ANNNt…ANNNNNNT….ANNNNNT..aNNT …Annnt….ANN…Crash!!!!

So I woke up this morning as my alarm clock hit the floor at 6:02am and sat on the edge of my bed. Out of nowhere God  started to deal with me about the  limitations of faith, so I thought this was a lesson that  I would share. How many times do we go to church, attend ministry meetings, go to work , attend board meetings and listen to our expectations in life, work, and in our walk with God.

We listen to our leaders (pastors/board members)  talk about our goals and application of  our organizaition’s mission to bring about some sort of change. Whether it’s monetary growth/fundraising, increasing profit margins and generating exposure ,to increasing member outreach and bringing in more bodies to fill the seats in a sanctuary.

We get so focused on increase that as leaders in the ministry and/or corporate America  we sometimes forget the importance of understanding our current levels of success. God dealt with me about understanding the rules of stewardship and  faith and how it has  the answers to growth in life. Where ever you are in life ,ministry growth or in your corporate career you first must understand the reward and merit of what you currently have.  We often times have our hands out  saying “Please sir, I want some more”  and “Lord I’m faithful in doing work but I want to see the efforts of my labor.”  We ask where is the increase?

Faith as quoted in the bible,  Hebrews 11:1  is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  So in actuality faith is believeing in the unknown outcome. Stewardship is really understanding that what God has already given us is just as important as my expected increase. If we aren’t good stewards of God’s smaller rewards can we really expect to appreciate growth, or more importantly will we even notice it when it happens?

So the question is, can you have effective faith expectations if you don’t understand stewardship?

To have truth faith is to challenge God and put him to the test.  And I know you’re probably thinking “hold on, i’m not challenging God on anything” as you run from lightening bolts that might strike you down. lol..  but notice, I didn’t say to just question him but to challenge. In challenging God you use his word as tools of merit for your faith-actions.  What better way to show God that you have a grasp of his teachings and have enough faith in him then to hold him accountable for his word.

Think about it……

Helpful Scriptures:

Job 8:7 (KJV) says: Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

Job 42:12 (NLT) says: So the LORD blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.

 Quote: ” Worring Paralyzes Faith” – Anon

Relating post:http://blog.meettheneed.org/?p=432

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Do you ever feel overwhelmed?  Like there is too much to do with being a spouse, a parent, serving in ministry, being a leader, being a friend, a child, etc.  You see all there is to do, but just can’t do it all on your own.  God makes these seasons in our life to call us back to Him – because guess what?  . . . We can’t do it on our own, we need Him.  I found comfort in God’s word in a season in my life, where I felt just this way. 

 In John 6:1-15 there is the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand.  In that story there is a “formula” for what to do in life when we feel overwhelmed, when we see a crowd coming and just don’t feel like we can do it.  

1. Ask for help – In verse 5 Jesus (although he already knew the answer) asked for help.  We should ask God for help and put down our pride and ask those around us for help.
2. Don’t focus on what we don’t have – In verse 7 Philip pointed out what they didn’t have.  Quickly Andrew changed the subject to what they did have.  We need a community of believers to help keep our focus on the positive.
3. Give what we have to God – In verse 9 they gave the five small loaves and two small fish – small things, but in God’s hands can be big.  We should surrender all we have to God our talents, our mind, our body, and our soul.
4. Be still – In verse 10 Jesus instructed the disciples to have the people sit down – take a break, prepare in mind and body to fully receive what the Lord is about to do.  We should slow down and be still in His presence.
5. Give thanks – In verse 11 Jesus gave thanks to The Father for what they had. Give thanks for the small things in our life that God can use to perform a miracle.
6. Expect a miracle plus leftovers – In verse 12 they were all fed and there were even leftovers!  Anticipate that God will provide abundantly more than we can imagine when you put your trust and faith in Him.  I don’t know about you, but I’ll take a “doggie bag” from God.
7. Tell others – In verse 14 the people began to tell others about this miracle.  Be sure to share what God has done in our lives with others.  This is our testimony of God’s love. 

Now don’t get me wrong, our God is not a genie where as we do certain steps, we will get hat we want.  However, our God is one that wants our whole hearts, to surrender to Him, and seek His guidance.  As we seek his wisdom, what we ask for will align with His will.  It is when we are in His will, that He will provide all that we need . . . plus leftovers! Next time you feel overwhelmed, be encouraged in His word.

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Everyone has a story. Here’s mine. I grew up in a college town in Pennsylvania and attended a fairly homogenous elementary school. Two parents (who will celebrate 45 years of marriage next month) and one younger sister made for a traditional suburban existence. In high school my father’s job took us to Massachusetts where I attended a small high school in a blue-collar factory town. God had uprooted me and was up to something—I just didn’t know Him yet. I went to church every Sunday, and asked Him into my heart in the 5^th grade…but I still didn’t really know Him.

I attended one of the most liberal colleges on the East Coast, The University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In close proximity to Amherst, Mount Holyoke, and Hampshire Colleges the environment was ‘politically correct,’ ‘inclusive,’ and ‘liberal.’ I found Jesus there. I completed a Campus Crusade for Christ survey at the dining hall after marching band practice. Okay, now God could really get started—I was surrendered!

The Law Street Journal shared this image. A woman watches her neighborhood change before her very eyes.

The summer before my senior year I felt led to participate in one of Crusade’s summer mission trips. I was studying education, and wanted to do something to impact the lives of children, children living in poverty to be specific. Here’s Life Inner City offered several opportunities and being the adventurous type, I decided that Los Angeles would be the most outrageous choice. I signed up and started raising support. In late April the Riots happened and the nation watched a city in distress. In May I got on a plane and landed at LAX to live in South Central for two months. (Note: this should give you an indication that I am not averse to risk-taking). That summer changed my life.

The principles I learned from John Perkins, Wayne Dawson and Robert Lupton (and most recently Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert) still challenge me to live a life surrendered to God’s heart for the urban core and those who live in it. Next week I’ll share a bit about what that meant for me and my faith journey—and then we’ll start digging into some of the principles I have found most impactful from Lupton’s most recent book Toxic Charity. I’m looking forward to your comments and input as we talk about the role of local churches and ministries in the lives of the poor.

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How can we translate aspects of our career and jobs in  working American,Church Administration and  ministry  into serving outside of our parameters?

Our Guest Blogger for this week is Amanda N.Jackson of Current Connections Consulting.

In defining the relationship of the Church and the community, I am reminded of stewardship. God’s first commandment to man was in Genesis 1: 28, “And God said unto them…take heed to the Land and oversee every living thing in the Garden of Eden.” Sure God meant, in the literal sense to roam and take care of the Earth, but is there perhaps figurative meaning?

Some church goers draw a line between religion and other aspects of life, civic responsibilities in particular, and restrict Christianity to what happens in Church  Sunday School, Sunday worship, in Bible Studies and Prayer meetings, to acts of charity and to the necessary transaction of church business.

Christ commissioned us to make disciples and bring new sheep into the fold. That work is easier when those we reach out to can consider their spirituality in every act of life.

- Amanda N. Jackson of Current Connections Consulting.

This transitions us out of the perceived lines of business and our religion and  the mentality of not intermixing the two. As businessmen and church staff members we must open our minds to what we can do to serve the community outside of our perceived job descriptions. Stewardship is about us taking care of everything that God has blessed us with.

As quoted by Amanda in Genesis 1:28, “God has blessed us with dominion over the land and all it’s inhabitants.” God has given dominion to us not man. Man has set parameters to our responsibilities but we can’t allow our parameters to limit us from fulfilling our God given authority to draw men unto him.

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Remember back to when you were in school.  There was the routine of getting up at the same time every morning, eating the same cold cereal, finding the same seat on the bus, sitting in the same desk in each classroom, having lunch at the same table, knowing the bell was going to ring at the same time throughout the day, listening to the teachers teach the same subjects in the same order for days on end.  Do you remember asking “Why do I ever need to need to know ___________? I will never use this in the real world.”

Now remember those very few days a year that were announced “We are going on a field trip next week!” Everyone goes into a frenzy for simply the thought of something different to do.  An uncontained buzz of excitement, high fives, and laughter fill the room.  There is so much excitement that you can’t even hear yourself think.  You even see a little smile emerge on the teacher’s face for the frenzy she just caused.  You don’t get to linger in this moment for very long, as the teach calls order back to the room.  You think, “Oh yeah, she hasn’t even told use where we are going” (although that doesn’t really matter, you are just ready to get out of school).  She announces where you are going and begins to explain the purpose behind the real life application of what you have been learning for weeks. You aren’t listening to much of what is being said as you have already begun in your mind the anticipation of “the field trip”.

Your attitude changes for the whole week in expectation of the field trip.  You rush home thrilled to tell your parents what was announced in school that day and to ask them to sign your permission slip.  You have conversations with friends on who will be who’s “buddy” that day.  You even begin to think about what your mom might pack for lunch that day.

On the day of the field trip your entire routine is thrown out the window and there is a carefreeness (I don’t think that is a word) about life, even if just for a day.  Your day started the same with the alarm clock going off, but there is pep in your step.  You don’t eat the same breakfast; instead you opt for something warm.  You don’t sit on the same seat on the bus on the way to school, because you sit with who is going to be your “buddy” on the field trip.  Instead of hearing the same bells ringing, you hear the same energizing buzz (all day long) that you heard when the teacher announced the field trip.en begin to think about what your mom might pack for lunch that day.

And here comes the thing you were never anticipated to happen . . . you learned why you were being taught ________ and how it is used in the real world.  Minds are opened, lights come on, and purposes are found when you get out of the everyday routine.

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I wanted to share an inspirational story with you today about how an ordinary young American woman acted out of simple obedience to God’s Word, and He is using her to change lives and provide hope in Uganda.

This young woman is Katie Davis.  She regularly posts to her blog:  “Kisses from Katie“.  Many of us in the church often think that someone like Katie is something “Super Special” or has received a special calling, and yet when you watch her short video about her life in Uganda she has a very poignant responses to that question.  Check it out here:

“Kisses From Katie”

Let’s take just a few moments to be inspired today to live simply for others as we are called by Christ!

Matthew 22 verses 37-40 says:

“Jesus answered:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Bless others today as you would like to be blessed.

-Jason

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