Jesus...that's all people need

It is so simple and yet we try to make it so difficult. We have plans and formulas and "tricks" on how to get people to get to the point we think they should be at with Christ. We have the sword method, the Romans Method, the list goes on & on. What method did the apostles use? They unfortuneately (???) did not have all the eloquence and scripture that we do, so...what did they do?

Simple...they shared with the world what Jesus did for them. Paul summed up what he taught beautifully in I Corinthians 2. (I am not a big fan of the Message version, but on advice of a friend, I used it as a comparison and I really like the way it worded these two verses -- same meaning, just different times) Anyway, read below to see what Paul taught...

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[a] 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

(NIV)

1-2You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.

(Message)


Do you see that? He ON PURPOSE kept it simple...he told people who Jesus was and what He did. How many times do we miss that??

We need to stop and relize we hold in our hands something so awesome. In the words of Jeff Walling, we have the "cookie"! In my house, that would be equivalent to having the "pie"! Everyone who knows us, knows Clay loves baking pies and he is VERY good at it...homemade EVERYTHING!! When he started this, the teens started telling everyone; they told him he needed to sell the pies. And of course, he decided to sell them as a fundraiser for the mission trip. It has been crazy!! One person taste the pie and they buy one, then they have someone taste the pie and they want one...and on and on...he is closing in on making 200 pies now since March!!! How?? Well, we taught and recruited the teens and our friends in a fool proof method. We spent hours in a classroom learning how to make the pies sound good enough to eat. NOT!!!!! People just talked about how much they enjoyed the pie. They let people taste the pies that they had... and ...some things are just too good to be passed up!

How good is your God? How much has Christ changed your life? If you are just going through the motions of living in Christ, you may have forgotten what Jesus did for your life. I don't mean the reality of living forever with Him in Heaven. (as if that is not enough) I mean the life, you know, abundant life, He gives me now. The peace I have even in the worst of times. The love I feel toward people. What would your life be like without Christ?? What if you did not have that hope and the assurance that "someone" had everything under control?? If you, as a Christian are sleepwalking, wake up and realize what God is doing everyday of your life!!

We don't need a method...we don't even have to worry about the end results. God can take care of that. All he asks of us is to share how he is working in our lives. But first, we have to wake up and think about how He is working! Practice by sharing what God is doing in your world with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Instead of talking about the stupid issues of the day, or what you disagree with, talk about how awesome God is and how He is moving. When we start talking to each other and our faith becomes an everyday part of our lives, it will flow out to everyone without us even realizing it. And pretty soon, when you're loving people (for real: not with an agenda), someone will ask, WHY?? Then we can tell them about the God who loves us so dearly, that we can't help but love others!

All we have to do is share that hope and love. We just need to share our lives with people so that the overflow of Jesus will pour out on them and they will want what we have. If we are not overflowing with Christ, then I don't believe we are living in Him as fully as we can. God doesn't need us to sell Him. Their are no quotas in Heaven. All we need to do is love Him and love His creation.

Go Outside & Play!!

Remember those rainy weeks when you were a kid--so boring--nothing to do--so you argued with your siblings. It didn't matter about what. I remember my sister used to tell on me for "thinking mean things about her"--okay, I probably was antagonizing her just a bit! :) But we all remember how staying in the house, playing games, school, dolls, whatever was only fun for a very short time and then everyone in the house got on your nerves! We would argue about petty things, mean things and even the things we really didn't care about.

As moms, we all longed for the sunshine..that first ray when ALL moms kick everyone out of the house saying..."Go play outside". And oh, the relief. The kids could run, play and interact with people outside the house. They played to exhaustion and when they came back in they were thrilled to be there...because at home there was nourishment (Read nice, hot dinner or a cool popsicle), there was love (mom always has a kiss and a bandaid for the boo boos we get outside) and there was true acceptance.

I think, as a church, we have been playing in the house for far too long. As God's kids we bicker and argue; we look for the petty and insignificant issues and we pick fights. We are totally intolerant of anyone...and Jesus is callig us to "GO PLAY OUTSIDE!"

He even said it..."Go into all the world..." Jesus understood that if the apostles stayed in that upper room not only would the world be lost but they would devour each other. Can't you imagine Peter and John arguing about what exactly happened the night Peter walked on the water? Or maybe Andrew belittling James and John for asking for special places next to Christ?

Jesus knew they had to get outside to play. What made the church in the first century great? What was their pattern? It was simple...they put their own selfishness aside and went outside and played! They engaged the world wherever they were at. They had to settle arguments by agreeing to disagree and yet love and fellowship each other. And while they were out...the world was in awe of what they had. The world didn't see petty arguing...it saw the power and love of God and they were "cut to the heart", "filled with awe" and "favored by the people" (Acts 2). And what did God do?? He built His Church.

And then they came by inside to draw nourishment from each other. They shared, they ate happily and they loved each other. God didn't build His church for us to take it over...He created it and us so that we could go out and bring every person we touch in life one step closer to Him. And then, as a family we could draw on the strengths of each other and build and encourage each other up!

"He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." I Thessalonians 5:10-11

All we have to do is go outside and play...when we engage the world while we are steadfastly seeking God...our world will change...and better yet, so will someone elses.

My God is TOO BIG for a Sunday Morning Box

Sunday morning-8am- everybody up---let's go... get ready...it's time for "church". We all look so pretty coming in to "worship" on Sunday. We piously sit in the pews, we reverently take the Lord's Supper, we sing in spirit and truth, we listen as someone prays for the Lord's direction and guidance...and then, we're done. (And by the way, all these things are good and neeeded) Then, we hurry out of "church" to make it to lunch. Then sooo many times, at lunch the discussion centers on the preacher going over or not saying what we thought he should, or maybe the choice of the songs...but what happens to God?

We have placed God in a box. We take Him out for the appointed days/hours and make every effort to appease Him. We follow a very set pattern of HOW to worship during that time, but what about the other 165 hours per week? What do we do with God then?

Our table talk should be filled with God; our conversation should be seasoned with His love and grace. Our discussions filled with the things of God and how we are growing spiritually. I should feel ever so comfortable with my brothers and sisters in Christ to ask, "what's God doing in your life?". When in Deuteronomy 6:7 God instructed His people to talk about Him, walk about Him and live their lives in the midst of Him...He knew what He was talking about.

If our children grow up and the only thing they hear about the church is the mistakes of the preacher, the song leader or the elders why would we expect them to remain faithful??? If all they hear of church is the negative, why would they want to stick around to support something so obviously failing?? For that matter, why would the unchurched want to be part? How can we present to them an abundant life when all we talk about are the abundant issues?

The God I serve is BIGGER THAN SUNDAYS! He knows all about our issues, faults and challenges. And yet, He wants us to commit ourselves to Him. He knew the church would be full of sinning people when He chose to die for us. He knew it with the lust filled Corinthian church and the legalistic church of Galatia. And yet...it was worth it to Him. Why? Because God puts love first. He created the church (his people) because He loves us and in return He asked us to LOVE HIM FIRST and commit ourselves to Him daily.

When we focus our hearts, minds, strength and souls on loving Him and on loving HIS creation...that will overflow out of our mouths from our heart. We won't be able to keep God in a Sunday box...He will be my God and I will be His child 24/7 and I will not be able to contain that.

So...make it your focus to love God and to love His church...start talking about what He does for you everyday. Talk about His word and how it works in your life. Ask questions...seek HIM. Start looking for God in your world. He is there and He blesses us COUNTLESS times everyday. He loves HIS church despite all its imperfections, challenges and issues.

You want true worship? Make your life a living sacrifice to God. (Romans 12:1) Transform your mind by filling it with the things of God. Put all your energy into the things of Christ. (Colossians 3) Make everything about Him..."whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of Jesus..." This is the way to truly worship God...by making every moment of our lives about Him.