meeting the night before last, with a delightful young couple.

They are planning to be married, and we are helping them discover what it means to make and keep a promise.

A part of some of the greatest disappointments in this life, are when folks say they will do things, then they don’t follow through.

Something the young man said, keeps echoing in my heart.

“If I give God my word, that’s very serious stuff.”

And yet we can stand in the waters of baptism, and proclaim our life is going to be different.

There are times when we leave the waters of baptism, and the promises made are quickly forgotten.

I wonder if our promises are sometimes made with conditions on them?

“I’ll keep my promise alright, as long as it works out swell for me.”

Maybe that’s why Jesus had a problem with the Pharisees?

They had made a lifelong promise to love God without any condition. (Deuteronomy 6: 5)

I heard at a wedding Deb and I attended last Friday night, when the Pastor said to the bride and groom...

“A covenant made in the presence of God, can never be broken.”

I wonder if I’ve ever made a promise to God, with my fingers crossed behind my back?

I told God that I would love Him with my full heart, soul and strength...for all of my life.

I need to consider how well I’m keeping up my end of the bargain...

Sold Out?

Ephesians 4: 1            ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called...

I’ve taken the liberty to ask a few people over the course of the last few weeks, what it means to be... “sold out” for Christ.

It’s kind of an overused term, and sometimes even cliché.

Here are some of the responses I received:

“It means that a person has come to the end of themselves.”

“It means you’re all in.”

“There’s no room for compromise.”

“It means you’re not lukewarm.”

“Sold out means you love Jesus with reckless abandon.”

“Self is no longer on the throne of my life.”

So considering all these responses, how many “sold out” Christians have you met in your life?

I also asked the question this way to one person: “If you’re a “sold out” Green Bay Packer fan, what would you do to prove your loyalty?”

The answer: “I’d stand in line for two weeks, just to get tickets on the 50 yard line.”

It appears that we’re sold out to a lot of things. I have to wonder sometimes if I’m... “sold out”?

I wonder if my wife would say I’m, “sold out”?

I have often considered this thought, when reflecting on the subject we’re on this morning.

“The thing or things we spend the most time with, are the things we love the most.”

I love the differing answers that people gave.

Now I need to prayerfully consider if that’s really the way I feel, and if it’s how I truthfully operate...

Surrender!

Luke 22: 42

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Each of us when we were born, were given a portion of self awareness.

Every day we now have a choice of serving God, or serving ourselves. It’s called free will.

I believe I was born with a degree of self-centeredness and selfishness.

I’m not sure in total what makes me tick, but I do know that God does.

When I took a recent rest from ministry, I did wonder selfishly how our church would survive.

Maybe I had a larger opinion of myself, than was necessary.

God showed me an object lesson, when our giving/tithing at church in the month of May, was of record proportion.

The universal church has learned that there is power in numbers, but in God’s economy, that’s an absolute myth.

I do know that God doesn’t need me, but He really does want me.

I so often make this walk of faith about me, when it doesn’t have anything remotely to do with me.

What do common criminals have in common with each other? They do whatever it takes to get what they want.

We know the world operates like this, and often times the church does too.

Case in point: How many people look for a church that centers around Jesus, and bringing Salvation to this lost  and dying world?

What we’d rather do is scrutinize the music, the service, the leadership, and whether there are eligible opportunities to get what we want.

Once we completely surrender to the will of God and empty ourselves, we can boot out our inflated egos, and then there will be ample room for Him

Personal Focus!

Matthew 27: 52 - 53

⁵² The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 

⁵³ and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

You might think this is a little morbid, but I have a sort of an infatuation with cemeteries.

I like to walk in them and look at dates and the names of people.

After church yesterday I went to a few cemeteries. Don’t ask me why, but I just went, and I walked and I prayed.

I traveled to Bell Cemetery...Oak Hill Cemetery, and the Winneconne Cemetery, just to name a few.

As I walked, there were names I instantly recognized, and many I have officiated funerals for.

H. Bernece (Schmude) Meyer, Vince Heath, Crystal Doering (Tschetter), Susie Wentzel, Rick Kichefski, Ralph Luedtke, Marian Halverson, and Mike & Enid Zimmerman.

There were others, but I often wonder what those cemeteries are going to look like when the rapture comes.

According to God’s Word, the dead in Christ are going to rise first.

A friend of mine called me on Saturday, and left me a phone message... “The rapture just happened buddy, and I’m with Jesus, but I don’t see you here?!?”

What each of these people have in common that I mentioned above, is that they have each already gazed into the eyes of Jesus.

Some of them have been invited into God’s great Kingdom forever, and others might have missed the Wedding Feast all together.

That’s a Wedding reception I never want to miss!

I even drove by my own cemetery plots on Saturday night with my wife and some friends.

My focus is not where they will bury my dead, stinking body, but where I’m going to spend my time forever, and Whom I’m going spend it with.

As you begin this new day, where is your personal focus?

Sober-minded!

1 Peter 5: 8              ESV

⁸ Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

I’ve been told a few times, that I speak way too much about the devil than I ought to.

I guess if I didn’t see so many people being enticed by him, I could lay off the topic.

There are times when we can give the devil more credit than he deserves...I agree.

I also believe there are times when we should keep our guard up.

The great British Pastor/Preacher, Charles Spurgeon once said:

“If you are not seeking the Lord in the morning, you can bet the devil will be seeking you the rest of the day.”

I have a friend who reported driving around crazy Chicago last Sunday afternoon.

He said he was in a place where he doesn’t understand why he didn’t get hit by another car, in the midst of great a traffic snarl.

But I know how he started his morning that day, because I was praying with him.

He started his day with the Lord, and I’m believing it was God Almighty who protected him when he needed God’s protection the most.

He’s believing that too.

How will you start your morning? Will the Lord be asked to guide your day?

Will you on the other hand, leave room for the enemy to prowl?

We must seek the Lord early, keenly aware that the devil is on the war path... 

His Plans!

Jeremiah 29: 11        ESV

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Sometimes just focusing on small verses of scripture, can get us in a bit of trouble.

People take the Bible out of context all the time.

It’s best to read the whole story, before making a conclusion.

It reminds me a story I once heard.

Frank was feeling down, and he was looking for direction from God, so he asked his wife Francine to randomly turn in the Bible to see what God wanted to tell him.

Francine turned to Matthew 27: 5 and found on the words... “Judas hanged himself”...then she flipped to Luke 10: 37... and found the words, ”Go and do likewise”.

Francine’s final random turn in the Bible for Frank was at John 13: 27...”What you do, go quickly!”

All sorts of believers quote minute portions of scripture all the time, for their benefit.

Often times we alter the meaning of Bible verses without even realizing it.

Today’s Bible verse is one of the top quoted Bible verses of all time.

It appears over and over on inspirational posters and t-shirts.

Life stinks? God has a plan for you! Out of money? God has a plan for you! Trouble with the chick? God has a plan for you!!

Jeremiah 29: 11 is a verse for the ages, but talk about having a bad day!

Maybe we’ve forgotten that this verse points to a plan alright, that included King Nebuchadnezzar dumping the most prominent Jews in Babylon for 40 years.

Maybe God’s plan has a lot more to do about Him, than it actually has to do with solving all of our problems.

Pull,Pester, Plead!

Luke 11: 9

⁹ “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

In the 11^th chapter of Luke, Jesus teaches us on prayer.

You could call verse 9, the pull, pester and plead prayer.

I’m amazed at the number of people who really need prayer, but no longer pester God anymore.

Jesus’ teaching on prayer isn’t as much a, “how to”, prayer, but a “who to”, prayer.

I wonder how many people knock insistently on God’s door, to the point of annoying Him?

I’d like to know how many people just give up praying, when they don’t get their answer right away?

Consider how Jesus prayed to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane?

Maybe if we prayed like Jesus prayed, we’d see more results than we currently do.

Martin Luther said this, about how we approach God in prayer:

“God would encourage us to believe that He is truly our Father in order that we might approach Him boldly!”

Seriously, how boldly do you pray?

How often do you pull, pester and plead with God?

Maybe if we started approaching God as our dear Father, some of the mixed up things in our lives would get fixed.

I’ve never once met a person in the church, where they have ever confessed to praying too much.

Why not try pestering Him, starting this morning...

Assumptions!

2 Timothy 1: 6 - 7     ESV

⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,

⁷ for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Have you ever faced battling the assumption war in your own mind?

I know that I have, and that’s a very dangerous place to hide.

Most times, instead of being hurt or looking somewhat silly, people can hide from relationships without having a valid reason.

Searching for the facts is just sometimes too hard to do, and people can often make rash decisions.

A person that isn’t willing to consider all of the options or possibilities, is in a very bad place.

This person tries to rationalize their often irrational mind set.

It certainly happens in the church. Case in point.

Your friend who normally sits in the sanctuary near you every week, suddenly picks a different spot to sit...

“It must have been something I said?” “They must have found a different friend?” “He or She must be upset with me over something!”

Maybe that person just couldn’t hear very well where they were sitting. That’s certainly plausible?

There is a grave danger in making assumptions. They often needlessly destroy healthy relationships.

Sometimes our foolish assumptions, become our misguided truth...

“Gracious Father, thank You for giving me the power to overcome assumptions. Help me to believe the best, instead of believing the worst.

Help me to never allow my emotions, to jump to conclusions. Thank You that You haven’t given me a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and of self control. Amen!”

50 year celebration!

John 13: 16 - 17

¹⁶ “Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

¹⁷ If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

Today marks a special occasion for a special couple.

50 years ago today they embarked on a ministry journey that has marked years and years of joy and counting.

No doubt, the Lord has allowed them to minister the great hope of the Gospel to countless people literally all over the world.

I can speak personally, that I have been influenced greatly by these precious saints/servants of God.

How are you doing these days, influencing people spiritually?

Who would name you personally, as making a difference in their spiritual lives?

Join me today in praying a prayer of thanks for Dr. Larry & Sue Correll, and for 50 years of selfless, steadfast, Christian service...