A Kingdom Heart

A couple weeks ago we had a baptism service here at our church. 

I love Baptism Sundays because there is such a unique life and excitement in the air that surrounds these days. 

After service was over, I had jumped on Facebook and saw that the post I had written earlier about our Baptism service was being celebrated by friends and family all over. I was so encouraged.

As I scrolled through Social Media, I saw that some other sister churches had also had Baptism services. We had 6 Baptisms that Sunday, some had 12, some 20, and there was even one with over 140! 

I was so filled with joy. God had won the day. People were moving forward in their relationship with Jesus, churches were successfully fulfilling the Great Commission.

In the midst of this moment of reflection and celebration, I was posed with this question.

"Doesn't it bother you that all those other churches had more baptisms than you?"

In the midst of celebrating a great day, a great victory, something so starkly opposite was dropped in my lap. 

It is not a perspective I haven't heard before, in fact it is a mindset that, unfortunately, I hear all the time. 

The heart of this statement comes from a desire to compete, and even more, a belief that you are losing that competition.

Simply put, this type of statement is an indicator of lack of self worth. 

Many people cannot find it in themselves to compliment, or celebrate others accomplishments.

The reason for it, is they believe by celebrating someone else's victory, they are taking from themselves, and giving it away to another. 

They see open encouragement as an addition to another, and a subtraction from themselves. 

They cannot afford to celebrate with others, because they couldn't possibly risk feeling any lower than they already do.

This mindset is based on a lie. Lifting others, lifts you! Encouraging others, encourages you! Celebrating others allows you to be part of the celebration!

God is a God of addition and multiplication, not of subtraction and division.

Be encouraged today, and know that you have so much worth! 

Look carefully at what King David says here in Psalm 139:13-16 "Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God - you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration - what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watch me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day."

You are so valuable! You were crafted by God, which makes you a beautiful creation! 

So let me encourage you, you beautiful creation of God! Rest in the truth of your great value, and take time to remind others of their worth as well. 

Change Of Strategy

Have you ever noticed how both church goers, and non-church goers alike often have a strong opinion supporting their decision?

I wonder why someone who does not go to church, has a strong opinion about it?

I can understand why you feel strongly about what you are committed to, but why a strong opinion about what you aren't committed to?

I wonder if some of what contributes to that, is tied to how we as a church have approached the unchurched?

I think sometimes in our zeal, we are so focused on people making a decision of "yes" or "no" to church, "yes" or "no" to Jesus, that we end up unintentionally putting up a wall between those people and the church.

I guess my thought boils down to this, if our evangelism plan leaves no room for relationship and discussion with someone, once they say no in that moment, we are doing evangelism wrong.

A "no" today, may be a "yes" a year from now.

Yet, if we leave no room for a year from now, we will never know.

Jesus wants us to tell people about Him, and to be honest about the need for them to choose to live a life with him. I also believe Jesus wants us to leave room for more conversation down the road.

What do you think? Is room for a later conversation important? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

More Than We Can Handle

I grew up in the church, and if you are like me, then you are familiar with the phrases that are frequently used inside the walls of the church.

These phrases are frequently leaned on to explain difficult situations, but I have found them to be rarely understood, and infrequently helpful.

Someone shares of their complex or difficult situation, and they are met with a phrase like, "The Lord works in mysterious ways."

Or someone is dealing with an intensely deep hurt, and the response they hear is, "God never gives us more than we can handle; sometimes I just wish He didn't trust us so much."

Does God work in mysterious ways? Sure.

Does the Bible say God never gives us more than we can handle? Not really...  check out the often misquoted verse for yourself to make your own assessment. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

I think the reality is, all of us face moments that are way more than we can handle. Maybe you are facing one of those moments right now.

We find ourselves drowning in sorrow, or overwhelmed by hurt, or trying to process a tragedy. Whatever the situation may be, it is just too much.

So if we each face these situations, why do people keep saying things like this? Why do we offer up these empty sayings?

Truth is, I think for many people, that is the best answer they have. Their intentions are not to blow someone off, or hurt them.

They see the look of desperation in someones face, and that is the best they have to offer.

I have good news, that is not the best God has to offer.

In Psalms 50:15 it says, "Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory."

If you are feeling completely overwhelmed, that's okay. Just don't stay there, God says to call out to Him, and He will rescue you!

We were never meant to work it out on our own. We are not left to just find a way because God has some blanket promise that it will never be too much, and if it feels like too much, you're wrong.

Jesus pretty clearly says that we will need Him, and that without Him, things will not go real well.

In John 15:5 Jesus puts it this way, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."

So relax, it's okay that you have felt overwhelmed. You are not alone in feeling like life is way too hard.

That is why Jesus came.

So when you are reminded that it is more than you can handle, turn to Jesus, call on Him, He will rescue you.