Who Are You Telling Your Troubles To?

I wanted to share something that I read this morning. It comes from a golf-oriented daily devotional called Links Daily Devotional by Links Players International. The author, Jeff Hopper, and their website information are provided below. Now to the point...

Jeff discusses how critical we can become of the Psalms writers, and their seemingly obsessive way of moaning, complaining, and even asking for their enemies to be destroyed via their psalms.  He cites the fact that we could easily see the Psalms as self-centered, and self-serving. But, then, Jeff brilliantly reminds of a truth about all Spririt-inspired writing. Read on...

"The writers of Psalms laid open their minds and hearts before God. They knew that He already knew what this life was all about. And what it was and is all about without Him is temptation and injustice and weariness and decay. That's the truth about life. So they called spades spades and fools fools and evil evil. But most important of all is that they did this before God. They figured that while He already knew all this ugly stuff about the lives they were living, He was also the only way out. Who else were they supposed to talk to about their misery?

"Which leads us back to golf. When golf has you-know-whatted today, and I'm a danger to the children in my neighborhood because of the way I'm driving home, I don't really know whether God wants to hear it. It's golf, after all. But I do know this: He wants to hear about anything and everything that brings agony to my bones and anguish to my soul. He wants to hear it because in our saying it, we are calling on the only One who can actually do something about it. By this we do Him honor."

Now, friends, it may not be golf that is creating your angst, frustration, depression, or dejection today. It may be far more life-urgent and/or life-altering issues. But, how much MORE should you and I take those things to "the only One who can actually do something about it?"

May we all turn all the more TO Him, and not lean on our own understanding. Want to please God today? Take Him your burdens in a spirit of belief that He knows about them, cares about them, and can DO SOMETHING about them!
--
Above quote authored by Jeff Hopper and Copyright 2011 Links Players International
February 24, 2011

The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.

I Believe! Do you? Really?

Many of us worshipped with songs, and prayer, and fellowship yesterday. Moreover, we sat and nodded, said "Amen" and even clapped as the truths of the Bible were laid before us.

But, now it's a new day. It's Monday, and we're on our way through another week. Some are traveling while others move through the routine that is their week.

What about you, friend? Will it be another ROUTINE week? Will you "survive" or THRIVE? With all the reasons the enemy tries to use to make me treat this week as mundane, routine, or even depressing, I'm ready to say, "No more! I won't let you dampen or tarnish what God has made for His purpose!"

Try this with me today...Let's praise and thank God for His indescribable gift BETWEEN the Sundays this week! Let's claim the victory and freedom that is ours in Christ.

Remember, circumstances are just that...CIRCUMSTANCES! God's love for us, however, is ETERNAL! Claim that today, Believer! Then, go out and live like it!

Are You Frustrated, Leader?

I was reminded today that leading is all about having the right frame of mind (or is it heart?) about others. Trying to DO things to lead others instead of first BEING SOMEONE who leads others will usually lead to frustration.

Are you a frustrated leader? Does leading feel hard? Perhaps the first place to look for help is inward. Ask yourself some of these questions:

Do I really value others? Do I convey that?

Is leading well important to me for what it does for others, or for what I will receive from it?

Can I REALLY be happy watching someone else succeed? Even if I get NO credit for whatever role I may have had in that success?

I hope these questions help you serve and/or lead well. Let me know what you think!

What Is God Up To?

Do you ever wonder what God is up to? I mean, don't you? You see, when God is up to something in a place (a family, a church, a town) it's not always overtly apparent. And yet, don't we know and see when God is up to something?

God is moving in my church these days in some unmistakable, and remarkable ways. From our worship, to the teaching of our pastor, to the life change I am observing right before my eyes, He is clearly at work! I'm not just talking about new converts - though we are baptizing multiples every week - Praise the Lord! I'm talking about solid, long-time, and mature Christians that I am seeing make steps to address things, or showing evidence of transformations of the heart and attitude. And, I have to say, it is really a WAY COOL thing to see God work!

How about you? Are you seeing God work? Perhaps, like me, you are seeing Him work around you? But, are you paying attention to what He is (or is not) accomplishing IN you? For our sincerest praise to ring off the walls of Heaven, shouldn't it come from a heart that is being molded and shaped by Him? I'm experiencing that in my life, and it is an amazing ride!

Again, I'll ask...How about you? Come join me by looking for what God is up to IN YOU, then praise Him for all He is doing... IN and AROUND you!

Blessings!