So here's the 30 day challenge that we're taking at Seneca Creek. Spend the next month bringing the power of prayer to focus on what is important to God. What are HIS plans and purposes? Since he created us, maybe he knows what's really important. And if we can understand what's important to God, then we'll be able to see what's important for us. To help do that, we're encouraging everyone to use the following prayer, based on Colossians 1:9-13
God, I pray that you would fill me with the knowledge of your purposes & will. I pray you would do this so that I could live a life worthy of you, and please you in every way. I pray that my life be characterized by good deeds, by personal spiritual growth, by godly strength to patiently endure, and by joyful gratitude
This prayer could start a revolution in your life! So why not give it a try? What do you have to lose? I can't wait to see what God will do.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wasted?
It happened again. I was reading a very familiar story from Jesus' life. And I saw something I'd never seen before. And in that moment God spoke into my life. Not with a "voice from heaven" like in the movies, but clear and unmistakable nonetheless. The story is where Jesus feeds the 5,000 with two fish, and five barley loaves from one little boy's lunch. It's actually the only one of Jesus' miracles that occurs in all four of the gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). And as John is telling what happened, he points out that the disciples distributed this little lunch and everyone had as much as they wanted. Then comes the verse I've missed for 50 years.
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." (John 6:12)
Let nothing be wasted. I suppose you could argue that Jesus was the ultimate environmentalist, or conservationist. You could say he was being green. You could say he was thinking about all the starving children in Africa. But I think there's something else going on here. I think Jesus was more concerned about wasting the impact of his miracle (and his message) than about wasting the leftover bread. That bread was now going to go back to thousands of homes. And the stories would be told for days to come. People would invite all their friends and neighbors. "Come, look at this piece of bread...come see the evidence of this man called Jesus!" And the story would be told again and again. And people would be drawn to Jesus. And the miracle would not be wasted in any way. "Let nothing be wasted."
You probably haven't experienced a work of God quite like the feeding of the 5,000. But when I talk with people just like you and me, I realize that God is working. He's changing attitudes. He's changing priorities. He's healing relationships. He's answering prayers. He's providing hope and joy. He's deploying your gifts into the world. And in each of these situations, I think Jesus would say the same thing he did 2,000 years ago: "Let nothing be wasted!"
The work God has done in your life can help encourage someone else. It can inspire others to hang in there. To pray another day. To step out in faith. To serve despite their fears. To start a conversation without having all the answers. Don't let your story be wasted. Who you gonna tell?
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." (John 6:12)
Let nothing be wasted. I suppose you could argue that Jesus was the ultimate environmentalist, or conservationist. You could say he was being green. You could say he was thinking about all the starving children in Africa. But I think there's something else going on here. I think Jesus was more concerned about wasting the impact of his miracle (and his message) than about wasting the leftover bread. That bread was now going to go back to thousands of homes. And the stories would be told for days to come. People would invite all their friends and neighbors. "Come, look at this piece of bread...come see the evidence of this man called Jesus!" And the story would be told again and again. And people would be drawn to Jesus. And the miracle would not be wasted in any way. "Let nothing be wasted."
You probably haven't experienced a work of God quite like the feeding of the 5,000. But when I talk with people just like you and me, I realize that God is working. He's changing attitudes. He's changing priorities. He's healing relationships. He's answering prayers. He's providing hope and joy. He's deploying your gifts into the world. And in each of these situations, I think Jesus would say the same thing he did 2,000 years ago: "Let nothing be wasted!"
The work God has done in your life can help encourage someone else. It can inspire others to hang in there. To pray another day. To step out in faith. To serve despite their fears. To start a conversation without having all the answers. Don't let your story be wasted. Who you gonna tell?
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Do not disturb?
A guy in my dorm at college used to sleep with the window open during the Chicago winters to simulate "missionary training." (He did other crazy things I won't mention here.) He's one of the few people I know who did NOT subscribe to the principle that "Comfort is king." When we're honest, we kinda LIKE that principle. We LIKE being comfortable.
But I don't think God subscribes to that principle very often. Last Sunday at Seneca Creek was an example. Thanks to the International Justice Mission, we heard about the injustice around the world in the form of bonded slavery, child prostitution, and more. And we were brought face to face with the very UNCOMFORTABLE reality that WE are God's plan to bring down the barriers which make it difficult for people to believe that there is a God who cares about them. It made me (and probably everyone there) uncomfortable to see the kind of oppression and injustice that is occurring in 2009. If you missed last Sunday, check out the recording here.
I think God uses those kinds of uncomfortable moments to help us move to action. Let me ask you this: When was the last time God disturbed you? When was the last time your comfort zone was pierced by the prompting of God? If you can't remember when that was, I challenge you to remove the "Do Not Disturb" sign from your life. Here's how to do that. Pray the following prayer every day for a week: "God, please change me." Then get ready, because God will answer that prayer. He will "disturb" you. Your life will never be the same. And you'll never regret it for one second!
But I don't think God subscribes to that principle very often. Last Sunday at Seneca Creek was an example. Thanks to the International Justice Mission, we heard about the injustice around the world in the form of bonded slavery, child prostitution, and more. And we were brought face to face with the very UNCOMFORTABLE reality that WE are God's plan to bring down the barriers which make it difficult for people to believe that there is a God who cares about them. It made me (and probably everyone there) uncomfortable to see the kind of oppression and injustice that is occurring in 2009. If you missed last Sunday, check out the recording here.
I think God uses those kinds of uncomfortable moments to help us move to action. Let me ask you this: When was the last time God disturbed you? When was the last time your comfort zone was pierced by the prompting of God? If you can't remember when that was, I challenge you to remove the "Do Not Disturb" sign from your life. Here's how to do that. Pray the following prayer every day for a week: "God, please change me." Then get ready, because God will answer that prayer. He will "disturb" you. Your life will never be the same. And you'll never regret it for one second!
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