Your Next Steps

How do you tend to deal with stress?  We all experience this right?  It’s going to happen, you can’t run from it.  There are just natural times in everyone’s life where things aren’t going your way.  We also have our own unique ways on how to deal with it as well.  Some of them are healthy and some of them are destructive.  People have been dealing with the causes and effects of stress for years.  Listen to some advice from a wise teacher that dealt with these issues a long time a go.

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.”  Luke 21:34 NIV

Jesus recognizes the problem of when we get weighed down with all the cares of life.  But He was good enough to also recognize what happens if we do this.  Look at that last phrase – “that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.” He’s pointing out that if we focus on the cares we miss the point that He is coming back.  There is an end to our cares but it’s not all going to go away now.  He never said it would.

What he has done for us though is give us something else to put our focus on right now.  You see in order to give some of our habits up (worrying about the crud of this world is a habit, ask yourself how much you do it) you have to have something else to put your focus on right now.  He is stating that in the end all of the things we will endure are not as important as the fact that He is returning.  That not only means an alleviation of stress but we have work to do.  Lets get the focus off of us and put it back on Him.

He even points out how we try to cope.

1. drunkenness – numbness, we don’t want to feel pain so we berry it all forms of substance abuse.  But when we numb ourselves we never heal and we’re numb to what God is trying to do for us as well.
2. anxiety – we freak out, because we can’t deal with it.  This comes from the illusion that we had or should have control of everything in our lives.  There is no such thing as control.  Although there comes a peace from knowing God is sovereign.

This little post isn’t about how to be mentally healthy.  It’s about why you should want to.  In the end the only answer is Jesus.  He is the only thing that makes sense.  Those of you dealing with a #1 or 2 from above begin the process of telling yourself ‘NO’ when those negative feelings attack.  We still have work to do and when you focus on that, I mean really begin to think about that, it’s going to get better.

Leadership can and most usually is a difficult task.  It is simply not a process of giving commands but getting people to do what is needed.  A part of leadership is to help one’s people accomplish the goals that are set before them.  But there can be a multitude of reasons why this doesn’t come off so well.

People are flawed and will usually error on the side of what’s easier for them.  One of the things that will separate a good ‘spiritual leader’ (pastor, elder, deacon, small group leader, etc.) is the ability to discern what’s worth the effort.  They should have the ability to take in what they believe God’s will is while taking out their personal wants and interests.

Joshua, the leader that took Moses’ place, was facing a dilemma of trying to get his people to see what their God given path was before them.  As usual they couldn’t see the same things Joshua was seeing.  Check out this passage and notice his leadership technique.

14 Then the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since all along the Lord has blessed me?” 15 And Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.” 16 The people of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel.” 17 Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, “You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only, 18 but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.”

Joshua 17: 14-18 ESV

Technique – Restate the Obvious.

Now here’s why I think he did this or here’s the possible intention behind his words.

• I am one of the last surviving people from the Exodus.  I have seen God do the impossible on multiple occasions.
• This project/task is not based on your limitations but it is based on God.
• God has promised, actually entered into a covenant that He will deliver this land to us to dwell in.
• Lastly, I have confidence in you…

Sometimes we need to restate the obvious.  Upon hearing/seeing a vision from God repeatedly, the future will begin to sink into our heads now.

Yesterday after church at Oak Leaf it was the usual scene.  I hang out up front afterwards in case someone needs to talk.  It’s funny, for some people this would be a trying time  but I really like talking to people that are feeling the convictions of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  This is the time where I get to see the scriptures play out in some one’s life and as much as it helps them it bolsters my faith as well.

It also reminds me to stop with the pity parties for myself because my problems are small compared with most of these people.

I talked with a gentleman yesterday who is separated from his wife.  This is the good part because then it all goes down hill from there. I can’t get too specific but it involves drug use, drug dealing, multiple jail times, unfaithful spouse, you get the picture.

The good part to this story? He tells me that God found Him while he was in jail.  Not him finally believing and following, but God got him.  He hasn’t used, hasn’t been around his old friends, and is seeking how to do this life right.  I love hearing about how the God of the universe chooses to love us by reaching down, picking us up out of the dirt, brushes us off  and makes us one of His!

Now here’s the funny thing.  I have heard this before.  Seriously, like a month earlier I almost heard the same story from another guy.  Then the wheels starts to turn in my head.  God is getting ready to redeem a people!

There is a part of our town here that God is about to call home.  He is about to destroy old habits, stop generational sin, rescue the fatherless, deliver the users, and care for the destitute.

That’s why a few months a go God puts in my head to start some type of recovery group this year.

This fall we will have two recovery groups begin.  They are the beginning of of something that I think God is going to bless over time.  There are so many people out there with, as I like to say, “junk in their trunk” that they need something like this to begin unpacking all of it.

Please pray for this with me.  Pray that we can become a church that will become the lighthouse in our community.  That we will be able to go to bat for those that need us the most.

Luke 18: 11-13  ESV

11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

What a bad scene.

Both guys in their church praying to God.  One thanks God for his life by comparing himself to others.  The other guy is wracked with conviction and guilt.

But at least this guy understands who he is.  Because of that look what happens.

Luke 18:14 ESV

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus was the one telling this story.  Jesus shows us who gets His mercy and grace. The day you start looking around thinking how much better you are than everyone else be careful. Here are some quick points from this passage.

• Justification doesn’t come by works so no man can boast. (see Ephesians 2:8)
• Justification comes only after one realizes their brokeness.
• Justification was not based on the tax collectors faith.
• Justification was freely given called grace.  No restitution was required.

Where are you at today?  Still comparing yourself to others?  Do you or have you cried out to God for mercy?  Only one of these guys was made right with God which one will you be?

Alrigthy then, I am back.  It has been a couple of weeks since I have even looked at my blog or even have read a blog.  I must admit I am the type of person that when I leave for a trip I really don’t like doing anything that I normally do.  I like change.  I like to get out of routine.  I like to read a stupid fantasy novel to let my mind wander. But most ost of all I like to reconnect with the fam…

I aint gonna lie.  If it wasn’t for the fact that I love my wife and kids I would NEVER venture to Florida, ESPECIALLY in the summer time.  But, that’s my lot in life so here’s the skinny on what I got out of our family get away.

1. If you have a baby don’t expect to get sleep.  Changing routines will throw them out of whack which means for you everyone is out of whack.
2. You will find the concept of bedtime thrown out the window because when you haven’t seen someone in a while relationship connections are what matters.  Therefore as in point one no sleep.
3. Even when having the best laid plans about who to stay with family never understands the ‘whys’ about your decisions.  You will tick some one off.
4. You don’t get to complain about what was brought unless you did the packing.  Sorry honey
5. Your car will be be destroyed with spilled drinks and food.  For every child it multiplies by a factor of 5.  If you are a parent you get this.
6. Having children and family equals no time for yourself.  Get over it you should have known that was comin.  It makes you appreciate your ‘alone’ bathroom times all the more.
7. Yep, your family is still dysfunctional.  Get over it because so are you.
8. Eating healthy and working out will not happen so enjoy the junk food while it lasts.  On that note make sure you pack the Pepto and Exlax for whatever comes your way.  That’s the type of thing you always wished you had packed.  Been there done that…
9. You will argue with your spouse.  That’s ok.  You get a bonus 10 grace points for being crazy enough to drive 10 hours in a car with three kids.  Saying that, whatever arguments you have on vaca stay on vaca because they are invalid when you are back at home.
10. Lastly, for me I would do it all over again.  Why?  It aint about me.  This is about my wife and kids that need the family connections.  Besides, I got a year to recover.

I hope you all had a chance to get away this summer.  Just remember there are no dream vacations out there but there are a lot of good memories to be made with your family. So remember – DON’T spend your time pouting on vacation it’s not about you!  You might miss the opportunity to give them a time to remember instead of giving them a time to regret.

Good to be back looking forward to chatting with you all in the future.

Oh, by the way, if you like fantasy you should read this series by Robert Jordan.  It will take you a couple of years to get through it.  He is like the American version of Tolkien.