Setting the Bar

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12

In Paul's letter to Timothy we find this verse that is encouraging Timothy to be an example and to set the "bar" so to speak. Various studies conclude that Timothy was anywhere between his late twenties to mid thirties at the time. I love the charge Paul gives to Timothy for two reasons.

First of all it brings conviction. Think about it. Can you think of a time when someone younger than you set a better example of Godliness in a certain situation? Maybe you lost your temper and someone else didn't. Maybe you had bitterness & unforgiveness in your heart and you saw someone younger forgive and reconcile a relationship. How did you feel? Did the Holy Spirit bring conviction in your heart? It doesn't matter how young you are or how old you are, the point is we need to set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

Secondly it challenges us to lead. Many of us are afraid to lead because we are afraid to fail. If you are afraid to fail I have news for you, you already have. That is the whole point of why Christ had to come and die. Through Him all things were made new and there is freedom and forgiveness in Christ. We can now rise every time we fall. We don't have to stay down. Through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit we can get back up after our failures, we are forgiven and free and can move forward with what the Lord has for us.

Timothy needed to lead, I need to lead, you need to lead, we all need to lead. We need to set the bar in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. We must not be afraid to fail. We all have people that look up to us in our lives. I truly believe there are many Christians with this intense amount of love, passion, and purpose inside of them and Satan has them bound by fear. The moment you realize that Christ wants you to be alive to shine and you start setting the bar and leading in these areas that bound up passion and desire for Christ will come flowing out. Matthew 6:14-16 sums it up:

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Banana Pudding

"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." - Romans 12:10

I was blessed to spend this week in southeast Oklahoma with 30 high school students ministering to a Native American community. We spent our days cleaning, putting up drywall, building a fire pit, and fixing a water line. In the evenings we put on a VBS for a local Native American church. One evening at VBS Don had the youth from Ohio meet one of the locals and find out something about them. One student met a man named Charles and found out that Charles's favorite desert was banana pudding. The young man continued to build a relationship with Charles throughout the night. Snack time eventually came and as the young man came to the desert line he saw banana pudding. There was only a spoonful left. As he put the last of the banana pudding in his bowl he then proceeded to find Charles. He asked him if he had a chance to have any of the pudding. Charles's said that he hadn't been through the line yet so he gave him the last of the banana pudding. It was neat to see Charles's reaction when he saw that the young man remembered he liked banana pudding and gave him the last of it.

How do you care for people? Are you listening to them? Are you encouraging them? One thing that God taught me this week is that God doesn't forget about anyone. He cares for everyone everywhere no matter how desolate the place. He also cares that we care. Would I have ate the banana pudding or would I have thought to give it to Charles? I guarantee that Charles's will remember the kindness and thoughtfulness of that young man sharing the banana pudding with him. My prayer for myself and for you today is that we would be children of God who outdo one another in love for each other. That we would encourage one another and care for people.

Just Smile

Seriously, just smile. Right now, do it! A big cheesy smile. How does that make you feel? What emotions are associated with your smile?

I tend to be a driven person so when God really grabbed a hold of my heart I have had this intense desire to be God's boy. I also tend to be a mind person more than a heart person so I often have spiritual battles in my head. Recently Satan has been hammering me with feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, and confusion. Today I was getting frustrated with everything going on in my head and just had to get out of the house. I went to the track and decided sprints would help. With my Ipod on I began sprinting as fast as I could around the track. As I was running (and eventually walking) I was praying and just asking God to take this feelings and thoughts. I wanted to submit them to Him. After a few laps I just felt God say in a calm whisper, "just smile."

All those thoughts in my head disappeared and I had this big smile on my face as I kept running. I kept running for about 15 more minutes and the whole time I was smiling. As I continued on I was convicted about my lack of trust in God. All the thoughts and feelings in my head were flowing out of situations that I wanted to control. Since I didn't have the answers I wanted, Satan was using that to make a mess in my head. God had to bring me back to the simplicity of faith. I had to ask myself, "Do I trust God?" My answer out of my mouth was "yes" but the answer "yes" that I need is from my life. Am I living a life fearlessly? Is my trust in God evident in my decisions, choices and lifestyle? In those things I can't control can do I believe God is working it out for my good?

We are creatures of control. We want to control our circumstances, our future, and ourselves. If you are like me you want everything to be planned out. The enemy wants us to forget that God is in control and wants us to think that we are. The reason we need to "just smile" is understanding and knowing that we are not in control. Think about it. Doesn't that relieve a lot of pressure? YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL! Is that scary for you think about? Logically think about it. If you could pick anyone in the world to be in control of your life who would it be? Would you pick yourself or God who created you? The problem is God has created us to be submissive to His control yet we fight Him for it everyday. You ARE in God's hands, not your own hands. Isn't that a refreshing and comforting thought? How can that not make you smile?

Today I had to seek God and ask for forgiveness. I needed to turn and repent from a Travis centered life to a God centered life. Today let God be God and just smile knowing that God is in control, that He loves you unconditionally, and you are His!

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

The Service of Passionate Devotion

Today I was reading from my favorite devotional, "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. I wanted to share some thoughts from that devotional from June 19th with you.

• Jesus did not say to make converts to your way of thinking, but He said to look after His sheep, to see that they get nourished in the knowledge of Him.
• Jesus Christ calls service to be what we are to Him, not what we do for Him.
• Discipleship is based solely on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on following after a particular belief or doctrine.
• So many people are devoted to causes and so few are devoted to Jesus Christ.
• Our Lord's primary obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of people - the saving of people was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father.

Putting On Forgiveness

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive." - Colossians 3:12-13

Do you realize that you are a chosen one of God? Did you know that you are holy and beloved by the God of all creation? Seems hard to believe doesn't it? The truth is we must believe this, we must know that we are chosen, holy, and beloved. The reason we must know this is so we can act in accordance to what we are. Everything that Paul lists in this passage are characteristics that flow out of us when we are believing the truth about who we already are in Christ. The problem is when we forget or start listening to the world's perception of who we are and not God's truth. Many times we create labels about ourselves that hide the truth about what God has already said about us. One thing that is hard for many of us to believe is that our mistakes can't label us forever, we are forgiven and free in Christ Jesus.

Of the list that Paul lays out Forgiveness in my experience seems to be the hardest for many people. We tend to have a hard time forgiving ourselves as well as forgiving others. Is it hard for you to forgive? If the answer is "yes" have you then asked yourself "why?" How often do you think about the cross? Are you constantly reminded or do you feel the weight of forgiveness that Jesus Christ gave to us? Or do you have a sense of entitlement? America has taught many of us that we deserve to be treated a certain way, that we have rights, and that we have the right to justice. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if we really want a right to justice that means we all deserve to go to Hell. If it would not be for the grace of God shown through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we would still be dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2). When we truly feel the weight of the grace and mercy of God and that we are chosen, holy, and beloved already forgiveness becomes part of our nature. We actually look forward to suffering and showing grace to others because that is what Christ did for us. Many times we want mercy but don't want to give mercy.

My challenge for you today is to put on forgiveness. I learned a few years back to stop saying "I'm sorry." That is not a Biblical response to a sin you commit against someone. A Biblical response is to admit the sin, repent and ask for forgiveness. It is more difficult to ask for forgiveness than to say your sorry. Asking for forgiveness vs. saying your sorry may be more difficult for you but it will build Godly character and strengthen relationships. Today remember the one who forgave you and then put on forgiveness.

Where's your focus?

The following is an excerpt from "This Day With the Master", a devotional written by Dennis Kinlaw.

"We often tell people that they should receive Christ. Yet we must remember the words of Jesus: "Follow Me." The two appeals have very different connotations. The first appeal implies a certain need in us, an emptiness, a guilt, a lostness. The center of concern is the human self and the fact that Christ can meet each person's need.

The connotation of "Follow me" is quite different. The central focus is on Christ, not on ourselves. It means refocusing our lives, not around ourselves and our lacks, but around him and his call. It speaks of our losing control and yielding to him. Suddenly our whole horizon changes, and it includes the Cross...

...Beware of any presentation of the gospel that stops with receiving and does not talk about following. Salvation is not in an experience. It is in Christ, and we must walk with him if we would experience that saving power. Salvation comes through his presence..."

Where is your central focus? Is Christ your center? It is so easy in life to allow ourselves to become the center and lose sight of the Cross of Christ. The command to "Follow me" is not an easy one, it requires constant refocusing of the center of our lives because of flesh fights to be the center. I want to encourage you today to take time with your Savior. Evaluate where the center of your focus has been and ask God to help you keep him at the center of everything you do.

Desperate

Yesterday Lincoln and I were driving and we were both in the mood for some rap music. There is very little good rap music out there in my opinion. One guy I really enjoy is Lecrae. His lyrics are rich and real and it sounds awesome. As we were driving the song Desperate really hit home for both of us and I wanted to share the lyrics with you. Maybe you have felt like he is describing in this song, I know I have.

[Verse 1]
Woke up this morning too depressed and shamed to leave my bed
Cant stand to see my own reflection so I hang my head
feel like a disappointment like the scum of the earth
I'm so hurt I know you see I cant cover my dirt
my souls dying hearts weak and I cant even cry
I'm sposed to run to you but WHY I'm such an evil guy
The sun's shining but for me it's the darkest of days
Try to pretend it never happened but the guilt remains
I leave the house it feels like everybody knows I did it
Feel like they reading my mind and know the sin I committed
Through your blood I'm aquitted but my heart doesnt get it
Oh God I'm desperate for Help cause I'm grieving your Spirit
I couldn't sing in the sunday service, Lord I felt fake
and when they started communion I just made an escape
I'm in need of your grace/ feels like you hid your face
Lord Lead me back to cross and show me my sins erased

I'm so desperate, I can't believe I've sinned against you
Create in me a clean heart (I'm so sorry)
Your mercy is what I need

[Verse 2]
I'm waste deep in my pity Is Satan tryna trick me
and tell me you wont forgive me cause it's startin to get me
Jesus help me quickly I hate the wrong I've done
I know we all fall but I feel like the only one
Feels like I should be shunned should I punish myself
I know it's dumb cause by your death all my sin has been dealt
But my sin is been felt I didn't want to do it
but what I want to do I don't I swear I'm goin through it
I'm tryna open up my bible need to read your pages
need you Lord but my guilt has got me feeling so faithless
Help me see where grace is take me back to the basics
help me find my joy in you and not people and places
my sin is ever before me I turned my back on you
Oh father break and restore me to bring me back to you
my sin is ever before me I turned my back on you
God break and restore me to bring me back to you

[Verse 3]
have mercy on me God according to your steady love
wipe away my transgressions and wash me in your blood
Create in me a clean heart renew a right spirit
Don't hide your face from me God your Presence keep me near it
I'm waiting patience on you Lord I know you hear my cry
Restore your Joy in me for you alone I live and die
It's you I Glorify cause you don't want my sacrifice
you want me broken and contrite trusting in the Christ
I confess to you my sin and you show me mercy
I turn away from it demonstrating that you are worthy
over lust, over pride, over all sin
is my affection for Jesus who died for all them
I was lost now I'm found I was toss to the ground
My sin weighed on me heavy but I am no longer bound
As sure as Christ wear the crown I know that grace will abound
And even when I feel lost I know in You I am found

Under the Wings of God

He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

- Psalm 91:4

Have you ever pictured yourself under the wings of God? Have you come to take refuge under them? I love the picture of God covering us with his feathers and us taking refuge under his wings. It lets us know that God is ultimately in control. That we have security in Christ, that we can trust in him. The word refuge means a shelter or protection from danger or distress. In the hard times or in our struggles often times we run away from the wings of God. This could be for a number of reasons but many times we just don't trust God. We don't believe that he will protect us from danger or distress. It is in these times we need to run under the wings of God. We need to ask him to help us believe and trust in him and to know he is in control. John Piper in his book "Sweet & Bitter Providence" writes,

"When you believe in the sovereignty of God and that he loves to work mightily for those who trust him, it gives a freedom and courage that isn't abandoned in hard times."

Today I challenge you to picture yourself under the wings of an Almighty, Loving, Powerful God. A God who forgives sin and remembers them no more (Jeremiah 31:34). My prayer is that you will find refuge under the wings of God!

The Patience of Faith

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers is one of my favorite devotionals. If you don't have a copy of it you need to grab one. I want to share with you part of the devotional from May 8th.

"Faith is not a pathetic sentiment, but robust vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. You cannot see Him just now, you cannot understand what He is doing, but you know Him. Shipwreck occurs where there is not that mental poise which comes from being established on eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the heroic effort of your life; you fling yourself in reckless confidence on God.

God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us, now He wants us to venture our all in abandoned confidence in Him. There are spots where that faith has not worked in us as yet, places untouched by the life of God. There were none of those spots in Jesus Christ's life, and there are to be none in ours. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee." The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we take this view, life becomes one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvelous things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power."

Are you established on eternal truth?

Do you walk with reckless confidence on God?

This may seem like it describes a radical Christian. You may think I know only a few people with that type of radical trust and faith. The question is do you want that type of radical faith and trust in God? Are you willing to ask God for it because he wants to give it to you. It may be radical but it is also Biblical. Today ask God for a robust, vigorous confidence in Him!

Reflections from Prayer & Fasting

Once a month the ministry has a prayer and fasting day. It is usually a Monday and we spend all morning and afternoon praying. We usually break the fast around 3:30 or 4:00pm. This past Monday we had an awesome time of seeking the Lord, praying for friends, community, the town of New Philadelphia, and just surrendering our lives and ministry to God. Here are some thoughts and verses that spoke to me this past Monday...

"For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." - Psalm 107:9

"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised." - Psalm 113:3

"The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us..." - Psalm 118:27a

"...Your restoration is what we pray for." - 2nd Corinthians 13:9b

Restoration implies a bringing back to a position or relationship. The important thing to remember is that when we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ we are redeemed. We are adopted as sons of God and have the Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (Eph. 1:13-14). At times our fellowship with God fades. We focus on ourselves and sin starts to creep in and distance our fellowship from Christ. It is a "Slow Fade" like the Casting Crowns song. As I was praying Monday God just reminded me to pray for restoration. To restore my fellowship with Him. To remove all the stuff I have placed in between us that is keeping me from Him. So today I pray for restoration in your life. I ask that you would draw near to God and you will enjoy the fullness of joy we have in Christ.