Worship as a Lifestyle

Worship is not simply an event or a place. It is an orientation. It is a way of life. It is the result of a decision that we make—one that exalts God above everything else. It is also a way of thinking. We come to a point where we realize and acknowledge that God is truly great and worthy of all praise.

In worship we draw near to God and God responds by being active in our lives. This is why the relationship developed through worship is crucial in the life of a believer. When we worship God on a regular basis, we can sense the closeness of God’s Spirit and when we have a close relationship with God, we can walk each day in the light of grace and unconditional love.

Israel learned the importance of worship in the desert, where they were prepared by God to enter the Promised Land. They carried the altar of God with them. When they stopped to make camp, the first thing they did was to set up the altar and the surrounding tent. They didn’t say anything about needing to wait until the Sabbath to worship. They realized the importance of worshiping the One who held their lives fast.

What is your attitude toward worship? Do you go to church on Sunday with a grateful heart, longing to sing and praise God? Or are you one of the missing who rarely shows up to worship the Lord?

While God longs for our fellowship, the biggest loss is for the one who ignores God’s invitation or takes it for granted.

The place where you can truly experience God’s infinite love and care is through worship. You don’t have to have the finest clothes. God just wants you to worship with a sincere heart.

Make worship to God your heart’s passion, and God will renew your faith.

And Then Some

Drive and motivation is the secret to success and doing anything worthwhile and significant in life. Skill and natural aptitude only takes you so far. At the end of the day, it’s your heart and the drive to go above and beyond that is going to set you apart from the masses that live in the muck of mediocrity.
From my experience, I’ve found that there are three types of people when it comes to their heart and motivation. Each person puts forth a certain kind of effort, and each person receives a corresponding reward.
The first person has a bare minimum mentality. They’re D- people. Doing enough to pass, but nothing more. They spend the bare minimum time with their spouses that it takes to appease them. They turn in work that meets the bare minimum requirements. And then they wonder why their marriage sucks, they never get a promotion, and they can never find fulfillment in life. It’s because a bare minimum mentality reaps bare minimum rewards.
The second person runs by the mantra of good enough. They’re B, maybe B people. They turn in good work that shows effort. They do the routine daily and weekly duties that sets you up for a good marriage. But they leave it at that. They get the ball 80 yards down the field, but because they aren’t willing to put in extra effort, they usually settle for a field goal, which is good. But they could have gotten a touchdown, which would have been great.
And then there are people with world-class drive. They’re A people. Good enough isn’t good enough for them when they know they have greatness in them. As a result, they generally have great jobs, great marriages, and greater fulfillment.
What sets these people apart really comes down to three simple words. And they’re words all of us can adopt as our own. These three words will make you stand out from the crowd. They’ll set you up for success in every area of your life and take you a long way.
In your marriage.
Your job.
Your relationships.
Your church.
Everywhere.
Three words:
And then some.
People with world-class drive who reap world-class rewards do what they’re supposed to do…AND THEN SOME.
They don’t just get flowers for their spouse on their anniversary. They also do it on random Wednesdays for no reason at all. They don’t just do what they’re asked at work. They find ways to go above and beyond.
Choose to live life with an “and then some” mentality. Reject mediocrity. Don’t let good enough be good enough for you when you have God in you.

Relationship Struggles

Do you sometimes struggle with relationships? Many of us have relatives, co-workers, or acquaintances who really challenge our thoughts. It is as if we just cannot get along with them in spite of our best efforts and heart-felt prayers. However, for some reason, you cannot escape the relationship either. Challenging relationships can wear us down and take the joy out of life.

The solution can be found in the two greatest commandments. We must love the Lord with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength and we must also love others as ourselves.

Jesus says in Luke 6:32-36 that, “if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”

We cannot love God with everything we have and not love others. God desires that we learn to love with the heart of Christ, touch with the hands of Christ and see through the eyes of Christ.

To overcome personal conflicts, try stepping back from the issues and pray that you can have a discernment to change the dynamics of the relationship. That person may not change but you can make the choice to change yourself.

You Are a Great Investment

In Christ we have redemption through blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that is lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Ephesians 1:7

This seems to be an apparent contradiction. We usually don’t think of lavish and wisdom in the same sentence.

Lavish means you are giving more than is necessary or giving it freely. In our time and in this economy, when we think of resources, we think of using only what is necessary. To lavish seems to be wasting, and wasting is not wise.

When God is lavishing something on us, sometimes we feel like we are a bad investment. It can be easy to feel like we are a waste of God’s grace when we constantly keep blowing it.

But that’s not how God sees it. God in effect says to every one of us:

“You’re a good investment from my perspective. I think you’re worth it. I’m not lavishing my grace on you because I don’t know how bad you are. I’m lavishing my grace on you because of how good I am. And because I know how great you can be. And I’m doing it with all wisdom.”

God doesn’t waste anything. There isn’t one drop of blood or one forgiven sin God wishes to have back. Even when it applies to you. There will never be a moment where God has second thoughts about whether grace should have been lavished on humanity. Even when it applies to you.

The reason God’s lavishing looks like foolishness is because all we see is who we were and who we are. God, on the other hand, already knows what we will become in this life and in the next.

God knows that the only way we’re going to realize our potential is through grace, lavish grace. And that’s why God is wise and lavish.

A Sense of Purpose

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

If you’re experiencing tough times, you may be asking yourself “What does God want me to do next?” Perhaps you’re pondering your future, uncertain of your plans, unsure of your next step. But even if you don’t have a clear plan for your life’s journey, you may rest assured that God knows.

God has a plan for the universe, and God has a plan for you. God understands that plan as thoroughly and completely as God knows you. If you seek God’s will earnestly and prayerfully, God’s plans will be revealed in God’s own way.

Perhaps your vision of God’s purpose for your life has been clouded by a wish list that you have expected God to dutifully fulfill. Perhaps, you have fervently hoped that God would create a world that unfolds according to your wishes. If so, you have probably experienced more disappointment than satisfaction and more frustration than peace. A better strategy would be to allow your life to be a tool for God to use to help others to make the world a better place.

Sometimes, God’s plans and purposes may seem unmistakably clear. But other times, you may be lead through the wilderness before you see the Promised Land. So be patient and keep seeking God’s will for your life. When you do, you’ll be amazed at the marvelous things that an all-powerful, all-knowing God can do.

God does not discipline us to subdue us, but to condition us for a life of usefulness and blessedness.

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord, let Your purposes be my purposes. Let Your priorities be my priorities. Let Your will be my will. Let Your Word be my guide. And, let me grow in faith and in wisdom today and every day. Amen

How to Grow a Church

Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by the competition…we just cannot compete with the youth program down the street or the church that has all the young families in town.

The real truth is that our competition is not the church down the road.

Most youth do not attend a church because the church has a Family Life Center, most people do not attend a church because it is large and no church has all the young families in town.

In our community, every church in town could double in size and there would still be plenty of people who were not attending church.

Churches are not competing against other churches for new people.  Instead, they are competing against all of the other things a person could do and all the other things a person values. People have many options on Sunday morning –sleep in late, read the paper, play online games, participate in sports, have friends over for lunch, take a day trip, work, study for school, spend time with family, etc.

If we want to see our church grow we need to do something that will lead people to make the decision that going to church is one of their top priorities for a Sunday morning. 

What is there about our church that would lead someone to make such a decision?

Most churches say they want to grow but very few are growing.  We almost always underestimate the amount of change that will be required to get the results we want.  If we really want to reach new people with the life-changing message of Jesus we are going to have to change more than we think.
Lasting change comes as the result of a sustained effort focused upon a few key things.  Churches do not change because people read a book, attend a single workshop, have a Bible study or wish things were different.  Instead, things change because the laity provides good leadership embracing a good decision-making process and maintaining focused goals over a period of time.

                               A Sense of Purpose
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

If you’re experiencing tough times, you may be asking yourself “What does God want me to do next?” Perhaps you’re pondering your future, uncertain of your plans, unsure of your next step. But even if you don’t have a clear plan for your life’s journey, you may rest assured that God knows.

God has a plan for the universe, and God has a plan for you. God understands that plan as thoroughly and completely as God knows you. If you seek God’s will earnestly and prayerfully, God’s plans will be revealed in God’s own way.

Perhaps your vision of God’s purpose for your life has been clouded by a wish list that you have expected God to dutifully fulfill. Perhaps, you have fervently hoped that God would create a world that unfolds according to your wishes. If so, you have probably experienced more disappointment than satisfaction and more frustration than peace. A better strategy would be to allow your life to be a tool for God to use to help others and make the world a better place.

Sometimes, God’s plans and purposes may seem unmistakably clear. But other times, you may be lead through the wilderness before you see the Promised Land. So be patient and keep seeking God’s will for your life. When you do, you’ll be amazed at the marvelous things that an all-powerful, all-knowing God can do.

God does not discipline us to subdue us, but to condition us for a life of usefulness and blessedness.

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord, let Your purposes be my purposes. Let Your priorities be my priorities. Let Your will be my will. Let Your Word be my guide. And, let me grow in faith and in wisdom today and every day. Amen