testing of your faith
0 Comments Published by Steven Anderson on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 11:59 AM.
The testing of your faith comes at some of the worst times. James 1:2-4 says to approach the testing of our faith with joy, but most the time the trial doesn't come at the joyful times. I mean I've got some joy, but when I'm "meeting trials" it is never a great thing or for that matter even a good thing. I was studying this for a while and instead of just reading it like a cheesy christian bumper sticker I decided to allow God to actually teach me something through His word.
The key to my learning came from the word faith. The reason I'm not meeting the trials with joy is because of an over-abundance of self confidence and a severe lack of faith. So in order to not just learn but also to practice I have to totally lose control and allow God to control everything. There are some specific things that I have to remind myself of from time to time, that have helped me grow in my faith.
- Godly friends - Prov. 27:17 - I know that some of the worst moments in my life have been when I feel like I'm alone. We have to have fellowship, but more importantly it needs to be Godly fellowship and not just with people that say "everything is fine," but with those that really challenge us and say hard things and ask hard questions.
- Dynamic quiet-time - Spending time in God's word is great, but my sin is sometimes reading and not letting it speak. Let His word speak to you! Lately I've been using YouVersion as a tool, not for what I'm studying, but for how I'm studying. It is a great resource. Maybe you can find it helpful.
- Do it every day - Luke 9:23 - It isn't our life today, His when the times are tough, but His everyday. Find a way to remind yourself of that.
Increased attention to God's control will lead to less attention to life's trial and an overwhelming feeling of God's Joy.
The key to my learning came from the word faith. The reason I'm not meeting the trials with joy is because of an over-abundance of self confidence and a severe lack of faith. So in order to not just learn but also to practice I have to totally lose control and allow God to control everything. There are some specific things that I have to remind myself of from time to time, that have helped me grow in my faith.
- Godly friends - Prov. 27:17 - I know that some of the worst moments in my life have been when I feel like I'm alone. We have to have fellowship, but more importantly it needs to be Godly fellowship and not just with people that say "everything is fine," but with those that really challenge us and say hard things and ask hard questions.
- Dynamic quiet-time - Spending time in God's word is great, but my sin is sometimes reading and not letting it speak. Let His word speak to you! Lately I've been using YouVersion as a tool, not for what I'm studying, but for how I'm studying. It is a great resource. Maybe you can find it helpful.
- Do it every day - Luke 9:23 - It isn't our life today, His when the times are tough, but His everyday. Find a way to remind yourself of that.
Increased attention to God's control will lead to less attention to life's trial and an overwhelming feeling of God's Joy.
-- Kristi turned 28 on monday! so what did we do to celebrate, loaded up the kids and went to chuck-e-cheeses. Maybe in an attempt to stay young it is "where a kid can be a kid." It was more a place to go where the Kids could be kids without an overwhelming amount of adult supervision. Even tyler got his way for once. I'm hoping that I get the chance to take Kristi out, and give her some kind of celebration that she deserves (wait that's way out of my price range)! You are amazing baby!!
-- Last week and into this week, I have spent some time refocusing and looking toward the future (at least how I see it). I've been able to nail down some things for the summer and take steps toward being MORE intentional with our events, programming and small groups. Key word there is intentional, right Kirk?
-- My sons amaze me by just how amazing they are (see I'm so amazed I can't even make sense). I was looking through old photos of Ty's 1st few months with us and Jonathan's birthdays and just so much stuff, they grow so fast!
I missed doing my Triple Tuesday blog, I was engaged in some pretty deep conversations at the time I normally do it. It really hurts me not to get that stuff out of my head though, Oh well, there is always next week.
-- Last week and into this week, I have spent some time refocusing and looking toward the future (at least how I see it). I've been able to nail down some things for the summer and take steps toward being MORE intentional with our events, programming and small groups. Key word there is intentional, right Kirk?
-- My sons amaze me by just how amazing they are (see I'm so amazed I can't even make sense). I was looking through old photos of Ty's 1st few months with us and Jonathan's birthdays and just so much stuff, they grow so fast!
I missed doing my Triple Tuesday blog, I was engaged in some pretty deep conversations at the time I normally do it. It really hurts me not to get that stuff out of my head though, Oh well, there is always next week.
here it goes...
1) I'm surprised by how connected you could get on the web. through things like facebook and twitter and other stuff that is taking it to a whole new level. I knew it was going become more and more, but I thought the days of things changing overnight were over. I don't think they are, I think the new question is "can I keep up?" I'm not sure if I have enough time to keep up, but I think I can stay with the pack, not a all like cross country in HS. Today, Ronald Reagan started following me on Twitter... wow... I guess he and elvis are doing good in South America.
2) It's pretty sad when people recognize you at the fast food joints. I went to Chic-fil-a and the manager recognized me (Ok, I work with her husband), but the crazier one is I went to Burger King today on a gift card (thanks meg) and the guy at the window handed me my food and said before I could ask "here's some extra ketchup" and smiled... I know he recognized me as the guy who always asks for ketchup, I wish I could say he recognized me for something different.
3) I can't imagine a bonus, let alone one over 1 million dollars... wow.
1) I'm surprised by how connected you could get on the web. through things like facebook and twitter and other stuff that is taking it to a whole new level. I knew it was going become more and more, but I thought the days of things changing overnight were over. I don't think they are, I think the new question is "can I keep up?" I'm not sure if I have enough time to keep up, but I think I can stay with the pack, not a all like cross country in HS. Today, Ronald Reagan started following me on Twitter... wow... I guess he and elvis are doing good in South America.
2) It's pretty sad when people recognize you at the fast food joints. I went to Chic-fil-a and the manager recognized me (Ok, I work with her husband), but the crazier one is I went to Burger King today on a gift card (thanks meg) and the guy at the window handed me my food and said before I could ask "here's some extra ketchup" and smiled... I know he recognized me as the guy who always asks for ketchup, I wish I could say he recognized me for something different.
3) I can't imagine a bonus, let alone one over 1 million dollars... wow.
Habakkuk 2:3
This is one of Kristi's favorite verses. It seems really obscure at first, but given in light of what is going on around Habakkuk and what God is telling him it is really powerful. In a way, it is like us reading revelation. It is a vision awaiting its appointed time, but rest assured it will happen. Habakkuk during his time was faced with a lot junk... everywhere he looked he saw injustice, and evil surrounded the righteous so much that even justice went out perverted. At some point you have to stop and realize that this sounds so familiar.
We can find joy in the thought that God's justice will be carried out in the end. I'm left thinking, "What do we do until then?" We can't carry out God's justice and judgement, unless He wills, and as of this time He hasn't put me in that position of influence. However, I can think of some things to do while we wait.
1. Help others - (matt. 25:40) we won't be able to change everything, but we can help and are commanded to.
2. Worship God (live by faith) - (hab. 2:4) "the righteous shall live by his faith."
You'll read on into Habakkuk 3 and notice that even though everything isn't perfect around him Habakkuk gives glory to God for what He does. Let's find out what God is doing, get on board with it, and give Him the glory for it!
This is one of Kristi's favorite verses. It seems really obscure at first, but given in light of what is going on around Habakkuk and what God is telling him it is really powerful. In a way, it is like us reading revelation. It is a vision awaiting its appointed time, but rest assured it will happen. Habakkuk during his time was faced with a lot junk... everywhere he looked he saw injustice, and evil surrounded the righteous so much that even justice went out perverted. At some point you have to stop and realize that this sounds so familiar.
We can find joy in the thought that God's justice will be carried out in the end. I'm left thinking, "What do we do until then?" We can't carry out God's justice and judgement, unless He wills, and as of this time He hasn't put me in that position of influence. However, I can think of some things to do while we wait.
1. Help others - (matt. 25:40) we won't be able to change everything, but we can help and are commanded to.
2. Worship God (live by faith) - (hab. 2:4) "the righteous shall live by his faith."
You'll read on into Habakkuk 3 and notice that even though everything isn't perfect around him Habakkuk gives glory to God for what He does. Let's find out what God is doing, get on board with it, and give Him the glory for it!
Here it goes...
1. This one is for dan... What is it with fainting in bathrooms. Dan you're not alone, I too have fainted twice in a bathroom and both times I have found my self lodged in a place wondering how I got there and recovering from bruises for a week. Maybe there is something about all the water works in a bathroom that makes you faint.... not sure there.
2. Taken is a great movie. I think now that our whole pastoral team has gone to see it... some more than once. One (doc) that will remain nameless said after seeing the movie with his daughter, she then went to a friends house later and he told her to call her when she got there... then when she called proceeded to say "hide under the bed, they are going to take you..."
3. Today at a brainstorming meeting I got side tracked on the Little Einsteins, "but we need more power" pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat "pat faster" patpatpatpatpat... it has been with me all day......
1. This one is for dan... What is it with fainting in bathrooms. Dan you're not alone, I too have fainted twice in a bathroom and both times I have found my self lodged in a place wondering how I got there and recovering from bruises for a week. Maybe there is something about all the water works in a bathroom that makes you faint.... not sure there.
2. Taken is a great movie. I think now that our whole pastoral team has gone to see it... some more than once. One (doc) that will remain nameless said after seeing the movie with his daughter, she then went to a friends house later and he told her to call her when she got there... then when she called proceeded to say "hide under the bed, they are going to take you..."
3. Today at a brainstorming meeting I got side tracked on the Little Einsteins, "but we need more power" pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat "pat faster" patpatpatpatpat... it has been with me all day......
Kurt Johnston in a recent article gave 4 key areas that make a leader in middle school ministry sharp. This is a highlight of the first one.
Kurt talks about how most people in the church should love middle schoolers, as Christians. There is a huge difference between that and liking them. This applies to areas all across the church spectrum. I think the best leaders in any area are the ones who like (not just in christian love) what they are doing.
We aim to have a lot of interaction between are adults and our students. I know that is what God has put the leaders their for and I know that our students need it. But, students are like human truth detectors. They know when something is not real or quite right, basically they know when you are faking it. I'm blessed to serve with some of the greatest middle school leaders around.
I have heard some great feedback from our students over the past month. We've had several students that were begging to be at a particular house for our D'Now because they have such a great relationship with their small group leader (that was several guys and girls). But not just that, showing up and spending time with them just hanging out. My leaders really show how they like middle schoolers.
The first question you should ask yourself before you get involved in any ministry is "Do I really like this?" Sometimes the answer will be no, sometimes an enthusiastic yes, and sometimes God might change your heart to make it true for you.
Kurt talks about how most people in the church should love middle schoolers, as Christians. There is a huge difference between that and liking them. This applies to areas all across the church spectrum. I think the best leaders in any area are the ones who like (not just in christian love) what they are doing.
We aim to have a lot of interaction between are adults and our students. I know that is what God has put the leaders their for and I know that our students need it. But, students are like human truth detectors. They know when something is not real or quite right, basically they know when you are faking it. I'm blessed to serve with some of the greatest middle school leaders around.
I have heard some great feedback from our students over the past month. We've had several students that were begging to be at a particular house for our D'Now because they have such a great relationship with their small group leader (that was several guys and girls). But not just that, showing up and spending time with them just hanging out. My leaders really show how they like middle schoolers.
The first question you should ask yourself before you get involved in any ministry is "Do I really like this?" Sometimes the answer will be no, sometimes an enthusiastic yes, and sometimes God might change your heart to make it true for you.
That is what has been up with my blog lately. I'm getting a head-ache by all the different ways to communicate, I start one and forget about the other. Then I think about how amazing this stuff really is. HD tv is incredible, Facebook lets you connect and reconnect, with twitter you can know what everyone is doing and when they are doing, blogging is used so many different ways now, podcasting, ipods, smartphones, it never ends. All of that to say... has anyone invented something that is just silent.
I was reading an article today about silence that really challenged me. The article was by Mark Driscoll and he put together a list about what the bible says about the benefits of purposeful silence:
hearing from God (1 Kings 19:11-13)
waiting patiently (Lamentations 3:25-28)
worshiping God (Habakkuk 2:20)
knowing God better (Psalm 46:10)
praying effectively (Luke 5:16)
Everyone has a lot going on around them. Some of us allow those things to pull us away from our main focus and get bogged down with things that don't matter. Practice silence, regain focus and live for Christ.
I was reading an article today about silence that really challenged me. The article was by Mark Driscoll and he put together a list about what the bible says about the benefits of purposeful silence:
hearing from God (1 Kings 19:11-13)
waiting patiently (Lamentations 3:25-28)
worshiping God (Habakkuk 2:20)
knowing God better (Psalm 46:10)
praying effectively (Luke 5:16)
Everyone has a lot going on around them. Some of us allow those things to pull us away from our main focus and get bogged down with things that don't matter. Practice silence, regain focus and live for Christ.
so much to blog about..
0 Comments Published by Steven Anderson on Tuesday, March 03, 2009 at 9:32 AM.
Underground '09 A great week-end with a lot to follow-up with, from eighth graders that have really made some decisions to go deeper in their relationship with Christ to several students from sixth and seventh grade that are just now starting on the journey to follow Christ. God did some amazing things in the hearts of our students. The Band was Great, the Pastor's messages were inspired and relevant (Doc you're great!), leaders and volunteers were sacrificial and excellent! Couldn't have asked for anything better.
What's Next A series on Service for sunday mornings, more relevant messages on wednesday nights along with excellent worship, Equipping for our summer mission trip to Jackson, MS including ways to get the individual cost down, gearing up for another Camp Spasm... Great things that are coming for our middle school ministry.
Lot's going on...
What's Next A series on Service for sunday mornings, more relevant messages on wednesday nights along with excellent worship, Equipping for our summer mission trip to Jackson, MS including ways to get the individual cost down, gearing up for another Camp Spasm... Great things that are coming for our middle school ministry.
Lot's going on...
