Posted on July 11, 2008 at 6:47am.
It has been exciting to see all of the different teams and individuals who are going out on summer mission’s trips. When we launched ServeGlobal earlier this year it was our prayer that people would begin to catch a vision for how God could use them to bring encouragement and the hope of the gospel to people everywhere. What a blast it is to begin to see this happen. There is a benefit that goes beyond the resources and encouragement you bring to the folks you minister to - it is the transforming renewal that happens in your own life. if you haven’t thought about joining a short term trip I encourage you to contact the folks a ServeGlobal and see if there isn’t a trip that has your name on it.
Posted on July 9, 2008 at 12:23pm.
I want to continue with some thoughts from the passage in First Peter I referred to yesterday. Not only does God call us aliens and strangers but he gives us some other defining titles. He calls us: ” a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,a people belonging to God - WOW! So often we think of stewardship strictly as it relates to money but Peter tells me that my whole life and how I use it is a stewardship issue. In fact he goes on to say that the position I have in Christ, described by all those wonderful phrases, is for the purpose of declaring God’s praises. In other words above everything else the purpose of my life is to bring glory and praise to God. You know if I am honest that doesn’t always make the top 3 on my list of goals for the week. We have a lofty position in Christ and with that comes a high responsibility to use it in a manner that points people to the Savior.
Posted on July 8, 2008 at 11:43am.
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world…” those are the words of Peter in the first book that bears his name and they give us a description of who we are. They form the focus of the mission God has called us to - to live in this world not of it. I can only speak for myself but I live life too used to and too comfortable with being a citizen of this world. When I live this way I really get “off mission.” Everything from my heart attitude, to my rights to my constant wanting of more cloud my perspective and become what fills my day. The question that I have found myself pondering and I would encourage you to as well is - what will it take to get me back on mission and keep me there?
Posted on July 4, 2008 at 7:55am.
Just a quick thought on this Independence Day. Thanks to all the men and women who have served and who are serving in our military. Thank you for the sacrifice you make to insure and preserve our freedom. Your bravery and courage is often missed in our celebrity driven culture. You truly are heroes.
Posted on July 3, 2008 at 7:46am.
There is a fascinating verse in Deuteronomy that speaks to the issue of joy. Deuteronomy 28:47 says this - “Because you did not serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore…” God goes on to say they will serve their enemies. The thing that jumped out at me was that serving God was tied to joy. In fact serving God is a joy, a glad service. Somehow you and I receive joy from God as we serve him. Jesus says that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. I tend to think that joy is produced in me by my efforts when maybe it is a gift from God that is a direct result of my willingness to serve him. I don’t know that I have ever thought of it that way.
