Sorry for not posting this weekend, Amy and I took a Mini-honeymoon and did not want to pay the money to get interenet at the hotel! :-)
Anyway, here we go with today's post!
Recently I read a book that discussed an amazingly simply concept...but one that many folks seem to struggle with.
In the book The Principle of the Path: How To Get From Where You Are To Where You Want to Be, Andy Stanley offers us this little nugget of wisdom:
"Direction-not intention-determines destination" (Stanely page 14).
Here it is reworded a bit differently...
"The Direction you are currently traveling--relationally, financially, spiritually, and the list goes on and on--will determine where you end up in each of those respective arenas." (Stanley page 15).
He also states it this way, "direction--not intentions, hopes, dreams, prayers, beliefs, intellect, or education--determines destination". (Stanley page 15)
It seems so simple...and yet many of us do not get it.
We understand that if we point our car north...its not going to go east unless we turn the steering wheel.
However, we have trouble applying this simple principle to our lives.
If you neglect your body by eating too much and avoiding the gym...don't be surprised when you do not lose weight.
If you neglect your spouse and spend no time with them...do not be shocked when that relationship falls apart.
If you spend money freely and never save anything...do not be surprised you always have to live paycheck to paycheck.
If you never crack open a book or do your homework...do not be surprised when you get a bad grade in the class.
If you do not study for the test at all...do not be surprised when you don't get the grade you want.
If you text and drive...do not be shocked when one day you have an accident.
It all seems so simple.
It seems like common sense.
We are even really good at pointing out this principle in other peoples lives.
We hear a story about someone who is having problems, and we can usually quickly tell them what aspect of their life pointed them in this direction.
If I talk to a parent about their child starting to do drugs and drink...I am not shocked when I hear their grades are slipping and their attitude has changed.
The direction they pointed their life...determines their destination.
However, for some reason, we often fail to figure out what direction our own lives are pointed.
And then we are shocked by the consequences of the decision to point our life in that direction.
So you ask, "what does this have to do with Lent..after all this is a blog/devotional for the Lenton season?"
Well...this same principle shows up in our own spiritual life.
If you never pick up your Bible to read, well, you will not learn more about scripture.
If you DO pick up your Bible to read, you WILL learn more about scripture.
If you never pray...do not be surprised when it feels like "God is silent" in your life. do not be surprised when you do not feel closer to God.
If you sleep in on Sundays...do not be surprised when you do not feel closer to God.
If you decide that sports, friends, work, etc. are more important that small group at church...do not be surprised when you continually feel distant from God.
So my question to you for the day is simple...what direction is your "spiritual life car" pointed?
Is it pointed more toward yourself, making work, school, sports, friends, money, etc?
Or is it pointed toward making God the center of your life?
I speak with youth and parents all the time who are frustrated with where their relationship with God is at the moment.
They have great intentions to get closer to God. Their have a strong desire to be closer and make God a priority. When you talk to them, it sounds like their greatest hope and dream in life is to feel "as close to God as they used to"...
And yet, when we talk, it becomes clear that everything else takes priority over their relationship with God.
On mission trips, I do not allow youth to take their cell phones, ipods, psp's, etc. So for a week, they are cut off from the internet, facebook, and texting.
I do this because I try to remove the distractions that often keep us from making God a priority.
Usually at the end of the week, most of the youth have had a powerful experience with God.
I usually get asked "how I can keep this feeling back home." When I point out that they had all of these "distractions" removed, making it easier to focus their energy on God...I usually get a very sad/disturbed look on their face.
They want that feeling of the "mountain top experience", but do not want to redirect their "spiritual car".
Redirecting their life will take effort, will take some self sacrifice and may even sacrifice some friendships.
Are you willing to do what it takes to "redirect your spiritual car"?
If you are not, do not be surprised when in a year or two, you feel even more distant from God than you may feel right now.
After all, Direction-not INTENTION-determines your spiritual destination.
Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I'll do it tomorrow
In my opinion, there is a growing trend in our culture that I think is dangerous.
I must admit...I fall into its trap. Often. Daily even...
I see many folks fall into its trap.
And we have some great excuses...some really good ones.
However, like I said...I think its a dangerous trend.
I think a quote by Robert Heinlein best gets at the root of the problem:
"Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things".
Is the invention of the motor vehicle progress? Definitely, but I also think it also allows us to be lazy.
I often drive down to the youth house to grab something, instead of walking. Its probably barely a tenth of a mile, but I still walk it. I say its a time issue, but in reality, I'm just being lazy.
Is the invention of the cell phone progress? Of course, there are many great perks to cell phones. However, I think it has also allowed us to become increasingly lazy. Instead of calling and having a real conversation with someone, a quick text will do. We often just text when we do not really want to "face" talking to someone. Cell phones are progress, but they have also lead to lazy friendships and relationships.
Is the invention of the computer progress? Without a doubt. But how many hours do we waste on facebook, online games, email, youtube, etc.? It is unreal how lazy computers allow us to be at times.
I could go on, but I think you get the point. There are so many things we call progress, that have simply just allowed us to be lazy.
But it is not just technology where we are lazy. How many of these statements are familiar?
"I'll start going to the gym tomorrow."
"I'll start my diet tomorrow."
"I'll just do those dishes tomorrow."
"I'll start that project tomorrow."
Once again, I could go on.
What bothers me as well is that it seems many of us, most of us, just do not like to work for things anymore.
I read in a book recently that this current teenage generations motto is "when the going gets tough, just quit and do something else."
If things are hard, we just give up.
Getting in shape takes work and is hard, so we just ignore it.
Being financially sound takes work and is hard, so we just spend and swipe the credit card.
Dieting is hard, so we just order the fries and burger.
I have given guitar lessons to many youth before and I have had more youth quit than stick with it over the last 10 years. The number one reason... "it's just too hard and I don't want to try."
This isn't just a teenage problem though. This is a problem I see with adults and youth alike. Putting forth effort and putting the work in to something hard just seems like a lost art.
It is no surprise that this same attitude filters into our spiritual lives.
A solid prayer life takes work...so we just do not try.
Understanding scripture takes time and effort, and the patience to sit still and listen for God to speak...but we are too lazy to put that time in.
Fasting is hard, and we'd just rather not take the time.
And yet, you ask most folks and they are frustrated with where they are in their relationship with God.
Most of us want to be closer to God, but most of us are just too lazy to put in the time.
We want to pray more, but that extra 15 minutes of sleep is just too important.
We want to read more scripture, but we are too lazy to discipline ourselves to make it a priority.
What do you think would happen to your friendships, marriages and family relationships if you approached them with the same laziness you approach your faith with?
I have a feeling if I was as lazy in my relationship with Amy, as I am with God at times, our marriage wouldn't last very long.
How much energy are you putting into your relationship with God?
If you've been lazy, putting forth little effort, it is not too late to change.
I know you probably have some great excuses and reasons as to why you've been lazy with your faith. I know that I have some excuses that could make a top 10 best excuses of all times list.
However, it is only day 2 of Lent... the time when we are supposed to focus our heart, mind, soul and strength on God.
I think Lent this year is a great time to shed that laziness.
I must admit...I fall into its trap. Often. Daily even...
I see many folks fall into its trap.
And we have some great excuses...some really good ones.
However, like I said...I think its a dangerous trend.
I think a quote by Robert Heinlein best gets at the root of the problem:
"Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things".
Is the invention of the motor vehicle progress? Definitely, but I also think it also allows us to be lazy.
I often drive down to the youth house to grab something, instead of walking. Its probably barely a tenth of a mile, but I still walk it. I say its a time issue, but in reality, I'm just being lazy.
Is the invention of the cell phone progress? Of course, there are many great perks to cell phones. However, I think it has also allowed us to become increasingly lazy. Instead of calling and having a real conversation with someone, a quick text will do. We often just text when we do not really want to "face" talking to someone. Cell phones are progress, but they have also lead to lazy friendships and relationships.
Is the invention of the computer progress? Without a doubt. But how many hours do we waste on facebook, online games, email, youtube, etc.? It is unreal how lazy computers allow us to be at times.
I could go on, but I think you get the point. There are so many things we call progress, that have simply just allowed us to be lazy.
But it is not just technology where we are lazy. How many of these statements are familiar?
"I'll start going to the gym tomorrow."
"I'll start my diet tomorrow."
"I'll just do those dishes tomorrow."
"I'll start that project tomorrow."
Once again, I could go on.
What bothers me as well is that it seems many of us, most of us, just do not like to work for things anymore.
I read in a book recently that this current teenage generations motto is "when the going gets tough, just quit and do something else."
If things are hard, we just give up.
Getting in shape takes work and is hard, so we just ignore it.
Being financially sound takes work and is hard, so we just spend and swipe the credit card.
Dieting is hard, so we just order the fries and burger.
I have given guitar lessons to many youth before and I have had more youth quit than stick with it over the last 10 years. The number one reason... "it's just too hard and I don't want to try."
This isn't just a teenage problem though. This is a problem I see with adults and youth alike. Putting forth effort and putting the work in to something hard just seems like a lost art.
It is no surprise that this same attitude filters into our spiritual lives.
A solid prayer life takes work...so we just do not try.
Understanding scripture takes time and effort, and the patience to sit still and listen for God to speak...but we are too lazy to put that time in.
Fasting is hard, and we'd just rather not take the time.
And yet, you ask most folks and they are frustrated with where they are in their relationship with God.
Most of us want to be closer to God, but most of us are just too lazy to put in the time.
We want to pray more, but that extra 15 minutes of sleep is just too important.
We want to read more scripture, but we are too lazy to discipline ourselves to make it a priority.
What do you think would happen to your friendships, marriages and family relationships if you approached them with the same laziness you approach your faith with?
I have a feeling if I was as lazy in my relationship with Amy, as I am with God at times, our marriage wouldn't last very long.
How much energy are you putting into your relationship with God?
If you've been lazy, putting forth little effort, it is not too late to change.
I know you probably have some great excuses and reasons as to why you've been lazy with your faith. I know that I have some excuses that could make a top 10 best excuses of all times list.
However, it is only day 2 of Lent... the time when we are supposed to focus our heart, mind, soul and strength on God.
I think Lent this year is a great time to shed that laziness.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Gotta, Wanna, Needa, Getta, Hava
We live in a culture that thrives on bigger, better, faster...
We life in a culture that does not see patience and frugality as virtues, but rather signs of weakness. They are seen as being a sign of being lower on the totem pole.
The more you have, the better your social status. The faster you get it, the more impressive it appears.
Patience is laughed upon.
Denying yourself things is seen as foolish.
Why wait 2 years on your cell phone before getting something new? I mean, after two years, your cell phone will be ancient and should be put in a museum.
Why drive a car until it no longer runs, has dents in it and is over 200,000 miles. Even if it is much more financially responsible to do so, we convince ourselves that it is so much "safer" to get a new car.
I was once in a bible study where someone was asking for prayer request for their car...they were worried it would start malfunctioning and having problems now that it was approaching 100,000 miles. I laughed a bit and explained that I had never bought a car or had a car that had under 100,000 miles on it! My first car was finally parked at 307,000 miles. You didn't need a key to start the ignition, it didn't have interior door handles, and was an automatic for the first 100,000 miles of its life (and a manual the last 207,000 miles). That car was in my family for many years, without having to have a car payment. Believe it or not, we were all just fine not having "the newest car in the lot". If anything, I think we all learned valuable lessons about taking car of things and not having the greatest, newest car.
We definitely live in a "gotta, wanna, needa, getta, hava" society. We want it now, we want it to be the best. We convince ourselves that our "wants" are really "needs".
Today we enter a season of Lent in the church. Many people have a tradition of "giving up something" during this season. The idea is that we "deny" ourselves something for a period of 40 days, so that we may grow closer to God.
Isn't that kind of an odd idea and backwards of this world? If we want to grow closer to God...we deny ourselves. When considering what they want to give up for lent, I always ask the youth to think about things that stand between them and God. I tell them to just make a list of things they think hinder their relationship with God, things that take up their time or focus. Last year, one of the youth made the statement that "I'm going to have to give up an awful lot of things for lent then."
These things that we "gotta" have often are the very things that stand in our way of growing closer to God.
The things on our "wanna" list usually have more to do with our own pleasure, rather than our efforts to please or worship God.
Our only real "needa" is a closer relationship with our creator, our sustainer. Our real need is a closer relationship with the one who gives us true life and joy.
And yet, we chase so many things that prove time and time again do not bring real happiness to our lives.
By all worldly accounts, Tiger Woods had everything this world says you need to be happy.
He had a beautiful wife, 2 children, the best cars (and many of them), huge home (many of them too), lots of talent, good looks, plenty of money and endorsements. He had everything and yet, clearly he was not very happy with things.
I encourage you to "deny" yourself of the worldly things that may stand in your way of a better relationship with God over the next 40 days. Go against what our culture says is the key to happiness and get for maybe the first time in your life...deny yourself of something. Do not make it something easy (many youth argue that school takes up lots of time and energy and blocks them from God).
The hardest thing I've ever given up was "fried food". Want to starve... try that one out.
Our pastor gives up bread...once again, something that will be terribly difficult.
In the past I've given up television, eating out, sodas and even cheese one year.
The point is we deny ourselves, so we can gain a bit more of Christ.
Do not just give up something so you may fill that space with something else.
I even think we miss out on a blessing when we do not "deny" ourselves something and just "add a good habit". It is a commendable thought, but how well does that work at New Years for most folks?
I hope you really challenge yourself this year during Lent and give up something that will take lots of effort on your part.
In those times that you are struggling with the temptation to give in, you should turn your focus to God and rely on God for strength.
After all, the whole idea and point of Lent is to prepare ourselves for the death and resurrection of Christ. Our focus all year should be on Christ, but this is a time to really evaluate where you are spiritually and do what you can to grow close to Christ.
This world tells us we are weak if we are patient and foolish if we "wait" on things. However, scripture tells us a very different story. Below, I'm just going to list a few of the scriptures that tells us maybe denying ourselves, being patient and relying on God are not signs of weakness, but signs of a wise man!
For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1
The Lord is my strength and song, he has become my salvation.
Psalm 118:114
We life in a culture that does not see patience and frugality as virtues, but rather signs of weakness. They are seen as being a sign of being lower on the totem pole.
The more you have, the better your social status. The faster you get it, the more impressive it appears.
Patience is laughed upon.
Denying yourself things is seen as foolish.
Why wait 2 years on your cell phone before getting something new? I mean, after two years, your cell phone will be ancient and should be put in a museum.
Why drive a car until it no longer runs, has dents in it and is over 200,000 miles. Even if it is much more financially responsible to do so, we convince ourselves that it is so much "safer" to get a new car.
I was once in a bible study where someone was asking for prayer request for their car...they were worried it would start malfunctioning and having problems now that it was approaching 100,000 miles. I laughed a bit and explained that I had never bought a car or had a car that had under 100,000 miles on it! My first car was finally parked at 307,000 miles. You didn't need a key to start the ignition, it didn't have interior door handles, and was an automatic for the first 100,000 miles of its life (and a manual the last 207,000 miles). That car was in my family for many years, without having to have a car payment. Believe it or not, we were all just fine not having "the newest car in the lot". If anything, I think we all learned valuable lessons about taking car of things and not having the greatest, newest car.
We definitely live in a "gotta, wanna, needa, getta, hava" society. We want it now, we want it to be the best. We convince ourselves that our "wants" are really "needs".
Today we enter a season of Lent in the church. Many people have a tradition of "giving up something" during this season. The idea is that we "deny" ourselves something for a period of 40 days, so that we may grow closer to God.
Isn't that kind of an odd idea and backwards of this world? If we want to grow closer to God...we deny ourselves. When considering what they want to give up for lent, I always ask the youth to think about things that stand between them and God. I tell them to just make a list of things they think hinder their relationship with God, things that take up their time or focus. Last year, one of the youth made the statement that "I'm going to have to give up an awful lot of things for lent then."
These things that we "gotta" have often are the very things that stand in our way of growing closer to God.
The things on our "wanna" list usually have more to do with our own pleasure, rather than our efforts to please or worship God.
Our only real "needa" is a closer relationship with our creator, our sustainer. Our real need is a closer relationship with the one who gives us true life and joy.
And yet, we chase so many things that prove time and time again do not bring real happiness to our lives.
By all worldly accounts, Tiger Woods had everything this world says you need to be happy.
He had a beautiful wife, 2 children, the best cars (and many of them), huge home (many of them too), lots of talent, good looks, plenty of money and endorsements. He had everything and yet, clearly he was not very happy with things.
I encourage you to "deny" yourself of the worldly things that may stand in your way of a better relationship with God over the next 40 days. Go against what our culture says is the key to happiness and get for maybe the first time in your life...deny yourself of something. Do not make it something easy (many youth argue that school takes up lots of time and energy and blocks them from God).
The hardest thing I've ever given up was "fried food". Want to starve... try that one out.
Our pastor gives up bread...once again, something that will be terribly difficult.
In the past I've given up television, eating out, sodas and even cheese one year.
The point is we deny ourselves, so we can gain a bit more of Christ.
Do not just give up something so you may fill that space with something else.
I even think we miss out on a blessing when we do not "deny" ourselves something and just "add a good habit". It is a commendable thought, but how well does that work at New Years for most folks?
I hope you really challenge yourself this year during Lent and give up something that will take lots of effort on your part.
In those times that you are struggling with the temptation to give in, you should turn your focus to God and rely on God for strength.
After all, the whole idea and point of Lent is to prepare ourselves for the death and resurrection of Christ. Our focus all year should be on Christ, but this is a time to really evaluate where you are spiritually and do what you can to grow close to Christ.
This world tells us we are weak if we are patient and foolish if we "wait" on things. However, scripture tells us a very different story. Below, I'm just going to list a few of the scriptures that tells us maybe denying ourselves, being patient and relying on God are not signs of weakness, but signs of a wise man!
For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!"
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!"
Psalm 37:7
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:25
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
Philippians 4:11
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
James 5:7-8
The Lord is my strength and song, he has become my salvation.
Psalm 118:114
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)