In my re-reading of the O.T. account of the formation of the people of Israel, I find myself often wondering how the Lord put up with such faithlessness! They are continually challenging, doubting and testing God and His promise to give them "people and land".
In the end, however, it is the assurance that "God is with them" that carries them through their seasons of doubt and fear. At times, the presence is so strong, that their enemies ask them to leave! (Gen.31).
Isn't that what we all want to know? "that God is with us". It's no guarantee that we won't have hardship, but it is a certain promise that we will prevail by His grace.
That presence isn't automatic. It comes through seeking, searching and waiting on the Lord. There is a price to the presence. The assurance is worth more than anything we might have to invest to get it.
I pray that we know that "God is with us' as a Church as we venture into challenging times with mission and vision that we have been given in prayer and dialogue. I also pray that you, dear one, know that same assurance in your every day life.
Blessings!
Dr. Jay
P.S. I'd love to hear a story or two from some of you that have experienced His presence in difficult times.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Taking Time...
One of my small group members recently passed along a well researched study that identified the fact that about 58% of Americans do not read another book after high school!
That study also confirmed that 65% of evangelical Christians have never read the entire New Testament. (A less startling fact, but a more disturbing one!) The reason given for both of these sad realities was: "I just don't have time to read".
Here's the truth. Unless you read God's Word, you will not ever rise to your place of destiny as a follower of Jesus, nor will you have any burden for those outside of the Kingdom. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of God" Romans 10:17 says.
I'm like most of you. I have to MAKE time to read God's Word on a daily basis. It does not get easier even as you get "older". Life continually fills up all time you don't control by making a commitment to do what is important, not just what is urgent or pleasurable.
Take the time to read: God's Word and other edifying things as well. You will be enriched for doing so, and others will be affected as a direct result.
Think eternally!
Dr. Jay
That study also confirmed that 65% of evangelical Christians have never read the entire New Testament. (A less startling fact, but a more disturbing one!) The reason given for both of these sad realities was: "I just don't have time to read".
Here's the truth. Unless you read God's Word, you will not ever rise to your place of destiny as a follower of Jesus, nor will you have any burden for those outside of the Kingdom. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of God" Romans 10:17 says.
I'm like most of you. I have to MAKE time to read God's Word on a daily basis. It does not get easier even as you get "older". Life continually fills up all time you don't control by making a commitment to do what is important, not just what is urgent or pleasurable.
Take the time to read: God's Word and other edifying things as well. You will be enriched for doing so, and others will be affected as a direct result.
Think eternally!
Dr. Jay
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Dynamic Worship
No matter what the environment, dynamic worship always draws me closer to the Lord. This past weekend I experienced dynamic worship both in the Worship Café and in the Wexford Main auditorium as God’s Spirit met us through moments of powerful declaration as well as quiet meditation.
Worship is central to bringing focus to our hearts. I fear that too often we see worship as simply the prelude to the real important part of the service when in fact worship is the time that we have to really bless God and give Him an offering of our hearts. As a result, He meets us and reveals His word and His will to us.
I encourage you to come prepared to worship and stay as long as it takes to get to the place where you are communing in worship with the One who gave everything that you might belong to Him.
Blessings,Dr. Jay
Worship is central to bringing focus to our hearts. I fear that too often we see worship as simply the prelude to the real important part of the service when in fact worship is the time that we have to really bless God and give Him an offering of our hearts. As a result, He meets us and reveals His word and His will to us.
I encourage you to come prepared to worship and stay as long as it takes to get to the place where you are communing in worship with the One who gave everything that you might belong to Him.
Blessings,Dr. Jay
Friday, January 9, 2009
Re-plating
I was having lunch today with one of my fellow pastors when our waitress brought out our meals. The hot plate and some sort of misstep almost caused a disaster with the two lunch entrees.
One of them slid precariously to the very edge of the plate and then shifted itself into a different location, not really spilling but leaving just a bit of “sloppiness” to the “presentation”. (None of us really care about “presentation”, do we?)
The waitress was very kind and quite apologetic. She offered to re-plate my brother’s lunch entrée. We joked about it and said that as long as it hadn’t been on the floor for more than 3 or 4 minutes it would be just fine and proceeded to enjoy our lunch and our time together.
Life is like that, isn’t it?! It can be nicely put together and ready to go in so many different areas: whether vacation plans, business deals, time with family, a night out with your spouse or whatever and then for whatever reason it gets “messed up”. Re-plating involves way too much work. Rather, we’re much better off just to go with it and trust that something good is going to come out of a near disaster and that you can look back and enjoy God’s providence in every detail of your life.
I don’t think there’s much value in re-plating. It’s not about the details anyhow, it’s about the fellowship that’s shared when life gets a little messy.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
One of them slid precariously to the very edge of the plate and then shifted itself into a different location, not really spilling but leaving just a bit of “sloppiness” to the “presentation”. (None of us really care about “presentation”, do we?)
The waitress was very kind and quite apologetic. She offered to re-plate my brother’s lunch entrée. We joked about it and said that as long as it hadn’t been on the floor for more than 3 or 4 minutes it would be just fine and proceeded to enjoy our lunch and our time together.
Life is like that, isn’t it?! It can be nicely put together and ready to go in so many different areas: whether vacation plans, business deals, time with family, a night out with your spouse or whatever and then for whatever reason it gets “messed up”. Re-plating involves way too much work. Rather, we’re much better off just to go with it and trust that something good is going to come out of a near disaster and that you can look back and enjoy God’s providence in every detail of your life.
I don’t think there’s much value in re-plating. It’s not about the details anyhow, it’s about the fellowship that’s shared when life gets a little messy.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Encouragement
The folks on our staff here at North Way know that the word for the year for our team is “encouragement.” I’m not sure exactly how the Lord plopped that into my heart except that it’s something that I wish I had been more effective in ministering throughout my life.
I’ve come to discover that encouragement requires two things: strength (which is what we give to others) and vulnerability (which simply allows people to believe that you know what they’re going through).
And so this little dance between strength and vulnerability is something we all have to learn if we are to be encouragers. I’m thankful for those who have demonstrated that to me over the years and pray that this year will be one where I’ll grow by leaps and bounds in this important ministry that every believer is called to. (Hebrews 10:23)
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
I’ve come to discover that encouragement requires two things: strength (which is what we give to others) and vulnerability (which simply allows people to believe that you know what they’re going through).
And so this little dance between strength and vulnerability is something we all have to learn if we are to be encouragers. I’m thankful for those who have demonstrated that to me over the years and pray that this year will be one where I’ll grow by leaps and bounds in this important ministry that every believer is called to. (Hebrews 10:23)
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Staying Positive
If you’re like me, there were a few things that I set “in my mind” to do this year that are different than 2008!
I don’t call them resolutions because I know that my own “will power” in and of itself, won’t get the job done. They are, however, things that I really do want to change.
It’s fascinating to me how difficult it is for us to change things that should really simply require a modicum of investment (such as going to bed 30 minutes earlier, reading 30 minutes rather than watching TV, not eating sweets every day, etc., etc.). All these things seem to become “big deals”. I can’t even change my mind without something getting in the way!
However, it’s still early enough in the year for me to know that God’s grace is the secret to all this. Invariably when I have found that source of power in my life, (II Corinthians 12:9) I’m able to marshal whatever energies are needed to make those changes. Without it, I seem helpless: but with it, all things are possible!
If you’re like me, don’t give up on those needed changes. If you’re struggling (like me) just ask the Lord for more grace!
Think eternally,
Dr. Jay
I don’t call them resolutions because I know that my own “will power” in and of itself, won’t get the job done. They are, however, things that I really do want to change.
It’s fascinating to me how difficult it is for us to change things that should really simply require a modicum of investment (such as going to bed 30 minutes earlier, reading 30 minutes rather than watching TV, not eating sweets every day, etc., etc.). All these things seem to become “big deals”. I can’t even change my mind without something getting in the way!
However, it’s still early enough in the year for me to know that God’s grace is the secret to all this. Invariably when I have found that source of power in my life, (II Corinthians 12:9) I’m able to marshal whatever energies are needed to make those changes. Without it, I seem helpless: but with it, all things are possible!
If you’re like me, don’t give up on those needed changes. If you’re struggling (like me) just ask the Lord for more grace!
Think eternally,
Dr. Jay
Monday, January 5, 2009
A Tiny Thing
On New Year's Day we were enjoying a great time together as a family. It was one of those relaxed kind of days where you could sleep in and still have enough time to visit with some of the most important people in your life.
It was just after dinner that I knew something wasn’t “quite right” in my insides. Within a couple of hours there was an unstoppable force taking over my body! It was nothing obvious that I had ingested, or anything I could have imagined being so violent. And yet, for the next 3 days or so, a very tiny “bug” (probably not a very technical word for a bacterial or viral infection!) took over my life. I was literally helpless at its control as it drained me of all energy and desire to get anything done.
It’s not unlike our spiritual lives either. We can be doing very well and then suddenly something happens that simply takes away our inner strength. Often it’s unseen; it can be a word or even someone’s unintended negligence.
Nonetheless, there is healing! Come to the cross and to the place where Jesus restores.
It took me about 3 days to get over my bug…it may take you longer. In any event, it reminds us of just how dependent upon His grace we are!
Blessings,
Pastor Jay
It was just after dinner that I knew something wasn’t “quite right” in my insides. Within a couple of hours there was an unstoppable force taking over my body! It was nothing obvious that I had ingested, or anything I could have imagined being so violent. And yet, for the next 3 days or so, a very tiny “bug” (probably not a very technical word for a bacterial or viral infection!) took over my life. I was literally helpless at its control as it drained me of all energy and desire to get anything done.
It’s not unlike our spiritual lives either. We can be doing very well and then suddenly something happens that simply takes away our inner strength. Often it’s unseen; it can be a word or even someone’s unintended negligence.
Nonetheless, there is healing! Come to the cross and to the place where Jesus restores.
It took me about 3 days to get over my bug…it may take you longer. In any event, it reminds us of just how dependent upon His grace we are!
Blessings,
Pastor Jay
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