Planes, Trains & Automobiles!

This past week I have been in Chicago exploring the city for the first time! It has been awesome! I have been taking the public buses and CTA trains into the city and that has been a really cool experience for me since I have done anything like that.

One thing I noticed this week though is that the people here move fast and pay little attention to those around them! Don't we do this too though, we fly through our lives only concerned with what is on our to do list and what we want or "need" to get accomplished.

I have been reading Crazy Love by: Francis Chan this week while here and towards the end of his book he talks about Matthew 25:31-46. 35"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."

Now I am not saying I went around Chicago feeding everyone and trying to save the world, but I took this passage to heart and decided to pay attention to those around me. To ask how they were doing, give a smile, say hello...anything!

I love how God works because immediately after I read that passage i decided to put it into practice. Wouldn't you know the first person i talk to on the Red Line CTA train is a 50 year cancer survivor who is also a devout Christian and one of the coolest guys I have met! So excited about life!

The next people I talk to is a family traveling through the states visiting ballparks! They were from Pensacola, FL and a very awesome Christian family who I talked to for almost 2 hours!

I talked to many others along my travels through the city and it was really awesome to meet people from all kinds of backgrounds!

It was so encouraging to me to read God's word and then see Him use it in a real way! To show me that He will bless those who follow His word daily!

Shine On!

ἀγάπη

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Love is a gift that we have from God.

The love that is used in this passage is the greek word, ἀγάπη (agapē). Which describes the love that God has for us, and the love we should have for God and others.

In our society today love is a word that we flipantly use to describe our favorite shoes, team, restaurant, or car.

Lets get back to what love really means. The kind of love that God has for us. The kind of love he had in sending Jesus to die for us. (John 3:16)

Evil can not prevail over God's love!

Simply put LOVE WINS!

Shine On!

Growth

Lord I don’t know why
I just can’t realize
I’ve been distracted.
For so long now
Lord can you just show me how...

Your love is great,
Your love is kind,
Lord why was I so blind.
Everyone told me you would forgive,
But I didn’t think that I could live,
The way you deserve…

I want to be your child,
and do your will
To follow you
And be still
Your love is perfect,
Why can’t I just see...

Your love is great,
Your love is kind,
Lord why was I so blind.
Everyone told me you would forgive,
But I didn’t think that I could live,
The way you deserve….

You sent your son to die for me,
And for that I owe,
All of me.


I was looking through my computer last night and I found this. This is something that I wrote about 4 years ago in a time in my life when I had not been living right and I finally got out of it and asked God for forgiveness for my stupidness.

I love being able to look back and to see how much I have grown in my relationship with Christ since that time.

It couldn't have been done without God and I am thankful that He never gives up on us!

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." - Deuteronomy 31:6

Shine on!

Stones

As I was reading this morning I came across John 8:2-11. This is a powerful passage and one I think we can all learn a lesson from.

The woman in the passage is caught in adultery and the legalistic Pharisees want to condemn her. They have stones in hand ready to let them fly! So they bring her before Jesus to test him. But Jesus gets them at their own game by saying, "If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

It amazes me that after Jesus' statement they realized that were wrong. They realized that they were all sinners and slowly the crowd left until it was just the woman and Jesus.
The grace Jesus shows us here is amazing! He does not judge her or condemn her but he says, "Then neither do I condemn you. God now and leave your life of sin."

Too many times in my life I have judged people! We see people doing this or that and we think the worst. We are ready to drag them to be stoned, as the Pharisees did.


Why?

What gives us the right?

I have made strides in this area over the last few years but, I still sometimes find myself falling into this sin.

Instead of making snap judgements about people, lets give them a chance. I have been doing this and God sure has humbled me! Because from some of those people i have judged in my head I have received some of the best advice, and grown strong friendships founded in Christ.

I want to encourage us today to drop our stones.

Shine on!

Wind

"Turn, look, look out and see
Do you see me?
Because I think I see you.
I've been some other place
The wind that I chase, it all just leads back to you.
Oh how I miss what you miss, but I will fall time and again.
And I will say that I'm true to you,
But I'm a cheat. I don't understand.

So I'll run to you, I will run, I will run.
I will move right on through
All of these things that I have done.
And you'll take me back, I don't know why.
I want to say I'll never do it again, but I can't
I want to say I'll never do it again, but I can't
I want to say I'll never do it again, but I can't
But I will try." - TRS

This song by The Rocket Summer is one of my favorites. When I went to his concert last year Bryce talked about how this song is about the most important relationship he has, his relationship with Jesus.

The song is a reminder to me that although I am not perfect God never gives up on me. He always takes us back!

We chase the things of this world, and when those things run out we realize that God never runs out!

I hope this encourages you today that no matter where you are, no matter how many times you have said "I'll never do it again," you realize God is always there. And I pray that you put Him first!

Shine on!

Lone Ranger

As most of you know I absolutely love baseball! Today as I was studying for an upcoming sermon and I remember the testimony of Josh Hamilton. Many around the world know him for his Home run derby performance in 2008. As powerful as that was his testimony is even more powerful!

Josh was the #1 pick in the 1999 MLB draft. Shortly after he became addicted to drugs and alcohol and in 2005 was kicked of the MLB. He battled for years and finally after the struggle of being in and out of rehab and hurting his family and friends Josh found his relationship with Christ.

Since that time he was let back into baseball and has been playing with the Texas Rangers. He has been a dominate player both on and off the field with a .303 batting average, 84 home runs, and 295 RBI's in his 3 1/2 seasons. He has also been great off the field speaking at events and sharing his testimony with kids. Even making an impact in his clubhouse with his fellow players.

His life verse has become James 4:7 "Submit yourselves, the, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Josh realized he couldn't do it alone, he needed God. I want to encourage us today to submit to God. Give your all to him. He has a plan for our lives. If you want to resist someone, resist the devil and the evil that he tries to bring into your life!


Shine on!

Giants

Yesterday in Sunday school the teens heard a lesson taught by Mrs. Laurie on David and Goliath. This is a story that we all know and have heard several times, but it is a powerful story of courage and strength. David volunteered himself to battle Goliath when no one else would. He knew that with God on his side he could do anything!

The thing that really got me thinking this morning was the memory verse that was given for today’s lesson:

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

We live in a world where a lot of wicked and terrible things happen. Just turn on your local news station or pick up the paper. There are tons of Giants in our lives! Everyone has something that they fight a daily battle with. To often we let Satan put that false sense or inadequacy in our minds. We think we aren’t good enough, or think that we will never be able to win the battle against the sin our lives!

Its time to, “be strong and courageous” and realize that with God all things are possible! The “Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Take a stand against your giant today, give it to the Lord and go to battle together. I promise the results will be better than if you try to handle it alone.

Shine On!

Treasures

The last month I have been reading through the gospels during my quiet time. It has been so powerful! Today as I was reading I came across a familiar passage but it really hit home!

Mark 13:31 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."

Far to often I find myself at stores or shopping online looking for the next greatest camping or hiking equipment or looking at cars or boats that I neither need or can afford. lol I can't imagine how much money i have spent over the years on things that i either don't have anymore or were used for a few days then discarded. I personally and we as a nation put so much emphasis on the things of this world!

Matthew 6:20 tells us, "But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

It is my prayer that i stop focusing on the useless temporary things that this world has to offer and that I focus on the everlasting word of God. That instead of dedicating my time to buying clothes and looking for things that I do not need that I will dedicate myself to reading, praying, worshiping and serving the God who created all that we have in the first place.

Shine on!

That of Christ Jesus

Today as I have been reading in my office I have been listening to some newly bought music. Shane & Shane came on and their song "Yearn" really caught my attention. I have listened to this song several times the last few days and it has been really speaking to my heart! "Lord, I want to yearn for you, I want to burn with passion, over you and only you!" The words to this song bring up so many emotions. As a Christian I desire to seek God's face daily and that relationship between myself and God is one that is sometimes hard to describe.

I wonder what would happen if I truly yearned for God? What would happen if everyone in my city yearned for God? What if the United states and our government leaders yearned for Christ and desired to burn with passion for Him?

Last night in VBS here at Northside we talked about Jesus Christ as our example on how to Worship, pray and serve. As I was teaching I felt that God was not just using me to teach our youth but myself as well.

Philippians 2:5 says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."

May we live everyday seeking to have the attitude of Jesus Christ!

Grace & Peace