March 26, 2018

"But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene,who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him." Mark 16:4-6

An empty wallet in not a good thing.

An empty gas tank is trouble.

An empty belly makes you hungry.

An empty promise can leave you disappointed.

An empty cupboard can make you concerned.

Al Capone's empty vault made Geraldo Rivera look foolish.

As a rule, empty is not good. 

But very early in the morning on the third day when the ladies hurried to the tomb where Jesus' body had been laid, finding an empty tomb brought joy beyond imagination!

An empty tomb meant a Risen Jesus!

An empty tomb meant a promise kept and a prophecy fulfilled!

An empty tomb meant hope renewed!

An empty tomb meant death had been defeated!

Empty usually is not a good concept but an empty tomb on Easter morning was full of hope and joy!

March 25, 2018

I believe what Paul is saying here is, “Look, you guys know what you ought to be doing! You know what’s right and wrong! But you can’t do it on your own. You can’t glorify God. Do as I do and trust Jesus to live out His life through you!”

“I am the true Vine, and my Father is the Gardener.  He lops off every branch that doesn’t produce. And he prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops.  He has already tended you by pruning you back for greater strength and usefulness by means of the commands I gave you.  Take care to live in me, and let me live in you. For a branch can’t produce fruit when severed from the vine. Nor can you be fruitful apart from me. “Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. For apart from me you can’t do a thing.  If anyone separates from me, he is thrown away like a useless branch, withers, and is gathered into a pile with all the others and burned.  But if you stay in me and obey my commands, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!  My true disciples produce bountiful harvests. This brings great glory to my Father.” John 15:1-8

HOW?

OBEY AS CHRIST OBEYED

(1) CELEBRATE GOD’S GOODNESS, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

(2) ASK GOD FOR HELP, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

“…. and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” Psalm 50:15

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrew 4:16

(3) LEAVE YOUR ANXIETY WITH GOD, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

 4) MEDITATE ON GOOD THINGS, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

To sum up one of the most amazing Scriptures of the Bible, cling to Christ and receive His peace, His presence and His power to help you overcome anxiety!

March 24, 2018

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9

Think about what you think about!

Think about how you think about it!

In these last two verses of this powerful portion of Scripture Paul urges you to do three things to make sure you think clearly:

1) Clarify

2) Verify

3) Glorify

We looked at the first one in the previous post.

When faced with a stressful situation and you feel anxious take a moment to clarify your thinking so you can make logical decisions. Work through the feelings and emotions and sort out the facts of your situation. Find out what God's word says and what His will is!

"Whatsoever things are:"

"TRUE" - This means "fact-based" - "Bible-based" - "Connected to reality not feelings"

Anything that isn't true by this standard - don't think on it. Don't let it occupy your mind.

"NOBLE" - Noble is "spiritually inspiring" "reverent" "dignified"

Anything that isn't noble according to this definition don't set your mind on it.

"RIGHT" - This refers to being grounded in righteousness" "Believing God is right and deciding accordingly"

If it isn't right don't clutter your mind with it!

"PURE" - Things that are "morally or spiritually undefiled"

Don't let your mind dwell on impure things.

"LOVELY" - "Reasonable" "agreeable" "proper attraction"

Keep your mind from being attracted to unlovely things.

"GOOD REPUTE" - Anything that is "scandal free" or "above reproach"

Keep your mind away from scandalous situations or activities.

"EXCELLENCE" - "Moral virtue that is consistent with God's nature"

Strive for excellence in your thinking!

"PRAISEWORTHY" - "Anything God would praise"

If you are convinced that God would praise it and praise you for thinking about it then it is praiseworthy and you should feel good thinking about it!

You are the air-traffic controller for the thoughts that enter your mental airspace. Keep your runway open to these virtues and close it to anything that doesn't measure up to this checklist.

"Think on these things!"

Think On These Things

Perhaps you have had struggles with anxiety. And in our 2018 world there is no shortage of things to be anxious over. But what if, as Max Lucado asks, “Your challenge is not your challenge. What if your challenge is how you think about your challenge?”

Solomon wrote, “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” Proverbs 4:23

If you want to be happy tomorrow sow seeds of happiness today! Direct your thoughts to happier things – count your blessings, read Psalms, listen to good music and look for people to encourage!

If you want to be worried, anxious or troubled tomorrow then wallow in self-pity, regret, guilt or anger. Beat yourself up. Complain to complainers and share negativity with negative people.

Paul wrote this sound and serious counsel to the believers at Philippi:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

There are three key phrases I want to highlight over the next several days to help unpack these important verses.

"THINK ON THESE THINGS"

The Greek word for “think” = “logizomai” = “logic”

Paul reminds us that the best way to face anxiety is to face it with clearheaded logical thinking – sort out the facts ignore feelings.

Realize:

The devil will try to get you distracted 

“he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8

• The devil will try to make you reactive

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8

But instead, Paul challenges believers to:

“Capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.”  II Corinthians 10:5

Let me ask you:

· Do you welcome everyone and anyone into your house?

· Do you pump any liquid or fluid into your fuel tank?

· Do you let any dog from the neighborhood into your house?

· Do you plant just any kind of seeds in your garden?

·  Do you let any guy date your daughter?

If you can logically sort out these decisions, and you do! Then you can learn to take your thoughts captive and "think on these things"!

March 22, 2018

"Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life." Proverbs 4:23

Every action is preceded by a thought. You don't even have to think about that! It's a no brainer!

So, if you want to change your behavior change your thinking - both how you think and what you think about!

In his book "Anxious For Nothing" Max Lucado uses this analogy to illustrate controlling your thoughts. He says think of yourself as the air-traffic controller of your thoughts.

If your thoughts are like planes then your mind is like a runway and you control the traffic that lands or takes off or circles or gets sent off to another airport.

Just as air-traffic controllers have their procedures and protocols so Paul gives you and me a list of standards for determining which planes should be allowed to land.

"Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected." Philippians 4:8

You should always clear the runway for these virtuous thoughts! They should always be cleared for landing. You should always have any or all of these virtues in a holding plan circling and awaiting permission to land!

If you want a better life!

If you want to be happier!

If you want to be more positive!

If you want better attitudes!

If you want to be more likable.

If you want to be more attractive!

If you want more friends!

Take control of what lands in your mind. Close every runway except one and only allow the virtuous thoughts to touch down in your mind!

"Think on these things!" Says the Apostle Paul!

That also implies, "Don't think on those other things."

If your runway gets crowded with non-functioning or broken down planes to the place that nothing else can land or take off that will entirely your fault!

Take the role of an air traffic controller and manage the take-offs and landings in the airport of you heart!

You will find yourself flying a whole lot higher!

Four Types Of Hearers

^"Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” Mark 4:8

Have you learned more by asking or by listening?

Before Jesus told the Parable of the Sower he emphasized, "Listen!" And again, when He ended it He said, "Listen!"

Actually, He said, "He who has ears to hear let him hear." In other words, "Listen!"

The parable is about listening, or at least hearing, the message of the Gospel. Jesus identifies four different types of hearers.

First is the Egocentric Hearer as represented by the seed that fell on the path.

This person listens to hear what he wants to hear or for what sounds good to him and dismisses anything else. Ignoring or dismissing truth will harden your heart.

Second is the Emergency Hearer as represented by the rocky soil.

The emergency hearer usually begins listening when things get rocky or painful in his and life. But because he only wants relief but not the responsibility of a relationship he fails to grow roots to sustain him.

Third is the Emotional Hearer as illustrated by the thorny soil.

An emotional hearer listens and learns but falls in love the feeling rather getting grounded in faith. So when the trials of life begin to pressure him and the emotions turn from good to bad his faith wanes.

Finally is the Effective Hearer as represented by the good soil that produced a bountiful harvest.

An effective hearer listens to the Word, he learns the Word, loves the Word and most importantly - he lives the Word. Because he lives the Word it affects other lives through him.

Jesus identifies four types of hearers.

One of those four is you. 

Which is it?

What will you do about it?

March 20, 2019

"Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” Mark 4:1-9

As someone who has been married for over 30 years, I know the importance of listening to my wife, Barbara.

I discovered early and painfully the difference between hearing her and listening to her. It is the one area where I find the most trouble. If she senses that I didn't pay attention to what she told me she will ask, "What did I just say?"

I'd better give her that right answer when she asks or she gets her feelings hurt and I get in trouble.

Failing to listen to Jesus is a sure prescription for disaster as well.

In this part of Mark's Gospel Jesus begins His parable by saying, "Listen!" and ending the portion by again saying, "He who has ears to hear, let them hear!"

Parables were Jesus' favorite and most effective way to teach. In this parable of the sower He is teaching us that there are four types of listeners. And we also discover that hearing happens with the heart, not just the ears.

Over the next several posts I want to explore those four types of "hearing hearts" but this evening I want to call you attention to how Jesus addressed the audience assembled on the lake shore that day. And according to Mark's account it was a large crowd.

Those familiar with this area where Jesus did this teaching tell us the rocks that line the shore are positioned like church pews. Behind those rows of boulders are steep banks that rise above the level of the lake. That combination of terrain made an ideal amphitheater. When you consider that Jesus was in a boat on the water several yards from the shore speaking over the water, he had perfect acoustics for being clearly heard by anyone who was present that day.

So when Jesus began His teaching by saying, "Listen" He had no doubt that everyone could hear Him clearly. He wasn't so sure everyone who was hearing was really listening.

Jesus knows how to position Himself in your life so you can hear Him when He speaks to you. But you must position your heart so you will listen.

Will you listen to God today? 

Will you open your heart to hear what He will say to you? 

He will be speaking! 

I hope you're listening!

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22