364 Days from Today

364 days from today we will be putting 2012 into the history books. What will you accomplish with those days? Taking a trip to nowhere can be a delightful experience on a sunny Summer Saturday afternoon in my Miata. But, when I need to be at a meeting in a town 60 miles away by 9 AM on Tuesday, I am sure that I know the final address and the route that will get me there on time. Stephen Covey teaches that a person who desires real success always ‘begins with the end in mind.’ (7 Habits of Highly Effective People) “Start with a clear understanding of your destination. … It is incredibly easy to be caught up in an activity trap, to work harder and harder at climbing the ladder of success only to find it has been leaning on the wrong wall,” he writes.

At the opening of this new year, ask yourself this question and answer it with relentless honesty: Is my life a trip to nowhere or a purposeful walk with God into His will?

The question takes greater urgency when we start to understand that our time here is finite. The annual calendar change is a potent reminder of mortality, and after that, accountability. Therefore, choices need to be made today that will allow us to close our sojourn on this orb with joy. As I sorted through my Mom’s stuff after her death in October, it was clear that her choices were consistently guided by principle not expedience. Many years ago she chose to say an unqualified yes to God, then to her husband. She loved both intensely. She made sacrifices for her Lord and my Dad, and the cost of decision to love and serve became more evident as I realized how many other dreams and desires she had abandoned in order to possess a godly life. She did not die wealthy or famous, but she left an rich legacy of lives touched by love and wisdom. While many things came into her life that were unanticipated she never wandered from the Way that gave meaning to her life.

Jesus teaches us to know His Word and His will, not merely as sentiment, but as principle. He told about two builders, one who set his life house on a solid foundation, one who did not. The storms of life blew over both. The one who had built without foundations found his life in ruins. But for the other, there was this outcome: "The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." (Matthew 7:25, NIV) We lay the foundation for a life of success in part by knowing the kind of person the Spirit wants us to be. Then, we build toward that goal.

·         You will not accidentally become a great parent or spouse. It will happen only if you determine what one looks like and develop a strategy to make it happen.

·         You will not find financial freedom suddenly by winning the lottery. Even if you found a windfall, if your understanding of about owning things is wrong, you still would be enslaved by stuff! You will gain financial freedom by determining to live within your means, being giving, and sticking by your principles.

·         You will not become a person of influence by waiting for people to find you in front of your TV. You will become one when you get involved with others, learn to listen and love like Jesus, and help to carry their burdens.

·         You will not become spiritually mature with a character that is solid and deep by chasing the mirage of endless pleasure. You will grow in grace as you learn to pray and listen for the Spirit’s voice, responding with faithful obedience.

364 days from today will you be full of regret or joy? Decide today!  Take a cue from young Samuel’s prayer. Pray often as he did. "Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:10, NKJV)

Through this week, find a time to pray, alone with God, each day. As you listen, let yourself dream. Jot down the impressions that emerge. Prayerfully review and refine them into a short personal mission statement that specifically defines the things that you want to do, the person you want to be, by the end of 2012. Begin to live on purpose, for God’s glory. 364 days from now you will be able to say, "But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace." (1 Corinthians 15:10, NLT)

______________

Spirit of the living God,
fall afresh on me;

Spirit of the living God,
fall afresh on me.

Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.

Spirit of the living God,
fall afresh on me.

-      Dan Iverson

Use Your Gifts UNSELFISHLY

There are beautifully wrapped gifts under our Christmas tree. We look at them and our boys wonder which ones are for whom. (Bev uses a number code so the recipient is unknown until Christmas morning.) Until we distribute, unwrap, assemble, and take them into our hands they are just for show! About 48 hours from now, they will become useful to us. I hope that they will be useful for other people, too.

God has resourced you, too. Are you taking the gifts He provides and using them to make this world a better place? Are you Christ-focused in their use? The Word says, "The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another." (1 Peter 4:7-10, NLT)  Broaden your understanding of the concept of a ‘spiritual gift.’ As this passage teaches, gifts include more than preaching, singing, or praying in an unknown tongue!  Buying a friend a cup of coffee can become a spiritual gift, if it is an occasion to encourage her in the things of the Lord. Serving a meal to family can be an occasion of spiritual ministry, too.

Recently the Lord has called me to give gifts of love with no hope of reciprocal effort, to provide and serve without expectation of a word of thanks. I am surprised at how difficult it can be to offer myself to those who feel so entitled that they believe what I do for them is unworthy of any appreciation. My own self love has been revealed to me! Had you asked me a year ago if I were a selfish person, I would have denied it. Now I know better and I realize, in a much deeper way, how much I need the Cross to bring death to Self so that I will offer my gifts with joy and with focus on His reward rather than the thanks of those I ‘serve.’  The Holy Spirit has shown me that gifts offered with even a small influence of Self are quickly corrupted. Our service, if touched with the smallest bit of self-interest, becomes manipulative or even an occasion for bitterness when the expectations we attach to it go unrealized.

In this Season of gifts and giving, I want to encourage you to think of what you receive (from God and others) as resources for service, not simply as things to enrich yourself. “God has given each of you a gift… use it well!”  And, I urge you to submit your service to Him, first! Ask for a pure heart, for a willingness to operate in secret, joyful in the work, not seeking reward or recognition. Is this not how Jesus served us? How humbling to realize that He loved and served us when we were ignoring and offending Him!

I offer this benediction to you today, as this will be my last CoffeeBreak column until the New Year. Thank you for giving me the privilege of sharing my thoughts and His Word with you each day. Receive this word from the Word and live in the promise of spiritual power it contains.

"I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

(Ephesians 3:14-21, NIV)

“Seasoned with salt”

There was a knock on my door in the early evening. When I answered it, I found two well-dressed young men. Their badges identified them as elders in the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) doing missionary work. I was not interested in their message, but I admire their determination! In our time, I do not think that knocking on doors looking to have a discussion about religion is a very effective way to share the Gospel. But, God requires that everyone of us engage in the work of representing Christ Jesus. Let me ask a pointed question. When was the last time you had a real conversation about Christ with someone outside of church?

This work need not be forced or artificial.  If I met you on the street and you knew I had been to Washington, DC to have lunch with the President the previous day, what would be the first thing you would ask?  You would want to know what kind of man he is, what he said, if I met his wife; wouldn’t you?  If we are living intimately with Christ, with a fresh experience of His goodness, there will be a noticeable quality to our lives that will invite conversations about Him! The Bible says, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (Colossians 4:4-6, NIV)  Make your daily talk lively and attractive! That’s what the metaphor ‘seasoned with salt’ means. Don’t fall into the habit of gossip and griping! Don’t get lost in idle chatter about nothing. Let Christ so fill your being that others are drawn to the spark of life.

The work of evangelism is not about ‘fixing’ other people nor is it about turning others into a “Jesus” project. It is not about judging behaviors, judging who is lost or saved, or adding notches to our Gospel gun belt! Our high calling is to represent the Lord Jesus in such a winsome way that we invite people to get to know the Father from whom they are estranged. "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20, NIV)

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to talk with a young couple who recently gave their lives to Christ and were baptized. Their joy is infectious, overflowing, and compelling. The circumstances of life that caused them pain in the past are still there, but now they have resources to cope with them. Their marriage is better, their hearts full of hope. It is not a ‘new religion’ that has brought such change; it is a new relationship! Anyone can see there is a difference.

Disciple, here is a direct challenge. What is the state of your life in the Spirit? Is it fresh, joyful, and causing others to wonder why you’re different? Or have you gone stale, stuck a rut of religion? Is your relationship with Christ Jesus about something that happened years ago or about knowing His grace for this day? "Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath." (1 Peter 3:15-16, The Message)

May we be alert to the holy opportunities around us, ready to share the very best Gift – the hope of life and love that can be found in Christ Jesus.

Let's THINK about that

After I suggested a solution to a minor problem somebody said, “That’s why they pay him the big bucks.” We all laughed! There are no ‘big bucks’ and what I offered required no particular knowledge or skill. But, there are times when it is helpful to have somebody outside of the situation help with the process of thinking. The consulting business is huge for that reason. Consultants can bring a fresh perspective and offer insight. How easy it is to react to life instead of taking time to think deeply enough to choose a new way.

Jesus came into the world to teach us a whole new way of living! In Matthew 5-7, a passage we call the ‘Sermon on the Mount,’ repeatedly Jesus used this presentation: “You have heard it said, … but I tell you.”  He challenged those who followed Him to stop chasing power, pleasure, and perks. “True life,’ He said, “is found in serving, loving, and giving.”  One by one, He took on their assumptions.

·         You think that adultery is just climbing into bed with someone? Think again. Adultery begins with your fantasies! 

·         You think that murder is taking somebody’s life? Think again. Murder begins with contempt for another person.

·         You think that an ‘eye for an eye’ is justice? Think again. Real love absorbs the hurt and changes the world with self-sacrifice.

·         You think scrupulous religious acts that others can admire also please God? Think again. When you truly want to please Him, forget about making sure others notice.

·         You think that worrying about things solves problems? Think again. “Seek first the kingdom of God and He’ll take care of the things that others fret about.

For many, Christmas will be another occasion to indulge in Self. They will hear the Story but miss the message. Jesus’ birth and the Gospel will get turned inside out and somehow, some way will become about getting fatter and happier, with more things in our already crowded closets. Let’s think about that! He did say  "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10, NIV) And, He re-defined what fullness is. We gain by giving, win by losing, and find righteousness with God by giving up on our own goodness.

Luke’s record of Jesus’ birth includes this little line tucked into the corner: "But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19, NKJV) Shepherds appearing at her baby’s makeshift bed with stories of angels singing in the skies made her wonder at this boy child’s true identity. For nine months, her life had been turned upside down by an angel’s announcement of her pregnancy. It was all strange and wonderful, promising and painful; so she pondered! Thirty-three years later, it would all come together one terrible weekend as she would watch Him die a terrible death and then, just when all hope was gone, come back from the grave, the Resurrected Lord. But, on that first Christmas, all she could do was ponder the mystery.

Are you working with some challenge in your life today?  Invite the Spirit of God to give you insight. Even if you do not understand everything He says take Mary’s example to heart and ponder… listen … think.

Here’s the word from the Word. "We live by faith, not by sight. … So we make it our goal to please him." (2 Corinthians 5:9, NIV)

__________________

O come all ye faithful

Joyful and triumphant

O come ye O come ye to Bethlehem

Come and behold Him

Born the King of angels

Yea Lord we greet Thee

Born this happy morning

Jesus to Thee be all glory giv'n

Word of the Father

Now in flesh appearing

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord

O Come All Ye Faithful

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