In the late 80’s, there were these commercials on TV that sought to fight against drugs. They were part of a campaign launched in the U.S. by Partnership for a Drug-Free America. And one that I remember, and still quote to this day, is a commercial where this dad walks into his son’s room with some drug paraphernalia and confronts him, saying that the boy’s mom had found it in his closet. And after the son tries to lie about it, the dad asks this question: “Who taught you how to do this stuff?” After a short pause, the son responds by saying,  “You, alright, I learned it from watching you!”

It’s crazy how much kids learn from parents and other older influences in their life. I’m haunted by that commercial every time I see my kids taking on one of my own bad habits. It’s in those moments where I see myself so clearly and realize they learned those behaviors from watching me.

The reality is, we are continuously being watched. Whether it’s by our kids, our siblings, our co-workers, or the neighbor across the street. We are always being watched, especially as Christians. People want to see how we’re going to respond or react to different situations. And it begs the question: What kind of example are we setting for them?

My family’s life verse is Matthew 5:16, which tells us to: “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” In other words, we’re supposed to live our life in such a way that our actions point others to Jesus. We’re called to be positive examples for those around us.

I know that I fail at this as much as anyone. However, one thing that has helped me improve is realizing that the light I’m called to shine doesn’t come from me. I’m currently in the middle of a little remodel project at home and part of that project involves installing some new light fixtures. I can’t just put a light fixture in the ceiling and expect it to shine. It needs to be connected to a power source.

The same is true for us. If we want to be people who shine the way Jesus calls us to in Matthew 5:16, we have to be connected to the source of that light. Jesus is the light. And we’re only able to shine in a way that actually draws people to the Him as we allow His Spirit to shine in and through our lives.

Again, what kind of example are we setting? My encouragement for us today is to plug into Jesus. Whether that’s through prayer or reading the Bible or spending some time singing and worshipping Him, tap into the source and LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!

I’m curious: How do you make decisions? Now, I’m not talking about what to wear before you head out of the house in the morning or what to have for lunch each day. I’m talking about those life-changing kind of decisions.

Do we take time to really think through our decisions or do we throw darts at a dartboard and go with whatever choice the dart lands on? The thing is, a wrong decision is a wrong decision regardless of how we come about it.

I’m sure many of us have used the dartboard method at some point in our lives and maybe it ended up being the right choice. But do we really want to take that chance when it comes to making important decisions? And do we really want to walk in that kind of uncertainty?

As a pastor, I’m frequently asked, “How do you know what God wants you to do?” The easy answer to that question is pray—simply ask God what He wants you to do. James 1:5 tells us: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” God wants to guide us and lead us. He wants to help us make the right decisions.

The other question I hear then is, “When I pray, how do I know that it’s God’s voice I’m sensing?” (Which is often the real question being asked when people ask me, “How do you know what God wants you to do?”) And that answer is a little more challenging. But I believe the key is trusting that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives. God has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us and direct us and the Holy Spirit will speak to us if we take time to listen.

One of the ways I encourage people when it comes to decision-making is to operate on the premise of peace (see Philippians 4:6-7). In other words, do I have a peace about the decision I’m making or does there seem to be a check in my spirit? Oftentimes, a lack of peace is the Holy Spirit guiding us and leading us in another direction. Again, the key is trusting that the Holy Spirit is at work in our life because I know it’s easy to second-guess ourselves and our ability to actually discern God’s voice.

We have to put our trust in God and like it says in James 1:6: “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

The decisions we make in life are important—even some that are seemingly small can shape our lives and our future. My encouragement to all of us is that we continue to seek the Lord in our decisions and allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our path!

This week I read one of my all-time favorite Bible stories from when I was a young boy. It’s the story of David and Goliath. I think most of us are familiar with this section of scripture. If not, you can read it in 1 Samuel 17.

It’s a story that has become a popular analogy in life. In sports they often talk about the David’s versus the Goliath’s: where a weaker “underdog” team is playing against a more superior and dominant team. I know many of us love to root for the underdog because we love to see the “Giants” come crashing down.

As I read through these scriptures once again, however, there was a thought that kept stirring in my mind: “Was David really the underdog?” When we use the analogy David versus Goliath, we are referring to David as the underdog. But was he actually the underdog?

Now if David was going out to fight Goliath in his own strength, then yes I guess we would have to say that David was obviously the underdog. But David was going out to fight in the strength and power of the Lord, so I don’t think we can actually call him an underdog.

As I was processing these thoughts, numerous scriptures started coming to my mind. “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” –Philippians 4:13 “Greater is He who is in me, than he that is in the world.” –1 John 4:4 “If God is for us, who can be against us?” –Romans 8:31

All these verses point to the fact that David wasn’t the underdog here: Goliath was.  David knew the victory was the Lord’s. There was no doubt in his mind. Listen to what he says to Goliath before he takes him down, “For the battle is the LORD’s, and HE will give all of you into our hands.” And David wasn’t just talking about Goliath here; he was talking about all the Philistines.

David didn’t see himself as an underdog, because he knew God was on his side. How often do we see ourselves as the underdog when, in reality, we’re not? Yeah, we may see giants out in front of us and they may even be taunting us like Goliath was. But if God is for us, who can stand against us?

The key is that we’re facing these “giants” in the strength and power of the Lord. We face challenges and difficulties everyday. We continuously come up against these “giants” in life. But, like David, we can experience victory. Like David, we actually have the upper hand when we walk in the power of the Lord. Let’s stop approaching life as underdogs and start moving forward in God’s strength and power!

In Ecclesiastes 8:6, we’re told, “For there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble.” The problem is that often times we want things to be in our time and in our way. But one thing I’ve learned as a follower of Jesus is that God’s timing is always right.

Thanks to free plane tickets and someone letting us use their timeshare, we were blessed this summer to go to Hawaii for vacation. And since it was Hawaii, we had many opportunities to play in the ocean. One of those days we spent some time boogie boarding at a popular beach.

The water was warm and the waves were amazing, but I discovered that boogie boarding wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I stood on the beach and watched surfers and boogie boarders catch waves and ride them in so easily. So naturally, I expected to do the same. Instead, I found myself either going nowhere or catching a mouthful of salt water as the waves had their way with me.

I discovered that catching a wave and riding it in was all about timing. I discovered that the good surfers and boogie boarders spend a lot of time waiting: waiting for the right wave and waiting for just the right time to start paddling and kicking. I discovered that boogie boarding actually takes patience.

It’s a lot like life. We’re always in such a hurry to catch the things that we want—and to experience the joy and excitement they bring—that we get impatient and mess up the timing. And instead of catching a wave, we go nowhere or end up swallowing salt water.

Like surfing or boogie boarding, life is often about waiting for the right timing. It’s all about being patient and trusting in the Lord. There is a time and way for everything and it’s God’s timing not ours. If we can be patient and trust in Him, I believe we will experience the wave of a lifetime. Again and again and again!

I’ve had an old DCTalk song stuck in my head this week. For those of you who don’t know of DCTalk, they were a Christian pop/rap group in the 80’s and 90’s. One of their members is my all-time favorite artist, Tobymac. The song that was stuck in my head is one of their later songs titled, “Since I Met You.” And the part of this song that I find myself singing is the bridge, which says:

Was at the end of my rope, I had no where to go
Was at the end of my rope, I had nothing to show
Until the day that I turned to You, Was at the end of my rope…

I think the reason this song has been in my head is because I’ve talked to so many people who say they are just done with this pandemic stuff. They seem to be at the end of their rope. And I know, in one way or another, this is true for all of us. I think we would all like to have things back to where they were or at least be able to move forward to a new normal.

And I know many of us are wondering if or when we’re going to see light at the end of the tunnel. As I was processing these thoughts, I was reminded of the Israelites, when they were fleeing Egypt and found themselves in an impossible situation.

On one side of them was the massive Red Sea and the other side of them was Pharaoh and his army. There was nowhere for them to go—they were at the end of their rope. But Moses turned to the Lord. And God made possible the impossible and He delivered them.

God is our deliverer and He wants us to turn to Him, so that He can be our deliverer. (It’s important that we remember God has delivered us, He will deliver us, and He will continue to deliver us.) In a devotion I read by Rick Warren, he talked about three kinds of deliverance we experience in our lives:

1. Circumstantial Deliverance – Sometimes God performs miracles in our lives that change the circumstances around us, like He did when He split the Red Sea for the Israelites. Are we praying and trusting in God for miracles?

2. Personal Deliverance – Sometimes, instead of changing the circumstances around us, God actually changes our hearts. He gives us the hope of a new vision, a new attitude, and a new perspective. Are we allowing God access to our heart? Are we allowing Him to change us from the inside out?

3. Eternal Deliverance – God has not promised to remove all of our pain in this world or to solve all of our momentary problems. We live in a fallen, broken world where we will experience pain, sorrow, and suffering. But His ultimate deliverance awaits us in Heaven, where there will be no more pain, sorrow, or suffering. Do we trust in the Lord and the eternal hope that He brings to our lives?

I love how the lyrics of this song say, “Was at the end of my rope, I had nothing to show. UNTIL the day that I turned to you.” If we are at the end of our rope, we need to make sure we are turning to the Lord and allowing Him to be our deliverer.

This week my wife shared a devotional with our church for Christmas Eve. So, instead of writing my own blog today, I decided to share hers.

Matthew 28:18-20 (TLB) He (Jesus) told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and earth. Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and be sure of this—that I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”

Have you ever felt completely alone?

Whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually, it is highly likely that, immediately upon reading that question, you were able think of a time of profound loneliness. I cannot think of a more depleting and unsettling feeling than being completely alone.

I think that’s why my favorite name for Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Don’t get me wrong, I love that He is all that He is: Prince of Peace; King of Kings; Good Shepherd; Great Physician; our Healer; our Savior; and so many more.

But to know that God is with us is a comfort beyond simply knowing in our minds all the wonderful things that He is: it is a “with-ness” that can only be truly known in the experiencing of it. You know when you’re alone. And you know when you are no longer alone.

The deep healing that happened when Jesus came—when he limited Himself to be born fully human, live a perfect life, and die in our place and for our sins—is that our relationship with God can be restored. We need never be alone. And in fact, we are never alone.

This time of year, we spend a lot of time thinking about Jesus as a baby and I think there’s a lot to ponder and appreciate there. But as we celebrate our Savior’s birth in the quiet and the stillness of this Christmas Eve, maybe we can open our hearts and minds to treasure and contemplate the gift that is not only a baby in a manger on that first Christmas, but extends to us here and now and forevermore: WE ARE NEVER ALONE.

Today I heard the Christmas song “Mary Did You Know?” This is a question that I have often thought about. Did Mary have any idea what she was saying when she told the Angel, “May it be done to me according to your word.”

I’m sure she couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to actually raise the Son of God. And I’m sure whatever she did imagine didn’t involve giving birth in a stable or having to flee to Egypt to save Jesus from the wrath of Herod.

It’s likely that she never imagined she would some day experience the pain and agony of watching her Son, “The Messiah,” being crucified on a cross. It makes me wonder: If she had known what saying “yes” would entail, would she still have said yes?

The more I read God’s word, the more I realize that God’s ways are not our ways. The way God fulfilled the early-day prophesies looked nothing like what His people expected.

Are we living life with these kinds of expectations? Are we looking for God to show up in ways that are contrary to what we’ve seen in His Word? Again, God’s ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. And, whether we realize it or not, that’s a good thing. He is the creator of all things and He knows better than any of us ever will. And as we experience God’s call for our lives, whatever that call may be, our answer should be the same as Mary, “May it be done to me according to your word.”

In Luke 2:14, the angels sing, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” The phrase “Peace on earth” is something you see everywhere at Christmastime. But many of us wonder where that peace is.

Whether we’re searching for peace in the chaos of our own lives or hoping for political peace in our nation and world, this idea of “peace on earth” seems impossible. And, if we’re hoping for a world void of conflict, it is.

This is not the kind of peace that the angels were referring to when they made this declaration in Luke 2. They were talking about a peace that can be found in the midst of conflict, a peace that can only be found in Jesus Himself.

Jesus came to restore our broken relationship with the Father so that we could experience peace with God. That’s what Christmas is all about. This is the peace that Jesus brings: the reality that we can experience righteousness through Him.

Often times the greatest conflict we struggle with is the sin and failures of our own lives. But Jesus came so that we could be cleansed of all unrighteousness. And we’re able to experience a new kind of peace when we discover this truth, a peace that passes all understanding.

Have you experienced this kind of peace? Have you allowed anything to come between you and the Lord? Jesus wants you to experience His peace this Christmas. If there is something that is keeping you from experiencing peace, my encouragement is for you to seek the Lord and to give those things to Him. Let Him be your Peace!

As we enter into the month of December and all that the Christmas season brings, I know that this time can be different for everyone. Some of us are full of excitement and joy in anticipation of what this year will bring, while others of us dread this time and can’t wait for it to be over.

I used to be one who always dreaded Christmas. As a pastor in ministry, you might think that I would love the Christmas season. The problem is that Christmas had become more about all the events and programs and things we had to do. Just the thought of December and the Christmas season approaching would wear me out.

Then one year I found out that I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. My senior pastor at the time was working through the same feelings. So one year we decided to take back Christmas. It’s the year that simplicity became a core value for me.

We started asking the question: What are we doing that we shouldn’t be doing? What are the things that are causing us to dread Christmas? And we realized that Christmas had become more about the things we did and less about Jesus. It’s interesting how we can be so busy doing Christmas stuff that we forget what Christmas is all about.

In the excitement of the season, we can actually miss the true meaning of Christmas. And if we’re dreading Christmas, then perhaps we’re focusing on the wrong things. Now, I understand that the struggle of this season for some may be the pain of remembering lost loved ones. And I definitely don’t want to make light of this reality. But that is the amazing thing about our Savior. His presence can bring us comfort in these times. The Christmas season should be full of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. We can’t let the hoopla or the dread get in the way of what Jesus did by coming to this earth.

So, whether you’re excited and eagerly anticipating what this Christmas will bring or you’re dreading Christmas altogether, I encourage you to take a moment and reflect on what Christmas is all about: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” -Luke 2:11.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving. Hopefully you were able to take time to stop, reflect, and give thanks for the wonderful blessings we have in and through the Lord. But now that Thanksgiving is over, we shouldn’t stop giving thanks. Psalm 118:24 tells us: “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
 
Every day is a day that the Lord has made and every day is a day for us to rejoice and give thanks. There are actual studies that show that the attitude we have for the day is set in the first eight minutes after we wake up.
 
The question is: How are we kicking off our day? Are we rolling out of bed, complaining and griping about the day ahead or are we choosing to be grateful and giving thanks that God is with us and will be our strength regardless of what the day might bring.
 
I’m not perfect in this practice, but several years ago I made a decision to try to start each day off with a positive attitude. So most mornings when I wake up, I quote that scripture saying, “This is the day the Lord has made.” And I make it a little more personal as I continue by saying, “I will rejoice and be glad in it.” I…am choosing to rejoice and be glad in it.
 
Every day we have a choice: we can to choose to rejoice or we can choose to grumble and complain. So when we wake up each morning, my encouragement is that the first thing we do is rejoice in the Lord. That we take time to thank God for His unconditional love and remember all the things He’s done for us. And let’s strive to make every day a day to give thanks—not just that last Thursday in November.
 
So, what are you thankful for today?