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today: the mirror never lies |
| | | "Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God — the free life! — even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action." James 1:22-25, Message
It's great – God looks at the heart!
Looked in the mirror lately? What's the purpose of a mirror? The mirror tells us the truth. There's no built in Photoshop or air brush hidden inside the mirror – just the true reflection of what it sees. The mirror tells us what we look like. Unfortunately, the mirror never lies! When we look into a mirror, we always notice what's wrong – don't we? Our hair is not behaving, our "muffin top" has grown, a few wrinkles have surfaced…sometimes, the mirror is a bitter pill and the 10x magnified mirror is even scarier.
In raising four kids – two girls and two boys – we've noticed that girls aren't the only ones who live in front of the mirror. In fact, I am beginning to believe that our teen boys spend more time looking at themselves in the mirror than our daughters! Posing, flexing…they keep looking for their abs…. (Yeah, me too!)
God's Word is a mirror. It's a reflection of what we look like in God's eyes! We need to spend more time in front of God's mirror. He wants to show us what's right! He wants to point out our spiritual abs! The mirror never lies. The mirror of God's Word tells us exactly what we look like – in Christ. The Bible is God's mirror and He shows us what we look like from His view. He reflects the reality of who we are in Christ. Most of us have not stared at that mirror long enough!
We often see ourselves as sinners, failures and unworthy worms…that’s not how God sees us in Christ! If we aren’t intentional, we quickly forget how God sees us and we easily fall back into patterns of condemnation, guilt and inferiority. Study the mirror and don't forget what you look like! Believe and remember what the mirror has reflected. We need to trust the mirror…be doers of what we see!
The mirror of God's Word shows us that we are "more than conquerors through Christ"! In the mirror, we see that "we are over comers by faith," we see that "we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us" – the mirror says so! The mirror reflects the truth. It never lies. When we believe the mirror – instead of how we may see ourselves or how we feel - we find freedom, joy, strength and God's power to move forward into all that He has for us.
What does this mean? It means that on days when you don't feel like an overcomer, you trust the mirror and declare, "I am an overcomer today!" When you don't feel like rejoicing always, you throw your head back and start laughing anyway! The mirror said so! When you feel overwhelmed, weak, tired and undone, you wait on the Lord, spend some time looking in the mirror and then you say, "I am strong in the Lord…I run and do not grow weary, I walk and do not faint…God lifts me up on wings of eagles today!" When you feel guilty and unworthy, you say, "I believe the mirror! I have confessed my sins and there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ!" When you don't feel like forgiving, being patient, courageous or generous – you do it anyway because the mirror shows you a reflection of who you really are in Christ...a person full of forgiveness, patience, courage, generosity and so much more!
What is the mirror of God's Word reflecting for your life today? Believe it. Do it. The mirror never lies.
Say This:
"Father, thank You for the mirror of Your Word. Thank You for showing me who I really am because I am in Christ. Help me to live by the image You show me in the mirror. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
In His Grip, Beth Jones |
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"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases…" Psalm 102:2-3, NKJV Have you ever read the fine print in God's benefits package? You should! Most people are up to speed on the benefits they receive at their places of employment. They know all about the major medical, dental, optical and retirement plans. We ought to know all the details of the benefits God has put into His redemption plan!
Benefit #1 – He forgives all our sins! Aren't you glad for that? I am. When Jesus is the Lord of our lives, we quality for this benefit! Major forgiveness! There isn't one sin He won't forgive. He forgives all our sins – the little ones and the biggies. Praise God!
Benefit #2 – He heals all our diseases! What a bonus. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever and He's still in the healing business. If part A of this verse – He forgives all our sins – is true; then part B of this verse – He heals all our diseases – has to be true! Forgiveness and healing have been called the Redemptive Twins. If you study Jesus' ministry you'll see that forgiveness and healing have always been God's will. In fact, back-in-the-day people had an easier time believing that Jesus could heal than that He could forgive sins. Today, it's just the opposite. People believe Jesus forgives sins, but they sometimes have a hard time believing He'll heal a disease. Jesus made an interesting comment in Luke 5:23 and 24, He said, "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.... He said to the man who was paralyzed, 'I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.' " In other words, Jesus let us know that it's just as easy for Him to forgive sins as it is for Him to heal a body! Both are included in His benefits package!
I encourage you to talk to the Lord and study His Word on the subject of His will and wisdom when it comes to forgiveness and healing. Perhaps you're facing an injury, sickness, disease or some illness. Be encouraged to know that the Lord uses a variety of pathways to bring health and healing to our bodies – whether it be through supernatural measures, doctors, medicine, therapy, surgery or diet and exercise. In the event you are facing a situation where the doctors have done all they can do, thank God as you seek Him and appropriate your redemptive benefits. Jesus is still in the healing biz. "Father, I thank You for such a great salvation – one that includes the twins of redemption forgiveness of sins and healing. I ask You to forgive me from all my sins and I ask You to heal my body. May Your healing power flow from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. (If you have a specific need for healing in an area of your body – ask the Lord for healing in that specific area.) I thank You for Your forgiveness and healing in my life right now. I give You thanks and praise for all that You have done for me. In Jesus' Name. Amen." Beth Jones, My Fav MENTOR!
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| "For I have a great sense of obligation to people in our culture..." Romans 1:14, NLT
If the 80's call and want their mullets and fica trees back, perhaps it's time to reconnect with the culture?
This verse of Scripture – having a "great sense of obligation to people in our culture" – came alive to us several years ago, as we were making some dramatic changes in the "methods" we used for preaching the uncompromised "message" of faith in Jesus, at our church.
There's no doubt, the culture has changed over the past 20 to 30 years – at a rapid rate of speed! Clothing styles, music genres, lingo and general aesthetic preferences are different these days. It's our job to be culturally relevant as we impact our sphere of influence with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Every missionary knows the foundational truth about missions outreach: respect, connect and relate with the culture of the country you are sent to minister to. That doesn't mean you compromise the Gospel message you preach, you just modify the outreach methods you use. We need this same mindset as believers in America. In many ways, as Christians, we've been called as missionaries to America. If we're smart, we'll use the culture to connect with people so that we can share the good news of Jesus Christ with them.
Many Christians and churches have disregarded the need to be culturally relevant and have been content to use methods from the 1980's to reach lost people in 2008. The bummer is that they are not connecting with people and many pastors and Christian leaders are frustrated because their churches are not growing or reaching the lost.
We fell into that way of thinking for a while. In the early 90's, when we first started Valley Family Church, we were like every other church – mauve and country blue décor, fica trees galore, dress pants or three-piece suit, keyboard-led praise choruses and hour-long sermons from a speaker. Our church experienced slow, steady growth. Nothing dramatic.
We had a bit of an epiphany several years ago. There were still more than 175,000 unchurched people in our county and at the rate we were going, we'd have to live to be 989 years old to reach them! We decided to change a few methods and make it easy for our people to invite their lost friends to church. We wanted to make the first impressions of church desirable for a lost, unchurched person who didn't know the Lord, without asking them to step back in time a few decades. We knew it would ruffle a few religious feathers and it did…but we made intentional, generational changes to be more effective at reaching people who don't know Jesus Christ. Today, it's working in a dramatic way!
We changed a few methods. We updated our décor to something a bit more modern and Starbucks-like. We went to an all jeans, all the time dress code. (No complaints on that one!) We moved to an electric guitar-driven worship style and the volume went up a bit. We change our set every month. We've incorporated more media, videos and moving lights into the sermon delivery to reach this sight and sound ADD generation. We continued to preach the uncompromised Word of God. The result?
We lost more than 100 people in the first six months, but we gained more than 700 people in the following four months! Today, we see about 2,500 people a weekend at VFC – with 4,800 unique visitors attending each quarter! For those in a giant urban metroplex, it may not sound like much, but in our mid-sized community we're beginning to see huge momentum. By changing the methods, we have thousands of opportunities to share the message of Jesus Christ with hungry, hurting hearts! It's been thrilling to see people from all generations – the pierced, spiked, tattooed...the gray-haired, cane-walking...the preppy, Starbucks-drinking...the 70's beater, Harley-lovin' and Mercedes-driving people...the tots, teens and adults from all walks of life – coming to church each weekend to find and connect with the living God – Jesus Christ!
It's not just about attracting a big weekend crowd…it's the joy of watching more people grow and mature in Christ! Our small groups are growing, our Get a Grip on the Basics classes are growing and the EPIC School of Ministry enrollment is growing…why? We have changed our methods a lot, but we have not changed the timeless message one bit! We are obligated to the peeps!
Say This:
"Father, help me to look at the people in my culture through Your eyes. Help me become all things to all men so that I might win them to Christ. Help me to connect with the culture in my sphere of influence in relevant ways! In Jesus' Name. Amen."
In His Grip, Beth Jones
This is our prayer @ Emmanuel Church as well~ This Christian life is NOT just about us...We've GOT to be creative in our FISHING for the lost tactics! God will give us the HOOKS and bait we need...Are we willing to use them?
or do we want to do "what we've always done, and get the same results we've always gotten?"
selah!?
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Great Word on the Local Church and power of remaining PLANTED!! Thank God for His Wisdom and Promises for us!
Love to all, Tam :)
| | | "Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing…." Psalm 92:13-14, NKJV
The Lord wants us to flourish and bring forth fruit all of our days! We've watched it over the years…those who are planted in God's priorities – namely His Church – flourish; those who aren't, sometimes flounder.
The big keyword is: planted. It seems to be important to the Lord that we are planted in a local church where Jesus is exalted, the Word is taught, the Holy Spirit is present and a spirit of faith and love prevail. In that house…Jesus does amazing things…namely causing His people to flourish! To be planted in the house of the Lord by definition requires a strong root system of humility, submission, commitment, loyalty, trust and forgiveness. To stay planted requires a willingness to serve, overcome offenses and exercise endurance.
Being planted in the house of the Lord is for OUR benefit. In the same way that the ark was Noah's vehicle for divine protection, the Church is our vehicle for divine flourishing! Jesus loves the Church and has obligated Himself to care it in the same way that a husband cares for his wife. Those who are planted in His Church flourish – they are washed by the Word, cherished, enriched, nourished, strengthened, blessed and loved by Him!
Today, are you flourishing or floundering? Are you planted – with unmovable roots – in a local church? If so, you can expect to flourish for a long time – even in your old age!
Say This:
"Jesus, I choose to be planted in the house of the Lord…help my roots go deep in You and Your purposes. I believe You love Your Church – that includes me and all those who make up the church – like a husband loves his wife. I am so thankful that You love, cherish, nourish and wash me with Your Word. I will bloom where I am planted and I declare that I will be fruitful, fresh and flourishing until I am old and gray. In Jesus’ Name. Amen."
In His Grip, Beth Jones |
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| | | "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." Matthew 9:36-37
Do the multitudes bug you or move you? When was the last time you were moved with compassion for the lost? At times, I am guilty of being distracted with my own life and I need to be reminded that Jesus came for the express purpose of helping others – seeking and saving the lost! Sometimes, we get so busy in our own worlds that we lose sight of the bigger picture. Worse, we become cold, detached and indifferent to the pain, hurt, suffering, emptiness and despair that defines life for many people.
If you need to be stirred up in compassion, take some time to "see" the multitudes. The next time you're around a crowd – at the mall, airport, amusement park, local restaurant, wedding reception or driving in traffic – take some time to stare! Look at people. Make eye contact. Smile. Ponder what their lives might be like. Ask and allow the Lord to give you His heart of compassion for people.
Without the Lord's compassion, we become selfish zombies – like everyone else – just moving through life. God forbid! Today, we need the Lord to stir us up with His compassion…and we need to be moved by it! I hope this week's YouTube clip encourages you to share the good news with the lost people in your world.
Say This:
"Father, I want to be moved with compassion for people. I have gotten cold and indifferent and I ask You to forgive me. Help me to see people the way You do. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
In His Grip, Beth Jones
Check out this resource for more on this topic: click here.
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