Faith in...

Last week, I had the joy of reading "Big God" by Britt Merrick. This incredible book highlights the necessity to live and walk by faith. It was a great read. Several chapters of the book highlight the heroes of the faith as mentioned in Hebrews 11. As I read this book, I was challenged with the level and intensity of my own faith. A few questions came to mind that I gladly submit to you today:

1. Are you living by faith?
2. What is faith?
3. How are we justified by faith in Christ?
4. What would the world look like if believers lived daily by faith?
5. Is your faith in the imperishable or the perishable?

Right now, some dear friends of mine are waiting to take their baby home from the hospital. Chris and Kristin Colquitt welcomed sweet Emma Katherine into the world last Tuesday. Emma is still in the hospital due to complications with her birth. My dear friends left the hospital on Saturday night without their baby. I hurt for them. I'm tearing up as I type these words. Please join me in prayer for sweet Emma to come home with her parents.

What is getting my friends thru each difficult day? Faith. What is guiding their joy? Faith. What is keeping them strong in their marriage and health? Faith. Their faith and assurance in the providence of God has been a refreshment to me. The least I can do is mention their names in this post and honorably place them as heroes of the faith in my eyes. They are still suffering. Please pray.

I have faith in the gracious and Sovereign Lord of this world. I have faith that the tomb of His Son is empty. I have faith in His saving grace. I have faith in His eternal joy. I have faith that He is fully able to strengthen Emma Kate and allow her the privilege of going home with her parents. I have faith in His blazing glory that outweighs the frailty of man's thoughts and opinions.

Perhaps if we spent more time lifting each other up in prayer...in honor of our Lord...we wouldn't have the issues in our churches that we do today? Perhaps if we lived by our faith and not by our selfish sight, we would continue to see His Kingdom advance on this earth? Begin today, in faith, and pray for my dear friends; the Colquitts.

Soli Deo Gloria

Dave

Outward appearances don't impress me

Today, I was in Lifeway Christian bookstore casually looking at children's books with Brooke and Eden. While we were in the store, I noticed a man entering the store dressed in his finest. His luxurious car was parked just a few spots away from mine. As I watched and listened to his conversation, I quickly picked up on the fact that he seemed to be a pastor. Trying my best not to judge him, I looked at books to steal away my attention. It was hard. His expensive suit, loud talking, and arrogant demeanor simply floored me. Outward appearances don't impress me.

This morning, I read 1 Thessalonians 2. Verse 8 was a challenge for me. In this verse, Paul writes, "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." Paul's love for that church drew him to give not only eloquent sermons and letters...but also a passion to share some of his life with the people. The verse dripped humility right off the page. I was speechless. I was convicted. I was burdened.

Please join me back in my Lifeway story. As I was watching this man pace back and forth in the bookstore, I began to wonder about what pastors should and shouldn't do. My area of ministry today is students. Some would call me a "youth director" or "youth coordinator." I personally see myself in the role of being a pastor to students at my church. I see the importance of not only preaching the Gospel to them, but living it with them daily. This man in the bookstore seemed to be important...and I'm convinced he knew he was! I wonder if those in his church see the Gospel in him? I wonder if my students see the Gospel in me?

I'm not impressed with flashy accomplishments or large successes in ministry. What impresses me is seeing pastors and leaders preach AND live the Gospel with their churches. We can't afford to waste our time and money on the worldly aspect of our jobs. May our words, our money, our resources, our time, and our passion be on living the Gospel.

I typed much more...but accidently deleted it.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Dave

Jesus, the Supreme Savior

This post was inspired by the message I gave last night to our middle school students. Last night, we looked Christ being the perfect and living Word of God. We took time to examine three points from Scripture. This post will simply highlight the third point, for it had the most impact on my life. This has been a tough week of ministry and seeing this point from God's Word last night brought joy to my restless soul.

The third point from last night's message was simply, "The Perfection of Jesus reaches to our need." With this point, we examined Hebrews 4:15. This is what the author of Hebrews writes, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."(ESV). What is this verse actually teaching us? How can Jesus sympathize with what we struggle with here on this earth? Does He even have a clue to what we battle? I believe if you take the time to examine the Scriptures, you will be surprised to note how many issues you deal with were experienced by your Savior long ago. Last night, we covered 4 issues. I may sneak in a 5th issue if time allows.

Issue #1 - Friends deserting you –
1. Luke 22:54-62 – Peter denies knowing Jesus. (Peter, who walked with Jesus and traveled with Him, denied Him at His toughest hour.)
2. Matthew 26:36-46 – Disciples sleep in their last night with Jesus. (Jesus requested the disciples to stay awake and to be alert...they slept. Have you trusted your friends to help you or do something for you...and they drop the ball? Jesus experienced that.)

Issue #2 - Death –
1. John 11:35 – Jesus wept. At the death of Lazarus. (Jesus wept at the death of his dear friend. True, He did raise Lazarus back from the grave, but before that miracle took place, our Savior experienced the brokenness of losing a loved one.)
2. Mathew 4:3-13 – death of John the Baptist (Jesus lost His precious cousin to a sinful monarchy system. His own cousin that prepared the way for His ministry.)
*This shows us that Jesus experienced losing both a friend and family member while He walked the earth.

Issue #3 - Temptation -
1. Matthew 4, Mark 1, Luke 4…in the wilderness. (Jesus experienced a strong attack of temptation while glorifying His Father. When we find ourselves in strong attacks of temptation, let us cling to the Savior who is able to sympathize with our temptation.)

Issue #4 - Family issues -
1. John 7:2-5 – brothers rejected him. (In this passage, you will read about His own brothers ridiculing and rejecting Him. When we find ourselves in situations in our own families of rejection, let us cling to our Savior who experienced that pain before us.)

Issue #5 - The Most Important Issue...YOUR SIN.

Genesis 2:17 - God ordained a law in the garden. Death would occur if this law was broken.

Genesis 3:1-7 - The Law was broken by our parents. Sin came into the world.

Genesis 3:21 - God showed His marvelous grace by replacing their death with a substitute sacrifice...a verse to later show us the treasure of Jesus (John 1:29)

Romans 3:23, 5:12-19, 6:23 - God's Word shows us that we all have this problem, this issue that is non curable. The only remedy is found in a substitute death for our problem.

2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:7, Romans 5:8, Galatians 3:13, 1 John 4:10 - We see these verses showing us the love of our Father. In His mercy, He poured the death sentence on His only Son and giving us in replacement His grace...as shown to our parents in Genesis 3:21. We are forgiven. We have adoption. We have the perfect definition of love.

Let us worship today Jesus, our Supreme Savior. Let us quit fighting battles that hinder the Gospel mission. Let us quit living as religious people that know it all...but as children of God who love the One that knows it all.

My rambling is done. Soli Deo Gloria!

Dave

What am I doing?

I recently read a book entitled, "Brothers We Are Not Professionals" by John Piper. I recommend this book to anyone that is actively involved in a position of ministry leadership. Many times, I've asked myself the question, "What am I doing?" I mean, honestly...what is this thing called "ministry" all about? I'm reminded of this question when people ask me what I do for a living. It's often times very humorous to see the response of others when I give my answer.

Piper writes with such eloquence, "Our first business is to pant after God in prayer. Our business is to weep over sins...our business is to strain forward to the holiness of Christ and the prize of the upward call of God ... to pummel our bodies and subdue them lest we be cast away ... to deny ourselves and to take up the blood spattered cross daily." This quote was taken from the book I mentioned above). I love this quote. It has helped me to draw my affections to what the Word instructs when it comes to answering the great question..."What am I doing?"

2 Corinthians 4 is arguably one of the finest chapters in the New Testament to explain the joy of ministry. Paul begins this chapter by writing, "Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart." (2 Cor. 4:1) I love this verse. What is "this ministry" that Paul is speaking of? You must read the rest of the chapter to see the ministry. One verse that jumps out at me is found in 4:7. In this verse, Paul writes, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." Think about this verse with me. We have this treasure (the light of our Savior shining in the darkness) in us! We are given the grace of shining the light of our Lord so others may see Him for His infinite worth (Matthew 5:16).

Paul really leads us to understand more of what ministry truly means. It's not just simply sitting in an office all day answering emails and pleasing every person that stops by. It's not just simply standing on a stage each week to speak or lead in some form or fashion. It's not just simply attending conferences and listening to others share how to do ministry better. It's not just simply setting up a twitter account so we can complain about the day to others that are superficially interested. It's not just demanding more and more for us while others in 3rd world countries are perishing without the Gospel. I can easily fall into the trap of what I just mentioned...as well as countless other flaws that my Father so graciously offers His patience over.

What am I doing? I hope and pray that I'm joyfully shining the Gospel Light of my Savior to the lost and dying. I hope and pray that I'm diligently lifting up prayers to my Father in hopes for His Spirit to revive His church, for His great glory. I hope and pray that I'm not wasting my hours in the office...but effectively engaging in opportunities that can fulfill the Great Commission daily.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Dave