The Fellowship of the King

 An issue that has plagued civilizations since the beginning of time is how to communicate with deities. We’ve wanted to control, manipulate, entice, and convince them since we first realized that fate wasn’t necessarily in our own hands. The fascinating thing is how quickly this permeates every religion available to man.

In the midst of all our striving, the author of Psalm 15 asks the hard, unspoken question we all want to know: How do we get on God’s guest list? The best part is the answer that follows:

Do the right thing. 

There is no doubt that the amount of methods and checklists we have put together to get to God is enough to drive a person crazy. Just this morning I got a couple of emails highlighting a study or book that would help me draw closer to God. But the simplicity found here in God’s word is much more fascinating!

It can be easy today to get caught up in the next thing or the latest trend. But as you desire to draw close and be used by God, let me encourage you with a simple phrase: Do the right thing. It brings a smile to His face

Potter’s Love

I want to encourage you this morning with one of my favorite verses!

But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. (Jeremiah 18:4 NIV84)

It’s quite interesting that in this example given to Jeremiah the potter takes the extra time and effort to continue working with the clay. I’m sure he had plenty of other materials to work with, so why not toss it?

Instead he carefully forms it again.

In fact it says “as seemed best”. That means he had the BEST plan for it in mind!

I don’t know where you are at in life or what you’ve been through, but I’m so thankful for the care that our potter takes with us knowing that He has the best in mind for us no matter our history!

An Undefeatable Heart

Well it’s official- Tim Tebow isn’t superhuman.  As America tuned in to watch the Broncos fall to the Patriots it got me thinking on another topic though…

The struggle of a football team to win every game fades when in comparison to the inner struggles that we all face- to trust a God we can’t see and believe a faith we don’t always understand. Matthew 15:19 boils it down as it says “out of the heart” and lists off the variety of things that we all strive to have victory over. Today can you say that your heart is truly ‘undefeated’ in battle?

Unlike a game or a team you can go UNDEFEATED!

In Romans 8:1-3 it says “And in that body (Jesus) God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.” Not only can we have victory through Jesus’ life/death/resurrection, but we can truly be undefeated. As it says in Psalms 73:26:

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

Today I want to encourage you to go to the one who is and will always be Undefeated, because in Him you will truly find the victory you need!

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”

A woman was Christmas shopping with her children. After many hours of pressing through the crowds, looking at rows upon rows of clothes, shelves of toys and everything else imaginable, and after hours of hearing her children asking for every toy they saw, as children naturally do, she was exhausted, beleaguered, and drained. So like being the last ones to get on a rescue helicopter to evacuate out of a war zone, she and her children finally made it to the elevator.

 As the elevator doors opened and she sighed heavily, as it too was crowded, she pushed her way into the car dragging her two kids and all the bags of stuff with her. As the doors closed, looking up at the numbers, she sighed in a not so low tone of voice, “Whoever started all this Christmas stuff should be strung up and shot.” Her children didn’t understand her comments. They were having fun. Then from the back of the elevator, came a quiet calm voice that said, “He already was. He was crucified.”

For the rest of the trip down in the elevator you could have heard a pin drop. That one sentence for a moment seemed to put everything into perspective.

She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season. The overwhelming pressure of shopping for that special something for that special someone, making sure not to leave anyone out or forgotten, or the busyness to go to every party, or of hosting a gala of a party inviting everyone and omitting no one, or of going to the Christmas office parties, school concerts, church banquets and concerts, and tasting all the holiday foods and treats, on top of that writing out and mailing all those Christmas cards. Is it any wonder why the month of December goes by so fast and we’re so exhausted by the time Christmas actually arrives that most adults struggle to relax and enjoy it? The busyness of the holiday season wears away the simple beauty of it.

 Bear in mind the One who started all this Christmas stuff also came into a busy and overcrowded world, and spent most of his life walking among the crowds of people. He too had people make all sorts of demands of him, his time, efforts and energies. He too paid a great price for the greatest gift ever given. And even his eventual death on the Cross didn’t please everyone. So Jesus knows how you feel when you’re tired and exhausted and when people don’t appreciate all you do for them.

In the busyness of this Christmas season don’t forget who started all this Christmas stuff and why; “Peace on Earth and good will to all mankind” giving Jesus Christ to the world is God’s way of saying, “Merry Christmas.”

Merry Christmas from the folks here at Victory International Fellowship

 

Tis the Season

Tis the Season
Holidays have always bought with them a certain sense of celebration and reordering of family priorities. What are they all about? Why do we do what we do? This is a question which, when asked and honestly answered, can keep our stated purposes and priority in view.
Cindy and I recently went to Mitchell Airport to welcome home an Honor Flight. In case you haven’t been aware, the Honor Flight is an event which takes WW2 vets to Washington to visit the WW2 Memorial. Most have never been there before and none come back unchanged. These are men and women who had answered the call to duty of a nation at war. Many of whom bear the scars of untold horrors. Why did we go? Why give up 5 hours on a Saturday night? Why stand in a crowd of thousands of strangers to greet men and women with whom we had no personal connection that we knew of? Gratitude!
It is impossible to put into words what transpired that night. Words like “awesome”, “inspiring”, “incredible” are so inadequate to relay the flood of emotion, pride and patriotism we, together, experienced. With each man or woman escorted through the throngs of welcomers came a deep personal sense of the reality of what they had been committed to. We were and are grateful to the men and women who set aside their personal dreams and aspirations to go halfway around the world to face an enemy which threatened this and future generations. God help us if we ever lose sight of sacrifices others have made and continue to make so that we can enjoy the liberties we do.
A tremendous sense of responsibility welled up within my heart to ensure the next generation is able to live free and appreciate those who have blazed the trail for us. My cheeks flushed hot with embarrassment as I caught myself thinking about my sore feet. How could I complain?? It was humbling to realize as we waited for hours, that these men and women suffered through much worse for us.
Our experience with the Honor Flight could be summed up in one simple yet profound exchange Cindy had amid the deafening cheers. Through all the commotion, catching the eye of one lone, wheelchair bond vet, Cindy spoke the unheard words “Thank you,” in return, the gentle, unmistakable response, “You’re welcome,” spoken with words and a dedicated salute. We were ill prepared for the range of emotion which flooded our hearts that night. Gratitude, appreciation and awe came flooding over our souls in waves as the realization of unspoken sacrifices slammed against the complacency of comfortable lives. We walked away humbled. Yes, Tis the season… to be Thankful!
This Thanksgiving will be more poignant having gone to greet those on the Honor Flight. I am grateful to those who sacrificed all so we could be free. I am so grateful to our Savior, who gave all so we could be set free from the shackles of sin and enjoy new life with Him. I am thankful for His generous provision over this past year. His blessings never seem to cease. Let us not rush into the Christmas season without taking time to express our appreciation to the One who has made it possible.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “… give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Gratitude springs from a humble heart. May you always guard your humble, grateful heart. May you experience all the joys of a blessed Thanksgiving!

Keep The Promises You Make

“Keep the promises you make”. I don’t place a lot of stock in fortune cookies, but every once in a while I find one with good advice. This one was handed to me by a friend. I am quite certain it was not made with the anticipation that I, personally, would receive it.  When I opened it, I must admit, I was a bit more interested in the taste of the crunchy sweet goodness it promised than any words of wisdom it might contain. But, the little note tucked inside caught my attention

One of the most important parts of keeping your promises is not the what you thought you conveyed, but the expectation you created. When I say, “I’ll be right there”, what I may mean by “right there” may not be what is understood by “right there”. Communication 101.

We can only guard the expectations we allow ourselves to formulate. Our expectations may lead us to believe a promise is not kept when in reality; our understanding was simply in error. The Apostle Peter addressed this in his second letter. 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness…” The Apostle Peter is addressing the promise of the Lord’s return. He will return to be sure, but in His patience we must trust. His promise to return was clear, the timing of His return was not.

How then shall we live? When we get together with friends, we make preparations. Where will we go? What will we do? Most importantly, what will we eat? Preparations may include preparing our home, the clothes we wear and even the freshness of our breath. The Apostle Peter admonishes us to take seriously the soon arrival of our Lord Jesus, to keep a proper perspective of this world and to live a life which exemplifies the character of Christ.

How will His soon return affect your decision making today? Today is a gift of His patience, giving opportunity for everyone to come to repentance. The choice is yours, make it count for eternity!

To All the Revolutionaries

For to me to live is Christ.

The passion of the young man was evident as he took his place in line. Just a moment earlier there had a been a stirring message filled with visions of glory and full throated exclamations of allegiance from thousands of youth. Their voices seemed to move the very foundation of the building as they cried in unison.

Under a shrouded night sky he milled with the group as they moved back to their hotel. There was an expectation, no, even more so, a promise and assurance of life at a greater level. A striving for a purpose no one could replace or take from them.

…to die is gain.

And yet the future wasn’t safer or clearer. The unknowns still rose up on both sides. What would people say to him? How would they react? Could he really live out what he had said he would? How would life change for him?

But with the unknowns came a known that was supreme and lit up his future like a sunrise. The God who knew his name had called him and would never, ever let him fall. And one thought fueled the joy burning inside:

Life verses even more life! I can’t lose. Philippians 1:21