Overwhelming thoughts this morning...

He is Wisdom was called a fool.
He of great worth became worthless.
He who is called blessed became a curse.
He who is fully accepted by the Father became rejected.
He who is Truth was called a liar.
He who is Righteous was called a sinner.



His Perspective is Redemption

He came to take up the cause of the orphan and the widow, for those of a despised race, for those who were known for their sin.
He came to look past the things that continue to blind us.

His perspective is far greater than ours.
His perspective is redemption of a fallen and broken world with people who are scared and broken leaving the effects of their brokenness on those around them.

His pursuit is them.
His pursuit is me…




You are after me

You are after me.
It is often hard to grasp, someone of infinite worth pursuing those of limited value.
But, so it is…
Your Spirit confirms it in me.
You are after me.
The hound of Heaven,
The pursuer of my soul,
The searcher of my inmost being,
You are after me.
Overwhelming it inevitably becomes,
The greater pursueing the lesser,
The justified pursuing the inexcusably guilty,
The righteous pursuing the sinner,
You are after me.




Faithful

You call me faithful and I am dismayed.
How can one of a wayward heart be called faithful?
How can one, who is the supreme example of faithfulness, call anyone else faithful?
I can but simply acknowledge that I pursue faithfulness to You because you are faithful, first.
I am faithful because you pursued me, first.
I am faithful because you loved me, first.
I am faithful because I have been forgiven much.
I am faithful because, like Peter said, “To where shall I go? For You have the words of life.”

THANK YOU, JESUS!!!

Are there any Excellent people in the church?

Before we get to excellence, I think we have a prerequisite...

What if we could operate with a clear conscious?
What if we weren’t constantly mentally tempted, hindered by thoughts that terminate on us?
What if we had a clear mind to pursue God and those things which are good?
Is this possible?

What if we attempted to operate like this by faith?
What if we attempted to do these things as if God will grant us this ability?
After all isn’t that the definition of faith?
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1

Think about what could be possible from one person who operated with a clear conscious and a clear mind in pursuit of God and the people around them?
Now imagine a body of believers who could operate like this?
There impact could be paramount!

If we attempted this, if we tried to act out these things by faith, they are considered acts of righteousness!
“Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:3

Some other scriptures for further encouragement in your pursuit…

“Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God.” Hebrews 9:14

“For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:14



Now for Excellence...

What happened to doing things for God with EXCELLENCE?
How come we have people in the world, like Apple for example, that do things to the utmost of their ability and we in the church are just amazed by what they do?
Or how about men in the Navy SEALS?

Why aren’t we inspired to do the BEST we can?
Have we ever given our very BEST?
Do we even know what it means to give our BEST?

What will it take for US to live with excellence?
What if we were so serious about GOD that people noticed just in our daily lives?
…By the way we treated people.
By the way we did our school work.
By the way we work.
By the way we love our spouse.
By the way we teach and train our kids.
By the way we provide and take care of our families.

What if we were excellent in the things of scripture?
What if we seriously pursued the life that scripture outlines for us?
I suggest that we don’t because we don’t believe!
We don’t believe that God’s way, as outlined in scripture, is the best way.
We think that our way is the best way!
How arrogant! How ignorant! That we have an unlimitedly intelligent God, who has given us direction, and we are going to do what we think is right…

We need a spirit of excellence in the church today.
We need a spirit of belief in God for who He is and what He has outlines for us to do in scripture.
Ask Him. He is faithful to provide, but also begin to act and strive as if he has already given you this ability of excellence. Believe and act in faith that you have already received. (Hebrews 11:1)

How can I sing to the Lord...?

I often think to my self, “I really like the way this person/group sings for God. I wish that I could sing like they can. Then I could really glorify God.”

Has God not gifted all? What are my gifts? In other words, how can I sing to Lord in a way that glorifies Him with the gifts that he has given me?

What are your gifts? How can you “sing to the Lord?”