Hang in there.

Posted: December 10, 2010 in Uncategorized
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In 1952, a fledgling business called “Rocket Chemical Company“, set out to create a line of rust-prevention products for use in the aerospace industry. It took them 40 attempts to perfect their formula. The original secret formula for WD-40 – which stands for Water Displacement, 40th attempt,– is still in use today.  What an amazing story of persistence!

Judges 8:4 tells us that, “Gideon came to the Jordan and passed over, he and three hundred men who were with him, faint yet pursuing.” Other translations use words like ‘weary’, ‘exhausted’, and ‘bone-tired’ to describe their depleted condition.

They had battled the whole night, yet there was still work to do. With resolve of heart, they kept pressing on, even though they were fainting, and tired of their pursuit.  I’m sure the staff at Rocket Chemical were faint of their pursuits as well.  A lot of times, weariness and failure are the top 2 reasons we give up on a pursuit of something good.

SO, let me encourage you today – don’t give up.  Don’t throw in the towel.  Don’t surrender.  Don’t stop fighting for God’s best in your life.

No matter how difficult, no matter how tiring, no matter how much failure is behind us – DON’T QUIT!

As long as we keep persevering, we leave the door open for God to work a miracle and bring us through to the other side!

THIS DAY.

Posted: November 12, 2010 in life, worship
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I was looking at Psalm 118:24 today, which reads; ‘This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.’  I see an instruction in there that says; ‘LET US REJOICE, and be glad in it.’

In other words, whatever comes at us this day, let’s make a decision to praise God, because He created this day.

This day is a decision of whether or not I’m going to walk in greater obedience to Christ. It’s a decision of whether or not I’m going to love my wife and kids as Christ loved the church. This day is a decision of whether or not I’m going to speak life into the people around me. This day is a decision of whether or not I’m going to live a day worth rejoicing and being glad in.

This day is not set in stone. No day is. We can fully choose how we are going to walk through it. Also, there is never going to be a day exactly like this day again, so let’s rejoice and be glad that God has given it to us!

The Journey – Part ONE

Posted: March 25, 2010 in creative, life
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THE JOURNEY – ‘IN’

Life is full of journeys. March break vacations to Florida. Summer excursions to the cottage up north. Journeys to the doctor’s office for regular check-ups, and trips to the corner store for that next gallon of milk.

The journey of our lives takes us through some of the most exhilarating highs, as well as some of the most difficult lows. Some are so memorable that they will never be forgotten, and others we’d be happy to never recollect again. These journeys help make us who we are today, and without them, our lives would seem much emptier.

We’re launching a special 2 week this week at Kingsview, on the most important journey Jesus ever made. The one which He lowered Himself from the Heavens, became God-incarnate on that all famous ‘Silent Night’, and surrendered Himself to the plan of salvation,  put into action for us by His work on the Cross.

Today, I’m thinking about His journey IN to the holy city of Jerusalem, as it played out during His Triumphal Entry. Crowds gathered. Palms waving. People laying their garments down in honour of His entry. The masses shouting and praising, “Hosanna, to the Son of David, Hosanna in the highest!” It was a stark contrast of praise & persecution, as the same crowds would, tragically, be shouting for His crucifixion just a few days later.

BUT, it doesn’t take away from the fact there was so much energy in this special window of time. The air was electric. The crowds were euphoric. The adoration was loud and triumphant. They were celebrating the arrival of their King, coming on the scene just as Zechariah’s prophecy had predicted. He was the Lamb of God, and He was worthy to be praised – and the greatest thing is that NOTHING has changed! He IS the Lamb of God. He STILL sits at the right hand of God, and He’ll ALWAYS be worthy of our praise!

I’m thinking about how this majestic entry might have been so much more than Jesus walking into the city under the shouts and praises of the people. What I see is Jesus demonstrating how to walk straight in to the most difficult time of conflict in His life. His mortal flesh wanted a way out (see Gethsemane), but He knew what was right. He didn’t put it off. He didn’t find another way. He knew what our sin would cost, and He committed to go the distance for us. He steeled Himself to do it the HARD way… the RIGHT way.  Any other path would’ve disrupted God’s plans. Any other strategy would’ve changed the design.

Not MY will, but YOURS be done.

Wow. Can you say COURAGE? Do you see His RESOLVE?

I think there’s a HUGE take away for all of us to remember when we’re walking directly ‘IN’ to some of the hardest times of our life. Hold on to God’s plan. Don’t make your own. Don’t change the schedule. Follow His lead. Lean on His strength. He will be enough. He will carry you through.

And, who’s to know the gold mine of destiny that awaits you on the other side?

JJ

CAPTIVE

Posted: March 12, 2010 in life
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CAPTIVE.

It’s a powerful word, that ironically suggests a powerless state.

To be ‘captive’ is to be made or held prisoner.  To be kept in confinement or restraint. To be enslaved, bound, caged, locked up, penned, subjugated and restricted.  Those who are captive are held against their will.

The fact that you‘re here reading this, reveals that you’re likely not a prisoner being held against your will. You, along with the rest of us, are a free person.  You can come and go as you please.  You can eat a healthy salad, or a fast food burger.  You can get there fast with your car, or leave a lighter carbon footprint by taking the two-step express. You can make your own plans for the weekend, with lofty intentions of cleaning up that mounting mess in the garage, or finishing the book that lost your interest weeks ago. It’s true that we live in a ‘free’ country, and in so many ways, the freedom of choice is ours to enjoy.

BUT – we have to remember that there is another dimension that exists – that is the spiritual realm – which Paul wrote about in Ephesians 6.  There are spiritual forces of evil poised to attack, and rob us of our spiritual freedom.  The face of darkness is set against us, and if we aren‘t careful, we become CAPTIVE to things that lead to our downfall.  Anger.  Addiction.  Unforgiveness. Fear.  Lies.  Doubt.

This captivity siphons the life right out of us – one breath at a time – like a python methodically suffocating it’s next victim.

Richard Roberts spoke something profound towards this, when he said;

“Our life as a Christian is seemingly full of Christ and there is no room for self, but an aggressive sin comes in and wiggles his way in, crowding out Christ just a little bit. We give place to this sin and soon another does the same thing. Sin by sin, error by error, selfishness by selfishness, the backsliding continues until we are virtually empty of Christ and full of self.”

Now, I know sin is an ugly thing to talk about. Nobody likes hearing about what’s going wrong in their life. I can’t remember the last time I’ve gone in to the dentist’s office, suffered under an onslaught of insults about the disgraceful condition I’ve kept my mouth in, and walked out telling the good doctor, ‘Wow, that was uplifting… when can we do this again?’

BUT – that’s never kept me from going back for more. Not that I’m a sucker for punishment. I just want my teeth & gums to be in the best shape they can be – and I need that man in the dreary blue gown, along with his piercing honesty, to make that happen.

In the same way, I need… WE need the Holy Spirit to dig into our lives.  We need the Word of God to pull out that little mirror and start cleaning, start flossing, start picking – until every last morsel of self is revealed and disposed of. Just as Romans 4:15 clearly shows us, ‘…where there is no law, there is no violation’.

We need His Word in our hearts, and His Spirit in our lives if we ever have a hope of being free from CAPTIVITY.

JJ

DOVE tailing

Posted: March 1, 2010 in creative, life
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One of the rare moments of Jesus’ life that was captured in all four Gospel accounts, is found in the occasion of His water baptism.

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all tell their own story, and we discover the life of Jesus through the lens of each of their own experiences with Him.  Yet, each of them knew of the significance of His water baptism, and were careful to tell of this powerful moment.

We read that as He was coming up out of the water, the Heavens were torn open, the Holy Spirit came upon Him LIKE A DOVE, and a voice resonated out of Heaven, saying “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

In many church circles, the Holy Spirit is associated with a dove.  This is for good reason, as evidenced by it‘s involvement in this special moment in the life of Christ.  I can’t even imagine what it would be like to experience the Holy Spirit coming upon us in a similar fashion.  So full.  So powerful.  So real it demanded this kind of explanation…

I also think of the important role the Holy Spirit is to play in our lives today.  I’m convinced that the more we allow Him to descend upon our lives, the more like Christ we will be.  Not just to get ourselves a fresh set of goosebumps.  But to walk holy.  To talk holy.  To be holy.  After Jesus ascended to Heaven, He sent us the Holy Spirit to be our HELPER.  In other words, we know where we can look to for help.  We just need to make sure we do the looking first.

I titled this entry ‘dove-tailing’, because it’s a common phrase that implies a JOINING or fitting together in a harmonious fashion.  There’s even a carpenters technique that fits together by means of a ‘dovetail’.

This all makes me wonder about the Holy Spirit.  The dove.  And how different our lives would be if we were able to truly ‘dovetail’ with our God-given helper harmoniously…

Fly with that today.

JJ

RE-charge

Posted: February 22, 2010 in life
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Have you ever felt weary?  Tired of doing what’s right?  Exhausted from “fighting the good fight?”  Just plain old ‘worn out’ from the everyday battles?

Maybe you’ve gotten to know the common cousin of fatigue: boredom.  You’re aware of the life-drain that comes when everything is too familiar, when it’s all too common.  You’ve experienced the lack of enthusiasm, the void of passion, the hum-drum ho hums of the everyday.  The spark somehow went missing, and it’s nowhere to be found.

Whatever the case, you’ve prayed (or are currently praying) a prayer that goes something like: ‘God, I’m hanging on for life here, and if something doesn’t happen soon, I’m not sure how much longer I can do this.’

There is a plea for help.  An appeal for strength.  A need for a ‘re-charge’.

I want you to know, that you’re not alone.  Like the rest of us, you know that aching of emptiness.  You’ve battled with that gut-wrenching, heart-rending void that leaves us needing something fresh. You’ve been longing for invigoration. Pining for rejuvenation. Hungry for revitalization.

In Colossians 1, Paul prayed a prayer over some folks who were in a similar situation… and it’s a prayer worth laying hold of ourselves!

“We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.“

What an incredible point he makes to ask for strength to ‘endure the unendurable!’

Surely you’ve known that feeling before.  If you’re anything like me, you’ve been in more situations than you can count that were ‘unendurable.’  But God is ready to give us strength to make it through!  To endure another day.  To press on forward to reach the goal and win the prize.

We need to protect ourselves from losing heart.  We need to guard our hearts from losing sight of Him.  We need to lift our eyes up to the mountains, where our help comes from, and cry out to God for today’s portion of fresh strength.

I absolutely LOVE what 2 CHRONICLES 16:9 says, and I leave you with this:

“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”

May you be STRONGLY SUPPORTED by Him today.

JJ

Built to Last

Posted: February 15, 2010 in life
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It blows my mind how all the followers of Jesus can find themselves at so many different places at one time.

While there are those who are caught up in a euphoric celebration of victory and success, shouting their endless praises to God, you’ll find just as many who are groaning in the depths of their valleys, whispering pleas to God for help and rescue.  It makes for an uncomfortable mix when both experiences come together.

I think it’s safe to say that most of us feign for the mountaintop experiences much more than those of the valley.  Yet, I’ve found that there’s a special kind of maturity that takes place exclusively in the valleys.  A mentor once told me that baby trials are for baby Christians, but mature trials are for mature Christians, producing mature results in Jesus.

So then, what are we supposed to do when ‘life happens’, and we’re left behind to pick up the shattered pieces?

‘Roll with the punches’, we’re told.  ‘Keep on keeping on.’  ‘Hang in there, things will get better.’  ‘Keep your head up and your stick on the ice.’  These are all common examples of encouragement from the sages in our lives, promoting steadfastness and perseverance.

BUT – Jesus gives us something different in Matthew chapter 7.  As He is wrapping up one of His most famous sermons, He shares a parable about the difference between the 2 houses built on rock and sand.  Buried in this teaching is some rock solid truth about lasting through the storms.

“He who hears these words of mine, AND acts on them, may be compared to the man who built his house on the rock… it did NOT fall, because it had been founded ON THE ROCK.”

In other words, the ONE thing we need to do to ensure that our lives will survive the storms, is to be grounded and founded on the Word of God.  It’s principles.  It’s promises.  It’s precepts.  When the storms of life come, it is imperative for us to have a rock solid foundation to lean on, and no better one I can think of than God’s living Word!

Unless we’re happy to see our house come crashing down…

JJ

Winning.

Posted: February 3, 2010 in creative, life
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In case you haven’t noticed yet… America’s largest sporting event is about to take place this weekend… the SUPERBOWL.

In the spirit of this major game, I’ve been thinking of one of the NFL’s most prominent and successful coaches – Vince Lombardi.

Despite long hours and fierce competition, he was a coach who never gave anything but his BEST effort. Just as he drilled his men to be the best players in pro football, he challenged himself. During his 9 years in Green Bay, the Packers had dominated professional football, collecting six division titles, five NFL championships, two Super Bowls (I and II) and acquiring a record of 98-30-4. They had become the stick by which all other teams were measured.

During his time there, he made a speech that is now infamous… called “the number one speech.”  There’s a lot to be said about his attitude and the impact that he made, and it’s a fresh inspiration to me in the context of the ministry God has called me to.  I’ve included a few of the powerful statements from that speech for you to read and hopefully be challenged by as you pursue the things God has laid before you.

“Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while; you don’t do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.

“Every time a football player goes to ply his trade he’s got to play from the ground up — from the soles of his feet right up to his head. Every inch of him has to play. Some guys play with their heads. That’s O.K. You’ve got to be smart to be number one in any business. But more importantly, you’ve got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body. If you’re lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he’s never going to come off the field second.

“And in truth, I’ve never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn’t appreciate the grind, the discipline. But I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle — victorious.”

I’m ready for the grind. I’m ready for the discipline. I’m ready for the heart. I’m ready for the victory!!

JJ.

Worship Wednesday

Posted: January 13, 2010 in worship
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I found this praise song this week, and I immediately got excited about all of the things that the power of the Cross has accomplished in my life.

Freedom. Grace. Healing. Strength. Peace.

It’s the the reason I have life today. It’s the reason I’ll have life tomorrow. It’s the reason I’m saved. It’s the reason I am forgiven and it’s the reason I am NOT forgotten.

It’s the expression of God’s love towards me.

I’m thanking God today, for the POWER OF THE CROSS!!!

Dive into this song… called “The Power of the Cross”, and allow your spirit to receive a fresh touch of God today! I included the lyrics at the bottom too if you want to follow along.

{Lyrics}

The Power of the Cross
Is in the blood of Christ
Given for us all
The spotless sacrifice
We are now redeemed
Ransomed with his life
We have now received by grace
The greatest gift of love
The Power of the Cross

Son of God, one of us
Bore the shame of all, yet blameless
Innocent, heaven sent
Bore the sin of all, yet guiltless

And He saw us here through blood-stained tears
And He said, “It was worth it all.”

Chorus

Son of God, perfect lamb
Made a way for us to know Him
By His blood we are one
Stand victorious and worship

Now He sees us free through Calvary
And He says, “It was worth it all.”

Chorus

Nothing is missing, nothing is broken
Now it is finished, His blood has spoken (repeat)

I am redeemed, I am set free
I am complete by The Power of the Cross (repeat)

What Are You Asking For?

Posted: January 11, 2010 in creative, life
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Do you remember being younger, when it seemed like you ALWAYS had something in mind you wanted from your parents?

This was especially true around Christmas when, after being bombarded by all the toy commercials on TV and catalogs mailed to your house, you knew exactly what it was you wanted.  You woke up in the morning thinking about it. You fell asleep at night dreaming about it. Maybe you even made a place for it in your bedroom in anticipation of it’s arrival.

The mere idea of you getting hold of it brought sheer pleasure to your life.

In John 15:7, Jesus tells us that; “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”

Now this could be a dangerous promise to unveil to a 5 year old without giving some Biblical explanation along with it.  Can you imagine scores of little boys and girls, standing on this promise every time they asked God for the latest ‘My Little Pony’ or shiny new set of toy cars? A lot of parents would be backed into some pretty big corners!

I think there’s an important truth that’s anchored in this promise though, and it deals with the motivations behind what we’re asking for.  That’s because we’re not always good at asking for the right things.  We’re not always clearheaded to see God’s best for us. It’s difficult for us to see that, because it gets buried underneath what we want. Sometimes, we can even see it loud and clear – but our own desires push it right out of the picture.

Psalm 106:15 says, ‘He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.’

In other words, they got what they wanted, but there was a process of deprivation in their souls. They became weak, emaciated and malnourished spiritually. Because they shook their hands and stomped their feet at God, they finally got what ‘they’ wanted. But it came at a cost of this leanness. Their souls paid a heavy price.

It makes me think about what I’m praying for. Am I asking as I see fit or as God sees fit? Children always ask as they see fit and don’t see or understand the big picture like mom and dad do. Sometimes, we end up playing the same games with God.

There’s nothing wrong with asking God for things. The Bible teaches we should make our requests known to Him. It tells us to approach His throne of grace with confidence so we can receive in our time of need. I believe we need to push ourselves to seek God for big things. Big change. Big destiny. Big healing. Big salvations.

But, I also believe we need to pray as Jesus taught us… ‘THY will be done, here on earth, as it is in Heaven.’ We need discernment to know His will as we pray. We need to filter out the cries of our flesh.  And, we need to be careful what we ask for – because we may actually get it.

JJ

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