I don’t know about you, but I hate that feeling.

However, that is something that I’m just going to have to learn to live with. Take a look at Proverbs 16:9:

I can make my plans, but God’s plan supersedes mine. I can direct my life in the directions I want to go, but what God wants is what will occur.

The key, is to develop such a heart for God, and a heart like his, that my wants reflect his wants, that my desires are what he desires, that my plans are set because I’m in tune with his plan.

How does one go about achieving that?

Prayer. Studying the Word.

Consistently.

Continually.

Completely.

What plans do you have in your life that you need to seek God’s counsel on? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

I hear it all the time:

• “I don’t like organized religion.”
• “I don’t like the music/preaching/style/time/etc.”
• “I don’t have time for church.”
• “Sunday is my only day to sleep in.”
• “I don’t need any help.”
• “I don’t need the church.”
• “I can do this on my own.”

This really bothers me, for several reasons. But let me state it succinctly: You need the church. And the church needs you.

Let’s look at both of those reasons in more detail.

You need the church

• The church helps you grow. The church is a place where you connect with God and where you connect with other people for the purpose of discipleship. You can get some of this on your own, by reading the Bible, but it’s very limited. You need the church.
• The church is a place to worship. Can you worship on your own? Absolutely! But corporate worship is as critical as personal worship.
• The church is a place to serve. The church is a place where you can get involved. Serve others. Serve in a ministry. Serve in the community.
• The church is a place where you can connect with like-minded people. Maybe they won’t see eye-to-eye with you on everything. But they do serve the same God as you. Don’t be so arrogant to think you can’t learn from them. And realize that they may learn from you as well.
• The church is the Bride of Christ. To blatantly state that you don’t need the church borders on insult. If Christ loved his Bride so much so that he sacrificed his life for her, then we have no right to treat so lightly what he loved so intently.

The church needs you

• Ministry happens in the church. But without people involved in all areas, things won’t get done. People won’t be reached. The Kingdom of God won’t be impacted.
• Your presence is an encouragement to others. When people see you in church, they know that they aren’t walking this journey with Christ on their own.
• Your presence is a testimony to non-believers. Attending church says that you are committed to Christ, even if it means sacrificing your only day to sleep in. The priority you place on church is seen by those around you.
• The church needs your time and your money. While too many churches seem to always have their hand out, the need is very real. And your help is critical.
• The church is a body. Every body is made up of different parts. And every part is needed and has a role to fill. When one part of the body is absent, the whole body feels it. Take a few moments and read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.

The church is a necessary part of the believer’s life. And to forsake being a part of this body is to miss out on some significant aspects of your walk with Christ.

The writer of Hebrews said it best:

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25

One of my favorite authors is C. S. Lewis. He addressed the issue of church attendance in a way that makes it easy to understand.

My own experience is that when I first became a Christian, about fourteen years ago, I thought that I could do it on my own, by retiring to my rooms and reading theology, and I wouldn’t go to the churches and Gospel Halls; and then later I found that it was the only way of flying your flag; and, of course, I found that this meant being a target. It is extraordinary how inconvenient to your family it becomes for you to get up early and go to Church. It doesn’t matter so much if you get up early for anything else, but if you get up early to go to Church it’s very selfish of you and you upset the house. If there is anything in the teaching of the New Testament which is inthe nature of a comand, it is that you are obliged to take the Sacrament, and you can’t do it without going to Church. I disliked very much their hymns, which I considered to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music. But as I went on I saw the great merit of it. I came up against different people of quite diferent outlooks and different education, and then gradually my conceit just began peeling off. I realized that the hymns (which were just sixth-rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and benefit by an old saint in elastic-side boots in the opposite pew, and then you realize that you aren’t fit to clean those boots. It gets you out of your solitary conceit.

– from “Answers to Questions on Christianity,” God in the Dock

That pretty much says it all, don’t you think?

See you in church on Sunday!

What are your reasons for attending church (or not attending church)? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

It’s disgusting.

But as I look at my life, I see that I’m just as gross. So many of my thoughts are centered around my wants, my desires, me…

But thankfulness should be the state of my heart, because of what God has done for me.

This week’s passage is from Psalm 30:11-12. Check it out:

God did for me what I could not do for myself. God removed my sin, and made me a new creation. God gave me a reason for joy.

My life should reflect a response of gratitude.

Do you live with a sense of entitlement, or with an attitude of gratitude? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

This is part of the Classic Bible: Favorite Stories & Passages series. Read more from the series!

2012 is a year of challenge for me.

I typically read through the Bible at least once each year, and many times I make it through twice. But this year, I’m stepping it up a bit.

I’ve decided to use Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading System, reading 3660 chapters of the Bible over the course of the year. This is the equivalent of more than three times through the Bible. Not every passage will be read three times, but many will be read much more than that.

In the process of going through the Old Testament books of history, I recently finished the book of Joshua. While this isn’t my favorite Old Testament book, there were several passages that jumped out to me.

Be Strong And Courageous – 1:7-9

Very early in the book, the theme of courage jumps out in bold form. Moses is dead. Joshua is their new leader, about to lead them in conquest of their new home. I’m sure fear was hovering over them like a vapor, ready to settle into their lives. So, one of the very first commands in the book is the command to be strong and courageous, the command to not allow fear a foothold in their lives. And the next phrase explains how to be strong and fearless: the study of and obedience to God’s law, as given by Moses.

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:7-9

The Crossing Of The Jordan River – 3:9-4:24

As Joshua led the Israelites in conquest of the Promised Land, God demonstrated that just because Moses was no longer with them did not mean that God was gone as well. He displayed his power incredibly when the Israelites were to cross the Jordan River. God stopped the water from flowing, and the nation of Israel crossed on dry ground, reminiscent of the crossing of the Red Sea a generation earlier.

Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. – Joshua 3:15-17

God In Shining Armor – 5:13-15

Nothing demonstrates the presence of God like a physical manifestation of the commander of the Lord’s army himself. This is exactly what happened to Joshua. As he was preparing to attack Jericho, God showed Joshua that he himself would be directly involved in conquering the land and delivering on his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Nether,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”  The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. – Joshua 5:13-15

The Fall Of Jericho – 6:1-27

Jericho was the first city to fall under the Israelites attack after the crossing of the Jordan River. And it must have been a mighty sight to see. God instructed the Israelites to march around the city once a day for six days in silence. On the seventh day, they were to march around it seven times, and after the seventh time to shout and blow their trumpets. The walls of Jericho fell and the city was conquered!

When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city. – Joshua 6:20

Achan’s Sin – 7:1-26

After such a powerful display of God’s presence, you might think that the Israelites would be wholly devoted. Not so. God had commanded that no spoils were to be taken from Jericho; it was the first city taken, and it was to be destroyed completely as a sacrifice to God. However, Achan coveted after a beautiful mantle from Shinar, some silver and some gold. He kept them, and hid them, in direct defiance of God’s command. As a result, the Israelites were defeated at Ai. Joshua was forced to discipline Achan and his family, and stoned them to death.

But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD’s anger burned against Israel. – Joshua 7:1

Sun Stand Still – 10:1-15

As the conquest of the Promised Land continued, God continued to demonstrate his involvement. The Amorites pushed an attack on some Gibeonites, and Joshua and the Israeites responded. During the course of this battle, God caused the sun to stand still in the sky until the Israelites had defeated the Amorites. And there has never been a day like it since.

On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel! – Joshua 10:12-14

Cities Of Refuge Established – 20:1-9

After much of the Promised Land had been subdued, and the Israelites were in possession, God instructed Joshua to establish cities of refuge. There were to be cities where a person could take refuge from retaliation if his injury of another was the result of an accident, and not intentional. Joshua set aside six cities as places of refuge in accordance with God’s command: Kadesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan.

Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood. – Joshua 20:2-3

Make Your Choice – 24:15

Perhaps one of the most often quoted passages in the Old Testament is Joshua 24:15. This verse has been a rally cry for families throughout the years, and is still appropriate today. If you’ve seen the movie Courageous, you know that this verse is a prominent part of that story, encouraging men all over the world to make the choice to serve the Lord in their families.

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. – Joshua 24:15

These are just a few of the stories found in Joshua that display the power and the presence of God as the people of Israel ceased their wanderings and took possession of the land that God had promised to their forefathers. The book of Joshua contains story after story that detail just how involved God was, and is, in the lives of his children. As you read through the book, watch for key words, of which the most prominent is the word “courageous”.

And take courage yourself, because God is just as involved in our lives today as he was then.

What stories from Joshua are your favorites? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

I want to make sure that I live my life in such a way that my top priority, in my life, my marriage, my family, my job, is always and only my God.

I crave a singleness of heart like Jeremiah speaks of in this week’s passage. Take a look at Jeremiah 32:39:

I am confident that if I live my life to the best of my ability for God and his purposes, then my children will see that and choose to follow that path as well.

I am confident that if I succeed in establishing the most dynamic ministry out there, but lose my family, then I have failed.

I am confident that if I teach and uphold biblical principles to my children, then they will be armed with the knowledge to face what the world has to offer and make the right choices.

I am confident that when God says that fearing him is for my own good, and for the good of my children, he has my best interests at heart.

I am confident. That is why I hope.

Do you think about the legacy you are leaving for your children and future generations? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

And too many leaders burn out.

One of the main reasons for this is that we don’t rest.

Making sure we get enough rest is crucial to staying a healthy leader.

I’m not just referring to getting enough sleep at night. I’m talking about the slowing down, allowing a breather into your life, preventing you from draining yourself before it’s too late kind of rest. I’m talking about taking the time to refuel and refill yourself so that you can continue to be the leader you need to be.

Deep rest is critical. Without it we will drain ourselves, preventing effective leadership, and open ourselves up to failure, temptation, and more.

While rest is critical, most of us don’t know how to do it. Here are eight ways to build rest into your life.

Take a Personal Retreat Day
Take a day where you get away from the office and the regular routine. Ideally, you should do this once a month, or every 6 weeks. Get away from the phone, the web, email, and anything else that is a distraction.

I use a local outdoor ministry in my area. They have a small cabin I rent for the day. I bring my Bible, a couple of books, and my journal. I often bring my Life Plan and my current strategy/goals. I spend the day relaxing, reading, praying, and making sure I’m on track with where I think God is leading in my life.

Schedule these into your calendar, and don’t cancel them. Use them to refuel yourself so that you can continue being effective in your work.

Find a hobby you enjoy
Identify something you enjoy doing and take the time regularly to participate in it. For me, this comes in two forms: photography and geocaching.

I love taking photos of nature and landscapes. It relaxes me. I enjoy capturing a scene that I find captivating and coming back to it later and enjoying it all over again.

I also love geocaching. This is something I can do with my kids, and they enjoy it as well. It gets us out together, and distracts my mind from focusing on work.

Do projects around the house
Wait a minute. Is that rest? Yes, it is. Working around the house, completing home repair projects, yard work or gardening can refuel you. Is it tiring? Of course, it is. But it’s also a great way to allow your mind and spirit the opportunity to let go of the daily issues of your job, and to refocus yourself.

Take a hike, or float a river
Get out and enjoy nature. Go on a hike. This can be in the woods, or it could happen in an urban setting. It doesn’t matter. You can also canoe or kayak a nearby river or lake. I often find myself refreshed by placing myself in some natural surroundings for a while. Do this alone or with a friend or family member.

Watch a movie with your family
Some of my favorite times of relaxation are on my couch with one or more of my kids piled up around me. My kids benefit from the time spent together as well.

Read a book
Don’t read something that pertains to work. Grab a novel, sit down with a cup of coffee and spend an afternoon escaping into the worlds created by so many excellent writers. A good cup of coffee fits in with this incredibly well.

Take your day off
Don’t do work that pertains to your job on your day off. Allow this to be a time when you free your mind from those avenues. Protect this time. I actually schedule my day off into my calendar as a recurring appointment. That way, I’m never tempted to schedule something else, work related, on that day. I can honestly say that I’m booked that day. My mind and body, as well as my family, appreciate it immensely.

Make sure you get enough good sleep
I know I started off by saying that this isn’t what I was talking about. But it is a key piece in maintaining a healthy leadership mentality. Get enough sleep at night. Most adults require 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Be consistent in the times you go to bed and get up. Erratic sleep cycles can result in poor quality rest. Invest in a good mattress. Comfort while sleeping will deepen your rest and allow you to wake refreshed.

While there are many more things you can do to refuel yourself, these are just a few of the things I’ve found to be effective.

Whatever form you use, just make sure you utilize it regularly.

Burnout among leaders is becoming rampant in our society. We’ve become a culture of workaholics who disregard our own physical, spiritual, and leadership health for that extra few hours. The truth is this: there will always be something else you could be doing. Don’t just work for the sake of work. Make sure that you are doing the best that you can do, whatever that is. In order to do that, you must give your body and mind time to refresh and refuel.

Or you’ll be another burnt out statistic… Or worse.

Do you have healthy rest habits? What do you do to incorporate rest into your life? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

It reminded me of this week’s passage, which speaks of the majesty of God. Take a look at Psalm 57:5:

When I think of the majesty of God, some of the first things that come to mind are images of God’s creation: sunsets, mountain ranges, waterfalls.

How great is our God who gave us such a variety of beauty!

What does this passage bring to your mind? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.