I have to be honest.  I am not an expert on the celebration of Lent. It wasn’t talked about a lot in the church I grew up in and it’s not been a huge tradition in any of the churches where I’ve served. When I was growing up the only friends I knew of that celebrated lent were my Catholic friends.  I understand the concepts and principles involved and I realize it is gaining in popularity in today’s church culture, but it’s simply not been something I’ve practiced a great deal.

Lent is a practice of celebration 40 days prior to Easter that allows believers to prepare their hearts to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. Basically, the person practicing lent gives up something they would regularly do during the season of lent. I’ve heard of people abstaining from caffeine, sweets, television, or smoking, among other things.   Today being what is called Ash Wednesday, the start of the lent season, I have received enough questions about it that I felt it was worthy of my addressing the issue.

My understanding of Scriptures is that the Old Testament practices and traditions are no longer required, but, at the same time, disciplining ourselves is always a good thing, if done with the right motive and purpose.  For that reason, I would encourage the practice of lent by giving something up of value during this period to spend more time focusing on the true value of Christ. I see great opportunities in this to build family traditions, celebrate Christ together, and personally build a person’s character in Christ.

Since I believe we are no longer bound by rules, but are now bound by grace, if a person wants to practice lent, I think they should write their own rules for their practice of lent based on what they want to accomplish and how disciplined they need to be. The key, however, is more about taking on than it is giving up. The end goal is to take on more of Christ as one gives up something of value.  This is actually a good discipline to have throughout the year.

In my opinion, if a person is concentrating more on the discipline and his or her ability to keep a rule then he or she is still living under the law system.  If, however, one is concentrating on the focus of Christ then he or she is truly living by grace.  That should always be encouraged.  However we celebrate or don’t celebrate Lent, let’s all take time preparing our hearts for Easter and reminding ourselves of the sacrifice Christ gave on our behalf.  That has to be good for all believers.

Lent experts, I’d love to hear your thoughts… Educate me (and my readers).  What am I missing?  How do you celebrate Lent?

 

I meet so many people that have been injured by failure, hurt or disappointment, to the point that they refuse to take a chance again. Jesus used parables to teach life applications. Recently one of Jesus’ parables reminded me of some important principles regarding life’s difficulties and the process we go through seeing our dreams come true. I realize Scripture has only one meaning, but for me this parable has a new application.

The parable is Mark 4:26-29

Here is the encouragement I received:

Plant – One important step after a failure is to get started with life again. You have to at least plant something. Many times people never get started again pursuing their dreams. It’s impossible to harvest a crop you never planted.

Plant the right seeds – Remember, you will reap what you sow. If you have made mistakes, learn from them and plant new seeds. Head your life in the direction you want it to go.

Understand You Can’t Control Circumstances – The farmer can’t control the weather. You and I cannot control other people. Once we plant, we can’t control all the circumstances. You may have to take a risk again, even though there are few guarantees.

Harvest – Trust the harvest will come. If you head your life in the right direction, and wait on God to work His will, eventually you will experience success. Don’t let impatience keep you from waiting on God’s perfect timing.

Have you been holding back because of fear or worry? Maybe now is the time to get back to farming!

I meet many people frustrated with their spiritual life. Often I find they are measuring the wrong things. They tend to measure their day-to-day activities, rather than their progress over time. My intent with this post is to encourage you to measure outputs, not inputs when evaluating your spiritual life.

If you measure only inputs of your spiritual growth…such as…

• How many times you read your Bible
• How many minutes a day you pray
• How many people you invite to church

You’ll often feel like a failure in your spiritual life.

If you measure the outputs of your spiritual growth…such as…

• Are you becoming more patient?
• Are you learning to love people that are hard to love?
• Do you desire to be more like Christ today than you once desired?

You can discern if you are really growing spiritually.

It is much harder to put numbers on intangibles, but deep down you will usually know the answer.  When I try to measure the inputs of my faith, I grow disappointed, because it seems I can never do enough. When I measure the outputs, the results of my faith, I can truly determine if I am growing to be more like Christ. (Thankfully, I can see huge progress over the course of my life.)

Discipline helps develop spiritual fruit, and I believe in practicing private disciplines that help grow your faith (inputs), but the discipline is not the goal, the fruit is the goal (outputs). Jesus didn’t say His followers would be known by the number of disciplines they can keep. Jesus said we would be known by our fruit.

What would you add to the list…what input do you tend to measure to judge if you are growing spiritually? More importantly, how are you doing over the course of time?

And all they that heard it wondered at those things, which were told them by the shepherds. Luke 2:18 KJV

It’s the day after Christmas. Are you still wondering what all the “fuss” was about?

I can imagine the “wonder” going on in Bethlehem shortly after the birth of Christ. There was great wonder in the naming of this baby. Jesus, which means “salvation of God”, was not something someone like Joseph and Mary typically would have named their son. Talk about high hopes for your children!

With the excitement going on in the town because of the census, it is probable that few took notice of Jesus’ birth. Therefore, when the shepherds go about joyfully, almost ecstatically, proclaiming the Good News, people most likely wondered “what baby?”… “I didn’t see a baby”. They were so busy with their own celebrations; they had missed the birth of a Savior!

What about you? As you clean up the torn packages from yesterday, and you pack away all the new gifts; as you travel back home or prepare to head back to work, what difference has Christmas made in your life? Have you thought about it? Did the fact that a Savior was born make a difference in your life this week/this year? Are you living a life that reflects that truth? Or…are you still wondering what all the excitement is about?

Many celebrated Christmas this year. How many really understood the why behind the celebration? The parties are over and the gifts are open, and many will be sad that the celebration is over, but the celebration alone will never completely fill a person’s heart. Only the true gift of Christmas, the one they named Jesus, can fill the void in a heart that often dwells at the end of a Christmas celebration.

After the dust settles from the hustle and rush of buying, wrapping, opening gifts, stuffing ourselves with holiday treats and enjoying the company of friends and family is over, perhaps you and I should pause and really reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.  A Savior has been born…He is Christ the Lord!  That Savior grew, lived a sinless life, died on a cross, rose again, and now intercedes between God and man on behalf of those who believe.  He wants to be your friend that sticks closer than a brother.  He wants those who are weary and heavy-burdened to come to Him.  He wants to bless our lives with true peace.

…And that part of the Christmas season…will last throughout the coming year…and throughout eternity!

 

Matthew 1:18-25 (Emphasis Mine)

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to

Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband,

being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example , was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things,

behold , the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying , Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife:

for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done , that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Behold , a virgin shall be with child , and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is ,

God with us.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

(Merry Christmas to all my readers!)

Luke 2:1-20

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, 
that all the world should be taxed . 
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  
And all went to be taxed , every one into his own city.  
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, 
which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  
And so it was , that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered .  
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes , and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country 
shepherds abiding in the field , keeping watch over their flockby night.  
And, lo , the angel of the Lord came upon them, 
and the glory of the Lord shone roundabout them: and they were sore afraid. 
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, 
behold , I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  
And this shall be a sign unto you; 
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes , lying in a manger.  
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying ,  
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  
And it came to pass , as the angels were gone away from them into heaven , the shepherds said one to another, 
Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass , which the Lord hath made known unto us. 
And they came with haste , and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  
But Mary kept all these things , and pondered them in her heart.  
And the shepherds returned , glorifying and praising God for all the things 
that they had heard and seen ,as it was told unto them.

Jesus didn’t come to bring peace to the world.

There.  I said it.  Now before you cast your religious stones my way and accuse me of blasphemy, please allow me to explain.

It may be simply a matter of terminology, but I think we often confuse the purpose of the coming of the Christ of Christmas.  We love the passage in Luke describing Jesus’ birth.  The “great company of the heavenly host” accompanying God’s angel told the shepherds, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)  We often look for peace in this world and are disappointed when life appears anything but peaceful.  Don’t confuse that verse to mean that in this world, because Jesus came, there would be peace all around us.  That day here on earth may never come. We live in a very mixed up, shattered world where peace is often hard to find.

In fact, during Jesus’ ministry, he told the disciples, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34)  That doesn’t sound very peaceful, does it? The controversy over Christmas that remains today is that Jesus divides people over opinions of who He is and what He did and can do for the world.

Here’s the bottom line; Jesus didn’t come to bring peace to the world.  Jesus came to bring the world Peace. Jesus came to bring the world the One who is Peace.  He came to bring peace to the hearts of men that are imprisoned by “sin that so easily entangles.“ (Hebrews 12:1)  Jesus came to bring Himself to people who could not reach peace on their own.  The peace that came to the world at Christmas is to be found within you, the followers of Christ.

In light of this truth, if you desire to celebrate the real purpose of Christmas, understand that it is through you that the real meaning of Christmas is expressed…as you share the Peace of Christmas…the person of Christ…with others.  That peace is expressed as we share Christ’s love with people that feel unloved, forgive those that have injured us, feel joy when our world is falling apart around us or give expecting nothing in return.

There may never be peace in this world, but in this world, we can have Peace.  His name is Jesus, born in a manger, but raised to live a perfect life, die on a cross, and introduce the world to real peace…peace that surpasses understanding.

Do you think it is possible to have peace at Christmas apart from the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ?

Jesus was an excellent leader.  If I want to really be successful, I need to learn to lead the Jesus way.  Here are 10 quick tips for doing leadership as Jesus led:
 

1. Recruit with big asks
2. Hold followers accountable
3. Challenge the status quo
4. Love the spectacular
5. Lead by example
6. Keep a few tricks up your sleeve
7. Use teachable moments
8. Invest trust into followers and release them to explore
9. Accomplish the mission at any costs
10. Finish Well

I decided not to unpack them for you, but let you think through them yourself. Someday I may share some more thoughts.

What do you think about the Jesus style of leadership?

In which of these do you most need work?

Can you think of others to add to the list?

I continue to talk to people as a follow up to the message I did on surrendering to Christ. Apparently this is an issue that several are working through in their hearts.

Watch the message here. You will need to continue watching after 10 minutes at the Truthcasting site. (The play button is to the far left bottom of the screen. Sometimes you can’t view all of it.)

After you have finished watching the message, read the follow up to the sermon with THIS POST.  My son Nate also offers a great perspective in his most recent post HERE.

I preached Sunday at Grace Community Church on the need to surrender everything to Christ.  What a lofty concept.  I realize how ambiguous that statement is.  I explained more, and you can listen to that message HERE (or watch it HERE), but I received additional questions after the message.  Personally, I love when that happens.  To me it means people left thinking.

A typical question went something like this:

What exactly does it mean to “surrender”?  How do you do that?

In an attempt to help continue this thought process, here is an answer I emailed to one questioner:

Dear _________:

You have asked a difficult question to answer.  If you can fully understand surrendering, you can help a whole lot of people…and sell some books.  Surrender is almost as mysterious as when Jesus was talking to Nicodemus in John 3 about being “born again”.  It’s a concept hard to get our minds to comprehend.

I need to start by saying:

Surrender is less about a formula and more about knowing the person of Christ.

Surrender is less about an action plan and more about devoting one’s self to Jesus.

Surrender is less about finding answers and more about obedience to His plan as He reveals it.

Surrender is less about solving a specific problem and more about creating a lifestyle of following Christ.

With those understandings, let me share that one way to understand the concept of surrender may be to compare it to something you do understand.  What does surrender look like in a relationship with Jesus?  Put it in terms of a relationship you have now and understand (at least most days).

The day you first met your husband, you may or may not have liked him at first, but almost certainly, if he had asked you that day to move to strange city with him, you may have looked at him as if he was crazy.  You may have even slapped his face.  As you began to get to know him, you started to trust him increasingly, and at some point, you were more willing to follow him.  Obviously, you moved here to be with him.

It is similar with your surrender to Christ.  While your husband may never be 100% trustworthy, because he’s human…God is!  The more you know Him, the more you will know His voice and the better you will hear His commands…And the more willing you will be to follow Him wherever He leads.

In my understanding, that’s what surrender is all about…

How would you have answered?

For more devotional thoughts, click HERE.