Deep Thoughts and Shallow Musings by Pastor Carl

Who Is He?

2011-04-18T08:49:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope your week is off to a great start.

Yesterday was the annual observance of Palm Sunday. In the original account from scripture we find that many people came to see Jesus that day for a variety of reasons. Some were curious, as they had heard all of the talk about this man named Jesus.   Others were there with an agenda, hoping that Jesus would become the political leader who would remove them from Roman governance. Others who came had no idea who Jesus was and still others came hoping to find fault with him.

Unfortunately many people in all world today are represented by this crowd. Seeing Jesus not for who He truly is, but instead trying to make him who they want him to be.   The reality of Jesus is this:

John 1:1 (NASB)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
If Jesus is not who the Bible says He is....then our faith is in vain.   If Jesus was just a good man, a teacher, a martyr the his work on the cross would to atoning and complete.   It is the reality of Jesus that makes our relationship to him, such a powerful thing.   It also means that when we try to shape him to our own way of thinking, we diminish the role in our lives that is rightfully his.

This week take some time to ponder the reality of who Jesus truly is and what his death, burial and resurrection ultimately mean to you.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

He Wasn't Persuasive

2011-01-24T10:28:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NASB)
1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

This morning I wanted to spend a few moments considering these words written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth. They give us a wonderful picture of not only what made Paul's ministry so effective, but they also challenge us to consider how we conduct ourselves. Paul was a highly trained Pharisee, schooled in the law and traditions of his faith. It would have been easy for Paul to use intellectual arguments and reasoning as he went about his ministry, since he had the training to do so. Paul instead chose to focus on nothing other than Jesus Christ. In doing so, the power of the Holy Spirit was able to work freely through him. It was this demonstration of power that was so life changing to so many.

Today I want to challenge you to examine your own life. Have you committed yourself to forgetting all that you know for the sake of only knowing Jesus. When we begin to make this adjustment in our life that we see the power and presence of God begin to work through us and all around us. In our interactions with others, they may not remember the words that we spoke, but they know that what was said was powerful. This is the beauty of our relationship with Jesus. When we let go of the reins, He begins to do things in and through us that we could never imagine otherwise.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

To The Extent It Depends On You

2011-01-17T10:43:00.000-05:00

Today in the U.S. we are observing a national holiday commemorating the life and work of the late Dr. Martin Luther King. This day has been set aside to remember his work towards the goal of racial equality in our country.

This brought the following scripture to my mind today:

Romans 12:18 (NASB)

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Peace is something we all search after, but sometimes peace seems difficult to find. In reality, the process of peace begins with us. To whatever degree we can influence the situation, we ought to be proactive in that direction. We cannot control the views, opinions and prejudices of others, but we can control those things in our lives. Often times our willingness to lay down our biases is the very catalyst that brings about resolution to the tension we've been experiencing.

Today I encourage you to examine the places in your life in which there is a lack of peace in your relationship with someone else. Ask the Lord to show you the ways that you can change those things that are within your control to help foster an atmosphere of peace.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Surrounded on Every Side

2010-11-29T09:28:00.000-05:00

Good morning. I hope you had a great weekend.

2 Chronicles 32:1, 9-15 (NASB)
1 After these acts of faithfulness Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified cities, and thought to break into them for himself.

9 After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem while he was besieging Lachish with all his forces with him, against Hezekiah king of Judah and against all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying, 10 "Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, 'On what are you trusting that you are remaining in Jerusalem under siege ? 11 'Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give yourselves over to die by hunger and by thirst, saying, "The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria "? 12 'Has not the same Hezekiah taken away His high places and His altars, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, "You shall worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn incense "? 13 'Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands ? Were the gods of the nations of the lands able at all to deliver their land from my hand ? 14 'Who was there among all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed who could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand ? 15 'Now therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand ?'"

There are times in our lives when we seem to to be surrounded on all side by an enemy that is dead set on our destruction. This enemy takes on many different forms including: Financial distress, sickness and interpersonal conflict to name a few. As these things press in on us they seem to taunt our faith, calling us to doubt and fear. This was the tactic used by Sennacherib as he and his army pressed in upon King Hezekiah and the people of Judah.

When we are confronted with these types of challenges, we have two choices. We can either give in to our fear or we can press hard into the Lord. In the case of King Hezekiah, he chose the latter and in doing so he witnessed the power of God working on His behalf.

2 Chronicles 32:20-22 (NASB)
20 But King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried out to heaven. 21 And the LORD sent an angel who destroyed every mighty warrior, commander and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned in shame to his own land. And when he had entered the temple of his god, some of his own children killed him there with the sword. 22 So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.

Today you may find yourself up against a challenge that seems insurmountable. Choose to lean upon the Lord and not give fear foothold in your life. Let God demonstrate His power in your circumstances for all to see.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Enjoy Your Rest

2010-11-22T10:18:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Exodus 33:14 (NASB)
And He said, "My presence shall go with you, and I
will give you rest."

In this fast paced world we have learned to milk
maximum work out of every minute of our days. We
seem to go non-stop from the time we open our eyes
in the morning until the time we lay our heads on
the pillow at night.   In this hectic pace we
often end up neglecting our bodies of much needed
rest.   Thankfully, God gives us opportunities to
be refreshed, but are we willing to take them?

All too often I find that when God gives me an
opportunity to rest, I use that opportunity to try
and accomplish just a few more things and I end up
squandering the blessing the Lord had intended for
me.   When these opportunities are made available
we need to trust that God is looking after the
details of life. Just as we can trust Him with
eternity, we can also trust Him with those extra
periods of rest that he affords to us.

If you are finding yourself worn down these days,
I encourage you to look for those gifts of rest
that God is offering to you.   Don't be afraid to
take advantage of them, the things that would
normally occupy that time will still be there when
you rest is complete, but you will be more
energized in your undertaking of those tasks.
This week is Thanksgiving here in the United
States, a time to take some down time to reflect
and be thankful. I urge you take full advantage
of this time and view as a gift from God to
refresh your body, mind and spirit.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be
yours this week.

Carl

Carl Willis
PO Box 61125
Corpus Christi, TX 78466-1125
www.simplicitynet.org
troubles.carlwillis.com

Staying on Task

2010-11-15T10:37:00.002-05:00

Haggai 1:9 (NASB)

9 "You look for much, but behold, it comes to little ; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why ?" declares the LORD of hosts, "Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house.

I have had Attention Deficit Disorder for most of my life.   As a child, my teachers were always after me to "stay on task." I get sidetracked with something that caught my attention and would end up neglecting the actual work I should have been doing. The end result was time outs in the corner, grades that were not stellar and a whole lot of frustration on everyone's part.

Unfortunately, many of us are also guilty of having spiritual Attention Deficit Disorder.   We get so preoccupied with the things of this life that we end up ignoring the things God has put before us.   This was certainly the case with the people in Haggai's time.   They had allowed the Lord's temple to lie in ruins for years as they focused on building up houses and wealth for themselves. In a similar fashion to my teachers, God had disciplined them for their choices. Their crops were not as productive, they were working twice as hard for half as much as God sought to bring them back to His purpose for their lives.

Today you may find yourself feeling like a hamster on a hamster wheel. You are running and running, but not really finding yourself going anywhere. I would encourage you to step back and evaluate whether you are focused in on the tasks God has put before you.   The stationary place you find yourself in, may simply be His way of getting your attention, so that He can direct you back to His plans and purposes for your life.

In the end, your decision to focus once again on the things of God will bring about greater blessings in your life.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Do You Really Want To Get Well?

2010-11-08T09:16:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

John 5:6-8 (NASB)
6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, "Do you wish to get well ?" 7 The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me." 8 Jesus said to him, "Get up, pick up your pallet and walk."

This is one of my favorite accounts of healing recorded in scripture, because it reveals what is so often our condition. Notice how this dialogue goes. When Jesus asks the man if he wants to get well, the man answers with all of his reasons why he can't get well.   Even though the man wanted nothing more than to be healed, he had already become convinced of the impossibility of that healing ever taking place.

Jesus response is equally as insightful. Jesus didn't take time to acknowledge or refute the reasons this man has given; however, Jesus does instruct him to pick up the symbols of the symbol of his helpless condition. The pallet has no place in the life of a man who has been set free.

Today, Jesus is giving many of us the same line of questioning..."Do you wish to.....?"   He's not interested in our reasons for being in the condition that we are in. Instead, He is interested in our desire to move beyond those conditions and circumstances.   That desire is the fuel for our faith and it is our faith that allows us to touch the life changing power of God.   Once we reach out to touch that power, the symbols of our helplessness no longer have a place in our life.   They represent a life that once was, but is no more.

If you find yourself in a helpless state today, it may be time to answer the question "do you wish to get well?"   God will give you all you need to rise above any circumstance, if you will only let Him.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

www.simplicitynet.org
troubles.carlwillis.com

No Turning Back

2010-10-18T10:32:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

1 Kings 19:19-21 (NASB)
19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth . And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. 20 He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" 21 So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.

There are times when God gives us a new direction in life. These times often require us to leave the comfort and security of things we know and love, to enter into a place of uncertainty.   To follow requires great trust in God's sustaining hand.

I pointed to the account of Elisha's calling today, because of the way Elisha dealt with his choice. He closed the door to his past life in a dramatic way. Once the decision was made, there was no turning back for him.   I find that all too often, we try to keep our foot in the door, just in case things don't work out. By doing so we declare with our actions that we do not fully trust God's direction or provision.

Today, God may be calling you in a new direction in your life. Are you willing to cut the lines to the securities of your past, so that you can move forward into the fullness of God's plan for you life?   I hope today you will choose the best and not simply settle for "good enough."

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

A New Direction

2010-10-11T10:13:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Acts 22:6-15 (NASB)
6 "But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, 7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'   8 "And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord ?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.'   9 "And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10 "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord ?' And the Lord said to me, 'Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.'   11 "But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus. 12 "A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing near said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight !' And at that very time I looked up at him. 14 "And he said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. 15 'For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard.

There are times in our life when we need a radical shift in our lives and God intersects us to bring about the change that is necessary. Saul was one of the people we find in scripture. He was a zealous pharisee who would stop at nothing to bring an end to the spread of the Christian faith.   God had a greater plan for Saul, but it would take a powerful experience to reshape him into the man we know as the Apostle Paul.

I find that many times in life God takes me far outside of my comfort zone, often to a place of utter helplessness in order to bring about a shift in my life.   These become some of the defining moments that, just as Paul is doing here, become the testimony of God's work in my life.   When God brings me into those times there are generally two things that happen. First my viewpoint adjusts to conform more with His will. Second, there is generally a new assignment that comes with these experiences.

Today you may find yourself way out of your comfort zone and perhaps even flat on your back. Pay close attention as God is seeking to bring about His purposes in you. With this experience will come new vision, renewed strength and a testimony that you will share for years to come.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Only Believe

2010-10-03T22:18:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

In Mark 5 we read the account of Jairus. Jairus was a synagogue leader whose daughter was deathly ill.   Jairus came to Jesus, believing that the touch of His hand would bring healing to the young girl.   Jesus is delayed when a woman with severe bleeding touches the hem of His garment.   While Jesus is speaking to the woman, Jairus is informed that his daughter has died. I want to focus on Jesus' response:

Mark 5:35-36 (NASB)
35 While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died ; why trouble the Teacher anymore ?" 36 But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe."

Maybe you've been there. At your wits end, holding out hope for a miracle.   You know Jesus is the key to that miracle, but the answers to your prayers are not coming quickly. Others are having their prayers answered and it seems like Jesus has forgotten about your request.   Then before you know it, things actually get worse.

As you watch your dream die, the words of Jesus ring in your ears: "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe."   In the case of Jairus, they arrive at the house to find people in mourning. Jesus dismisses the crowd and enters the girl's room. He takes her by the hand and raises her to her feet, alive and well.   In the end Jairus received the thing he was seeking to being with...a daughter who was well. It was the journey to get there that took great faith.

I find often times that God takes me to the end result I was asking for, but the journey to get there takes me into some of my deepest doubts and fears.   By going through these places of my soul, my faith is ultimately strengthened and the glory of God is revealed to an even greater degree.

Today you may be waiting for prayers to be answered. Don't lose hope, but simply believe. God is working in ways you can't even imagine.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Teach Me Your Ways

2010-09-27T01:25:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This week I was working on some training videos for my business team. In these videos I took them step by step through different tools and techniques I use for online marketing. These videos were put together to reproduce my skill sets in the team, so that they can accomplish the same outcomes as I do.

Psalm 25:4 (NASB)
Make me know Your ways, O LORD ; Teach me Your paths.

The Christian life is all about God reproducing His holy ways in us. It begins with the desire to become a greater reflection of Him everyday. Without this desire, we will never undertake the process of transformation that is required for us to draw closer to Him. God honors our desire by revealing His nature to us day by day. As we apply that which is revealed to us, we find God's presence becoming more and more evident in our daily lives.

Today I would encourage you to seek out the ways of God. Ask Him to show you His ways and then step into those ways as they are revealed to you.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Complete Renovation

2010-09-13T10:30:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Over the weekend, I moved my marketing blog from the Quickblogcast system to Wordpress.   This changed required me to not only re-design the appearance of the blog, but I also had to rebuild the entire infrastructure of the blog.   In the end, the only thing that remained the same is the website address and the posts I had made to the original blog.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature ; the old things passed away ; behold, new things have come.

The same could be said of the transformation that takes place when we put our faith in Jesus. He begins a transformation process that not only changes our outward presentation to the world, through a change in word and deed, but he also does an interior renovation as well.   Our thoughts and feelings are transformed by the presence of the Holy Spirit. We begin to see with spiritual vision not just physical sight. The only thing that remains when this process is complete is our name and the experiences of our lives, everything else is made new.

As you examine your life today, you may see evidence of this ongoing renovation project.   Don't get impatient for the work to be finished, in due time the transformed you will be on display and the world will see the glory of Christ displayed through you.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Are You Trying To Lend God a Helping Hand?

2010-08-30T10:42:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Genesis 16:1-4 (NASB)
1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid ; perhaps I will obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. 4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived ; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight.

Have you ever tried to give God a helping hand? I think at some point all of us are guilty of doing that very thing. Abraham and Sarai were a perfect example. God had promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great and mighty people, even though his wife Sarai had been barren and they were advanced in age. The fulfillment of that promise was not immediate in coming and as the years passed it seemed to be out of the realm of possibility. So Sarai decided it was time to give God a helping hand. She offered her maid Hagar to her husband, that she might give birth to a child for him.

In the end, Hagar did end up giving birth, but this was not the joyous celebration Sarai had imagined. In fact it became a source of great conflict and resentment. When we seek to assist God in bringing about His promises, we often end up in the same place.   The plans that made sense in our minds create pitfalls that we never imagined.

The walk of faith requires patience and obedience. What God has spoken, He will accomplish in His perfect timing.   We have to trust in the validity of His words to us and not deviate simply because we get impatient or the fulfillment of those promises appears to be impossible. It is in these moments we must cling tightly to the words of Jesus:

Matthew 19:26 (NASB)
26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

It is through these situations of impossibility that God brings forth His glory through our lives.   When the impossible becomes reality there is no other choice, but to give Him the credit.

Today you may be impatient in waiting for the promises of God to be fulfilled in your life. Take a deep breath and remember that He has your best interest at heart. By trying to lend a helping hand, you will only create new problems in your life. In the end, the glory of the promise fulfilled will be well worth the wait.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

No Turning Back

2010-08-16T11:01:00.002-04:00

Numbers 14:3 (NASB)
"Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword ? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder ; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt ?"

Sometimes the promises of God are only fulfilled after a long journey or refining process. Staying the course during those times can be challenging. Everything within you screams "go back!" In spite of this inner turmoil there is something deep within you that keeps you pressing forward. The promise of God rings in your ears and rises up deep within you. You draw deep from His presence and somehow find the courage to keep going.

This might best be equated the labor a mother goes through to bring her precious child into the world. Every contract hurts worse than the previous one, but there is no turning back. The only choice is to endure the pain and push. Each wave brings the knowledge that the birth of the child is that much closer.

Today you may find yourself struggling with the pain of moving forward in the promises of God. Focus in on the glory of the moment when those things are realized and find the courage to press on.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

You Are Being Refined

2010-08-09T09:19:00.002-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Psalm 66:10 (NASB)
For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.

We each go through times in our life where the heat of our circumstances is almost unbearable. We cry out to God for relief and yet we find the heat remains. It is in these times that we may even questions God's love for us. Why would he let me go through so much challenge?

What we later realize is that we were in the midst of God's refining process. God is transforming our lives into a thing of beauty that brings about His glory. Unfortunately the only way we purify anything in this world is by heating it up. We purify water by boiling it. We purify metal by melting it down and skimming the impurities. Heat is the mechanism of purification. As the heat is applied to our lives, the hidden darkness within us gets revealed as it surfaces. Once visible, God forces us to deal with that darkness and our purity increases.

Today you may find yourself in the crucible of refinement. Remember that God is purifying your life and that with each passing day you are becoming more radiant to the world around you.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Are You Hiding?

2010-06-28T10:08:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

In the book of Samuel the people of Israel had been crying out for a king. God had directed Samuel the prophet to anoint Saul as king over Israel. When it came time for Saul to be formally recognized as God's choice for king, the scripture records the following series of events:

1 Samuel 10:20-22 (NASB)
20 Thus Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the Matrite family was taken. And Saul the son of Kish was taken ; but when they looked for him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they inquired further of the LORD, "Has the man come here yet ?" So the LORD said, "Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage."

When it was time for Saul to step up into his rightful place, he was nowhere to be seen. Saul was hiding from the role and responsibility that was being given to him. Unfortunately, many of us are just like Saul when it comes to taking our rightful place and the fulfillment of our God given role. We know God would have us do something greater, but instead we hide amongst the activities and goings on of life, hoping that no one will notice.

Because God has selected Saul, He was not going to allow Saul to remain in hiding and He revealed Saul's whereabouts. The same is true for you and I. No matter how hard we try to hide ourselves, when God has chosen us for His purposes, we will always be found. Everywhere you go, God will continue to put you in positions that bring you into the role He intends for you to fill. I've heard many pastors, myself included, talk about how they tried to avoid God's call on their lives and how they could not escape that call on their life.

When you recognize that God has called you to a specific purpose in life, it is important that you make the adjustments necessary to bring your life into harmony with that purpose. When we come into harmony with God's purposes, the the power and presence of God works all around us in incredible ways, equipping and empowering us to fulfill our role.

Today you may be "hiding" from God's call on your life. I challenge you to step forward and embrace that call. Allow God to use your life for His glory as He brings you into the role you were created for.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

I Can Do All Things

2010-06-14T09:27:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul spoke about his contentment in all circumstances, whether he found himself lacking or with plenty. He summed up the reeason for this contentment in verse 13:

Philippians 4:13 (NASB)
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

One of the things I think we are all too guilty of is thinking we "can't." We are convinced that because of our circumstance, personality, situation of life, etc... that there simply are things we are unable to do. If we are simply looking at things from the perspective of our own strength and abilities, then there is a sliver of truth in this type of thinking; however, this type of thought negates the power of God that is at work in our lives.

Time and time again I have seen God do things in and through me that I did not think were possible. I have seen His strength propel me past obstacles, doubts and fears to bring the impossible into reality. I have learned that my "position" in life has no bearing on God's ability to work in, through and around me.

Matthew 19:26 (NASB)
And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Today you may be facing a circumstance in your life that you believe is impossible to overcome, change or survive. Remember that in your strength that may be entirely true, but in God's overwhelming power all things are possible.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Tell your story

2010-05-31T10:41:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you are enjoying your Memorial Day. Take time to thank God for the freedoms you enjoy and for those who gave their lives to pay for those freedoms.

Acts 22:15 (NIV)
You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

Each of us has a story to tell.   Some stories are more dramatic than others, but the fact remains that each of us has a unique story.   Our life experiences are unique to us and because they are personal, they are also stories that we tell with passion.

There is great power in the telling of your story.   When we talk of where we have been, God's power is revealed in our lives.   His presence in the mountains and valleys of life is revealed.   His helping hand in times of trouble is seen clearly through our own experiences.

The telling of your story is an encouragement to those who hear it.   Sadly, all too often we keep our stories to ourselves.   We hold back our experiences from others, depriving them of the strengthening that our story would bring.

As Christians we have been called to “bear witness” to the work of Jesus in our lives. Telling our stories is a key part of our ongoing witness.

Today I encourage you to share your life with someone. Tell a part of your story as the opportunity arises. You never know how God will use that story to change a life in a powerful way.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Unmet Expectations

2010-05-24T10:58:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

All of us have expectations in life. We expect things will occur according to our preconceived ideas and plans.   Sometimes things do not happen as we expect, and our response to those unexpected events can determine whether or not we miss out on God's best for our lives.   To illustrate this point consider the account of Naaman from 2 Kings chapter 5:

2 Kings 5:9-14 (NIV)
9. So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house.
10. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."
11. But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.
12. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.
13. Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!"
14. So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

Naaman had an expectation that he would be met by Elisha the prophet, not Elisha's messenger. Naaman was a highly regarded military leader, he could not believe that this prophet would disregard him.   Naaman found himself at a decision point.

As we see in verse 11-12, Naaman got angry and left.    Naaman was getting ready to miss out on God's best for his life.   Naaman was more concerned about not having his expectations met than he was about his true need, healing.    Isn't it interesting how having our expectations unmet can often make us lose sight of the greater needs in our life.

Fortunately for Naaman, his servants were the voice of reason in his life.   They brought his focus back to the need for healing. When Naaman considered the truth of their words, he once again remembered the reason he had come in the first place. He needed to be healed.    In the end it was Naaman's simple obedience to the instructions he had been given that brought about his complete healing...and to think, he nearly missed it, because his expectations were not met.

Today you may have some unmet expectations in your life and just like Naaman you are at a crossroads in your life.   Don't lose sight of the greater need that God may be trying to meet in your life.   Realize that god wants to meet that greater need, but he may forsake your ego in the process.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

P.S. I've re-released two of my books as e-books. Check them out at troubles.carlwillis.com and lessons.carlwillis.com

Time for an audit

2010-05-17T09:42:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Psalms 139:23-24 (NIV)
23. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

This morning I have a yearly compliance audit in one of my businesses.    During this audit my entire business will be evaluated. Client files will be examined, my regulatory files will be examined and the operational soundness of my business will be evaluated.   These examinations are thorough and conducted regularly for a reason.   They ensure that I operate my business with integrity.

I believe that our lives as Christians really should be no different.   We should regularly be making the request of Psalms 139:23-24.   When we allow God to examine our hearts, we find that He reveals those things that harm our Christian walk.   He shows us the thoughts, feelings and attitudes that cripple our testimony. He identifies those actions that are going to draw us away from Him.

This however is not simply a fault finding exercise. God is diligent in showing you His way. When He pinpoints a problem in your life, He will always direct you towards the appropriate remedy as well.   His examination is meant to bring you into the fullness of life in Him.

Today you may realize that it is time for a spiritual audit.   Allow God to examine your heart and show you His way. In the end your life will be a greater reflection of His glory and His purpose for you.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

P.S. I have re-released my first book "The Troubles of a Righteous Man" as an e-book. Proceeds will help
fund my church planting ministry. http://troubles.carlwillis.com

Understanding the Purpose of Your Delays

2010-05-03T05:21:00.000-04:00

Good morning from Kitale, Kenya. I hope you had a great weekend.

My visit to Africa has been marked by obstacles and delays. Everything from the Iceland volcano to the illness of a driver has created delays for every conference I have been scheduled to speak in.   I am reminded of this description of Paul's missionary travels in Acts 16:

Acts 16:6-10 (NASB)
6. They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia ;
7. and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;
8. and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9. A vision appeared to Paul in the night : a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
10. When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

I find that the reason for obstacles often becomes apparent on the back side of those obstacles.   In my experience on this trip, I have seen how God has used others to take on new roles of leadership, simply because I was delayed.   He has allowed me to hear a word of encouragement that I would not have received had I been "on schedule."   A greater excitement to my ministry has been experienced, because of the delays that took place.    In each instance though I can see the hand of God at work.

There may be some issues in your life that seem delayed today.   I can ensure you that there is a purpose to your delay. The purpose may or may not become evident to you, but make no mistake the delay is according to God's plan.   This is the place where trust comes to bear. You must trust in God's direction and leading during these times of uncertainty.   When the time is right the answer will become evident.

Until next week (if I have internet access), may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Allowing the Sacred to Guide the Secular in Your Life

2010-03-29T09:54:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

All too often we compartmentalize our lives in to the “secular” and the “sacred.” One set of values is adhered to Monday through Saturday, but an entirely different set of values is adhered to on Sunday. This breaking apart creates an inconsistency in our lives. Our direction shifts based on the audience around us.

Notice what the Bible says:

Proverbs 16:3 (NASB)
Commit your works to the LORD, And your plans will be established.

Instead of creating separate compartments for the secular and sacred, these two things really need to part of the same flow. If you are wanting to be successful in your business pursuits, who better to guide you than the very God who created you and knows the course of your life. Wouldn't it be much more beneficial to allow the Maker of Heaven and Earth to open the doors of opportunity before you? Wouldn't you much prefer the One who knows the heart of very man, to make the introductions to those who are mean to help you achieve your full potential.

It is imperative that each day you talk to God, not only about the things that are broken in your life, but also allow Him to give you direction in the pursuits of your life. Let Him direct you in how your time is managed, who you are going to call next and even what to say during that phone call. God is interested in seeing His purposes accomplished through your life. This means that He is even more concerned with our well being than you are.

Today I encourage you to take a few minutes and consult with the One who knows the number of your days. Take notes and chart a course of action as He shares the plans He has for you.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

God Doesn't Call The Equipped

2010-03-22T09:08:00.002-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Exodus 4:10-12 (NASB)

10 Then Moses said to the LORD, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since Thou hast spoken to Thy servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue."

11 And the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

12 "Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say."

There is a saying that goes something like this: God does not call the equipped...God equips those He calls. So many times in our lives we know that God is calling us to greater things, but we find ourselves operating as Moses did in Exodus 4. We are filled with excuses for why God cannot use us in a greater capacity. For Moses, his excuse was that he had problems speaking and in his mind that was more than enough to disqualify him from the call God was placing on his life.

All too often we enter into the assumption that because I am not good at something, because I have no experience in a particular matter that God would not choose to use me in that capacity. The Bible shows us that God has never chosen His servants based on their resume. David was a shepherd boy certainly not the pedigree for a king. Elisha the prophet was plowing the fields with a team of oxen. Peter the chosen vessel of God on the day of Pentecost was a career fisherman. None of these would have been our choices for the role that God was calling them to. They had no experience in the matters at hand, yet that is exactly who God chose. He called them, He equipped them and He worked through them in powerful ways.

Today I want to challenge you to simply say “yes” to the call of God on your life. Trust not in your own abilities, but acknowledge the equipping power of God as it comes to bear on your life.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

What's Under Your Hood?

2010-03-15T10:27:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Over the past few days I have been engaged in a battle of determination to get my old pickup truck running, so my oldest son can use it for transportation at college. Just about the time I think I have the problem resolved, I find that there are yet other problems to be dealt with. There are unseen things in the mechanical systems of the truck that are causing it be of no value as a vehicle in its present condition.

I find it fascinating how often we see these patterns in our own lives as well. Look at the following statement made by the Lord about King Saul:

1 SAMUEL 16:7 (NASB)

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

From all outward appearances, Saul seemed like the ideal candidate to be king. He was tall, he was handsome, he seemed to have the proper bearing for royalty. Unfortunately Saul was not fit to rule, because there were problems deep within him. His heart was not fully yielded unto God. His unyielding heart would ultimately become visible in his actions and decisions.

It is critical in each of our lives that we regularly undergo a diagnostic process with the Lord. We need to allow Him to examine the “systems” with in us. Where he finds values, ideals, goals and relationships out of tune with His perfect will; we need to allow Him to make the necessary adjustments. After all you wouldn't settle for a misfiring, non-running vehicle; so why settle for a misfiring, out of alignment life.

Today I encourage you to plug into the Holy Spirit's diagnostic presence and allow Him to give you a thorough review.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Treasured Friendships

2010-03-01T01:52:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

1 Corinthians 16:19-20 (NASB)
19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
20 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

Today I was answering emails from some of my greatest friends in the world. I realize that some of the most cherished treasures I have are the rich friendships that I have been blessed with. Today I was corresponding with a friend in India about the upcoming birth of her first child in a week and half. In another email I was talking with a friend in Uganda about seeing him again in April. I recently corresponded with a friend in Canada about his upcoming ministry schedule. Every week via Facebook, I correspond with friends who were a part of my journey at different stages in my life.

It is no wonder that the Apostle Paul referred to those who were so dear to him in his letters. God used these friendships as a means of encouraging and sustaining the apostle through some of the darkest days of his life. These friendships continued on in spite of geography and time. In them was a lasting bond that moved far beyond the realm of mere acquaintance, but instead moved deep into the realm of sharing the fullness of life, knit together by the bond of Christ.

As I have traveled throughout the world, I have been amazed at how deep these friendships have become in my own life. I have mourned the death of loved ones with friends a half a world away. I have rejoiced over the marriage of daughters, the return of sons and the move of God in families and ministries.

At the same time I have received notes of encouragement at just the right time from places like India and Africa. I have shared laughs with friends I haven’t seen in a quarter of a century. Although time changes us in many ways, friendships forged into the bedrock of our faith have a staying power that is unmatched.

Today I would encourage you to count the relationships you have been given as treasures in your own life. Perhaps its time to send a greeting out to someone you haven’t heard from in a while. Your contact may be just the thing that is needed in their life today.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Audit your return

2010-02-22T10:09:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Over the past few weeks most of you have been collecting your personal financial data so that you can complete your tax returns for 2009.   Putting together your financial information is always insightful. You discover what you earned for the year, your expenses, your charitable giving and so on.   Our tax forms are not simply a government reporting of income and tax liability, but in many ways it is a snapshot of the priorities in our life.

For many people the objective of their life is to put larger numbers into the earning box each year. They work a little harder, a little longer and look for new sources of revenue in an effort to secure a better way of life. Unfortunately with each new calendar year, the count returns to zero.    So the question becomes: “What did you do that was lasting in nature?”

Matthew 6:20-21 (NASB)
20 "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
21 for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Work is a normal part of life, the real issues arise when our work only feeds a continual cycle of needing more.   So much of what we are working to obtain, is temporal. They are things that quickly lose their value and at some point will no longer be desirable.

As you look over your financial information this year, perhaps you need to conduct your own personal audit. As you examine the figures for 2009, determine if those 365 days were well spent. What did you achieve in those 365 days?   Whose life did you invest in over that time period? What did you establish that was lasting in nature?   What adjustments do you need to make this year?

As you take this time to evaluate. Commit your ways before the Lord this week and ask Him to lead you into those things of lasting value.

Until next week, may God's richest blessings be yours.

Carl

Spirit lifters

2010-02-08T10:53:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

2 Corinthians 7:5-6 (NASB)
5 For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within.
6 But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

Perhaps you can relate to these words of the Apostle Paul. We all go through times when there just seems to be no rest for the weary. Trouble is at every turn and from the time you wake up in the morning, until your head hits the pillow at night you are in a knock down, drag out street fight with the fears that lurk deep within you.

God is very aware of our circumstances. In Paul's case God sent Titus to minister to Paul's needs. Titus was truly a gift from during Paul's time of need. Titus' presence lifted Paul's spirit and his report of the ministry he had received from the church in Corinth was all the more encouraging.

I have found in some of the darkest days of my life, God has done a similar thing throughout my life. During these seasons, I have received the unexpected phone call from a long time friend; the surprise invitation to breakfast or the unexpected knock at the door. These divine contacts have been medicine to my soul in the difficult seasons of life.

Today you may feel the prompting to call someone you haven't talked to in a while. Realize that you may be God's messenger of hope in the midst of someone's darkest days. Your call, visit and extension of yourself may be just the shot in the arm someone else is needing today. If you are the one in the dark season today. Keep your eyes opened for the “Titus” God is sending to encourage your soul.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

The Super Bowls of Life

2010-02-01T08:16:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This week is filled with Super Bowl hype, as the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts prepare to face off. For the New Orleans Saints this is their first Super Bowl appearance in the team’s history. For a city that was so devastated by Hurricane Katrina, this game has refueled a great sense of civic pride. With so many dreams, aspirations, and sentimental motivations for winning on the line, the Saints will be under pressure to perform at the peak of their abilities. During this week the coaching staff will reinforce the basics of ball control, timing, clock management and everything else that goes along with winning football games.

In life we often face Super Bowl sized challenges. Times when every ounce of our being is required to see us through successfully. Fortunately for those times, we have been given a powerful coach. Look at the words of Jesus:

John 14:26 (NLT)
But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative—and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.

Superstar athletes do not become that way by themselves. It is the constant feedback and motivation given by their coaches that takes them to the top of their game. In the Christian life we cannot make it in our own strength, but we have been given the Holy Spirit and His power indwells us.

The Holy Spirit constantly reminds us of the basics….”Loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength”…”Loving your neighbor as yourself.” In those clutch times He empowers us with strength and abilities that are beyond us. We have the right words to comfort a friend in need. We find a wellspring of peace when we are in the midst of turmoil. We find the strength to press on in spite of personal pain and loss. Instead of calling in a play, the Holy Spirit brings a passage of scripture to mind that is a perfect fit for your situation. At other times He places a song in your heart that changes your perception of the situation at hand. At other times He sends in different personnel to walk along side of you to mentor, encourage and strengthen you.

This morning you may find yourself in the middle of life’s Super Bowl. Take a moment to look at all God has done to prepare you for such a time as this. Look at those who surround you and have made you better. Recognize God’s touch in every part of your circumstances.

Until next Monday may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Seventy x Seven

2010-01-25T09:37:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Throughout our lives we face times and circumstances in which we feel we have been wronged by someone else.   Our natural responses can run the emotional spectrum from resentment to hatred, but for the follower of Jesus, the example of forgiveness has been clearly given.   Even as He was being put to death, Jesus cried out for the forgiveness of those putting Him to death.

Forgiveness is never easy, particularly when we have been wounded deeply.   Our desire to never be wounded by an individual again, leads to a vast array of defenses being erected in our lives. We simply do not want to give those who have offended us the opportunity to do it again.

Peter was wrestling with the need to extend forgiveness as he posed this question to Jesus:

Matthew 18:21-22 (HCSB)
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
“I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus said to him, “but 70 times seven.”

Peter was looking for that justification to hold a grudge. His question was simple, surely there must be a limit to the amount of forgiveness that should have to be offered to someone who has wrong us? Peter gave a number that to him seemed generous. After forgiving someone seven times already, there should be no obligation to forgive again, if they wrong him again. Jesus instead responded that forgiveness needed to offered exponentially more.

This standard of forgiveness is in play in our lives each and every day. What if God placed an arbitrary number on His forgiveness? Suppose God's forgiveness was no longer available to you and I after our 500th offense, even our 1,000th offense. Most of us would have exhausted God's forgiveness before we were even out of primary school. The simple disobedience of childhood and the rebellion of youth would have exhausted that forgiveness supply.   God continues to forgive us time and time again, that is the example we have been called to follow even though it is difficult at times.

When we refuse to forgive, we allow unforgiveness to control us. Rarely is the person who has offended us, affected by our resentment. That area of our lives is robbed of the peace that is rightfully ours and that lack of peace reflects in our actions and words.

Today, there may be someone who needs your forgiveness. Their actions may not warrant forgiveness, but true forgiveness is not based on the actions of the other person, true forgiveness is birthed within you, it is your act of mercy and grace towards them. As difficult as this step may be, it will be very freeing for you in the long run. By taking this step, you will be releasing the hold that unforgiveness has on your life.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Living in Community

2010-01-18T09:48:00.002-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

One of the things seen in the early church was a living example of Christian community. Acts chapter 2 describes this community life very vividly:

Acts 2:44-47 (NASB)
44 And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common;
45 and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46 And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Today in America this idea seems very foreign to us. We have moved from deep interactive personal relationships to a very surface level interaction with others. We have made our ideal a setting in which we push a button to open our garage door as we leave in the morning and we push that same button again as we pull back into our garage at night. We now are able to spend years in a neighborhood without ever truly getting to know our neighbors. As time has gone on, we have begun to see the erosion of this spirit of community. There are times that we see glimpses of it, especially in the wake of disaster.

Today I want to give you a simple formula found in the above passage that will help you establish community in your own life and sphere of influence. The first thing visible is the idea expressed in Jesus' command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Take a look at the needs of those closest to you. Does your neighbor need their yard mowed? Have you seen them under the hood of the car this week? Has your neighbor lost their job? These are all opportunities for you to show love and kindness to those around you. These may also be opportunities to be God's source of provision during a time of need, as He enables you.

Secondarily, the community of the early church worshiped together. They shared the commonality of their faith. Not everyone will hold to the same beliefs as you, but there are many who do. Find those individuals and begin to walk out your faith journey with them. Worship together, study together and pray together.

Lastly, the community broke bread together. The dining room table is the place of greatest relational contact within your home. It is the place where our deeper conversations take place. That is why a business person takes their client to lunch or dinner. It is a place where extended conversation can occur. This week I would encourage you to invite someone into your home to share a meal. You will find that your life is enriched by their presence.

This week I hope that you will seek to build community in the places that God has placed you.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Is your plate too full?

2010-01-11T09:09:00.000-05:00

Good morning. I hope you had a great weekend.

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed? During this time of year, my friends who are tax preparers and accountants begin feeling that way. We all face demanding circumstances in our lives. The expectations put upon us by ourselves and others can quickly leave us out of gas and ineffective.

In the Old Testament book of Exodus, we find a great bit of advice, that all of us can put into practice. Moses was listening to the disputes of the people from sun up to sun down, making judgments in these contested matters. Moses’ father-in-law Jethro observed this and realized that Moses’ was not only hurting himself, but it would ultimately hurt the people too. To put it simple, Moses’ had too much on his plate. Take a look at the advice Jethro gives his son-in-law:

Exodus 18:17-23 (NASB)
17 And Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.
18 “You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.
19 “Now listen to me: I shall give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God,
20 then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk, and the work they are to do.
21 “Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
22 “And let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
23 “If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.”

There are two key pieces of instruction that Jethro gives. The first is that Moses should equip the people. Give them the knowledge to make good decisions. In this case it was through the teaching of God’s statures and laws, plus the application of those statutes and laws.

Secondarily, Moses needed to choose men of good character and delegate the responsibility of hearing disputes to them. Moses needed to give away this part of his workload to those who were capable of carrying it for him. Moses’ true responsibility was to be the representative of the people before God.

As you begin this new year, I encourage you to examine some ways you can apply Jethro’s advice to your own life and circumstances. Are there tasks around the home that your children need to be trained in? Is there a task in the workplace that could be delegated to another capable individual. Ask God to guide you in these questions of equipping and delegating. In the long run you will be better off for taking this step.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Allowing God to Direct Your Steps

2009-12-28T09:36:00.001-05:00

Good morning. I hope you had a great Christmas weekend.

2 Chronicles 27:6 (NASB)
So Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.

Traditionally for me, the week between Christmas and New Years Day is a time of reflection, a time of prayer, a time of course plotting and a time for setting goals. During this week, I spend a great deal of time alone with God, allowing Him to guide my thoughts.

It is during these times that the Lord shows me all that I have to be thankful for from the current year. He shows me places where He strengthened me, guided me and sustained me. He also uses this as a time to show me where I got off course and reminds me of how He guided me back to the right path.

From there I begin to seek the Lord’s heart for the coming year. This is a time of asking Him, what He would like to accomplish through me? I find that I often come away with major themes or points of emphasis for my life in the coming year. It is during these times that I clarify what the Lord is revealing to me, and I ask Him to determine the work of my hands. It is from this dialogue with the Lord that I set my goals for the coming year.

This week, I hope you will take a cue from Jotham, and order your ways before the LORD your God. He sees the greater picture, and His goals will always be in your best interest.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Wait on it

2009-12-14T10:07:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

One of the most difficult aspects of life for me is waiting. I’m not talking about the kind of waiting that comes from long lines of Christmas shoppers either. What I am referring to is the waiting for the promises of God in my life.

The Bible is filled with promises for our lives. The promises that a loving Father makes to His children. These are the promises that we encourage one another with, when life gets challenging. We also have those deeply personal promises that come to us in our time alone with God. These are the glimpses of things to come…the words that set our eyes to a certain direction.

The difficult thing in experiencing these glorious promises is the wait. All too often we lose hope, lose courage or just plain lose sight of all that God has promised to us. The vision of tomorrow get’s lost in the static snow of today, and all too often we give up and abandon the vision.

This past week, I was struggling with some of those visionary promises from the Lord, and found myself being led back to a familiar passage. In the book of Habakkuk we see a back and forth dialogue between Habakkuk and the Lord. In the second chapter of this Old Testament book, we read these words:

Habakkuk 2:3 (KJV)
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

The real issue is not the validity or reliability of God’s promises, but instead it is an issue of timing. Habakkuk reminds us that God’s plan is for a specific time, known only to God. He points out that in our sense of time, the fulfillment of this promise may even seem delayed. His instruction for us is wise…”wait for it; because it will surely come…”

Our faith is based in the sovereignty of God. If we truly believe that God is sovereign, then we must recognize that He knows what is best for us. His timing is perfect, because He sees our circumstances not just in the present, but down the road in the future.

Today, I want to encourage you to hold tight to the vision God has given you. What may seem to be a delay, is actually God’s perfect timing at work in your life. Determine in your heart to wait upon the vision He has given you. I assure you it will be worth the wait.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Quick to Hear

2009-11-16T12:01:00.002-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a terrific weekend.

James 1:19 (NASB)
19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

As I was growing up, I had many a teacher say to a class: “God gave you 2 ears and 1 mouth, use them in that proportion.” The point of this admonition echoed the teaching of James 1:19 to listen more than you speak.

Good communication is critical to healthy relationships. When we stop listening to one another, the quality of our relationship begins to erode as misunderstanding gains a foot hold. Sadly when this erosion begins to happen, our relationships begin to deteriorate into places hurt, animosity, resentment and deep rooted anger. So many times we only hear, but don’t allow ourselves to truly understand what we are hearing, and by doing so we have opened the doorway to anger. Often times our hearing becomes skewed as it comes through the lens of our perception of what was said, not truly reflecting what was said.

This counsel of the Scripture is practical to everyday life. This truly is a formula for not only resolving conflict, but many times avoiding conflict all together. It is imperative that we learn to truly listen to those around us. Salesmen are taught to clarify their dialogue with prospects by repeating what was said. I think this is a great principle not only for salesmen, but for all of us. When we listen, we need to listen with understanding, going the extra mile to clarify whether or not we have heard correctly what is being said. By doing this we avoid defensive and often hostile reactions that arise because of misunderstanding. By actively listening we are less likely to jump to conclusions, making erroneous assumptions about what has been spoken.

Today you will have many interactions with others. I encourage you to have fun with this. In places where you would normally dominate a conversation, make a choice to listen intently. You’ll be surprised at what you learn about those around you, and others will see you as someone who truly takes an interest in them.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Finding Joy in the Midst of Trials

2009-11-09T12:36:00.003-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

During our lifetimes, we go through many different seasons. Some seasons are times of blessing and abundance. Other seasons are filled with difficulty, pain and intense challenge. These difficult seasons are the places where our character is forged and refined. Some of these seasons of difficulty seem to continue on with no end in sight, stretching us to our limits.

James 1:2-4 (NASB)

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

So where does the joy come from in these seasons of trial and testing? The joy comes from the knowledge that you are being built up. The word “endurance” is used to describe that process that is at work during these times. The word endurance gives the picture of continual forward progress in spite of great resistance in the opposite direction.

Consider the endurance of a runner. A runner trains by enduring countless miles of running. Each mile requires a new commitment to run the next mile. With each stride the muscles, the lungs, the circulatory system and the mind face resistance. As the days go by, the runner gains speed and increases distance. The distances that once were difficult to achieve are now commonplace and the runner has set their sight on even greater distances.

The same is true of life. During these times of trial the key components of our faith and character get a workout. Our prayer life deepens, our time in the scriptures increases, our reliance on those around us becomes greater and our willingness to trust God expands into new areas of our lives. The end result is new found strength and resolve. We are able to face new situations with confidence, because we can look behind us and see the “insurmountable” challenges that we have overcome, survived and endured. The endurance born out of trial has now become the foundation of our resolve to keep pressing forward in the face of new adversities.

Today you may find yourself dead center in a season of difficulty. Let your foothold of joy be found in the strength of character that is being built within you. When this season of testing comes to an end you will be much stronger, much faster and much better equipped for the challenges that lie ahead of you.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Responsibility for your choices

2009-10-05T12:07:00.002-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Our daily lives are filled with choices. At each crossroads of decision we evaluate outcomes and make a choice, based on a variety of factors. Some of these factors include: Impulse, training, past experiences, core values, goals, needs and the influence of others. There are times when our decisions are appropriate, and there are also times that we simply make wrong choices.

There are always consequences for the decisions we make, good or bad. Our willingness to accept responsibility for those choices is critical, in spite of our nature that seeks to shift blame.

Genesis 3:9-12 (NASB)
9 Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 And he said, “I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”
11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
12 And the man said, “The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”

In the Garden of Eden, Adam had been given instruction about which trees he could eat from and at the same time he was forbidden to eat from one particular tree. These directions were given specifically to Adam, thus making Adam completely responsible for any decisions regarding the forbidden tree. Having this knowledge, Adam made a choice to eat from the forbidden tree.

Notice in the above passage, how Adam responds to the question of “his” actions. Adam blames Eve for giving him the fruit from the tree, but he also blames God for putting her in the garden. We might paraphrase it this way: “That woman YOU put here with me (I wasn’t looking for her, I might add), she handed me the fruit (so technically she took it first) and gave it to me, and I ate it….but remember, she started it.”

Accountability is not always enjoyable, especially in the face of wrong choices and willful disobedience; however, accountability is what God has modeled even in the Garden of Eden. Notice, God asks Adam: “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” Like it or not, Adam was personally responsible for his actions.

With accountability comes God’s grace. Yes, there are consequences for our actions, but there is also mercy in those consequences. For Adam and Eve, they were no longer allowed to remain in the Garden of Eden. The Bible also tells us that God provided animal skins to clothe Adam and Eve, covering the nakedness that had now become a source of shame.

Today you will encounter choices. Each choice is an opportunity for righteousness or selfishness. Those choices ride squarely on your shoulders and there is no one else responsible, but you. If you find yourself facing consequences of bad choice, remember in the midst of those consequences God also extends sufficient grace.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Calling in the next play

2009-09-21T12:36:00.002-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

In the game of football each team enters into a “huddle” prior to the beginning of the next play. The huddle is the place where the strategy for the next play is disseminated to the players on the field. The play is actually called by a coach on the sidelines, but is communicated by the quarterback or on field defensive leader. The coach has chosen the play being communicated based of his observations of both his team and the other team’s strategy during the previous plays.

The coaching staff has taken great care in crafting plays for nearly any situation encountered on the field. There are plays for long yardage situations, goal line situations and limited time on the clock. Based on the play that is sent in, each player knows his specific role and duty in the next series of play.

This is a reminder of God’s work in our lives:

John 16:13 (NASB)
13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

God disseminates guidance to us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides us through scripture, circumstances and those who surround us. The Holy Spirit operates only by what He hears from the mouth of God. It is these things that the Holy Spirit then communicates to us. This guidance is to prepare us for what is getting ready to take place in our lives. Because God sees the whole of our lives, we can place complete confidence in all that the Holy Spirit reveals to us.

Today you may find yourself up against difficult challenges and shifting circumstances. Listen close, because God is sending you the play that will guide your steps in the days to come. He has the whole field in view and His strategy is flawless. Once your direction is clear, focus on the flawless execution of what you have received.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Power of the Mind

2009-09-14T11:35:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

We all have some understanding of the power of the mind. Words like “positive mental attitude” and “stinking thinking” are part of our working vocabulary. Our mind is the center of influence for much of what goes on in our lives. With our thoughts, we can harness great strength that leads us through the most difficult of circumstances. Sadly, we can also latch on to thoughts of negativity and depravity that lead us into dark places and actions that are detrimental to not only ourselves, but also to those around us.

In fact we find that sin has a pattern that starts in the mind. A passing thought becomes a lingering thought. As the mind dwells on that lingering thought, the thought develops into a plan. From the plan the mind develops a method of execution. From that method of execution, the body takes action.

God has given us the formula for harnessing the power of the mind for His purposes in our lives. This formula is a roadmap for bringing about His glory in each of our lives:

Philippians 4:8 (NASB)
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

The truth of the matter is simple: “Where your thoughts are, your actions will soon follow.” When we think on these things that are listed for us in Philippians 4; we can also see the outcome. These types of thoughts taking residence in our minds produce truth, honor, righteousness, purity, beauty, integrity, excellence and proper perspective upon God and His role in our lives. These things are transforming in nature and they radiate outward, visible to all who are influenced by our lives.

Today I encourage you to take note of the thoughts that enter your mind. Examine the places your mind seems to dwell. Take captive those thoughts that do not fit the profile of Philippians 4, and give them no dominion in your mind. Flood your mind with the thoughts listed above and watch the radiance of God emanate from your life.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Finding strength in failure

2009-08-31T08:29:00.001-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

In life we all encounter times of testing. These times of testing expose not only our strengths, but also our weaknesses. Unfortunately, the weaknesses are often exposed through failure. We all too often view these times of failure as disqualifying events from further usefulness in the Kingdom of God; however, these times of failure take on a whole new purpose in the hands of Jesus. To clarify this point let’s look at the words Jesus had for Simon Peter in Luke 22:

Luke 22:32-33 (NASB)
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;
32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. “

Not only does Jesus tell Peter about Satan’s request to sift his life and the intercession that Jesus is making on Peter’s behalf, but he also reveals something else. I hope you noticed these words: “…and you, when once you have turned again…” Jesus is telling Peter that he is not only going to be put to the test, but that he will actually fail this test for a time. Jesus knew the outcome of Peter’s testing even before the test had begun.

This is a place where God’s grace and sovereignty become so evident. Jesus tells Peter that once he has turned back “strengthen your brothers.” The real message of these words is simple. God does not waste an experience good or bad. Even our greatest failures become victories in the hands of God. He takes our failures and makes them the building blocks of character and strength in our lives and the lives of others. Peter’s story of failure and redemption would become the strengthening agent for the other disciples.

Today you may be in a place where you have let God down in a big way. In your mind, you may feel unworthy to do anything of significance for Him. Let Peter be your example. Jesus knew Peter would fail and yet He also knew Peter would be restored. Peter’s weakness would become strength for others. His failure would be a building block for all who followed after him. Ask God to guide you back and allow you to strengthen others with your own story of failure and redemption.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

The Limitations of Testing

2009-08-24T13:02:00.001-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

There are times in our lives when we go through severe adversity. Times of pressure and testing that seem almost too much to bear; times when our faith doesn’t seem substantial enough to see us through the storm. In reality these times of testing are the building blocks of faith that make us stronger in the end.

While most trials are the circumstances of life, common to all of us, there are those unique times when God allows the enemy to put us through the crucible. There are two occasions in Scripture where this is seen:

Job 1:7-12 (NASB)
7 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.”
8 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 “Hast Thou not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
11 “But put forth Thy hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse Thee to Thy face.”
12 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.

Luke 22:31 (NASB)
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;
32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. “

In both of these instances Satan has been given permission to put someone through a time of testing. Satan’s intention of course is to steal, kill and destroy things like joy, faith, trust and obedience. In spite of Satan’s intentions, God sets the boundaries. Notice with Job, He defined what Satan could and couldn’t do in his testing of Job. In fact, Satan’s complaint was that Job was faithful to God, because the hand of God was always protecting Job. In the case of Simon Peter, Jesus not only states that he will be tested, but he also indicates the outcome: “…and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Jesus was letting Simon Peter know that he even though he would fail this test; he would also pass this test and return to solid footing, to such a degree that his experience would strengthen others.

If you are currently going through a time of severe testing, this may be an instance where God is permitting the enemy to “sift” you. Know that just as Jesus interceded for Peter’s faith to fail not, He is doing the same for you. Take comfort in the knowledge that God has set the boundary lines, and that limitations have been put on the degree to which you can be tested. Finally realize that you will make it through this time of testing, and even if you fail at times, your experiences will become bedrock of strength that in due time will even strengthen others.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Waiting on God

2009-08-17T10:58:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Waiting is one of the most difficult things we are asked to do in our lives. Often we know the promises of God, but we find ourselves wavering in our trust in those promises. This failure in our faith often comes when the pressure of our circumstance overrides our willingness to trust in the Lord and wait fully upon His promise. It is at these times that we begin to look for our own solutions. An example of this scenario is found in 1 Samuel 13:

1 Samuel 13:8-14 (NASB)
8 Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.
9 So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering.
10 And it came about as soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, that behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.
11 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,
12 therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering. “
13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
14 “But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

King Saul knew that he was supposed to wait for Samuel, but Samuel was not on time and Saul’s circumstances were quickly deteriorating. King Saul knew that he would be in trouble without the favor of the Lord, so he took matters into his own hands. The end result was not the securing of God’s favor, but instead King Saul lost God’s favor and his rule over the nation of Israel.

King Saul’s story echoes many of our own. We know the promises of God, but we allow our circumstances to become seeds of doubt in our own minds. With good intentions we try to take matters into our own hands, but in doing so we become disobedient to the Lord’s instruction. When we take matters into our own hands, we are essentially saying to God: “I don’t trust You.” In essence, we are trying to lend God a hand, as foolish as that may sound.

Today you may find yourself in what seem to be impossible circumstances. I encourage you to stay the course and remain faithful, even when the outcomes are uncertain. Ask God to help you in your lack of trust and to strengthen you where you are weak. God will resolve your circumstances in His timing and in His way. If you jump the gun, you will miss out on His best, and the end result may in fact be disastrous.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Who's in your bullpen?

2009-08-10T11:37:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a minor league baseball game. During the game, my daughter asked me what a “relief pitcher” was. I pointed out to her the bullpen and explained that other pitchers warmed up there to come into the game and help when the starting pitcher gets tired, or simply isn’t pitching well.

Today I want to challenge you with the question: Who is in your bullpen?

Exodus 17:9-13 (NASB)
9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us, and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”
10 And Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.
12 But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.
13 So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

In baseball, the starting pitcher begins the game and takes the team as far as he can get them on the strength of his arm. Once the pitcher gets tired, it is up to the relief pitcher to help protect the starting pitcher’s win or help the team recover from the starting pitcher’s poor showing. It is critical for a team to always have a pitcher warmed up in the bullpen and ready to go, at a moment’s notice.

In the above cited example of Moses, he needed Aaron and Hur to hold his arms high, when he was too tired to do so himself. He needed them to bring out the stone to support his weight, when his legs simply couldn’t do it anymore. It was the “relief” work of Aaron and Hur that allowed Moses to secure the victory for Israel. It is important to note that the real victory occurred in the beginning, when Moses brought Aaron and Hur to the top of the hill with him. Had Moses not brought these men with him, he would have ultimately come to the point that he could no longer hold his arms up and Israel may have been defeated in this battle.

The real issue for you and I is the preparation of others to step in at critical times to help us sustain our victories. All too often we shut others out and try to do everything ourselves. Many organizations are stifled because the key leaders have not adequately trained other leaders to step in and take their place if need be. Even many households have been put at a disadvantage when a spouse has died or become incapacitated, and the other is uninformed as to the nature of the household bills and routines.

Today, I encourage you to identify those who need to be in your bullpen. Who are the people that need to be equipped to provide you some relief when your arms are growing weary? Have you prepared others to step in to your role in a pinch? Take some time this week to give away a part of yourself, so that the victory you’ve worked so hard for is protected even if you are not throwing your best pitches.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

The Process of Discipline

2009-08-03T10:35:00.001-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Yesterday, my youngest son and my daughter continued to have “issues” with one another, which primarily revolved around sharing and kindness. My son didn’t want my daughter in his room, so his solution was to send our friend’s 3 year old daughter to tell my wife that my daughter was being a “brat.” At the same time, I hear my daughter saying: “Please give me another chance and don’t tell mom.” Needless to say the situation was getting ridiculous, so I intervened and with my intervention came disciplinary action.

The discipline took on a form that dealt with the issues being revealed in the actions. For the next two days, my son and daughter have to spend the day in each other’s room together. Monday they are confined to my daughter’s room and Tuesday they are confined to my son’s room. While they are there they have to clean each others room together. Last night they were also required to clean the kitchen and the backyard together.

Job 5:17 (NASB)
“Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

When I left home as a young man, I assumed that my days of being disciplined had finally come to an end. Over the years I have learned that the process of discipline is life long. Just like my children, my actions often reveal attitudes and character weaknesses that need to be removed or strengthened. It is at these times that my Heavenly Father steps in and lovingly corrects me. He is not out to get me because I “messed up,” but instead He is in the process of building a son. It is important to Him that I be all that He has created me to be.

In all honesty, discipline is never enjoyable; however, in due time we look back and see the love and care that were at work in the discipline process. We become thankful that God loves us enough to guide us back on course when we need it. In due time my children will reflect back on the time they had to spend two days with each other in one another’s room…they will laugh at the foolishness of the actions that put them there and they will embrace the building of character that took place within them.

Today you may find yourself facing a time of discipline. Perhaps it is hardship that resulted from poor choices or a relationship under strain due to selfishness. Embrace the discipline of the circumstance and ask God to strengthen your character through it.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Pastor Carl Willis; Founder of Simplicity Church Network, Joins Us Today On: Embracing God's Best!

2009-07-30T15:24:00.002-04:00

Pastor Carl Willis; Founder of Simplicity Church Network, Joins Us Today On: Embracing Gods Best!

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A Perfect Fit

2009-07-27T10:15:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Any shade tree mechanic or do it yourself repair man knows the importance of having the right tool in hand. A slotted screwdriver just won’t do, when the task calls for a Phillips head. Needle nose pliers are just no substitute for a socket wrench. Without the right tools for the job, the job is likely to be done poorly or not at all.

The issue is purpose. The assorted tools in the toolbox were designed for specific purposes. They were not meant to function in all situations, but instead were meant to work in conjunction with the other tools in the toolbox. Being uniquely formed is not just limited to tools:

Ephesians 2:10 (NASB)
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Your life is a masterpiece! God created you with uniqueness to fulfill a specific purpose. It is towards this specific purpose that He continues to mold and shape your life. When we look back, we can see how the steps interlock with one another and the shaping process becomes much more visible.

What is even more exciting is the understanding that our purpose was determined even before we were born. God needed to fulfill a great purpose, and your life was the only life perfectly suited to that purpose. From the day you were born, He has been guiding you towards the fulfillment of that greater purpose. It is this purpose that brings great meaning to your life and great joy to the Master Craftsman who has guided you every step of the way.

Today you may feel very disorganized and unsure of where life is taking you. Take comfort, God is molding you to fulfill a purpose that can only be fulfilled by you, because it was designed for you.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Tunnel Vision

2009-07-20T09:33:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

During times of intense circumstance one of the natural reactions of the human body is a syndrome known as “tunnel vision.” During an instance of tunnel vision a person becomes focused in on a very narrow field of vision or object. During this time, peripheral vision becomes almost non-existent. Police officers are trained to be aware of tunnel vision during confrontations and emergency driving. A lack of peripheral vision in these circumstances could have deadly consequences.

Tunnel vision occurs in the day to day issues of physical and spiritual lives as well. We tend to get so focused in on the crisis of the moment that we miss the greater picture of what God is doing around us. The latest problem at work, problem relationship or problem at home becomes so all consuming that we miss seeing our life in a complete and total perspective. Choices made rashly during an episode of tunnel vision can become very costly in the days that follow.

So how do we deal with the tunnel vision we find occurring in our lives? The following passage of scripture may give us some guidance:

2 Kings 6:15-17 (NASB)
15 Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Elisha and his servant were encircled by an adversary out to cause them harm. Elisha could see the complete picture, but his servant could not. It was only after Elisha had prayed for the servant’s eyes to be open, that he could see the true circumstance around him. The first step any of us should take when we find that we cannot get our eyes off of a singular point or problem is to pray. Just as Elisha prayed, we need to ask God to open our eyes and let us see clearly and completely what is around us.

The second thing we need to do is force ourselves to look around. Police officers are taught to deal with tunnel vision by simply moving their eyes back and forth. This conscious sweeping of the eyes forces them to look beyond the tunnel, bringing the complete picture back into view. Elisha’s servant also looked around and found new strength in the defending army that had come to rescue him.

Today you may find yourself fixated on a problem, person or situation that is taking away your ability to see the complete picture of what God is doing in your life. Take time today and ask the Lord for open eyes and new sight. Look around you and see what else is going on in the complete picture.
Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Weighing the Evidence

2009-07-12T19:58:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This week I have been summoned for jury duty. Over the years I have been called as a witness for the prosecution on many occasions, but this will be possibly be my first time to fill the role of a juror. I was thinking this afternoon about the burden of proof required in criminal and civil cases. In a criminal case, the prosecution must prove “beyond a reasonable doubt,” that the defendant committed the crime they have been accused of. In a civil case the plaintiff must demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is responsible for a particular issue of litigation.

This got me thinking about a question that I have heard ministers ask over the years: “If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

Acts 4:13-16 (NASB)
13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.
14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.
15 But when they had ordered them to go aside out of the Council, they began to confer with one another,
16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

In the 4th chapter of Acts, Peter and John have been brought before a council of religious leaders to face questioning over a miraculous healing. In this healing, Peter had used the name of Jesus. During this time of questioning, a few things stood out to the religious council:
• The boldness with which Peter and John spoke
• The influence of Jesus upon their lives
• The once crippled man standing near them, completely healed

In the face of examination the words and actions of these two men bore out the faith in Jesus that they claimed. The harmony between their convictions and their actions left the religious council no place to go.

Every day people are examining the evidence and testimony of your life. When the evidence is weighed, what conclusions will be made about your life? Can it be said with certainty that you have been with Jesus? Is there evidence to corroborate your testimony of faith?

This week, I encourage you to go through a process of personal “discovery.” Evaluate the evidence that you are leaving day by day and ask yourself: Is there enough evidence to convict me of a vibrant, growing walk with Jesus?”

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

One Step at a Time

2009-07-06T09:32:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

“How do you eat an elephant?” “One bite at a time,” the answer goes. This question and answer is often used when discussing an overwhelming challenge that looms larger than life in front of another. It is a reminder not to focus on the totality of the challenge, but instead to conquer it one step at a time.

In life, we face many challenges that are so much bigger than we are. Circumstances that seem insurmountable bring to the surface a host of fears, doubts and worries that we never knew were lurking deep within us. Often we find ourselves unsure whether we should charge, flee or just remain frozen in a catatonic state of indecision. Looking back at the workings of God in the lives of His people can give us great insight into what our own responses should be.

Joshua 3:13-17 (NASB)
13 “And it shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above shall stand in one heap.”
14 So it came about when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people,
15 and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest),
16 that the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho.
17 And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

The plan seemed simple enough. The people of Israel would break camp with the Ark of the Covenant out front. They would cross at the Jordan River and enter into the Promised Land. Sounds simple enough doesn’t it? It is the details that bring the “elephant” of the situation into view. For the Israelites, the point of crossing would not be visible until the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the water. Scripture also reveals that the Jordan River was at flood stage.

It is at these places in our lives, that we have to rely on faith for the confidence to take the next step. The priests had to trust that they would be able to stand once they stepped into the water and they would have to remain in that place until dry land was before them. This brings out an important point for our lives. The miracle of the Jordan River parting began as soon as the priests stepped into the water, but the miracle was not visible until the water had piled up at Adam and been cut off in the direction of the Sea of Arabah.

Today you may find yourself staring at a challenge that is frighteningly large from your perspective. You are now at the place where you must walk by faith and not with sight. Take confidence that the steps God has led you to take up to this point are the beginnings of greater things to come. It is your obedience and trust in taking the next steps, which will allow you to see the challenge dissipate before your very eyes as God intervenes in ways that you cannot even begin to understand.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

The Endorsement of Your Life

2009-06-29T10:18:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Over the weekend, the most famous pitchman in America passed away. Billy Mays was the king of infomercials, having made a name for himself by passionately extolling the virtues of numerous household products. Before any of us knew Billy’s name we knew him by the products he represented. We would often refer to him as the Oxi-Clean guy or the Mighty Putty guy. We knew Billy, not for who he was, but instead what he represented. Billy knew not only how to talk about, but demonstrate before our eyes the value of his products.

Acts 4:33 (NASB)
And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

The life of the Christian is also a demonstration. It is the demonstration and revelation of God’s transforming power upon the life of a person. The good news of Jesus has always been God’s ability to transform a life marked by sin, pain, guilt, etc…into a life of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, kindness and self control. A life that once seemed incomplete and weak is now a life marked by divine power.

The early apostles were known for one thing…Jesus. They talked about Jesus, they performed miracles in Jesus’ name and they cared for widows and orphans in Jesus’ name. Everything they did centered upon the transforming message of Jesus Christ. Their testimony was not just a testimony of words, but it was also supported by the demonstration of transformation in their own lives. Peter was a fisherman who denied Jesus in fear, but the power of God transformed him into a fearless spokesman for Jesus. Paul set out to arrest and even put to death followers of Jesus, but his encounter with God transformed him into the greatest missionary for the cause of Christ.

So the question for you today is this: Who are you representing? More importantly, does anyone around you know who you are representing? You have been given the power and authority to boldly represent Jesus at all times and in all places. So go out and demonstrate the changes in your life with confidence and passion, because you are representing the One who cleans lives and leaves them without stain or blemish.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Get Your Praise On

2009-06-22T10:16:00.002-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This morning as my wife and I were out for our morning walk, we found ourselves talking about praise. Praise is such a critical component in our relationship to God, because it acknowledges who He is. For example:

Revelation 4:8 (NASB)
And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”

In fact, scripture tells us that God dwells among the praises of His people:

Psalm 22:3 (NASB)
Yet Thou art holy, O Thou who art enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

Unfortunately, all too often we substitute “thanksgiving” for “praise.” Many times when I ask for people to give praise to God, I hear something like this: “I’m thankful because the Lord did _____ for me this week.” Now this statement does bring honor to God, but it is based on His actions toward the person. Praise on the other hand has nothing to do with the actions of God, but simply deals with the “person” of God.

Notice how Jesus taught us to pray in the model prayer we know as “The Lord’s Prayer:”

Matthew 6:9 (NASB)
“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.

There is a significant reason for this statement of praise in the beginning of the prayer. Those first words give us proper perspective for prayer. If God is not who He is, then prayer would be powerless. The power of prayer is not based in the person praying, but in the One to whom the petition of prayer is given. When we take the time to praise we willingly humble ourselves and acknowledge God’s proper place in our lives. We also acknowledge that He is both capable and able to establish, forgive, provide and deliver. The time we spend in praise takes our eyes off of our own lives and puts them squarely upon the One who gives life. It is at this point that we are now ready to seek Him for our needs, because we have our focus in the right place.

Today, I encourage you to spend some time in praise. Keep actions out of this time of communicating with God and instead focus on His attributes. If you need help use verses like Revelation 4:8 to help you.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

The Value of Understanding

2009-06-15T10:57:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

A few weeks back I had the opportunity to visit the Kitale Museum in Kitale, Kenya. The Kitale Museum has exhibits that teach about the cultural heritage and natural eco-system of this region of Kenya. The true blessing of this visit to the museum came from the instruction of my tour guide, Andrew. Andrew allowed me not just to see the exhibits and learn, but he provided me with understanding as well.

For example as we toured the mud tribal huts, he explained why I had to stoop down so low as I entered each one. The huts were built with low entrances, so that an attacker had to stoop to enter into the hut, while the resident of the hut was upright on the inside to defend their home. Without Andrew at my side, I would have only had the knowledge that this round domicile made of mud was a hut. Andrew opened my understanding the function…the “how” and “why” of the hut.

Proverbs 3:13 (NASB)
How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding.

Too many of us settle for being informed, but not enlightened. I often laugh that I am the king of worthless trivia. I can spout many useless facts about a great variety of subjects, but it is those things in which I have garnered understanding that I truly am an expert.

In this information age, a person’s ability to take the knowledge available and truly apply it is unique indeed. When you take the time to gain understanding you will be a real asset in this world of information overload. A person of understanding brings proper perspective to those who are suffering from information overload.

Today I want to challenge you to explore something at a deeper level. Maybe today you need to look at a passage from the Bible and move past the surface, or perhaps you need to probe deeper into a conversation with a friend. Ask the Lord for understanding and enjoy seeing things through a new lens of perspective.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours today.

Carl

In Hot Pursuit

2009-06-08T09:01:00.001-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

In our home we have 2 cats, “Max and Smokey” and a German Shepherd named “Seth.” One of the daily happenings in our house revolves around these 3 animals. At least once every day we will observe Seth chasing one of the two cats around the house. Seth pursues them from room to room until he finally gets them cornered. Once he has them cornered he sniffs, licks and playfully nips at them, but truly he isn’t sure why he chased them in the first place and he eventually walks away. Unfortunately for Seth, there is no lasting satisfaction in this pursuit, but he is still compelled daily to undertake this pursuit once again.

Today I want to bring forth a diagnostic question for your life: “What are you pursuing?” Whether we realize it or not, each of us is pursuing something in this life. At every crossroads of choice, we are making decisions based on the path of those things we are in pursuit of. Unfortunately, like Seth too many of us are chasing things that bring no lasting satisfaction. Once we’ve obtained them, we are still unfulfilled, but because we’ve convinced ourselves that true peace and happiness are found in these things, we will continue to pursue them day after day.

I want to challenge you this morning from a letter written by the Apostle Paul to his young protégé’ Timothy:

1 Timothy 6:10-11 (NASB)
10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.
11 But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

I want us to focus on two words that Paul uses in his admonition to Timothy. Those words are “flee” and “pursue.” Flee means to run away from and has the connotation of escaping danger. Fleeing brings with it an understanding of running as fast as you can as far as you can in the opposite direction of the things that bring you harm. In this case Paul was talking about “the love of money.” This verse is one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. Paul is not saying that money in itself is bad, in fact money is a great tool when used wisely; however, Paul is saying that a love of money leads to all manner of calamity and that Timothy should flee the things associated with this type of misplaced love. Paul understood that a love of money is similar to Seth’s love of our two cats…once you’ve obtained the object of your desire, you still find it unsatisfying.

The word pursue, on the other hand, means following with the intention of overtaking. When Seth chases our cats, he goes wherever they go. Whatever turn they take, he takes. What ever furniture they go under, he goes under. Seth does not stop until he has overtaken and “captured” the object of his desire. In the Apostle Paul’s instruction to Timothy, he lists 6 things that should be the objects of desire in our daily pursuits. These things are: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. There is a lasting quality with each of these things. Once obtained, they bring an ongoing fulfillment and satisfaction.

Today you may find yourself in a fruitless pattern. Like Seth you’ve been chasing things that look good, but leave you unfulfilled and empty. I invite you to look for a new object of desire, something that is eternal and lasting. Once you’ve identified those things, pursue them with all passion, energy and fervor.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Get Out of the Penalty Box

2009-06-01T10:05:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

The past two evenings I watched the first two games of the Stanley Cup finals. One of the unique features of ice hockey is the power play. A power play occurs when the member of one team commits a penalty. When a penalty is committed, the officials levy a 2 minute or 5 minute penalty against the offending team. During this time, the penalized team is required to play with fewer players on the ice than their opponent.
During the power play, the penalized team finds itself playing at a disadvantage, unable to play at a maximum level of potential.

In our lives, God has surrounded us with people who are necessary for us to operate at a peak level. Unfortunately many go through life without realizing this truth and penalize themselves and those unnecessarily. The reasons we penalize ourselves can vary. Perhaps it is feelings of unworthiness, guilt or anger that sideline us.

1 Corinthians 12:20-21 (NASB)
20 But now there are many members, but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

When we don’t recognize the importance of the roles that each of us plays in the lives of others, we can very easily hinder the potential of ourselves and others. When you don’t do your part, someone else is required to take up the slack. This creates extra burden upon them and may even take them away from their greatest strengths. Additionally, the group misses out on the gifts and strengths that you bring. This lack of people operating in their respective roles creates a loss of synergy within the group.

This week you may be sitting on the sidelines watching the action. I encourage you to get out of the box and back on the ice. Your team needs your skill, talent and giftedness if they are to operate at full strength once again.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Learning to Swim

2009-05-24T21:56:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This weekend I had the opportunity to spend some time in the pool with my daughter. She is still in the process of learning how to swim and has become pretty proficient with a life jacket on. This weekend I determined that I needed to work with her on floating without a life jacket. I began by holding on to her hands and instructing her on how to lay out in the water, how to hold her breath and how to lift her head when she needed to breathe. After a while she had mastered these foundational tasks and it was time to try it without her daddy holding her hands.

This was the place that she had to work off of her trust in my ability to keep her safe. She knew that if she got in trouble I would be there to lift her up and keep her from harm. It is from this example that I would like to bring forth this morning’s encouragement.

Psalms 56:11
In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

My daughter has learned that she can trust me through experience. Throughout her life she has seen me provide, protect, instruct and assist her through many situations. These experiences have built that unshakable confidence in my ability to sustain her. She also swims with me regularly, so she knows my confidence and skill in the water. As I gave her instructions, she never doubted the reasoning behind them or questioned why she needed to do these things. In her mind she realizes that I am taking her through a process that will allow her to swim without the aid of a life jacket.

In our lives, we must display the same confidence in our Heavenly Father. As we acknowledge His faithfulness in our lives, we find the stepping stones of trust that allow us to venture into the new adventures before us. We are able to undertake these new experiences with the confidence of knowing that God is always present to protect us if we get over our heads. This does not mean that He won’t allow us to struggle, because it is through the struggle that we learn; however, He will never allow that struggle to destroy us.

Today, you may find yourself treading the waters of life without a life jacket. Take heart God is with you, ready to keep you afloat when you begin to sink and through it all He is patiently and lovingly teaching you the principles necessary to swim.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Making Preparation

2009-05-04T10:10:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This morning I find myself in the final hours of preparation before I leave on a mission trip to Africa. Even though there is a flurry of preparatory activity, my preparations have actually been ongoing for a few months now. It is the preparations for the journey that make the journey possible.

Joshua 1:11 (NASB)
“Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘ Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it. ‘”

The success of our life’s journey is greatly influenced by the degree to which we’ve prepared for that journey. Can you imagine trying to make a productive trip to a far away land without having secured airfare, obtained visas or researching your point of destination? Such an undertaking would be disastrous at best.

Sadly, many people today are trying to undertake the journey of life with little to no preparation. Couples rush into marriage without planning a budget, discussing their expectations or even identifying their biases and differences. Men and women chase dreams without giving the slightest thought to the sacrifices and work that will be required to achieve those dreams. In the long run, the dream of a bright tomorrow comes crashing down as the poorly laid foundation gives way.

When we take the time to prepare the outcomes are markedly different. Preparations of prayer, discernment and wise counsel equip us with the tools and resources necessary to see our journey through. When we move out towards our destination we have all that we need to make the trek. Our good intentions are now bolstered by our supporting preparations.

This week you may find yourself in preparation mode. Anticipate the journey, but don’t forget the necessity of laying a solid foundation.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

When Expectancy becomes Expectation

2009-04-28T21:18:00.000-04:00

Good morning! This edition of the Monday Morning Encouragement is coming to you a few days late, but I’m sure you might find this just as encouraging on a Wednesday morning.

Over the past few days I have been finishing out a series of prayer retreats that I started last year. The purpose of this retreat was to spend an extended amount of time in silence and solitude in the presence of God.

As I entered into this time, my mind was preoccupied with the many things that are on the horizon. There are things that I have been praying through and listening for God’s responses on for some period of time now. I found myself wanting to go farther with God, but feeling like I was at a bit of a standstill.

During the retreat the Lord revealed something profound to me. I was allowing my sense of expectancy to become something else…an expectation. This shift was creating impatience within me for the things of God. I had to be reminded of the following truth:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NASB)
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—

God has my journey mapped out. He knows what is ahead of me and, just as importantly, He knows the molding, shaping and equipping that are necessary in my life if I am to successfully navigate the road ahead. I sometimes forget that “wait” and “no” are not the same words; however, my impatience leads me to treat one like the other.

This week you may be feeling like you are also in a standstill. Remember that God has already determined the point of movement and transition in your life. Ask Him to give you a contented spirit, even when the delays seem never ending. In due time, you’ll look back and realize that the end result was well worth the wait.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Don't Forget the Cheese

2009-04-19T22:18:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This weekend our church came together to serve another church. The church we were assisting has a ministry to the homeless and less fortunate in our area. Every Sunday this church meets under a large tent in a vacant lot and serves up Biblical truth, followed by a warm meal.

This weekend it was our turn to prepare the meal, so our leadership decided that these folks were probably sick of spaghetti, so we decided to make chili dogs. Today after church we started our cooking. Hot dogs were boiled, chili was made and the lemonade was made. One of the things that no chili dog should be without is shredded cheese. We purchased a 5 pound bag, but we were also concerned we would forget to take it out of the refrigerator before we left.

To prevent such a catastrophe from happening, my co-pastor’s wife made a sign with a drawing that said “cheese,” and hung it on the garage door. I laughed and commented that I would probably walk past the sign. She explained that it was hung at eye level for just such a reason.

I tell you this story today for two reasons. The first reason is that she dared me to write a Monday Morning Encouragement using the story of the cheese (this one’s for you Kim). Secondarily, there is a great truth in this story as well.

Romans 15:15 (NASB)
15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points, so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God…

One of the common traits we all have as people is the tendency to quickly forget things that are not right in front of us. We have all heard the saying: “Out of sight, out of mind.” As God moves powerfully in our lives we celebrate, but within a few days, weeks or months the distance of the divine has faded from view. Before long we are no longer affected by the memory of His work, unless we make an effort to remember.

Many of the Old Testament festivals and offerings were established for just such a purpose. Each memorial reminded the people of God working in their lives throughout time. These reminders were the building blocks of present and future faith. If we don’t set up reminders in our own lives, we too will be quick to forget and our faith will lack the strength for today’s challenges.

This week I encourage you to spend some time developing your own reminders. Take a good look at them; reflect on the events and circumstances that surrounded those times of your life. On a regular basis revisit those reminders and draw strength from them. Your walk of faith is incomplete without them (just like a chili dog with no cheese).

Until next Monday may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Into the Fire

2009-04-05T21:15:00.001-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

There are times in life that we find ourselves captive to our circumstances. We can see the peril ahead of us, but deliverance doesn’t come. Maybe you’ve been there, praying for a way out, but instead you find yourself headed straight towards the thing that is going to ruin your life.

The Biblical account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego fits this profile:

Daniel 3:19-27 (NASB)
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
20 And he commanded certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire.
21 Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire.
22 For this reason, because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.
23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he responded and said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “Certainly, O king.”
25 He answered and said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the fire.
27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew that staying faithful meant they would have to refuse the King Nebuchadnezzar’s command to worship an idol. They also knew the consequence of refusing this command could be death.

Once these three men made their choice to stand firm, they found themselves with no options but to follow the course of that decision. They were bound up and thrown into a blazing furnace…a punishment that surely meant the end of their lives. Something miraculous happened at that furnace. Unlike their captors, they survived the heat of the furnace and once inside were no longer bound, but free to move around. It was also in the midst of these flames that they found their deliverer. He met them at their point of need and brought them through what seemed liked certain destruction. God even went a step further…no singed hair, no charred clothing and not even the smell of smoke.

There are times that God chooses not deliver us before the uncomfortable situations of life, but instead He allows us to enter into the flames of refinement. It is in those flames that we find ourselves set free and accompanied by the very presence of God Himself.

Today you may be wondering why God isn’t removing you from your circumstances. I want to encourage you to begin looking around in those circumstances for the presence of God. Once you see Him, you will experience freedom in the flames and you will come out on the other side without a hint of char or smoke.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

At the end of belief

2009-03-30T12:59:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

As we go through life, we at times encounter places where our faith is stretched beyond its limits. These are the crossroads and crisis times where our trust in God’s ability to deliver us seems to be less than sufficient. These are the hours of desperation in which a person gropes for even the dimmest ray of hope to enter the picture.

Scripture gives us a picture of a father who was at this point. Mark chapter 9 describes the account of a boy who was possessed by a demon. The demon rendered the boy unable to speak and would often seek to drown or burn the child. The father of this boy saw a glimmer of hope when he encountered Jesus’ disciples, but he found only disappointment in their ability to deliver his son.

During this frustrating and desperate hour Jesus appears and the boy’s father makes a desperate plea for the sake of the boy. The father calls upon the compassion of Jesus, but at the same time reveals his uncertainty of there being any resolution. Take note of this father’s plea. It is both a heart cry that is transparent and the petition of a man who has not other answers:

Mark 9:23-24 (NASB)
23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can!’ All things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and began saying, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

Today you may find yourself in a place where your faith is being stretched thin. The solutions you have pursued to date have been only dead ends. You would trade the world for a change in circumstance, but you are not sure how much longer you can hold on. If this describes your situation, I encourage you to make this father’s cry your own: “Jesus, I believe you can deliver me, but help me in my unbelief!”

I leave you with one of my favorite promises of scripture:

Psalm 34:17-19
17 The righteous cry and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Lonely Times

2009-03-22T20:58:00.001-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a tremendous weekend.

Have you ever spent an extended period of time alone? Most of us are surrounded by the touch and input of others. We can hardly imagine a day without the cell phone, television or conversations with others. I have taken a few extended times in silence and solitude, but never more than a few days, and those were of my choosing.

The times of silence and solitude that push you to the limits are the ones you don’t choose. These are the times when your support system falls apart; the times when no one needs your services; the times quite frankly when you are out of sight and therefore also out of mind. It is during these times that we find out what we are truly made of. We discover whether our faith has foundation and stability.

Some of the darkest hours of life come when the resumes go unnoticed, the social invitations stop coming, those who once journeyed with you are no longer present and the circumstances remain unchanging even after continual fervent prayer. It is in these dark hours that voices declare that hope is lost and shout at you to quit, give up or move on.

The Bible reveals that these dark times are not unique to us. Take note of Joseph’s life:

Genesis 40:23 (NASB)
Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Joseph had been sold out by his brothers, sent to a foreign land as a slave, raised to a place of prominence in his master’s home only to be falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Joseph’s life of favor has now been replaced by a life of confinement and solitude. His only hope was a flimsy promise from the king’s cupbearer that he would remember Joseph once he was set free, a promise that went unfulfilled for another two years.

We don’t know Joseph’s private thoughts during that time, but we can only assume they were filled with doubts, despair and a questioning of God’s love. What Joseph didn’t see was the larger plan. He needed to be in prison to meet the chief cupbearer, who would ultimately bring him before Pharaoh. It was his interaction with Pharaoh that would bring him into a place of prominence making famine provisions that would ultimately save his people. A difficult path indeed, but each step was necessary to bring forth the carefully orchestrated plan of God.

Today you may find yourself in a lonely place; a place that in many ways seems desolate and nearly abandoned. You may be questioning why God has allowed you to be cut off and wondering what heinous sin you’ve committed to deserve such a punishment? This is the place where the foundation of your faith will be tested to its limits as you trust in things which at this moment are unknown and unseen. It is upon this foundation of endurance and faith that God will display the beauty of His workmanship in your life.

If you find yourself in a place of isolation this week, I encourage you to spend a few moments thanking God for seeing the bigger picture. Acknowledge that He sees the things that you don’t and as best you know how articulate your trust in His greater plan.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Change of Course

2009-03-09T15:27:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

This past week I was invited by a friend to go out on the streets with him to share with those we encountered the life changing message of Christ. When we got together, we took a few minutes and prayed, asking the Lord to direct to the place where He could best use us. As we drove around listening for God’s prompting we came upon a small church not far from the Sunday meeting place of the church I pastor. Both of us felt the prompting of God to stop there and join those who had come together for Bible study.

Acts 13:4 (NASB)
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

The other night was a shining example of the mysterious ways of God. Our intention was to go and share our faith with people who were looking for true hope. Instead, God led us to a little church to watch and listen. In fact for me, the journey was not for what was said in the service, but instead for two brief statements the pastor made to me during a 10 minute conversation on the sidewalk afterwards.

Many times we set out in a course or direction at God’s leading, believing we are going for, what is in our minds, a clearly defined purpose. As we continue on this journey we realize that our intended purpose was not really the purpose at all, but was instead the means of positioning us for things that God wants us to experience. For example, when I left law enforcement in 1997, I went into banking thinking that this would be my profession for the remainder of my days. In reality, God used the bank to position me in the right place to be groomed for my call to the ministry that would come 2 years later.

Today, you may find yourself in a place where you are asking the question: “What am I doing here? This was not the purpose I came here for.” When you trust God’s prompting, you can always be assured that you are in the right place at the right time; even if you cannot readily see that truth from your current perspective. Realize that God may simply be using this time and place in your life to position you for the things to come.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

When All Becomes New

2009-03-01T22:00:00.001-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This past Thursday my co-pastor and his wife welcomed their second child into the world. It has been 7+ years since we last had a baby in our lives, so it has been fun watching the commotion around this little fellow. Eyes opening slowly to look around, fingers curling and uncurling, legs extending and bending all displaying the newness of life.

This got me to reflecting on one of my favorite descriptions of life in Christ:

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)
Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Take a moment to close your eyes and ponder this question: “What would it mean in your life for all things to become new?” Imagine a life where there was no past mistake, error in judgment, criminal record, first marriage, etc… Imagine for a minute that you had not been burned before, wounded by a friend or stepped on thoughtlessly. Imagine a carefree existence where only the future lay ahead, because the past has been put to rest.

I think if each of us is honest there are some things we would like another opportunity to do correctly, some pain we would like to altogether avoid and some guilt we would rather not be saddled with. All too often it is our experiences that are allowed to define us. The promise of this scripture is simple…today is a new day.

Christ expunged our sin record with His blood. What we do with that freedom today is our choice. We can both explore and experience the freedom of that newness or we can allow the past to hold us forever in its captivity.

Today if you are weighed down by the baggage of days gone by, I encourage you to try being a little infantile today. Open your eyes and look around at what has changed in your world. Stretch your fingers out towards the hand of God and enjoy the freedom of motion that He has blessed you with.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Line Changes

2009-02-15T23:11:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

One of my favorite sports is ice hockey. I love the action of the game and the high level of physical intensity demonstrated by the players. When you watch a hockey game for the first time, one of the unique qualities you notice is the line changes that each team undertakes. Midstream in a game you will see players coming over the boards onto the ice while others go over the boards into the player’s box. The coach directs these line changes to refresh weary players, more evenly match on ice players with their opponents or to focus talent for an offensive or defensive thrust.

Over the years, I have seen God perform many line changes in my life. The team that started an endeavor with me is not the same team that finishes the game. At other times a specialist entered my life for a brief time to help me through difficulties, hone my skills or point me in new directions. We see one of these personnel adjustments take place in the account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.

Acts 8:39 (NASB)
39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.

God placed Philip in the Ethiopian’s life for just a moment in time, but that moment was a critical moment. Philip’s presence was necessary to bring understanding to the man’s search of the scriptures. Philip was God’s specialist for this critical juncture in the Ethiopian’s eternal journey. Philip had been carefully prepared for just such a moment.

Today you may find yourself in the midst of a changing life roster. The support system you thought would always be there have gone their separate ways and new faces are appearing in their place. Don’t be discouraged over those who have gone, but instead thank the Lord for the influence they have been. Thank Him for sending in those new faces who will become the supporting cast members who are necessary for you to make the next leg of life’s journey.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Getting By with a Little Help from My Friends

2009-02-02T03:26:00.002-05:00

Good morning! I hope your weekend was tremendous and that you are hitting the ground running.

Over the past several days, my family and I have been in the process of moving from one home to another. Each day last week, I moved a load of boxes from one location to the other. On Thursday I spent the day steam cleaning the carpets in the new house. On Friday, I finished steam cleaning and moved the boxes that were already in the new home from the tiled floors to their respective carpeted locations. Saturday was the major moved of the larger household items, the assembling of beds, hanging of curtains, etc… Sunday was more unpacking and shuffling of furniture.

These things are tiring for even the most energetic person, but for me I face the additional challenge of having an arthritic compression fracture midway down my back. As the day goes by the muscles in my back begin to lock up to the point that I can hardly move or stand up straight. For me to successfully accomplish a major feat such as a household move requires help from my friends.

As I was considering what to write this morning, the following example of scripture was brought to mind:

Exodus 17:11-12 (NASB)
11 So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.
12 But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.

The Amalekites had come to make war with the people of Israel. Whether the people of Israel were to be victorious rested in Moses’ ability to keep his hand held up with the staff of God in it. Naturally, over time Moses strength began to fade and his arms began to drop from weariness. Unfortunately these drops of the arm led to a surge from the Amalekites. The only way for Israel to be assured a military victory was for Moses’ hand to stay airborne. It was the help of Moses’ friends that made this feat possible. They gave Moses a place on which to sit and each man took hold of an arm and held his hands up high.

For me to successfully accomplish the task at hand this weekend was going to require more than my bad back on lone rusty pickup. I need friends with energy, who were willing to sacrifice their time and vehicles to make this endeavor possible. I needed them to step in to help carry the burdens I could not carry alone. The task was simply too big.

Sadly, too many of us are trying to accomplish the major undertakings of life alone. In our solo efforts, we find that we are running out of steam, determination and hope. The task ahead is simply more than one person can manage in their own strength. It is during these times that we begin to see the value of true friendship. A real friend sees the bigger picture. They realize that their hand holding efforts will ensure a greater victory for all involved.

My friends weren’t just responding to a guy with a bad back who needed a few extra pickup trucks. They were seeing the bigger picture. They know that my home is a place of ministry, a place where people find love, shelter and acceptance. My home is a place where others come to discover God’s greater purpose for their lives. It is a place where God transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Today I want to challenge you with this question: “Who is standing beside you?” I hope that you can readily name the men and/or women who stand on either side of you, holding you up when you just don’t have the strength within you to press on. If you can’t name those people, then I encourage you to seek God’s provision for the Aaron and Hur in your life. Their presence may mean the difference between victory and defeat in your next battle.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Trusting Without Understanding

2009-01-26T09:05:00.001-05:00

For the last few months Carol and I have been looking for a new place to live. Each time we thought we had our answer we would go down that trail, only to find a dead end. As the clock counted down to our moving day this coming weekend, we found our stress level getting a little higher with each new day. As we would pray over our housing situation, the Lord seemed to always lead us back to these two verses:

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight

Every time we would hear these verses we would see so many different ways it could be applied to our search, but we just weren’t getting any further clarity on where we needed to be looking.

A few weeks ago, my business partner asked me if I would consider living in a mobile home and he even went so far as to go on a fact finding mission for me at a local mobile home park. As doors continued to close in front of Carol and I we decided to explore this option. Last Thursday night Carol and the kids toured several parks, but came away without a real sense of peace about any of the trailers they looked at. This past Friday, was our last real day to look at housing options, so we decided to go back to one of the parks after looking at some houses this morning that just didn’t fit our needs.

Carol showed me the trailer she had viewed the night before, but both of us came away with the same sense that this particular trailer wasn’t our answer either. As we were driving away, she pointed out an attractive double-wide that was for sale by owner at the far end of the trailer park. We called the number on the sign, and low and behold they were home (I must warn you, there is a twist in the unfolding of events…you haven’t solved the case yet Sherlock Holmes). We went inside and met the owners who were moving due to the husband’s terminal illness and his need for in home care. As I looked around, the trailer was nice, but there were large gaps between the two halves of the trailer and part of the ceiling was breaking away.

Carol and I left, dumbfounded and asking ourselves “now what?” As we were driving away, the phone rang. It was the wife from the trailer we had just been in. She told Carol that her sister, who had been at the trailer when we were there, had a house on Padre Island that had been wrecked by the previous tenants. She said that if we were willing to paint and clean carpets she would be willing to reduce the rental. As we turned back around, I told Carol: “this sounds like a God thing taking shape.”

When we returned to the trailer, we were met by the sister of the trailer owner’s wife. She jumped in the van and said, “Let me show you the house.” As we drove towards Padre Island, we learned that her husband had passed away a couple of years ago and that she didn’t want to live there anymore. She said the previous tenants had ruined the carpets and the walls, requiring a lot of elbow grease.

When we arrived, we found a 4 bedroom brick home with a pool and ample space for our house church ministry. The work needed was primarily clean up and cosmetic. When I asked her what she wanted for rent, she named a figure in our price range. When I asked her what the work was worth, she indicated that it was worth at least one month’s rent, but she also stated her need for some rental income from it. I told her what we were currently paying and asked her if we could pay her that same amount for February and March, discounting for the clean up work. We agreed to begin paying the full rental amount in April. She suggested we put it in writing, so on a notepad we drew up those terms and she handed us the key. No pet deposit, no rental deposit and just what we needed when we need it.

God being the loving Father that He is, went far above what we needed. We are now 3 blocks from my favorite fishing spot, I have a place to exercise daily with my favorite activity…swimming! And by positioning us on the Island, our ministry now has placement in 3 key areas of Corpus Christi.

These past few months have been a practical exercise in not leaning on our own understanding. This housing scenario could not have been designed by us on our best day. Maybe today you find yourself in the middle of a lengthy search for answers. Your best guesses and efforts are falling short. I encourage you to let go of the wheel and watch where God takes you. You may find that the answer had never even crossed your mind.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Loving Your Enemy

2009-01-19T09:12:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Last night I was watching the AFC Championship Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Late in the game there was a devastating hit between a Steelers’ player and a Ravens’ player. The Ravens’ player laid motionless on the ground for a number of minutes and was ultimately placed on a stretcher and carted off of the field.

In football the rivalry between the Steelers and Ravens is generally described in these terms: “A bitter rivalry” or “these two teams hate each other.” Anytime these two rivals play, the energy level increases and the players dig a little deeper for every hit. In a game as big as the conference championship, no one holds back; yet, last night as a wounded warrior lay motionless on the field of battle, rivalry was set aside and compassion took over. All around the injured athlete, members of both teams gathered, many dropping to one knee with heads bowed. As I watched the scene unfold on my television screen, my mind went to the following admonition from Jesus:

Matthew 5:43-44 (NASB)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy.’
44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you

Last night on that ball field, every athlete took pause with the realization that it could have been them lying motionless out on the turf. Life has a funny way of bringing us back to the simple truth that we are not as strong as we often think we are.

Times like these allow us to see our own frailties and shortcomings. Our first impulse may be to celebrate the misfortune of our rival, but soon enough we find ourselves remembering our own vulnerability, past injury or current challenges. Many times God has allowed me to watch my opponents stumble, only to use their fall as a reminder to me that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. What I mean by that statement is this: When it comes to being worthy of God’s favor, love and blessing…I am totally undeserving. In fact, I no more deserve than anyone else, no matter how bad their life and actions may seem to me. The only reason I am even a recipient of His goodness and grace, is because of the price Jesus paid, something I had no part in to begin with.

Having this realization, makes it much easier to endure those who adversaries in my life. Recognizing that from God’s perspective, we are equally in need of His grace and mercy, allows me to switch from adversary to advocate. I find myself bowing my head to pray for the needs of my greatest rivals.

Today you may be in the midst of the greatest battle of your career, education, or even life. Take time today to pray for the well-being of those who battle against you, because chances are the battle will expose their frailties as much as it will expose yours.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Trusting Your Guide

2009-01-11T22:09:00.001-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a terrific weekend.

Last week I went on a deep sea fishing charter in the Gulf of Mexico with my wife. After 2 hours of travelling across the water, our captain brought the boat to a stop and told us to let our lines out 80-90 feet.

Within a matter of moments the words “fish on” were heard up and down the deck. Fishing rods were seen bending and bouncing as our enthusiastic group of amateur anglers began reeling in their catch. Before long large game fish were seen coming out of the water and onto the deck. Before the day was over we had reached our limit of King Mackerel and Atlantic Sharpnose Shark.

The success of the trip had nothing to do with our skill, ingenuity or hard work. The real determinant of our productivity was the wisdom of our charter captain. He was the one who knew the waters, the behavior of the fish and the right fishing techniques. Without his guidance the outcome of our journey would have been much different. Our day to day lives are really not that different either.

John 21:6 (NASB)
And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find a catch .” They cast therefore, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.

In many ways our success in life is more about our dependency upon the Lord’s direction and less about our talents. When we trust His guidance to the right prospect, conversation or client, we see our efforts multiplied exponentially. Unfortunately, too many times we become overly confident in our own skills and abilities. We assume we have grown beyond the need for guidance, only to find in the lean times, that we need guidance more than ever.

Because God sees the past, present and future, he has perspective that you and I do not. He sees the storms, the mountains and valleys that affect our journey. He knows where the bounty is located and how to grab hold of it. Our only responsibility is to follow his lead. It is when we trust in him with all of our heart, leaning not on our own understanding, that we experience the limits of his abundance.

This week you may be wondering why the journey is taking so long. You may be unsure of why you have been given the tools that are currently in your hand. It is at these times that you rely upon the wisdom of God as your guide, knowing that he is leading you to the fullness of his blessing.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Remembering the Covenant

2009-01-05T09:26:00.001-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This week is an exciting week for my wife and me. On Wednesday we will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Each year on our anniversary we go away by ourselves to reflect on our journey, dream for the future and remind ourselves of the covenant made on January 7, 1989.

Over the last 20 years things have changed. My hair no longer hangs down to my shoulders, nor does it completely cover the top of my head. My waistline left the 30’s years ago and now lives in the 40’s. Carol and I are no longer referred to as that “precious” newlywed couple, but instead we are “mom and dad” to three children ages 7 to 18. 20 years ago I sold water softeners in Wichita, KS today I plant churches and encourage pastors around the world.

Indeed, many things have changed over these 20 years, but one thing remains constant…the covenant. On that blustery day in January of 1989, Carol and I stood before God and man, pledging our commitment to one another through the covenant relationship of marriage. In that covenant we spelled out the lengths we would go to in expressing our undying love for one another. Words like “for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part” were used to define this covenant.

God established covenants throughout scripture. They are His promises to His people. Our very redemption at the cross of Christ is the embodiment of our covenant relationship with God. It is no wonder that God was constantly instructing us to remember His covenants.

1 Chronicles 16:15
Remember His covenant forever, The word which He commanded to a thousand generations

When my wife and I stood at the altar 20 years ago to exchange vows and make our covenant with God and one another, the only thing we could see was love and happiness. Eventually life brought the twists, turns, hardships and triumphs that we all face, turning the euphoria of getting married into the daily challenge of making it through another day. It is during the ups and downs of life that we often forget why we entered into that covenant in the first place. Each wedding anniversary becomes a regular time of remembrance that allows us to go back to day 1. In fact, we often will pull out the aging video tape of our wedding ceremony and reception to help relive the moment.

Taking time to remember the covenants of God remind us why we need those covenants to begin with. So often we get caught up in the crisis of the moment and forget the miraculous provisions of the past. It is only when we take the time to remember and reflect that we once again reconnect with the strength that is needed to face the challenges of today.

This week I encourage you to take some time to reflect and remember the promises of God for your life. Pull out the old photo albums, the long forgotten diary and remember where those promises have taken you over the years and gain strength for the places those promises will take you in the years to come.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Availability

2008-12-29T15:08:00.001-05:00

Good morning! I trust you had a very Merry Christmas and were blessed by your time with family and friends.

Each year in the days between Christmas and New Years, I take a prayer retreat. Some years I have been able to go deep in the woods to a secluded cabin, other years I stay close to home, but seclude myself. It is during these times that I reflect on the year past and listen for God’s direction for the year ahead.

One of the issues that surfaces often during these times is the issue of availability. It is so easy to become worried about my abilities and how God is going to use them, but what God is truly interested in is my availability. Take a look at this passage from Isaiah:

Isaiah 6:8 (NLT)

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to my people? Who will go for us?”

And I said, “Lord, I’ll go! Send me.”

More than God cares about my leadership skills, my speaking ability or my people skills He most cares about my willingness to go. Many of us say that “Wherever He leads I’ll go.”, but would we really? In one of the books I read on a past retreat the author mused that for every person who says they will go “wherever”, how many of them have their passports stamped and active? Do their actions really bear out their words?

There are many reasons that we unfortunately say “no” to God. God leads in a certain direction and we begin to withdraw our commitment. “I can’t afford it!” “I don’t know enough!” “I couldn’t leave my friends and family!” Do any of these sound familiar?

To follow where God leads requires complete surrender and a sold out commitment. In the story of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds were compelled to see Jesus. Nothing else mattered at that point. Are you in that same place, where following Jesus is the greatest passion in your life. I sometimes wonder what blessings I have missed out on by not going where I have been led.

This week I want to challenge you to be available. Are you willing to truly say, “Wherever He leads I’ll go?” Make yourself available to God and His purposes. Ask Him to invite you into the midst of His activity.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Don't Forget

2008-12-22T10:07:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Luke 2:8-11 (NASB)
8 And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10 And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

This morning you may find yourself having trouble focusing on the work in front of you. For many of us, our minds have already drifted to our travel plans, incoming guests and the plans of the Christmas holiday. The busyness of last minute shopping, hosting and wrapping of gifts occupies our time. If we are not careful, it can even become a Christmas without Christ.

The message of Christmas is the greatest message the world has ever known. God sent Jesus, His one and only child, to offer himself as an atoning sacrifice for all men. Jesus was born to do that which you and I are incapable of, by bringing us into a right relationship with God. The sacrifice of the manger foreshadows the sacrifice of the cross, where Jesus would complete His atoning work for you and I.

This Christmas season take time to reflect on the One who stepped away from the glory of heaven to take upon himself human flesh. He wasn’t obligated to enter this scene, but He willingly chose to do it out of love for you. You’ve been given the greatest gift man has ever known, the gift of new life, clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Examining Your Foundation

2008-12-15T00:28:00.001-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This past week I spent some time with a man who is both a friend and trusted advisor. He has taken a great interest in my work over the past 18 months, but has taken particular interest in the church planting ministry that I launched in November. As we were talking, he addressed with me his concern over my foundation. As I probed into his statement, he accurately assessed that I was beginning to rapidly put together a structure, but my foundation was not set. He further elaborated that I may even need to pull back the reigns on the ministry, because the monthly provisions for my family were not fully in place.

There was great wisdom in those words. A structure is only as good as the foundation it is built upon. The foundation determines to what degree and at what pace the structure can be erected. It also determines the longevity of what is built, and the types of adversity the structure can withstand.

This conversation has had me thinking about the following passage of Scripture:

Luke 6:47-49 (NASB)

47 "Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and acts upon them, I will show you whom he is like:
48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood rose, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
49 "But the one who has heard, and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house upon the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."

The greatest detriment to the lives we are building is the poor foundation work, we all too often settle for. We may hear the words of God, but how often do we fail to implement those very things into our lives. We know we are cutting corners, but we don’t think anyone will ever notice the shortcuts. Unfortunately turmoil has a way of exposing our frailties, shortcuts and shortcomings. The places we chose to hear, but not obey become glaringly obvious as we watch the structures of our lives come crashing down on the shifting foundations upon which they were built.

Today, I encourage you to evaluate your foundation. Have you taken the time to dig deep and lay your foundation on the bedrock principles of God? If you have, the storms may be fierce, but they will not topple the things God has directed you to build. In the end the structure will stand, unmoved by the tempest, because the foundation never shifted.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Living a Life of Honor

2008-12-08T10:08:00.001-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend and find yourself fully energized today.

One of the things my dad instilled in me growing up was the importance of a good name. I watched him over and over again make choices that were not always the easiest, but were the choices that were honorable. When opportunities were presented to compromise his principles, he always stood his ground on the convictions that were deep within him.

In one of our most memorable conversations before I left home my dad told me: “I may never leave you vast wealth, property or fortune, but I will leave you a good name.” Those words penetrated deep within me and have taken up residence. I have tried diligently to pass this same value of integrity on to my children.

Every day we are bombarded with opportunities to compromise our principles. People ask us to stretch the boundaries or turn the other way. At first glance it may seem harmless enough, but ultimately those compromises have a lingering effect on our character and reputation. The stench of compromise stays around long after the compromise has been made.

It is no wonder that God led the writer of Hebrews to pen these words:

HEBREWS 13:18 (NASB)
Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.

One of the most valuable assets we have is our reputation. A reputation can open doors of opportunity or slam them just as quickly. A reputation may be the difference between advancement and resistance and our reputations move beyond us. Our spouses, children, co-workers, employers and even the God of our faith are labeled by our integrity or lack thereof. It is no wonder that the writer of this verse requested prayer over this issue of honorable conduct.

Today I encourage you to evaluate your own conduct. Would you be described as a man or woman who operates with honor and integrity? Perhaps you find yourself this morning being faced with an opportunity for compromise. Consider the cost, shore up your defenses and remember it is your reputation at stake. Ask God to direct your conduct that you may always be known as a person of honor.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Preparing for the Unseen

2008-12-01T17:06:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with friends and family.

The talk on the lips of the American public these days is the economy. I’ve been chuckling every weeknight during The Tonight Show as Jay Leno breaks into a short burst of one-liners that begin with “The economy’s getting bad I tell you…” The forecasts for the next 18-24 months do not look good for the American economy to say the least.

So the question becomes this, “what preparations have you been making with the resources God is making available to you?” This question got me reflecting upon the story of Joseph this morning. Joseph was sold into slavery, jailed under false accusation and generally mistreated, but Joseph never lost sight of God. Joseph’s faithful service to those who held him captive ultimately led to his rise to prominence in Egypt. It was through this rise to prominence that Joseph was able to provide for his people during 7 years of famine. Look at Joseph’s words as recorded in Genesis:

Genesis 45:5-7 (NASB)
5 “And now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
6 “For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.
7 “And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.

Sometimes in life we get so self-absorbed with what is wrong in our own piece of the picture that we fail to step back and look at the bigger picture. Joseph heeded the warnings of famine and made adjustments in the land of Egypt that ended up being the provision for the inhabitants of the land when food was scarce. He got beyond the “wrongs” of the past and turned a negative into a positive.

So what has God been doing to prepare you and your family for the things that lie ahead? Perhaps it is time to step back and look at the greater picture. God may have allowed you to go through a job change you didn’t want, because your industry was getting ready to fold. He may have moved you to another part of the country, where the provisions of life are not as difficult to come by. He may have denied you the loan, so you wouldn’t be weighed down by a debt you couldn’t maintain. Of course the preparations are not all negative. Perhaps the bonus or raise you received was given so you could build a cash reserve if things get lean. Maybe that same windfall was given so you could provide more fully for those in need.

Whether the worst fears of the economic forecasters come to pass remains to be seen, but no matter what the outcomes may be, God is already putting the resources and people in place to see His people through the lean times. Today, I encourage you to evaluate the tools that God has given you for provision and care. Thank Him for already making the adjustments in your life that are needed to whether the storms of the future.

Until next Monday may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Being Transparent

2008-11-24T10:14:00.001-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This past week, I was asked a question that on the surface didn’t seem that penetrating, but in the end was life changing for me. The question was simply: “What do you need from me this week?” Now this wouldn’t seem like a difficult question to answer, but for me it was. After a few seconds of thought I gave the standard surface answer: “You can pray for me.”

It was from this exchange that God began to unravel my inner wiring and identified a short circuit in the system. The friend who had asked me the question seized the opportunity to speak truth into my life. He elaborated that his prayer for me was a given, but that his question was an offer to walk beside me as a brother.

GALATIANS 6:2 (NASB)
Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.

My friend was seeking to help me carry the burdens of my life, there was just one problem. I was not allowing him to walk with me through my journey of life. The truth of the matter was that I had many needs. Let’s be honest, I just left a salaried ministry position to start a church and live by faith. The problem was, I didn’t want to be totally transparent. Something inside of me wanted to hide the fact that I had needs…some of them pressing in quickly.

When I got home that afternoon, my wife could see I was grinding on something deep within me, so she asked. I told her about my interaction earlier in the day and she immediately informed me that I had taken the easy way out. She elaborated that God was trying to provide for our needs, but I was allowing my pride to thwart those very provisions. Ouch! She was right; my pride was hindering the very thing I was seeking from God. I wanted to simply tell God all of my problems and sit back and wait for the provisions to flow in.

Unfortunately, that is inconsistent with the way God chooses to work in our lives. He has joined us with others who were put into our lives to help us carry our burdens. The channels of blessing are those who walk along side of us. We are truly dependent upon the other members of Christ’s body, if we are to function at a peak level.

The next time you are asked “what do you need from me?” Don’t pass off the question with a quick “pray for me.” Choose instead the route of transparency; allow others to see you needs and burdens. You will find that their presence beside you brings God’s comfort and blessing. God never intended for us to walk alone, so take joy in those who care enough to ask the “tough” question.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

In Christ,
Carl

Under Your Nose

2008-11-17T09:49:00.001-05:00

Good morning! I hope that you had a refreshing weekend.

I meet with a friend of mine every Thursday for lunch. During our time we talk about life and he allows me to challenge him in his Christian walk. Often times I am the one getting challenged as we dialogue back and forth. This week was no exception, as our dialogue helped me to see an opportunity right in front of my nose.

Two weeks I ago I began a new ministry called Simplicity. The basic concept of Simplicity is to develop a network of groups that meet in homes, offices, coffee shops, etc… as macro level church bodies. As my friend and I were talking I was discussing the groups that we have already established and the opportunities we had on the horizon. As part of that conversation I mentioned that I would like to have a group going in the downtown area for business people by January of 2009. That’s when I had my “duh” moment. My friend said, “Why don’t we make our meeting that group?” My friend was seeing the obvious that for some reason wasn’t even crossing my mind.

Numbers 22:31 (NASB)
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground.

There are times in our life, when we simply don’t see the opportunities right in front of us. I find that the reasons for this come in a variety of forms. At times it is my preoccupation, tunnel vision or lack of awareness of my surroundings that is the issues. Other times it is not the right time for God to reveal those opportunities, or, as in the case of my friend, God wants to use someone else to speak into my life.

The truth of the matter is that we are surrounded by opportunities every day. These opportunities have the potential for lasting impact on our lives and the lives of others. The only barrier is our ability to recognize them. Unfortunately we miss some of our best opportunities, simply because we are not looking for them.

This week ask the Lord to open your eyes, so that you see the landscape of your life and surroundings as God sees them. Listen carefully to the conversations that you find yourself involved in and listen for the open doors of opportunity. You will be amazed at the opportunities you have been missing that have been in front of you all along.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Grounded in Faithfulness

2008-11-10T09:17:00.002-05:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This past week we finally brought the 2008 election process to a close. Over the past 20 months we have heard candidates making pledges and promises on a wide variety of issues ranging from the economy to the Iraq war. Unfortunately, every campaign season brings promises that for the most part will never be realized.

The weakness of a campaign promise is the ability of the candidate to bring it to fruition. A politician is always dependent upon the consensus of others. Even if consensus is given, it is often given with compromise and strings attached.

The strength of pledge, promise or covenant lies in the ability of the promising party to deliver on the promise. As we see from the political process, even an upstanding candidate has at some point failed to deliver on a promise. Ultimately the credibility of a promise is grounded in the prior faithfulness of the one making the promise.

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NASB)
“Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments…”

Prayer is a place of covenant relationship. You and I come to God with our petitions and requests, because we trust in His ability to meet the needs in our lives based upon the promises of scripture. We come to God with the confidence that because He has been faithful in keeping His covenants throughout history, He will continue to be faithful to His promises in our day.

The power of prayer is not based on your ability to pray eloquent prayers, but instead it is based in the very character and nature of God. It is God’s faithfulness to His character that allows His promises to be rock solid. God does not have to compromise on His promises, for they are complete in every way.

This week as you pray over the concerns and cares of this life, remember that your prayers are anchored in the foundation of faithfulness through the ages.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Misunderstood

2008-10-27T09:40:00.001-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This week is an exciting week for me and one of the milestones of my life at the same time. This next Sunday I will be launching a new church and church planting ministry. For me the opportunity to turn my entrepreneurial leanings towards greater purposes than simply making money is a thrill.

There is a flip side to all of this excitement though. It is the misunderstanding of others who do not see the picture as you see it. This past week I had emails that questioned the wisdom of my walking by faith in this venture and even one that accused me of starting a cult, sent by a man who has never even met me or known me.

I find it interesting that Jesus encountered the same types of issues in His own ministry.

Mark 4:21-22 (NASB)
21 And when His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”
22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”

Misunderstandings are often not borne out of ill will or malice, but instead are birthed out of the compassion and concern of others. In Jesus’ case his family and friends were concerned because He was so busy ministering to others He was not even allowed to eat. His family and friends didn’t want to see Jesus trampled on by the demands of others.

On the other hand, the scribes wanted to discredit Jesus, because they could not explain His actions without attributing His work to God. Jesus’ “brand” of religious practice was not comfortable for them, because it challenged their methodologies and practice. In their ignorance they made false accusations towards Him.

Today you may find yourself in a place of being misunderstood. Remember God hasn’t given everyone around you the same picture that He’s given you. Be patient with those who don’t understand and answer gently those who attack out of ignorance. In the end the course God has put you on will be revealed. The picture once obscure to others will come sharply into focus. What once was viewed as foolishness, oddity or rebellion will finally be seen as it has always been….simple obedience.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

It is well

2008-10-20T10:22:00.002-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

This morning I woke up with a song playing over and over deep within me. The song is actually on old hymn entitled “It is Well With My Soul.” The words were written by Horatio Spafford in 1873. Spafford was a wealthy American businessman who went through a series of devastating events. In 1871 Spafford was financially ruined by the devastation of the great Chicago fire. Within a few months Spafford’s family was crossing the Atlantic when their ship collided with another vessel. Spafford’s wife survived, but his four daughters perished.

It was only a few weeks later, as Spafford’s own voyage across the Atlantic neared the spot where his daughters had died that Spafford was given these words:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

So how does a man like Horatio Spafford come away with the strength to say “it is well with my soul?” Look at the following promise from scripture:

Psalm 34:17-18 (HCSB)
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.

You see Spafford realized that God was much bigger than fortune, life or even death. Spafford knew that his current lot in life was not the end of the story. His soul could rejoice, because eternity was before him. There would come a day when money would no longer be needed and death would no longer separate him from his loved ones. All was well with his soul, because he walked day by day with God, the one who transcends time and place.

Today, you may be facing peace like a river or perhaps it is the sea billows of life. So I ask you the question: “Is it well with your soul?”

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours today.

Carl

Throwing Out the Clutter

2008-10-13T10:10:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This past week I began packing up my office as I enter into the final few weeks of my current pastorate. It is interesting the things you accumulate over time. Professional journals with an article you intended to read, but never got around to. A marketing piece from a company that may have something beneficial to your work environment, but there never seemed to be an appropriate time to follow up. Memos of decisions already made and acted upon.

In time, as the seasons of life change, these items simply become clutter. They take up space, but no longer hold significant value or meaning. Our lives can also become cluttered, hindered by things we no longer need to carry. Notice the words of scripture:

Hebrews 12:1 (HCSB)
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us…

Clutter…we all have it and if we don’t do something about it, we eventually have to move it. The reason I’m cleaning out the clutter from my office is to save me the exertion of lifting unnecessary boxes. I will need my strength for greater things than moving my clutter from one location to another.

In your life you are carrying some clutter too. The memory of a conversation that didn’t go your way a few years back; the flicker of that dream you had back in high school or the resentment over the promotion that passed you by last year. Each of these things was at one time deeply personal and fresh, but now these things have cobwebs on them and haven’t been utilized in years. Every day you choose to carry them, you are working harder than you need to. The effort required to move these extra boxes prevents you from performing at your optimum level in the things that really matter.

Today, I encourage you to begin sorting through the boxes and desk drawers of your life. Keep those things that add value to your life, but commit right now to throw out the clutter. After all do you really need those old business cards anyway?

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

It's all in how you look at it

2008-10-06T10:50:00.002-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This week all eyes will be on the American economy, in particular the financial markets. Over the past several weeks the Dow Jones Industrial Average has fallen nearly 2,000 points. For many this has led to a state of panic as they are overtaken by fear, worry and host of other unpleasant emotions. Their current state of emotion is of course grounded in their choice of perspective. For many, this downturn of the market is no different than a red-tag clearance sale at the local department store…a buying opportunity.

Ephesians 5:20 (NLT)
And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A few weeks ago I attended a 3 day guided prayer retreat. One of the exercises we went through went something like this. Our leader asked us in 2 minutes to write down everything we were thankful for. The list flowed with things like friends, family, health, etc… When the 2 minutes was up, the leader asked us to go to another page and now for another 2 minutes list the things we were not thankful for. This list didn’t flow quite as readily, but there were still many things listed. When the time was up, the leader inquired why we weren’t thankful for the things we had just listed. My list of unthankfulness was marked with such things as pain, loss and circumstances that I couldn’t control.

The more I studied that list, the more I realized that there were many issues to be thankful for, but it would require a change of perspective. With God’s help, I made an adjustment to the picture in my soul. This internal cropping of the frame helped me refocus the image of the experience. For example, a time of loss is now seen as a time of knowing God’s miraculous provisions. A time of deep pain is now seen as a time of experiencing the depth of God’s love. A time of failure has now become a great teaching experience.

You get the idea. The experience itself is permanent, but the angle and perspective I view it from are fluid. Today you may find yourself flooded with a sea of emotions over the circumstances in your life and the world around you. I encourage you to step back from the canvass and readjust the frame. Once you bring the lessons, strength and presence of God back into the picture; the picture will take on a whole new appearance and meaning.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Journey into the unknown

2008-09-29T09:51:00.002-04:00

Good morning! I hope your weekend was restful.

There are times in life when we find ourselves setting sail in faith for unknown destinations. This may come about through disaster, illness or other means. The optimist in us says this is an opportunity for me to spread my wings, but the pessimist inside of us wonders how we will make it.

This brings me to one of my favorite accounts of a journey into the unknown:

Genesis 12:1 (NLT)
Then the Lord told Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you.”

Abram was plugging along through life, minding his own business when the Lord made a course correction. Notice the wording of the Lord’s directive. Abram is instructed to leave the familiar surroundings of home and family to undertake a journey with no clearly defined ending point.

Now let’s be honest, most of us would stop right there and say something along these lines: “Ok, God so you want me to go on a road trip. How many days does this entail? Have you already booked my airline reservations? What about the hotel? By the way, where am I going? What is the purpose of this journey?”

Notice that God didn’t provide an itinerary, only an opportunity to trust and walk by faith. Abram had a choice to make at this point. Would he trust the God whom he worshipped and claimed to follow?

We find that because Abram had taken the times to not only know about God, but to develop intimacy with God, he was willing to launch out in faith. In the New Testament book of Hebrews, Abram is counted as one of the heroes of the faith, an example for others to follow.

Today you may find yourself setting sail to a destination unknown. Take heart, God has already selected your place of arrival. Trust Him with your heart, even when you don’t see with your eyes.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Drowning in Circumstances

2008-09-22T09:44:00.001-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a terrific weekend.

Each of us has encountered situations in our lives that were “over our heads.” More clearly stated, we at times are faced with circumstances that are beyond our ability and resources to change. Life has been moving along at a normal pace when all of the sudden your reality changes. The doctor says the tests came back malignant; the boss gives you a pink slip on Friday afternoon; the police show up at your door; you come home to find your house full of water and in those moments your whole world changes.

Our positive outlook now makes a sharp 180 degree turn and our confidence quickly becomes helplessness. We’re no longer interested in achieving; prospering or winning…surviving has now become the order of the day.

Today I want to encourage you with Peter’s story from Matthew 14. The disciples were out in a boat late at night fighting hard to row through the waves. About 3AM they observed a figure walking towards them on top of the waves. As the figure came closer they learned it was Jesus. Peter called out and asked Jesus to verify His identity by commanding Peter to come to Him on the water. So Jesus did just that.

So out of the boat Peter goes. Not sinking, but walking towards Jesus on top of the waves. This was truly a milestone moment in Peter’s life and most certainly a story that would trump any other. Unfortunately for Peter, his circumstances changed. He began to notice the churning sea around him. As his eyes shifted to the waves and away from Jesus, he began to sink.

Matthew 14:30-31a (NLT)
But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
[31] Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed him.

So what does this have to do with you? If you are like me, when crisis hits, you are frantically searching for a way out. How can I get away from the danger, pain, turmoil, etc…? Peter gives us a great pattern. He didn’t pray a long flowing prayer. He didn’t try to justify how he got into this mess. He simply shouted (literally yelled) “Save me!”

Save me, these two words are probably the most powerful words anyone could ever pray. These are words of complete helplessness and complete dependence. In these words is an acknowledgment that you need something greater than yourself and your resources if you are going to make it. These words also bring about a refocusing. Peter knew his help could only come from the one who was walking on the waves. His circumstance required him to once again fix his eyes on Jesus.

Take not of how Jesus responded. The word “instantly” or “immediately” is used in this verse. Jesus didn’t make Peter wait until the Coast Guard could send out a rescue boat. Jesus didn’t tell Peter to swim back to the boat or tread water. Jesus didn’t even tell Peter to “hang on.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and grabbed Peter, lifting him to his feet again.

Today you may find yourself sinking in circumstances. Perhaps you need to follow the example of Peter and simply yell out to Jesus, “save me!”

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Time = Distance

2008-08-31T16:39:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope your Labor Day weekend has been refreshing.

This past Saturday my brother-in-law and I went on a 5 hour fishing charter into the Gulf of Mexico . Our boat captain took us a few miles out from port and had us drift fish next to several large tankers that were anchored in the open water. The open water is an amazing reminder of perspective. Next to one of these massive oil tankers, our fifty foot fishing vessel seemed like a toy in comparison; however, as you drifted away from the tanker and began to see the open water, the tanker itself became somewhat less overwhelming. Before long the tanker was just another small dot on the horizon.

This reminds me of a principle of motion that I learned in school, time = distance. Today’s giant of a problem, may consume your entire field of vision, but with each new day you gain distance. As the days go by, the separation from the enormity of the problem increases. Slowly, but surely the bigger picture begins to come back into view. No longer are you staring at the broadside of an oil tanker, but you are now seeing that oil tanker in the vastness of the Gulf of Mexico . What once seemed insurmountable, now seems somewhat insignificant and ultimately becomes a “mile marker” if you will of a greater journey.

The only problem with the time = distance principle is that it requires patience. Patience does not come naturally for most of us. In fact, patience requires tremendous self control and commitment. It is our hope of better days that fosters this commitment to patience. For me that hope comes from the following promise:

Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Today you may find yourself staring at the broadside of the most colossal challenge you’ve ever faced. I encourage you to return to the basic principle of motion, time = distance. Put things back in perspective. Today’s problem will be tomorrow’s tale of surviving in the face of impossible odds. As time goes by, that same problem will become next year’s source of strength and encouragement to someone else, or the motivation for you to persevere in the face of another adversity. Don’t get swallowed up by what is directly in front of you, remember at just the right time you will find new strength.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Wonder and Amazement

2008-08-25T10:08:00.002-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

This past week my family and I welcomed Elishba, a friend of mine from India, to our home. I have done ministry work with her family for the past few years during my visits to India and was thrilled to have her join us this year for an internship.

One of the fun things about this visit is the opportunity to learn about a new culture. Over the weekend we introduced Elishba to the local shopping mall, the supermarket and a minor league baseball game. It was fun to see her amazement over things we take for granted as being common and everyday parts of our lives.

This got me to thinking about the danger of familiarity.

Luke 5:26 (NLT)
Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe. And they praised God, saying over and over again, “We have seen amazing things today.”

In the early days of Jesus’ ministry the crowds followed Him everywhere. They were amazed by the miracles He was doing. They were astounded by His teaching. The people had never seen anyone like Jesus or anything like His deeds. As time went on, the tide shifted, before it was all over with the crowds were no longer cheering Jesus, but instead calling for His crucifixion.

We really are not much different. We were so excited when we got the opportunity to work for the company, but over time the wonder and amazement turns to dread and resentment. The person we couldn’t wait to be with is now the person we want away from.

So what happened? How did our heart do such a complete turn in the opposite direction? At some point, we lost our sense of wonder and amazement. We quit discovering the opportunities of our work and became entangled in the minutia. We quit discovering what made that special person so special and turned our focus back towards our expectations.

It has been eye opening to hear Elishba’s observations of American culture, retail establishments and even our church. She is seeing things I don’t even notice anymore, because her eyes are wide open taking in every experience with newness. Her observations have helped me see things, I haven’t thought of, because my lens of evaluation is clouded by my experience and familiarity.

Today I encourage you to take off your lens of experience and look at your surroundings once again through the eyes of a stranger. Take note of the wonders and amazements that surround you. Reacquaint yourself once again with the people and places that have become way too familiar. You will be surprised at the new wonders you discover.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Your actions define you

2008-08-18T09:33:00.001-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Every one of us leaves a lasting impression. Others define us by what they see in our actions. A good reputation is something to be treasured, while a bad reputation is difficult to put to rest.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the following names:
• Abraham Lincoln
• Richard Nixon
• Vince Lombardi
• Mike Tyson
• Judas Iscariot
• Jesus Christ

The Bible reveals to us a simple truth:

Proverbs 20:11 (NLT)
Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure and right.

The question becomes quite simply: “What are your actions saying about you?” Have your actions earned you the classification of selfish, arrogant, insensitive, bully, drunkard, etc…? On the other hand maybe you have been rewarded with the description of kind, honest, generous, capable or trustworthy.

The great thing about a reputation is your ability to change and improve that reputation. If the choices of the past have labeled you in a less than flattering light, you can simply commit to a change of behavior and in due time find that you are re-categorized. Your greatest tool to changing your label is to choose actions that demonstrate something different.

Recently I participated in a conference call with noted leadership trainer, John Maxwell. During that call John shared with us this thought that drives him every day of his life: “Your life will be summed up in one sentence, determine today what that sentence will be.”

Today as you consider your reputation, determine the sentence that will be written about you in the days to come. Your reputation is a statement of character, so handle it with care.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

There is no "I" in "Team"

2008-08-11T09:56:00.001-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Over the weekend, the world turned its attention towards Beijing, China and the start of the Olympic Games. Here in the United States our eyes have been on the waters of the swimming competition, as we watch to see if Michael Phelps can break a nearly 40 year old medal record.

One of the lessons that have come out of Michael Phelps quest for gold is his need for others. Last night America held its collective breath as the men’s 4 x 100 relay team narrowly beat the French for a gold medal. In this particular race, Michael Phelps played his part, but the victory was attained by Jason Lezak. As the anchor of the relay team, Lezak has the most critical role in the water. A gold medal performance of his teammates can be rendered meaningless if his performance is not the best. Lezak had been a part of two previous relay teams who had been unable to obtain gold in this same event during the 2000 and 2004 games. Lezak’s entry into the water was later then his toughest opponents, but using sheer strength and determination, he made up a deficit of nearly half a body length to bring home the victory for his team.

This display of reliance and fortitude got me thinking about the body of Christ.

Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, [5] so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.

Whether it is competition swimming or the Christian life, the understanding of cooperation becomes critical. Without the efforts of those God has put around us, our efforts for Him would fall short. We need the strength, wisdom and life experiences of those near us. There is a mutual process of learning that takes place through our interaction.

Sometimes we feel as though our past failures have disqualified us from accomplishing anything of meaning. This is a place where we can take a cue from Jason Lezak. Our past failures and shortcomings are not reason to quit and give up, but instead are sources of inspiration and determination. Our story of disappointment not only drives us in our quest for victory, but it also becomes a source of motivation for others who hear it.

As you examine your role in the body of Christ, you may see yourself as the gold medal favorite or a veteran with little to show for your efforts. In either case, you are equally important. Neither of you can be all that God has intended you to be without the gifts, talents, abilities and experiences of those you have been joined with.

So this week, step up on the platform, put your focus on the far wall and when the gun sounds dive in and swim with all of the energy God has given you. The race of life is short, the rest of the body of Christ is cheering you on. Seize the victory!

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Reliable Directions

2008-07-28T10:14:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a fantastic weekend.

This morning I had the privilege of praying with a group of girls who were getting ready to leave for a week of camp. The leader was a little nervous about the trip, because she had never been to this camp before. I reminded her that she could rely on her map and that she could always call if she found herself off course somewhere.

Life is no different than the trek these young ladies are taking. We know that God’s best lies ahead, but we also know that there are many potential detours and hazards along the path as well. Our unfamiliarity with route at times causes great amounts of discomfort and anxiety. At times like these we need to return to some simple truths:

Psalm 32:8 (NLT)
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.

God knows every twist and turn that awaits you on your journey. He knows every mountain pass and valley along the way. He knows the stormy days and the cloudless stretches you will encounter. You can take confidence in His ability to guide you, because He knows the course.

To help you along, God has also given you a “roadmap” through scripture. This map not only helps you plot your course, but it also guides you through those roadside emergencies of life (conflict, guilt, sadness, worry, doubt, etc….).

There will be times on your journey where you just need to talk to someone. You may be experiencing difficulty in applying the direction of scripture to your particular situation or just completely turned around and confused. God is ready to assist you. You can call on Him at anytime for guidance and clarification and He will freely give it.

Today you may be experiencing a difficult stretch of road. Your surroundings may be very unfamiliar to you. Take heart, God has plotted your course and given you a guidebook to see you through. He is always available to hear your concerns, fears, doubts and worries. All you have to do is call on Him.

Until next Monday may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Preparing for the Storm

2008-07-21T15:46:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

As I write this morning, I have one eye on my computer and another eye on the Gulf of Mexico. A low that has been moving towards the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico over the last few days has developed into Tropical Storm Dolly. The tracking forecasts show this storm strengthening into a low-level hurricane before it makes landfall somewhere near us later this week.

Having lived a majority of my life in “tornado alley” where devastating winds fall from the sky with little advance warning, I much prefer the ample warning of tropical storms. Of course, ample warning is of no use to us if we don’t make proper preparation. The storms of life are not much different.

Jeremiah 46:3-4 (NLT)
“Buckle on your armor and advance into battle! [4] Harness the horses, and prepare to mount them. Put on your helmets, sharpen your spears, and prepare your armor.

Once the storm arrives, it is too late to begin the process of making preparations. Proper planning and preparation must be made long before the storm arrives. I find in my life, that God often gives me advance warning of approaching danger. These times of prompting are a call to action. My preparations may include additional times of prayer, fasting, meeting with wise counsel or other strengthening type activities.

Not all storms give advance notice of their arrival. It is at these times that the preparations become all the more critical. It is during these unexpected storms that I draw from scripture I have memorized, reflection upon God’s previous work in my life and the principles of God’s word. Once again, the preparation in advance of the storm is what sustains in its midst.

Today you may see storm clouds forming over the “Gulf of Your Life.” Now is the time to take inventory. Have you made adequate preparation sustain you as you go through the tumultuous blast? Ask the Lord to show you those areas that need to reinforced so that you can effectively weather any storm that comes your way.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Elephants, Acrobats and Life

2008-07-14T09:45:00.001-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Over the weekend, I had the privilege of going to the circus with my wife and two of our children. I have always enjoyed the variety of the circus with its various animal acts, clowns and displays of human daring. The physical capability of many of these performers is simply astounding.

One of the intriguing things for me was to see the children of performers I had watched nearly 30 years ago performing. These acrobats and daredevils have grown up in the life of the travelling circus. Their unique feats of human ability have been passed on from one generation to the next, but these abilities didn’t just happen because mom and dad had those abilities.

From a young age these performers are taught the fundamentals of their particular skill set (trapeze, tightrope, juggling, etc…). Once the fundamentals of balance, hand-eye coordination and timing were mastered other components of the act could be added. As these more difficult components were mastered they were enhanced with other feats of daring. Our lives operate in a similar vein:

Philippians 4:9 (NLT)
Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

The Bible instructs us to put into practice what has been learned. Our knowledge of God and His ways is of little use if we do not transfer it into our daily lives and apply it. It has been said that “knowledge without application is simply information; however, knowledge with application brings about transformation.” An amazing transformation takes place when we put into practice the principles of Scripture and the example of those God has placed before us. We move from a place of inability to a place of victory, because we have followed God’s timeless principles for life.

Today you may find yourself high above the arena floor stepping out on the tightrope of life. Remember walking the tightrope is no different than every other step you’ve taken in your life, it occurs one step at a time with one foot going before the other. Trust the foundation that has been developed in your life and step forth with confidence. Keep your focus on fixed point in your life…the very presence of God.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Life's a beach

2008-07-07T09:32:00.001-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

Over the weekend we went with some friends to the beach. This was a milestone event for their family as their 2 year old daughter, Brooke, made her first visit to the beach. As they arrived, Brooke saw the waves rolling in and declared that she would stay in the car.

After joining up with us, Brooke got excited watching my kids play in the surf. Then her mommy & daddy went out into the water. It wasn’t long before Brooke transformed from reluctant beachgoer to seasoned beachcomber, but there was a catch. Brooke entered the water safely in the grasp of her parents. Even though she was overwhelmed by the waves, she was confident in the safe grasp of her parents. Before long Brooke was staring down waves twice her size, but confident that she would not be overtaken.

This event reminded me of a passage of scripture I had read recently:

Isaiah 41:13 (NLT)
I am holding you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Do not be afraid. I am here to help you.

Many times we are like Brooke. The Lord has guided us to a new place in our lives. A place with great uncertainty that reminds us just how small and fragile we truly are in comparison to the circumstances of life. We see the waves of challenge and difficulty as they crash down on the shore before us. We watch as the landscape changes with each new wave. The shells deposited by the last wave are now swept out to sea and even the sand under our feet is shifting.

As we stand there looking at the intimidating surf, a reassuring voice says: “Come on, lets go.” You feel a strong hand grabbing hold of you and before you know it you are no longer on the shore, but now bouncing around in the surf. You see the waves breaking in front of you, but the strong hand lifts you up at just the right moment and the wave passes by never overtaking you. By the time it is all over this “beach” experience has become a special time in your life and you are almost saddened that you have to leave it. Your Heavenly Father has not only kept you safe, but He has enlarged your understanding and appreciation for the experience gained.

Today you may find yourself chest deep in the pounding surf of life. Follow Brooke’s example and place your hand into the strong hand that will never slip, never leave and never fail. Take confidence in the fact that your Heavenly Father will not only hold tightly to you, but He will lift you up at just the right moment so that no wave overtakes you.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Disappointed but safe

2008-06-30T10:49:00.001-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend and feel energized this morning.

This past Saturday my daughter and I had tickets to a baseball game and were so excited about our daddy/daughter date. My wife and two sons were away from the house, so this was a great opportunity for bonding. We both grabbed our baseball hats and she grabbed our stadium cushions. We prepared by having a wonderful meal of hot dogs and we were on our way…or so we thought.

As I stepped on the brake pedal to start my truck it went all the way to the floor. Immediately the ABS warning lights came on. I got out opened the hood and saw the brake fluid reservoir was down. “Ok, I can salvage this,” I said to myself. I pumped the pedal a few times and had pressure again…wonderful! So I drove 1 block and immediately could not stop, so I nursed the truck back to our house and broke the bad news to my daughter.

As we went back into the house she went to her room and within a few minutes I could hear her crying. I called her into the room with me and she sat on my lap. I told her that I was sad too and that we should pray and let God know that we were hurting. The prayer that came out of my daughter’s mouth was one of the most touching I have ever heard: “Dear Jesus, I’m very sad that I didn’t get to go to the baseball game. Thank you for giving me a daddy who wants to keep me safe.” Now if that doesn’t make you want to cry, I don’t know what would, but it also was a very teachable moment for me and it is that thought that I wish to convey today.

I can think of many times in my life where my plans have been interrupted, sometimes very painfully. In many of those instances I have later learned the reasons why, only to find out that I would have been devastated had the Lord allowed me to proceed. One of the greatest examples in my life occurred as I was first entering the ministry. I had been interviewing with a church in Dover, DE. Everything seemed like a perfect match. The church was vibrant and healthy, the pastor was also a former police officer and our philosophy of ministry was nearly identical. His health was failing and he wanted to groom a successor to take on the ministry over the next few years. My wife and I were ready to go, but during our last interview we all came away with a lack of peace. I ultimately took on my first pastorate at a much smaller church in Hoisington, KS. I learned a year or so later that the pastor in Dover had died a few months after our final phone conversation and that the church had disbanded. Had I taken that position we would have been stranded away from family and friends with no means of financial support.

God had to dash my hopes and dreams that day, but ultimately He was sparing me even greater pain and hardship. These things are reminders that we have a loving Father who sees much more than we do. He knows the events of tomorrow while we are confined to the present.

Psalm 4:8 (NLT)
I will lie down in peace and sleep,
for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

This week you may be experiencing events in your life that are disappointing and even devastating as you watch your hopes, dreams and aspirations fall by the wayside. Take comfort that God sees the pitfalls and dangers that you do not. Be thankful that He would rather see you disappointed than see you severely hurt.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

A trip through time

2008-06-23T09:26:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you are well rested after the weekend.

Last week my son Collin began a road trip adventure with my dad. He has been very excited to call each night and tell us some of the things he has gotten to see. As part of this trip my dad has taken Collin to see his boyhood home, my boyhood home, my first school and a variety of other nostalgic places.

The importance of a trip like this is the insight into the experiences, places and people who shaped you and your family. These are the places where what was and what is come together once again to weave a beautiful tapestry of life. This is also a place where the lessons of the past are taught to the generations of the future.

The Bible speaks about this intergenerational sharing as well:

Deuteronomy 4:9 (NLT)
“But watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the Lord do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.

The greatest institution of learning established on the face of this earth is still the family. I have forgotten many classroom lessons over my lifetime, but the lessons of the home still stick. The importance of faith, the value of integrity, work ethic and the dynamics of relationships are all life lessons that were learned in those times of sharing. My grandfather birthed in me a love for fishing; my dad a love for flying and my mom a love for reading and cooking.

Take a look around at your children and grandchildren they are young minds still exploring their true identity. Seize the moment and help them unlock the doors of their heritage and the frontiers of their imaginations. Share with them your own stories of God’s providence and movement in your life.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Get a clue America

2008-06-19T08:30:00.001-04:00

If My People

2008-06-16T08:48:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend and are starting your week off with renewed energy.

Over the past few weeks we have seen our nation and different parts of our world rocked by serious natural disasters. This tornado season has been one of the worst on record, the Midwest has been ravaged by floods while other parts of the nation face a serious drought. In China the earthquakes continue and in Myanmar the devastation of the cyclone continues to take a human toll. The stock market is a roller coaster ride and the price of oil is making families choose between food and gasoline.

So how do we handle such crisis situations? The answer is simple; we need to get serious about renewing our intimacy with God. What I am going to say next may not be very popular, but the Bible makes it clear that it is accurate. The wickedness of men does not go unchecked. Just as God prevents and protects, He also chooses at times to allow. I am amazed so many times that we want God to be “Almighty” and able to move mountains, but we don’t want Him to be holy or righteous. We expect Him to just bless and bless and bless without any regard for our actions. That is utter foolishness!

God gives us the antidote for those times that He is allowing difficulty to break our rebellious spirit:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.

What a promise…the only “if” is us. Please understand God is a loving Father who disciplines those He loves, not to bully them, but to better them. His actions are no different than any parent who molds their child’s will and behavior.

This week take a few moments, assume a posture of prayer and ask God to show you the areas of your life that need to change course and claim this promise that if we will all commit to doing this their will be forgiveness and healing.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl