pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: lead


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Works of Faith

Sometimes I feel a little like Cornelius.  I sense the need to be closed to God than I am.  Yet on my own I cannot seem to close that gap that I feel.  Like the centurion, I sometimes need someone to explain and guide me so that I can draw closer.  Perhaps at times you feel this too.

At other points in my faith journey I have ‘randomly’ experienced people and events that drew me closer to God and deeper in my faith.  I was not specifically seeking these out, but God blessed me with them.  The times we encounter God can happen at any moment and in any circumstance.  Perhaps you have experienced these too.

God can meet us both in the expected and in the unexpected.  We can find Him in church and in Bible study.  We can find Him in the repair ship and in line at the grocery store.  It is amazing how many ways the Holy Spirit can move and work in  our lives to draw us closer to God.

At times we too can be instruments of God or of the Holy Spirit.  Those promptings to say just the right thing, the nudges to help someone, the feeling to seek another out for a cup of coffee – all can be works of faith.  Being sensitive to these things is the first step.  Being willing to follow is the second step.  Being willing to take action is the third step.  May we all be willing instruments of God’s hand and the Spirit’s lead this day and every day.

Scripture reference: Acts 10: 44-48


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Attuned to the Voice

Who would we identify as prophets of God in our world today?  Is it the big TV evangelists or the mega church lead pastors?  Is it the pastor of your local church or the leader of your small group?  Is it your spouse or best friend?  Yes, yes, yes, and yes!  A prophet can be all of these at certain times and points in our life an it can be others not mentioned above.  God can still speak in many ways through a wide variety of people.

Surely prophets are people like Moses, Elijah, and Jesus.  While this is a pretty impressive list, the Bible is full of prophets – many of whom came from out of nowhere.  Many spoke the word God gave them and faded back into regular life.  In this sense, we live today among many prophets.  Some are here for a while and others only for a short period of time.

One of the main jobs of a prophet is to align the people of faith with the will of God.  In this sense they help guide like a shepherd.  A prophet can also offer correction as we stray from God’s plan.  In our personal lives this comes mostly when we pursue worldly idols and when we fall to temptation.

In these terms, the voice of God can be heard from the many prophets in our lives.  We too may be a prophet to others.  We all need to be attuned to the voice that God has given a message to.  God is still very much alive and well and active in our world.  May His voice continue to lead and guide us all.

Scripture reference: Deuteronomy 8: 15-20


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Baptism into the Family

As Paul baptizes the twelve men in Ephesus, the Holy spirit comes upon then and they are filled with its presence.  They cannot deny the change that has occurred in themselves.  Outwardly there are signs as well – they begin to speak in tongues and to prophecy.  Much like the first Pentecost, this is a powerful moment.  It is also a great example of the power of the risen Christ.

Baptism remains a powerful experience.  It is s huge moment in each believer’s life and walk of faith.  As we are baptized, we are formally welcomed into the family of God and we are marked by Him.  All of our lives we carry this mark – child of God.  As part of our church family we are also part of the larger family of God, a huge network of believers past, present, and future.  Many will pray for you as needs arise just as we in turn intercede for others.

Baptism is also our first step towards our eternal destination with the risen Christ.  As the Holy Spirit dwells in each of us, the Spirit guides, leads, nudges, convicts, and prompts us to live a life worthy of our calling as a child of God and as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Our new internal compass is always present and active in our lives.  May we tune into the Spirit’s presence in our lives so that we more closely walk with Christ, our hope and our salvation.

Scripture reference: Acts 29: 1-7


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Willingly Led

Has God ever disrupted your plans?  Have you ever been cruising along and all of  sudden you are someplace else or doing something else?  When the angel Gabriel visits Mary and announces that she has found favor with God and will give birth to Jesus, her life takes an unexpected turn.

For us, these turns can be bad – like the loss of a job or the onset of a sudden illness.  Or they can be good turns – a new relationship or the opportunity to share the good news.  In either case, the great thing is that our loving God is with us in both the good and the bad plus every place in between.

In Mary’s case she had no choice concerning her change in direction.  Often times we have no choice either.  But often times we do have a choice.  Sometimes they are small detours that make a big difference in the life of another person.  If our eyes are seeking and our heart is open, God will provide us with opportunities to bless others.  May we be willingly lead.

Scripture reference: Luke 1: 26-30


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In Charge by One

When Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint Israel’s next king, he was looking for what we often look for in a leader –  strong, powerful, mighty, charismatic…  Some of these are surface characteristics but others are ‘hidden’ or are things we can sense about someone.  But this is some of the typical list that we look for in our leaders.  They are also characteristics that many of us would like applied to ourselves as well!

But God told Samuel ‘No, no no!’  God told him that it is what is in the heart that matters.  In essence, God told him, ‘To rule my people Israel, faithfulness to me is what matters.’  A heart for God is what counts.  To rule or leas from the perspective of God is what is needed.

It is still what matters today.  It does not matter if you own your own business or if you are in charge or a large number of people.  To live with a heart turned to God matters just as much as if you are only leading yourself.  Most of us fall somewhere in between owning our own business and leading just ourselves.  It does not matter.  Leading a God-filled, spirit-led life is ALL that matters.  And we each are fully in charge of whether or not we live that way.  Seek God.  Love God.  Share God.


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Where to Go?

Do you have a ’cause’ that is special to you? Do you have something that you are involved in and passionate about? Is it always easy to serve or give?

If we truly love something we are often willing to risk much for it. We are willing to invest in and support it in spite of it sometimes being difficult or have a ‘cost’. Yet making a difference in our world is what we are called to do. Through our faith we are called to be involved in the world as we share the love of Christ with those in need and with those who are lost.

Psalm 15 begins by asking the questions: “Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?” Well… those who love God, right? That is certainly part of it. But there is more. He who is blameless and does what is righteous. He who speaks truth and does not slander. He who does his neighbor no wrong. He who keeps his oath even when it hurts. This is just a partial list from Psalm 15. And the end line: “He who does these things will never be shaken.”

For those things that you maybe aren’t so passionate about, is it always easy to give? For those causes that you don’t jump in line to support, is it always a joy to serve? Are we supposed to be involved in every cause and to support every need? No. And that is okay. We cannot be involved in everything and we cannot support every need or cause.

But there is something out there that we can each get behind and support. Maybe it is with our time. Maybe it is with our finances or other gifts. Maybe it is through our prayers. The world is so full of need and we are called to be in the world. God leads us where we need to be – when we are listening and are attentive to His call. It is so easy to let the world drown out that still, small voice. But when we look at the world through Jesus’ eyes and when we walk where God leads, then we can dwell with God. And He will be there beside us and we will not be shaken.