Christmas 2009 is now a memory. Many of us celebrated with friends and family gathered together again as in year’s past. We hold onto our traditions so that each Christmas celebration becomes a certain constant in our lives. But even traditions can’t hold back the constant of change for our lives.
Many families may have experienced a different kind of Christmas celebration this year. Perhaps someone at the dinner table was no longer there, or maybe there weren’t any gifts under the tree. I’m sure there were some who celebrated with an outwardly smile on their face, but inwardly devastated by the news of a diagnosis of a terminal disease. There are others whose lives have been torn apart and Christmas isn’t a celebration, but a whirlwind of painful memories embedded in one’s heart, living each day in a state of darkness.
If, for a moment, we can look back at Christmas solely for the reason behind its celebration, the birth of our Savior, perhaps we could face our circumstances with an enlightened perspective as we approach the New Year.
I’ve attended many Christmas Eve services over the years. It’s one of my traditions and sadly for many years, it was the only time I attended church. In my youth, I’m sure I sat in the seat of a loyal attendee, thus robbing them of one of their Christmas traditions.
However this year, the service provided an enlightened perspective. This is the first year I celebrated without my mom, so I didn’t know how it would be. Would I feel empty and sad, or would I experience God’s peace and love for my life? Towards the end of the service, every person in the congregation lights a candle. As the lights in the sanctuary are dimmed, the faces in the crowd become shadows as the flame of the candles illuminate the room. As I stared up into the balcony of the church, all I could see was the beauty of the flickering candlelight glowing in the midst of shadows. It was amazing to witness such a small flame cut through the darkness of a large room. Christmas Eve was a cold night, yet the church was warm and inviting as the warmth from the candles felt like a blanket wrapped around me. The candles were more than flickering flames, but symbolic of the light of Christ as His love and peace cuts through the darkness of our lives. Through Him, joy can be a constant in our lives despite the circumstances we face.
The New Year is a few days away and many will return to their familiar darkness. Perhaps your darkness stems from grief, stress and anxiety, battling a terminal disease, or bitter heart. During the holidays, we temporarily place our darkness on the back burner, but by January, its shadow has returned.
What if I told you that strengthening your faith by reading the Bible and daily prayer could eliminate your darkness forever; would you believe me? Darkness doesn’t have to be a constant in our life. It can be eliminated forever simply by choosing to grow deeper in one's faith. But the choice is ours to make. We can look at 2010 simply as a year to make more money, lose weight, or exercise more and feel we’ve accomplished something significant. Or, we can decide to be the children God intended for us to be and spend more time in prayer, studying the Bible, serving those in need, and building our trust and faith in God. The choice we make becomes one of living in darkness or living in the light.
Life is too short to live our remaining days in darkness, especially when Christ is the Ultimate Healer of all pain. Eliminating darkness doesn’t happen over night, but it can happen to those who choose to deepen their relationship with our Lord.
May 2010 be the year of getting rid of darkness by choosing to grow deeper in our faith so that every day, we can feel the warmth of His love and peace as the light of Christ illuminates from our hearts. God Bless all of you and Happy New Year!
“The Lord is my light and my salvation-
whom shall I fear?
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;
Though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”
Psalm 27:1-3
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Life's Simple Miracles
Life’s Simple Miracles
As I’m writing this Blog, God delivered a beautiful, yet simplistic miracle occurring outside my window. It’s Friday, December 4th, 2009 and snow is pouring from the sky. Growing up in the north, snow was a common occurrence this time of year but in Texas, this is simply a beautiful gift to treasure. Ironically God gives us simple miracles every day, yet we tend to only notice the elaborate, like the falling of snow in this part of the country. However, the simple pleasure of pouring a cup of coffee in the morning is a miracle. Getting out of bed is also a simple miracle. The list goes on and on. But as we live out our days, what God gives as miracles, we tend to perceive simply as a mere occurrence.
The birth of our Savior is just a few weeks away. Many will celebrate this day overlooking the miracle of a virgin being the mother of our King of King’s because Christmas for us has become just another holiday where we find ourselves overwhelmed by the list of preparations behind planning the perfect event.
For years, I fretted over Christmas cards, shopping and what to cook. When Christmas Eve finally arrived, I found myself too busy in the kitchen to enjoy the simple pleasures of conversations occurring in the other room. Never again will I allow this holiday to rob me of what it truly means for the Christian believer: Jesus is the reason for the season!
We must remember Christ wasn’t born under perfect conditions. In fact, He was born in a barn with animals and very little provisions. Yet, I believe the conditions and place of Jesus’ birth wasn’t what God deemed important. The significance lies not in the preparations of the event, but in the preparation of our hearts as we celebrate this miraculous event with the understanding of God’s mercy and grace for our lives. God didn’t have to lower Himself to our level and save us from our sinful nature. He didn’t have to walk on this earth as a man showing us how to live as an example of our faith. He didn’t have to perform the hundreds if not thousands of miracles that we read about in the Bible. Nor does He have to provide the miracles today, big or small as a reflection of His love for us. When we really think about it, the number of miracles God has given us are too numerous to count. The real question becomes,
“What are we going to do to honor Jesus this season and every
remaining day of our earthly lives?”
This holiday season, I pray that we spend time every day thanking God for all the things He didn’t have to do and also thanking Him for all that He continues to do in our lives.
Merry Christmas. Say it with pride, honor, love and respect. May this day be filled with the simple miracle of the gift of life given from our gracious Lord.
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of the great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.”
(Luke 2:8-12)
As I’m writing this Blog, God delivered a beautiful, yet simplistic miracle occurring outside my window. It’s Friday, December 4th, 2009 and snow is pouring from the sky. Growing up in the north, snow was a common occurrence this time of year but in Texas, this is simply a beautiful gift to treasure. Ironically God gives us simple miracles every day, yet we tend to only notice the elaborate, like the falling of snow in this part of the country. However, the simple pleasure of pouring a cup of coffee in the morning is a miracle. Getting out of bed is also a simple miracle. The list goes on and on. But as we live out our days, what God gives as miracles, we tend to perceive simply as a mere occurrence.
The birth of our Savior is just a few weeks away. Many will celebrate this day overlooking the miracle of a virgin being the mother of our King of King’s because Christmas for us has become just another holiday where we find ourselves overwhelmed by the list of preparations behind planning the perfect event.
For years, I fretted over Christmas cards, shopping and what to cook. When Christmas Eve finally arrived, I found myself too busy in the kitchen to enjoy the simple pleasures of conversations occurring in the other room. Never again will I allow this holiday to rob me of what it truly means for the Christian believer: Jesus is the reason for the season!
We must remember Christ wasn’t born under perfect conditions. In fact, He was born in a barn with animals and very little provisions. Yet, I believe the conditions and place of Jesus’ birth wasn’t what God deemed important. The significance lies not in the preparations of the event, but in the preparation of our hearts as we celebrate this miraculous event with the understanding of God’s mercy and grace for our lives. God didn’t have to lower Himself to our level and save us from our sinful nature. He didn’t have to walk on this earth as a man showing us how to live as an example of our faith. He didn’t have to perform the hundreds if not thousands of miracles that we read about in the Bible. Nor does He have to provide the miracles today, big or small as a reflection of His love for us. When we really think about it, the number of miracles God has given us are too numerous to count. The real question becomes,
“What are we going to do to honor Jesus this season and every
remaining day of our earthly lives?”
This holiday season, I pray that we spend time every day thanking God for all the things He didn’t have to do and also thanking Him for all that He continues to do in our lives.
Merry Christmas. Say it with pride, honor, love and respect. May this day be filled with the simple miracle of the gift of life given from our gracious Lord.
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of the great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.”
(Luke 2:8-12)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Getting Rid of the "What If's?"
Last week I was visiting my Dad back in Illinois. It’s been several months since my Mom passed away and going home brings back a lot of memories, both happy and sad. Last summer I actually braved visiting her grave because many had told me it would bring closure, but at that time, closure was the last feeling I experienced.
However on my latest visit, I decided to return to the cemetery. I had a lot of unanswered questions and maybe God would reveal the answers in some divine way. Perhaps the sky would be filled with singing angels, or butterflies would be circling my mother’s memorial. I went from feeling reluctant to somewhat anxious with wonder.
When I finally arrived, I looked around and saw nothing. It must have been wishful thinking that God would do something amazing. I decided to sit down in front of her memorial and drink my coffee. The grounds of the cemetery, surrounded by trees were carpeted with fallen leaves of every color. As I sat quietly, it would have been easy to go through all of my “what if's” with God. Perhaps part of the grieving process is wondering if the outcome could have been different. Human logic asks “why” because we base our level of intellect on knowing all the answers. But at what point does human intellect become ignorance? Perhaps it’s when we discover that many of the answers to life’s questions are beyond our comprehension. I have a friend whose mother died three years ago and she is still living in a state of “what if’s.” Eventually we must turn to our faith and trust God’s sovereignty over our lives. With a strong foundation of faith, we accept the fact that things happen as part of God’s purpose for our lives. His purpose is always for the good and a deeper faith ends our desire to know all of life’s answers, while teaching us to seek God in both good and bad times.
Up in the sky, a hawk was circling above me. Perhaps he thought I was road kill. He eventually flew away seemingly disappointed that my time had not yet come. God still had a purpose for me on this earth, and the questions I was asking were irrelevant in discovering His Will for my life.
As I got up to leave, a deep sense of peace and joy overcame me. The peace was from knowing it’s ok to have unanswered questions, and the joy I felt was from believing my mother is healed and celebrating eternal life that has been promised to the Christian believer.
This holiday season, I pray for those who have lost loved ones and continue to ask the “what if’s.” My hope is the hearts of those grieving will turn to God who holds the gift of peace freely offered to those who seek Him. Instead of longing to know the "what if's, let’s choose to seek a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father. Reading and studying His Word provides all of life's answers that we really need to know.
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 8:38-39)
However on my latest visit, I decided to return to the cemetery. I had a lot of unanswered questions and maybe God would reveal the answers in some divine way. Perhaps the sky would be filled with singing angels, or butterflies would be circling my mother’s memorial. I went from feeling reluctant to somewhat anxious with wonder.
When I finally arrived, I looked around and saw nothing. It must have been wishful thinking that God would do something amazing. I decided to sit down in front of her memorial and drink my coffee. The grounds of the cemetery, surrounded by trees were carpeted with fallen leaves of every color. As I sat quietly, it would have been easy to go through all of my “what if's” with God. Perhaps part of the grieving process is wondering if the outcome could have been different. Human logic asks “why” because we base our level of intellect on knowing all the answers. But at what point does human intellect become ignorance? Perhaps it’s when we discover that many of the answers to life’s questions are beyond our comprehension. I have a friend whose mother died three years ago and she is still living in a state of “what if’s.” Eventually we must turn to our faith and trust God’s sovereignty over our lives. With a strong foundation of faith, we accept the fact that things happen as part of God’s purpose for our lives. His purpose is always for the good and a deeper faith ends our desire to know all of life’s answers, while teaching us to seek God in both good and bad times.
Up in the sky, a hawk was circling above me. Perhaps he thought I was road kill. He eventually flew away seemingly disappointed that my time had not yet come. God still had a purpose for me on this earth, and the questions I was asking were irrelevant in discovering His Will for my life.
As I got up to leave, a deep sense of peace and joy overcame me. The peace was from knowing it’s ok to have unanswered questions, and the joy I felt was from believing my mother is healed and celebrating eternal life that has been promised to the Christian believer.
This holiday season, I pray for those who have lost loved ones and continue to ask the “what if’s.” My hope is the hearts of those grieving will turn to God who holds the gift of peace freely offered to those who seek Him. Instead of longing to know the "what if's, let’s choose to seek a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father. Reading and studying His Word provides all of life's answers that we really need to know.
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 8:38-39)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
How Well Do We Know Christ?
“Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as Lord, but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. On judgment day many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name. But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.”
(Matthew 7: 21-23)
This passage certainly gets the attention of the Christian believer. Many of us know the name of Jesus Christ, yet we still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. When I first read this, my heart hurt over the truth that many of us who call ourselves Christians don't know Christ intimately. The Bible tells us God knows His children intimately, so what does it mean when Jesus says, “I never knew you?”
I attended church my whole life. It was a ritual for my family to get up every Sunday morning and go to church. Sadly to say, the only thing I remember from that experience is the free glazed donut I received before Sunday school. I knew who Jesus was and became familiar with the stories about Noah, Moses, and of course Mary and Joseph. But that was the extent of my Christian knowledge. I thought just believing Jesus was the Son of God was enough, but when we read this passage found in the Gospel of Matthew, my life reflected what it means to be religious, but certainly not godly. Although this experience planted the seed of faith, my beliefs came from my mouth and not my heart.
I think many of us approach our Christian beliefs the same way as believing in Santa Claus. We wanted to believe it because it meant toys in our stockings. And, because our parents said it was true, we assumed it was. As a child, why wouldn’t I want to believe Jesus is my Savior and through Him, I receive eternal life? It was certainly better than the alternative. But for many, we stop there. We never explore anything deeper. We attend a one-hour sermon on Sunday morning and that becomes the extent of our Christian walk. When Monday morning rolls around, our hearts have turned to the ways of the world, and whatever our preacher said twenty-four hours ago is long forgotten.
I only knew Jesus Christ by name until six years ago when I got involved in a thirty week Bible study, requiring me to read over eighty-percent of Scripture. Needless to say, I was reading God’s Word every day for forty minutes in keeping up with the homework. Many of us shy away from a study requiring this level of commitment, but what impact would this amount of time spent in God’s Word have on our lives? Although there are many wonderful pastors who provide exceptional sermons, this should never be our fall back for growing deeper in our faith and knowing Christ intimately. A deeper relationship with God can only come from reading and studying His Word so that He can reveal what it means to live godly in His eyes.
Starting today, let's become committed to knowing Christ beyond His name. Thirty minutes of daily prayer and reading Scripture will absolutely change your life by changing your heart. So when our time comes, instead of hearing our Savior say, “I never knew you,” His words will be, “Welcome home my godly faithful servant.”
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through a narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”
(Matthew 7:13)
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Turning Off The Noise in Our Lives
Just this past week, so many people have commented to me how busy their lives have become. Sometimes our “to do” lists seem overwhelming and there’s nothing worse than facing the end of a day feeling like nothing was accomplished. Shutting work off after coming home became a daily challenge for me. My family wanted one-hundred percent of my attention, but often I was only able to give them about thirty-percent. My mind was filled with the noise from my day which left me lying awake for hours until finally I could fall asleep. Are we busier today than ever before? Does it feel like time is racing by? A girlfriend shared with me an acronym for busy; Being Under Satan’s Yoke.
The noise in my life equates to the “busy” of my life, encompassing the stuff that robs me of time with both family and faith. Think about this for a moment:
How much time do you spend in front of your computer?
How much time do you spend in front of your TV?
How much time do you spend reading the Bible?
If we truthfully counted the hours dedicated to each of these activities, it becomes quite clear where our true allegiance lies. So what are we willing to do? If I told you having a stronger faith would create a more balanced life, would you believe me?
I love the story in the Bible about Mary and Martha found in the Gospel of Luke. The lives of two sisters illustrate how many of us utilize our time today. Jesus and His disciples came to Martha’s home and while she focused on the details of preparing a meal, Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus, consumed by His presence. Martha is exasperated by Mary’s lack of assistance and demands Jesus to say something to her. Here is Jesus’ response.
“But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
(Luke 10:41-42)
This story is comprised of four sentences, asking us to distinguish the “busy” of our lives from the “good part”. Why do we spend endless hours being busy and few hours if any reading God’s Word? There’s a real battle going on for our time, a strategic attempt to divert our allegiance. The question becomes, who’s winning your time?
Are we the “Martha’s” of the world, preoccupied with the noise that fills our days? If we placed our lives at the feet of Jesus, what impact would this have on changing our circumstances? I think we Christians today suffer from what Jesus describes as having “so little faith”. Most of us believe, but our faith is indeed smaller than a mustard seed. However, the little time we give to God can have the biggest impact on our lives. When we pray, our problems may not go away immediately, but what God gives us is a new perspective on how we should deal with it. I empathize with Martha because my instincts would have mirrored hers. But the “good part” as Jesus says, doesn’t encompass the details of our lives, but the depth of our faith. Even today we all can enjoy the “good part” simply by sitting at the feet of our Savior and meditating on His Word. Find a quiet still place today to open your heart, pray for forgiveness and earnestly seek God on all matters occupying your day. When we turn our lives over to Him, watch how quickly the noise suddenly becomes silenced, and the battle for our time becomes a divine moment to be seized.
The noise in my life equates to the “busy” of my life, encompassing the stuff that robs me of time with both family and faith. Think about this for a moment:
How much time do you spend in front of your computer?
How much time do you spend in front of your TV?
How much time do you spend reading the Bible?
If we truthfully counted the hours dedicated to each of these activities, it becomes quite clear where our true allegiance lies. So what are we willing to do? If I told you having a stronger faith would create a more balanced life, would you believe me?
I love the story in the Bible about Mary and Martha found in the Gospel of Luke. The lives of two sisters illustrate how many of us utilize our time today. Jesus and His disciples came to Martha’s home and while she focused on the details of preparing a meal, Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus, consumed by His presence. Martha is exasperated by Mary’s lack of assistance and demands Jesus to say something to her. Here is Jesus’ response.
“But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
(Luke 10:41-42)
This story is comprised of four sentences, asking us to distinguish the “busy” of our lives from the “good part”. Why do we spend endless hours being busy and few hours if any reading God’s Word? There’s a real battle going on for our time, a strategic attempt to divert our allegiance. The question becomes, who’s winning your time?
Are we the “Martha’s” of the world, preoccupied with the noise that fills our days? If we placed our lives at the feet of Jesus, what impact would this have on changing our circumstances? I think we Christians today suffer from what Jesus describes as having “so little faith”. Most of us believe, but our faith is indeed smaller than a mustard seed. However, the little time we give to God can have the biggest impact on our lives. When we pray, our problems may not go away immediately, but what God gives us is a new perspective on how we should deal with it. I empathize with Martha because my instincts would have mirrored hers. But the “good part” as Jesus says, doesn’t encompass the details of our lives, but the depth of our faith. Even today we all can enjoy the “good part” simply by sitting at the feet of our Savior and meditating on His Word. Find a quiet still place today to open your heart, pray for forgiveness and earnestly seek God on all matters occupying your day. When we turn our lives over to Him, watch how quickly the noise suddenly becomes silenced, and the battle for our time becomes a divine moment to be seized.
Monday, October 19, 2009
How Do Christians Survive in Corporate America?
This was one of many insightful questions asked last week during my talk with business students at Texas A&M. Before we address this, let me say what an honor and privilege it was to speak to these students whose wisdom goes beyond what many of us will ever achieve. I’m not talking about their level of knowledge and intellect gained from the textbooks they read. Nor am I referring to the degrees they’re striving to obtain. The wisdom I’m referring to came from their desire to know God deeply and to learn how to live as an example of their faith in the business world. I thought my purpose was to inspire them but when I left the campus that evening, I was the one deeply inspired.
It was simply one of the most humbling moments of my life to be in a room with Christians who strive every day to live as an example of their faith in a secular environment.
So, back to the question; “How does a Christian survive in Corporate America?”
First it’s important to know how deeply God desires each of us to succeed in everything we do, but we must succeed on His terms and not our own. God needs Christians in corporate America, but I’m not talking about the kind of Christian I was when I attended college. Back in those years, God was simply someone whom I spoke with occasionally on Sunday morning. I certainly spent time with Him on Christmas and Easter. But my relationship with God never involved reading Scripture or daily prayer. Jesus Christ was a name I was familiar with, but I certainly didn’t know what His name meant for my life.
As I look back on my life, had I known then what I know today, perhaps many of the mistakes I made would have been avoided.
I shared with the group three basic fundamentals found in the Bible which teach us how to lead a successful business, family, and personal life.
1. Pray: Jesus spent endless hours in prayer. He was God, yet He prayed to the Father for guidance and direction throughout His ministry. We should pray every day especially when we’re confronted with having to make difficult decisions. Many of us have worked for bosses who love to give advice and sometimes it’s helpful. However, there are other bosses whose advice may be questionable. Pray to God for His advice, knowing in our hearts He will never mislead us in anything we do.
2. Remain in the Word: Reading the Bible every day is imperative to knowing God intimately. A college degree may open many doors, however, God’s Wisdom will never be found in a college textbook. Solomon was an exceptional business man. Nehemiah knew how to motivate hundreds of people to rebuild a wall around Israel. David was known as one of the Bible’s greatest kings. Yet none of these leaders will ever be discussed in a college textbook. The Bible is our source for advice on every matter affecting our lives. If you don’t read it, you’ll never gain the wisdom God so graciously has to offer.
3. Last, but certainly not least, never forget who the real CEO of your life is: Never forget Jesus Christ who went before us, sacrificing His life for ours. Bosses may have an impact on our careers, but God has an impact on our lives. God will never tempt us and always desires what’s best for us. His Word remains consistent especially in a world where the only thing that’s consistent is change.
Pray, read the Bible and live a Christ-centered life. These three fundamentals will provide success beyond what the world has to offer.
I also wanted to commend the parents of each of these students whom I was so honored to be with. The values of faith have been instilled in their hearts and I was blessed by each of them. Let’s pray our actions as parents reflect a God-centered life so that by the time our children leave home, the seed of faith has been planted. An education is critical in providing the means to survive in the business world, but a firm Christian foundation is imperative to surviving in this world and most importantly, receiving eternal life.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.”
(Colossians 3:23-25)
It was simply one of the most humbling moments of my life to be in a room with Christians who strive every day to live as an example of their faith in a secular environment.
So, back to the question; “How does a Christian survive in Corporate America?”
First it’s important to know how deeply God desires each of us to succeed in everything we do, but we must succeed on His terms and not our own. God needs Christians in corporate America, but I’m not talking about the kind of Christian I was when I attended college. Back in those years, God was simply someone whom I spoke with occasionally on Sunday morning. I certainly spent time with Him on Christmas and Easter. But my relationship with God never involved reading Scripture or daily prayer. Jesus Christ was a name I was familiar with, but I certainly didn’t know what His name meant for my life.
As I look back on my life, had I known then what I know today, perhaps many of the mistakes I made would have been avoided.
I shared with the group three basic fundamentals found in the Bible which teach us how to lead a successful business, family, and personal life.
1. Pray: Jesus spent endless hours in prayer. He was God, yet He prayed to the Father for guidance and direction throughout His ministry. We should pray every day especially when we’re confronted with having to make difficult decisions. Many of us have worked for bosses who love to give advice and sometimes it’s helpful. However, there are other bosses whose advice may be questionable. Pray to God for His advice, knowing in our hearts He will never mislead us in anything we do.
2. Remain in the Word: Reading the Bible every day is imperative to knowing God intimately. A college degree may open many doors, however, God’s Wisdom will never be found in a college textbook. Solomon was an exceptional business man. Nehemiah knew how to motivate hundreds of people to rebuild a wall around Israel. David was known as one of the Bible’s greatest kings. Yet none of these leaders will ever be discussed in a college textbook. The Bible is our source for advice on every matter affecting our lives. If you don’t read it, you’ll never gain the wisdom God so graciously has to offer.
3. Last, but certainly not least, never forget who the real CEO of your life is: Never forget Jesus Christ who went before us, sacrificing His life for ours. Bosses may have an impact on our careers, but God has an impact on our lives. God will never tempt us and always desires what’s best for us. His Word remains consistent especially in a world where the only thing that’s consistent is change.
Pray, read the Bible and live a Christ-centered life. These three fundamentals will provide success beyond what the world has to offer.
I also wanted to commend the parents of each of these students whom I was so honored to be with. The values of faith have been instilled in their hearts and I was blessed by each of them. Let’s pray our actions as parents reflect a God-centered life so that by the time our children leave home, the seed of faith has been planted. An education is critical in providing the means to survive in the business world, but a firm Christian foundation is imperative to surviving in this world and most importantly, receiving eternal life.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.”
(Colossians 3:23-25)
Monday, October 5, 2009
When Fear Becomes A Four-Letter Word
We have reason to fear what’s going on in the world today. We live in unprecedented times. Unemployment is at its highest level in years. Statistics show fifty percent of all marriages will end in divorce. Crime is sweeping our cities and there are more people today battling terminal illnesses than ever before. With everything going on, do you ever wonder where God is in the midst of this chaos?
What if I told you the only thing we need to fear is God. Would you believe me, especially when we’re living in a world filled with tragedy and suffering?
“I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all of my fears.”
(Psalm 34:4)
Do you fear God more than the economy?
Do you fear God more than your boss?
Do you fear losing your job more than you fear God?
So what does it mean to fear God?
The word “fear” is used 260 times in the Bible, and this doesn’t include all of its other word forms such as fearful, fearless or fearsome. According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition for fear is apprehension or to be afraid. It also means awe, reverence.
So, to fear God is to revere God, having a deep respect for His omnipresent power, authority and love over our lives. Do you think our society today fears God?
“Oh that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always that that it might go well with them and their children forever.”
(Deuteronomy 5:29)
Think of the most awful thing that could happen in your life. How would you approach it; with fear or with faith? Being human, we tend to lean towards fear because it’s easier to fear what is visible rather than have faith in what is invisible. But when we allow fear to control us, we forget God is sovereign over us.
I’m always amazed by the faith of my friend who battles breast cancer. After her diagnosis, she said something one rarely hears from an individual facing a terminal disease.
“It will be interesting to see how God will use me to help others living with this disease.”
Fear wasn’t part of her vocabulary. It’s a four-letter word she chooses to omit from her life. She lives today with this disease but wears a shield of faith knowing God, not cancer, determines her eternal destiny.
The enemy doesn’t have a claim on our life. Only Christ has a claim on our life. Faith cannot prevent bad things from happening, but it can prevent the grip of fear from overtaking us. Always remember God never takes a vacation from the events in our lives so no matter what is happening around us, the Holy Spirit remains in us.
“His mercy extends to those who fear him.”
(Luke 1:50)
May we all work towards having the level of faith that my friend exemplifies, and may God be glorified knowing whatever we fear, He is our refuge. Today, let’s all treat fear like a four letter word, and work diligently to remove it by strengthening our faith and reverence for our Creator.
What if I told you the only thing we need to fear is God. Would you believe me, especially when we’re living in a world filled with tragedy and suffering?
“I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all of my fears.”
(Psalm 34:4)
Do you fear God more than the economy?
Do you fear God more than your boss?
Do you fear losing your job more than you fear God?
So what does it mean to fear God?
The word “fear” is used 260 times in the Bible, and this doesn’t include all of its other word forms such as fearful, fearless or fearsome. According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition for fear is apprehension or to be afraid. It also means awe, reverence.
So, to fear God is to revere God, having a deep respect for His omnipresent power, authority and love over our lives. Do you think our society today fears God?
“Oh that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always that that it might go well with them and their children forever.”
(Deuteronomy 5:29)
Think of the most awful thing that could happen in your life. How would you approach it; with fear or with faith? Being human, we tend to lean towards fear because it’s easier to fear what is visible rather than have faith in what is invisible. But when we allow fear to control us, we forget God is sovereign over us.
I’m always amazed by the faith of my friend who battles breast cancer. After her diagnosis, she said something one rarely hears from an individual facing a terminal disease.
“It will be interesting to see how God will use me to help others living with this disease.”
Fear wasn’t part of her vocabulary. It’s a four-letter word she chooses to omit from her life. She lives today with this disease but wears a shield of faith knowing God, not cancer, determines her eternal destiny.
The enemy doesn’t have a claim on our life. Only Christ has a claim on our life. Faith cannot prevent bad things from happening, but it can prevent the grip of fear from overtaking us. Always remember God never takes a vacation from the events in our lives so no matter what is happening around us, the Holy Spirit remains in us.
“His mercy extends to those who fear him.”
(Luke 1:50)
May we all work towards having the level of faith that my friend exemplifies, and may God be glorified knowing whatever we fear, He is our refuge. Today, let’s all treat fear like a four letter word, and work diligently to remove it by strengthening our faith and reverence for our Creator.
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