2009 – Can You Believe It!?
How will 2008 be better than 2009? I think we need to get to that place where we truly desire to live life with God every day.
But … YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP BEFORE YOU GO UP …
2 Corinthians 5 [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Romans 6 [6] For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
Ephesians 4 [22] You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; [23] to be made new in the attitude of your minds; [ 24] and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
So what are some old things that we can give up and what are the new things that God wants us to do … so that we really start living out this new me that we really are – as Christians … so that we start to live life the way God intended for us in 2009?
~ Give up negative thinking … instead, learn to be content no matter what. Ph.4:10-12.
Contentment: Realizing that God has already provided everything we need for our present happiness.
~ Give up your unbelief … instead, believe that you can change. (Phil 4:13)
We’re not talking here about positive thinking. We’re talking about supernatural power. I believe I can change – not on my own power but with the power that Christ gives me.
~ Give up your grip on things … instead, invest your life in sharing what you have to help others connect with God.
Galatians 6 [8] The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. [9] Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. [10] Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Doing good means investing your time, talent and treasure in helping others …
You have to give up before you can go up. You have to give up some things in order to live the life that God intended you to live … give up your
The Perfect Gift
With all of the craziness in the economy this year, perhaps we will stop and reflect more than we have in the past and be thankful for all that God has given us — and even taken from us.
There’s no gift like Jesus – God’s perfect gift to humankind.
To My Brother John … and Mom too
My brother John – my spiritual mentor, friend and brother – died on this day back in 1996. John, I still miss you and think of you often. Your love of life, Christ, Pam and your boys still lives on!
The reunion in heaven with mom must have been something! We you and mom … but … we know that we will be with you soon enough — forever with our Lord … enjoying life with God and so many others!
Phil 4 ~ Think On These Things
A JOY-FILLED LIFE COMES IN CANS AND A JOYLESS LIFE COMES IN CANNOTS.
Believing that you can succeed as a follower of Christ takes no more effort than believing that you can succeed. What do we mean by that? Let’s unpack it and learn about how to experience more joy.
v. 6 — I CAN STOP THE POWER OF WORRY, STRESS AND ANXIETY IN MY LIFE — AND EXERIENCE JOY AND PEACE — I CAN stop worrying about everything — How? By praying about EVERYTHING by being thankful about everything … How can I do that? What is the object of your faith? God! Can we trust God? Yes! Why does this work? When I stop and really pray — I can’t worry – it’s impossible. Worry has the do with the way we view things.
v. 7 What’s the result if I CAN do this? Joy! THEN and only THEN — the peace of God will guard you like a sentry.
On Veterans Day, I saw a program on how they guard the tomb of the unknown soldier 24/7. The same word guard here is the same idea about the peace of God in this verse – guarding your like a sentry when you cast all of your worry on Him.
When you live out v.6, you can’t worry. Worry often has to with how we view things. Most of what we worry about never come to pass anyway. The language of worry is WHAT IF. Some of us worry before something happens and we worry even when we pull the trigger to go ahead and do something.
SIDEBAR: There is a difference between the peace of God and peace with God. Peace with God is permanent once we begin a relationship with Him. Peace with God has to do with being a child of God. Once we begin a relationship with Christ, we have a permanent connection with God. Romans 5 [1] Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Nothing can take it away. You are eternally secure forever and you can’t lose your salvation. Then, there’s another kind of peace that is conditional — it’s the peace of God — the same peace of God mentioned in this verse. The peace mentioned here is the contentment and joy that you experience each day of your life. It’s the practical living peace. And, it’s conditional. The condition is living a life of faith and trust in God.
1 Peter 5 [7] Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Psalm 62 [8] Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
HOW MANY WILL START TODAY AND APPLY THIS SIMPLE TRUTH AND START TO STOP THE POWER OF WORRY IN MY LIFE?
The next practical principle for joy-filled daily living is positive believing.
I CAN CHOOSE TO PRACTICE POSITIVE BELIEVING AND EXPERIENCE JOY AND PEACE. (Phil 4:8 – 9)
“Whatever is true …” Paul is suggesting that we refocus our thinking. What we think about triggers our emotions. ILLUS: – If I think that someone that I had a relationship with didn’t like me, I would probably feel hurt. Now, it may not be true but if I believe it to be true, that it impacts my emotions. What we think, whether it’s true or not, creates emotional responses. What you think about determines how you act and it will also determine you inner spiritual climate control.
You ever think about how much you think about — how much goes on inside of our heads each day? Thousands of thoughts go through our mind. Where do your thoughts come from? We don’t know! Thoughts just kind of erupt – don’t they?
LOOK AT SOME POSITIVE BELIEVING THINGS THAT WE CAN START TO PRACTICE:
Why should I give into unhealthy habits or sin when the Bible says I can say no to them because of Christ in my life now (Rom. 6:11)?
Why should I feel depressed when I can recall to mind God’s loving kindness, compassion, and faithfulness to me (Lam. 3:21-23)?
Why should I say I can’t when the Bible says that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)?
Why should I live a life without joy when the Bible says that I can experience inner freedom all of the time (Gal. 5:1)?
Why should I let the pressures of life bother me when I can take courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and all of its mess (John 16:33)?
These are the things that are true, honorable, lovely, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise. These are just some of the promises of Scripture that are ours as we think and dwell and chew them over and over in our minds.
v. 9 — as we practice these things — the peace of God will be yours!
Phil 3 ~ Engage
Some thoughts from Philippians 3
How do we do practically live out faith in Christ? How can Jesus continue to be my life focus – where I experience his joy continually in my life. In Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul says …
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:12-14
1) v. 12 – Press on = pursue my purpose and as I do Jesus will be there to help. We’re imperfect people, living in an imperfect world … trying to get along with imperfect people. But, be encouraged, press on – in spite of imperfection … Christ is our deliverer … Christ is our perfect Savior who can and will help us deal with all of the imperfections — so … press on with hope!
2) v. 13 “This one thing” means that he was focused. “Forgetting what lies behind” – the past is over let’s move on from it. Don’t look back with a sense of longing or regret because the focus is on moving forward. The idea that Paul was communicating was an athletic picture. It means as a runner, you never look back — you focus on that tape!
Some of the unhappiest, joyless people that I have known keep looking at life in the rear view mirror. They live their lives looking back and blaming the past. Why do we look at the past? Either to revel in some accomplishments and have a sense of pride about it or look at our failures, defeats, failed plans, dashed dreams, heartaches and discouragements that only arouse feelings of guilt and shame. There are few joy stealers more damaging than looking at the things in our past that haunt us and hurt us. Moving forward doesn’t mean pretending that things never happened. Rather, it means that we have faced the past, dealt with it and now we move on.
3) v. 13 – “Straining forward to what lies ahead” … means stretching after something with focus. Picture the ancient chariot races at the Olympic Games — the chariot racer is straining forward standing in the small two-wheeled cart with long, leather reigns in his hands. The whole time he is moving forward, leaning forward to keep his balance.
Have you faced your past? He you dealt with and now left it? Are you making progress — some kind of deliberate progress in your life? Are you passionately pursuing some dream — some focused goal right now? Some dream or goal that God wants you to pursue?
Robert Ballard’s name comes to mind. Do you remember him? He was a man on a quest. He wanted to find the Titanic .. and on 9/1/85 — he discovered the sunken ship in the North Atlantic more than 350 miles off the coast of New Foundland. Listen to what he said when he found the Titanic
My first direct view of the Titanic lasted less two minutes, but the stark sight of her immense black hull towering above the ocean floor will remain forever ingrained in my memory. My lifelong dream was to find this great ship and during the past 13 years the quest for her has dominated my life.
What is your particular quest? What are you leaning forward for — what prize? There’s something about dreaming and pressing on into the future that helps us stay younger, think better, and experience more joy. Don’t let life just pass you by. You don’t have to! You can take it by the reigns and attempt some great things for God here and now.
Think of Paul — When Jesus captured his heart, he discovered what really mattered most: knowing Christ and making him known to the world. Paul was focused on what mattered most: the prize — in v. 14!
What matters most is cultivating your spiritual life with Jesus Christ just like Paul said here. It’s not about perfection — it’s about progress.
4) v. 14 “Press on” – Keep moving forward — toward the goal which which was the prize — or the eventual experience of an eternal relationship with Christ in heaven forever. Staying focused on what matters most means having a determined attitude – no matter what.
