Forget it!

Philippians 3: 13 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…

I can’t speak for you necessarily, but forgetting the past is often very refreshing.

I need daily fresh starts, like my granddaughter needs a change of fresh diapers.

I had a High School teacher that could always help me forget the past, and remind me of what lie ahead.

I remember a time when I was supposed to sing in a school assembly, and I had this giant pimple right at the end of my nose.

Sorry for the gory details, but this is a true story.

She often used these words, when a dilemma came my way… “Daniel, this too shall pass…”

She was right, although I didn’t feel that way at the time.

I’m glad with Jesus, there always seems to be a virtual light at the end of the tunnel.

What are you carrying this morning, that you’d just as soon forget?

Have you thought at all, about giving it over to Jesus?

“Lord God…there have been times when I have felt way overwhelmed. At times I think I have to do it all.

I’m so grateful this morning, that Your in control, and I don’t have to be.

Help me to see my problems as You see them, or as opportunities to draw closer to You.

Help me today to find my net worth and identity in You. Thank You that with You, I can count on a fresh start.

Thank You too, that the really rough patch I went through a while ago…well…this too shall pass, and well, it did. Amen

Seek and Save!

Luke 19: 10

¹⁰ … “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Jesus had a specific purpose in His life, and nothing would get in the way of it being accomplished.

I have a purpose too, but I wonder how well I’ll do at the end of my life, towards accomplishing it?

Yes, I’m a Pastor of a little church in NE Wisconsin, and my purpose is specific.

I should be directing people to the One who can save them.

Quite candidly, I’m planning to go on vacation, and then move to a different dwelling once we arrive home.

One we get settled in that new place, it won’t be long before I start planning for an Elk hunting trip in SW Colorado.

But none of those events are a part of my real purpose.

While I live life on this earth, all that I will ever do for the sake of Christ, is all that will stand the test of time.

Sometimes, I think we get our true purposes mixed up.

Gathering the most memories, or things, is not the measure of a successful life.

I believe Jesus was truly satisfied at what He accomplished in 33 short years.

A family friend recently passed away, and there isn’t any funeral or service to remember what she did while she lived here.

I wonder if she accomplished what Jesus had her here for?

I wonder at the end of my life, if I’ll be satisfied?

The real question though is, will He be satisfied? Time will tell… 

Pure Heart!

Psalm 86: 11

¹¹ Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.

If you’re anything at all like me, my old creaky body begs me to stay in bed early in the morning.

On the other hand, my heart and soul desire to sit at the feet of Jesus.

It’s amazing the people who confess to be followers of Christ, that don’t spend much quality time with Him at all.

What things do you allow to separate you from your God?

As this new week begins, there will be a handful of people, who will earnestly seek to spend time with the Master.

Would you say you’re part of the handful?

Maybe spending time with Jesus this morning, will be more of a benefit, than an inconvenience.

You’ll never find out though, unless you try.

Would you say you’re living according to God’s truth?

Are you willing for God to teach you His ways?

If that’s what going to take place this morning, then you’re going to need a pure heart.

Only a pure heart, is one that honors the most high God.

Here’s a challenge for you…why not try getting up a few minutes earlier today.

This will be an opportunity, so you can spend some quality time, with the One who truly controls your life…

Foolish!

Matthew 25: 1 - 2

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

² Five of them were foolish, and five were wise…”

Nights like last night, remind me of when I was a kid.

We used to play hide and seek in the dark summer of the night in our north side Oshkosh neighborhood.

You couldn’t seen your hand in front of your face, and I was often scared half to death.

The seeker would yell to all of the hiders… “Ready or not…here I come!!”

Did you know that the time of Jesus’ return could happen at any minute?

I’m not sure He’s going to yell… “Ready or not…here I come”, but people will be completely taken off guard when He does come back.

At this very moment in your life, would you say that you’re foolish, or wise?

People put off the most important things now days…don’t they?

Getting ready for this event, is something you just don’t want to put off planning for.

Sadly, most will have excuses that day, that will in no way fly.

The great preacher John Wesley was asked this question one day… “What would you do if you knew the Lord would return at this same time tomorrow?”

And his response was… “I would go to bed and go to sleep; wake up in the morning, and go on with my work, for I would want Him to find me doing, exactly what he had appointed me to do.”

So what would your answer be, to that very same question?

Real Rest!

Matthew 11: 28

²⁸ “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Have you ever had one of those nights, where you just couldn’t fall asleep?

The night before last I wrestled and wrestled, and then I looked at the clock and it was near midnight.

Then I realized I had to get up @ 4:15am, and join a few friends of mine at church for prayer.

Once the pressure mounted, I couldn’t fall asleep for nothing.

That’s when I decided to pray.

I said, “Lord, you must have me awake for a reason, so I guess we should have a late night conversation…”

Funny, it seemed as though God wanted me awake for a specific reason, and when I found rest in Him, I was finally able to fall asleep.

Amazing what happens when we give it all over, especially when our best laid plans fail miserably.

What are you wrestling with this morning, that you just need to give over to God?

What is that one “heavy laden” thing, that keeps you up at night?

Real rest comes when we stop and sit in the lap of Jesus.

Maybe it’s not until we find our rest in Him, that we’ll be able to sleep soundly at night.

I guess the pressures of life, do take their toll.

Debbie and I are planning to go on vacation, and move into a new home location, all at the same time. Take about pressure!

It isn’t until I come to Him in full surrender, do I find rest. Try it sometime for yourself, and see if it doesn’t help your sleep habits… J

Go!

Mathew 28: 19

¹⁹ “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”

Did you know that statistics indicate, that over 68% of Christians have not told anyone how to be a Christian, in the last year?

Startling, especially when this was direct command given by Jesus Himself.

And yet, 80% of all church goers, who attend church at least once a month, think it’s their responsibility to make disciples.

So I wonder why most followers of Jesus, don’t?

As crazy as this sounds, I felt the Holy Spirit, remind me this morning about the story of the little red hen.

YES…I believe the Holy Spirit gave me that story.

The little red hen planted the seeds…cut the wheat…took the wheat to the mill…and baked the bread.

Everyone showed up when it was time to eat the bread, but when it came to doing the hard work, no one had time.

The sounds a little like church, doesn’t it?

We’ll go to a Bible study…or attend church once in a while..but please don’t ask me to share the Gospel.

We all want to go to Heaven, but as it has to do with getting the lost to Heaven, that’s really someone else’s job.

Are you like the little red hen, or would you say you’re more like the “lazy dog”, “sleepy cat”, or “noisy yellow duck”?

Are you the kind of person who just as soon delve into the bread of life, but aren’t willing to share it?

Are you willing to “go”, out of your way to tell the lost about Jesus?

We can do that, as we “go” about our everyday lives…

Retool!

Hebrews 13: 5

⁵ Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

I found the most amazing information, shared by one of the most renowned Christian Clinical Psychologists in the country.

Monday mornings are the most highly stress filled days of the work week. Imagine that??

175 men and women took part in a study, and the highest blood pressures recorded, were on, you guessed it, Monday mornings.

Actually, the study concluded that there are 20% more fatal heart attacks on Monday’s, compared to any other day of the week.

So why would that be? Didn’t we get to take time to rest on the weekend? Or were we too busy spending our money?

Unfortunately, most people according to this study, don’t take a long enough break in the hectic weekend schedule.

It appears today, that many followers of Christ, are near or at burn out status.

Some of the most well assuming church goers, don’t have what it takes to get through the weekend, without being damaged.

So why do we intentionally allow this vicious cycle to repeat itself?

Maybe this study, reveals a lot about who we really are?

The study suggests that most people are not at all content.

They might think they are, but the facts speak pretty loudly for them self.

Starting the work week can be a jarring experience for some.

So then I wonder if we really believe the words… “I will never leave you nor forsake you”?

Maybe we need to retool after all…