Bitter or Better

In a survey in Discipleship Journal Magazine (Nov.-Dec. 1992), readers reported that their greatest spiritual challenges came from...

1. Materialism
2. Pride
3. Self-centeredness
4. Laziness
5. Anger/Bitterness (Tie)
6. Sexual Lust (Tie)
7. Envy
8. Gluttony
9. Lying

Survey respondents noted that temptations seemed more potent when they neglected their time with God and when tired physically. Notice the “tie” between anger/bitterness and sexual lust. We don’t usually put the two that close together considering sexual lust much worse the anger/bitterness. Bitterness is a powerful and destructive force in so many lives.

The writer of Hebrews warns us, “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Hebrews 12:15 (NIV) He says nothing of the experience or pain that resulted in bitterness causing trouble and defiling. It is clearly the bitterness that causes the trouble or defiles us. This is actually encouraging because I cannot control the circumstances of my life altogether, but I am in complete control of my response to them.

Can I tell you, “Life is not fair.” God never promised anywhere in Scripture that life would be fair. God cannot even be described as a “fair” God. He is just and righteous. He does not change other people to fit our vision of what life should be like, but He helps us shape our attitude to fit His vision for our lives. But the key word there is “help.” The decision to change must be ours.

It’s an old story but one worth repeating. A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule
fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule "braying", or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well were worth the trouble of saving. Instead he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back.....HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself.

No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP! It was not long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL. What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him.....all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

THAT’’S LIFE! If we face our problems, respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness or self-pity... The adversities that come along to bury us usually have within them the potential to benefit and bless us to life us up instead of push us down!

Bitterness is a powerful force for destruction that can be conquered with God’s help.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive my sins as I forgive those who have sinned against. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

What are You Attempting That is Impossible?

Steve May, an author, speaker, and preacher wrote the following.

“Jesus said, ‘With God, all things are possible.’ (Matthew 19:26)

“This principle can -- and should -- be the driving force behind our efforts. It's not enough to play it safe, reaching only for goals within our grasp. Like Schuller has been challenging church leaders for decades, we should attempt things so great for the glory of God that unless he intervenes, we will certainly fail.

“Think about the goals and projects you're currently engaged in. Are there any impossible items on the list? Is there anything beyond your reach? If not, maybe it's time to aim a little higher.

“Jesus said, ‘With God, all things are possible.’ We need to remember what this promise does and doesn't imply.

“First, it doesn't imply that all things are easy. Accomplishing the impossible typically takes extended effort.

“Second, it doesn't imply that all things are immediate. Reaching worthwhile goals requires a long-term investment of time.

“Third, it doesn't imply that all things will be painless. Personal sacrifice is part of the process.

“It may not be easy, immediate, or painless, but for those willing to step out in faith, for those bold enough to trust God to do the impossible, the reward will always be greater than the investment. As Paul said...

“‘Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.’ (Ephesians 3:20-21)

“Check your list one more time. Is there any impossible thing in the works?” —by Steve May, author, speaker, preacher

According to Charles Haddon Spurgeon, God delights in impossibilities: "One man says, I will do as much as I can. Any fool can do that. He that believes in Christ does what he cannot do, attempts the impossible, and performs it."

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I pray as the disciples prayed, “increase my faith.” I want to live life in the faith zone... that place where I have to have You to accomplish what is on my plate. I already feel like I am there most days, but it is because the tasks are just too numerous not too big. Help me to remove the unnecessary, the insignificant distractions from my life to live the dream, the plan You have for me. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Extravagance and Love

A few years ago there was a true story about a man in New York City who was kidnaped. His kidnappers called his wife and asked for $100,000 ransom. She talked them down to $30,000.

The story had a happy ending: the man returned home unharmed, the money was recovered, and the kidnappers were caught and sent to jail. But, don't you wonder what happened when the man got home and found that his wife had actually haggled with the kidnappers over the price?

Try to imagine with me what the negotiations must have been like: "$100,000 for that old guy?! You have got to be kidding me. Just look at him! Look at that gut! Look at that bald head! What’s left is graying. You should hear him get out of bed in the morning. It sounds like a bowl of Rice Crispies, snap, crackle and pop. You want $100,000 for that? You have got to be kidding me. Give me a break! $10,000 is my top offer. $75,000? You’re still way too high! I’ll go to $20,000 and that’s it. $50,000? Oh, come on! I don’t have time for this. $30,000 take it or leave.”

Some reading this can identify with the wife in that story, but for some reason I find myself identifying with the husband. I'd like to think if it were me in that situation, there would be people who would spare no expense to get me back, especially my wife. They wouldn't haggle over the price. They wouldn't say, 'Well, let me think about it.' I’d like to think that they would say, “We'll do anything you ask to get him back alive."

I am forever grateful that Jesus didn’t bargain for me and for you. When He realized the ransom for rescuing us from death and destruction He did not back up or reconsider. He just laid down His life for us. There was no question whether the price was too high or whether we were worth it. I don’t know about you, but it would probably change my relationship with someone who paid a price to ransom me in this life. You’ve heard stories about the bond between those who have been saved by acts of bravery and the person who risked their life to save them. Or the bond between a person who received an organ transplant and the donor or the family of the donor. There is a special connection there.

If you feel or ever have felt worthless or less than valuable, if you ever question your importance to anyone just stop and think about the value that God has placed on your head. He gave his Son’s life for you. He watched them beat His Son without mercy till the Bible said in Isaiah that His faced was so disfigured He was not recognizable. God watched as they drove nails through His hands and feet, as they raised the cross in the air and dropped into the hole prepared for it causing every bone in His body to be disjointed. Read Psalm 22 for a graphic, prophetic description of the crucifixion. Not once did it say God had second thoughts. He considered you and me worth the price. Extravagant love!

All of us have experienced that moment when we had the opportunity to express love to someone special with a gift. When at other times we might look at the price tag and shop for a bargain, at this time we spare no expense. The price is not an issue. The relationship means everything. God did not spare even His own Son to save us. Let’s make His investment, His expression of love worthwhile. Let’s give Him a great return on His investment. Oh, I don’t mean by what we do. We could never do enough. I mean by how we love Him. Just love Him. How do we do that?

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)

We are told to love God extravagantly, withholding nothing. But how do we do that? Emotions and feelings aren’t enough for the human understanding. Then Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” That’s it! We love God by loving his children. We often say the way to the heart of a parent is to love their children. The way to the heart of God is to love His children. So love those around you (that’s what neighbors are), and you are loving God.

Prayer: Father God, thank You for loving me in a way I can never really imagine. Thank you for not bargaining for me, but just being willing to pay the price for my eternal salvation. Thank you Jesus, for laying down Your life for me. Help me, empower me to love You extravagantly and to live for You extravagantly. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

No Pain... No Gain

Well, it’s Monday... again. I am sure some of you are facing things today and this week that are, to put it mildly, challenging. You did your best to put it behind you for the weekend, but you did think about it. It is just so prominent right now it is difficult to just temporarily forget. If you’re not identifying with this right now you either have at some time in the past or will in the future so just read on and say a pray for those in the fight right now.

The truth is that the times of greatest growth in our lives, the times that have weeded out of us the attitudes that kept up from moving forward, the times that we look back on and probably even talk about the most are those difficult times. But we don’t talk about them in a negative way, even though it was a painful experience, because the result was very positive.

In “Byways of Blessedness,” author, James Allen, challenges us to embrace our circumstances. "Let a person rejoice when he is confronted with obstacles, for it means that he has reached the end of some particular line of indifference or folly, and is now called upon to summon up all his energy and intelligence in order to extricate himself, and to find a better way; that the powers within him are crying out for greater freedom, for enlarged exercise and scope.

"No situation can be difficult of itself; it is the lack of insight into its intricacies, and the want of wisdom in dealing with it, which give rise to the difficulty. Immeasurable, therefore, is the gain of a difficulty transcended." — James Allen in “Byways of Blessedness”

Maybe that’s the reason we can’t seemed to get past the present situation or struggle. There is a work to be done in us, a blessing to be gained in time... God’s time. Am I saying that God creates these evils we battle against? Absolutely not! But He does allow it as He did with Job. God knew that the end of the test would result not in Job’s destruction, but in the doubling of everything he had. Our greatest successes in life come through our greatest trials.

The apostle James told us this long before James Allen lived. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:2-5 (NIV)

Consider it PURE joy, not just joy but PURE joy. There is a key phrase in that Scripture. It is “not lacking anything.” God knows what we need and sometimes what we lack can only be gained through resistance or difficulty. He wants us to have everything.

Sometimes we feel like the soldier I read about. During the Civil War a Union soldier from Ohio was shot in the arm. His captain saw he was wounded and barked out an order, “Gimme your gun, Private, and get to the rear!”

The private handed over his rifle and ran toward the north, seeking safety. But after gong only about two or three hundred yards, he came upon another skirmish. So he ran to the east, and found himself in another part of the battle. Then he ran west, but encountered more fighting there.

Finally, he ran back to the front lines shouting, “Gimme back my rifle, Cap’n. There ain’t no rear to this battle nowhere!”

Author Emmet Fox, wrote, "It is the Law that any difficulties that can come to you at any time, no matter what they are, must be exactly what you need most at the moment, to enable you to take the next step forward by overcoming them. The only real misfortune, the only real tragedy, comes when we suffer without learning the lesson."

So let’s learn the lesson, get the wisdom, gain the knowledge and move on. But it takes patience, perseverance. It probably won’t happen in a day. Sometimes it takes longer, sometimes not so long. Just let “perseverance finish its work.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me today what I need to deal with today. Grant me the patience, the wisdom, the grace, and the strength to endure and finally overcome, and become what You have planned for me. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Worry or Worship?

Here it is Friday again. We are coming upon our Sabbath. For the Jews it begins this evening and continues to Saturday evening. For Christians we observe the Lord’s Day, Sunday. It is not the day that is so important but the principle of rest. Many of you today will walk away from the job, the office but you are still worrying about what didn’t get done, what has to be done next week. Some will be back in the office on your day off just because you would rather be there working than at home worrying about it (except you call it “thinking” about it). The truth is that we need the Sabbath rest from thinking and worrying about all of that. It will be there when we get back to the office on Monday. Worry is a useless destructive activity anyway.

I love this story. J. Arthur Rank, an English executive, decided to do all his worrying on one day each week. He chose Wednesdays. When anything happened that gave him anxiety and annoyed his ulcer, he would write it down and put it in his “worry box” and forget about it until the next Wednesday. The interesting thing was that, on the following Wednesday when he opened his worry box, he found that most of the things that had disturbed him the past six days were already settled. It would have been useless to have worried about them in the first place. (Source Unknown.)

Luke 12:22-29 (NLT) Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things.

Take a worry break. Take a Sabbath. Take time to worship. In fact, structure your life so that you don’t have to TAKE time or MAKE time to worship, but rather so that worship is the priority that overrides everything else. Parents, think about what we teach our children when week after week we allow other things to go before stopping all the wheels and going to the house of the Lord to worship. We are preaching loud and clear that God is second in our lives (or third or fourth). They get the message and then live it when they grow up. But that’s another message. This is about worry. You see taking a worship break is a remedy for my worry because when I focus on how great God is it certainly minimizes my worries if not eliminates them.

So, if LIFEchurch is where you worship we’d love to see you all this weekend. If you are in the DFW area and don’t have a place of regular worship come check us out. If you live outside the area find a place to break from the worries of life or if you are already committed to a local church in this area get there this weekend. You need the break from worry and worship will do it like nothing else.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for worrying for worrying is not trusting You. I do trust You. I have done all that I can do and trust You to do the rest. I have labored hard this week and trust You to bless my efforts. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me, and help me to be more faithful to You. Let’s You and Me take a worship break this Sunday. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

Giving and Forgiving

The following was in my inbox from Zig Ziglar...

“Truly successful people in life are givers and forgivers.”

“Ten days before Christmas the 200 Puerto Rican families in this particular parish gathered to each place $5 in the "pot," which was about a day's pay for a fruit picker. . . . Each family would write its name on a slip of paper. Then they would blindfold someone to draw the name of the family that would get to go home for Christmas--two glorious weeks on the island, and enough money to buy Christmas presents for everyone.

“Employee Phillip Kelly explains, "I went to the drawing that year, my first Christmas with the community, but it was going to be Wally Jansen's last. Wally was retiring after working 40 years with the company, and for the last 25 he had been the canning factory foreman."

“By 3 o'clock. . .the announcer called the committee onstage to witness the drawing. Then they called Phillip up to draw the name of the lucky family. He was blindfolded and led to the drum that included the names of the families. ‘I reached in, sorted out a handful, and finally settled on one,’ says Phillip. "I opened the slip of paper and read the name Wally Jansen. The cheers were deafening. Everyone surrounded him, hugging him, crying, congratulating him, wishing him a Merry Christmas and a joyous trip.’ During the commotion, Phillip casually reached back into the drum and drew out a handful of slips and opened a couple. ‘Each one, in different writing, carried the same name--Wally Jansen,’ he explained.

“I imagine that the Wally Jansen family was thrilled beyond words. But I believe the joy that each person felt, thinking that maybe he or she had written the name "Wally Jansen," which was drawn, was greater still. Think about that. Become a giver, and you will be happier on your trip to the top.”

Thank you Zig for a challenging word? Now, for a Word from the master teacher, Jesus.

“You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35 (NLT)

The word “blessed” in this Scripture is from the Greek word “makarios.” It is translated “blessed” in almost every instance in the New Testament. In a few other cases it is translated “happy.” It is the same word Jesus used in the Sermon on the Mount when He gave what we call The Beatitudes. We usually just stop with saying it means “happy” or “blessed.” Strongs concordance goes a little further explaining its meaning... “makarios (mak-ar'-ee-os); a prolonged form of the poetical makar meaning supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off.”

Then Mr. Ziglar speaks on the authority of the Bible that “truly successful people (supremely blessed, fortunate, well off) are givers and forgivers.” You see “giving” is sharing our substance in life or giving up our rights and privileges for the sake of others. “Forgiving” is giving up my right to feel angry, hurt, or offended and extending grace to the offender. To give is to bless. To forgive is to release.

How do you know if you NEED to forgive someone? If, when you think about them, the first thoughts you have are negative thoughts or angry thoughts or memories of how they wronged you or hurt you then you probably haven’t really forgiven them. How do you know you HAVE forgiven? You think about those things less and less. To forgive and totally forget is only possible for God. The human mind cannot totally forget, but we can choose not to dwell on it. When the thoughts do come we make the choice to replace them. When true forgiveness has taken place that becomes easier and easier.

Ask yourself with me, “How can I be a giver today? Who do I need to forgive today?” That’s a giant step toward success in life. Now, you can go do the other things like hard work, be creative and innovative, take calculated risks, dream big, etc. But if you do all these and do not become a giver and forgiver you will never achieve true success.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, show me how you want me to be a giver and a forgiver today. I want true success in life not the superficial success that just things brings, but the true success that living to give and forgive brings. Thank you, Jesus, for being the greatest giver of all. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger

The Best Preacher

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)

We develop classes on how to be a soulwinner. We teach the Roman Road. We memorize Scripture so we can lead people to Christ. We devise special days to get friends to come to church so they can have a chance to be saved. And I say, “Amen!” to all of that. It is important that we learn, train, memorize, and strategize, but in all that don’t forget that the greatest sermons we preach are preached without saying one word. In fact, those of us who have a propensity to talk can talk people right out of making a decision for Christ if we are not careful. Especially if what we say, and we do doesn’t match.

Jesus says if you really want to make a difference in the world and make a difference in someone’s life even leading them to Jesus try this.... LIVE RIGHT. Live differently than the world around you. Live Biblical values not the values of the world around you. Here’s how to do that...

Be faithful to your spouse.
Be the one at the office that refuses to cheat, but don’t then shout it to everybody. Just do it.
Be the neighbor who acts neighborly.
Be the employee who does the work and doesn’t complain.
Pay your bills.
Do your part and enjoy life.
Don’t participate in the gossip at the water fountain, or over the back fence.
Show up for work on time, and give eight hours (or whatever is expected) while you are there.
Don’t speak one message and then live another.

Remember that old saying? It’s so old it may be new to some of you. “What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear what you’re saying.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me so much to be grateful for. For every complaint I might have there are many things to be grateful for. Since that is the truth help me to more easily see the points of gratitude instead of the small inconveniences of life. Be my constant companion to cause me to think before I speak or act. Help me, because I really do want my life to be a light to others guiding them to You. AMEN.

Blessings!
Pastor Roger