hEAR mE rOCK

Jimmy Buffett sang it best…

“According to my watch the time is now, The past is dead and gone, Don’t try to shake it just nod your head. Breathe in, Breathe out, Move on.”

This weekend I had two beautiful days of no work and good times with good friends. After the first day, I was just content to be. My mind was settled and my heart found a peace that only God can provide.  I was content to drive around for over an hour with my new best friend just trying to find our way around Orlando. There was no pressure to be anywhere at any certain time. It was just time to breathe.

In the last 3 days, I have worked 28 hours and been to all of my classes. I find myself longing for that time to just breathe. Now in the middle of an insanely busy week, I’m taking time to rest and breathe.

Breathe in: I have so much ”stuff” cluttering my life 

Breathe out: God’s in the business of dealing with the little things

Breathe in: I don’t know about my future

Breathe out: But I believe in a God who does

Breathe in: Relationships are a tricky thing

Breathe out: God’s is blessing my relationships when I turn them over to him

Breathe in: I need a career

Breathe out: God has a position just for me

Breathe in: I need — I need — I need

Breathe out: I’m so incredibly thankful

On Sunday morning before we left Orlando, my friend took time to breathe. We watched a plane writing messages in the sky. The last one said “Trust Jesus.” He noted that God just used the writing in the sky to speak to him. We were just taking time to breathe.

I’m breathing in the presence of God. I’m not looking to fight my way through life anymore. We talked about it in church a couple weeks ago. The word “Selah” is used in Psalms. I did some research on it. It means “stop and listen” It refers to a holy pause. Some believe it has simply has to do with a pause in music. But I read the writings of David is Psalms. When he took time for “Selah” his attitude changed. His thoughts were altered. His focus was shifted from himself to the things of God.

Selah.

I have found no rest more satisfying or replenishing than when I rest in the arms of my loving God.

Recently, I was asked to be a part of the creative team for our Jr. High ministry, 180. It seemed trivial at first, but as I was praying last week, I realized the weight of what I have been asked to do.

I’m supposed to support ideas, sermons, themes, skits, and videos to reach 500-600 middle school students every Friday night?? What if my ideas aren’t good? What if the kids don’t get it? It’s been 10 years since I was in middle school myself. How can I relate to something I don’t even remember that well? I wasn’t cool in middle school. Can I be cool now?

As all these thoughts rushed my mind, God was quick to provide some peace.

Good ideas are a dime a dozen. I have the knowledge of “cool” and “not cool.” I know what can grab the attention of a 13-year-old. We’re a mega-church with the resources and talent to get kids’ attention. The true task is not providing the entertainment for Friday night. It’s about taking their attention and helping them find Jesus.

Have we buried Jesus so deep in the music, skits and games that kids can’t tell the difference?
In the production of service, have we watered down the message of who God is and what Jesus did?

We’re dealing with a generation that is desperate. They’re desperate for the new thrill and the better high. They’re desperate for someone to invest in them. They’re desperate to cover up the pain they’ve encountered. They’re desperate to be noticed. They’re desperate to find that ultimate acceptance.

They are so desperate that they’re taking extreme measures to find an answer.

It’s our job as the creative team to grab their attention. But as pastors, staff, volunteers and student leaders, it’s crucial we understand the importance of what we do once we have their attention.

When we strip away the music, the lights, the funny videos, the gross games and the jokes, what we need to be left with is the message of a living God. Not some big guy in the sky no one knows. But the God that can change their lives and be an answer in their desperation.

We absolutely cannot underestimate the power of who God is. God will bless our methods, but we have to remember the ultimate goal. It’s time to disciple them as followers of Christ.

Our focus for September is small groups. Small groups are the opportunity for this discipleship. It’s our responsibility to bring them in and then to allow small group leaders to invest, teach and grow.

I don’t just want to tell kids about him. I want to help them find him.

Funny, now this seems a lot more difficult than just trying to entertain them.

It’s almost overwhelming.

The feeling that you’re supposed to be somewhere else, doing something else, with someone else.

 But instead, you’re here.

It’s the process. The process that says God has somewhere he needs you to be and something he needs you to do, but first, you have to be ready. We all see the goal, but most of us have a hard time working towards it. We just want to show up one day and be there. But in a society that says, “Get what you want and get it now,” it’s hard for us to say, “I see what I want, but it’s going to take time to get there.”

Paul is speaking in Phillipians 3:12  
“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I will keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.”

In my own life, I get so frustrated and angry with my location. I couldn’t understand if I knew what Jesus Christ “saved me for and wants me to be,” why am I not there? But God spoke so clearly. He said, “Chill out, you’re not ready.”
So okay,
I’m learning patience. I’m doing things to better myself. I’m getting a college education. I’m developing relationships with people, some of whom I’ve been able to reach out to and some who have reached out to me. I’m enjoying being young. I’m finding out how to manage time and the art of managing finances. I’m studying the bible. I’m getting to know God and learning about his character. I’m learning to hear his voice and be sensitive to his spirit. I read somewhere once “I don’t know what my future holds, but I know who holds my future.” It’s the process. God’s not always concerned with where we end up as how we got there. We all deal with situations that test our integrity. We know there’s a fast/easy/cheap way to get things done… and there’s the RIGHT way to get things done. We may be able to sneak through life avoiding the processes, but we can’t sneak past God. So tonight I’ll take in a movie, maybe dinner with friends. I’ll spend some time talking to God, reading his word, and reading other people’s perspective on that word. And when the day is done I can rest peacefully because I know I’m one day closer to my goal.

God is a true gentleman. I only walk alone when I choose to walk away. But I’m never far from his mind. As soon as I’m ready, at the moment I ask, he’ll meet me in any location and in any condition. But he loves me enough not to leave me there. I see my current state-God sees my potential. He sees my purpose. He loves me more than I can fathom. He’ll meet me where I am, restore my value, calm my heart and focus my vision. Then he’ll push me to move on and find more. Love requires action.

“Those walking in the faith need to know and understand what Christ taught. Jesus did not promise to eradicate sickness in our lives. Faith will not guarantee prosperity. But a relationship with God will give us something far more precious than wealth or even heatlh. It will give a purpose for our existence, and it can give peace to our souls.”

I want to change the world. I want to show people there is a God who loves them, and there are eternal destinations for the lives we lead. I don’t want to convince everyone to follow a set of rules. I want to introduce the world to the true and living God who has the power to change their lives. I want people to understand there is an answer in their desperation and a purpose for their lives. I want to the change the world, but I understand I must first change myself. I want to develop a love for all people, not just those who are easy to love. I want to have an indescribable joy. I want to live at peace with the people around me and the decisions I make. I want to have patience when I’m waiting and thank God for extra time to meet new people. I want to be kind to the people who deserve it the least. I want to be faithful to keep my word and not let people question my commitment to anything. I want to practice self-control so that my past addictions have no control over me and God is my only obsession.  It was spoken so eloquently by Morgan Freeman in the movie “Evan Almighty.” As God, Freeman explains that when we pray for things like patience in our lives, God doesn’t just give us a patient thought. Instead, he gives us an opportunity to be patient. So as I pray for my life to change, I expect God to give me an opportunity to demonstrate those changes. I’m going to be placed in situations with people who are difficult to love; I will have to find that joy I’m looking for through sorrow; My former addictions are going to present themselves to me, and I’m going to have to turn and walk away. But through all of these things I know God will be transforming me. Through my transformation, I can affect my family and friends, those people closest to me. Together we can create the church, who will reach the city, that can touch the state, that will affect the nation, that will CHANGE THE WORLD. When I was in high school, I remember having these huge dreams of changing the world. I also remember when an adult, a pastor I knew and trusted, told me that dreams like that were great, but they were young and naive. He told me that as I got older, I would see more of how the world works and I would be able to have more realistic dreams. I bought into that thinking for several years. But now I ask these questions, isn’t it true that God doesn’t work like the “world works”? and aren’t dreams usually unrealistic? I know that all these things will come at a cost, and I’m beginning to find it’s a cost I’m willing to pay. I’m willing to pay it because I’m getting tired of watching people get lost in the world, and I can’t just stand back anymore and hold onto the solution like it was a secret. I cancel out every selfish desire that would try to make this about me. I’m going to be obedient to what God tells me to do. I’m going to find contentment when God takes something or someone away from me, because I understand that what he will give me in place of it is far better than what I can imagine. I won’t be discouraged when I can’t understand the theology of Christianity because the problem with theology is it’s man trying to wrap our very unholy minds around a very Holy God. I’m going to be the cause, and God will make the effect to change the world.

…this is from a Max Lucado devotional I received several years ago..

I choose Love…. No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose Joy…. I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose Peace…. I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose Patience…. I will overlook the inconvenience of the world. Instead of cursing the one that takes my place, I will invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for the moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose Kindness…. I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose Goodness…. I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I accuse. I choose goodness.

I choose Faithfulness…. Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I choose Gentleness…. Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it only be on myself.

I choose Self-Control…. I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my Faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.