Purpose for Today

On the Monday Morning Insight blog, there are a few recent quotes from Rick Warren, one of which really caught my attention:

“It doesn’t matter how much you accomplish. If at the end of the day you don’t know God a little bit more and you don’t love God a little bit more, you have just wasted your day.”

What a simple statement. But I’d never thought of it that way before. Any day not spent pursuing God is a waste. Cool stuff. What a great reminder that the only purpose I have is to know God and love God more – and to give Him all of me – all the time.

The Complexity of Jesus

I read a blog today from Randy Bohlender that was both intriguing and inspiring. Here’s a small taste…

“I spent some time in John 2 this evening and found myself grinning at Jesus. We have simplified him so, primarily to make our Vacation Bible School songs rhyme and our stories to end in fifteen minutes…but this is one complex man…

…This great teacher – this complex man – was continually seeding the minds of his followers with a seeds of understanding that wouldn’t fully bloom until months and even years later. Even when he was confusing most people, he was teaching them. While most of us will do anything to be understood here and now, He invested his effort in maximum impact toward the purpose of launching a revolution in the spirit of man. He was willing to be misunderstood now if it meant being respected and honored later. He personified – even deified – delayed gratification.

This is not an ordinary man. I must know him better.”

Check out the whole blog here.

What it’s all about…

Tony Morgan had a post today about the incredible weekend they had at Granger Community Church. I was moved to tears looking at the pictures of the 400 people they baptized yesterday. 400 PEOPLE! That’s it. Right there. The whole reason I’m a part of Compass. 400 people now know God that didn’t before they came into contact with Granger. Those people have experienced a life change – they will never be the same. I pray that the communities in the Alliance, TX area will come to find something different at Compass. That we, as individuals and as a group, can lead them to the One that can heal, the One that cares, the One that can change EVERYTHING! That’s what it’s all about. Changed lives. I am just so grateful to be able to be a part of it – to give testimony of my own changed life. I know that we can make a difference. How could I not get excited about that?

Growing Pains

My daughter, who just turned five yesterday, woke up this morning complaining about an aching leg. I told her that it was just growing pains (although it was probably just that she slept funny) and that because she is five now, she must be getting bigger. She asked if that meant she would need to go to work like Mommy and Daddy.
Isn’t it funny that she thought that because she was getting bigger – she must already be “big”. I tried to explain to her that there was much more growth that needed to happen before she needed to get to work. She asked if there were some things she could do now. “Of course” I told her – she can do chores and feed the cat. There are lots of things she is ready to do now – the size that she is.
I wonder if that applies to me? Just because I’m growing doesn’t mean I’m ready for everything God has in store for me just yet. But I AM able to do SOME things. I just need to make sure that He is the One deciding what I am able to do – and not me. I also hope that I am able to do those things He’s entrusted me with as enthusiastically as my daughter does her chores. She is so excited to be able to do things for me – hoping to make me proud. She never thinks about the things she is not able to do yet – because she considers it a privilege to do things I let her do. God is so much smarter than I am – he knows what I’m ready for and what I’m not. I need to remember that it is such an incredible privilege to get to do the things He allows me to do. He obviously doesn’t need me. I’m not THAT important. But how great it is to be invited to be in on the God things that are happening around me.

Wisdom from a 4-Year Old

My 4-Year old has a unique understanding of things. Sometimes I wish that I thought the way she did. She started Kindergarten last week and is learning this week about Creation – specifically the first few verses in the Bible. So, she has been asking a lot of questions – and I am loving it. Yesterday, on our way to school, she asked me if Jesus was God – and if so, how.
Well, I explained to her that yes – Jesus was also God – and then gave her the ice/water/steam analogy in the simplest way that I possibly could. She then said – very matter-of-factly – “Oh, I see – His first name is Jesus and His middle name is God.”

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for choosing Compass Airlines…

Most of you know that I am part of a church plant in Roanoke, TX. We’ve had a number of challenges over the last couple of years, most of which have turned into major advantages. Check out Johnny’s post for specific examples.
I’ve been thinking alot lately about the upcoming months and how we will design our services to really make an impact in our area. I’ve come to some conclusions:

I read an article about how before we put together our services we need to know who we are – personalities, etc. I think that up until now we’ve been trying to figure out what will reach people – what people will respond to. Well, if we first figure out what WE respond to, that will help us communicate with passion, excitement and actually reach the people God means for us to reach. God put our personalities together for a reason – and it’s not so that we can do church like we always have. I think we are supposed to play on our strengths, passions, preferences, and styles and then – ONLY THEN – will we reach the people God is calling us to reach. Lets design a service – or Weekly gathering – that WE would be able to get excited about – and want to invite people to. Let’s take the church goggles off and dream a little. We CAN have fun with this. Church is supposed to be fun – it’s supposed to be creative – it’s supposed to be different. People will respond to us if we’re genuine and real – we’ve talked about this a million times. I think that it’s time to put our worship service where our mouth is. It will take major dedication, creativity, excitement, passion, time – but we can absolutely make it happen.

It’s like all of the sudden my eyes have been opened and I see things not for what they were or what they are, but for what they could be. It’s the DUH moment. Actually I’ve had a lot of DUH moments over the last couple of weeks. I feel so stupid that it never occured to me before. God chose us – who we are – our personalities, etc. for this area at this time. We don’t have to wait and see what God will do. HE’s called US to do something. To reach out in an exciting and real way to the people in THIS area and tell them about Him. When we’re obedient to do that – He’ll move in a mighty way. It all seems so simple, now. God has given us the opportunity to be creative – to get excited – to be passionate and to have a blast at the same time. I’ve been saying that I’m learning what a privilege it is to be in ministry and to be a part of God’s will.
It’s like my first airplane ride – I expected something really cool. I knew that it would be great. But when the wheels of the plane left the ground for the first time and I realized that I was FLYING – Words couldn’t express how I was feeling. My mind was expanded at that moment – suddenly the world was a lot bigger – and I was a lot smaller – and it was WONDERFUL! I finally saw a glimpse of the Big Picture – and I will NEVER BE THE SAME.

That’s where we are as a church – the wheels are leaving the pavement. Just like in the airplane – I held on a little tighter to the armrest as the nose of the plane pointed toward the sky and the ground got farther away – we need to do the same now – hold on tighter. There is a natural excitement that we’ll feel just knowing that the plane is going higher and higher and pointing more and more toward the sky – and the higher we get, the looser our grip will be on the armrests. The higher we go – the more we will trust the thing that is holding us up. The higher we go – the more of the picture we’ll see. I’m so ready to fly. I’ve never been more ready.

I’m the mom of a Kindergartener

Today was the first day of Kindergarten. I think I was WAY more nervous than Elisa was. She was excited. She even picked out a special gift for one of her classmates that she knew from pre-K to give her on the first day.
I just have to say that some days I am busting with pride over my child. Those of you that hate it when parents brag on their children – look away…here it comes:

I LOVE MY KID! I can’t hardly believe how great of a person she is shaping up to be. Every day she gives me so many reasons to be proud of her. She is kind, thoughtful, generous, SO smart, creative, loving, trusting, accepting, inquisitive (which I think is a great thing), brave and all those other things I wish I was all the time. Isn’t it weird how we can learn to be more Christlike from our children. She struggles with obedience and patience, but so does everyone. I wonder if my Heavenly Father every feels for me the way I feel for her. I suspect that He does. I look at her and am so proud of how hard she tries to please me and at how much she learns and applies every day. I hope that I can make God as proud of me each day. Gosh, my kid rocks!!

God & M&M’s

I overheard an argument earlier this week that got me all fired up. It doesn’t matter what the argument was about. What matters is what I re-realized about my God as a result of that argument.

I really love M&M’s. I do. The best thing about M&M’s is that I like them all equally. Not like skittles. I don’t like the yellow skittles, and the greens are not my favorites either. But M&M’s – yummm! Even the ones that are deformed – or have an M on both sides, or the ones without an M at all. I LOVE THEM ALL.
We are to God as M&M’s are to me. He loves every one.

My God does not discriminate. He does not pick and choose. He wants everyone to know Him. He is a God of mercy, grace, forgiveness, love and kindness.

God chose to send Jesus as a sacrifice for the sins of the WORLD! Not the sins of a chosen few. God sent Jesus for ME!!! and for YOU!!! ANYONE that calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. (that’s scripture!)

TALK ABOUT GOOD NEWS!!! (You can now assume that the caps means that I’m shouting!)

If you understand nothing about God – understand this: He Loves You. He Chose you. He Wants you. He sent His ONLY son to save you. No matter who you are – or what you’ve done. You have the opportunity – the choice – to accept His gift of forgiveness. You have the opportunity to accept Christ’s sacrifice – and to know God. EVERYONE HAS THIS CHOICE.

Christ came for you – because He couldn’t imagine eternity without YOU!

DUDE – that IS good news! Spread it around.

GOD BIG, me small!

I read a post today by Tadd Grandstaff who is the Spiritual Development pastor at Ridge Stone Church in Georgia that made me think. I love it when things inspire me to think. How else would I ever get smarter? Here’s the snippet I most enjoyed:

“I am once again challenged to search my life, to search my heart, to dig deep inside myself to find out where my focus is. In the midst of all the success, in the midst of all the mountain top experiences, it’s easy to forget my first love. I want to renew that relationship, to fall back in love, to fall to my knees and realize in all of God’s extraordinary plans I am just a small piece. I am dime a dozen, He could easily plug someone else in my place and have the same finished product. I am never bigger than His plan. It’s amazing what God can do you when you just get silent and listen!”

God always does an excellent job of reminding me that I am never bigger than His plan and that He can accomplish it without me 100% of the time. BUT – God is an inviting God. He always gives me the opportunity to be a part of His plan. If I always remember that it is a privilege to be a part of God’s will and to serve Him in whatever He calls me to do – then I will be able to be a part of much more than I could ever experience on my own – SO MUCH MORE!

Very cool, Tadd – thanks.

Input vs. Output

I’ve discovered today that my good intentions mean nothing to God. You’ve heard the old phrase, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”, well I’ve decided that is not far from the truth. Although, as a child of God, I’d have to say the road to disconnect is paved with good intentions. Or the road to discontent or distraction. I have been completely distracted over the last week, and for the life of me I can’t figure out how it happened. I’m sure I can give a big fat list of excuses, but the truth is I allowed myself to get distracted. My intentions were good. I am thinking all the time about scripture I’m memorizing or prayers I need to pray, or even how great God is. I’m getting a lot of spiritual input, but no worshipful output is happening on my part. God doesn’t want me to just learn all I can, memorize His word, listen to sermons and “be fed”. My purpose is to worship God with my life. My goal is to live my days in a way that brings glory to His name. I’m not sure I did that this week. I will make it my focus today.