The Best Part Is Community

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“The Best Part Is Community”

Hebrews 10:24

NIV- And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

NLT- Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

 

I know in the past couple of years, I have shared numerous times that I could not be where I am with my running again if it wasn’t for the community of people that encourage me.  In the past 2 years, I have come to enjoy running more than I ever thought I would again.  It would not mean as much to me these days if it were not for the people I am connected to as we spur one another on and encourage each other.  We have good days of running and bad days, but as we share our experiences with each other, it bonds us together.  I am so grateful for this. 

 

5 years ago in June, we started attending Canvas Church in Mankato.  We enjoy the worship, the preaching, but most of all, we truly enjoy the community of people we have come to know and love.  If we just attended each Sunday and did nothing more, we wouldn’t feel as we do today.  We would just be Sunday attenders.  But as we have become involved in various ways, we have established very strong friendships. 

 

Every day that I come home from work and on the weekends, I have a community that welcomes me with love.  I get to spend quality time with my wife and my daughters(when my oldest is home from college).  This community encourages me and loves me every single day.  I love them back each and every day the best that I can. 

 

So with my running, my church family and my family at home, the absolute best part is the community of people I am connected to.  That’s amazing because we are encouraged to meet together and encourage each other.  I am beyond grateful for the people I have come to know and love in our church.  It’s exciting every Sunday to see brothers and sisters in Christ that are genuine and authentic.  It’s amazing to see people being genuine in their connection to God in worship and just loving on others before and after church.

 

The best part of my running is the community I’m connected to for encouragement.  The best part of church is the community of people I’m connected to that encourage me in my walk with Christ.  The best part of my community at home with my wife and daughters is that they show me unconditional love.    

 

We all need to be connected.  I recently heard a pastor on Air1 Radio that said, “We’re not wired for isolation, we need community!” Amen!

Choose Joy

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“Choose Joy”

Philippians 4:10-13 NIV

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

 

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been struggling with various things in my personal life.  A lot of it had to do with my current job and the atmosphere.  One day, my wife made a comment that really got my attention. She told me that through her challenges, she is choosing joy.  As I considered her comment, I got to thinking about how often I let my circumstances affect my mood.  If I’m having a good day, I’ll generally tend to be in good spirits.  Makes sense!  However, if I’m struggling with several things, that usually kills my good mood and it follows me home.  That’s not a good thing!

 

I am remembering that I must choose joy each day, regardless of the circumstances I find myself dealing with.  I cannot let what’s going on around me determine my mood.  It’s so easy to be in a good mood when things are going well and to be in a bad mood when they aren’t.  That’s a lot of how the world works and we are not immune to that as believers.

 

As the past few days have gone by, I am thinking about Paul’s comments in Philippians 4 where he talks about having learned the secret of being content.  He didn’t let circumstances determine his mood.  He chose joy every day, no matter what was going on.  I am realizing more and more every single day that my attitude can spiral out of control from the negative thoughts that try to enter my mind.  I have to be very intentional every day to choose joy. 

 

I am extremely grateful for the advice my wife gave me and what she showed me.  I know that we all would like to take Paul’s words to heart and sincerely live each day by choosing joy in the Lord no matter our circumstances.  That takes a lot of discipline and Paul definitely reached a point where he learned how to be that way.  It wasn’t perfect, but it was to the point where we can all learn from his attitude.  When Paul and Silas were in prison, instead of focusing on the circumstances, they praised God and ministered powerfully to others.

 

I hope and pray that each of us will be intentional each day to choose joy regardless of what life throws at us.  Some days it will be easy and other days it will be very challenging, but we can all choose to focus on joy through our day.

'Why?' Can Be A Deal Breaker

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“’Why?’ Can Be A Deal Breaker”

James 1:2-3 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

 

In the past month, our church started going through the book of James and we will continue through the summer.  I am excited as James is one of my favorite books of the Bible and has been for many years.  I have always appreciated how bold and blunt the book is. 

 

The very first sermon, I was hit with the idea that God isn’t asking us to be joyful about the bad things that happen in our lives.  He’s not asking us to be joyful when cancer hits us, joyful when we lose our jobs or joyful when someone dies.  God wants us to know that through the trials, He is working through us and in us and we can still experience joy in life knowing He is building endurance and perseverance in us. 

 

As I sat there and listened, I thought about how so many people in the world get upset at God in hard times and shake their fist at Him.  So many people hurt when they lose a loved one they prayed for would get through a disease.  When those people die, it can create anger in us and asking God “Why?  Why would You allow this to happen?  We prayed and prayed and prayed, so why did You not come through?” 

 

I’m sure many of us have had these questions floating in our heads and hearts.  I’ve read about and heard people say they are angry with God over this or that and how situations turned out.  It’s very hard to work through those situations and I can understand the hurt.  Why would a loving God let this happen?  It’s not easy to answer.

 

As I continued to listen to this sermon, one of the points was, instead of us asking “Why”, we should instead focus on the question, “God, what is it You are trying to do through me and show me?”  This question will definitely shift our attitude and thinking to something more positive and productive.  It won’t be an overnight deal, but slowly we can start to release our fist against God and connect more with Him and allow Him to work in us and through us to help us grow our faith and trust Him more.  Sometimes in life we just have to accept what has happened and move on.  But, it is NOT easy! 

 

The question “Why?” can definitely be a deal breaker whether we continue to be angry at God or we release our fist and accept what has happened and allow God to start working through healing us.  Again, it is absolutely not easy, but it’s very possible only with Him. 

 

“Why?” can definitely be a deal breaker whether we continue in the life of faith or turn away from Him.  Which will we choose?

Not Just Another Day

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

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“Not Just Another Day”

Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT- The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease.  Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

 

Isaiah 43:19 NIV- See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

 

It’s so easy for all of us to get into certain routines each day and not even think twice about what we are doing or who we are around.  A lot of us get up, go to work, do our job, then come home to our families to end the evening.  So often, we’ll go through our day and just do our routine things and not even consider what God may be wanting to do different things in our lives.  We get comfortable in our day to day lives and just go about our usual business.

 

For many people, every day is just another day.  Just another day at work to get through to earn a paycheck.  Just another day to put up with what we don’t want to do for a while so we can then go do what we want to do.  It’s almost like we do our thing each day, then get up the next day and repeat.  It’s a constant process and, often, we don’t give much thought to what we are doing.  We just expect each day to be the usual and go through it.

 

As I consider the lives that God has given to us, I know that He does not desire for us to just go through another day doing the same stuff over and over again with the same usual attitude.  As Christians, God calls us to live a life that is set apart and different.  We are to carry His light. 

 

I know it’s challenging each day to wake up and immediately try to think of all the amazing new things God is wanting to do in our lives as we hurry through our routines, but it would be good for us to take a few moments, after we get up, and just pause to ask God to open our eyes to see all that He is doing around us.

 

For your lunch break, maybe take a walk instead of sitting at your desk and scrolling on your phone.  Instead of always putting in our earbuds at your work desk, maybe strike up a conversation with a co-worker to get to know him or her. 

 

God gives us each a new day of life every day that we awake.  I am trying to learn more that each day is a gift from Him and I shouldn’t just fall into the routine rhythm that I am comfortable with so often.  He wants me and He wants us to take notice of our surroundings and be a light in the darkness.  See things in a new way and watch what He is doing as we engage with those around us and as we take the time to look around at His creation. 

 

Every day He gives is NOT just another day.  It IS another new day that He gives us to live for Him and share the love He has given to us. 

Not What I Expected

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“Not What I Expected”

John 14:1- NIV, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”

John 16:33- NIV, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

 

Just recently when I was out on a run, I got to thinking about how it’s been 2 years since I started back up running again after not having run since I was in Jr. High.  In that time, I have learned a lot about running, especially from others who have been part of my encouraging running community.  The experience I’ve had getting back at it is not what I expected at all.  I really didn’t think I would stick with it and come to enjoy it again.  I thought I would drop off and give it up, but I haven’t and I’m glad I kept going.  It’s been a good learning experience with good days and bad days of running. 

 

I’ve learned to pace myself, push myself, control my breathing, and learn how I can improve on my timing and my distance.  The experience the past 2 years is not at all what I expected, but it’s been great.

 

As I consider my experience with running, I’m also looking at other areas of life where situations were not what I expected.

 

Life after college is not at all what I expected.  I studied to be in full time vocational ministry for years to come, but God obviously had other plans and I am happily serving in a volunteer capacity.

 

Life in marriage after 22 years is not what I expected.  Today, I am so very grateful for my relationship with my wife and all we have been through together.  As with any marriage, there’s been lots of ups and downs.  However, with God at the center, there has been nothing we can’t get through with Him leading us.

 

Being a parent is not what I expected.  It’s been one of the greatest learning experiences of my life.  I have 2 daughters and I never would have imagined what it takes to raise kids.  God has been so good and I am very proud of them and their faith.

 

Jesus spent much time with His disciples trying to get them to understand what was going to happen and what would come upon them.  He tried so hard to simplify it, but there were so many times they just did not get it and could not comprehend what He was telling them.  It was emotionally painful for Him so often when He saw them bickering with each other and focusing on who is greatest among them.  He tried to warn them about what was to come for them and Himself, but they just couldn’t understand. 

 

Jesus knows that, so often, life is never truly what we expected.  We have our vision of what might come, but life rarely happens as we think it will.  This teaches us to trust Him in leading us when life doesn’t make sense and trusting that He knows what He’s doing as He leads us.  Let us continue to trust God, especially in times of life where things don’t make any sense and are totally different from what we expected.  

The Best Deal

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“The Best Deal”

John 14:6 NIV

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

 

Over the years, I have become someone who likes to search out good bargains.  I always like finding a good deal that saves me money.  If I need to buy something, of course I want to find the best value for my money.  One of the best sections of stores we like to shop is clearance.  My wife and I are signed up to a lot of food places and stores to get special deals.  We also like to comparison shop when we are in stores so that we know where to get the best deals.

 

I could go on and on about how I like to find good deals.  If I find a good deal, but then soon after realize that I could have gotten an ever better deal, I get bummed and wish I had looked further to get the better deal.  Often times, my wife will say, “It was only a few dollars difference”, but then I’ll say, “Yeah, but I could have saved more money!”  I am a bargain hunter!

 

I think we all like to find good deals and bargains when we are shopping for food, clothes, electronics, etc.  Who doesn’t like to find good deals, right?  Everyone does.  I think we spend a lot of time trying to find the best deals and we put a lot of effort into our researching and shopping experience.  That can save a lot of money, but it can also take a lot of our valuable time as well.

 

Recently, as I was thinking about how we like to find good deals, I thought about the best deal we have found as people of faith.  The best deal we could have ever asked for is Jesus Christ dying for us and offering us eternal life by accepting Him as our Savior.  This is truly the best deal ever!  There is no comparison shopping.  But often, we do comparison shop.  We want to see if the world is going to offer us a better deal by chasing after other things that offer a happier way of living. 

 

We can easily get tricked and deceived by believing going a certain way or believing a certain thing will help us more.  We buy the latest thing on the market and we get a high for a while.  But after a while, the feeling fades and we’re back to searching again. 

 

Jesus said that He is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life.  There is NO better deal anywhere in the entire universe!  He is the real deal!  We simply cannot get any better than this. 

 

Are we daily thankful for the best deal we have ever received?  Are we daily grateful that Jesus has given us the best life ever?  I hope so.

Give Me Your Eyes

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/W1aaE0kgSUs?si=Rf8kl8W9-gqFPFr5

“Give Me Your Eyes”

1 John 4:7-8 NIV

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love

 

Recently, I was working remote for most of one of the days in a coffee shop.  The place seemed to be busy most of the day.  Every so often, I would find myself looking up and around to observe all the different people gathered at various tables.  If there’s one thing that my wife and I find fascinating to do in public, it’s people watching.  There’s something about it that is intriguing to us.  I found it intriguing especially as different thoughts started popping into my head regarding how I observed different people.  I started imagining who these people might be and the scenario of their discussions.

 

I noticed some older ladies enjoying each others company.  I’m guessing they were retired and possibly sitting around talking about their grandkids or their kids and the families.

 

I noticed some younger gals sitting together and imagined maybe they were college students discussing classes or various things going on in their lives.

 

I noticed some tables with a young guy and gal chatting.  Perhaps they were discussing their dating relationship or discussing the exciting things they were looking forward to in the coming days or weeks.

 

I noticed some people sitting at tables and wondered if one of them was going through a divorce.  A friend helping a friend cope with that difficult part of life.

 

I imagined a father sitting with a son or a mother sitting with a daughter and chatting about some difficult times the child was having with school.

 

As they day progressed, I just kept imagining different people and various scenarios of discussions going on and the excitement or sorrow being expressed in those conversations.  Some people were celebrating life, just hanging out or possibly having one of the worst seasons of their life. 

 

As I took this all in here and there in between the work I was doing, I kept thinking about Brandon Heath’s song “Give Me Your Eyes”.  It reminded me how so often we are clueless to the people around us and all that is going on inside of them.  They might be good at hiding what is actually happening inside and able to fake it on their faces.  They could be really struggling through tough stuff and no one knows.

 

This is a reminder to you and me that we should be very aware of our surroundings and the people around us each day.  Often times God puts us around these people to observe and offer words of encouragement and for us to notice and lend a helping hand.