As a way to more effectively capture the spiritual heart of this deeper pursuit of God's Holy Word, our regular postings of the WOTDs (Word of the Days) will undergo a name change beginning on our next posting. Instead of WOTDs, these ministry postings will now be entitled ...

"Truth Quest." Like with the previous WOTDs, these spiritual journeys - under the leading of the Holy Spirit - will be grounded upon the unchanging and timeless Word of God and will guide us as together we traverse both familiar territories and new areas yet uncharted on this lifelong journey up the Mountain of God!

“Battling the Burnout Beast – Pt 3”

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk (journey) with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company (personal fellowship) with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."(Matthew 11:28-30, The Message) Throughout history, many soldiers have experienced “battle fatigue” from the constant physical, emotional and psychological pressures of combat. In World War II, an estimated 10% of the men in combat developed “battle fatigue” which is clinically defined as a neuropsychiatric disorder which involves intense stress and physical-mental exhaustion that leaves a soldier unable to carry out his/her regular duties. Similarly, “battle fatigue” accounts for mounting losses in the membership ranks of the body of Christ (His Church) today unlike ever before. This “spiritual battle fatigue” is expressed in the physical, mental and spiritual weariness of one’s daily walk with Christ, a condition that yields a deep sense of loss in one’s commitment and loyalty to their church and ministry service as well as in their faith (trust) in the Lord. For various reasons, many Christians today have become fatigued, exhausted and even disillusioned to the point that many just want to be left alone – they are unable and incapable to effectively fight upon life’s many spiritual battlefields! Ephesians 6:10-18 explains that as Christians, we each are in a spiritual battle not just for our own eternal lives, but for the eternity of our family, friends, neighbors … for our fellow man. 1 Timothy 6:12 declares that every Christian is to "fight the good fight of faith." Satan wants nothing more than for you and I to quit this battle – to give up (stop fighting) and leave the war that is raging so intensely throughout today’s world. In 2 Timothy 2:3-4 we read the following: "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who enlisted (spiritually recruited) him as a soldier." Being a soldier for Christ was NEVER promised to be an easy assignment. We see more and more soldiers in our generation choosing NOT to “endure / persevere” at their assigned spiritual posts. Romans 12:11 declares, “Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder.” (The Message) Hebrews 12:1 declares to every soldier of God, “…Never quit!” (The Message) Tragically, over one-third of the membership of today’s church have left for various reasons (i.e. left their spiritual unit / places of service and walked off the battlefields). Many have become "weary in well doing" (2 Thessalonians 3:13). Speaking with a church friend just yesterday, his assessment for this trend was simple, yet profoundly confirming: “I think many people today are just giving up….” This intense warfare with the ‘demon of weariness’ (aka – ‘burnout beast’) is indeed inflicting mounting casualties today. Yet many of these battlefield conditions today – though challenging and costly as they are - are not unique to our generation. The holy scriptures record many men and women who shared in challenging battlefield conditions in their lives as well. The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah complained about the distress and persecution he faced because of his ‘obedience’ to proclaiming God's Word. The people of Judah did not want to hear God's truth / message where He pointed out their sin and His coming judgement (the consequences of their unrepentance). The people tormented Jeremiah because he faithfully shared a message from God that was both unpopular and unwanted by most. These conditions led Jeremiah to become disillusioned and discouraged in his ministry service for the Lord to the point that he cried out in deep frustration, "I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name." (Jeremiah 20:9a) Jeremiah was suffering from “spiritual battle fatigue” and wanted to simply give up / walk away from his spiritual orders / assignment. Thankfully with God’s help, Jeremiah overcame his battlefield fatigue by focusing on the divine call of the Lord that burned within his very soul, “…His Word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!” (Jeremiah 20:9b, NLT) Sadly, as I shared in Pt 1 of this devotional series, many are choosing not to return to that ‘fire in the belly’ that once raged so brightly in their lives and instead they are opting to leave the battlefields to become a part of the growing trend of spiritual AWOLs (recall from pt 1 in this series - over 3,500 a day leave the church and 1,700 pastors leave each month). Are you a Spiritual AWOL? Are you contemplating going AWOL in the upcoming future? What we need is a lifering of HOPE that is found only in the eternal promises of God’s Word! Take a few moments to review Pts 1 & 2 of this devotional series. Ask the Lord to guide you in assessing where you stand … either tenaciously engaging the enemy upon the battlefields of life, or running away from the spiritual battles which we are called to enter? Tomorrow we will “dive deeper” in seeking how believers stricken by “battle fatigue” (aka – ‘burnout’) can recover so that we – you and me – do not become a part of those going AWOL on the Lord and on His spiritual army (His Church). The same instructions that the Lord will share with us will not only help us avoid going AWOL, but can also help those who may already be AWOL today return to their divine duty in serving the Lord and His people with kingdom passion, purpose and power! I invite you to again join alongside as we journey across this mountain together! …Selah!
Today's Spirit-led video by CCM artists Phil Wickham/Bart Millard can be viewed by clicking on the on the song title, "Safe."

“Battling the Burnout Beast – Pt 2”

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk (journey) with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company (personal fellowship) with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."(Matthew 11:28-30, The Message) We hear the term ‘burnout’ more frequently these days, let’s make sure we understand what that term truly means. Webster-Merriam’s Online dictionary defines ‘burnout’ to be “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.” What is interesting is that as Christians, we each have renewable strength which is daily made available through our own walk (journey) with our Heavenly Father. Psalms 29:11 declares, “The Lord gives strength to His people …” In Isaiah 40:29, the prophet Isaiah recorded this same promise,, “The Lord gives strength to those who are weary.” Then comes the writings of Paul in Philippians 4:13 which infuse heavenly confidence into our soul with these words, “Christ gives me the strength to face anything!” (CEV) Life is indeed HARD … this is not a breaking headline that needs to be scrolling across the latest news bar on FoxNews! I think what makes life uniquely challenging even more for today’s generation is that we are simply overrun with far too many choices … so many that if we leave a moment here or there unguarded (i.e. a moment of vulnerability), they (i.e. our poor, unwise choices) can sneak in and rob of us of our focus, our strength and our will (tenacity to press forward) – the term for this soul-threatening condition is called “weariness.” In his book, Leading On Empty (2009, pp. 94), Pastor Wayne Cordeiro writes, “It’s no accident that the Evil One came calling in our Savior’s moment of human vulnerability (“physically hungry” after 40-day fast in desert; Luke 4:2-3). That’s his usual plan of attack. That’s Temptation 101. The adversary lurks in the shadows of vulnerable moments in our lives. Like an uncomplaining sniper squatting in a darkened second-story room, he squints patiently into his high-powered scope, waiting for an opportune time to squeeze off a (“potentially deadly,” John 10:10) shot at his unsuspecting target.” Every Christian is a Soldier of Light for the Lord; thus, every soldier in the Lord’s army is a prospective target by our archenemy, Satan! That is why 1 Peter 5:8 adamantly warns every believer, “Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack.” We need to heed the wisdom of Proverbs 4:23 which admonishes, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (NLT) This is why Paul directs us to put on the “full armor of God” in Ephesians 6:10-17 so that our hearts and our minds are not left unguarded which would expose us to a potentially deadly strike / attack by our enemy. Battling the Burnout Beast is truly a real battle that is on-going all around us – a battle that has mounting casualties every day! One of the most important steps to ensuring victory in this battle is our maintaining a laser-like focus upon our Spiritual Commander-in-Chief, our life mission and the very ones we are called to defend – our families, our communities and our nation! Pastor Cordeiro shares, “Knowing the remedy (i.e. Lord’s battle plan) doesn’t necessarily complete the healing; the difference comes when we apply it! Reading the menu doesn’t fill you up; eating the food does!” (Leading on Empty, pp. 87) The problem with so many choices today is that it preoccupies our focus in an attempt to keep us from applying the Lord’s commands / directives to our lives – moving our focus instead off of the strategic areas of our faith (our readiness) and placing it upon areas of much lesser importance in life. But as the Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15:58, every soldier of the Lord can “thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory” (CEV) in this tenacious battle with the Burnout Beast! That does not remove the reality of the great number who are engaged in this battle today – but it does assure us that we can proclaim our promised victory to the enemy’s face because, “(This) battle is the Lord’s!” (1 Samuel 17:47).
Today's Spirit-led video by CCM artist Jeremy Camp and it can be viewed by clicking on the on the song title, "Healing Hand of God."

“Battling the Burnout Beast – Pt 1”

“Aware that His disciples were grumbling …, Jesus said to them, "…The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him. (Jesus) went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him.” (John 6:64-66, emphasis mine)

21st Century Shepherds (i.e. pastors) receive the same assignment from the Lord which the 1st Century Shepherds received … “to equip workers (believers, God’s church) for the divine work of their personal ministries and the ministries of His Church” (Ephesians 4:11-12). Sadly, a growing number of those in His Church today seem to have little to no interest in this divine undertaking. In fact, many professing ‘Christians’ across our nation are turning and walking away from their faith journey with the Lord and with His Church (“His Bride,” Ephesians 5:25-27) at record numbers, a statistical trend that is reaping the spiritual consequences that come with a "Runaway Bride.” Recent studies affirm the devastating impact of this trend:
- Throughout America over 3,500 people a day left the church last year.
- Although 4,000 new churches begin each year, well over 7,000 churches close each year (leaving a spiritual void / deficit in our local communities that is expanding every year).

Although our life text for today's WOTD affirms this trend began well before our generation, the growing numbers today have left many church leaders simply bewildered. For many of those shepherds who are seeking to faithfully serve the Lord in their divine calling amidst these challenging times, this spiritual malady weighs heavily upon their hearts. Seeing more and more “professing” Christians resolve themselves to live as “partially-devoted followers” rather than as “fully devoted followers of Christ” (2 Chronicles 16:9) has a tremendously negative impact upon their ministry callings: increases their stress levels, demands longer work hours, produces greater frustrations, all of which incur a high toll upon them physically (their health), spiritually (their personal journey of faith) and emotionally (their overall well-being). Listen to some of the findings that were revealed in the recent studies cited above:
- 90% of the pastors report working between 55 to 75 hours per week.
- 80% believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families. Many pastor's children do not attend church now because of what the church has done to their parents.
- The profession of “Pastor” is near the bottom of a recent survey of the most-respected professions in America, coming in just above “car salesman.”
- 70% of pastors constantly fight depression.
- 70% of pastors feel grossly underpaid, and many are left to serve without any pay at all.
- 50% of the ministers starting out will not last 5 years in ministry service.
- Only 1 out of every 10 ministers will actually retire as a minister in some form.
- Over 1,700 pastors left the ministry every month last year.
- Over 1,300 pastors were terminated by the local church each month. (some with Biblical merit, many without merit)
- 94% of clergy families feel the negative pressures of the pastor's ministry is increasing today.
- 80% of spouses feel the pastor is overworked and unappreciated for his service and sacrifices.
- 80% spouses themselves feel left out and underappreciated by many of their fellow church members.
- And sadly, over 80% of pastors' spouses wish their spouse would choose a different profession.
(Statistics shared above provided by The Fuller Institute, George Barna, and Pastoral Care Inc.)

For many of you, the shared statistics above may come as a surprising revelation to the reality of just how many pastors and church leaders are truly struggling today. At some point in the church’s journey, we’ve stopped allowing our leaders to be ‘human’ and have demanded, whether knowingly or unknowingly, for them to ‘super saints’ who are to have an endless supply of energy, time, patience, vision and strength amidst the difficult days ("perilous times" 2 Timothy 3:1-7) of serving as one of God’s chosen leaders "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). Because of this unhealthy and unbiblical level of demand, many church leaders – especially shepherds – continue to serve “in silence” with many of these struggles, often in fear of having their church members unjustly see them as “failures” or “unqualified leaders” of their flocks. This disastrous trend must be acknowledged and lovingly addressed in churches across our nation if our churches are to be effective beacons of God’s love, grace and forgiveness in the tumultuous times of the 21st Century in which we are living.

These trends and issues facing today’s church indeed have a strong personal connection in my own faith journey having vocationally served as a Church Planter-Pastor / Evangelist for nearly 15 years. Our family indeed have faced, and even now is currently facing, much of the stressors already discussed above. In fact, today starts a new faith journey for our family as our current mission assignment with Journey 2427 enters a season of “Ministry Pause” – a God-ordained time to dive deeper with our Lord in greater preparation and divine direction for our journey ahead. In sharing with our church family a few weeks ago, our family re-iterated our firm belief in one of the life truths shared by Dr. Henry Blackaby in Experiencing God that as genuine followers of Christ, “we cannot stay where we are and still go with God” – that is a spiritual impossibility! For various reasons, God has directed our family to enter into this divine season for much needed rest, recharging and restoration. This is a time for us - and for others who care to join alongside us – to grow deeper in our relationship with Christ (Colossians 2:7). Unfortunately, I confess that I have for quiet some time burned the ministry candle at both ends in my service in His Kingdom, though as noble as sacrificial servanthood might be, in recent months due to the unprecedented level of challenges besetting me on numerous fronts, I was rapidly approaching the proverbial "middle" of that ministry life candle. Daily encounters with the “Burnout Beast” was beginning to leave our family intensely "battle weary” from the near continuous time spent on multiple ministry battlefields for the past 15+ years. Although seeking to faithfully serve everyone in the multiple mission areas was a noble and Biblical precept, we have had the Lord graciously show us that we (our family) have done so by serving "well beyond" the protective boundaries which He seeks for us to have established in our own lives and in the life of our family as well.

I pray that the Lord would enable me to authentically share in this "renewal and restoration journey" together through these regular Blog entries / devotions. I have greatly missed these WOTDs during their “unplanned hiatus” these last few months – but my ministry plate was already full beyond capacity and I needed to step back as I sought the Lord’s guidance for the season that is now upon us. Likened to the LifeWalk Messages I share through my preaching ministry, I pray that many will be blessed as they come alongside and hear God’s Word and follow Him into deeper waters of faith - leaving the crowded shores of safety and launching out into the deep (Luke 5:4) where our Lord eagerly awaits us. There will be some who may not like the challenges posed in this spiritual pursuit of His truth - a pursuit that demands that we confront the lingering sins around our life journey which seek to rob us of His joy, His peace and His power! The choice to journey alongside is always yours – the invitation is always open! As with the previous WOTDs, the web pages on life's journey ahead are blank – what the Lord wills to fill them with will be of His choosing, not my own. That is the way I preach – and that is the way I write / share. I hope to share in many victories from this lifelong Quest, as well as the challenges / struggles which are sure to arise along the way. The life trail ahead promises to be a journey filled with examination, revelation, adventure, divine detours and dives into depths not yet reached in our personal relationships with Jesus Christ. I would be humbly honored if you would choose to come alongside me in this journey. Like traveling trail hands on many a journeys made across this great land of ours in its early days, I warmly welcome the blessing of the trail talk / sharing ahead. We welcome your prayers too for our family, our ministry calling-service and for the Lord to be exalted upon every step of the journey ahead in our lives and in each of your lives as well. We've far since left the shoreline and are beyond the breakers - let's Dive Deeper together to explore and receive the hidden treasures which our Lord Jesus has for us all! …Selah!

Today's Spirit-led video by CCM artist Josh Wilson and it can be viewed by clicking on the on the song title, "Before the Morning."

"Freedom is But One Broken Chain Link Away …”

“I will break the chains and smash the yokes that keep you in slavery.” (Jeremiah 30:8, CEV) Everywhere you turn, it seems today that we are being bombarded with heavy, almost depressing headlines: “War in Afghanistan Escalating, Casualties Climbing” “Deadly Car Bomb Found in NYC” “AZ Town Deems Home Bible Study ‘ILLEGAL’” “Morning After Pill Now to Be Stocked On Military Bases Worldwide” “Disease Rate in America Soaring” “500 Year Flooding strikes for 3rd time in last 10 years” “Natural Disasters of Earthquakes … Tornadoes … Volcanoes” “Fuel & Food Prices Threaten to Soar As Summer Approaches” and many other distressing ‘Breaking News’ reports that continue to permeate today’s 24/7 news-saturated culture. After 14+ years in vocational ministry for the Lord’s Kingdom, I am finding a growing number of families today being weighed down with many of life’s oppressive burdens – some standing vicariously close to becoming entangled in one of the enemy’s choice weapons in his arsenal – that of his ‘chains of hopelessness.’ Link by link, Satan is attempting to slowly slide his chains of hopelessness around the hearts of many unsuspecting victims through adverse, tumultuous life circumstances which many of us are facing here in the 21st Century. These chains only serve but one purpose: to lead us into a state of bondage to the enemy’s lies – a place where we are inhibited from walking in the freedom which God has prepared for us to walk (Psalms 119:45). Pastor Damian Phillips of Camp Ground Baptist Church once shared, “Satan wants to keep us chained right where we are, not being able to experience God’s blessings. He wants us to think that it’s better to give up and quit trying rather than be disappointed. Many of us have not been able to break free of our bitter lives and venture into new territory in God’s Promised Land because we have not tasted and seen that the Lord is good. We haven’t tasted any good grass to motivate us to cross that fence and wind up on the other side because we haven’t dared to try.” What is so amazing in today’s world is that a growing number pf folks who have “tasted and found the Lord to be good” (Psalms 34:8) seem to have lost their appetite for the living bread of Life (“Christ,” John 6:35); instead, they seem to want to gorge themselves upon the “fast food pleasures of the world” which offer no spiritual nutrition, only empty calories that leave us unfit for kingdom service. Yet God promises us that we can be set free from these incarcerating chains that hold many of us in tight bondage. Listen to the promise of HOPE which God offers to all of us, “For God will break the chains that bind His people." (Isaiah 9:4) Through the prophet Jeremiah, God spoke these liberating words to His people, “I am freeing you from the chains!” (Jeremiah 40:4) For each of us who have sincerely given our lives to Christ through His gift of salvation (John 3:16), there are no chains which Satan can effectively hold / restrain us from the true freedom which Christ has prepared for us to live. The Apostle Paul declared, “Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.” (Galatians 5:1, The Message) So no matter what life circumstances you may be facing today, no matter the “feelings of bondage” that you may sense is enveloping you in the world around you, know that God has already prepared a way for you and I to “live as free men” (1 Peter 2:16) when we choose to live in the equipping power of His Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17). Take a few moments to collect all those broken chains that lay on the floor around you – for as Christians, these chains no longer have any usefulness but to be returned to their rightful owner, Satan! ….Selah!
Today's Spirit-led video by CCM artist & Worship Leader Chris Tomlin can be viewed by clicking on the on the song title, "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)"

Remembering the "Good" in Good Friday ....

“Shouldering Your Cross”

“Anyone who does not (“persevere and” Amplified Bible) carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:27) What depth of God’s power rest in the depth of our understanding this simple word, ‘perseverance’ which means “to persist / continue in a state or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition or discouragement; the tenacious refusal to simply quit / give up." To arrive at the finish line of life’s journey, you MUST first be IN the race (be a genuine believer / follower), then you MUST finish the race / cross the finish line (Acts 20:24, 2 Timothy 4:7)! For the believer, this race has the divine requirement that we “carry (‘shoulder’ The Message) our cross” – this seems to imply that means "carrying (shouldering) one’s cross” involves carrying a 'burden.' One dictionary defines the English noun "cross" as "an affliction that tries one's virtue, steadfastness, or patience." God tells us that it is in this ‘furnace of affliction’ (Isaiah 48:10) where our faith is tested (i.e. fully revealed) – and a furnace is never a place one chooses to go for ease or comfort. We actually risk compromising God’s plan for our lives and sometimes the lives of others when avoid God’s furnace(s) by our seeking the path of least resistance (i.e. when we choose to be a ‘partially devoted follower’ rather than a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ). Carrying a cross (a God-given burden / assignment) in this life’s journey was never meant to be easy. Jesus carried the heaviest cross of all time for it was weighted down with all of our sins (past, present and future) – His was a cross that only HE could carry (1 John 2:2). No matter what size cross which God gives each of us to carry, know that we are to carry it in His strength and for His glory and honor which promises to serve as a witness for Him before a watching world (1 Chronicles 16:28-29). Chris Tiegreen writes in The One Year at HIS feet devotional that, “We are not allowed to fit God’s mission in and around our …(own) priorities. We may choose safety or Christ, but not both. We may pursue the American dream or the kingdom of God, but not both. We may ‘give up everything’ (Luke 14:33) or not give up (anything), but not both. Christ compels us to choose.” (pp. 82) A great quote from Jim Elliott, an evangelical Christian missionary to Ecuador who, along with four others, was brutally killed (martyred) while attempting to evangelize the Waodani people, helps us ‘see’ the heart of a servant who was fully committed / surrendered to ‘shouldering his cross and following Christ,’ “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." Matthew 16:26 states this truth similarly, “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (NLT) Today, take a few moments and examine the cross which He has assigned you to carry. Are you trying to carry it on your own strength, or on His strength? The choice in your response will reveal who you are following, SELF or the SAVIOR and who the world is seeing in your witness, YOU or CHRIST JESUS? …Selah!
Today's Spirit-led video is by CCM artists Clay Crosse, Bob Carlisle and BeBe Winans can be viewed by clicking on the on the song title, "I Will Follow Christ" - G3 for God's beautiful and spirit-filled gift of ministry thru Christian music!

“Going the Extra Mile…”

“And if anyone forces (‘compels,’ NKJV) you to go one mile, go with him two [miles].” (Matthew 5:41, Amplified Bible) In Jesus’ day, the Romans had a practice that they had learned from the Persians about 600 years earlier. This practice – called IMPRESSMENT - was to subjugate (to make submissive; bring under control) a people who had been conquered through war. If a Roman soldier saw a Jewish man or boy, he could command the man or boy to carry his backpack (~100 lbs) for a maximum of one Roman mile (1600 paces/steps). At that point the soldier would have to either carry it himself or recruit another person to take it to the next mile. Most Jews would not carry this burden one step further than the law required. This law caused tremendous resentment among the Jews toward the ruling Roman government! So from today’s text, we read the word “compel” which carries with it the idea of “a readiness & willingness to submit to inconvenience or unreasonable demands; urged forcefully; cause to do a task by much pressure.” Notice the wording that Jesus uses in this text - “anyone…” To you and I today this means, “if a neighbor” or a “co-worker” or a “church member” or “Uncle Sam” would compel us to do a certain thing (as long as it doesn’t cause you to deny/disobey your faith) then we should do twice as much (better than) they expect us to do. Honestly, that’s a TOUGH standard to follow at times! Yet we must understand what it is that Christ uses to “compel” us to go the second mile - the love of Christ! The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:14a, “For Christ's love compels us …’ The Second Mile is a reflection of our thankfulness for the love of Christ in our lives - we are ‘compelled’ by the love of Christ to go the extra (second) mile for the kingdom of God of a grateful heart! A Christian web blogger once wrote, “The Extra (Second) Mile in our culture is "extra ordinary". It was the same in Jesus' day. Doing something unexpected for another is one way we can express God's incredible love for all men.” Mel Blackaby writes in his book, Going the Second Mile, “On the first mile, you can stand on your own. You’re doing what any good person would do. Your reward is the applause of people and the satisfaction of a job well done. You see what YOU can accomplish – but nothing more. The second mile looks much different … You demonstrate that you’re more than a good person; you’re a child of God. As a result, people see something different IN you – the love of God. For the God of love is now doing His work in you, and the world sees Him.. The difference is CLEAR - the world sees US on the first mile; they see CHRIST on the second mile.” (2006, pp.31) The essence of being a true Christian is to obediently follow Christ. The word ‘follow ’ indicates movement, a change, and/or a new direction in life. A stagnant life is the result of staying where you are - living in the first mile & refusing to go any further! But to truly follow Christ will always mean forward progress … it will require going the EXTRA (SECOND) MILE every day which He gifts to you! So how far are willing to go today for the Lord and for others? Are you hanging out in that first mile zone where much the crowds gather? Or are you willing to break ‘out of the pack’ and run that second mile for Christ and for others – a place where few others seem to want to run today? As for me and my family (Joshua 24:15), we’ve chosen to make our life journey a daily adventure into that second mile … if you’re willing, we’ll warmly greet you at the second mile marker! …Selah!
Today's Spirit-led video is by CCM artist Clay Crosse can be viewed by clicking on the on the song title, "He Walked a Mile" - G3 for God's beautiful and spirit-filled gift of ministry thru Christian music!

“Idle Hearts lead to Idol Hearts”

“Warn those who are idle … (“Warn anyone who isn't living right” CEV) [1 Thessalonians 5:14] I have a saying when people ask me if I like my 2003 F-150 truck; I typically respond, “I love my truck, but the gas mileage is awful. I’ve figured out how to get it to coast downhill, now all I need to do is figure out how I can make it coast uphill!” Isn’t that true in our spiritual lives as well. We would have no problems if life was all downhill “i.e. gravity led!” But it isn’t …life has some pretty steep mountains to climb, and the spiritual transmission of our hearts must be engaged if we expect to make it up and over those mountains that stand between us and God’s promised land. Truth be told, no matter how hard you try, you can NEVER coast up a mountain (i.e. in neutral, “in idle mode”)! God’s Word in today’s text teaches us that we need to lovingly warn those who attempt to journey through life in neutral (“in idle”) …it will never work. You have to have your heart in gear to be able to climb the many mountains (trials, tests, challenges) which arise before us in the landscape of life. Yet so many today spend so much time trying to believe the enemy’s lie that you can get somewhere (‘journey by faith’) while your heart is “idle.” From Star Trek: The Next Generation series, Captain Jean Luke Picard famous command when it was time to warp from one place to another was “Engage!” And that is the same command God gives to every believer, “Engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth!” (John 4:23, The Message) Allow me the liberty to translate that – “Get your heart in gear (‘shift out of idle’) as you pursue after Jesus Christ (“Truth” John 14:6)!” That’s exactly what the Lord desires – that we pursue Him! 1 Peter 4:1 declares, “Pursue what God wants…” (TM) In Matthew 8:22, Jesus lovingly tells us, “Follow Me. Pursue Life! (John 14:6)” Deuteronomy 16:20 declares that we “pursue only what is right,” and 1 Timothy 6:11 explains in detail exactly what is ‘right’ - “Pursue a righteous (“godly” NLT) life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness (perseverance), courtesy." (TM) This righteous (godly) life cannot be pursued from hearts that are spiritually idle, for “idle” hearts are “idol” hearts that are in pursuit of anything other than Jesus Christ! Yep, you read that correctly – to pursue ANYTHING or ANYONE more than Christ is to be traveling the wrong way down life’s highway with idol hearts. In my “The One Year Worship the King” devotional this morning, Chris Tiegreen shared, “Be careful about what you (freely choose to) pursue … it will eventually define you!” Psalms 115:5 similarly tells us , “Those who make [idols] will be like them (i.e. will be defined by them), and so will all who trust in them.” So what are you pursuing today – if it is anything other than Jesus Christ, it is an idol … pure and simple! God tells us to pursue Him and Him alone! So shift your faith from “idle” to high gear in the spiritual quest toward becoming more like Christ every day … to do so promises to leave your “idols” sitting “idle” in the dust behind you! …Selah!
Today's Spirit-led video is by Worship & Praise artists Eden's Bridge (a Christian Celtic Worship & Praise Folk Band; spiritually 'ironic' this choice falls on St. Patrick's Day today!) and can be viewed by clicking on the on the song title, "Awesome God" (originally written by Rich Mullins) - G3 for God's beautiful and spirit-filled gift of ministry thru Christian music!

"Cold Love or Hot Hearts?"

“What sign will signal your return and the end of the world? … You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:3b,9b-12 NLT) Ministering recently to an seasoned sister in the Lord (an elderly lady), she shared, “Pastor David, why don’t people truly care anymore. Nobody seems to want to love others like they used too … people once stopped by and just spent time together … they seemed to enjoy just being with each other … people just seem to love LESS today than ever before in my lifetime ... I just want a friend to love me as I want to love them ... why don’t people want to love others like they use too?” My heart sank as she opened her heart and in honestly shared her life’s greatest disappointment – the longing of loving friends (i.e. she's lonely). She continued to share how friend after friend had come into her life over the years and then left for many different reasons. Her testimony was filled with disappointments and betrayals by many who claimed to live in the love of Christ, but their actions were often far from loving. Now I am not saying in any way that this lady does not have her faults, as we all have them (Romans 3:23). Yet Colossians 3:13 declares, “Make allowance for each other’s faults…” That does not mean excuse them away nor does it mean to ignore them, but it means to show God’s grace just as He has shown His grace to you and me. Yet today, many are freely choosing NOT to demonstrate His grace toward others as His Word commands (Hebrews 12:15). Today, I believe more than ever we are seeing the prophetic words of Christ in reference to the “signs of the Last Days” cited in our text come to fruition in many ways, but especially in the area of love - “the love of many (“most” NIV)” is seemingly growing colder with the passage of time. So many today are so caught up in their own world – in their own reality – that they often are oblivious to that fact that they are allowing the enemy to isolate themselves from the very ones whom God has lovingly placed into their lives to love them and to be loved by them. I believe there are several contributing factors for the “love meter” to be spiritually waning today. First, I believe more folks are daily neglecting spiritual disciplines that are vital toward keeping our love fires stoked such as simple time spent with God, meditating on the Word, prayer, fellowship with others, ministry service, etc. Secondly, more folks are allowing the increasing frequency of life trials and tribulations to push them AWAY from God rather than TOWARD Him. When we go through something challenging (i.e. health issue, divorce, loss of job, mistreatment/betrayal by others, death of a loved one, financial challenges, etc.), we can either allow that difficulty to drive us to greater dependence on God or we can take up an offense toward God and move away. The former will lead to spiritual growth and increase our love for Christ and others, the latter will lead to stagnation and will snuff out the fire of our love like water poured onto a blazing campfire. Third, busyness in life is consuming more and more of His people. Here is what may well be the greatest area of vulnerability to Christians in America – getting so busy with life and demands that we simply neglect our relationship with God and others. Our relationship with God and others takes TIME together – we cannot grow closer in any relationship by proxy – that’s why He tells us not to forsake spending TIME with the family of God! (Hebrews 10:25) Fourth, the sins of the flesh and desire for pleasure are rampant today. So much of what people are focusing on today is pleasure and we spend a great deal of time, effort and money on what gives us pleasure. This can lead to a very self oriented life which will cause one’s heart to grow cold toward the Lord and others. Finally, more and more people are purposefully insulating themselves from the risk of hurt, pain and disappointments by others because of what may have happened in their past (i.e. they are allowing their past to govern their future). Many don’t want deep, close relationships primarily because that would demand two things of which many (dare I say ‘most’) care NOT to give: COMMITMENT and ACCOUNTABILITY! Thus, we are left to swim the sea of faith often alone … yet God has from the beginning of time designed into us a need for companionship … a need to be loved and to love others. Jesus tells us in John 15:12, “Love each other as I have loved you.” It is His love in you and through you that serves as the very foundation of your Christian witness as being a true disciple. John 13:35 declares, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” So when the love of many (‘most’) grows cold, know it has been preceded by love of the Lord growing cold through neglect and disobedience. Today, ask His Spirit to check out how hot or how cold your love truly is for Christ and for one another. He told us in 1 John 4:7, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” A watching world waits to see how REAL your love is for Christ by how REAL your love is for THEM! …Selah!
Today's Spirit-led video is by CCM artists MercyMe and can be viewed by clicking on the on the song title, "In the Blink of an Eye" - G3 for God's beautiful and spirit-filled gift of ministry thru Christian music!