I may be poor, but I'm free!

Yesterday was a day we have each had at some point in our lives. It's one where you would prefer to simply crawl back in bed and "take the day off." But God used this day to teach me a valuable lesson about His grace.

I woke to learn that my two oldest children had pulled my laptop off the dining room table to crash onto the tile floor below. This was not a good way to start my day. It wasn't pleasant for the kids either (both of whom are miraculously still living...barely!). Fifteen minutes after learning that the computer wouldn't work, I receive a phone call from one of the guys at the office saying that the first floor of the building was flooded and I had better get there soon to see how much damage was done. Also, not good.

In ministry (especially a young ministry), finances are usually pretty tight. Later in the day my wife asks if we can afford for her to go grocery shopping. I check the account balance to learn there isn't enough money to buy a single loaf of bread. Blow number three of the day.

Throughout the day, however, God kept reminding me that I was His. He kept encouraging me that these were the moments in life that would test my true character and willingness to trust Him - no matter what. That evening I found myself in the weekly purity group I lead, praising the Lord for His grace and faithfulness.

There is an old Rich Mullins song that has a powerful line in it. It states, "It's ok to be lonely as long as you're free." I simply substitute whatever I may be facing for "lonely." Yesterday it was, "It's ok to be disappointed, scared, and poor as long as I'm free!" Another great line from a different song states it this way, "You can have all this world, but give me Jesus!"

How is your contentment in Jesus today? Is He really enough for you, or are you looking to this world to satisfy your hunger for peace? I pray that today you would look at all this world has to offer and simply state, "Give me Jesus!"

In His might grip,

jonathan

Disobedience invites defeat

I love the book of Joshua in the Bible. It is a wonderful treasure in developing leadership skills. There is a powerful principle of life tucked away in chapter 7. The Israelites get their tail whipped in a place called Ai. And like most of us would do, the people over reacted with panic and fear, wondering where God was and why they experienced such disappointing defeat (as if they expected to never be disappointed just because they were God's children!).

God's response to Joshua's pity party is critical to understanding the relationship between disobedience and defeat. God told Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face?" He goes on to state that the reason for their defeat in Ai is because Achan, a member of the tribe of Judah, had disobeyed God's direct order to not take any of the forbidden items in their victory over Jericho earlier. Because of his greed and dishonesty, the nation suffered defeat.

The lesson here is rich and deep. First, our disobedience to God affects more than our own life. We have families and other people who are within our sphere of influence who suffer the consequences of our selfishness and greed. Second, our response to defeat should not assume that God is absent or somehow to blame. Joshua and the people assumed that because they were defeated in Ai that God had abandoned them. This is also a form of self-centered thinking. We are to approach God following defeat with an attitude of humility, seeking to understand what God is wanting to teach us.

Finally, God will not be mocked. His truth and righteousness will prevail. Achan had to suffer the ultimate consequence by being stoned and burned (along with his entire household!). The lesson for us is to cleanse from our lives all the things that stand in opposition to God's commands. If we do not we must face the consequences and miss the joy of tremendous blessing. If we obey God and remove that which displeases Him, we invite His power and favor on our lives - and the lives of those around us.

So, are you willing to let go of those things keeping you from obeying God? Make the wise choice and invite His favor on your life today.

Choosing His blessings,

jonathan

Real men surrender...

Tonight we talked about surrender in our weekly purity group. What a tough subject to discuss in a room full of American men. We just aren't programmed to be dependent. We are taught from an early age to be independent, never asking for help, and certainly never admitting need. But such indoctrination alienates us from the deep, intimate relationship God designed us for.

I'm convinced that developing a biblical attitude of surrender begins by having a proper view of who God really is. When we know the heart of God we know that His motivation for all He does in our lives is LOVE. When we understand the majesty of God's glory we tremble in joyful terror at His awesome wonder. A right view of God will always bring us to the place where we proclaim, "I am undone. I have nothing that was not given to me by You. What would you have me do for You? I am Yours."

Surrender really has more to do about focus than it does activity. Behaviors will always follow priorities. So, if we surrender our will to our perfect heavenly Father, we will act in accordance to His direction. It really does come down to keeping myself focused on Him, not on me.

The irony is that when I commit to being a man of surrender I am as manly as I will ever be. I don't become weaker, I become stronger. I don't lose my identity, I fulfill my purpose. I become the complete man of God I was meant to be.

Working on surrendering,

jonathan

Grace to get up...

Do you ever have mornings where you feel like you would be better off just going back to bed and starting all over? I had a morning like that today. First, I wake up late. This is never good, as it sets me off in a rush. Second, I burn my slacks while attempting to iron them. And finally, as I am scurrying around the house getting ready for work I smash my toes into the wall. Ouch! I turned to my wife and said, "I wanna go back to bed!"

God reminded me this morning of the powerful reality of grace. So often I rush past Him in my life in order to accomplish some pressing task. Other times I burn the ones I love with a hurtful comment or unkind glare. Then I lose my way and wind up smashing into the loving barricade of God's grace. You see, grace doesn't always appear as soft and fluffy. Sometimes it reaches out and levels me.

I got leveled this morning. But by God's grace I got up. I now see the need for fellowship with Him and others. I am refocused on what is truly important in life and therefore able to slow down a step or two. I have experienced peace today through the grace of God.

I know you stub your toes too. But do you allow your bruised toes to remind you of God's infinite grace? I hope so...

Walking (and sometimes stumbling) in grace,

jonathan

Leave a legacy...

The United States lost a great citizen this past weekend. Ronald Reagan was the epitome of American grit and grace. But beyond his likeable personality and relentless push for freedom I am most impressed with the legacy that will remain because of his life.

I must admit I often get wrapped up in the moment, the here-and-now. I find myself so narrowly focused on the task I am performing in this moment that I lose sight of the grander view. Those who leave a legacy remain focused on the bigger picture. God is teaching me to focus on that which will outlast me.

To me, leaving a legacy means doing the right thing even in the face of opposition. It means living from the character within and not swaying to the circumstances surrounding me. There is a stability to a person who impacts their world beyond their lifespan. They have a deeper sense of truth, a stronger sense of purpose, and an ever present sense of humor.

I hope you will consider your own legacy as I am considering mine. Will the goals, dreams, and passions we pursued in life outlast the breath in our bodies? I want the life I live to long outlast me. I want to be busy planting seeds of influence in the lives of those around me so when I am dead and gone the dreams God has given me will live on through those who I touched in life.

Let's be careful to leave a legacy - a legacy of hope, healing, and faith in God.

Reaching out to leave a legacy,

jonathan

Don't rebuild the rubble

I was reading this morning in Galatians chapter 2. Verse 18 states, "For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor." Paul was talking here about returning to the Law and refusing to live under grace. This really hit home with me concerning sexual purity.

I did some pretty awful things when I was following my addiction. Those activities and thoughts became part of a sort of sexual addiction "house" that I spent 13 years constructing. When God set me free the house was toppled over and replaced with the truth of God's grace and forgiveness. But the rubble remains.

Part of my journey over the past 5 years has been to sift through the rubble of my addiction and piece by piece toss the ruins of my former ways into God's fire of restoration. But sometimes I get distracted by particular pieces that I pick up. I am again enticed and intrigued by the lure of the old rubble. But I am reminded that the structure was destroyed, and to be enamored by a broken shard of lust or greed is a dangerous waste of time.

It's easy to want to return to the old ways of doing things. There was a specific structure and format to the way things were done. But God is urging me to live by faith, and unleash the power of His grace and mercy in my life to the benefit of those around me. As I burn the rubble of my sinful past I clear the way for building a foundation of truth and faith that cannot be shaken or destroyed. As Paul stated, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."

Let's build something that lasts...

jonathan

Anger management

I struggle with anger. It comes in many forms. It may be explosive anger at someone cutting me off in traffic. It could be implosive anger at how people demand certain things from me that I don't have time to deliver. Anger is an ever present temptation. Sometimes I deal appropriately with my anger. Other times I don't.

I don't think God wants me to be passive in life. In fact, I believe He even wants me to be angry at times. But He wants me to be angry at the right things. We should be angry when a person molests a child. Anger is warranted when God's name and honor are defiled. Injustice and cruelty are within the scope of healthy anger. But how do we express it?

There is something that God has been teaching me lately. He is my Defender. He is my Rock. I think most of us lash out in inappropriate anger because someone has done something to wound our pride (or ego). We feel embarrassed, belittled, or shamed. We feel like we must react in order to "save face." But God is leading me in a different direction. He is challenging me, "Let it go. I have more important things for you to focus on. In a week, what occurred just 5 minutes ago that bruised your ego will be a distant memory, if that. Learn to trust Me with your emotions."

I have to admit, God's way of doing things sure does bring a lot of peace into my life. Anger stirs up stress and discontent in my soul. Resting in the assurance that God is for me, I experience deep satisfaction and contentment.

I challenge you to start letting go of your anger. God is more than capable of dealing with all your enemies.

In God's Grip,

jonathan

What to do when life is passing you by...

Life happens. And it happens fast sometimes! I have three children under the age of 4. My life is a blur at times. People and projects are pulling at me, and sometimes I just feel like running. That's the honest truth.

Have you ever had that dream where you are trying to run but your legs won't move? That's how life feels at times for me. But I'm thankful that my legs won't move. God is working on getting me to understand that the pace of life isn't the issue. The issue is where I turn when life's pace passes me by. Will I run to what this world has to offer and soothe my stresses with some substance or self-indulgent pleasure? Or will I race toward my heavenly Father who has me securely protected in the palm of His hand?

I must admit, life only picks up speed the older I get. But my response to its relentless drive is changing. I'm not so concerned with the "tyranny of the urgent." I am learning that the only truly urgent concerns of life are the essentials: my relationship to God and my interactions with other people. I must measure my days by the "relationship meter" rather than the "rat race meter." I pray that I am making progress in what really matters in life.

Are you running in the right race?

Running for God's Glory,

jonathan