Category — For Everyone

Throughout the Bible, especially in the Psalms, we see the authors of Scripture looking back on what God has done in their lives.  God is active and constantly at work on us, transforming us into the image of His Son, Jesus.  This is a great time to reflect on our year and to thank God for His steadfast love and faithfulness.  Even if you went through a serious crisis this year I would imagine that you saw the hand of God in your life.  So I encourage you to take a few moments and chronicle some key events that happened and give God the glory for them.  Below are some questions to get you thinking.

I also want to encourage you to think about your life in four key areas: spiritual, emotional, physical and relational.  Not that you would compartmentalize these areas, but that you would consider them as four major parts of your life that impact the whole of your life.

1. What were some highs and lows?
2. What did you do that you really enjoyed doing?
3. What did you do that you really did not enjoy doing?
4. Who did you spend time with that you really liked?
5. What acts of service or mercy did you do? Did you like it?
6. Did you learn to do something new this year?
7. What material possessions did you acquire? What impact did they have on your life?
8. What were some major themes you saw God working on in your life?
9. What did you read this year?  Did it change or impact your life in some way?
10. Did you accomplish any goals that you set for yourself this year?
11. What are you thankful for from this past year?
12. Do you feel like you spent quality time with your family?
13. Where did you go on vacation?  Was it a good time with your family?
14. Did you date your spouse this year? Any overnights?
15. Did you have an exercise plan this past year?
16. Did you smash any idols this year?
17. Who did you spend time with this year that was encouraging to you? Challenging to you?
18. What ways were you involved in church/Kingdom work?  Was it challenging?  Do you feel like you were using your God given gifts?
19. What Scripture did you read or study this year that had a profound impact on your life?
20. Where has the gospel been at work changing your life?

Looking ahead to 2012…

1. What spiritual disciplines are you going to create?
2. What friends are you going to invest in?
3. How are you going to cultivate the relationships with your family?
4. What God honoring things are you going to do for yourself this year?
5. What steps are you going to take to stay in shape physically and stay healthy?

All for Jesus,

Fletch

The following is from Tullian Tchividjian’s book, Jesus + Nothing = Everything.  I strongly suggest getting this book and devouring it…

“So I urge you once more: examine yourself.  Dissect your heart. Recognize reality. What are you looking to (instead of Jesus) for meaning in life, for purpose, significance, security, directions, acceptance, approval? Ask yourself the same bold and probing question that Leo Tolstoy famously asked: “Is there any meaning in my life that the inevitable death awaiting me does not destroy?” What are you living for? What are you depending on to provide the freedom, worth, and value that you crave?

The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart. Therefore rules, regulations, good behavior, personal success, and performance are never the solution. Behavior modification cannot change the human heart.  Outside cleanup leads to outside cleanup, and there’s only One who can do that.

Jesus plus nothing equals everything.”

All for Jesus,

Fletch

My son goes to college in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.  In order to get there we have to drive over the mountain.  On both sides of the mountain are valleys.  We spend more time in the valley than we do on the mountain.

I was reminded this morning in the story of the widow at Nain, that pain and suffering are pervasive in this life.  I know this comes as no news to most people.  However, we often think about our Christian life as reaching the top of a mountain.  We create our own little mountain of success and we think that the peak of the mountain is the place to be. More often than not people are in the valley rather than at the top of the mountain.

In a Friday morning men’s Bible study that I lead, we are reading a book called Mighty to Save, by Richard Phillips.  In it he writes concerning this story in Luke 7:11-17, “One thing you will notice if you study the Bible is that there is a great deal of weeping going on…With few exceptions all the major figures of the Bible are seen weeping, and in all sorts of situations.”  The truth about life is that sin has caused a great deal of pain, heartache, suffering and ultimately death.  Like the widow of Nain who had previously lost her husband now she has lost her only son.  She is in a desperate and confusing state.  All her earthly hope is gone, it has literally died.  But approaching her is Jesus, who can not only bring hope but life to her situation. The text tells us that “Jesus saw her and had compassion on her” (v.13).  Jesus “sees” the agonizing situation of this woman and walks into the valley with her.  Jesus then literally speaks life back into her son and raises him from the dead.  The woman now has hope and has been given her life back.  Jesus, who is the life and the resurrection, has the power and authority over death.  Jesus, our Savior, empathizes with us, and He walks through the darkest valleys with His people.

There is nothing wrong with looking forward to the mountain top.  Joy and hope and encouragement should always characterize us.  But we have to realize that most of life is lived in the valley.  Yes, one Day all things will be made new; no more tears, no more suffering, no more death.  But for now, we face those trials with the presence of Christ.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”  Psalm 23:1

May we walk confidently through the valley, knowing Christ is at our side and may we go into the valley with others showing them the hope and life that is found in Christ.

All for Jesus,

Fletch

“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” ^ESV Deuteronomy 31:8

The concept of God’s presence is nothing new.  But seriously, shouldn’t this truth cause you to live differently today?  The God of the universe, who upholds and sustains all things, without whom everything would cease to exist.  The most powerful and awesome God, who cares for you deeply, is with you today.  Are you facing any troubles today?  Do you have any meetings that you are nervous about today?  Do you need to have a difficult conversation with someone today?  Are you overwhelmed at work?  Do you feel like everything is crashing down on you?  Then believe this truth: God is with you today.  The triune God will take care of all your needs today. God the Father will love you unconditionally and back you up 100%.  God the Holy Spirit, will counsel you and guide you throughout your day.  God the Son will give you grace upon grace, showering you with mercy, forgiveness, courage and strength to get through this day.

You are not in this alone, God is with you.  Read the verse again…

“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” ^ESV Deuteronomy 31:8

All for Jesus,

Fletch

“I have a confession to make: I’m addicted to the gospel. It burns inside of me. And it seems to get hotter every day. I can’t stop thinking about it, talking about it, writing about it, reading about it, wrestling with it, reveling in it, standing on it, and thanking God for it. For better or for worse, my focus has become myopic. My passion has become singular. Lesser things don’t distract me as easily. I’m not as anxious as I used to be. I don’t fret over things as much. I’m more relaxed. What others think of me (either good or bad) doesn’t matter as much as it used to. I’m enjoying life more. The pressure’s off. I’m beginning to understand the length and breadth of the freedom Jesus purchased for me. I’m begin- fling to realize that the gospel is way more radical, offensive, liberating, shocking, and counterintuitive than any of us realize. And that’s beginning to be okay with me. Like Aslan in C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, the gospel is good but not safe.”
Did this peek your interest? I did not write it, although it expresses my thoughts and feelings EXACTLY. Tullian Tchividjian wrote it in his book, Jesus + Nothing = Everything. Get this book, read it, and live it.

All for Jesus,

Fletch

“When I seek the Lord my God, I will find Him if I seek Him with all my heart and with all my soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29

Does this sound like God is hiding?   Do you think God hides from us and then we have to go about seeking Him?  I don’t think that God hides from us.  I believe God is in plain sight and is always ready and willing to engage us on the deepest level.  What blocks our view of God then?  The latter part of the verse gives us a clue. “…if I seek Him with all my heart and with all my soul.”  We miss seeing God because we allow ourselves to get in the way.  Our hearts and our souls can be so self-centered that we block out seeing God who is right in front of us.

So our encouragement today is to examine our heart and soul, allow the grace of Christ to wash away any selfishness or impurity so we can have a clear view of God.  He is there and He is totally excited to be with you, to help you, to  rescue you, to give you whatever you need today to live for His glory.  Christ is for you today.

All for Jesus,

Fletch

My youngest daughter is having “growing pains.” Her legs hurt, her body aches for no apparent reason, she gets emotional over seemingly insignificant things. She’s 12 so it’s a natural part of life. I’m glad she is growing, it’s a sign that her mind, body and emotions are maturing. She is growing into a beautiful young girl who loves Christ and has a desire to see her friends know Jesus as well.

Growing is a natural part of all of our lives. But while there is an automatic aspect to growth as we get older there is also a very intentional part of growing. Physically, we can help along our growth by eating healthy and exercising. Spiritually, the Holy Spirit is always at work in our lives, conforming us to the image of Christ. But we have the privilege of participating in our spiritual growth as well. The challenge for disciples is to not get stagnet or lazy and think that our participation doesn’t matter. While I firmly believe that we are saved by faith and sanctified by faith, I also firmly believe that God wants us to be a part of the process He is taking us through to be more like Jesus.

For instance, God provides us with His Word, the Bible. When we read it the Holy Spirit works in us to understand and apply it. However, WE HAVE TO READ IT. God won’t read it for us. God provides us with excellent communicators, like Andrew, BUT WE HAVE TO LISTEN AND ENGAGE in the sermon. God provides us with a direct line of communication with Him, BUT WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY PRAY. God provides us with friends, BUT WE HAVE TO LOVE THEM. Do you see where I am going with all of this? We have to be intentional about our own growth as a disciple. Now, we know that growth can happen through some of these spiritual disciplines, but we also grow through the circumstances of our daily lives. We face trials and temptations and we grow through them as we pay attention to how they shape us, how we react to them, how we apply the gospel to them. We face suffering in various ways and we grow through that suffering by trusting in God, being patient with what He is doing and latching hold of God with a death grip.

Let us be intentional disciples. Diligently seeking God’s grace each day, preaching the gospel to ourselves, finding and searching out ways to grow in Christ. God is doing a mighty work in us, let’s join Him in the effort.

All for Jesus,

Fletch

Most Sundays I get the chance to lead our congregation in a particular part of the service called “Confession of Sin and Assurance of Forgiveness.”  I usually say something about how this is the time where we get to be honest with God about what we’ve been doing with our lives, how we have fallen short of His best for us and how we have rebelled against a Holy and righteous God.

Some people, including myself, don’t like to think about all the “bad” stuff that they have done.  “It’s too negative and reminds me that I am not as good as I think I am.”  However, in my mind, our confession of sin is actually quite “freeing.”  Jesus tells us that sin enslaves us.  In John 8:34, Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.”  Sin traps us and holds us down,  sin binds our hearts to false idols.  When we keep our sin bottled up inside us then we feel guilty, we feel fake, we feel trapped.  But think about a time when you had done something wrong.  You kept it to yourself but you felt horrible.  Finally, the truth came out about what you had done.  Wasn’t there a sense of relief that you didn’t have to keep this secret anymore?  What had been hidden was now revealed and somehow it felt freeing.  This is the gospel…  We all have sin hidden in our hearts.  We confess our sin, feel sorry over it, desire to turn away from it and turn back to God through Jesus.  Jesus died to forgive us our sins so that we could be set free.  Here is what Romans 6:6-8 says, “We know that our old self [sinful self] was crucified with him [Jesus Christ] in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”

Jesus and his work on the cross redeem us from our sin.  The familiar phrase is true, “Jesus saves.”  The truth of the gospel is that I no longer have to hide my sin, I can reveal it.  But also, I don’t have to be afraid of being punished for my sin either because Jesus took the punishment upon himself and has redeemed me.

The gospel is about revealing and redeeming.  Don’t be afraid to reveal your sin to God, for He is also your Redeemer.  I am praying that today you will see what freedom and joy the gospel can bring into your life.

All for Jesus,

Fletch

“I’m so busy. Our family is so busy. We barely have time to eat dinner together.”  I think it’s the same for most families.  We do seem to get a lot of important things done when we are busy but busyness can unfortunately push the most important thing right out of our lives.  My life is no different.  All three kids and a wife going in a  thousand different directions.  I have people to meet with, studies to prepare, emails to respond to and the list goes on and on.

This morning I decided to hit the pause button.  I deliberately chose not to turn on my computer or look at my Blackberry for an hour.  I pulled out my journal and my Bible and just tried to fellowship with the Lord.  Some people may say, “Wait, you’re a pastor, don’t you do that every day?”  Unfortunately, I allow the busyness to keep playing, not hitting the pause button near enough.  But I was convicted this morning to hit the pause button and it was good.  I allowed myself to think and ponder about how much Christ loves me.  We all know that Christ loves us, but how often do we really pause and meditate and worship Christ for His love.  Christ’s love is vast and immeasurable, it is deeper than any ocean.  The phrase, “Christ died for me,” loses its impact if we choose not to pause and wonder and worship Christ for such a sacrifice.  So this is my brief encouragement for you today.  Find a quiet place, hit the pause button, open your Bible and journal and just be with Christ.  Dwell on his astonishing love for you.  Bathe in his unconditional mercy, thank Him for His sacrifice for you, enjoy His presence.  Allow Christ to replenish and restore your soul.

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

 All for Jesus,

Fletch