Against All Odds!

Posted on October 14, 2010 by hersheladams

Do you love it when you are faced with impossible odds?  Probably not.  I’m usually not thrilled about facing something when I don’t think there a very good chance of success either.  I discovered something interesting though when I read a book called, “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day,” by Mark Batterson.   God loves impossible odds!  David taking out the giant Goliath with a slingshot or Gideon having his army cut back to only three hundred and then defeating the Midianites with trumpets and lamps.   These are impossible odds!  Yet, the reason God likes impossible odds is because that’s when He will get all the glory!  Otherwise, man will have a tendency to say, “Look what I was able to do.  By the way God, thanks for helping me.” 

We need to realize that God is way bigger than we give him credit.  He’s just waiting to do something that gives Him all the glory.  It might be in your life or even in the life of the church.  When God called us to start Sonlight, that was crazy!  We were and still are way out of our league!  Did you know that more than 80% of church plants don’t survive two years?  I’ve never been a pastor of a church before.  None of us knew what we were doing.  That’s why God gets all the credit!  He did it and is still doing it. 

Even today, our church is facing impossible odds financially.  It doesn’t bother me.  It just means that God is up to something.  I’m praying that He will do something that will show how big He truly is!  I’m praying for a miracle!  However, God may be doing something that we don’t even realize through this.  Here’s what I know, I’m spending more time with him in prayer through this.  I’m trying to discern what He is saying.  I’m asking Him if he wants me to increase my giving, I’m asking him if he wants us to trim something in our budget or even if he wants us to restructure our staff team.  Whatever God says, I will do.  I’ve even asked God if He wants me to go bi-vocational for a period of time.  I’m willing to follow His leading, even if it means me facing some impossible odds. 

I do know that during this sabbatical, God has told me I haven’t even begun to be generous like I’m going to be.  He’s speaking to me about trimming a lot of things out of my life so that I can be more generous in planting seeds and helping the needy.  I’m not waiting until I get home either.  Deena and I took a local pastor out to lunch this week and had a wonderful time hearing about God’s work in his church.  I have bought books for gifts and I’m asking God to show me who to give them to.  Maybe it’s you!! 

I’m not perfect at this yet, because yesterday I was at the bookstore and I felt like God wanted me to buy a book that I just read called “Leading on Empty” and give it away.  I looked at the price and said, “Maybe I’m not really hearing from God.  I mean, I just read the book so it’s just on my mind and that’s probably why I want to buy it for someone.”  Well, last night we attended church and the pastor was teaching and he said at one point, “I have been a pastor now for 22 straight years without a break.  I haven’t even taken all my vacation days in a year.  But I’m okay.”  Right then I realized that I just missed an opportunity by God.  I should have listened to God’s Holy Spirit leading me to buy that book!  I decided to talk to the pastor after we broke up into groups for prayer.  I told him about the book and where to find it.  He said he was interested in reading it.  However, if I beat him to the bookstore, he will not have to worry about buying it.

I know I didn’t even touch on this book I read, but I would classify it as a must read.  It will challenge you to do something radical for God.  It will help you to face those odds with confidence and see that God is up to something in your difficult circumstances.

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What’s happenning to me?

Posted on October 13, 2010 by hersheladams

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.”  Psalm 51:12 

That’s been my prayer on this sabbatical!  I brought several books with me to read while I was trying to recharge and refocus my life.  Actually, I brought four books, thinking I wouldn’t even have time to read them all.  But God has a different plan.  We found an incredible used book store in this area. (about 45 minutes away)  Nearly every book I have read on this journey has come from this store.  God has been leading me to just the right books at just the right time.  I read the books “Radical”, “Forgotten God”, and “The Blessed Life” back to back to back and I didn’t bring any of them.  Although Deena did bring one of them that she wanted to read.  But God has used these books to challenge my complete surrender to Him and to make me more interested in blessing His kingdom by loving others at deeper levels. 

Two days ago, I set out to read another book that I was drawn to while looking through thousands of books in this used book store.  I had never heard of the author.  I had never heard of the book, and I didn’t think I had this problem, but for some reason, I picked up this book, paid the $2 for it and took it home to read.  The book is called, “Leading on Empty” by Wayne Cordeiro.  It didn’t take me long to discover that I have in fact been leading on empty.  Here’s a quote that really stuck with me and I discovered that I could really relate to it.  He said, “Although I never doubted my calling and gifting, what began as a joy that filled me now became a load that drained me.  But I didn’t know where I could trim.  People were coming to Christ and lives were being changed.  How could this all be wrong?  Decisions – even small ones – seemed to paralyze me.  Gradually my creativity began to flag and I found it easier to imitate rather than innovate.  I was backing away from the very things that used to challenge and invigorate me.” 

In this book, Pastor Wayne talks about going through severe depression because he had exhausted himself in ministry.  He got to the point where he had several anxiety attacks where he would just break down and start crying uncontrollably.  I haven’t ever experienced depression to that level, but I can assure you, it was on the horizon had I not taken this sabbatical.  This book is filled with great insight into sustaining your calling and remaining healthy in the process.  It’s about being healthy physically, emotionally and spiritually.  I should have read this book before I ever entered the ministry! 

If you are a pastor, you can probably identify with what this one pastor said about having to come up with a sermon ever Sunday that meets the needs of the congregation and the desires of God, “It’s like giving birth on Sunday; then on Monday you find our you’re pregnant again!”  At times, it can get overwhelming!  Philip Yancey said, “I wonder how much more effective our churches would be if we made the pastor’s spiritual health – not the pastor’s efficiency – our number one priority.”  That is so true!  My number one responsibility is to be spiritually healthy!  To hear from God on a regular basis and to interact with Him so that He can direct my preaching and my serving. 

After reading this book, I have discovered that I have used isolation thinking that it was renewing my strength.  But that’s not what was happening at all.  What I really needed was solitude.  A time where I could just get alone with God, rest in his arms, and focus on His word and getting to know Him better.  Isolation is what you do when you are neglecting solitude.  But like Pastor Wayne says in this book, “Sometimes we get so busy rowing the boat, we don’t take the time to stop and see where we’re going… or what we are becoming.” 

That’s why this sabbatical has been so important to me and to our church.  It’s giving me a hunger for the calling that God had placed in my heart over eleven years ago.  It has renewed my faith in Him.  It has challenged me to go to greater depths in my love, my generosity and my service to Him and you!  God is once again lighting a fire deep in my soul!  I can’t wait to get back to ministry.  I can’t wait to see how God works in all of us to accomplish amazing things for His kingdom! 

There is so much more that I could share from this book and how God is working in my life this day.  Some of it will have to wait until my arrival back home.  I have written four pages of notes, and action items, and life plans.  I’m going to keep refining them and continue to check my progress so that I can become all that God wants me to become!  So that I can become the pastor that He wants me to become!  So that I can become the husband that He wants me to become!  So that I can become the son of his that He wants me to become!  Amen and Amen!

Filed under: Book, Discipleship, Personal | Leave a Comment »

The Blessed Life

Posted on October 11, 2010 by hersheladams

“The Blessed Life,” by Robert Morris, is an extraordinary book dealing with the heart of the giver.  I have never been so excited and so challenged in the area of giving than I am right now after reading this book.  He says that “being blessed” is having the supernatural power of God working through you.  Don’t you want the power of God working in and through your life?  I do!  That’s exactly what happens when we become generous in how we handle all the resources that God has given us to manage.  We will get to see God do so some incredible things.  We will get to see God come through in ways that are truly amazing.

In this book, he talks about the tithe, bringing the first fruits back to God because it is His and if we don’t, we are robbing Him.  He talks about giving an offering, which is anything beyond the tithe.  That’s a whole new level of giving and actually, it’s when we get to this level that God begins to multiply our resources.  He will bless us so that we can be a blessing to others and to his kingdom.  The last level of giving he talked about was called, “Extravagant offerings.”   There are many examples in Scripture where an extravagant offering was given.  King David gave an extravagant offering to build the temple.  Solomon gave an extravagant offering to God when he sacrificed 1000 bulls instead of the one required.  The poor widow in the New Testament gave an extravagant offering when she gave her only two small coins to God.  What about Mary anointing Jesus with expensive perfume worth a year’s salary?  We could go on and on. 

Very few people ever experience the deeper levels of offering and extravagant offerings.  Most Christians battle and struggle with tithing.  When are we going to realize the joy of living beyond the tithe?  This past year, Deena and I have committed about 20% of our income to God’s kingdom.  Last night, I was talking to Deena about this book and wondering how God has multiplied our finances in our lives.  I must admit that I have overlooked many of God’s blessings and rewards for our faithfulness to give offerings above the tithe.  But here is what we discovered as we talked about this.  This year, someone in our family blessed us with $5,000 to help pay for my sons college.  This year, I received about $12,000 for educational benefits for my service in our military. On top of this, Liberty University didn’t charge me any tuition because I’m a SBCV pastor in Virginia.  This year, we added an addition onto our home.  This year, I was able to pay for Lasik eye surgery and get rid of my contacts and glasses.  The list could go on and on, but you get the point.  God has been more than faithful to us! 

God is developing me into a more generous person.  Just last week Deena was talking to me about us giving Christmas to a needy family in our community instead of spending money on each other.  I told her, I thought that would be awesome.   So we are not going to get each other anything and instead, we are going to bless someone who has a greater need in life.  We are going to bless them like they wee our spouse and our own children.  I can’t wait, I’m getting really excited!   During our time here, before I even read this book on giving, God is speaking to me about cutting back on some expenses in my life.  Things like, cable TV, cell phones, golfing, and I may even be selling my car.  Why?  So I can be even more generous and see more people come to know Christ. 

I cannot take stuff with me to heaven, but I can take people with me.  I can’t wait to see how God uses me and Deena as we surrender  our finances to Him entirely!  It’s going to be awesome!!

Please understand, I’m not tooting my own horn here.  I’m just trying to show you that God does reward those who move on to the next level of giving and begin to use their money to plant seeds that will result in many people coming to know Christ.

Filed under: Book, Finances, Personal | Leave a Comment »

Relationships

Posted on October 8, 2010 by hersheladams

Today I finished the best book I have ever read dealing with relationships called, “The DNA of Relationships,” by Dr. Gary Smalley.  You cannot go through life and avoid relationships.  God created us to relate with other human beings.  Do you know what human beings are?  They are sinners!  They have all messed up!  Which means that you and I are going to have to learn to relate with other people that are messed up.  Not only that, but we are all different.  What I like, you may not like.  And that’s okay.  God has made us all uniquely different.  That’s why we started Sonlight church, because we are uniquely different from most churches in our area.  We are trying to relate to a different group of people in our city.  We have a different music style, a different dress code (actually no dress code) and we use different methods in reaching out.  So relating to other people can sometimes be a challenge.

What we have to understand is that the quality of our lives depends on how we choose to relate to others.  Maybe you are struggling in your relationship with your spouse, or your child, or your parents.  That struggle can drain the energy, joy and enthusiasm right out of your life and can kill every relationship in your life, including your relationship with God.  Let’s just be honest with ourselves.   How we choose to handle one particular relationship most often puts a strain on all our other relationships, even the ones that we want to enjoy and have every reason to enjoy! 

There are so many incredible truths and practical helps in this book to help us better relate to other people.  I wish I could list them all, but you will have to read the book for yourself.  Let me leave you with one conclusion that you will gain from reading this book.  The only person you can change is yourself.  Guess what?  That’s exactly who needs to change!   You need to change to become the woman or the man of God that He wants you to become.  Stop trying to change others.  Stop trying to change your spouse.  Stop trying to change your son.  Break the vicious cycle of hurting each other and just seek how you can become more like Christ.  In the end, it is God who will change the other person.  And if God doesn’t change them, well, that’s in God’s hands.  But at least our life is being lived in a way that demonstrates our pursuit in knowing God and the joy of experiencing so many other relationships. 

It’s time to take back our joy.  Take back our calling.  Take back our significance in life and become the person that God wants us to become.  Loving, forgiving, caring, giving and nurturing along the way!

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A day with God and a day with Deena

Posted on October 7, 2010 by hersheladams

Today I decided to take Deena on a nice relaxing hike through the Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee.  Well, it wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be!  Those are some serious trails.  It’s a good thing that I have been working out for a few weeks before we decided to have this experience.  I must admit that it was one of the best days and most enjoyable days that I’ve ever had with my wife.  It was awesome facing some of the challenges.  At the same time it was awesome because we got to see incredible display of God’s creativity and beauty!  I tried to take some pictures along the way to give you a glimpse of our day.  I hope you enjoy them. 

 ”You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior.  You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas.  You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength.  You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations.  Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders.  From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.” Psalms 65:5-8 NLT

"I thought this was going to be a relaxing hike?"

"Hold on to that cable sweetie and don't let go. It will get easier when we get to the top!"

"Stop looking down! You can do this!"

The highest waterfall east of the Rockies, 256 feet.

"Hershel, stop swinging the bridge!" "But honey, it's a swinging bridge!"

"Honey, just step over the snake. It won't bite you!" "You are not getting me to step over that snake. I will hurt you!"

"Just hold that button down on the top."

Filed under: Creativity, Personal | 1 Comment »

Running

Posted on October 6, 2010 by hersheladams

Sometimes God will teach me things just through the ordinary stuff in life.  Deena and I have been working out every day.  We have been using a workout DVD that is supposed to help us shread 20 pounds in 30 days, but that’s not going to happen.  We have been going to the local YMCA nearly every day.  However, last week I decided that we sould starting running for exercise.  I thought for sure I could run for 45 minutes.  That would be easy!  I used to run all the time in high school.  I was even on the track team!  The weather is nice, the jogging trail is beautiful, winding through the trees and next to the river.  It couldn’t get any better than this.  Well, to my shocking surprise, I ran for a total of six minutes before my calves literally locked up!  I could hardly walk, much less run!  I was crying in pain as I watched my wife fade into the woods!  My willpower was there.  I wanted to keep running, but I just couldn’t do it physically. 

I think we are that way spiritually as well.  We see faith being lived out in others, we figure, let’s just jump right in.  I can be mature in my faith.  I can run with God.  But when we step out and try, we find ourselves quickly out of breath.  We often fall short of our desire to grow in our faith.  Hey, don’t quit!  Let me tell you why.  If you keep with it, tomorrow you will go further!  And the next day you will go even further!  Then a year later you will look back at your life and you will see just how far you have ran.  It will be amazing!

Back to my running story.  The second day, I ran for 20 minutes without stopping.  The third day, 25 minutes.  And today, I was able to run for 31 minutes.  Hey, at this rate, I might run back to Chesapeake!  “Run, Forrest, Run!”  Look at this passage in 2 Peter 1:3-11:

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.  5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.  8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.  10 So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We are to make every effort to respond to God’s promsies.  Let us read God’s word like crazy.  Let us study God’s word for what we can learn and share with others.  Let us read books and listen to sermons and attend chruch so that we can take God’s wonderful gospel to our world.  So we can run the race set before us and we can all say, I finished the race set before me.  If we wait until the last minute to get into the race, we may only make it for six minutes.  But if we are continually running the race, then we will be amazed at what God is able to do in and through our lives!  Praise God!

Filed under: Bible, Church, Discipleship | 1 Comment »

Forgotten God

Posted on October 5, 2010 by hersheladams

Over the last two days I have read another incredible book called, “Forgotten God” by Francis Chan.  He’s also the author of “Crazy Love.”  I would strongly recommend both of these books for anyone desiring to grow in their faith and obedience in Christ.  I want to share a few ways that I was really moved through this first book mentioned. 

First, how many of us would love to have Jesus standing beside us today, giving us advice, guidance and wisdom as we live our lives?  It would be great to ask Jesus what should I do today.  It would be incredible to ask Jesus what God’s word meant as you were reading and studying it.  Wouldn’t that be awesome?!  Well, according to Jesus, we have someone that will be there for us just as much as He would be there for us. 

John 14:16-17 says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” 

Chan is quick to point out that the Greek word for ‘another’ means ‘another that is just like the first.’  So Jesus is telling us that we have God’s Holy Spirit, part of the trinity, living within us.  He is there to guide us, to lead us, to give us wisdom, to empower us and even to teach us.  The problem is that we have neglected His presence and even His existence.  Isn’t it awesome that we have been invited into the Trinity with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit?!

In this book, Chan lists two main obstacles that keep us from connecting with the Holy Spirit.  1) Comfort - We live our lives in a safe manner.  We never need to depend on God.  We never need to rely on His wisdom or direction because we are just playing it safe in life.  The more we move out of our comfort zone, the more we will depend upon and cry out for God’s Holy Spirit to move and work in our lives.  2) Volume – Maybe our life is too busy or too loud.  This is what Pastor Kenny talked about thi spast Sunday in the sermon.  We can stifle the Holy Spirit because we are too busy emailing, texting, blogging, playing computer games, talking on the phone, watching television, and working.  We are always trying to find ways to do more things all at the same time.  Maybe we need to find time to get away from all of it.  Maybe we need to eliminate the distractions that keep us from engaging God’s Holy Spirit.  “Eliminate television, eliminate video games, eliminate the computer, are you kidding?!  I could never do that!”  Well, then  you may never experience the presence and the peace of knowing the Holy Spirit like God intended.  I’m so thankful that Sonlight sent me on this sabbatical.  It’s been a time for me to stop multitasking and just focus on God.  His Spirit is teaching and growing me so much during this time. 

Chan said in chapter six to forget about God’s will for your life.  Huh?  Is this guy nuts?  That’s what I thought until I read the chapter, but I entirely agree with him.  Too often we want God to layout His entire purpose for our life before we act or move.  God rarely operates that way.  God wants us to just simply take the next step.  Follow the leading of His Spirit every day.  So what is God’s Spirit saying to you today?  Are you listening?  Are you obeying?  Or are you too scared because you don’t know the entire plan? 

We can’t add Jesus to our lives.  We can’t ask Him to join our life journey, our life plan.  Too often we decide to do something and then we pray, ‘God, please help me in this endeavor’, when we never even asked God if He wanted us to embark on that endeavor to beign with.  When are we going to seek God’s wisdom by following His Spirit every day?  Listen to this quote from Chan, “The Spirit may lead me into total sacrifice financially, or he may lead me toward humiliation in the opinions of people around me.  The Spirit may ask me to move to a different city, a different state, or a different country.  The Spirit may ask me to stay where I am and spend my time in very different ways than I do now.”  What’s the Spirit saying to you?

A couple of months ago, a dear friend of mine, someone I have prayed for many times, desiring for God to use him in a mighty way, came to me and told me that God’s Spirit was leading him and his family to Colorado Springs.  What?  Are you kidding?  I was praying for God to use him, but I was thinking he would use him through Sonlight.  Man, I’m glad I’m not running this earth.  I would have messed up big time.  Because I know with all my heart that being where God’s Spirit is leading is way better than being where man wants you.  I’m in awe as I see people willing to follow the Spirit’s leading.  By the way, this guy still does not know what God has in store for him.  He went by faith, trusting God’s Holy Spirit!  Most of you know I’m talking about Curtis Phillips.  I want to be that radical!  I want to be that surrendered!  I want to know that I will go and I will do whatever the Spirit of God tells me.  By the way, join me in praying for Curtis.  That God’s Spirit would lead Curtis’ next decision. 

There are so many more things that God has shown me through this book.  Like desiring for the Holy Spirit to show up each Sunday in a way that we know that it’s not man doing it.  It’s supernatural!  God’s working, He’s saving, He’s ministering, He’s healing and He’s leading.  God, move me out of the way!

When was the last time you can say, ‘I know the Holy Spirit was working in my life.  It wasn’t anything I could do, it was only something that He could do.’  For me, it’s been on this sabbatical.  As I have read through the New Testament once already and I’m currently on the second reading.  As I have read several books, God’s Spirit is leading me to live a radical life.  To follow Him on a daily basis.  To give up the stuff and the selfishness, and to focus on the eternal.  That means to focus on God and getting to know Him better and better, and to focus on others and ministering to them.  I want to preach with the power of the Spirit of God.  I want to serve with the power of the Spirit of God.  I want to love with the power of the Spirit of God.  I want to live with the power of the Spirit of God!  Amen!

Filed under: Bible, Church, Discipleship | 2 Comments »

My date with Deena

Posted on October 4, 2010 by hersheladams

I took Deena golfing last week to a beautiful course on the top of a mountain in Tennessee.  We had a great time and the weather was beautiful.  But someone forgot to tell Deena that she can get a free drop off the top of rocks.  I was able to get a few pictures.  Hope you enjoy them. 

A green protected by rocks, not bunkers. The approach was just behind Deena to the right.

Teeing off on hole #18 - What a challenging shot!

The ball went so far she had a hard time seeing it!

Filed under: Family | 1 Comment »

Three weeks down!

Posted on October 4, 2010 by hersheladams

I have never felt so refreshed and revived in my soul as I’m felling right now.  I have been able to remove so much busy activity in my life and I have been able to focus on our Creator and maker of all things.  I’m currently reading a book called, “Forgotten God” by Francis Chan, (tomorrow I will hopefully post my thoughts concerning this book) and in this book about the Holy Spirit, I’m learning more and more that I have experienced the Holy Spirit so much just because I was able to take time to be with Christ.  I have removed all the time I wasted on video games, television, and trivial things.  I have focused on reading God’s word, praying, reading inspirational and challenging books, and spending time with the love of my life, Deena.  All of this has helped to strengthen my faith, strengthen my character and renew my heart. 

Pastor Kenny is currently preaching a series on being transformed, and that’s exactly what God is doing with me in Tennessee.  He is making me more in love with Him and more in love with others.  He is giving me a great desire for ministry.  He is moving me to leave my comfort zone and live by faith.  I don’t know what that will look like, but I’m at the point where I’m telling God, let’s do it.  Whatever HE wants me to do, I will do it. 

I was talking to Kenny the other night asking about any possible mission opportunities.  I really wanted to go somewhere radical.  I want to go to places that others refuse to go to.  I want to live my life for the glory of God, fully dependent upon Him.  I’m not sure if I can do this living a comfortable life.  I don’t want the America Dream.  I want God’s dream for my life.  I want God’s dream for the people of our church.  I want God’s dream for our city and our nation and our world.  I wonder, what will God do in me and where will God take me personally to live for him completely?  I want to live totally surrendered to His will and His purpose! 

Thank you all for your prayers and your emails.  You are a huge encouragement to Deena and I.  God bless!

Filed under: Church, Discipleship, Personal | Leave a Comment »

Too Busy Not To Pray

Posted on September 30, 2010 by hersheladams

Over the last two days I have read Bill Hybels’ book, “Too Busy Not to Pray.”  This was another book that will be life transformational for me.  Bill is the pastor of Willow Creek Community church and he wrote this book during the early days of his church and during it’s years of rapid growth.  What intrigued me about this book and the reason I picked it up is because sometimes, I get so busy doing ministry, that I forget to pray.  It’s not really that I forget to pray, it’s really that I choose not to pray because I’ve got a lot on my plate.  I have this person to talk to, this person to visit, this training to prepare, this sermon to preach, etc.  Isn’t that scary?!  What in the world am I thinking?  Do I really believe that I could accomplish anything on my own, apart from God? 

The reality is that nothing good can come from me or from human wisdom or strength.  For ministry to be effective, for me to be an effective pastor, I must depend upon the leading of God and the power of God that comes only through intimacy with Him.  What do I have to say to the church each and every Sunday if I haven’t heard from God?  And how can I hear from God if I’m too busy to spend time with him in prayer?  As a pastor, and even as a follower of Christ, we must pray.  Even Jesus took time to pray and he’s God!  No one has a busier schedule than Jesus, yet he often took time to get alone and spend time with his Heavenly Father. 

Let me give you one nugget that God showed me today as I was reading this book.  Matthew 21:21-22 says,

  Then Jesus told them, ‘I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen.  You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.’

Was Jesus really saying that we could move a mountain?  If so, I would like God to level my backyard to drain the water away from the house and my shed.  No, that’s not what Jesus is saying.  Jesus is saying that whatever obstacle that stands in your path, whatever struggle or difficulty you face, through prayer in faith, it can be moved. 

There are two ways to develop this type of faith.  First, don’t focus on the mountain in your prayer, focus on God.  There is no obstacle, no problem, no situation that is too big for God to handle.    I mean, He created the universe – have you seen the universe lately?  It’s huge!  And he created it in one day!!  We serve a powerful and big God.  So change the focus from your problem and acknowledge God for who He is.  Begin to rejoice that God is able to lead your over the mountain, through the mountain or around the mountain.  He might even decide to plow the mountain down! 

Let’s not focus on our inadequacy, let’s instead focus on His adequacy.   Let’s not focus on our limitations, let’s instead focus on His power.  We should pray, “God, I’m praying to the creator and the maker of the universe, the all-knowing, all-powerful, all-faithful God!  You alone are able!” 

So shift your focus away from the mountain and put your focus on the one who can move the mountain.  Praise Him and acknowledge that He is able.  Take whatever step He wants you to take, but trust God for who He is.  He may desire for you to climb that mountain for awhile.  He may be trying to bring some change to your life.  He may be trying to develop your character.  You are okay with God growing your character, aren’t you? 

My last thought comes from week seven of the “Truth Project” I watched today.  We have all heard of the trinity.  God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  All three are co-equal, but one.  Perfect unity exists between them.  I was blown away by the mere fact that God has invited me into the Holy Trinity by placing the Holy Spirit inside of me.  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (who resides now in me!).  Wow!  I wonder how different my life would be if I lived in such unity with God the Father and God the Son.  Would I talk to people differently?  Would I change what I watch on TV?  Would I spend more time talking to Jesus and God?  Would I spend more time listening to them?  My life will be radically different as I remember that God has invited me into His perfect trinity through His Son, Jesus.  Praise Him!

Filed under: Bible, Discipleship | 1 Comment »

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