Calling

What is your calling?

What does that even mean?  Is that only for preachers and missionaries?

From what I understand, a person who found their calling is someone who has discovered how the talents they have line up with the works  the Lord has prepared for them to do.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (NIV)

Now the amazing thing about our calling is this, we have been given the talents and the desire to actuallywant to do this!

What I mean by this is, although it is true that the Lord may ask us to step out of our comfort zone, (and what is that really, other than just letting go of control?) he gifts us with talents that go along with the calling we have.  We already desire it, for he has given us the desires of our heart.

¹³ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

For example, someone who loves to cook may have the gift of hospitality and servanthood.  They may not want to be a greeter at a church, but they love to bless people with the items they bake. or make.  That is a calling, sometimes an act of kindness from someone with this gift can totally change a person's day, or even their life!

So what is your calling?  Are you asking the Lord to help you find it?  It is not a matter of asking for a calling, for we all have one.  It is a matter of seeing what is already there, recognizing our gifts, and knowing how we can best serve God with them.

Kingdom of Heaven, part 3

So how should we live as members of the Kingdom of Heaven?

Jesus began his great sermon on the mount with these words, ""Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3 (NIV) and then he went on for three chapters teaching us what life in the Kingdom of God means. You could spend a lifetime just studying that sermon!

But for now, let's take a look at one verse that finds itself right in the center of the sermon.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

That is the heart of it, right there.  What do we live for every day?  What do we do with our time, talents and treasures? 

I have to admit, I am challenged by these words even as I write them here.  We are so programmed by the kingdom of this world to get all we can.  To live for ourselves, go get our "me time".  Yet Jesus teaches that this is how we lose our life, not keep it as the world promises.

Jesus ended his sermon with these words, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

I would encourage you to read Matthew 5-7, prayerfully.  Let's ask the Lord how our lives measure up to life in his Kingdom.

Kingdom of Heaven - part 2

So what is the Kingdom of Heaven?

Although there are many nations, both past and present, there are really only two kingdoms.  There is the kingdom of darkness (those who belong to Satan) and there is the Kingdom of God, (or Kingdom of Heaven) those who have been born again and belong to God. 

Everyone on earth belongs to one or the other whether they do this knowingly or not. 

In Colossians we read, 

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Col 1:13 (NIV)

Being saved is more than just sins washed away and a ticket to heaven.  It's about a a change in allegiance.  For lack of better words, it's membership in an entirely different nation.  We become a people, united with every other believer on the face of the earth.  Regardless of what language they speak, clothes they wear, or continent they live on.

And our kingdom is at war.

Paul famously changed sides when he went from killing Christians to preaching the Gospel.  At the time of his conversion he asked Jesus, "Who are you, Lord?" 

Jesus' reply clearly shows the change in allegiance and the Kingdom responsibility.

"'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied.  'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.  I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them  to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'  Acts 26:15-18 (NIV)

What is the Kingdom of Heaven?  Simply put, it is the family of God.  Membership is automatic when we accept him as Lord. 

Kingdom of Heaven

Probably one of the most famous Bible verses has to be John 3:16.  I'm sure most of us know it by heart.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. " John 3:16 (NIV)

But what is lesser known is that this famous quote from our Lord Jesus came during a nighttime conversation with a man named Nicodemus that began like this.

"Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.  He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him."

Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." John 3:1-3 (NIV)

Nicodemus was showing respect to Jesus as a great teacher, referring to him as Rabbi, and acknowledging he was from God. 

But notice what Jesus says before launching into his lesson, before even mentioning being "born again."  Back up just a little further to three very significant words.

"kingdom of God"

There is a kingdom  which you cannot enter without a spiritual rebirth, because it is a spiritual kingdom.  And as such, it transcends nationality, political parties, even dare I say? Church membership!

I'm challenged by this thought.  What does it really mean to be a part of this kingdom?  

The subject was of such importance that we find John the Baptist preaching about it up until his imprisonment.  And then Jesus' first message after being tempted by the devil in the wilderness was the same, 

"From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." Matt 4:7 (NIV)

What is the kingdom of heaven? Give that question some thought, and these as well.

What does it mean to be a member of this kingdom?  How should our lives be different because of it? What do we do to build the kingdom?  Does this kingdom have an enemy?

Shout for Joy

I thought it fitting, with Black Friday upon us, to not let the Thanksgiving holiday pass without at least one more mention of giving thanks to the Lord.

I know the shopping has already begun.  The countdown to Christmas is here, but before we get caught up in that, let's just take a moment and pray the words of this Psalm.  I think it is good to ignore the shouts from all the advertisements, designed to get us to rush into a purchasing frenzy. 

Perhaps even print this one out and make it a daily prayer during the Christmas season.

Psalm 100 (NIV)

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

2     Worship the Lord with gladness;

    come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the Lord is God.

    It is he who made us, and we are his;

    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving

    and his courts with praise;

    give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving is here, and before the turkey is cold and cut up into sandwiches, our thoughts will quickly move toward Christmas.  Many may even be shopping this very day.

But before we get caught up in the holiday rush, take a moment to maybe write down what you are thankful for from this past year.  Perhaps this has been a rough year for you.  Or maybe it's been an amazing year.  More than likely it is a combination of both, still, there is always something to be thankful for.

God is good, all the time.

So, I will wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and leave you with this Scripture.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

    his love endures forever. "(1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)

Give Thanks... part 2

Continuing with Psalm 107 today...

10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,

    prisoners suffering in iron chains,

11 because they rebelled against God's commands

    and despised the plans of the Most High.

12 So he subjected them to bitter labor;

    they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

    and he saved them from their distress.

14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,

    and broke away their chains.

15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,

16 for he breaks down gates of bronze

    and cuts through bars of iron.

Some chains do not have to be made of iron to bind us. 

Some years ago I rebelled against God in an effort to find some kind of "freedom."  But the more I sought what the world had to offer to make me free, the more in "utter darkness" I dwelled.  It took some time living that way before realizing my need for the Lord. 

What amazes me about the prisoner is this, he is in chains because of his rebellion to God, yet when he calls out to that same God, he is freed and forgiven. 

If you can relate to the prisoner, then take a moment to give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his ability to cut through the bars of iron that enslaved your soul.