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Living It Out

Yesterday on the way home I was listening to the radio trying to stay awake.  After a particular song was played, the DJ came on and told a story about how he loved that song and that it meant so much to him because his son’s youth group had performed a “phenomenal” black lite presentation to that song at his local church.  hm…

Later in the evening, I was given the opportunity to watch  Harding University’s drama team called Theatron perform several skits with a message.  In one particularly impressive skit, the final message was, “it took us two minutes to write and practice this skit, and it may only stay with you for two minutes – unless you do something about it”.

So since I received the same message twice within two hours, it seemed fitting to share it with you this morning.  We can’t just talk it.  We can’t just say love each other.  We can’t just say, yes I care about people.  We can’t just say I love the Savior Jesus, we have to live it out!  We can’t just sit in our churches and bounce the message off the interior walls.  Live it out today!

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.   James 1:22-24 (New International Version)

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Comfort Zone

Wow!  What a fantastic week!  Ray and Joel did a great job sharing their experiences and trials this week, and I want to thank them for that.  Amy and I are heading to meet up with the boys this morning.  They just finished up a week of skim boarding camp in Delaware.

The interesting thing about that is that one of them was just not really excited about this at all and was quite nervous about the proposition.  It was the whole concept of a new endeavor that had him a little worried.  Turns out, or so it seems, he has had a very enjoyable experience. And it was the same for us, this is the first time we had left both boys and gone our own way for YEARS ( maybe FOREVER).

And so it is with our lives.  Ray even referred to it yesterday.  Sometimes, we feel so comfortable in our own place that its hard to leave that comfort zone and experience new things, or even to challenge our selves to grow.  But as Mary Poppins says “a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down” and as our Lord and Savior says ” a mustard seed of faith moves mountains”.

Step out there today.  Whether it is forcing yourself to speak to someone, sharing your faith, expressing your thoughts, experiencing something new, or even ordering something different from the menu!  Or Maybe you need to let go, as Amy and I did, but in a larger sense and put more of the handling of life’s events in the hands of the Lord.  Do it today, step out of your comfort zone and see where you get taken.

8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (New International Version)

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Is He Calling Me?

About a month ago I had the opportunity to spend a week in Korea with my sister as she was adopting a little girl. It was a really cool experience and as I observed and looked around the country, I couldn’t help but notice this most Christian nation in Asia really wasn’t a majority Christian, like I am used to in the South. Since leaving, especially on days like I had yesterday, I can’t help but think, is this what God wants of me? Is this the place that God wants me? Shouldn’t I do more? It reminds of a powerful song, There’s a Stirring. Check the words:

There’s a stirring deep within me
Could it be my time has come
When I’ll se my gracious Savior
Face to face when all is done

Is that His voice I am hearing
Come away my precious one
Is He calling me?
Is He calling me?

I will rise up
Rise up
And bow down
And lay my crown
at His wounded feet

Such powerful words and truth is God can use me where ever I am. We are giving serious thought to mission work and your prayers for God’s guidance through this process and evaluation are much appreciated. For the time being I know God can use me anywhere I am and there is truly a stirring deep within me and I need to RISE UP, take my Cross, and follow HIM!

Matthew 16:24 (New International Version)

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

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Where were you before?

After months and months of skipping church, we finally went back.

Now I know what you are thinking and no, I don’t have an excuse.  I didn’t even have an excuse when Father Reggie asked my wife and I point blank, “Where were you before?!”  The question almost knocked me out of the pews!

For the past week, this question has bounced around my head like a pinball.  Where have we been?  What were we doing that was more important?  I have had some ideas, but no definitive answer.  Father Reggie didn’t look at us any different or make us feel unwelcome however – very much the contrary.  He simply smiled, patted me on the back and enthusiastically said, “Well… welcome!”  It didn’t matter where we had been, it only mattered that we were here now.

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Dog Days…

Do you ever have a time when you really don’t know what to say?  Well Jason is living it up in D.C. and I am here in Chattanooga, and well I don’t know what to say.  I don’t feel inspirational, feel like I have some great thought, you know I think we have just hit the dog days of summer.  I don’t really know where that came from but I think these are the days that only dogs could like.

Do you ever feel that way with God?  Just don’t know what to say, nothing great to come out of your mouth, feel as only a dog could like you?  Well, we don’t have to worry about that, check this verse:

Romans 8:26-27 (New International Version)

 26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. It’s ok if we don’t know what to say, we have an intercessor!  Wwhether you feel inspriational, don’t know what to say, or just feel ashamed of yourself, God already knows and hears you.  Have a great day!