Then God Said...

Many people's calling experience, and their response, are vastly different. David stumbled into his calling (1 Samuel 16), Moses did not think he was adequate enough to fulfill his calling (Exodus 3:1-11;4:10-13), Jonah completely refused his calling (Jonah 1:3), Jesus' disciples were called by Jesus himself as they were living their average daily lives (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Luke 5:1-11), and Paul was called while on his way to kill Christians (Acts 9:1-6). So, how many of us are looking for a prophet, burning bush, or waiting for the voice of God to discover what our calling is? I don't know about you, but I almost needed all three to happen before I was convinced of what my calling was. The real question is, how do we come to understand our calling? What is my Calling? What do we mean by this question? Typically, we are trying to answer the bigger question of, "what am I supposed to do with my life?" We want to discover the meaning of our life

I am a child of God; therefore, I am loved.  In our YouTube video this week we discuss the practical implications of being a child of God, and we mainly spoke about being loved as a child of God. Simply, that being a child of God means that we are loved by a good and gracious Heavenly Father. What exactly does this mean? Let us Consider This... First, take two minutes to sit in silence and meditate on how you have experienced love in your life. We all have different experiences of love: some exhilarating, some excruciating, and some exhausting experiences--oddly enough, each of these might have been a good or bad experience. Point is, did that love you experience require anything in return? Was it an unconditional love? Were you being loved, or giving love without any condition or expectation? Our experience in ministry has shown that 90% of love that people experience is conditional and 10% is unconditional.  If this assumption is true, then all of us have a warped view

Several influences attempt to provide an identity for us: philosophy, psychology, spritualism, or hedonism. Another variety of sources that attempt to give us an identity are the titles/positions, prominence, reputation, or family relationship roles that we all participate in. Any one of these is not sufficient within itself to provide an adequate identity--there is a point of failure for each, usually leading to idolatry. So the question is, how do we know who we are?  Or, how do we discover our identity? Continuing on in Luke 15 will provide some insight: 17  “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!   18  I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned  against heaven and against you.   19  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20  So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his

Why is it important to know our identity? Moreover, if God doesn't create our identity, then who or what will? If someone asked you, "who are you?" What would you say? Most of us might answer with what we do for a living, that we're a husband/wife, or give some cool nick name that our friends gave us. So, honestly, how would you answer that question? Answering this question, in whatever your answer is, is vastly important for all of life. Proverbs 27:19 gives greater insight, "As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects man" (NIV). This verse shows us that our "heart" (identity) impacts all of life. Our identity, like the heart, is the control center for all of life. It becomes of critical importance to know our identity because it is the control center for our life. Scripture shows us that there is a direct parallel to our identity (the core of who we believe ourselves to be) and the actions that we choose to take in life

During this significant time in history, it would be easy to be worried, anxious, or fearful. Many of us could give legitimate reasons as to why we would feel this way: worldwide sickness and death, over 16 million Americans unemployed, or fear of the unknown as we move forward. Is it possible then, to have peace in the midst of these trying days?  Jesus offers us something seemingly absurd during times like these. We see the words of Jesus in Luke 12:22-32 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wi

  It goes without saying that the entire world is experiencing a pandemic event of biblical proportions (literally). The spectrum of people's reactions vary: from those who downplay current times to the apocalyptic peppers who've isolated to their underground bunkers, everyone has been effected by COVID-19 in some way. The real question is, can Christianity handle COVID-19, or will it simply collapse in the face of a world pandemic? History Lesson There are several instances in Scripture where God's people shined through times of world calamity: events of the Exodus, Esther approaching King Xerxes upon Israel's behalf (Esther 4:12 - 5:, Joseph saving Egypt from famine (Gen 41-47), and systematic persecution of the first century church by Roman government (Acts 8:1-3, 9:1-2), to name a few. Through all of these events, in spite of devastating circumstances, God's purposes are seen as being prosperous and victorious. One particular Biblical character that