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Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!

Chris

It emotionally moved me as I try to be introspective on a daily basis and I hope it affects you in a positive manner!  Remember, it’s not about perfection, it’s about intentional movement towards perfecting Him in us!

Make it a great day!
Chris

A few weeks ago I was in a small group discussion where we discussed Grace and why we don’t fear the Lord today like Christians did in Biblical times.  As we talked and shared, it occurred to me how often today I hear Christians (myself included) sitting in coffee houses, small groups, etc and readily discussing Grace like it is a “get out of jail card” that we sometimes focus too much on to avoid punishment from the Father in not truly living out the Scriptures.

Now don’t get me wrong.  Grace is a great thing.  Thank goodness for God‘s amazing grace when I screw up. However, many times we discuss Grace because it is more acceptable than condemnation (and nicer too).  It is more attractive to non-Christians.  It makes us feel more warm and fuzzy all over.  Yet, while it is true that Grace abounds, it can be a dangerous road to go down if we focus too much on this wonderful gift to the exclusion of what the Scriptures want us to many times learn through the pains of life.  This is especially important if we want to develop into fully surrendered children of a Heavenly Father that we should fear and respect above all else.

As I sat in that small group, listening to some great thoughts on the topic, the Father laid the following thought on my heart as something to consider.

It is the difference in:
1. Focusing on Grace first with the Scriptures as support and guidance for our living as Christians, versus
2. Focusing our lives on what is commanded of us from the Scriptures first, knowing we are imperfect individuals with Grace covering us WHEN we screw up.

This might sound trivial and could easily be viewed as such.  However, to me, it is like focusing on the end result without the process for how we get there.  It is the process that refines and develops us.  It helps us to perfect Christ in us.  It is those life experiences that forge us into, and give us the perspective for, doing what God uniquely designed each of us for here on earth.

So if one of our goals while we live here on earth is searching for God’s wisdom and His calling, or unique purpose, that He put us on this earth to accomplish (Proverbs 2:-8), shouldn’t we focus on helping each other intentionally live out the Scriptures while being thankful that we have Grace for when we make a mess of things instead of the other way around?

Grace is great.  We all need it.  However, there is danger in being “drunk in Grace”.

Be Blessed!
Chris

Consider these thoughts….

• Whether it is in the workplace, or at home, our whole lives are really more spiritually oriented than we realize.
• It was once said that we act like we are human beings having a spiritual experience when we are really spiritual beings living a human experience!
• We are living this life 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
• No matter how complicated we want to make the frustrations and challenges of this life, Jesus says it throughout the Bible that almost all of our sins come down to one thing – a condition of our heart.

Now when you consider these statements, and how we live our lives, it is ironic how we try to bust through life doing it our way and trying to hide our sins, fears, anxieties, worries and supposed shortcomings with the “sands” of our world – our work, pride, drugs, alcohol, sex etc – to make ourselves feel better.  Maybe we go to God on Sunday, but we tend to forget Him the other 6 days and put him up on the shelf.

We tell ourselves that everything is alright and that no one will see our shortcomings.  However, the winds, waves, tides and storms of life wash away that “sand” and the challenges that we tried to hide are exposed since we never dealt with them.

If we change our perspective to realize that we are not perfect beings and that most challenges in our lives are of a spiritual – and heart – nature, we can go to God to put them in His lap.  We can live out the Scriptures and lean not on our own understanding.  We can give our anxieties, fears, sin and perceived “shortcomings” to God and He will gladly take them on and take care of them.  He WILL heal our heart issues and help us get better.

Get outside today in whatever way that you feel comfortable and clear your mind.  Give those “shortcomings” to Him and don’t try to fix them yourself.  I promise you it will be a freeing and rejuvenating experience.

Be Blessed,
Chris

A place that is your place – your “sit-spot”.

Now, before you say that you don’t have time to find a sit-spot or that it sounds like something for kids or someone else, you need to know that each person’s sit-spot looks different.  For some it may be a park in a busy city or their garden while others might be a place high above the masses in the wilderness.  It has to be a place where you feel comfortable, as well as can visit frequently to maximize its impact.  And know that it may change as you feel more and more comfortable getting out into more remote places.

The power of the sit-spot comes from the fact that, as you learn to quietly prepare your mind and body as you sneak to your spot for each visit, then any disruption in the woods, field or park will quickly subside and the birds will get back to singing and animals will move once again through the biosphere around you.

As you have quieted yourself and the world comes alive, then it is time to start by emptying your mind (or reflect on your life or a specific issue) as you enter the present moment to hear from God and the Spirit.  Ask God what He has for you at that time and, at the same time, quiet your eyes to notice the slightest of movements in your peripheral vision.  Close your eyes to force your hearing, feeling and other senses can be maximized.  Take the deepest breath that you can and take in every smell that you can.

Then, wait and be quiet…..  Stay for a while….  I promise that you will hear from God if you are truly quiet and in the moment.  Additionally, you will feel extremely refreshed from the experience.  Finally, do yourself a favor and journal about the experience.  What you heard, saw and sensed.  Then tell others about the experience and practice the storytelling of it all.  Especially pass these experiences on to children and the younger generations.

Recently I have found myself leaving these experiences with a floating sensation because I have not spoken a word for an hour or checked text messages or email.  I have been able to totally unplug.  It has become a downer to have to return to the reality of technology and interaction for the remainder of the day….  Now how’s that for a life reversal!

Let us know how this works for you.

Yours in Nature,
Chris

In her book, Rabbi Korngold uses the story of Moses and the Burning Bush to reinforce the fact that God uses nature to get our attention so that He can speak to us.  I agree with this concept and saw it play out with a good friend of mine this weekend on the river.  More on that in a minute.  First a review of the story….

In Exodus 3 we see Moses deep in the wilderness at Mt Sinai sheparding his father-in-law’s sheep.  Why was he “far” out in the wilderness?  Maybe it was because he wanted to get them to pastures that were less worn by other herds and had better grazing.  Maybe Moses just wanted to get far out where no one would interrupt his time in nature and to meet God there.  No matter the reason, God looked down and saw Moses and decided it was time to act to help out the Israeilites as they continued to exist under oppression in Egypt.

In a way that only He can do, God throws something different at Moses to get his attention by setting a bush ablaze.  As Moses looks at the bush, he notices that the bush is on fire but not burning up and figures that this is something that he needs to take a closer look at. That’s when Moses says “…I must go see it” (Exod 3:3-NLTSB).  Now if God had just caused the wind to blow a little harder, or a bird to fly a little differently, Moses might not have taken notice other than to consider whether a storm was coming in.  No, God had to use something that was different and would catch his attention.

Even today, we can have those same “burning bush” experiences in nature.  When we get out in nature, away from our “always on” technological and performance-oreiented world, and quiet ourselves, great things can happen.  If we quiet our minds, stay present in the moment and are open to what God will do, we will not only be more peaceful and rejuvenated, but can also better hear the still small voice of God.

This past weekend I was fishing with a friend of mine for trout on the Manistee River and salmon on the Betsie.  While catching fish is part of the goal, Scott and I have known each other for years and both attempt to focus and make each expereince outdoors more about the experience that God has for us that day.  As we were floating down a stretch of the Upper Manistee, Scott (who still lives in Indianapolis) pointed out something that I now realize I take for granted up here in northern Michigan.

As we were quietly floating down the river, he pointed out the fact that he was not used to seeing the textures and crisp colors that we enjoy up here in northern Michigan.  As I took that comment in, I could see the crystal-clear water with shades of copper/brown that moved into the browns and greens on the shore and up to the beautiful blue sky and first puffy clouds of the day.  It was then that God just overcame me with the beauty and crispness of the wonderful world that He has created for me and others here in northwest Michigan.  In one world – WOW!

I’m ashamed to admit that I had gotten somewhat numb to this fact with a overly busy (yet fun) summer and not enough time spent quietly in nature.  It reminds me that we should each try and look for at least one unique memory from each outing in nature.  Ask God what He would have for you that day and during that outing.  Get out and enjoy more “burning bush” experiences in nature by yourself and with your family and friends!

Get Out!
Chris

But we ultimately can call him out in Jesus’ name!  We can cast away Satan and his demons at anytime with Jesus!

So why come from a place of defeat and negativity?  Why give him more power than he has over us since we are brothers and sisters with the One that makes the demons “tremble in terror” (James 2:19 NLT)?

I would propose that we come from a place of power!  Power and faith in our Father and brother Jesus.  Sure, we can acknowledge that Satan is the ruler of this world but lets remember that we serve the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” that supercedes any “ruler”.

Live at peace and strong today in your relationship with Jesus and acknowledge that there is an enemy out there, but the war has already been won!

Be Blessed!
Chris

If we are going to be good leaders of our families, then we need to do what we would do in leading any other “organization” – lead from the front! We need to lead with not only our words, but our actions too!

When was the last time that you and your wife sat down and did a life plan for your family or wrote down your family’s goals, definition of “success” and cornerstones of your existence here on earth?

Do you have a community that you live in, or are a part of, that supports you and with which your kids can interact (hopefully with other kids and adults, such as a small group) that shares the same core beliefs and cornerstones for how they live?

Finally, do you as the husband and father lead your family in your words and actions? Are you spending quiet time with your Heavenly Father asking for help and guidance in how to fight off the giants of this world that challenge our families and children?

Spend some time in the next few weeks and read God’s Word on fatherhood (Eph 5), families (Eph 6) and community (Acts 2:42)

Wow, how hard this is. To actually have the mind of Christ is a HUGE undertaking! He didn’t sin while here on earth and His biggest concern was how sin affected others’ relationship with the Father.  Amazing!  I try to do this, I really do.  However, I continue to get in the way of myself and trip up.  Then, I try again….

So what do you do…..?

Well, rather than try and try and try with limited staying success, I am looking at it another way.

I am trying to stay focused on the present to preserve the joy that comes from such an awesome heavenly Father and praying through sin by reciting His scriptures back to Him. They are His promises to us and His promise of transformation is there to make us more and more like our brother, and His son, Jesus!

I find that this is much more likely to transform my mind.  It is much more transformational than focusing on the end goal, and rather the process that will get me to the end by leveraging the power of Scriptures.  Now THAT will change your mind.

Prayer: Oh God, I know that we cannot ultimately have the full mind of Christ in our humanness on this side of Heaven but I pray that you help us get better at this. To flee temptation and sin and to run recklessly into your arms!

We love you Dad!

As you think about the story that you have lived…. are living….. and have yet to live you must ask yourself – Whose story are you living?

There are really only two options.  You can live the story that you want/desire/need and hope and pray that your Father comes alongside you (which He will), OR you can live God’s story in and through you! Which one do you think is more powerful?

In the first option our Father won’t leave us but I think that He is patiently and lovingly walking alongside us waiting for us to surrender to His dreams for us.  Oh sure, he’ll prod us through the Spirit, but Dad is a gentleman and will allow us pretty wide-ranging exercise of free will won’t He?  I know this firsthand as I lived my life for many years praying “Lord I want to do your will, but can it please be [insert my idea]…”  I got glimpses of the dreams that He had for me, but not the full picture.

However, just like King David eventually got to the point of living out the dreams and life that God had for him, I am starting to get there (I think).  And it happened when I got to the point where I didn’t just reflect on what my Heavenly Dad had been doing through the events in my life that shaped me, but I actually SURRENDERED to His will – wholly and fully.  while it didn’t all make sense, it doesn’t have to from my perspective.

So, while I recommend that individuals look into the past for clarity, they must live in the present (without worrying about the future) to allow the space for God to work!

So ask yourself.  Are you living your life story or the one that your Heavenly Father has arranged for you, right here, right now?  Whose do you think is bigger and most impactful for changing the world?

What are you going to do to get to His story for you?

Be Blessed!
Chris