Personal Revival

The desert could be a beautiful place to visit.  The rock formations, all the sand and the big blue sky are worth a visit once in a while.  I wouldn't want to live there but I would mind a visit, especially during the winter months. 

But there is one thing that depresses me about the desert, it lacks the evidence of vitality and life.  It actually looks dead to me.  Not a place I would want to establish a farm, that's for sure.  Very little would grow in that environment.  So why would God want to take us to the desert?

Hosea 2:14 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea%202&version=NIV1984) says, "Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her."

In the desert, we find that all the distractions are removed.  There is little internet connection,  little cell phone reception, no outlets to recharge laptops and Ipods, and miles of loneliness.  We are forced to slow down in the desert and actually listen to God.

What does God want to say to you right now?  Are there too many distractions that cause you to miss His whisper?   Get alone with your bible, away from the distractions and listen to God Word today.   

X-Ray: Sardis, Day 2

I love boats.  Weekends as a high schooler was devoted to the water with my friends and a speed boat.  We would ski, tube and just drive around enjoying the weather.

Something I've learned about the water is that you can easily drift without even knowing it.  One minute you are at one place and another you are 15 feet away from it.  This is where the anchor comes into to play.  The purpose of an achor is to keep one steady and in one place.

Because of the winds of society, we need to hold on to something that will keeps us steady and in one place.  That anchor is Jesus.

So, let me ask you, who are you anchored to, Society or Jesus?

Paul writes about this is 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1.  Read it or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+6%3A14-7%3A1&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return.)

Paul tells us that we need to be careful what we get connected to.  We have no benefit being anchored to the world but we have everything God has promised when we anchor our lives to Jesus Christ.

How do we know who we are anchored to?

First of all, if you are anchored to the world you will desire the things of this world and the personal pleasures it brings.  Or if you are anchored to Jesus, you will desire to please Him and do whatever it is He wants for your life.

Second of all, if you are anchored to the world you will find that your values are vastly different than the Biblical values presented in the Bible.  (i.e. money, sex, power, pleasure, work, etc.)

These are just a few ideas and thoughts to help us discover who we are connected to.

So, who are you anchored to? World? or Jesus?

As you close:  God knows how difficult it is to live in this world and be anchored to Him.  Ask Him for His guidance and strength to remain true to Him.

God Bless!

X-Ray: Sardis, Day 1

  I don't know if you realize this or not, but the battery in our cars are very important.  If you battery isn't working, you aren't going anywhere.

I have two vehicals that will need to have the batteries replaced pretty soon.  My van still has the original from 2004.  My truck still has its original and it's an 2007.  You can tell everytime I try to start them up that it takes a lot to turn over the engine.  My dad tells me that I'm running on borrowed time.

One day I went out to my vehical and it wouldn't start.  How frustrating is that.  I have places to be and people to see.  I don't have time for a dead battery.  Battery charger, here I come.  So why don't I just replace it?  Because I'm cheap!

There is something to be learned from this battery about the spiritual life.  It doesn't matter if you have a battery hooked up to the car, you still have to have the power the battery provides for the car to work.  Some people have dead batteries. 

There were many people in the church at Sardis who had the reputation of being alive, but they were dead on the inside.  Jesus saw that and pointed it out to them.  They need to wake up, return to Christ and follow Him.  This would be the battery charger they were in desperate need of. 

How do you know if your battery is dead spiritually? 

1.  If you don't care about God's leadership in your life, your battery is dead or dying.
2.  If you have a bible but don't care to read it and learn from it, your battery is dead or dying.
3.  If you think just being a nice person is all that you need to please God, your battery is dead or dying.

So how is your battery?

The Spirit is God desires to bring life to your battery.  Read about in Galatians 5:16-26 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A16-26&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

Live, led, keep in step with the Holy Spirit is your responsibility.

As you close:  Why not pray and ask God to help you to live by, be led by and to keep in step with the Spirit.  He will then begin to recharge your battery and you will see life begin again.

God Bless!

X-Ray: Pergamum, Day 2

Learning from yesterday, I decided to read a book last night.  What happened you say?  Well, I was speaking about being careful what influences us and I had a moment when I was not paying attention to what was influencing me.  Not this day.  So I started a book.  I thought, "I need to be careful what is influencing me, especially at night when I'm tired and my guard is down."  So last night I went to my personal library and looked through the titles.  I have some great books on my shelf but nothing was really sticking out for me.  Then I found it.  I remember wanting to read this book but everytime I thought about it, I was terribly busy and wouldn't be able to get to it yet.  Until now.

The book is called "Uprising."  I took this book off the shelf and began my journey through it.  So far, this book is focused on helping people experience the life that God intended them to experience.  We get used to the mundane and live there.  God has so much more for us and will we take Him up on the journey.

That reminds me of the time when Jesus invites the disciples on a journey.  He would be with them forever even though they wouldn't be able to see His face.  Read about it in Matthew 28:16-20 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A16-20&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

They were going on a journey to tell others about Jesus.  There will be some that will accept this good news and others who will reject.  Some will grow deep in their relationship with Christ and others will walk away.  And He will be with us the whole way.

But you have a choice to join Him on the journey or play it safe in the mundane.  So what will you choose to do?

That is the power of a good book.  This book has influenced me in one chapter. How will it impact me in chapter two.  But this couldn't have happened unless I cared about what was influencing me.

Do you care about the influences around you?  You should.  Take control and make sure a positive influence is on your shelf.

As you close:  Ask God to point out a book in the bible that He would want you to read and/or a book that would impact you in a specific area.  Ask Him.  He'll answer.

God Bless!

X-Ray: Pergamum, Day 1

Yesturday I had a Homer Simpson moment.  You know when he realizes he did something stupid and he says, "D'oh!!"  I was watching a show on Netflix and some language was being used that I find inapproapriate.  I let it go and my wife walked into the room and commented about it.  After a moment, I came to the conclusion, "Yeah. She's right.  Time to shut it off."

During church our pastor was talking about influence.  He was saying that we influence others by what we are influenced by.  That pastor is me.  I  remember what i said, but the problem was, I wasn't living it out. 

Do you ever catch yourself in moments like that?  I know I shouldn't be watching this or doing that or saying something inapproapriate.  It doesn't matter what you know.  What is matters is what you do with what you know.  Thank God for do overs.

The disciples had a moment like that.  They said something that Jesus did not like.  He even rebuked them for saying it.  Read about it in Luke 9:51-56 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A51-56&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

Really?  Call down fire on them?  What they were saying was, "They should be killed. Eliminated."  Jesus had been teaching them about love and mercy and this is what the disciples come away with.  This was the disciples "D'oh!!" moment.  Open mouth insert foot moment. 

But the good news it, they moved on.  Jesus gave them a second chance.  They would need a lot more when this journey was over and Jesus was full of fresh starts.

Be careful who is influencing you.  And when someone points out a dangerous influence, listen to them.  Think about it.  And start over fresh.

As you close:  Ask God if there is anything in your life that is bad influence.  We become blind to those influences and we need His help to discover them.

God Bless!

28 Days of Loving - Day 5

I'm sure many of you have watched the Toy Story movies with your kids, or grandkids, or even for yourself.  They are fantastic movies.

During the first movie, the audience is introduced to a child named Sid.  Sid is an evil boy.  He loves to play with toys, but he loves to destroy and recreate toys even more.   Sid is the villian in the movie. He makes parents think, "If he were my child, he would be disciplined."

Children are precious to all of us.  Our children's future is especially important to us.  We want our children to grow up and be valued members of society.  To use their talents to better our society and to raise a family to do the same.  To love God and live for Him.  So, how are we doing with these goals?

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way they ought to go and when they are old, they will not turn from it."  Our job is to train them up.  To train means to discipline.  To teach and guide them in what is right and good.  It is our job to parent them.

Moses tells us how to train them up to love God.  Read about it in Deuteronomy 6 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

Talk about God when you sit down in the privacy of your own home.  Talk about God on the road when you are out and about in society.  Talk about God through out your day, when you rise and when you go to sleep.  God is meant to be in your whole day.  That is how you instill a love for God in your children.

Too often parents keep God in the church building.  Couldn't He come into your home?  When was the last time you prayed together?  Read the Bible together? Talked about Godly things together?  Talked about His wisdom in making good decisions?

As you close:  Thank God for children and thank Him for the privilege in parenting.  Ask Him for His help to raise them to love Him completely.  Ask for His help in talking about Him at home and at various moments in life.

God Bless!

28 Days of Loving - Day 4

My wife and I were at a wedding this past Fall.  Some old friends were getting married and they had asked Tiffany and I to join them for the ceremony.  We accepted their invite and had a weekend getaway from all of our responsibilities.

At lunch, prior to the wedding, Tiffany and I got into an arguement.  Suffice it to say, we were not in too good of a mood and then to head off to a wedding made it worse.  I'm sure she was thinking, "How can I warn the bride of the impending doom she is about to commit to?"  I was thinking, "I hope he has a lot of patience.  He is going to need it." 

At the reception, which is where this picture was taken, I was reminded again of my own wedding day.  Almost 15 years ago, Tiffany and I were in the same shoes of these two newlyweds.  She is a wonderful woman even though she has bad days.  I hope the same can be said of me.  We were dancing on the dance floor, yes I know how to cut a good rug, and I had one of those moments.  The kind of moments when the world stops and you thank God for the spouse whom God brought to you.  The argument faded and the ride home was much more sweet.  All in all, it was a good weekend.

But, am I the kind of husband God wants me to be?  His Word explains a few thoughts about marriage.  Read Ephesians 5:22-33 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A22-33&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

God tells us to love our wife and for a woman to submit to her husband.  This is the love and respect principle in marriage.

How are you doing with this?  If you are brave, consider asking your spouse how they feel you are doing.  It may open up a new avenue of dialogue that you've never had before.

As you close:  Thank God for your spouse and ask for His help to be the kind of spouse He longs for you to be.

God Bless!