The art of a grateful heart

Listen to my latest sermon at Parkway Church in Victoria.  If you would like to download my sermon notes, please feel free to do so here.

Thankful Thursday

Our local Christian radio station designates Thursdays as “thankful” Thursday each week. On this day, listeners can call in to share what they are thankful for. How convenient that the day set aside each year to give thanks for our blessings also falls on this day of the week.

It’s hard to believe we are into another holiday season. Last year at this time, I reminded everyone about the first Thanksgiving. This year, I’d like us to think about where we are right now and what we have.

For me, I am blessed beyond measure. And my blessing aren’t measured in what I own, where I live or what I wear. I am blessed with the things that are eternal! I have a great family, great friends, a great church and I serve an amazing God that takes care of my every need. Do I have problems? We all do. I have bills to pay, weight to lose, responsibilities to live up to.

I don’t know where you are right now. You may be struggling, there may be things that are truly difficult. But no matter what is happening, be assured that you have a Heavenly Father who loves you. Focus on the good things in your life and be thankful for every single blessing knowing every good and perfect gift comes from above.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

A marriage revelation

I recently spoke to a woman whose marriage is going through some difficulties. She told me of some of their problems with tears in her eyes; her pain was obvious.

As we spoke, a revelation of sorts came to me about one of the keys to a successful marriage. We all pretty much know that marriage is about compromise and self sacrifice. You suddenly put two very different people together who have lots of expectations about this new relationship. Most of the time, whether we realize it or not, we put pressure on our spouse to meet OUR needs. And we forget that THEY have needs too.

My revelation was that marriage is about doing the things that don’t come naturally. It’s about working hard to do the things that are NOT second nature to us. What exactly does that mean? Well, think of it this way. We all have a primary love language. That means we feel loved in a certain way. Some need to spend time with their spouse, some need to hear comforting words, some require more physical intimacy and so on…. (Please read Dr. Gary Chapman’s book “The Five Love Languages” for more info.)

The way we receive love is often different than the way our spouse does. Since the two are different, we now have to work at demonstrating love the way they receive it. We have to do things that probably do not come naturally. Communicating may be difficult for one spouse. But you know how essential it is for any marriage. That may mean that you now have to work really hard at talking and opening up to your mate. It may be a foreign concept for you, but if you want your marriage to be healthy and happy, communication is essential, and you have to learn how to do it. Another spouse may need to hear encouraging words to know they are appreciated. Perhaps you forget to compliment your spouse or say thank you for some of the simple things. You may have to find a way to remind yourself to say something nice.

Do you see what I mean? Marriage has always been about give and take, but I think we have to understand that the giving part is more important. It requires that we give something of ourselves that may be difficult. We may have to sometimes fight against what we know and learn something new. And when we give of ourselves out of love for our spouse, the return can only be wonderful.

True Joy

(Peru) Sisters - Kiara & Isabel —– This is their home - would I have the joy you see on their faces, if this were my home?

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Several friends I know are on international mission trips this week (both with Compassion Int’l). I love the power of the internet, in that they can immediately post pictures and thoughts of their daily experience, from the other side of the world! There is no lapse in time, so that emotions, words, memories or feelings are lost. {see: Peru, Ethiopia}

The one thing that continually strikes a chord with me, as I look at their pictures, is the deep, true, passionate joy in the children’s eyes and faces! I see more joy inside of them, than in most of the kids I see around my community everyday (one of the wealthiest communities in the U.S.). I see more joy in their face than I often have on mine. What a challenge and reminder, that I have the “ultimate joy” — a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, whom I have the blessing of serving each day. Why am I not always expressing that joy in my life?

As we enter the Christmas season, and purchase more “stuff” for friends and family, than most of these people will see in an entire lifetime, ask yourself where your “true joy” lies? Is it in the things and comfort that surround you, or is it in something eternal.

Where are we ’storing up our treasures’?

Why?

What is the reason you go to church? What’s your goal or vision for your church? This week’s sermon highlights the vision of Parkway Church and how we want to reach our own community and the world.

You can download my sermon notes here.

Overcoming Brokenness

Many of you might not know this, but recently I became the interim pastor at Parkway Church in Victoria, Texas.  It is a wonderful Purpose Driven style church and I’m thrilled at the opportunity to help them find the perfect senior pastor for their church and community.

But until then, you (and Parkway) will have to endure my sermons

Money Minute: Start simple

Saving:

We have all had it drilled into our heads; saving money is a wise thing to do. But, most of us probably include budgeting in our laundry list of New Year’s resolutions, only to find a mailbox full of post Christmas credit card bills quickly overcoming whatever good intentions we had. Soon, out go any noble notions of saving up for the future, as we anxiously try to recover from the past!
So, how do we finally end the cycle of good intentions gone bad? How do we climb the mountain of financial planning without getting swallowed by a crevice of intimidation? Simple my friend: S.A.V.E!

1. Set specific personal goals: Make short and long term objectives. Make them individual, measurable, and, most importantly, attainable.

2. Act on those goals: Give yourself simple steps to follow. Focus on the long run, and always remember, one foot in front of the other!

3. Vary your asset allocation: Research and choose vessels that will be most beneficial for your specific situation, and goals.

4. Evaluate along the way: When life changes make sure your portfolio changes
accordingly. Take time to re-evaluate periodically, and don’t be afraid to “tweak” your plan.

Stay tuned for more short money minutes!

For more information contact: Kara Walsh at: solidrockfinancial@gmail.com

Peace amongst chaos

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I watched a presentation yesterday on the changing social and technological trends facing us today. It made several remarkable and nearly inconceivable claims; mentioning the fact that most college freshmen will be entering the work force, gaining jobs that don’t yet exist today, graduating with an education founded on a first year of already obsolete knowledge. It also said that within 10-20 years or less the computer will have evolved to a capacity of out thinking the entire human race! As I watched, my heart rate sped with an urgency to obtain knowledge, grasp understanding and, well, just plain keep up! Among the figures, was a prediction for another terrorist attack. It was not only told to probable, but was pretty much inevitable, explained as not a matter of if, but when.

Now, this can be some tough stuff to grasp! It is not a very settling thought, and the worst part is, I can’t control it! I can’t know the day or the hour; I can’t know who and when and where; I really can’t even prepare for it! The Bible is very clear that these things will happen, but it is hard to imagine the possibility in the here and now.

So, what do we do? Living in a world of chaos, confusion, and exceedingly great economic and technological advancement, how do we remain simple and steadfast? How do we find peace and security in an anchorless generation? The truth is, we have a mighty foundation, an unchanging rock of peace and comfort! Christ promises His hand of control over our lives, our circumstances, and our futures. He promises a solid and trust worthy harness, and a confidence that can span through the uncertainty of tomorrow. Praise the Lord! Despite the mess we see in front of us, He is over all, and working through all to finish His great plan! Today, cling to the Savior! Let Him remind you that He is able to offer peace that surpasses understanding, prediction, or situation.

Are you being too protective?

A short time ago, I wrote an article on the difference between an overprotective parent and being a responsible parent. I recently received the following question from a reader:

“I am struggling with a 15 year old girl who thinks I am smothering her. The main issue right now is Facebook. She has one, to which I have access, which she knows. When she does things that her father and I feel are inappropriate or contrary to our beliefs, we talk to her about them. They are not “major” things, I guess, but she has a problem when it comes to telling too much or talking too easily to people she doesn’t know…and several boys have taken her comments or posts in a way they are not intended (as in thinking she likes them or is flirting when she is just talking). She also puts things in her “about me” that we have told her we do not agree with. She is a Christian. I don’t know how to pick battles when it comes to this Facebook thing.”

I’d like to share my response with you in hopes that it may help others with a similar issue:
“Raising teenagers is often a battle, although we would prefer it not to be. Young people often think that they can figure out things for themselves and find out later on that they really needed our wisdom. I am raising two boys. One is 20 and away at Bible college, the other is just about 16. While I agree with you about picking your battles, I also think there are areas where firm boundaries are necessary. Our youngest son decided to grow his hair long. I was less than thrilled when he started, but decided to make this a non-battle area. It’s really long now and to be honest, I can’t imagine him with it short anymore. As for the internet, that to me is a HUGE battleground. Why? Because used improperly, it can be a huge pitfall for our teens and can get them into serious trouble. Our kids are exposed to so much dangerous material, I believe it is our responsibility to carefully guard what they do on the computer. We have set the following boundaries: we have a password on the computer so that our son cannot get onto the internet unless we are around. This is for HIS protection. We limit how much time he spends on the computer. If his homework isn’t done, he’s off. I will occasionally look over his Myspace page and if there is any material that I disagree with (based upon what is right and wrong, not necessarily my opinion), then it needs to be removed. I’m pretty firm with my son, and most of the time, I don’t request it, I insist. If he argues or refuses, then there are no computer privileges. Now, I know that he may be able to access the computer elsewhere, but the point is that if he doesn’t do as I ask, he’s in disobedience and that is something neither I nor God tolerates. To be honest, I am pretty blessed. He is relatively compliant to our rules; sometimes he’ll argue saying we are over-reacting, but he seems to understand we are only looking out for him.

I don’t know what kind of discipline you have in your home, but in my opinion, if you feel strongly that whatever material your daughter is putting out there has the potential to bring her harm, you need to be firm with your boundaries. If she gives you a hard time, you may need to rethink how she spends her time on the computer.”

The ‘Middle Wife’ by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher

I’ve been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second-grade classroom a few years back.

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that.

And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they’re welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.

She holds up a snapshot of an infant. ‘This is Luke, my baby brother, and I’m going to tell you about his birthday.’

‘First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then
Dad put a seed in my Mom’s stomach, and Luke grew in there.
He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.’

She’s standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I’m trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.

‘Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, ‘Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!’ Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. ‘She walked around the house for, like an hour, ‘Oh, oh, oh!’ Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.

‘My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn’t have a sign on the car like the Domino’s man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.’ Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.

‘And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!’ This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away. It was too much!

‘Then the middle wife starts saying ‘push, push,’ and ‘breathe, breathe. They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom’s play-center, so there must be a lot of toys inside there.’

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I’m sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it’s show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another ‘Middle Wife’ comes along.

Now you have two choices…laugh and close this page or pass this along to someone else to spread the laughs. I know what I did!!!

Live every day as if it is your LAST chance to make someone happy!

De Vine Insight

“I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken. “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples. “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love. “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father. John 15:1-11

As I visualized a grape vine and considered drilling a quarter inch hole so that I could push myself within that hole, as a branch, and cover the seam around the hole with sap, I would be grafted into the vine. To see the entire process, as a branch, I would first have to cut myself off from my entire past. Leave all of the beliefs I picked up from my culture, parents and friends. Many of my past beliefs may be true, but I’m not taking any chances. The habits I had already developed and everything about my self would end. I would basically “take up my cross and crucify my self from my past, hang on a cross until Gary died and yet while I still live, I now live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” As a cut off branch, I am now soon to die, but I didn’t because I inserted my self within the hole provided for me by God in Christ, the vine. I quickly sealed any gaps around my self, the branch, and began the short wait for the graft to take hold and experience the sap running into my helpless body.

So, now it makes more sense to me what Jesus said in the Beatitudes. How blessed I will make the man who acknowledges that he can do nothing on his own while he is a branch. If that man admits that he is “poor in spirit”, humble, a beggar, helpless, bankrupt, he can rest in my “sap” Spirit, and he will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. And that is “righteousness, peace, joy and love in the Holy Spirit.”

Then, as a man is resting in the vine, he will have the spirit of compassion, meekness, hunger for righteousness, mercy, pure heart, peacemaker and rejoicing in trials and tribulations because God is continually giving him the ever flowing “The Kingdom of Heaven within his heart.” And at the same time, God is laying up treasures for him as he suffers for Christ.
Take any section of Scripture and run it through the vine and branch. Everything comes to new life.

It seems to me that every “branch” will attach itself to something or someone. I must be connected to a group, person, gods, job, pleasures, things because it’s in my DNA to connect. The problem is that many things and philosophies that we connect to will sap our human strength and death occurs. That’s what Solomon said, “There is a way that seems right to connect to, but in the end, it gives us death.”

What are you connected to?

When we connect to Christ, God’s only vine here on earth, Christ sent His Holy Spirit to “drip” the living sap into our veins. All we have to do is get connected, grafted, and then, labor to “rest in Him.” Catch our self acting like God does. He even gives me the desire to “hide His words within my heart, that’s one of the ways the “sap” enters my veins. As I meditate upon His commands, loving Him and others all day long, He transforms me by the two edged power of His living and powerful words. My desire and ability to memorize and meditate daily all come from Him.

The steps of salvation:

1. I confess (admit) to God that I have been grafted into all of the wrong things, parents, societies beliefs and ways, friends and all other influences up to this point today. I confess that I only want your beliefs controlling me and I only want you to be my God and abide from now on into your vine, Jesus.
2. I repent by cutting myself off right now. I feel myself falling to the ground.
3. By your “grace”, you are lifting me up and carrying me to the vine because I admit that I am weak, helpless, “poor in spirit.” You, God, are inserting me within the vine and using your sap to seal me for eternity giving your life juices of love and all of your other characteristics now and forever more.
4. With your power, God, running through my veins, I will use that power to listen to you by hiding your “key” words within my heart. I will graft your words upon my own heart so that I think, speak and act like you. Gary “doesn’t live any more, but his new life is hid in You, by faith and the life that I now live, I live by the Son of God who loves me and gave Himself for me.” Then, I will have Your beliefs and Your ways showing within me as a light to the world.

Wow, is that grace or what?