Awaken Ministries

I have been reading Galatians and was moving along just great until I got to chapter 6. When I got to the 7th and 8th verses I came across these words from Paul that caused me to pause: “Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. 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.” (The Message)

The reason this passage really gave me pause is because of how it relates to Romans 6. Romans chapter six tells us how we are dead to our sinful nature and have been restored through the Cross. Our sins can be forgiven!! But, does that eliminate the words in Galatians? Our sins have been forgiven, but does that mean that we are free from the consequences of those sins? As King David learned in 2 Samuel chapter 12–we still will have to face the consequences of our sins. Now, I do believe that God will give us the grace to get through those consequences just like He did for David. However, we cannot make a fool out of God.

These are difficult words for us to hear but I know in my life this is certainly true. I have sins in my life that I am having to live through the consequences of, but God has been with me through them and has given me forgiveness and the promise of eternal life!!

Who in your life needs to hear this message? Do you know people that are angry at God because they are harvesting weeds in their lives because they sowed weeds? Who needs to hear the good news that Jesus offers them forgiveness and eternal life if they will “plant in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him”?

Be in prayer for those in your life that need to hear these life-changing words. Remember, somebody shared with us sometime and changed our lives forever–will you be that person to someone else?

More to come…
Jeremy

Good morning! I hope that you have been praying about how we can think like men and women of God who seek His Kingdom first. For our final week in this series, I want to take us to the Book of Romans, chapter 12 verses 1 and 2: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—-His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

Notice how this Scripture doesn’t tell us to move out away from the world. It just tells us to not conform to the pattern of this world. We need to be in the world, but we are called to think and act differently.

We are in New York City visiting my brother-in-law and his family and we worshipped at Redeemer Presbyterian Church yesterday. The pastor quoted G.K. Chesterton’s “The Ethics of Elfland” paper during his sermon on Psalm 136. This quote from Chesterton hit me as one way how we can and should think differently as Christians. We are born with such a wonderment of life and as we get older we conform to the pattern of this world and soon lose our wonder at all of the glorious gifts God gives us on a daily basis. Chesterton’s quote:

“…it might be true that the sun rises regularly because he never gets tired of rising. His routine might be due, not to a lifelessness, but to a rush of life. The thing I mean can be seen, for instance, in children, when they find some game or joke that they specially enjoy. A child kicks his legs rhythmically through excess, not absence of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are to strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God makes every daisy separately, but has never tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we. The repetition in Nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical ENCORE.”

Can we re-train ourselves to think differently from the pattern of this world? Join me as we try!! And I hope you enjoy the next sunrise as much as God does! ENCORE!!

More to come,
Jeremy

Well, did you find yourself praying Philippians 4:4-7 last week? I have to say I prayed it several times as I needed to be reminded of the words, “Do not be anxious about anything…” often over the course of the week.

This week we are going to look at the next two verses as we continue to take the challenge to think differently. Philippians 4:8-9 reads, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

This is another incredibly difficult verse to live out unless we start to think drastically different! I don’t know about you, but my mind doesn’t naturally drift towards whatever is noble, pure, and lovely. I tend–especially when I am busy and tired–to think the exact opposite of nobleness and purity. But, I know that the same Spirit who inspired Paul to write these words is available to me–and to you!! It is through that Spirit that we can “train” our thought-life. I really think “train” is the right word here. Just like our physical bodies need training to get and stay in shape, our minds also need to be trained to think in a Christ-like manner.

We also must guard what we let enter into our minds. Often times, I get angry that I am struggling with a certain temptation. When I really stop to think about why I am struggling, it is often times because I was lax in my judgement earlier and let something in that I shouldn’t have. These thoughts need to be replaced with something pure and holy. It is then that I can begin to think “about such things.”

I am getting a new notecard for this week for Philippians 4:8-9. Will you join me in taking the challenge to think differently again this week? The reward at the end of verse nine should be all the motivation we need–“And the God of peace will be with you.”

More to come,
Jeremy

In thinking about our callings over the last couple weeks I have come to believe that it is extremely difficult to keep my calling in front of me everyday. I don’t know about you, but when I wake up, I am still tired and sometimes the challenges of the day seem daunting.

Usually it goes like this: 1. The problem that I am about to face is consuming my thoughts. 2. I think about what is the worse case scenario if this problem blows up on me. 3. I think about how bad I am going to look when this happens. 4. I think about how I am going to explain this to my wife when the worse happens. 5. Oh, I may then present this to God in a desperate prayer that sounds more like begging than anything else.

If you are like me in this area, I want to challenge you (as I challenge myself) this week to think differently! I ask that if this is a problem for you that you join me in praying Philippians 4:4-7 frequently this week. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Wow!! I know I have read this verse many times, but the fullness of it is just now starting to sink in to my thick skull!! This verse is so opposite of how I usually deal with anxiety in my life. I want to experience the “peace of God which transcends all understanding”! And to do that, I must start thinking differently! Instead of focusing on the daunting challenge ahead of me and how badly it could turn out, I need to focus on the promise that God made. If I trust in Him and lean not on my own understanding but submit to Him, He will make my paths straight. (see Proverbs 3:5,6)

I have written this verse on a notecard so I can have it handy and think about it often this week. If you feel so inclined, join me as we dig into this message! I would love to hear from you as you do. Let’s train ourselves to think differently.

More to come,
Jeremy

I hope you were able to spend some time thinking and praying about your spiritual gifts over the last week. I know it was on my mind more than usual this past week. Maybe it is the time of year when summer is winding down and fall approaches that brings this to my mind.

In finishing the book, “Courageous Leadership” by Bill Hybels, he writes a very short–yet extremely powerful–prayer that has guided my devotion time the past week. Hybels writes, “God lead my life. You are the potter and I am the clay. Show me the way. You speak and I’ll listen.” That short prayer has caused me to really pause and surrender my plans to Him.

My prayer this week has been for me to just lay my life before God and let Him have His way. This has been very difficult for me. I like to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. It has been difficult this week to pray that prayer and let God do what He wants to do with me.

I have basically been asking God to take all the areas of my life and tell me what the next step should be for each of them. Do I need to stop doing some things that I am currently doing? Or, do I need to step on the throttle and really get after some things I am currently doing? Is there some other direction He wants me to go? Are there people He wants me to partner with? Am I spending just the right amount of time on some things?

I think it has been important for me to really lay my life before the Lord and let Him examine me and speak into my life. I have heard soft whispers in some areas this past week…other areas I am still waiting. I am on His time table.

I will close with another Hybels quote that talks about how important this process is in making your calling sure, “Examine yourself and your life. Then change whatever you can change that will lighten your load and help you prevail in your calling.”

More to come,
Jeremy

Last week, we discussed self-leadership. One of the most (if not the most) critical aspects of self-leadership is that we have to know that our calling is sure. How can we pour our lives into our God-given ministry (and I am taking the form of the word “ministry” to mean not just what we do at church but what you do with our whole lives!) if we aren’t even sure that we are doing what we are called to do?

I think that God has gifted each of us with spiritual gifts that He wants us to develop fully to advance His Kingdom! I heard a pastor say it this way, “Not using your spiritual gifts to your fullest is like being given the gift of sight, but instead choosing to go through life with your eyes closed.” So first of all, you have to know your spiritual gifts. There are several good surveys you can take that will give you an idea of what those are, but another way of knowing your gifts is to just reflect back on your life. What were you doing when you felt most alive? What gave you the moments in your life when you truly had the feeling that you were born to do this?

I have taken the time to reflect (through spiritual gift inventories and personal experience) on what my top two spiritual gifts are: My top one is teaching–I love being there when others have break-through moments and think of something in a new and fresh way! I love sharing with others what God has shown me because I know they may be going through some of the same things that I am. My second gift is leadership: I don’t say that lightly or arrogantly. In fact, in has taken me several years to embrace this gift because I am well aware of the incredible responsibility that comes with it. But, I do love bringing people together to solve problems and achieve goals as a team. I love working with others and developing them to be the people God wants them to be.

So, your task this week–if you don’t already know what they are–is to explore and pray about your personal spiritual gifts. You do have them! I pray that you would find them out and then develop them to your fullest! If you want, share them with me and I will pray for you that they are developed in your life.

Next week, we will dig a little deeper into our callings.

More to come…
Jeremy

As I stated last week, I am reading through the Book of Proverbs. There is just SO MUCH in there!! Last week I spoke of watching our tongues. How did you do? I think I made some strides!

This week the part that is really speaking to me is seeking wisdom. The word “wisdom” is used no less than 50 times (depending on which translation you are using) so I think it is safe to say that wisdom is a major theme of Proverbs.

What has become clear to me is that I have to take the initiative to seek after wisdom. Others can try to impart it, but if we aren’t open to receiving it, nothing is gained. So, how do we take this initiative? 1 Samuel 30:6 tells us how David did it, “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God”. David knew where to look for wisdom after his army was talking of stoning him because their families had been taken captive by the Amalekites. He was greatly distressed and sought his God. He didn’t try to solve the problem on his own, but he took it to the Lord.

Self-leadership is crucial for those called to leadership (and we are all in leadership somewhere, somehow!). We have to learn to take the time to seek the Lord and His will for our lives. This is wisdom! This is what Solomon was searching after. Unfortunately, when we get busy and things are looking tense, it is a very human habit to start losing focus and let the worry take over. These are the times when it is even more important to MAKE the time to focus not on our problems, but on our relationship with God. In doing this we are only following Jesus’ ministry model. He often times had bursts of ministry activity followed by times of prayer, solitude, fasting and refreshing. Not exactly the American way, is it? We tend to go, go, go until we are teetering on insanity! Let’s follow the way Jesus showed us and strengthen ourselves in Him. Then, we will find wisdom.

Will you join me this week in taking time to strengthen ourselves in the Lord our God?

More to come…
Jeremy

Have you ever had a moment when words just came flying out of your mouth and you know as you are saying them that this is wrong? I have many times, unfortunately. For some reason, I seem to be “gifted” with a very biting and sarcastic tongue. This is not one of the traits that I am very proud of. It is also something that I know I must confront and bring under the sovereignty of Christ.

I am currently reading Proverbs–so you probably understand why I am feeling so convicted in the area of speech. Solomon has many verses in Proverbs related to what we say. Most of them talk directly that a wayward tongue leads to ruin.

Here is just a few of the ones that have really caught my attention the last couple weeks:

10:19-21 “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.”
11:12 “Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.”
12:14 “From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.”
(For a more comprehensive list…see Proverbs!)

One of the things that really has me thinking is that there seems to be a direct line between my words and my heart. That tells me that I need to get serious about changing my heart first if I want to change what comes out of my mouth.

This week I have been very cautious about my words. Summer is a good time for me to begin to work on this because instead of talking with literally several hundred people a day during the school year (boy, do you see why this is so important for me to work on this??) I have limited interactions during the month of July.

I encourage you to really think about your words this week. Are you building up or tearing down with your words? As time permits, reflect back after you have conversations this week. Were your words an encouragement?

Let’s tackle this together so we can be the redeemers that Christ is calling us to be!

More to come…
Jeremy

Sometimes we Christians really like to get nostalgic and think back to the “good old days”. Times today, they are a changing! I will admit that we are living in a society that is starting to look more and more like Aldous Huxley’s “A Brave New World” but I am far from discouraged. There are several reasons why I am still holding on to a positive attitude:

1. Christianity has traditionally spread under persecution and difficult times. During the plague in Rome, it was the Christians that stayed in the cities and cared for the sick and dying. Even the doctors left for the country when the plague came. When the Christians were seen as loving and caring for even the dying–remember there were no hospitals at this time–Romans took notice and wanted to know what made these people different and what God did they serve.

2. We stop being complacent with our faith. Difficult times force us to really make a decision regarding what our faith means to us. Is our faith alive and vibrant, or are we OK just going through the motions and living a “good” life?

3. Ministry opportunities abound today! Steve Sonderman said, “We can be tempted to be angry that our world seems to be going from bad to worse. Yet, what we see as problems in our society, we must grasp as opportunities for ministry.” Think about the impact that we can have in our communities today! God is looking for those who would serve Him because as Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9:37)

4. We know the outcome of this struggle–God wins!!! We know that this life is going to be difficult. We know that there is going to be pain and hardships while we are here. Often times, we long to be taken out of this struggle, but we need to remember Jesus’ words to us in John 17:15, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” Jesus prays for us to stay in the struggle and be about the ministry He has given us! He also prays for our protection from the evil one which means that ultimately we will be protected and the evil one can only take so much from us. Our eternal home is secure with our Lord!

So stay encouraged and stay in the struggle! Don’t be discouraged and remember that we are covered in the prayers of our Savior!

More to come…
Jeremy

Happy Independence Day!! I hope you all had a great 4th of July and were able to spend time with family and friends this weekend. We had family over and once again had a beautiful day. Our Sunday worship service included many patriotic songs that spoke of our country’s first 100 years and the idea that this nation was created and sustained as a nation founded on Christian principles. That will be the subject of the 2014 Awaken class curriculum that I am working on now.

For today’s blog, though, I want to turn attention to Oz Guinness and his latest book–“A Free People’s Suicide: Sustainable Freedom and the American Future”. In this book, Guinness–much like Alexis de Tocqueville did in the early 1800’s–provides an outsider’s view (Guinness is British) on what is taking place in America today. I think his commentary is very astute and worth a look as we celebrate our 237th birthday.

Guinness says the United States was founded upon what he calls the “Triangle of Freedom”. In his words, “America’s founders stressed three interlinked ideals intended to cycle through each other ad infinitum. Their sustainable model looked like this: Freedom requires virtue; virtue requires faith; and faith requires freedom.”

So, how are we doing right now in terms of nurturing freedom, virtue, and faith? Again, in Guinness’s words, “Today, all three themes of the triangle are under assault. The American view of freedom has shifted from positive (freedom for [or freedom of] to negative (freedom from).”

So, how are we to live? I would say it goes back to last week’s blog. We need to realize that we live in a fallen land that is in need of being redeemed to Christ. We also need to remember that America was founded on the principles of natural law which takes it shape from a Judeo-Christian worldview. We have a charge from God to go and make disciples. We need to be about the work of redemption and we need to do that in the culture at-large and not just in our Christian circles.

This week’s challenge is to think on the “Triangle of Freedom”. What are your thoughts? Is Guinness right that America was founded on these principles? Are those principles under attack now? If so, how?

More to come…
Jeremy