The trend: claiming something is God’s will when in fact it is not.

You have probably heard it said “God wants”, “God told me”, “God’s calling me” or “God’s will for my life is” and these phrases in and of themselves are not bad but the use of them is.

Why?

Because they are hard to say “No” to and they can misrepresent Christ and the character of God.
The problem? We overuse it and in my perspective misinterpret God’s will.

In 1 Samuel 23:7 King Saul does this and claims, “God has given him[David] into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” Now, how do we know this is not actually God’s desire? Because a few verses later, verse 14, we read “Saul sought him[David] every day, but God did not give him into his hand.”

You see the danger? Saul believed something about God that was inaccurate and he claimed truth when in actuality he was deceived.

So what is the challenge from here?

Don’t claim something is of God unless you are 100% sure it is.

Now how do we know something is 100% from God? Here are a few questions for starters:
1) is it for God’s good?
2) does it exhibit Jesus sized love?
3) does it align with Scripture?
4) has there been affirmation from others?

If you can answer each of the above questions honestly, I think we can agree that it is part of God’s desire. If you cannot however, well I think we can agree calling it God’s will is probably inaccurate.

What other questions do you think are necessary when determining God’s will or calling? And what are some examples of misuse in your world? No names please.

Lent is a season where you give something up from your life, for a period of 40 days, to extinguish its control over your life. It begins at this time of year, as we anticipate the regeneration and rebirth of creation and most importantly, Jesus Christ’s resurrection. We put to death the old and welcome the new.

In the past, I have never taken the practice of giving something up for 40 days all that seriously, but this year I am going to engage.

These are the things I am giving up and why I am giving them up:

1) Delete Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram from my iPhone: The accessibility of these three social media platforms has created a inner dependance to connectivity and a habit of checking my phone and these three apps.

2) No TV after 6pm: A couple of months ago, Andrea and I got rid of cable but since then, I personally, have a become a Netflix junkie and have engaged almost every night in an episode or two of my most recent Tv Show Addiction.

3) Check Facebook once a day: While I would have loved go give this one up completely, I do recognize that it is a place of connection between myself and those I have the responsibility to lead. Therefore, I will check this once a day, and leave it at that.

And so, here I go. Please feel free to check in with me from time-to-time and hold me accountable.

I realize my bias and maybe it does not represent your reality. You may like your mechanic, you may trust him, and you maybe don’t mind dropping an average of $200 every time you drop your car off for a standard oil change and upon pick-up get told something else was malfunctioning.

If this is you – I applaud you, I ask for your mechanics number, and I would love to get together to understand you – maybe I could gain some perspective.

Recently, I spent some time at the mechanics. I went for an oil change which I assumed would have me leaving after 40 minutes and ended up leaving two hours later.

I struggle in the area of patience – pray for me – I need it.

And so . . . waiting for two hours for a job I could probably due at home after a decent Google search and some proper equipment – left me a bit frazzled.

Now, I did need to have new bulbs put in my cars headlights and ‘apparently’ they are tricky to install . . .

Regardless, I think you get my point.

The problem with being a person who struggles with patience is that this struggle transfers into other areas of my life like cooking, driving, grocery shopping, praying, and listening to God, among many other things.

I don’t like David’s words in Psalm 40 where he says “I waited patiently for the Lord.” I can appreciate them but I don’t like the idea of needing to “wait patiently.”

When I pray – I want an immediate response. I want a Moses Red Sea experience where within minutes the Red Sea of my life is parting, perfectly allowing me to walk or run to safety.

As I read Scripture I have begun to realize that God delights a bit in making me wait and I even realize it may be part of His process.

God is our Father – he knows what is ‘best’ for us. Similar to a father not giving over the car keys until you are of age and responsible to operate a moving vehicle.

In Daniel 10, Daniel spends some serious time praying, mourning, avoiding delicacies, meat, and wine for three week periods. At one point, it is not until day 24 that God gives Danny boy, a vision.

Can you imagine waiting for 24 days while also avoiding delicacies, meat, and wine? (fyi. I am not an alcoholic)

Verse 12 holds an important truth, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the very first day that you set your heart to understand and humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard.”

Did you catch that?  God heard Daniel’s words.

And guess what? like Daniel’s – God hears yours as well.

This is an important truth because many of us feel the awkwardness of waiting and when we don’t hear or ‘get’ anything we feel God is not listening.

And frankly, that lie is straight from Satan.

God hears you.

God listens to you.

God hears you.

and God wants to hear from you.

Maybe a barrier for you is patience but get this – love is patient (1 Cor. 13:4).

So . . . if you grow in your love for God – you will automatically grow in your willingness to wait for Him!

Neat eh?

And the greatest thing – God’s not a crook like your mechanic and he will never leave you feeling cheated.

Be blessed and remember – God loves you – He is proud of you – and He hears you!

– John 3:3-8 ESV

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

– Romans 8:29 ESV

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

 – 2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

“But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

– Ephesians 4:20-24 ESV

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

– Philippians 3:20-21 ESV

The other day, as I was driving, I got a good first look at the new Ford Escape. At first, I had no idea what type of vehicle it was – it looked like a hybrid model of the Honda CRV or the one of the new Hyundi’s.  (I have always been a bit of a car guy. Can’t put a finger on exactly why – but cars and vehicles, in general, are of some interest to me. In high-school I worked at the local car wash in town and saw many new vehicles come in and out (people seem to care more for their new – than their old)).

When I realized the vehicle was a Ford Escape – I couldn’t believe it – it looked nothing like the previous Escapes.

Here are some pictures to help you see what I mean – on the left is the 2011 model – and the right is the 2012:

I hope – whether or not you are a car person – that you can see the significant differences between these two models of the same kind of vehicle.

Transformation appears all over Scripture. It seems to be the meta-narrative within the narrative – the backbone to every story – Old and New Testament alike.

Take Joseph from the Old Testament, for example. What started as a story of hopelessness and slavery – transformed into a story of national leadership and renewal.

Or how about the children of Israel – the people of God. What began as a promise to an old man named Abram transformed into the life and death of Jesus Christ and an opportunity for not just Jews but also Gentiles to be known as ‘the people of God.”

And then there is Saul – who would later become Paul. A man who started into a life of killing the very people he would one day lead.

Transformation at its finest.

When you and I give our lives to Jesus – we are born again – we are changed – and we are then being transformed.

The Scriptures I list above are some scriptural proof to the transformation and conforming that is to take place when we become believers.

As I noticed that Escape the other day I thought about the similarities between its transformation and our own.

The vehicle is the same vehicle – same name – same brand BUT completely different – it has gone through the process of remaking and transforming. Vehicles are like that – each year a “new” version of the old is released.

If we were to compare this to our walks with the Lord – how different are we looking each year? each day?

Are we allowing the Spirit of God to transform us as we read in the above verses OR do we remain the same?

Whether you like the new Ford Escape or not, doesn’t matter because that is not the point I am trying to make. The point I am trying to make is that as believers we are under constant construction and transformation – a process some of us know as sanctification. We were declared ‘justified’ at the point of salvation but ‘sanctification’ or being made into the image of Jesus is gradual and will come to final completion when Heaven and Earth meet – the final renewal and transformation of all things.

We serve a big God – a God of second chances – and a God that desires progress. While your life may not look that different from one day to another – hang in there – one of these days a huge physical change will take place and others will notice the transformation – proof of the Spirit working at your heart, mind, and soul.

Be blessed.

What are your thoughts about transformation and how are you being transformed?

Be blessed.

Last week I said there were four reasons we, as the church, should be engaging in social media. They were: there are 1 billion people using it, it is the future, it needs redeemed, and it is all about connection.

I am going to assume you set up a profile this past week and are now busy getting to know the social media giant – the other 1 billion people in the world are using. Or maybe you already have an account –  and that is good because I now want to give you 5 ways you can use Facebook to impact others for Jesus.

Before I do that however, it is important to mention Ephesians 2:10, which reads “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would work in them.”

The key words to note in this verse are the words “workmanship” and “prepared beforehand”. God is at work in the world – always has been – and always will. So often, I get the mindset that I am the person that must introduce people to the idea of God but when you read this verse – you realize – God has not been absent at all – and I am just the workman called to join God in what he is already doing.

That takes a load off.

For me, it means, that as I engage others with Jesus and in whatever platform I use – God will ultimately use it and then I don’t need to worry about it.

So here are the 5 ways you can partner with God on Facebook & Other Social Media Sites:

1. Use the “Like”, “Share” & “Retweet” Button. 

These two button icons allow you to share whatever you find on your news feed with all of your friends – and yes, all through one simple button.

The reason I like this feature is due to the fact that it allows me to pass on content I have found helpful. When I see someone sharing things with me – it then helps me because now I don’t have to sift through the other things on my page looking for things of value. The “retweet” on Twitter is similar –  you take what one person has posted and then retweet it to everyone following you.  The power of these buttons is for one simple idea to be spread to 1000’s of people within minutes – even seconds.

2. Update Your Status. 

The status update can be abused. I don’t care if you are out walking your dog and then two minutes later clean up its poo – that’s maybe great for you – but for me – I could care less.

The status update can be an influence however when you share with your friends or followers a verse you read or the sermon series you are excited to listen to. It can also be helpful to let others know service times or a challenging question you have wrestled with for years or how about a link to the Lakeside online service. I try to send my status’s through the filter question of “Is this benefical to others?” If not – I try not to (try being the key word).

3.Take Some Pictures and Post Them. 

Some people have never stepped inside a church – let alone – Lakeside Church. Taking a picture on your phone and then posting it allows your friends to see the inside of a church – an easy way to introduce them to what this church actually looks like – something that may take the edge off when you invite them out.

4. Make & Add Friends.

People nowadays, present themselves and their identity online. In order to engage with who they are – you may need to use their profile. Add “Friends” on Facebook and begin commenting on their content. It may just help you kickstart a conversation in the future and help you build a church community online. *Sidenote: Please only “add” people you know.

5.Record Your Testimony in a Video Format & Post It

Power to Change Ministries had a campaign last year where they encouraged students all across University campuses to record their testimonies in 1-2 minutes by video and then post them online. The videos made a huge impact as the non-christian friends of these students began to engage with the stories they had never heard before OR had never had the opportunity to hear.

In the world of youtube – this made a huge difference.

While, I know their are many more ways to use Social Media for the good – I hope these five will encourage you and give you a kickstart.

Never be afraid to try something new or do something different and remember – God is at work – and you are his partner.