Chips Blog

Does God Care About My Happiness?

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 15:18:13 Z

We sometimes struggle with a scarcity mentality. We fear there's not enough money, jobs, or even love to go around. This negative view can sadly spill over into our view of God.

But what would happen if you believed the Creator of the Universe was actually a generous God? Theologian J.I. Packer says generosity "expresses the simple wish that others would have what they need to make them happy." What a concept! Is it possible that God is concerned with our happiness? That He is actively working to bring His good into our lives – even into the facets of your life right now that seem hopeless?

Think about what a difference-maker that can be in our thinking. What if we chose to believe that God's innate goodness is expressed in His overwhelming generosity toward us? If we can truly grasp the depth of His goodness, it has the potential to radically impact how we view God, our circumstances, and our prayer life.

Take a moment to watch this message excerpt from Chip to learn how the character of God relates to your happiness.

To find out more about the goodness of God, check out our series entitled The Real God.

The Key to Breakthrough

Tue, 26 Jun 2018 14:59:28 Z

Are you, or someone you know, experiencing an impossible situation right now? Perhaps it’s in a relationship, at church, or at work? Do you feel trapped in an addiction or stuck believing a lie about yourself?

It’s in these situations that we need to experience God’s supernatural power to break through these “stuck” areas of our life – in our homes, at our workplace, in our relationships, and in our churches.

But how does this happen?

The first step to experiencing breakthrough is to believe God is good.

This requires that we have a correct view of God and to understand what it means to believe in the Gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ.

Jesus announces the good news in Mark 1 and says: “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near.” And then He gives them a command: “Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)

This command to repent means to have a change of mind, to think differently about God and about yourself, and “believe the good news.”

The good news is not “What can I do for God?” or “How can I earn His favor?” The good news is an announcement of what God has already done for us. It’s an announcement that the God who made us, loves us. He wants to bless us. He’s for us. And He wants an intimate fellowship and relationship with us.

We are called to receive it and believe it – and not just intellectually. We’re to believe that He is willing to help us and bless us because He’s good. And then live out of the freedom and the reality.

Breakthrough requires that we accept that God wants to do not just something hard or difficult, but the impossible in us and through us.

In Mark 6, Jesus’s disciples are faced with an impossible situation. There are about 5000 men and probably the same number of women and children who came to listen to Jesus teach. And at the end of the day, the disciples realize everyone needs to eat.

So they say to Jesus, “Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

But (Jesus) answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” (Mark 6:36-38)

So the disciples give Jesus their five loaves and two fish, and He blesses the food and then gives it back to them to distribute to the crowd. Miraculously there is enough to feed everyone!

What’s the impossible situation that you’re facing today? Perhaps you’re asking Jesus, “Lord, I need a breakthrough – will you help?”

And just like He did with the disciples, Jesus is turning to you, looking you right in the eye, and saying, “You reach your neighborhood. You be the breakthrough at work. You take the first step in the reconciliation of this marriage. You break that addiction and bring other people with you.”

Perhaps you’re feeling surprised at His response, just like the disciples. But this is what He expects. And all His power is available to do it.

Jesus expects you to do impossible things, because He expects to do impossible things in you and through you.

How does it happen?

Find out what you have and bring it to Him. Then trust Him that when you understand, by faith, how good He is, and you’re willing to obey what He already said, that He will show up in ways that declare and reveal His glory and His goodness to you and to people that have no idea that He loves them.

That’s what breakthrough is about.

For more on this topic, check out Chip’s 10-session group study, Breakthrough: Unleashing God’s Power into Impossible Situations.

Are You on the Happy Path?

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 00:05:28 Z

There are two different paths to achieve happiness in this life.

Path number one is the option we are faced with every day. We might call it “the world’s way.” It’s not new. It was around a thousand years ago, and it existed a hundred years ago.

It leads to immediate gratification. It’s about getting what we want … now. It comes with the belief that if we can get all that we want now – whether it’s a person, a place, a vacation, a car, a house, a job, you name it – then we will get money, power, and prestige.

The other option is path number two. This is “the way of compassion.” God says that when we take this path it cultivates a generous spirit within us. So instead of focusing on what we can get, we focus on what we can give.

Path number two is also the path of an eternal perspective. When we’re on this path, we have faith that there is an even better life to come. To take this path requires that we place our trust and hope in God not only for today, but for tomorrow and forever.

Solomon, who was the wisest man in the world, looked at the different paths of life and said, “There is a way that seems right to a man. But it ends in the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

In other words, there’s a common path – a way of living – and it sure seems right and everyone is following it, but this one ends in death. This is the path of the kingdom of this world.

If we take this path, it will eventually destroy our relationships with other people. And it will leave us deeply discouraged because we’ll never get what we really want. Or, if we do get it, at some point we’ll realize that it doesn’t deliver the happiness we thought it would.

The other path is the path of the Kingdom of God. This is the path to life. This is the happy path. On this path, our love for God and for people grows from the inside out. And God’s promise is that it will bring happiness, regardless of our circumstances.

Most of us in our heart want to follow God’s happy path.

But if we were honest, what we’re actually thinking is: Well, I want to follow God’s path. I really, really do BUT … If I give, give, give, what about me? What about my kids? What about retirement? What about education? What about security?

The Philippian church didn’t just agree with God’s path. They believed it to the point of acting. And they were a poor church! But they cultivated this heart of compassion for people who didn’t know God. And then they gave money to the Apostle Paul so that he could preach and teach and not have to make so many tents in his part-time job.

God had given them a promise: If you will follow My path, I “will meet all your needs.” (Philippians 4:19)

And this is God’s promise to us, too. It’s for us who not only believe in Christ but also practice radical generosity with our time and money. It’s for those who live by faith with an eternal perspective, and who say to God, “I will follow your path and actually believe in it!”

So which path are you on?

To find out, you must ask yourself, “Do I agree with the path of God’s Kingdom, or do I believe in it?”

If you believe, do you believe in it to the point of action? Does your life, your time, your energy, your priorities, your money, and how you treat people follow God’s path?

If so, then here is God’s promise to you today: He will provide for you and meet all your needs – not wants but needs. And He will do it with an unlimited resource, “…according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (v. 19)

To learn more about how to have true happiness and contentment, check out Chip’s audio series, Enough.

The Single Most Important Thing for a Leader

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:00:00 Z

We live in an information-driven culture. Knowledge spreads fast. But sometimes that leaves us feeling more overwhelmed than equipped. We read books, listen to podcasts, and watch videos – all in pursuit of finding the silver bullet that will make us more effective.

As a leader myself, I am constantly in search of resources that will help me lead well in my roles as pastor, husband, and father. I recently had the opportunity to hear a friend and fellow pastor who I greatly respect address the topic of leadership.

He shared research that indicates the importance of a “quotient” that has little to do with how smart you are or even your emotional intelligence. I was on the edge of my seat – eager to hear what this one critically important factor would be. Was it strategy? Planning?

I was surprised by his answer, but I found his point to ring true. Watch this brief clip to discover what I learned.

To find out more leading and living God's way, check out our series entitled Doing Good.

What We Learned from Our Fathers

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 14:00:00 Z

Charles Kettering once said, “Every father should remember one day his son will follow his example, not his advice.” As we near Father’s Day, the Living on the Edge team paused to reflect on the examples of our fathers and how they impacted our lives as well as lessons we have learned in our own parenting journeys.

Fathers Can Break the Cycle:

With God’s help, it is possible to break generational cycles and launch new spiritual legacies for your family.

“My father had a pretty rough upbringing. He lost his mom at a very young age, wasn’t able to finish school, and he was surrounded by bad influences. Despite this, God had bigger plans for his life. He accepted Jesus at the age of 18, and fast forward to today, he is now a pastor who loves and serves with all of his heart for the Kingdom of God,” says Uadani. “I am so fortunate to have a father who led me in the Word of God, loved me, cared for me, sacrificed so much for our family, and was always present. And even though I’m all grown up, I am still Daddy’s little girl, and I’m so thankful for his life.”

Fathers Do Not Have to Be Perfect:

Our culture elevates the importance of perfection, but it’s an unattainable goal. However, with God’s help, it is possible to live and lead with humility and a commitment to learn through the mistakes – always pointing our children back to the only perfect Father.

“One of the main lessons I’ve learned as a father is that it’s okay for your kids to see you fail. In fact, their lives will be all the better for it,” says Todd. “It makes you a real person in their eyes, and when they inevitably arrive at their own failures, they’ll have seen their dad walk that road before them. Even greater, when they watch the Lord work in their father’s life and bring him to a place of restoration, they will realize that God can do exactly the same for them.”

Fathers Share Wisdom:

As we go through life, we gain insight, and that is meant to be shared. A simple truth can become the cornerstone in a son or daughter’s life.

“One thing my dad always taught me was ‘keep the main thing the main thing.’ This resonates with me as I can try to figure out a million things at once or exaggerate a situation thinking of the worst-case scenario. That, more than anywhere else in my life, resonates in my spiritual life,” says Bianca. “It’s okay to do things for God and to spend time building relationships with people and all of these wonderful things, but I can sometimes see a huge stop sign and my Father saying to me in my dad’s voice, ‘Bianca, keep the main thing the main thing. Spend some time talking to me. Learn of me. I love you.’ I’m very thankful for that lesson learned.”

Fathers Model God’s Love:

Our culture often distorts masculinity, minimizing the importance of loving in a selfless manner. Yet with God’s help, fathers can lead the way in love – a love that exemplifies 1 Corinthians 13.

“Regarding relationships and marriage, my dad said, ‘You don't love in order to commit. You commit to love.’ That has never left me and completely made 1 Corinthians 13 make sense to me as a teenager,” says Joey.

When you think of your father or those who’ve made a fatherly investment in your life, what are the lessons you have learned? If you have the opportunity, take time to say thanks to those who have invested in you and to live out the lessons you have learned in your own life this week.

To find out more ways you can be intentional in your parenting, check out the series entitled Intentional Parenting.

God's Solution to Our Broken Relationships

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 11:00:00 Z

Some of the greatest joys you will ever experience during your time on this planet will be in a relationship. Yet some of the greatest sorrows and the greatest pain you will ever experience in your life will also be in a relationship.

Ever wonder why it is so difficult to have – and keep – loving relationships? Why do we fight so often with those we love?

James, Jesus’ half-brother, addresses this issue in his very first letter to the early church. During that time, there were lots of quarrels and fights and wars going on within the church.

In chapter 4, he writes: “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.” (James 4:1-2)

The reason that we have dysfunctional conflict in our relationships is penetratingly simple and very painful: The root cause is self-gratification – the “desires that battle within” us.

On some level, we all have the tendency to say in our hearts, “I want my way!” When it comes down to it, getting what we want becomes the most important thing. At times, we will try to achieve pleasure, fun and sensual fulfillment at all costs.

I’ve seen this time and time again. I’ve seen brothers and sisters arguing over menial, miniscule, and crazy issues to the point that even if they live in the same city, they don’t talk or visit. I have watched people who seem to really love God and really love each other attack one another in ways that have astounded me.

There is something in our human hearts that wants our own way. It’s the problem in our marriages. It’s the problem with our boyfriends or girlfriends. It’s the problem with our kids. It’s the problem with our co-workers, and it’s the problem with fellow Christians. We can mask it a dozen different ways, but at the end of the day, it’s my selfishness and your selfishness that is at the core of every relational conflict.

Our problem isn’t that we have desires. It’s that we’re trying to fulfill them apart from God.

You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (v. 2-3)

Deep down, we believe: I don’t need God … I need a great education. I don’t need God … I need money. I don’t need God … I need a great body. I don’t need God … I need great sex. I don’t need God … I need a big house. In fact, I need another house … I need a remodeled house.

In response, James writes: You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (v.4)

When we try to fulfill our inner longing for fulfillment, significance, and happiness by pursuing sensual pleasures, we unknowingly and naïvely shift positions in our relationship with God.

Instead of being a son or daughter who is dependent on our Father who wants to bless and help us and give us the deepest joy, we actually become an “enemy of God.”

So what’s the solution?

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you … Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (v.7-8, 10)

God promises that when we humble ourselves, He will heal our relationships.

It’s always God’s desire to heal the relationship with a brother or sister, with an ex-mate, with a mom or a dad, with a spouse, with a boyfriend or a girlfriend, or with a supervisor at work.

So what about you? Where are you at with your relationships? Where are the conflicts in your life? Where is the frustration within? Where is the lack of satisfaction?

What are you trusting to deliver – the world or God?

Remember, God is not down on you. He wants to lift you up. He wants to bring peace to your heart. He wants to connect you with the most important relationships in your life. But He wants you to be walking in love with Him, first and foremost. And then all these other things, He will add to you.

To learn more about how to have to godly, healthy relationships, check out the 10-week group study, Love, Sex, and Lasting Relationships and our audio series, Real Love in Real Life.

Do You Really Know How Much God Loves You?

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 13:00:00 Z

How do you know if God loves you? Most of us have the Sunday school answer down: “I know God loves me because Jesus died for my sins.” But I think if we were honest, most of us would agree that although we might know about God’s love intellectually, we don’t necessarily have an emotional reaction to what God actually did to demonstrate His love.

So how does Jesus’s death reveal God’s love?

At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person, someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

While you were at the end of your rope, with nothing to bring, Christ died for you. He died not just for your neighbor or your friend – but for you! God wasn’t waiting until you cleaned up your morality or changed your behavior. He wasn’t waiting for you to try harder either.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if while we were God’s enemies we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled shall we be saved through His life? (v. 9-10)

While you were still an “enemy of God,” Christ chose to die in your place.

Sin, at its core, is rebellion. Deep down, we all struggle with this. We start off thinking and believing: “I want to be king. I want to call the shots. I will live independently of God. I know better. I’m going to do my own thing.”

We think we can live better lives apart from God and God’s ways because deep down, we don’t believe that God has our best in mind.

Yet, in the midst of our rebellion against God, when Jesus died He paid the insurmountable debt that you and I owe and can never pay. He freed us from the slavery of sin and absorbed the just anger of God.

Later in Romans, the Apostle Paul uses the analogy of the slave (Romans 6:20) because buying and selling slaves was a common practice during his time. And similar to the slaves, we also have a “purchase price.” The purchase price for our life was the death or the blood of Jesus.

If you ever doubt how much God loves you, consider that He bought you out of slavery with His own life.

As a result of His mercy and grace, the God that you worship looks upon you through the lens of the blood of Christ as a righteous son or a daughter. You’re the object of His affection. He wants to direct you, bless you, help you, and meet the deepest needs and the greatest delights of your heart.

Finally, you can know that God loves you because He calls you His friend. That’s what the word reconciliation means.

"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends…" (John 15:15)

As your friend, God promises never to let you down, never to leave you, and never to forsake you. The Scripture says “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” – and that’s Jesus.

And that’s how you can know, with certainty, that He loves you with a real and everlasting love.

To learn more about this topic, check out the series Real Love in Real Life.

Can God Use You?

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 13:00:00 Z

If we look at the coming of Jesus Christ as a rescue operation (and who can deny that humanity needs rescuing?), who did God choose for His special ops team? That may seem like an odd perspective, but it illustrates how differently we think from the way God thinks. It also calls us to reevaluate what matters. Let me explain.

You may know that U.S. Special Forces are the elite of the elite. Delta Force or Navy SEALs, Green Berets or Rangers, these warriors receive the most rigorous training humanly possible. And in some cases, inhumanly possible. You want them on your team if you need rescuing!

But who did God employ? The toughest fighters in Palestine? The stealthiest spies and wiliest support crews?

Uh, no. To start with, God sent a group of influential Gentile thinkers, the Magi. He also used Zechariah, a high priest with serious doubts, and his barren (cursed) wife, Elizabeth. Mary, Elizabeth’s cousin, was a poor teenager, and her fiancé, Joseph, was likely not much older or more educated. Added to this cast of characters, God recruited lowly shepherds and two very old and ignored people, Simeon and Anna.

Just what kind of a team of special operatives is that? A bit shocking, from a human point of view, isn’t it? Well, that’s the point.

"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

What can we learn from this?

One, intelligence and ability are overrated. Wisdom and availability are underrated.

God is always looking for available, wise people. Wisdom isn’t about being smart. Wisdom is understanding how God has designed life, and being experienced in following that design.

Second, power and position are overrated. Humility and faith are underrated.

What do you value? Are you trying to improve your skills and get smarter so you can serve God? Or for your own goals? Do you want more authority and prestige so that you can serve God? Or for your own goals?

Lastly, knowledge about God is overrated. Knowledge OF God is underrated.

I love what Paul writes to the church in Rome. I think it would apply to each of us today:

"Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him" (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

If you are a Christ follower, you were rescued and given new life because it is the habit of God to use unlikely people for His own loving and wise purposes. Today, thank Him for that, and think about how you can be an unlikely instrument of His love in someone else’s life.

"It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord'" (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

To find out more about this topic, check out the series, The Great Rescue.

Has Happiness Become an Idol?

Thu, 31 May 2018 13:00:00 Z

When we look in the Old Testament and read how easily the Israelites were seduced into idol worship, it’s easy for us to judge. I’ve never come home after a long day of work and said to my wife, “Honey, just stay right here. I put a little statue in the back room, and now I’m going to go pray to it.” I’m guessing you have never done that either, so we pat ourselves on the back for our faithfulness to God and point the finger at the Israelites for their failure.

But if we take the time to look at our own hearts a little closer, we’re really not that different from the children of Israel. Honestly, I’ve worshipped a lot of mental idols – idols like success, family, education, prosperity, money, comfort, self-fulfillment. And in the process of pursuing these idols, the focus on God diminishes.

As a pastor, I see this not only in my life, but also in the life of the church. Many of our churches today are infected with what I call the Happiness Cult. We worship at the altar of happiness and expect God to deliver on that front. We adopt the idea: “If I love God, He will make sure things go my way.”

It’s a dangerous and damaging belief because the truth is that things do not always go the way we want. We have been called to worship and serve God, regardless of our circumstances. Watch below as I share how you can know if you’re currently worshipping the idol of happiness.

To find out more about who God really is, check out our series entitled The Real God.

God's Solution for the Stressed Out

Tue, 29 May 2018 13:00:00 Z

Are you constantly multitasking, feeling stressed and overextended? Are you chronically busy and in a hurry? Has it been a while since you’ve prayed alone? Do you have a sense that there are a lot of things you know you’re supposed to do, but you’re not doing them anymore?

With so many things competing for attention in our lives, sometimes it feels impossible to have balance. Sometimes we just need to stop and call a “time out” to reassess our priorities.

Moses wrote: “The length of (our) days is seventy years – or eighty,if we have the strength; yet their spanis but trouble and sorrow,for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Who knows the power of Your anger? For Your wrathis as great as the fear that is due You. Teach us to number our daysaright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:10-12)

Moses was talking about life’s brevity. There’s a coming judgment and each of us is going to give an account for what we do in this life. Therefore, we should be asking God: “Give me wisdom. Show me how to live this life with the time that I have.”

Subconsciously, many of us go about our daily lives thinking: I have to prove to myself, to God, or to someone that I’m significant. I have to prove that my life matters. I have to make a difference!

God wants us to make a difference. But He wants us to make a difference according to His calling. He wants us to use our time wisely, to discern, and to number our days.

The Apostle Paul says something similar: Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

For most of us who struggle with misplaced priorities, it’s not like we’re doing bad things with our time. We’re most likely filling our days doing lots of good things, but for the wrong reasons. And what we’re doing isn’t always part of God’s unique calling for our life.

When we have misplaced priorities, we’re spending our life instead of investing it. This is foolish. Instead, we need to be wise by discerning what God’s will is for our lives.

When we make seeking God our first priority, He will show us what we need to do and what not to do. He’ll show us where to go and where not to go, what to say “yes” to and what to say “no” to – and He’ll give us the courage to say it, too.

So what does it look like to put God first?

It looks like clearing a portion of your day – preferably first thing in the morning – to meet with God, read His word, and pray. It’s coming to God in prayer and saying, “God, I’m here and I want to be with You first. I admit that I can’t do all of these things alone. I can’t make the decisions. I need you to help me.”

When we seek God’s help to order our priorities, He promises that we will not only experience His power, but also His supernatural peace.

To find out more about this topic, check out the series Balancing Life’s Demands.

What Keeps Us from Telling Others about Christ?

Thu, 24 May 2018 13:00:00 Z

Think of the last time you couldn't wait to tell someone some great news. Maybe you just got the job you were hoping for. Or your daughter-in-law is expecting. Or maybe your favorite team finally reached the playoffs. You just had to talk about it, right?

We tell others things that matter to us, don't we? Anything from the simple to the profound. I discovered a wonderful new restaurant! My husband lost 50 pounds! The company is going public! My grandson is getting married! My wife is in remission!

You know what? That's "testifying."

“To testify” means to give evidence as a witness to facts. Christians often stumble when it comes to “witnessing to Christ.” Some of us are afraid to tell people about our faith in Christ. Some of us even wonder, do we really have to tell others about Christ?

We believe the lie that if we share how Christ has impacted our lives, people will get angry or reject us or worse. True, that may occasionally happen. But the truth is, people are hungry to know God.

Another lie: That we have to be experts at theology and apologetics to persuade our listeners toward Christ. We think if we mess up, we might be embarrassed and at the worst, we might ruin someone’s chance to be saved.

But the power is not in the messenger. It's in the message. And Jesus is the message. Remember, Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

Remember, also, that the Holy Spirit is always there to help us. "When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13).

Jesus, on the night before He is going to be crucified, prepares His disciples for what was going to come. He promises that He will send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to them — and to us —to testify about Jesus Christ. "And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning" (John 15:27).

Jesus doesn’t instruct this team of mostly uneducated guys to start a religion. He tells them to be witnesses to what they had experienced as His disciples. What’s the result? God uses their radical lives and testimonies to grow His church into what today is around 2 billion followers across the globe!

Think about it: Aren't you glad someone courageously communicated —testified — about Jesus to you?

There are hundreds of opportunities around you right now to do the same. If people don't hear of Christ's love for them from you or me, they may not ever hear! God is working behind the scenes. He does powerful things when we step out and trust Him.

You don’t have to have it together. The disciples didn’t have it together. It’s time to have faith, be courageous, and testify!

To find out more about sharing your faith, check out the series Jesus Unfiltered: Testify.

When Life Doesn't Make Sense

Tue, 22 May 2018 04:00:00 Z

Why does God allow problems to go from bad to impossible? If He really loves us, why doesn’t He fix things when we ask for His help?

It's like having a friend who always told you to call. “Anytime, for anything.” Then when you are facing a crisis, you reach out and the friend says, "Sorry, not now."

You feel let down, angry, and maybe confused. Right? It doesn't make sense. Life doesn’t make sense.

Two of Jesus's friends felt that way. In the Gospel of John, we see Jesus disappoint two sisters who were devoted to Him.

"Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha...So the sisters sent word to Jesus, 'Lord, the one you love is sick'” (John 11:1,3).

An awful situation has become terrible, and now it’s worse: Jesus refuses to come help. His friend Lazarus dies. Then, Jesus tells His disciples they’re going to Bethany. That doesn’t make sense to them. Not only is Lazarus already dead, Jesus’s opponents in Bethany want to kill Him. (And the disciples are thinking, if they want to kill You, Jesus, they want to kill us, too!)

Their reaction is based on logic … and fear. Jesus replies that a person “who walks by day will not stumble for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles for he has not light.”

The disciples (and Martha and Mary) are stumbling because they have forgotten who Jesus is. He had already told them:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

You see, Jesus knew what had happened. (His friend was sick and would die.) He knew what was going to happen. (He was going to wait to visit, and then accomplish something no one could imagine.) And He knew the bigger purpose of it all. (God and His Son were going to be glorified in ways that would not have been possible if Jesus had behaved in the expected way!) Those who would experience this dramatic scene would have their faith grow!

He knows what’s happening in your life right now. He hears your cries, and cries with you. But He also knows what is going to happen and how everything will turn out. He wants God to be glorified. And He wants your faith to grow, and the faith of all those around you.

Four days after Lazarus was buried, Jesus called him out of his grave – a dead man come back to life. Whatever you’re facing, your faith’s rebirth may take longer. Maybe years! But Jesus knows the big picture and truly has your best in mind.

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).

God’s purposes are bigger than fixing our problems or getting our lives to work out according to what makes sense to us. So take heart today that life with Christ is way bigger than that!

To find out more about the hope we have in Jesus, check out the series entitled Jesus Offers Hope.

Are You Courageous or Cowardly?

Thu, 17 May 2018 13:00:00 Z

What is your purpose in life? Yes, that's a big question. You probably believe there is more than one reason why you're on earth. But every single person throughout history can discover at least part of the answer in how Jesus described His own purpose.

To testify to the truth. In John 18:37, He says, "The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

But how are we supposed to tackle that huge calling? It comes down to this … we can respond in a cowardly way, or we can respond courageously. Every step we take moves us down a path toward one of those two destinies. What determines which decision we make?

In John 18, Peter provides a dramatic example of this. It's the night of Jesus's arrest. The first scene is when Judas comes to betray his Lord, accompanied by temple officials and a "detachment" of Roman soldiers —which at minimum means 200 men. (Of course, Judas testifies untruthfullyby calling Jesus his "Rabboni," which means “you are my Teacher and my Rabbi whom I have followed.”)

When Jesus asks who the soldiers are seeking, He testifies that He is Jesus of Nazareth. The reaction is astonishing.

"When Jesus said, 'I am he,' they drew back and fell to the ground" (John 18:6).

Jesus's declaration of I AM echoes the name of I AM THAT I AM which Jehovah revealed to Moses. It is so powerful thatit flattens 200 veteran warriors! Think about that!

What else does it do? It emboldens Peter, and he steps up to protect his Lord Jesus. One man and one dagger against a battalion!

Peter is willing to lay down his life in the presence of the power of God. But that courage is utterly absent a few hours later.

Jesus has been dragged to the temple, and Peter is lurking around a nearby fire, lost and fearful of what is going to happen.

Three times people ask Peter about his association to Jesus.

The servant girl at the gate: “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” (John 18:17)
The folks around the fire: “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” (John 18:25)
One of the high priest’s servants: “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” (John 18:26)

Three times Peter turns coward and denies Jesus.

What had empowered Peter in the first scene to testify to the truth and act courageously? Jesus’s presence and power. Then what happened? Peter was overtaken by fear.

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe" (Proverbs 29:25).

So when it comes to facing the demands of living as a Christian in this fallen world, are you courageous or cowardly? The answer to that question probably is "both," depending upon how close you are to your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – the King of the Universe.

We won’t testify to the truth unless we are people of faith. It may not be easy, but courage is choosing to do or say what we know is right despite feeling like a coward. Then, when you see the power of God’s Word working through you by faith, despite your fear, that's something to testify to.

For more information about living courageously, check out the series Jesus Unfiltered: Testify.

Six Steps to Successful Single Parenting

Tue, 15 May 2018 13:00:00 Z

If you’re a single parent or you’re in a blended family, here’s God’s Word to you today: With Him, nothing is impossible.

And that's good because single parenting is the most difficult job in the world!

Think of a single mom with a teenage boy. What teenage boys need is a strong, clear male model. That is a really tough thing for a mother. Or think of a single father with little kids, especially girls. A dad with a nine-month old? It’s not a pretty picture.

It doesn't matter if you got to this situation by making mistakes or disobeying God or being abandoned or whatever. With God, nothing is impossible.

Jeremiah 32:17 is a verse worth memorizing. The prophet, in the midst of a horrendous situation, says,“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."

But you and I have the responsibility to do the right thing, alongside God. So if you're a single parent, or know of one, and you're faced with pain and consequences that are overwhelming, there are at least six steps you can take.

#1: Make God your number-one priority.

I can’t emphasize that enough. It’s the key. No matter what, get up and spend time with God. Make His Word and your relationship with Him and His people your number one priority.

#2: Get connected with a support group.

Seek out a strong, godly, same-gender group for encouragement and accountability. As a single parent, don’t go it alone! You will not do well. You’ll make bad decisions in moments of weakness and loneliness and exhaustion. That will just add gasoline to the fire of your suffering. You need other people of the same gender who love God who are going to say, “Let’s do this God’s way together.”

#3: Accept this season of your life.

It's not going to be perfect or nice or easy. You'll need God's grace. Plus, accept that it's probably going to last a long time, like the next 10 years if your kids are eight or nine, or 20 years, if they're babies. Set realistic expectations for you and your children, and accept this period of life.

#4: Trust that God can do for your kids what you can’t do.

As a pastor I’ve watched this over and over. A mom or a dad who doesn't have enough money or energy or time or wisdom —if they cling to God, He makes up for what they can’t give their kids. God will be in the gap.

#5: Refuse to become a victim, martyr, or a super-parent.

I'm not making light of whatever pain or disappointment or injustice you’ve experienced. But resist the temptation to play your story over and over and dwell on “Oh, woe is me. He walked out on me." Or "She died and left me with three kids." Don't expect people to take care of you, or admire you for your sacrifice. Just trust God and get on with it.

And don’t try to be a super-parent, either. Boy, I’ve watched single parents just try to do it all. You know, rise at four in the morning, go to bed at one at night, volunteer in the classroom, drive kids everywhere. Keep to the most important tasks, and ask for and accept help.

#6: Don’t compromise your spiritual and moral standard.

Finally, in an effort to find a mate, or a father, or a mother, don’t settle for second best. Boy, it’s a big temptation. Listen to the Holy Spirit when it comes to relationships. Don't deceive yourself into thinking he or she will come to Christ later, or will mature in their spiritual commitment. Remember, with second and third marriages, the divorce rate goes up to 75-85 percent. Your kids don’t need that.

You’ve been given an awesome calling to be the parent of a child of God. Put God first, and rest in the fact that He’s got your back.

For more tips for parenting, check out the series Intentional Parenting.

Trusting God on My Journey to Motherhood

Sat, 12 May 2018 13:00:00 Z

This Mother’s Day is perhaps one of the most significant “first holidays” in my life. That’s because my journey to motherhood wasn’t simple or easy, but rather a road of many twists and turns, stops and starts. Not to mention, it took a very long time.

I heard God’s call to professional ministry when I was 27 years old. And, unlike my peers who were getting married or starting their families, I immediately enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at Bethel Seminary San Diego. It was both exciting and scary – I was embarking on a completely new vocation and an uncertain future.

The only certainty I had was that I knew God was leading me toward His greater purpose for my life.

This God-rooted certainty fueled me for the next five years during which time God graciously gave me a very full life. Besides going to seminary, I had several deeply meaningful spiritual friendships, I was actively serving in ministry at my church, and I had a full-time job working in my other profession as a writer.

But the longing to be a mom never went away.

It seemed like every other day another one of my friends was posting her pregnancy announcement on social media. Although I was happy for them, it was just another reminder of what I didn’t have.

I had to consciously remind myself that I had surrendered my life to God completely, and that meant I needed to trust Him for all of it – not just the vocational part, but the marriage and family part too.

After five and a half years of seminary, I met my husband Will and was delighted to discover that he had a relationship with the Lord and was pursuing his master’s degree in marriage and family therapy at Bethel. But I was disheartened to discover that he struggled with infertility.

I had to come face to face with the realization that although I found the love of my life, my dream of becoming a mom might never come true.

God reminded me that if Will and I were to be together and commit our relationship to God, then He would give us the strength to walk down the road of infertility with all of its hills and valleys. His promise was my comfort: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified… for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Will and I got married four months after we both graduated, and we immediately began trying to start our family. For the next four years, we tried everything – starting with lots of prayer, healthy food, dietary supplements, acupuncture, several failed rounds of Intrauterine insemination (IUI), and then finally, after much more prayer, in vitro fertilization (IVF). The procedures for IUI and IVF required many medications, including several shots every day, sometimes for months on end.

There were days when it was especially difficult not to lose hope. I remember confiding in a friend with tears in my eyes that even though I knew God was with us in this process, sometimes it was just so hard to keep going without any guarantee of a positive outcome.

She reassured me, “God has a plan for your family, Summer. That plan might not look like everyone else’s, but He has a plan.” Once again, I was reminded that I needed to surrender daily to God’s sovereign will and His ways because His plan for my life is always good.

Trusting God was the best thing I’ve ever done – in all areas of my life.

Committing my life to Him, answering His call to ministry, and then following Him into the great unknown of starting a family all required my full trust. And through it all, He was faithful to give me the strength to hold onto hope when all hope seemed lost.

After five years of trusting, waiting, and hoping, on September 5, 2017, God blessed us with a beautiful baby boy. William “Liam” Noel Armentrout was born into the world.

The journey to motherhood was a difficult one, painful and uncertain. But it was also one that was filled with unexpected opportunities and blessings. This Mother’s Day, I will stand in awe of the One who blessed me with my son, and I will thank Him for the strength and grace that He gave me along the way.

What We Learned from Our Mothers

Thu, 10 May 2018 11:18:33 Z

Parenting is no easy task. Whether it’s the sleepless nights with newborns or the tumultuous years with teenagers, each season of parenting comes with its own unique challenges. It’s truly an exercise in patience that we live out daily in front of our children’s watching eyes. And often, who we are as a parent is largely influenced by what we gleaned from our own parents.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, the Living on the Edge team took time to reflect on lessons learned from our mothers. The recurring theme was the importance of love.

Love in Every Season: We can speak of the importance of love and faith in the good times, but it is in the difficult seasons that our character is truly tested. Choosing love in the face of pain is one of the most influential legacies we can leave for our children.

“The thing I admired most about my mom was her unfailing faith in God and love for His people,” said Claudia. “Though she was diagnosed with cancer at a young age and underwent many painful surgeries, she did not forsake Him. She ministered to many of the nurses and doctors who treated her and never stopped sharing of God's love for them. She recited Psalm 103 often, and in the end was eternally healed and went to Heaven to be with her Savior. I am grateful for my mom and the example of a godly woman she was for me.”
Love Through Every Action: Faith should not be compartmentalized for select situations or reserved for Sunday only. Our love for God should translate to every aspect of our lives.

“We celebrated my mother’s 80th birthday a few years ago and made a special video that included personal messages from all of my siblings,” said Sandra. “As we all watched the video together, the clear-cut message that came through was that our mother’s faith and trust in God shines through in everything she does in life. And thankfully, she has instilled that in all of her children.”
Love for Every Person: Jesus told His disciples that the world will know us by our love for one another. For Christians, our love should not be contingent upon a person’s behavior but rather a reflection of our mission to love others as Christ has loved us. When we strive to see people through the lens of compassion, the impact cannot be measured.

“I learned emotional intelligence from my mother. She was the most emotionally intelligent person I’ve ever been exposed to. She had a sixth sense about what was going on inside of people, dynamics in relationships, when people were hurting, and how to meet them in a way that was most meaningful,” said Chip. “Not surprisingly, she was a guidance counselor, filled with wisdom, and an amazingly positive attitude. She was very compassionate, and by far the glue that held our family together. She died quite young at 62, but her imprint upon my life, character, ministry, and relationships continues to this day.”

When you think of your mother or those who’ve made a motherly investment in your life, what are the lessons you have learned? Ask God to open your mind and heart this week to seek answers to that question. Choose to honor their investment by living out love before the watching eyes in your life.

To find out more ways you can be intentional in your parenting, check out the seriesentitled Intentional Parenting.

Have You Found Your Calling?

Mon, 07 May 2018 14:00:00 Z

How do we figure out what to do in life? What has God called each of us to do?

Maybe you’re young and just starting out. Or maybe you’ve had one or two (or more) careers, and you want to reinvent yourself for something bigger, better, or just different.

Rest assured you have a calling, and you can discover it! Why can I say that with confidence?

Because the Bible teaches it. Look at what the Apostle Paul teaches in Ephesians 2:10.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

Our Heavenly Father created each one of us specifically for His purposes, for tasks and goals and achievements He planned for us to accomplish. And what creations we are!

Sometimes we look at the Grand Canyon, or notice the delicacy of a butterfly, or gaze at the Milky Way, and think, “Wow, God’s creation is awe-inspiring!” It is, but you know what? Humans are the pinnacle of His creation. YOU are the pinnacle of His creation.

Think about what David says to God in Psalm 139.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made: your works are wonderful” ((Psalm 139:13-14).

Not only that, David reinforces what Paul says. Your life has been planned out by your Creator.

“All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16).

What does this all mean when it comes to your life’s work – your calling? If you’re pondering how to approach the answer to that question, I want you to do two things.

First, ask yourself, what would you honestly like to do if you could do anything in the world and knew you couldn’t fail?

Dwell on that for a while. Think about it as you drive. Meditate on it after you turn out the lights at night. Talk about it with loved ones. Journal your thoughts, even if you’re not the type to write things down (I highly recommend it). Forget about the question of money, or current responsibilities, or family approval (or disapproval). Dig deep. What are your passions? What are your dreams?

The second thing I want you to do is, list a few things that you’re good at and really enjoy doing.

Doesn’t it make sense that if you’re designed by the Creator of the universe to do something, there’s a good chance that you actually are good at it? And when you do it, you enjoy it?

Some of us have this view of God with His arms crossed, suggesting that if something is hard or unpleasant – that must be the will of God. No, that is a warped view of God.

Of course, we need to be willing to do whatever God wants us to do. But when you’re in the center of God’s will – doing what He has designed you to do – you will feel His pleasure because you’re operating as He designed you to. You’re using the abilities, gifts, and desires He shaped in you! So what are you good at? What do you enjoy doing?

Calling is unique. It’s yours alone. It calls on your unique gifts. It calls on your unique desires. It gives you strength, and keeps you humble. And it can be discovered at any age.

This is true whether you’re 22 or 92. It’s never too early to think about your calling. And it’s never too late! You have been designed for something that only you can do. What is it?

To find out more about how to discover your calling, check out the series: Answering the Call.

Are You a Bridge-Builder?

Thu, 03 May 2018 13:00:00 Z

With the recent passing of Barbara Bush, stories about her are popping up everywhere. She was a strong woman who faced some tragic losses that forged her character – making her what I call a "Humble Bridge-Builder."

After the loss of a child, her commitment to her husband and family and then extended family became one of the hallmarks of her life. Although the wife of a president and mother of another, she made time for people of all backgrounds and political persuasions – inivting them into her family circle.

Chelsea Clinton tweeted, "I will never forget how kind she was to me on every occasion we met, and how fondly the White House staff always spoke of her."

So much of the words spoken today (even by Christians) are aimed at tearing others down. We disagree with someone's politics or perspective on an issue, and the firestorm of tweets and posts go viral. Accusations, partial truths, assuming the worst of others, and loose lips are the norm of the day.

Yet Jesus called His followers then and NOW to stem the tide of division and destruction and be Humble Bridge-Builders.

What a joy it was last month to see this in action in Orlando. I had the privilege to teach about a thousand pastors from every denomination under the sun, various ages, races, and theological persuasions. We UNITED around the character and atttributes of our great God and Savior. I was deeply moved to see them commit to partner together with Living on the Edge to teach and proclaim to their people WHO GOD REALLY IS this fall.

The Real God series was launched there in partnership with RightNow Media, the first of three major pastors' conferences this year. We watched as pastors and churches built bridges of understanding and talked about how to support and love one another and those in their communities ... about what it would look like for Christians to live like Christians all across America ... to be known for what we're for instead of what we're against.

The world is desperate to meet and see followers of Jesus who speak and act in ways that build people up rather than tear them down. They long to see it in our friendships, our marriages, our parenting, our coaching at Little League games, our casual conversations overhead in coffee shops, and in what we post and tweet about our perspectives on the issues of our day.

Together let's strive to be Humble Bridge-Builders today.

How to Pray When Anxiety Knocks at Your Heart

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 14:00:00 Z

Do you struggle with anxiety? Do you long for peace in your relationships, work, or finances? God promises that when we pray in a certain way, we will experience His supernatural peace and power.

Philippians 4:6 says: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. When we pray in this way, God promises that His surpassing peace,“which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (v. 7)

The framework we get from this prayer is ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. In previous articles, I talked about the first three words in the ACTS acronym. The fourth and last word conveys the idea of making a very specific “grocery list” of issues and bringing them to God.

I believe that one of the reasons a lot of people – even good Christians – don’t experience God in their prayers is that they pray very vague prayers. “Lord, bless my children. Lord, give me a good day. Lord, I hope things will go well. Lord, would You help?”

The problem with this type of prayer is that we may never know whether He answered it or not. As someone once said, nothing really becomes dynamic until it becomes specific.

In Matthew 7, Jesus describes a picture of a child who comes before his father and asks him for something specific. He also makes it clear that the father is not going to give him something bad. The same is true for us as God’s children. We can be certain that when we pray specific prayers, God will answer.

So what might this type of prayer look like?

When I’m feeling anxious, I take some very specific things to God and I write them down in my journal. I write things like, “Lord, show me what I need to do, specifically, today, to repair the relationship with my wife.” Or “Lord, will You give me discernment today about what I am supposed to do in the meeting with Bob?” Then, I make a little box next to my requests, so that later, I can go back and put a checkmark next to the prayer requests as they are being answered.

Not only do I experience His peace, but I also get to see how the God of the Universe shows up in my life in specific ways. It’s a confirmation that He is for me. When I ask, He answers. When I seek, He comes. When I knock, doors open.

So the next time anxiety knocks at the door of your heart, let prayer answer. But not just any kind of prayer. Spend some time adoring God, confessing, thanking Him, and finally, making specific requests. Our Father, who is in heaven, loves you and cares for you. Bring Him your needs and He will take care of them.

To learn more about prayer, sign up for our FREE online discipleship series entitled "How to Experience God in Prayer."

Why Is Thanksgiving in Prayer So Important?

Thu, 26 Apr 2018 13:00:00 Z

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

This passage was written by the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit. From it, we’ve developed a framework for prayer called ACTS. This acronym stands for: adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication.

In previous blog posts, I’ve talked about what it means to adore God in prayer and what it means to begin to confess honestly from our heart.

But, as we pray, it’s so important that we also remember to always give thanks. Why?

We’re commanded to give thanks.

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

We’re to pray with thanksgiving – not just when we feel like it, but as an act of our will and obedience. Regardless of what’s happening in our lives, we’re to thank God for the good, for the difficult, for the unknown, for the big decision we’re facing, and even for the challenging relationships.

Now, this isn’t, “Oh, God, I thank You that my wife has cancer.” Instead it is, “Thank You, God, that You are sovereign, You are all-knowing, You are with me, and You love my wife.”

My wife, Theresa, actually did have cancer and we went through a very difficult time. Yet it was possible for me to say “thank you” in the midst of it because I chose to surrender and acknowledge my faith in an all-powerful, all-knowing God.

Thanksgiving alters our perspective.

When we actively and proactively give thanks, it forces us to take the focus off our problems and on to who God really is.

Just a few mornings ago when I was feeling particularly stressed, Hebrews 13:15 came to my mind: Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

This spurred me to pray: “Lord, I thank You so much for how You have helped me this week in battling discouragement. Thank You, Jesus, for Theresa, her recovery, and how You are allowing her to experience energy and joy again…”

I was reminded again how much thanking God always changes my perspective and gives me peace, especially when I’m feeling overwhelmed or facing a lot of pressure.

So the next time you’re discouraged, I encourage you to thank God in your prayers. And as you do, God promises that not only will your perspective change, but you’ll also begin to experience more of His peace, kindness, compassion, and His love.

“Shout joyfully for the Lord. Serve the Lord with gladness; come into His presence with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God. It is He who made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise; give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His loving kindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100)

To learn more about prayer, sign up for our FREE online discipleship series entitled “How to Experience God in Prayer.”

Finding Peace in the Midst of Conflict

Tue, 24 Apr 2018 15:44:14 Z

Is there one person, more than any other, with whom you want to be at peace right now? A broken relationship you want to heal?

Maybe it’s a father who abandoned you as a child. Maybe it’s the child you abandoned. It might be a business partner who ripped you off, or a best friend who betrayed you. Or maybe it’s the person you love, but with whom you can’t communicate without strife.

If you thought you could resolve the relational conflict, would you try?

We all long for inner peace, for what the Bible describes as shalom. It’s a Hebrew term that suggests many wonderful things: (1) wholeness, whether mental, emotional, or physical; (2) work that fulfills, in line with how you were created; (3) righteous victory over opponents; and (4) harmony in relationships.

God is our source of shalom. He wants to heal your relational conflict. Do you believe that?

In the fourth chapter of his letter to the church at Philippi, the Apostle Paul gives us a picture of how we can find peace when it comes to relationships. Two women have had a falling out. They are spiritual leaders, colleagues of Paul, but for unknown reasons they are at odds with each other.

Paul directs his thoughts to an unnamed person, saying,

“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Philippians 4:2-5).

Several ideas to note here. Perhaps the main one is this: Paul’s plea for unity is in the context of a bigger picture: “the cause of the gospel.” It’s not all about Euodia and Syntyche.

Your conflict has a greater circumstance than just your personal pain or disappointment, too.

Remember what Paul wrote two chapters earlier, in Philippians 2:

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind...

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant...” (Philippians 2:1-2,5-7).

You see, you don’t have to agree with the other person. You don’t have to deny the differences. You don’t even have to like each other. You just have to be of the same mind in the Lord. Putting the other person ahead of you, in love, with one goal: Honoring Christ.

But many broken relationships need outside help. When you’re trying to resolve something with someone and it escalates and there’s more tension, you need to call in “reinforcements” — third-party helpers, whether professional therapists or wise and well-trained brothers or sisters in the Lord.

But whatever the process, Paul makes it clear what the focus is: God Himself. “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:5). Don’t make victory or your self-esteem the goal. Focus on the Lord.

One last thought. Paul writes, “Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Philippians 4:5).

The word in this verse here goes way beyond one English definition. Think of a forbearance, reasonableness, geniality, considerateness, generosity. The term carries the thought of going beyond justice, going beyond the letter of the law. To be willing, to yield, to consider the other person's perspective. To literally accept less than is your due. (Christ certainly did.)

Even if 95 percent is their fault, you take your five percent and own it in humility, because the relationship matters more than who is right and who is wrong.

Of course, I'm not speaking of unethical or immoral conflict. That's another discussion.

So don't procrastinate. Initiate. Reevaluate your expectations. Get help. Pray and trust God. Don’t let one broken relationship ruin your life. Find shalom!

To find out more about this topic, check out the series entitled Inner Peace.

How to Experience God's Peace through Prayer

Thu, 19 Apr 2018 13:00:00 Z

Most of us, when we’re facing a challenging situation – whether it’s a work situation, a health situation, or a financial situation – can be quite anxious. Our minds are filled with thoughts of worry and concern.

Thankfully, God has a solution for our anxiety. It’s prayer.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

In this passage, we get a framework for prayer called A.C.T.S., which stands for: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. I don’t think it’s an accident that these four words on prayer are addressing the issue of worry and anxiety. Through prayer, God wants us to experience Him in a deeper way and to experience His peace that “transcends all understanding.”

Maybe you’re wondering … Ok, so how do I get that kind of peace through prayer?

First, we spend time adoring God for who He is. This helps to turn our focus off ourselves, our problems, and our anxieties.

The next thing we need to practice is confession.

The classic Old Testament passage on confession is when King David sinned with Bathsheba. And to cover his sin, he has her husband killed. Then, the prophet comes and confronts him with his sin. David is repentant and writes, “Be gracious to me, O God, according to your steadfast, loyal love; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.”(Psalm 51:1)

In his prayer, David starts with, “God, I messed up.” Then he says, “But I’m not starting with what I can do or how I can make it up. I am starting with You, the One who is loyal and able to forgive my sins.”

Then he makes an unexpected request: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak. And blameless when You judge. (v.2-4)

David confesses that he has sinned and asks that God would cleanse Him. The word, confess, literally, means to agree with God. It requires that we “own our stuff.” David didn’t make excuses for his sin. He agreed with God that how he behaved was wrong.

If we want to experience the peace of God in our prayers, then the prerequisite is to be honest and to see ourselves accurately in light of who God is.

This is difficult for those of us who are in denial and often prefer to blame others. It takes courage to be honest with ourselves before God.

Now hear me out: Confession isn’t about beating yourself up. It’s not about getting down on yourself.If you hear a little voice that says, “You’re a terrible person … You don’t measure up … You should have done this … You should have done that!” that’s not God. That is condemnation.

The Holy Spirit convicts, but never condemns. Condemnation makes you want to run away from God. Conviction, on the other hand, is God pointing out specific things we need to address and change when we make a confession.

As we spend time adoring and praising God for who He is, and as we take the time to confess our sins and get really honest before Him, God promises to lift the weight of anxiety and replace it with a peace that draws us closer to Him. What a wonderful promise!

To learn more about prayer, sign up for our FREE online discipleship series entitled “How to Experience God in Prayer.”

How God Can Heal Your Emotional Pain

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 13:00:00 Z

We live in a culture flooded with psychotherapy, counseling programs, treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals, antidepressant drugs, recovery support groups, and self-help books and videos and podcasts. Many of them are wonderful and life-saving.

But we also live in a country that’s among the world’s worst when it comes to lack of emotional health. There’s a huge gap there, isn’t there? Maybe you’re in that gap – tired of your emotional pain and wondering how to get healed.

Let’s be clear: I absolutely believe some people suffering from damaged emotions need to get professional help. Sometimes, though, we try to cope with the symptoms, and stop short of facing the sources of the pain. God goes straight to the heart of the problem with a prescription I’d like to offer you. You might be surprised at the simplicity.

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray”(James 5:13).

The word “troubled” here means afflicted, suffering, enduring hardship or distress. Anxious, stressed, discouraged. Have you ever felt that way? Of course. We all have.

In Psalm 13, David – the very powerful king of ancient Israel – shares with us his own prayer as a troubled man. It’s an Rx for healing emotional pain: Remember the pain, recount God’s character, resolve to trust Him.

Remember your pain:

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart” (Psalm 13:1-2)?

You’ll notice that David is honest and specific. Here is what’s happened and how I feel. How long do I have to endure this, Lord? So what does that mean for us? You can be blunt with God! Pour out that pain and put it at His feet.

Recount God’s character:

“I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation” (Psalm 13:5).

Then say, “Wait a minute. This is how I feel and what I have been through, but let me focus on who God is. He loves me infinitely and unconditionally. He sent His Son to die for me. He has given me His Holy Spirit, also called the Counselor, to live in my heart!”

Resolve to trust Him:

“I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me” (Psalm 13:6).

You have to make a decision. You may not feel like trusting Him. It’s a choice, an act of the will! And that’s what begins the healing process.

Sometimes I feel my emotions starting to go down and the blue funk creeping up. Not exactly depressed, but one person’s bad attitude away from not having a very good day. What do I do? I recall Hebrews 13:15.

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit

of lips that openly profess his name.”

It may well be a sacrifice! Stop and take a moment to actually list as many good things in your life as possible, and then thank the Lord for them. (Sometimes I even sing some praise songs –off by myself so I don’t hurt anyone’s ears!)

Again, I want to be clear that sometimes emotional scars need the attention of professionals. But don’t forget, God created your emotions, your personality, your heart, and your life experiences. He can, and wants to, heal you today.

To find out more about God's healing power, check out the series: "Does God Still Heal?"

How to Adore God in Prayer

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 20:22:47 Z

Do you struggle with knowing what and how to pray – especially when you’re going through a tough time?

What if you could pray in such a way that it would allow God’s power and peace to invade your soul in the midst of the challenges you’re facing?

The Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives us a prayer model to help us:

This passage has provided us with a framework for a prayer called “ACTS.” This is an acronym that stands for adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication.

When we take the time to pray through these four steps, God promises to bring about a peace that is supernatural and beyond our understanding.

Interestingly, it’s the first step – adoration – that especially helps to get our focus off ourselves, our problems, and our anxieties. Yet, for most of us –including myself – adoring and praising God doesn’t come naturally.

So how are we to adore God in prayer?

My go-to passage in Psalm 103 explains how:

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit. (Psalm 103:1-4, NASB)

This Psalm shows us what adoration looks like. We’re to “praise” or “bless” his name, and we’re to remember all of His benefits and blessings. These two things go together for a reason.

For example, if I want to adore the Lord, I begin to remember all the things that God has done for me. I remember the day He chose me. I remember the day I prayed to receive Christ. I remember the day He brought my wife into my life. I remember the day when one of my sons was in ICU and we thought he was going to die. In the process of reflecting on His goodness and faithfulness, I naturally begin to thank Him and praise Him for who He is.

When we adore God, it requires that we look up to Him and acknowledge Him for who He is – the Creator of two hundred billion stars in the Milky Way but also our perfect and loving Father.

I’ve found that if our view of God is that He is one who is big and powerful, then our problems will seem small. Conversely, if our view of God is small, our problems will be big.

So the next time you’re praying and you’re struggling with what and how to pray, begin with a simple adoration. Bless His name and remember His benefits. We can trust that when we get our focus upward on Him instead of inward on our problems, things will begin to change for the better.

How to Replace Worry with Peace

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 21:28:23 Z

The world today is loud. The distractions are limitless. The to-do list is long. But when the unexpected is added to the challenges of the everyday, it can be overwhelming. A cancer diagnosis … a job loss … a natural disaster. When circumstances seem out of our control, that’s when fear, anxiety, and worry can begin to consume us. So how can we find peace in the midst of it all?

Choose Faith: You will never be able to rid yourself of anxiety simply by telling yourself to be less anxious. In fact, what we say and what we feel are often misaligned. So the answer is to choose faith. Choose to trust that God is a “very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Rest in the promise that you are not alone because He has promised: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5, NIV).

Ask for His Help: God is with us, but it’s important to actually ask for His help. When you sense your emotions taking a plunge, reach out to Him. Many of us are reluctant to ask for help because we do not want to bother anyone. But we must remember that God is not “just anyone,” and He is not “bothered” by us. He knows our needs and is more than able to meet them. In fact, Hebrews 4:16 teaches us to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace” so that “we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” So if mercy and grace seem in short supply for you today, draw near to Him and ask for help.
Pray Consistently: Want a lasting remedy for your symptom of anxiety? The Bible teaches that prayer is the answer. In Philippians 4:6–7, it says: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, it will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Seeking God in prayer is not just an emergency lifeline. When we make it a priority to pray “in everything,” we can be anxious “for nothing.”
Rest in His Love: 1 John 4:18 tells us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” We must never allow fear to have the final word in our lives. God’s perfect love for us will never fail, so when we rest in that truth, we can navigate the storms of this life without fear.

No matter what you are facing today, you can experience peace through the power of God. Claim that promise today and send worry packing.

To further encourage you, we invite you to download a FREE resource entitled “How to Find Peace.” This practical guide outlines four key ways to replace worry with lasting hope and experience the peace you’ve been searching for.