Is it time to grow up?

“Jerry, my life has fallen apart,” the young man told me, using language too colorful for this blog.  As he went on to tell me about the situation in which he found himself, I felt sad for him. He is a tough spot. As we talked, I wanted him to begin to grasp that what was going on was largely the result of too many short-sighted, self-indulgent choices he has made. Without making him even more discouraged, I wanted to gently help him to realize that his predicament should not be a surprise. He is feeling the full weight of the consequences of irresponsibility.  The only way he will turn things around is to make some tough decisions. I will help him if he will accept responsibility for himself, but I will not ‘rescue’ him again.

There are things that happen to us that actually do surprise us, tragedies and hardships that knock us down, arriving unannounced at our front door. A hurricane blows through and destroys our town. Serious illness turns life upside down. Such things are times when we need a brother, when we must dig deep into the resources of our faith.  But, there are many disastrous situations that we create by our own choices.  If we spend way too much, living beyond our means, eventually debt will entrap us. If we abuse our body, health will fail. If we neglect spiritual disciplines and persistently refuse the voice of the Spirit, our soul will wither and faith will perish.

Christian, how are you living today?

Are you making choices for some hoped for result or are you indulging yourself, drifting with the current of the culture that surrounds you?

The grace of God is amazing and He promises to make all things new, to forgive our sins, to heal us. We rely on His love which is deep and persistent. And, we have a family of faith, people who are there to help us, to encourage us when life becomes a tangled snarl of heartbreaking or life shattering situations. But, we are called to ‘grow up’ and become mature, too. Peter says “Clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God.” The Message (1 Peter 2:1-2)  “Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  (2 Peter 3:17-18, NLT)

The person who grows into maturity – not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually –  gains many advantages. He develops discernment and wisdom. He builds a store of resources that create greater opportunities and more freedom in his life. He finds respect and honor. He lives purposefully and at peace, with himself, with the people around him, and with the Lord God.

Are you in a tough time in life?  Pray for understanding and insight.  "Be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise." (Ephesians 5:15, NLT)

Consider these principles from this word from the Word.

"He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.
A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous." (Proverbs 13:18-22, NIV)

Together Everyone Achieves More

I’m a NE Patriots fan. The Pats win often. Many know about their outstanding quarterback named Brady, their phenomenal coach named Belicheck, and their tight end named Gronk! What could those stars do without 50 other people, coaches and players, each doing a part? Not much, right? Most people cannot name the men on the front line, but take them away and see how well the stars perform.  What happens in Gillette Stadium is a team effort.

The church that I am privileged to pastor is a team of teams, lots of people who are doing their part in the work of God.  Some of us stand up front and we get those wonderfully affirming cards on Pastor Appreciation Day. (Thank you!)  To some, it looks like the work is being done by one.  In fact, what would the church be without teams?   I am in awe when I think of all the people who voluntarily sign up to serve. We have a team that feeds the hungry, several people who invest hours to collect food to distribute to those in need. Another team assembles early on Sunday morning to prepare to lead us in our time of singing songs of praise and worship, each of them bringing their skills to make our worship experience joyful and Christ-honoring. Two more teams come together on Sunday afternoon to disciple teens and teach children the Word. Through the week a team of dedicated people at our preschool and Christian academy shape about 200 little lives. Another small team keeps our church grounds looking great – week by week. There are people who pray for our church, their efforts hidden from view. Then, too, there are all those who are financial supporters, who bring their tithe so that we have resources to do the work.

I see it all with such joy, with prayer that each one senses his or her key role in God’s work!  Are you committed to a team, creating something together you could never do alone, experiencing the joy of being part of something bigger than yourself?

Teams that enjoy success are cohesive, bonded tightly, because of a shared mission and because individuals are willing to sacrifice self-expression to be part of the whole. “Me” is replaced with “We” in their thoughts.  Solomon wrote of the strength we find when we give ourselves to family, church, and community.  There is the "man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing." (Ecclesiastes 4:8, NLT)  "If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:10-12, NLT)

Is serving all wonder and joy? Hardly! Real teams work hard. They show up when they are tired. They set aside convenience for the effort. They work through internal conflict. (Yes, even good Christians have different opinions about many things.)  They value one another, encourage the best, and speak truthfully. 

On this Monday morning, I am thanking God for all those teams that function in the church that I am so privileged to lead. My prayer is that what we will do what we do with excellence so that the will and purpose of the Lord who invited us to join His team will be pleased and honored. Practically I want to invite you to become part of His team, too.  Being in church does not make a person a Christian; knowing Christ does.  However, being in church is the way to become the best Christian you can be: strong, effective, fulfilled, and fruitful.

Here is a word from the Word.  It is Paul’s illustration of our connectedness.  It shifts the metaphor from team to ‘body’ but the message is the same –
                together
                everyone
                achieves
                more. 

"God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. …The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. …Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. …So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad." (1 Corinthians 12:6-7, 12,14, 24-26, NLT)

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Build Your Kingdom Here

Come set Your rule and reign

In our hearts again

Increase in us we pray

Unveil why we're made

Come set our hearts ablaze with hope

Like wildfire in our very souls

Holy Spirit come invade us now

We are Your church

We need Your pow'r in us

We seek Your kingdom first

We hunger and we thirst

Refuse to waste our lives

For You're our joy and prize

To see the captives' hearts released

The hurt the sick the poor at peace

We lay down our lives for heaven's cause

We are Your church

We pray revive this earth

Build Your kingdom here

Let the darkness fear

Show Your mighty hand

Heal our streets and land

Set Your church on fire

Win this nation back

Change the atmosphere

Build Your kingdom here we pray

Unleash Your kingdom's pow'r

Reaching the near and far

No force of hell can stop

Your beauty changing hearts

You made us for much more than this

Awake the kingdom seed in us

Fill us with the strength and love of Christ

We are Your church

We are the hope on earth

Rend Collective

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Planting for a bumper crop

Beauty and blessing … those two words captured my thoughts while driving past the fields where tall stalks of corn rustled in the wind, ears heavy with kernels of grain, ready for harvest. Those fields are evidence of investment and diligence. 

After last year’s harvest, the farmer prepped the field. In the spring, he planted. He put costly seed into the ground months ago, trusting that rain would come to make it grow, that no destroying wind would blow and destroy.  Only now, can he gather the grain. 

No farmer plants wheat expecting to harvest corn, does he?  Nor does he stand and look over a field wishing a harvest into existence.

Are you planting for a bumper crop?
Are you investing time and effort that will yield results you desire?

The wisdom of the farmer’s investment and diligence is obvious to us. We know that seed must go into the ground before grain can be brought into the barn. But, that same wisdom seems to elude some of us when it comes to the rest of life. We somehow think we can avoid study and still pass the test, that we can be slack about spiritual disciplines and still grow deep in the things of God, that we can be selfish and still enjoy boundless love from others.  God’s law of the harvest does not just govern wheat. Paul was inspired to teach this. "What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!— harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith." (Galatians 6:7-10, The Message)

Consider these laws of the harvest -

We gather of the seed we plant.

We gather only after we plant.

We gather more than we plant.

We gather in proportion to how much we plant.

We gather as God gives the increase.

In this season of harvest, give some thought to the seeds that you are planting. Do want to harvest that field?  The law of the harvest, as we see in those inspired words above, is always in effect.

What's in your future? You don't need a crystal ball or a prophet to know. Look at the seeds you're planting.

Sow love, harvest love.

Sow generosity, harvest generosity.

Sow kindness, harvest kindness.

Sow obedience to God, harvest a rich reward of His blessings.

Here is a word from the Word. Take the warning, believe the promise!
"Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest." (Proverbs 20:4, NLT)

"Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop." (2 Corinthians 9:6, NLT)

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