Today’s Christian and today’s Church has a problem. That problem is unintentional Christianity. By unintentional, I mean accepting the label as “a Christian”, yet not trying to “be” a Christian; not being intentional about your spiritual development and transformation into Christ-likeness.
[Read more…]
What is the Faith of a Mustard Seed?
Luke 17:5-6
What IS the faith of a mustard seed. I always thought this meant having only a tiny faith. e.g if you had even just a little itty-bitty bit of true faith, you could do x. But reading it this time, I’m seeing it differently.
Put yourself in the position of BEING a mustard seed. What sort of faith must you have in order to simply survive and live?
You must have faith that you will be blown in the wind to a beneficial spot, that you won’t be eaten by the birds or bugs, that you will settle into a cozy spot in the ground, and receive rain from the heavens (not too much to be drowned, not too little to die, but just the right amount), and that you would be nurtured every day until you grow into a mature mustard tree, surviving all of the storms, wind, rain, hail, snow, and heat.
Isn’t that true faith? Trusting in God’s provision. Not wanting excess. Simply asking God for the basic needs of life, and expecting Him to take care of you, through His grace, love, and mercy.
Lord help us to have the faith of a mustard seed, whether that be a big faith or even just a little. Help us to HAVE faith in You!
Busyness is the Enemy
Imagine living a life where you are always in a hurry, stressed out, and never able to relax. Imagine going on a vacation and not knowing how to be still and do nothing. Visualizing this might not be too difficult for you. In fact, it may be hitting so close to home that you secretly wonder if I’ve been spying on you and talking to your friends. If you can relate to this, then you may be suffering from addiction to “busyness”.
- The illusion of getting ahead
- The sense of being important or known as “highly productive”
- The feeling of being in control of your future
If you actually got “ahead”, would you pause and rest a little…or just keep pressing forward to get even more “ahead”? Most of the people I know that are running around busy all the time, trying to be in control, actually appear the most out of control. Instead of having a balanced life, one thing usually dominates their life and everything else suffers.
It’s time to start living a new, joyful life. But first, let’s talk about what busyness really costs you.
- Busyness robs you of a deep connection and relationship with God. If you are too busy for your spouse, your kids, your extended family and friends, where will God end up on your priority list? How can you be sensitive to God’s voice if you are always on the go?
- Busyness robs you of quality time with friends and family. Busyness usually revolves around jobs, projects, tasks, or activities…not around the important people in your life. (Read Luke 10:38-42)
- Busyness robs you of time for reading the Bible and quiet times of contemplation and prayer. Even if you do make time for such things, you likely feel rushed to get through them…which diminishes the value and purpose behind them.
So, to achieve a close relationship with God, your family, and important friends, start living a new life. Here are three timeless principles for eliminating busyness in your life:
- Establish your priorities
- Learn to say NO!
- Lower the bar
Remember, what’s at stake here is your joy, and a deeper connection with God, and the important people in your life. Establish your priorities, learn to say No!, and lower the bar. Give this a try for 30 days and let me know what a difference it makes in your life. It’s guaranteed!
Choose Christ Daily
When did you accept Christ into your life? That was a significant, eternal life event that likely happened many moons ago.
However, do you live your life today as if you JUST made that choice…full of passion and eagerness to please God?
Remember that we must take up our cross DAILY (Luke 9:23). Choose Christ daily and see how God blesses your life and uses you to bless others.