The Art of Receiving

A friend is throwing a birthday party for me soon. I’m really looking forward to it–but I’m also a tad nervous. The spotlight will be on me. There will be cards, maybe gifts, and nice words said in my honor. My friends will probably gather around me and sing “Happy Birthday.” And I want to receive all that kindness and attention.

By “receive” I mean more than just saying “thank you.” Expressing gratitude is important. But receiving goes a step further and a whole lot deeper. My friends are celebrating me because they want me to know they love and value me. When I intentionally accept that affirmation, I let their sincere words and kindnesses penetrate my insecurities and challenge my negative self-perceptions. And that changes me. I act more out of who I really am in Christ and less out of my sense of inadequacy. But those good things can’t happen if I resort to my usual tendencies to discount compliments, change the subject, say, “Oh, you shouldn’t have!” or blush and flat out ignore the ways my friends intend to build me up.

The same is true with God. As a loving father, God constantly looks for ways to support, affirm, and encourage His children. His eyes “range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chron. 16.9). I wish I could say that receiving the words and gifts of encouragement God offers is easier for me than receiving affirmations from friends, but honestly, it’s not. I want to learn from Mary, who is my hero when it comes to receiving from God.

Mary was given tremendous affirmation. First, an angel announced that she was “highly favored” and chosen to become mother to the Son of God. Shortly after, her considerably older relative declared she was blessed among women and gushed over her with delight (see Lk. 1:26-45). If that had happened to me, I probably wouldn’t have believed any of it. Most likely, I’d have thought, I don’t deserve this! Surely God mistook me for someone else. But Mary didn’t do that. Apparently she believed the announcement that she was favored by God, despite whatever flaws she might have seen in herself. Listen to her response:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me–holy is his name” (Lk. 1:46-49).

Always the ponderer (see Lk. 2:19,51), Mary surely meditated on God’s affirmations, then chose to believe them and depended on Him to make them real in her. In other words, she received. And I suspect she was a better mother because of it.

I may not have angels showing up on my doorstep, but when the Lord offers me encouragement–whether it’s through His Word, the kindness of His children, or the testimony of His Spirit witnessing to mine–I want to receive it. And I can do that like Mary did, by pondering on and appropriating these truths to myself and then praying a joyful response.

What gifts–tangible and intangible–is God giving you this Christmas? In what ways is He seeking to strengthen and encourage you? Whatever they are, I hope you’ll join me in learning from Mary by offering Him a prayer that receives deeply what He wants you to have.

by Cynthia Bezek, editor of Pray! Magazine

Our Greatest Need

If our greatest need was information;
God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need was technology;
He would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need was pleasure;
He would have sent us an entertainer.
If our greatest need was money;
God would have sent us an economist.
But our greatest need was forgiveness;
So God sent us a Saviour.

by Roy Lessin

Attitude by Charles Swindoll

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company … a church… a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude … I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you … we are in charge of our Attitudes.

Hater

A hater is someone who is jealous and envious and spends all their time trying to make you look small so they can look tall.

They are very negative people to say the least. Nothing is ever good enough!

When you make your mark, you will always attract some haters…

That’s why you have to be careful with whom you share your blessings and your dreams, because some folk can’t handle seeing you blessed…

It’s dangerous to be like somebody else… If God wanted you to be like somebody else, He would have given you what He gave them! Right?

You never know what people have gone through to get what they have…

The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they don’t know my story…

If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too!

We’ve all got some haters among us!

Some people envy you because you can:
a) Have a relationship with God
b) Light up a room when you walk in
c) Start your own business
d) Tell a man / woman to hit the curb (if he / she isn’t about the right thing)
e) Raise your children without both parents being in the home

Haters can’t stand to see you happy.
Haters will never want to see you succeed.

Most of our haters are people who are supposed to be on our side.

How do you handle your undercover haters?

You can handle these haters by:

1. Knowing who you are & who your true friends are *(VERY IMPORTANT!!)

2. Having a purpose to your life: Purpose does not mean having a job. You can have a job and still be unfulfilled.

A purpose is having a clear sense of what God has called you to be. Your purpose is not defined by what others think about you.

3. By remembering what you have is by divine prerogative and not human manipulation.

Fulfill your dreams! You only have one life to live…when its your time to leave this earth, you ‘want’ to be able to say, ‘I’ve lived my life and fulfilled ‘my’ dreams,… Now I’m ready to go HOME!

When God gives you favor, you can tell your haters, ‘Don’t look at me…Look at Who is in charge of me…’

Pass this to all of your family & friends who you know are not hating on you including the person who sent it to you.

If you don’t get it back, maybe you called somebody out!

Don’t worry about it, it’s not your problem, it’s theirs..Just pray for them, that their life can be as fulfilled as yours! Watch out for Haters…BUT most of all don’t become a HATER!

‘A woman’s heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.’

Maya Angelou

JOY SUCKERS — DEALING WITH THE TOUGH ONES!

Dealing with the “tough stuff” can often cause you to wonder if the God who calls you really understands the challenges you are facing … and then, of course you remember, He is God and knows.

If you have been in ministry very long, you will soon run head-on into the “joy suckers.” I talk about the “joy suckers” challenge in many of my speaking assignments because, I believe, if you don’t learn how to endure and survive the “joy suckers,” you stand a good chance of becoming a calloused pastor or a recluse. Neither one are good characteristics for a shepherd.

A “joy sucker” is someone who is determined to create either discouragement or hardship on your ministry. “Joy suckers” take on all shapes and sizes, but, most often, they are negative in their outlook, disappointed with their family, in need of attention or enamored with their own power. Somewhere along the way, they have been allowed to get away with unacceptable behavior. Because they are not happy people, they are determined that others should not be happy either. So, they are critical, fault-finding and contentious. Close your eyes for a minute, and you will see every “joy sucker” you have ever served. Painful, isn’t it?

If you have seven or eight “joy suckers” in a small- to medium-size congregation, it can cause the fellowship to become dysfunctional as well. So, how do you deal with the “tough stuff” that can make the strongest pastor flinch?

a) You attempt to understand what is the cause of the negative spirit — why do they act the way they do?
b) You consider their family situation.
c) You gauge their level of spirituality.
d) You monitor their influence in your church (Is there a big family connection?).
e) Have you done all you can to talk through the concern with that person?
f) Do you pray for them?
g) Do they have a history of this kind of behavior?
h) What will it cost you to “confront” them?
i) Does leadership understand your challenge?
j) Is the contention severe enough that it renders your ministry ineffective?

Wow! Every church has “joy suckers,” and we all must develop our own method of dealing with them. If you let them run free, your church will never be all that God had intended.

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2).

Be blessed and be a blessing. —HB London

Enemies of a Growing Church

James Meeks, founder and senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Chicago, built his church up from 200 people to a church of over 22,000 now, baptizing thousands of new believers every year. He plainly says, “Everyone can have a growing church,” and warns church leaders about the enemies of a growing church:

ENEMY #1: Lack of Faith. Leaders need to not just believe their church will grow; they need to expect it to grow and act like it will.

ENEMY #2: Lack of Knowledge. In Hosea, the people perished because of a lack of knowledge. What you don’t know can kill you!

ENEMY #3: Expecting God to Treat You Differently Than Everyone Else. All the laws of growth apply equally to everyone. He can do a great work through you just as easily as He does through Billy Graham or Rick Warren.

ENEMY #4: Thinking that Growth is Not a Goal. Growth is ALWAYS the goal of the New Testament church. Don’t be afraid to count people; God does.

ENEMY #5: An Unsure Pastor. The speed of the leader suggests the speed of the team. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice and know Me.” Do not lead ambiguously.

ENEMY #6: Failure to Build on Small Victories. Use every victory to win the next one.

ENEMY #7: Failure to Preach the Announcements. Don’t just tell people about what’s happening after your message; give an invitation to involvement!

ENEMY #8: Lack of Corporate Fasting and Prayer. “If there was a check for $5 million taped to the ceiling, you’d skip lunch to try to reach it, wouldn’t you?” Meeks says. Some things are never possible without fasting and prayer.

ENEMY #9: Failure to Get Started. Don’t wait for everyone to “get it.” Do your best at research, pray, then just do it.

ENEMY #10: Poor Motive. Ask your team, “Why do you want to grow?” Discuss your answers with grace, and move forward with a unified, godly drive.

James Meeks,”Enemies of a Growing Church”, Leadership Summit, Willow Creek Association, 2006.

The Church is…

- The church is the center for community mobilization and transformation.
- It is the heart beat of the “village”; the breath of truth
- The church is the standard bearer of morals and values for a civil society
- It is the center for true fellowship and love; compassion and help
- The church is teaching place for family unity, growth, and learning
- The church is the place where children are nurtured and cared for
- It is the plain for the sacred and the spiritual in ones life
- The church is the launching pad for civil rights, justice, and freedom
- The hospital for the sick, hurting, oppressed, possessed, and stressed
- The sanctuary of hope for a loss and dying world

DEBT-FREE CONFESSION

We, the Body of Christ, declare we have been carved out for an end-time expression of El Shaddai, the God of abundance and no lack. We are taught how to live independent of this world system and how to have dominion over it, therefore, in Jesus’ Name, we declare we are debt-free! The spirit of debt is destroyed over our lives and over this local church because of the anointing. We are the lender and not the borrower, the head and not the tail. We are blessed coming in and blessed going out. The Father daily loads us with benefits and causes His blessings to overtake us. Wealth and riches are in our house and we increase more and more. God has given us power to get wealth to establish His Kingdom here in the earth and millions are now hearing the gospel and receiving Jesus as Lord. We are plenteous in goods, for God has given us richly all things to enjoy. The blessing of the Lord has made us rich, adding no sorrow with it. We are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ and Abraham’s blessings belong to us. We are Holy Millionaires and we walk in God’s wisdom, exercising sound judgment and stewardship over this wealth. We sow bountifully, therefore, we reap bountifully. We give and it is given unto us good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. We have the wealth of the wicked and we owe no man anything, but love! The devourer is rebuked for our sakes and he cannot destroy the fruits of our ground. All these promises are ours by faith and faith works by love, so we constantly walk in the light, in love, in the Word, and the wicked one touches us not. Our hearts are fixed, trusting in the Lord. We hold fast to our confession of faith. We are “THE DEBT-FREE REDEEMED OF THE LORD” and we say so, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Five best practices of reaching the next generation

Churches everywhere including mainline denominations are waking up to the need to reach the next generation. Whether you’re a pastor, elder, campus ministry leader, small group leader, or volunteer, here are five best practices when it comes to reaching the next generation:

1. Look for opportunities to engage in culture. Whether it’s music, movies, or modern technology, there are countless ways to help young adults bridge the chasm between the ancient world and today. Look for opportunities to dialogue or teach from the latest headlines, technological developments, and best-selling artists and authors. Consider hosting events with local artists who can speak on issues of art and faith. Invite a professional movie critic to talk about films. Remember that engaging in culture isn’t about being in on the latest or greatest as much as it is about engaging in the culture that’s all around you. And don’t forget that you can become so relevant that you become irrelevant. Never lose the core message of Christ in your desire to be hip or trendy.
2. Allow room for the tough questions. The next generation has tons of questions – many of them lacking instant or even easy answers. And that’s a good thing! One of the beauties of the next generation is their hunger to wrestle with the difficulties, complexities, and even the mysteries of the gospel. They don’t want an easy-to-follow program as much as they desire real relationship. They don’t want all the answers as much as they want to embrace the struggle and wonder of the journey. So don’t be afraid to tap into their natural desire to know God, and challenge them to pursue him on their own through personal times of study and worship.
3. Be yourself. Yes, be your real, flawed self. Though the very nature of pastoring, teaching, and leading will try to transform you into a spiritual superhero, make every effort to resist the pressure. Instead, be honest      about your struggles, weaknesses, and failures. The most compelling stories you will ever share with those you minister to are ones where you admit your struggles, mistakes, and the tough lessons you’ve learned – in your faith, your family, and your personal life. Your transparency is a connecting point for this generation. Don’t miss out on the valuable opportunity to         be authentic.
4. Don’t try to compete with the world. Though it’s important to engage in culture, allow for tough questions, and be vulnerable, never try to compete with the latest brands, trends, and fashions in order to get your message across. In addition to coming across as inauthentic, you’ll distract those who are trying to follow Christ from what’s truly important. Though the world may offer shinier, skinnier, and trendier offerings, the message you’re delivering is powerful, eternal, and truly transformative. Instead of responding to every whim of pop culture, create your own culture and remain true to the DNA of how God has built you and your community.
5. Pray, pray, and pray some more. Prayer is the foundation you’ll need for life and ministry – particularly when reaching the next generation. Carve out time between the countless needs and demands to connect with God. Ask for his wisdom and his strategies. Ask God to bring the people alongside you that you need to reach the next generation. Ask God for leaders that you can pour into and raise up to minister to others. And watch what God does!

by Margaret Feinberg

What Is A Dad?

A dad is someone who
wants to catch you before you fall
but instead picks you up,
brushes you off,
and lets you try again.
A dad is someone who
wants to keep you from making mistakes
but instead lets you find your own way,
even though his heart breaks in silence
when you get hurt.
A dad is someone who
holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
shines with pride when you succeed,
and has faith in you even when you fail…
Dad, you’re everything a dad should be and some.
By Susan Ceylise