For the first time outside of a “church context”I had someone ask me today what my life verse was.
Without hesitation I qouted back to him:
1 Corinthians 15:58 “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
It has been my CORE VALUES VERSE for the past 20 years of ministry and basically defines my approach to life and ministry.
I love talking to people about stuff like this out in mainstreet.
This afternoon we went to Phoenix to get fitted for our tuxedo’s for my daughter’s wedding.
I learned something from my tailor.
He told me, Your tuxedo fitting is very important. Without a good fitting, your tux will not hang right on your body and will not be comfortable. You should have two fittings. The first fitting happens when you first order your tuxedo. It shouldn’t take more than 10 to 20 minutes to get your initial fitting. The tailor will take your neck and sleeve size for your shirt, your waist and out seam for your trousers and chest for your coat size. The second final fitting will occur usually when you pick up the tuxedo to bring it home. It is basically a check of the first fitting to make sure everything fits correctly. A good fitting will insure the following:
1. The tuxedo jacket should allow for free movement in the arms and should lay smoothly along the back.
2. Tuxedo pants should just barely touch the top of your shoe and should be hemmed with no cuff.
It reminds me of the story in the Old Testament where King Saul tries to help David fight Goliath by giving him his armor to wear.
“Saul outfitted David as a soldier in armor. He put his bronze helmet on his head and belted his sword on
him over the armor. David tried to walk but he could hardly budge. David told Saul, “I can’t even move with all this stuff on me. I’m not used to this.” And he took it all off. ” 1 Samuel 17:38,39 (message)
David couldn’t move around comfortably in “hand me downs”. He had to get out of another person’s armor to fight effectively.
The same is true for all of us. We have got to have a tailor made faith that fits us perfectly. We can’t live a life based on another persons faith or beliefs.
A good fitting faith is a personal tailor made faith.
I like what John Mason says; “We are all born originals…don’t die a copy.”
Really looking forward to this last message in the series “My Favorite Pair Of Genes“.
It interest me in seeing how our spiritual DNA is planned by God but yet developed by our surroundings and influences.
The spiritual family we grow up in really impacts the trajectory of our outlook and our outcome.
This weekend we are going to look at how God fits us in our spiritual family to develop us into his image.
The whole process is really miraculous if we will just let it happen and not short circut God’s plan.
So many people fight against fitting in God’s family and therefore ultimatly end up fighting against God’s plan for their lives.
I love being “fitly framed together ” Ephesians 2:21 (kjv)
Getting ready for another Wednesday night Bible study.
While I’m thinking about it, I added up all the Wednesday night services I have lead since starting in full time ministry in May of 1980.
If you subtract vacations I have lead 1436 Wednesday night services.
I have not missed one Wednesday night because of sickness over the past 28 years.
Wow, right up there with Brett Farve.
Ummmm, I wonder why we picked Wednesday nights?
Just a brief scan of today’s top headlines can give humanity a major headache.
Reading some of them this morning really makes me think we are living in the end times. but having a biblical world view takes some of the confusion out of the mix.
– North Korea bars U.N. inspectors from main nuclear reactor, plans to reactivate plant.
– school massacre in western Finland, eight women and two men were killed by the 22-year-old gunman.
– Wall Street in Free Fall. worse loses in years.
– Speaking before the United Nations Assembly, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the “American empire in the world is reaching the end of its road.”
– US Government is rushing through a $700 Billion package to stabilize the failing financial giants.
– “Israel Asks US for Arms, Air Corridor to Attack Iran”.
– “Iran 6 months away from acquiring nuclear weapons.”
Seems like there are millions of frustrated angry people on the globe today. I wonder if it because God has designed life to not work without him?
Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These things are only the beginning of the birth pains.” Mark 13:8
I think one of the saddest words in any language is “almost”.
“Almost”…..I almost made it to the top. I almost lived my dream. I almost hit the ball. I almost made the shot. Almost. But I didn’t.
In Acts 26:28 is an amazing yet really sad sentence spoken by a king to a preacher. “Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
Wow, really close but yet far away. I bet Agrippa wishes he could have stepped over the line with Paul’s attempt to persuade him.
It might be time to interrupt apathy, because we cannot follow God in neutral.
What a complete rip to stand before God someday and say,”I almost lived for you.”
Forks in the road of life are gifts to help us become persuaded to make a choice.
Caleb and I took this picture just outside of Gunnison Colorado.
I love it because it reminds me of how Jesus sees us.
He calls us sheep.
If you were starting your own sports team and needed a mascot you might consider choosing the lions, tigers, eagles, or bears as they give us a sense of power and independence. I seriously doubt that anyone would consider their mascot to be a sheep. Sheep are not known for their agility, strength or independence.
Yet God has chosen the “sheep” to be the mascot of his people. Not lions, tigers, eagles, or bears, but sheep. Why? Because as God’s people we bear a remarkable resemblance to sheep. Isaiah says it best.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way;
I have a cartoon that shows two sheep looking at a crowd of people and one of the sheep is saying, “All we like people have gone astray.” Unlike the bear, tiger or lion of strength we like sheep are inclined to be self-destructive. Our streak of wanting to be independent hurts us. Like a flock of sheep we need a shepherd. To live life without the Shepherd brings about our own demise.
Life Without the Shepherd:
– The Scattered Life . . .
Ezekiel 34:5 “So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.
– The Be Eaten Life . . .
Ezekiel 34:8 “as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”;
– The Troubled Life . . .
Zechariah 10:2 For the idols speak delusion; The diviners envision lies, And tell false dreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep; They are in trouble because there is no shepherd.
– The Wearied Life . . .
Matthew 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
Like sheep we are prone to wander way from the security of the Shepherd into a life of insecurity and hurtfulness.
David though he was a shepherd himself did not see himself in that light but rather that he is the sheep. We must begin to see ourselves as sheep in need of a shepherd, one who will provide, protect and prepare us for life now and everlasting.
Once you and I admit, “I need Him!” it is then the built in blessings of this shepherd led life begins to bring comfort and care to our hearts.
“The Lord is my shepherd” Psalm 23
Really enjoying this new series called “My favorite pair of Genes”.
Into week two so far and the series seems to fit really good.
Today after I studied for Sundays messages I wanted to try a trail that I usually don’t get to ride.
The Willow Lake Trail is a great asset to our Prescott trail system.
Natascha as and I went out for an hour before heading to the 20 somethings small group meeting tonight.
Here are some pics of todays ride.
It is always great to get out on the bike with Tash and with 300 days of sunshine here in Prescott you just gotta live outdoors.
Speaking of sunshine. Tonight in our small group we a had a disccussion out of the brilliant book by Erwin Mcmanus entitled “CHASING DAYLIGHT“.
He uses Jesus words out of John 9:4 “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.”
Here is one of the great quotes out of Erwin’s book; “Right behind the mundane is the miraculous.”
Really looking forward to chasing daylight all day Sunday.
What a great weekend of ministry here in Prescott!
Here it is from Tuesday back to Saturday.
Today we were invited to meet with the leadership at Embry Riddle University to take our Let’s Get Legit series to their campus. What a great opportunity for everyone that will be involved.
Also today I was at another city council meeting to see where the next years Annual mountain bike weekend is headed. I really hope to be able to host a local outreach to Mtn. bikers this coming April.
Monday night was another ministry night with our Marriage ministry called Marriage Matters. The room was full of married couples and excitement just to get together and watch the Packers against the Vikings on DA BIG SCREEN.
Sunday, the services were as good as it gets with a great Sunday night prayer and communion service.
We started our new 20 something ministry Saturday night and will be following a discussion around the book Chasing Daylight by Erwin Mcmanus.
Erwin uses this masterpiece of a book to show us how we should be acting. He claims “If heaven had an advertising section, it would take a full-page ad that read: “Wanted, Risk takers for God.”
What a powerful quote out of the book.
To follow Jesus is to move with God. When you become a part of God’s movement, you are a missionary. Every missionary has a mission. The mission gives him both intentionality and purpose. He has no minutes to waste. He is required to seize every divine moment. Is it possible that God longs for this for all of us?” Chasing Daylight, p.48.
Really looking forward to where this next season of ministry is going to take us.
stevelummer.com 