A song that lives in infamy at youth camps, but there are some truths in that song by Michael W. Smith. The Bible says this about friends:
"A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses."
Proverbs 27:19 (TLB)
Our God is a relational God. After all, relationships are perfectly modeled within the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. And since we are all made in his image, we are innately relational creatures as well.
We all yearn to connect with other people, yet many people are so hungry for relationships, they’re so desperate to have someone in their lives, they latch on to anybody. And out of that desperation for real community, they ultimately choose the wrong friends.
Choosing friends isn’t something that should be done at the drop of a hat. You can’t hope to just fall into great friendships. Developing quality friendships is intentional, not accidental.
You’ve got to put some time and energy into finding great friends because toxic relationships will burn your time; they’ll drain your energy. But if you invest some serious time and energy into finding consistent and committed friends, those relationships will continue to reenergize your life.
The church gives us the best place to develop those quality relationships. The church is the context where our closest friendships should be played out. That’s where you can find people of character, commitment, and consistency.
Don't get me wrong, we need to befriend and be friends with those outside the church walls (after all, Jesus did). But if you are a Christ-follower, when it comes to our best of friends, who we do life with, whom we look to for guidance, counsel, truth and a listening ear, we need those friends in the church.
So take the initiative to plug into great relationships at the church. Don’t invest your time in the wrong people, instead connect with quality people of commitment and consistency who can help you achieve God’s will for your life.
Looking forward to sharing with you Sunday.
In His Grip,
Brett
P.S. Have you begun preparing your heart for Easter? Who are you going to bring with you on Easter Sunday?
Monday, February 25, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
"I'm too Busy!"
When you ask someone how they are doing, the typical response is, “I’m busy.” In today’s crazy times, busyness has become a badge of honor. We have more opportunities and options available to us than at any other point in history. Even when we aren’t busy, we’re busy. We answer our cell phones at restaurants (and sometimes church), check e-mails on the golf course, text message other's when we are with someone, and plug in the latest Disney movie for the five minute trip to the grocery store.
But our busyness is more devastating to our time than we realize. We spend so much time being busy that we ultimately miss the greatness of time. The bottom line is that our busyness is killing our intimacy with God. But God offers us a remedy.
"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
The greatest way to manage our time is to first spend time with the author of time. When was the last time you were still before God? I mean no cell phone, no e-mail, not texting, no iPod, no television or radio. When was the last time you just listened to God without competing with the distractions of everyday life?
If you are serious about getting your priorities in line with your commitments, if you are serious about making the most of your time, then be still before God. Be strategic. Set a place and time where you can talk with God and focus on his will for your life. Set aside a time each day where you can focus solely on God’s business, and not your own busyness.
I look forward to being with you as we talk about being still.
In His Grip
Brett
But our busyness is more devastating to our time than we realize. We spend so much time being busy that we ultimately miss the greatness of time. The bottom line is that our busyness is killing our intimacy with God. But God offers us a remedy.
"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
The greatest way to manage our time is to first spend time with the author of time. When was the last time you were still before God? I mean no cell phone, no e-mail, not texting, no iPod, no television or radio. When was the last time you just listened to God without competing with the distractions of everyday life?
If you are serious about getting your priorities in line with your commitments, if you are serious about making the most of your time, then be still before God. Be strategic. Set a place and time where you can talk with God and focus on his will for your life. Set aside a time each day where you can focus solely on God’s business, and not your own busyness.
I look forward to being with you as we talk about being still.
In His Grip
Brett
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
TheGap
My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight.
Proverbs 3:21
Life is a circus. We juggle this activity and that activity; we walk the tight rope of day-to-day life trying to balance everything that comes our way; and we stretch and mold our schedules to accommodate even the tiniest of obligations. We don’t want to miss out on anything, so we try to do everything. And this circus-type life leaves us over-scheduled, over-committed and overdone.
The truth is that what we say is important and where we spend our time often don’t line up. In short, we say one thing and do another. We say it’s important to spend time alone with God, but we get to the end of each day and wonder where that time was supposed to fit in. We say that church is a priority, but when playoff season comes we wouldn’t dare miss the big game. We claim that our spouse is the most important person in the world, but at the end of the week we look back and see that we didn’t spend one waking hour alone with them.
There’s a gap that exists between our priorities and our commitments—many times without us even realizing it. And it’s a gap that desperately needs closed. Look at everything that comes across your calendar and ask yourself, “Does this activity or obligation line up with what I hold important? Does this sync up with my priorities set forth in God’s word?” If it does, then do it. If not, then don’t. Don’t just say yes to something because you have a few hours to kill. Instead, close the gap by saying yes only to the best.
Sunday we'll continue to explore how to bridge the gap so we can have the best.
Proverbs 3:21
Life is a circus. We juggle this activity and that activity; we walk the tight rope of day-to-day life trying to balance everything that comes our way; and we stretch and mold our schedules to accommodate even the tiniest of obligations. We don’t want to miss out on anything, so we try to do everything. And this circus-type life leaves us over-scheduled, over-committed and overdone.
The truth is that what we say is important and where we spend our time often don’t line up. In short, we say one thing and do another. We say it’s important to spend time alone with God, but we get to the end of each day and wonder where that time was supposed to fit in. We say that church is a priority, but when playoff season comes we wouldn’t dare miss the big game. We claim that our spouse is the most important person in the world, but at the end of the week we look back and see that we didn’t spend one waking hour alone with them.
There’s a gap that exists between our priorities and our commitments—many times without us even realizing it. And it’s a gap that desperately needs closed. Look at everything that comes across your calendar and ask yourself, “Does this activity or obligation line up with what I hold important? Does this sync up with my priorities set forth in God’s word?” If it does, then do it. If not, then don’t. Don’t just say yes to something because you have a few hours to kill. Instead, close the gap by saying yes only to the best.
Sunday we'll continue to explore how to bridge the gap so we can have the best.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Priorities
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33
We love to go retro these days. From cars to clothes, from music to makeup—retro is the way to go. But you can’t go retro without talking about time. And you can’t talk about time without thinking about priorities.
There seems to be a lot of hype about setting priorities. But God has already given us the blueprints on where we need to spend our time. It’s not about setting your priorities. It’s about agreeing with God on what your priorities already are. That is what determines where your commitments will fall. Priorities are simply saying yes to the best. But for many of us, there is a huge gap between our priorities and our commitments. Instead of saying yes to the best, we say yes to the good or just good enough. And over time, the good crowds out the best.
Do you ever get to the end of your day and wonder, “Where did the time go? Did I accomplish anything I set out to do?” One of the best ways to ensure that you set your days on the right path is to spend some time with the author of time. I challenge you over the next month to make it a point to spend some quiet, personal time with God(pick up a journal at the church office). Give him the first few moments of each day. When you do, the gap between your priorities and commitments will close and you will begin to see that God’s priorities for your life will free you from the constant bondage that the immediate pressures of life can so often bring.
In His Grip
Brett
We love to go retro these days. From cars to clothes, from music to makeup—retro is the way to go. But you can’t go retro without talking about time. And you can’t talk about time without thinking about priorities.
There seems to be a lot of hype about setting priorities. But God has already given us the blueprints on where we need to spend our time. It’s not about setting your priorities. It’s about agreeing with God on what your priorities already are. That is what determines where your commitments will fall. Priorities are simply saying yes to the best. But for many of us, there is a huge gap between our priorities and our commitments. Instead of saying yes to the best, we say yes to the good or just good enough. And over time, the good crowds out the best.
Do you ever get to the end of your day and wonder, “Where did the time go? Did I accomplish anything I set out to do?” One of the best ways to ensure that you set your days on the right path is to spend some time with the author of time. I challenge you over the next month to make it a point to spend some quiet, personal time with God(pick up a journal at the church office). Give him the first few moments of each day. When you do, the gap between your priorities and commitments will close and you will begin to see that God’s priorities for your life will free you from the constant bondage that the immediate pressures of life can so often bring.
In His Grip
Brett
Friday, January 25, 2008
One
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 28:19
Numbers are very important throughout the Bible—from the five smooth stones that David found in the creek to Jesus feeding the five thousand. But what exactly is the relationship between numbers and God? Is there some biblical code that He has constructed that we're supposed to crack?
Of course not. But God has developed a very important equation that is essential in the building of his kingdom. And it all starts with the number one.
God works through people like you and me to reach others and bring them into his family—one person at a time. He doesn't have to, though. God could easily snap his fingers and have a church filled with thousands of people appear, but that is not how He works. He wants us to share the good news with others and recruit disciples to follow Him—one by one.
So remember, you are a major factor in God's equation. Don't overwhelm yourself by trying to save the whole world all at once. It's all about reaching one life at a time. So go out and find that one. Share with them God's love. And show them that God is still counting—one life at a time.
This Sunday, I'm going to share as clearly as I can the message Jesus came to show. It will not only be a great opportunity for yourself to hear how much God loves you but an opportunity for you to invite someone to hear how much God loves them, "4ever."
I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we journey together discovering how much God loves us.
Brett
Matthew 28:19
Numbers are very important throughout the Bible—from the five smooth stones that David found in the creek to Jesus feeding the five thousand. But what exactly is the relationship between numbers and God? Is there some biblical code that He has constructed that we're supposed to crack?
Of course not. But God has developed a very important equation that is essential in the building of his kingdom. And it all starts with the number one.
God works through people like you and me to reach others and bring them into his family—one person at a time. He doesn't have to, though. God could easily snap his fingers and have a church filled with thousands of people appear, but that is not how He works. He wants us to share the good news with others and recruit disciples to follow Him—one by one.
So remember, you are a major factor in God's equation. Don't overwhelm yourself by trying to save the whole world all at once. It's all about reaching one life at a time. So go out and find that one. Share with them God's love. And show them that God is still counting—one life at a time.
This Sunday, I'm going to share as clearly as I can the message Jesus came to show. It will not only be a great opportunity for yourself to hear how much God loves you but an opportunity for you to invite someone to hear how much God loves them, "4ever."
I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we journey together discovering how much God loves us.
Brett
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Question for the New Year
Through all my contacts (myspace, facebook, blog, church community, etc) I'm asking this questions and looking for feedback. So if you could respond to the post, I would greatly appreciate it. I pray you have a great year in 2008!
Brett
If you found out you were going to die and God granted you one more day, what would you do with the day?
Brett
If you found out you were going to die and God granted you one more day, what would you do with the day?
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