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Lead Me To The Cross...

This song has been my constant prayer these days. 
Take a moment and pray through this video!

At the cross God's love and our brokenness intersect.  Jesus overcame sin and death to love us into the wholeness of God.

• At the cross Jesus says ~ "I love you unconditionally, even in the midst of all your brokenness."   
  
• At the cross Jesus says ~ "I want to free you from the oppressive captivity of your shame."
• At the cross Jesus says ~ "I feel your pain, let me heal your heart and bind up your wounds."
• At the cross Jesus says ~ "I welcome you home, no matter where you've been, with open arms."

"He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss.
They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way.  His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls"
( 1 Peter 2:24, MSG).

What Season Are You In?

With winter going strong, I've been thinking a lot about seasons lately.   God created seasons, uses seasons and works according to seasons.

Jesus lived by God's seasons.  At the beginning of Jesus' ministry He understood that it was not the season yet  for the fullness of God's work through Him.  But then at the end of His earthy ministry He stated that the time had come for God's work to be completed through Him.

Here are some thoughts about God's seasons...
~ Seasons are temporary, they always come to pass.
~ Seasons  are necessary, you need them to grow.
~ Seasons require patience, they just take time.
~ Seasons can be harsh, think of winter and summer.
~ Season are productive, only a full season develops fruit.
~ Seasons are normal, they happen to everybody.
~ Seasons are from God, He sends and controls them.

So, what season does God have you in? 

If you're feeling the cold winds of winter, just remember to be patient because it's only for a while. 

Maybe you're enjoying the new growth of spring, just remember to enjoy it for all it's worth. 

Or maybe you're feeling the heat and drought of summer, just remember that roots grow their deepest during the summer drought. 

Or maybe you're living through the radical change of fall, just remember that God causes change to grow us.

Whatever season God has you in ~ don't resent it, let this season produce all the good that God wants it to produce. 

That's how I'm living through this season > how about you?

 

Top 10 Predictions For 2008...

I am not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but I thought I'd offer some New Year's predictions as we leave '07 and usher in '08.

Because these predictions are based on the unchanging character of God, you can display them, rely on them, and live your everyday life by them.

10. The Scriptures Will Still Have The Answers

9. Prayer Will Still Work Miracles

8. God's Spirit Will Still Move Throughout The World   

7. God Will Still Be In The Business Of Transforming People

6. God Will Still Reveal Himself To Everyone Who Seeks Him

5. God Will Still Bless Those Who Honor Him First

4. God's Church Will Grow Stronger Than Ever

3. There Will Still Be Room At The Cross

2. Jesus Will Still Seek And Save The Lost

1. Jesus Will Still Love You No Matter What 

God says to us in Scripture, “I am the Lord, and I do not change.”  In 2008, let’s count on God to BE God.

Make 2008 the year you allow God be God TO you, OVER you, IN you and FOR you.

Thanks ~ OR ~ No Thanks...

Jesus was always thankful...even in the face of real need.   

On  3 separate occasions Jesus publicly thanked God in the face of great need.

Like Jesus, our gratitude can pave the way for the work of God in our lives.

Scene 1 ~ Jesus thanked God in spite of people problems 
In Matthew 11 Jesus had people problems on two fronts (1) John the Baptist, His lifelong friend, was questioning whether Jesus was even the Messiah (2) Jesus acknowledged that 3 major cities were unreceptive to His ministry. 

I don't know about you.  But when my friends lose confidence in me, and my ministry isn't being received, I start feeling down.   Jesus  publicly thanked God...in the midst of people problems.

Scene 2 ~ Jesus thanked God in spite of personal challenges
Everybody knows the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept" in John 11:35.  What we don't realize is that Jesus was personally experiencing the pain of the death of His close friend Lazarus.

Jesus publicly thanked God...then He raised Lazarus from the dead.  Before Jesus raised the dead, he raised a prayer of thanks to God.  How many dead areas of our lives might be raised to new life if only we raised a prayer of thanks to God first?

Scene 3 ~ Jesus thanked God in spite of painful circumstances
The night before Jesus was crucified He initiated the Lord's Supper.  Jesus used a cup of wine and piece of bread as object lessons to show how he was going to suffer the painful consequences of our sin the very next day.

Jesus publicly thanked God...then broke the bread and passed the cup.  Jesus endured the physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering of the cross, through a grateful attitude toward God.    

This Thanksgiving, like Jesus, I've got people problems, personal challenges, and painful circumstances.  And like Jesus, I'm going to let my gratitude pave the way for the work of God in my life.

~ Gratitude enables God to do what only He can do ~