Paul in Ephesians exhorts Christ's people to 'make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.' As another Christmas is upon me and a new year is staring me in the face, the proper expenditure of time is an ever challenging reality. How easy to trivialize life. How easy to waste days, months and years chasing after the wind. The big picture can be discouraging. I must learn to make the most of the minutes, hours and days. Christ packed so much in 33 years. I don't want my buzz word for 2008 to be 'busy.' I desire to be fruitful. By the help of the Spirit and the grace of God at work, to bear much fruit that will bring glory to the Father. Jesus wasn't busy. He was focused, purposeful, intelligent, discerning. Most of all I desire to use the hours and days of the new year to nurture the key relationships in life.
Thank you Christ for 2007 and your amazing grace each step of the way! Looking forward...
Monday, December 24, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The believer's position of strength
A great tragedy (sin) in the church in America is our attempt to do God's work in man's wisdom and strength. The 'arm of flesh' will always fall short. God's delight is not in our strength, but in those who trust in His unfailing love (Ps. 147:10). The believer's position of strength is identified in Romans 12:1-3. It is to be a living and holy sacrifice. A sacrifice has no rights. A sacrifice is totally at the disposal of the one to whom it is offered. Our strength is found when God is consuming us for His purposes. When the sacrifice was consumed by the fire of God, the only thing left was a pleasing aroma to God and a pile of ashes to remind us that we are nothing and He is everything. The level of our spiritual strength is in direct relation to our level of consecration. Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit let us be living and holy sacrifices unto the Lord. In that position we will find strength and resource to fulfill His mission and bring glory to His name.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
True Success
As another year of my earthly journey comes to a close and I begin another, the success I continue to pursue can be summarized in the following.
"Success is allowing the Holy Spirit continuous and unrestricted access to every part of my person."
The challenge of this pursuit keeps me on my knees. The key to victory as a follower of Christ is to be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit. My responsibility as I walk in covenant with Christ is to keep in step with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:12).
"Success is allowing the Holy Spirit continuous and unrestricted access to every part of my person."
The challenge of this pursuit keeps me on my knees. The key to victory as a follower of Christ is to be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit. My responsibility as I walk in covenant with Christ is to keep in step with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:12).
Sunday, September 2, 2007
The believer's task
As followers of Christ, we have been exposed to all types of lists, requirements, and responsibilities. I'm discovering that we have added a lot of stuff that is not part of the kingdom. Let me suggest something from the life of Christ.
The believer's task is to relentlessly pursue the mind of Christ in order to fulfill the will of the Father.
Christ was all about the Father's will. He instructed us to pray for the Father's will to be done. Christ declared he came to do the Father's will. It will require a transformation in our focus, attitude and thought process. I'm in the process of learning to follow Christ and fulfill the Father's will.
The believer's task is to relentlessly pursue the mind of Christ in order to fulfill the will of the Father.
Christ was all about the Father's will. He instructed us to pray for the Father's will to be done. Christ declared he came to do the Father's will. It will require a transformation in our focus, attitude and thought process. I'm in the process of learning to follow Christ and fulfill the Father's will.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Holiness
A Christ centered holiness is desperately needed among those of us who call ourselves Christian. Maybe it would help to redefine holiness. There are many preconceptions concerning this critical Biblical mandate. Our picture and understanding of holiness must move beyond rules and regulations, beyond external issues of appearance and behavior. I offer a one word definition: Holiness is Christlikeness. To be Christlike is to live a life of love, compassion and courageous excellence for Christ's glory.
This holiness is impossible unless the Holy Spirit controls, cleanses and directs.
This holiness is impossible unless the Holy Spirit controls, cleanses and directs.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Freedom-Do I understand what that is all about? How easy to take it for granted, both as an American and a follower of Christ. Our nation needs to remember, but how easily we forget. Generations come and go, and the distance increases between the now and then. Somehow each generation needs to embrace and discover the reality of this freedom.
Freedom in Christ is much the same. We each have the opportunity to experience this freedom on a daily basis. This freedom transcends the boundaries of a nation, and reaches to the depths of the human heart. What a powerful promise, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!"
Freedom in Christ is much the same. We each have the opportunity to experience this freedom on a daily basis. This freedom transcends the boundaries of a nation, and reaches to the depths of the human heart. What a powerful promise, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!"
Friday, June 29, 2007
Welcome
My daughter is smarter than me. This blog is under her instruction. Welcome to the new world. I heard Bill Easum say or read in one of his books, "if we have a new world, we need a new church. We have a new world."
This is only one aspect of it. During the coming weeks we will share thoughts from God's Word and life. I am looking for and prayer for a 'new church' to rise up in America. We'll talk about that in the days ahead.
Until next time, in the midst of the confusion and chaos, Christ lives.
PJ
My daughter is smarter than me. This blog is under her instruction. Welcome to the new world. I heard Bill Easum say or read in one of his books, "if we have a new world, we need a new church. We have a new world."
This is only one aspect of it. During the coming weeks we will share thoughts from God's Word and life. I am looking for and prayer for a 'new church' to rise up in America. We'll talk about that in the days ahead.
Until next time, in the midst of the confusion and chaos, Christ lives.
PJ
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Monday, December 24, 2007
Opportunity
Paul in Ephesians exhorts Christ's people to 'make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.' As another Christmas is upon me and a new year is staring me in the face, the proper expenditure of time is an ever challenging reality. How easy to trivialize life. How easy to waste days, months and years chasing after the wind. The big picture can be discouraging. I must learn to make the most of the minutes, hours and days. Christ packed so much in 33 years. I don't want my buzz word for 2008 to be 'busy.' I desire to be fruitful. By the help of the Spirit and the grace of God at work, to bear much fruit that will bring glory to the Father. Jesus wasn't busy. He was focused, purposeful, intelligent, discerning. Most of all I desire to use the hours and days of the new year to nurture the key relationships in life.
Thank you Christ for 2007 and your amazing grace each step of the way! Looking forward...
Thank you Christ for 2007 and your amazing grace each step of the way! Looking forward...
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The believer's position of strength
A great tragedy (sin) in the church in America is our attempt to do God's work in man's wisdom and strength. The 'arm of flesh' will always fall short. God's delight is not in our strength, but in those who trust in His unfailing love (Ps. 147:10). The believer's position of strength is identified in Romans 12:1-3. It is to be a living and holy sacrifice. A sacrifice has no rights. A sacrifice is totally at the disposal of the one to whom it is offered. Our strength is found when God is consuming us for His purposes. When the sacrifice was consumed by the fire of God, the only thing left was a pleasing aroma to God and a pile of ashes to remind us that we are nothing and He is everything. The level of our spiritual strength is in direct relation to our level of consecration. Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit let us be living and holy sacrifices unto the Lord. In that position we will find strength and resource to fulfill His mission and bring glory to His name.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
True Success
As another year of my earthly journey comes to a close and I begin another, the success I continue to pursue can be summarized in the following.
"Success is allowing the Holy Spirit continuous and unrestricted access to every part of my person."
The challenge of this pursuit keeps me on my knees. The key to victory as a follower of Christ is to be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit. My responsibility as I walk in covenant with Christ is to keep in step with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:12).
"Success is allowing the Holy Spirit continuous and unrestricted access to every part of my person."
The challenge of this pursuit keeps me on my knees. The key to victory as a follower of Christ is to be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit. My responsibility as I walk in covenant with Christ is to keep in step with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:12).
Sunday, September 2, 2007
The believer's task
As followers of Christ, we have been exposed to all types of lists, requirements, and responsibilities. I'm discovering that we have added a lot of stuff that is not part of the kingdom. Let me suggest something from the life of Christ.
The believer's task is to relentlessly pursue the mind of Christ in order to fulfill the will of the Father.
Christ was all about the Father's will. He instructed us to pray for the Father's will to be done. Christ declared he came to do the Father's will. It will require a transformation in our focus, attitude and thought process. I'm in the process of learning to follow Christ and fulfill the Father's will.
The believer's task is to relentlessly pursue the mind of Christ in order to fulfill the will of the Father.
Christ was all about the Father's will. He instructed us to pray for the Father's will to be done. Christ declared he came to do the Father's will. It will require a transformation in our focus, attitude and thought process. I'm in the process of learning to follow Christ and fulfill the Father's will.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Holiness
A Christ centered holiness is desperately needed among those of us who call ourselves Christian. Maybe it would help to redefine holiness. There are many preconceptions concerning this critical Biblical mandate. Our picture and understanding of holiness must move beyond rules and regulations, beyond external issues of appearance and behavior. I offer a one word definition: Holiness is Christlikeness. To be Christlike is to live a life of love, compassion and courageous excellence for Christ's glory.
This holiness is impossible unless the Holy Spirit controls, cleanses and directs.
This holiness is impossible unless the Holy Spirit controls, cleanses and directs.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Freedom-Do I understand what that is all about? How easy to take it for granted, both as an American and a follower of Christ. Our nation needs to remember, but how easily we forget. Generations come and go, and the distance increases between the now and then. Somehow each generation needs to embrace and discover the reality of this freedom.
Freedom in Christ is much the same. We each have the opportunity to experience this freedom on a daily basis. This freedom transcends the boundaries of a nation, and reaches to the depths of the human heart. What a powerful promise, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!"
Freedom in Christ is much the same. We each have the opportunity to experience this freedom on a daily basis. This freedom transcends the boundaries of a nation, and reaches to the depths of the human heart. What a powerful promise, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!"
Friday, June 29, 2007
Welcome
My daughter is smarter than me. This blog is under her instruction. Welcome to the new world. I heard Bill Easum say or read in one of his books, "if we have a new world, we need a new church. We have a new world."
This is only one aspect of it. During the coming weeks we will share thoughts from God's Word and life. I am looking for and prayer for a 'new church' to rise up in America. We'll talk about that in the days ahead.
Until next time, in the midst of the confusion and chaos, Christ lives.
PJ
My daughter is smarter than me. This blog is under her instruction. Welcome to the new world. I heard Bill Easum say or read in one of his books, "if we have a new world, we need a new church. We have a new world."
This is only one aspect of it. During the coming weeks we will share thoughts from God's Word and life. I am looking for and prayer for a 'new church' to rise up in America. We'll talk about that in the days ahead.
Until next time, in the midst of the confusion and chaos, Christ lives.
PJ
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)