A Life Today

A couple weeks ago I got an opportunity to share on a Wednesday night at Calvary Chapel Pensacola.  I decided to share the things the Lord has put on my heart over the years.  I hope you enjoy. 

The Cross on Pensacola Beach, originally uploaded by sbgulfcoast.

What a great morning on Pensacola Beach! This picture is of the cross.

Today I finally launched the first phase of the Creation Speaks website.  If you get a chance please check it out and let me know what you think.

http://www.creationspeaks.com

Shawn

Family Portrait, originally uploaded by sbgulfcoast.

Hey Everyone! I haven’t posted anything in a while so I thought I’d share a family photo from Disney. We just got back and had a wonderful time in Disney. For those interested here are some more photos.

Click here to view all photos from our trip.

Shawn

It really does not matter how, when, where, or what day the church is to meet.  It does not matter if it’s in a building, a house, a school, a cafe, a boat, or in a park.  I find it interesting that while Jesus was on earth he did not spend his time teaching about the proper way to do church.  What he did do was invest his time in teaching about the kingdom and how to live in His kingdom.  I’d like to zero in on one particular conversation Jesus shared with his disciples.

Jesus and the disciples were traveling through Galilee and came to a house in Capernaum.  While he was there in the house he began to question the disciples about what they were talking about on the way.  There was silence.  Not one of them wanted to speak up for they were discussing with one another which one of them were going to be greatest in the kingdom.  I would have liked to hear the conversation these disciples had, but maybe it sounded a lot like us.

Jesus sat down and called the disciples together.  He told them that if they wanted to be first then they would have to be last and become servant of all.  He then took a child up into his arms and said, “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”  Think of that for a moment.  A child cannot help you climb the corporate ladder.  A child probably won’t tell you what a great artist you are.  He won’t say what a wonderful sermon you had.  He probably isn’t going to buy your latest book or audio series.  He doesn’t even have any money to give you.  But with this child you can be yourself.  You can laugh, wrestle, tickle, tell stories to him… just to enjoy the child.  You may even have to get him a drink, make him dinner, help him wash his hands, tend that cut on his leg… and you’ll get nothing in return.  Well that’s not completely true.  Jesus said when you receive him then you are receiving the Lord Himself and not only that but you are receiving the Father Himself.

I don’t think this was a call to you and I to become involved in children’s ministry.  I think what Jesus was saying though is when we live in the kingdom we need to serve people and love people as we would a child.  We aren’t to look to people to build our ministry, dreams, or careers.  But we are to see how we can help make that individuals life better.  Jesus we are told that although He was rich He became poor.  Why did he do this?  So that through His poverty many would become rich.  That is the attitude we should have. 

This attitude goes against what we desire and what we are taught through life.  Don’t we tend to gather around people that will make us look better?  I confess that I’m guilty of this.  How quick I have been to call folks up who can help me in some way.  Yet do I call those who can do nothing for me?  How about name throwing?  If you are like me you will tend to bring up in conversations those people who are successful that we know.  We like people to know we know those people.  Think back to that child Jesus picked up.  You can’t do any name throwing with a child.  Children don’t care if you just had dinner with the richest man in town. 

That should change how we look at and serve one another.  We shouldn’t be seeking to build our empires or reputation.  We shouldn’t be on the outlook for those who can help us achieve our dreams.  We should be on the look out for that simple person the Lord brings our way.  For when we do, we have just sat down with the Lord Himself.

What is the Father teaching me these days?  I would say one area he is speaking to me about is that of giving room for grace.  I hope I can convey what’s in my heart….

I tend to find that I always want to have the last word, I want to be right, I think I need to correct everything that does not sound like good theology, and I find I try to control situations.  That’s not the way of our Father though.  The Lord is described as being compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love.  So when I say the Lord is teaching me about giving room for grace what I am saying is that I simply have to back off and give room for the Lord to work in the situation.  That does not mean I’m ignoring situations but what it does mean is that I don’t have to make it right.  I can back off and give room for the grace of God to work in that situation.  Oh how hard that can be.  It means that I have to surrender my will and trust the Father to work out the situation. 

So do you know what I’m discovering?  In those times I am able to lay it down and give room for grace I find something remarkable take place.  I’ll be honest it’s not easy and it can be painful at times.  Yet as the Lord brings me through difficulties I discover a heart that has been changed.  And that heart that has been changed is my heart. Changing hearts is what the Lord is in the business of doing… changing our hearts. 

Jesus taught that those who make peace will be called sons of God.  In that same dialog He gave a whole list of qualities such as being poor in spirit, being pure in heart, being merciful, and so on.  This list He gave us wasn’t a to-do list for Christians.  But what He did say is that those who live out those qualities are so happy.  If you are like me though when you read that list you feel a bit guilty because you know you aren’t always displaying those characteristics.  Well I have good news… you don’t have to try harder.  You only have to surrender those problems to the Lord.  When you back off and give room for grace He works these into your life.  It’s a work of the spirit and a great work it is. 

So next time we find ourselves in a disagreement with people how about we back off and talk to the Lord about it.  But watch out He’s in the business of doing big things in your heart… Yes He loves you that much!  So go ahead and give room for grace.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.  Psalm 103:8 (New International Version)

One of the areas the Lord has been teaching me about lately is about the church.  I’m not writing about how we should do church.  To be honest I’m not sure there is an exact layout for proper church organization in the scriptures.  Funny thing is when you look at what is outlined about church most “churches” do not even operate that way.  Church is not about running some institution, organizing a home fellowship, taking church outside, or anything like that.  I think the fatal thing we do is focus our energy on doing when the whole time we should just be the church.  

The church is born in Jesus.  When we become a believer we are brought into a relationship with the living God.  God is now in each of us and is not far off somewhere in space.  Each day we should be getting to know our Father more and more.  At one time we were alienated from God.  That is not because God was far from us but because we were unable to see him because of our sin.  We were blinded by the prince of the power of the air… Satan.  But because of Gods wonderful love we are now part of His family.  Before Jesus went to the cross He prayed for us that we would be one with one another and one with Him.  He gives us a wonderful invitation to share in the same relationship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have always enjoyed.  Are you getting to know your new Father that loves you beyond your understanding?

After being born into His family and getting to know Him we also have new family members.  We are now members of one another and are being built up into a spiritual house for the living God.  We are told that as we connect with other believers then He is with us in that special time of fellowship.  Certainly He is with us when we are alone but as we gather together we can then love and encourage one another.  He calls us beyond ourselves into a world of fellowship with Him and each other.  As believers we have been given unique gifts to us to share with one another.  Our whole purpose now extends beyond ourselves and connects us with other believers.  So who do you know that God has brought into your life?  It does not matter what condition they are in.  Are they weak or strong?  Are they hurting or rejoicing?  It’s unfortunate that many of the organizations we build give no room for the weak.  Yet we are told to bear one another’s burdens, to help the weak, strengthen the weary, visit orphans and widows.  You see it’s all about relationship one with another.  Let’s not become dependant on an institution for our identity but the Lord Himself.  When we understand the fellowship we have with the Father and one another I believe the Lord will do wonderful things in our midst.  Jesus said that the world would know we are His because of our love for each other.

Then there is our relationship with those who are not part of His body.  John wrote to us and said that Jesus did not come into the world to condemn it but to save the world.  Yet so often I hear condemnation being preached on the corners.  As the church we should have a wonderful message to those who are not part of it.  It’s not a message of condemnation but one of a wonderful love and of a Father who wants to gather them in and adopt them as His children.  People need to know that God is not angry with them.  When sinners of all sorts came to Jesus do you think they felt as though He was angry at them?  Jesus was not angry with them and His heart was to restore them and set them free from the bondage and heartbreak that sin had caused in their lives.  You say, “well yes, that was Jesus and he did love people but God is going to judge sin.”  It is true that one day God will judge sin but that’s a discussion for another time.  When Jesus walked the earth he said that if you saw Him then you have also seen the Father.  Jesus said He only did what He saw the Father doing.  Jesus came to reveal the Father’s heart to us.  As believers we now have the wonderful opportunity to help others be restored with the living God.  The world needs to know God is not angry with them and so desires a relationship with them through Jesus.

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”  2 Corinthians 5:14-15

It’s been a fairly good week. There are a few things I thought of value I would like to share with everyone.

Calvary Chapel Lima Peru
I was happy to hear that Calvary Chapel Lima Peru got a new website.  This new site is very easy to navigate and it’s compliled all the different ministries into this one site.  I love the work they are doing there in Peru.  On the site you can also check out pictures of the orphanage progress.  No kids yet but in the Lord’s timing everything should be good to go.  If you enjoy a good cup of coffee you can purchase coffee to help support the orphanage.  There is a huge need for this in Peru.  www.calvarychapellima.com

He Loves Me by Wayne Jacobsen
I’ve been reading a book called He Loves Me by Wayne Jacobsen.  There are many things I believe the Lord has spoken to me through this book that I hope to share in future writings.  If you want you can read the forward by Gayle Erwin.  You can purchase this book or download it for free in PDF format.   

Olive Wood Pen, originally uploaded by sbgulfcoast.

As promised here’s a picture of the pen I made from the Olive wood. I love the grain of this wood. I’ll be able to get a few more pens from this batch of wood. If you are interested in purchasing one just let me know.

Olive Wood from Bethlehem, originally uploaded by sbgulfcoast.

I’m excited about the shipment I received today. Last year my wife’s grandfather passed onto me a wonderful gift. He taught me how to create pens on a wood turning lathe. It was a huge blessing to spend that time with him and to have that blessing passed on to me. So today the shipment was some Olive wood from Bethlehem in Israel. I’m excited to get this wood on the lathe and carve it into a pen. As soon as the pens have been completed I’ll share the photo.