Still Acting On New Year Resolutions?

How many of us are still acting on our new year resolutions? If we still have our resolutions in focus we are probably not as fervent about them as we were in January. It has been shown that by June most resolutions become a distant memory, a mere speck in the rear view mirror of our lives. But there are 3 steps that we can take to move our resolutions from intentions to actions and eventually to success.

1. Exchange your strength for God’s. One day King Asa faced an overwhelming military force that was assembled against him. In that moment Asa prayed a prayer (2 Chronicles 14:11) that transferred the control of his Army to God’s oversight. This action allowed God to empower Asa’s forces and bring about a great victory. 
If your resolution needs a greater power source in order to succeed, and most do, give your battle to God and He will empower your actions.

2. Review your resolutions weekly. The saying ‘out of sight, out of mind’ has great relevance to the topic of achieving one’s resolutions. Most of us have our commitments buried under the pressures and pace of life as our year progresses. For this reason it is important for us to remind ourselves of our commitment to change. 
We will never achieve our goals if we don’t review them or if we excuse ourselves because we tried. Margaret Thatcher noted the error of this outlook in saying—“No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he had only had good intentions.” 

3. Enlist some help.  Ecclesiastes 4:11-12 heralds the benefits of collaboration towards a goal— “Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Ask someone(s) to hold you accountable. Give them permission to ask you how your resolution is progressing, let them know how you like to be encouraged, and give them permission to challenge you when you aren’t doing well in achieving these goals.

4. Give yourself the gift of grace. We can often be our own worst task masters. Such tough oversight rarely works and is hard to maintain. Note the words of writer of Ecclesiastes—“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happensto them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). 
Remember, your year is a journey to change, not a sprint.

May the Lord bless you as you go through your day and take a few more steps to make this a wonderful year.

‘Not Actual Size’

Have you ever noticed the small print on the cover picture of a cereal box or on the picture of an item you’ve purchased that says ‘Not Actual Size’?  The reason this phrase appears is to lower our expectations because many items can seem larger than they really are depending on how they are presented. This is also the case in our day-to-day lives.

There are a lot of people who seem larger than life when presented to us but they really should come with a ‘Not Actual Size’ note attached to them. This is the case with politicians, entertainment and sports stars, potential suitors, religious leaders, new acquaintances, bosses, etc. It is important to remember that no one is as great as their presentation, except God.

We are reminded of this perspective in the first chapter of Esther as we see a mighty king presenting himself as all glorious and powerful (“he displayed the richness of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days” Esther 1:4). Yet he who began the chapter larger than life ends it humbled and humiliated by one word—‘no!’ (Esther 1:12).

The book of Esther reminds us that even when the size of the world’s presentation seems to overshadow God, we must trust by faith that things aren’t as they seem. So here are a few approaches we should take if we indeed believe God to be greater:

1. Let us give God first priority with our time and emotions (Matthew 6:33; 22:37).
2. Let us seek to be please God in everything if His evaluation is most important (1 Corinthians 10:31).
3. Let us love what He loves if He knows that which is best (Philippians 4:8).

If we can’t commit to these steps it may reveal that we have a ‘Not Actual Size’ note on our God rather than on the people and things around us.

A Day Set Aside For You

Lately there has been a lot written about the ‘tired American.’ Researchers have noted that most Americans are not getting enough sleep, have unhealthy eating patterns, carry a tremendous amount of stress, and are continuing to speed up their schedules rather than slowing down. But is this God’s intent for us?

In the beginning God established a principle that was to guide humanity that was summed up in the Hebrew word shabat (sabbath) (Exodus 20:8). The word means ‘rest.’ God modeled this for us in Genesis 2:2 where we are told that He labored for six days and then rested, ceased from the activities He was focused on during that time. The fact that God “hallows & blesses” this day communicates that He sets this day aside for a special purpose.  This day has a special sacredness & blessing for humanity. It is to be kept free from the normal labor of ‘making a living’ that characterizes the other six days. The day promotes a special relationship to God & to His Service. So, a day away from the regular patterns of life forces us to refocus on the priorities of life and encourages both our spiritual and physical health.

Father, convict us to have a day set aside for you. A day where we can slow down long enough to hear your voice and to recharge our batteries.

Identity Check

Who are you? If your answer is based on your name, your upbringing, your achievements, your family history, your hopes, your disappointments, etc. then you’re a victim of identity theft if you are a follower of Jesus. You’ve allowed your true identity to be stolen and replaced by a lesser identity. 

Note that Paul while acknowledging the role of his past experiences (both positive and negative) as shaping him, points to his position in Christ as that which truly defines him (Philippians 3:1-16). So powerful is this Christ-centered definition of himself that he incredibly considers all that once gave him pride as ‘rubbish’ only to be discarded!—“Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

As you go through your day make sure you have the right identity in mind. You aren’t who you were so let God define the new you. How? Here are a few steps that will assist you in this discovery:

1. Spend time reading Bible passages that describe the identity of Christians—Ephesians 1; Colossians 3; and other passages you can discover as you read through the Bible.
2. Memorize a statement of who you are in Christ that counters your feelings or experiences.
3. Identify a godly encourager who you can call on to remind you of how God sees you.

“Father, help we your children to realize how common identity theft is among our brothers and sisters, and even in our own lives. Then give us the strength to live in our true identity each moment of this day.”

A Quick Prayer

As we noted in yesterday’s examination of James 1:2—4 our attitude (‘consider it all joy’) in going through various trials determines God’s ability to use those challenges to buid endurance in us which will eventually make us more like Christ. So, have you started your day with the right attitude/outlook?

A great way to get our attitude/outlook on the proper focus is to whisper this prayer—“Lord help me to bear fruit today, to respond in a way that the world cannot, by bringing those things into my life that will grow me into the image of Jesus.”

Try it, and have a blessed day.

Walk This Way

As you examine the story of the anointing of Jesus in Mark 14:1—9 it is very important to note that only one person knew the significance of the woman’s act—Jesus. Even the woman did not know the significance of her act to His life. Yet, what separated her from the others in this account was that she had a totally surrendered devotion to Jesus that allowed the Holy Spirit to use her act of love, to provide a wonderful gift to the soon to die Savior. Her anointing prepared Jesus’ body for proper Jewish burial days before He was going to die. 

Realize that today you will make decisions and perform acts that the Holy Spirit wants to use to further the will of God on earth. You may never know, though, the impact your choices will have. That is why it is so important for each of us to take the example of this woman to heart. As you go through your day slow down long enough to let your devotion to Jesus guide your walk. We do this by praying for God’s guidance and seeking His direction throughout the course of our day.

Our Vision/Destination:
A Church Family where the Triangle will see, hear, & touch the diversity of God’s grace.

Focusing on God

As you go through your day today please remember where our strength comes from. Please don’t allow what you see, hear, or feel redirect your focus from where it needs to be placed. Let me remind you that whatever you face today, God can empower you to walk through it and to triumph in the midst of it. But the key is keeping your focus on Him. These are the last words of Habakkuk in his great book:

The Challenges:
Though the cherry trees don’t blossom
  and the strawberries don’t ripen,
Though the apples are worm-eaten
  and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless
  and the cattle barns empty,

The Effect of a God-ward Focus:
I’m singing joyful praise to God.
  I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
Counting on God’s Rule to prevail,
  I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer.
  I feel like I’m king of the mountain!
Habakkuk 3:17—19 (The Message)

Have you begun your day walking in your strength? An indication of this is what holds your attention as your day begins. Take a few moments to pray that the Lord will be your focus throughout this day.

What Do You Fear?

In the ancient world it was a common practice to fear the natural forces (such as floods, droughts, crop failures, plagues, etc.) that were out of their control and occurred in the world around them. So focused were many of these cultures on the devastation and disaster these natural forces could wreak that they literally gave these forces personalities and worshipped them as their gods.

Yet God wanted His people Israel to not fear these forces, and definitely not to appease them by worshipping them. Rather He continually challenged Israel to focus and trust in Him as their ultimate protector and warrior. To the greatness Yahweh the Bible presents these natural forces as subservient to God and as powerless as attendants who walked before and after a great ruler in the ancient world proclaiming that ruler’s supreme greatness. This is the picture that Habakkuk paints as he states in Habakkuk 3:5 “Before Him goes pestilence, and plague comes after Him.”  The response to such a realization is highlighted by the Psalmist in Psalm 91—

“For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence” (v. 3)

“You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon” (v. 5-6)

So, what fear has gripped your heart and imagination? Is it a sickness that has stalked your family for generations? Is it that a threat might come to past? Whatever your fear might be remember that it too must bow before the God who reigns supreme. Won’t you cast your care upon Him today because He cares about you (1 Peter 5:7)?

Our Vision/Destination:
A Church Family where the Triangle will see, hear, & touch the diversity of God’s grace.

Stay in Control Of Your Finances

As God challenged Habakkuk to realize that He is fully aware and active in the ‘real world,’ may we also realize this truth in respect to our finances. Remember to stay in control of your finances for the misuse of credit and the accumulation of debt is not in accordance with His desire for us. Note the words of derision towards Babylon in Habakkuk 2:7

    Will not your creditors rise up suddenly,
      And those who collect from you awaken?
      Indeed, you will become plunder for them.

If God has spoken to your heart to make changes please contact Greg Ulmer who is over Grace’s Financial Counseling Ministry —gulmer@nc.rr.com

INVEST (time, prayers, resources, etc.) in someone then INVITE that person to church.

The Role of Faith in Life

How do you view faith’s place in your hike through life? For many believers the role of faith in the journey of life is more like an item packed away in a backpack whereas others view it as a compass that is constantly utilized. 

For many faith is an item that having been already obtained is safely packed away, checked off the ‘to pack’ list and awaits any unforeseen opportunities where we may have to use it.

But Habakkuk’s view of faith—‘But the righteous will live by his faith’ (Habakkuk 2:4)—presents its role as more like a compass. Like a compass, faith is to be depended on to point us in the right direction, constantly moving us towards God, even when our surroundings are unfamiliar. Faith encourages us that we are heading in the right direction so that we can move boldly forward, even when we don’t feel sure of our ability to guide ourselves.

So, what role is faith playing in your life today? 

This week we’re in Habakkuk 2:6—8 so take some time to prepare for our gathering Sunday.

God’s Promises

‘Promises promises.’ Sometimes we can come to the Word of God in this way. Maybe it is because of promises that were given to us in the past that were never fulfilled. I want to remind you that God never fails to keep His promises. A ‘not yet’ is not a ‘never will be.’ This is the key emphasis that God makes to the nation of Judah in Habakkuk 2:3. After telling Habakkuk to write the vision for all to see so that they might respond accordingly, God then goes on to emphasize that although the fulfillment of the promise might take a while they can be certain that the fulfillment is coming. Note God’s emphasis:

The message I give you
waits for the time I have appointed.
It speaks about what is going to happen.
And all of it will come true.
It might take a while.
But wait for it.
You can be sure it will come.
It will happen when I want it to.
(New International Version)

What promises of God are you trusting in and waiting on to be fulfilled? However great it might seem to be, and however long it might be taking don’t give up on it. Don’t lose heart and don’t cease to wait in excited expectation. God is not a man that He should lie ‘so though it tarries, wait for it.’

INVEST (time, prayers, resources, etc.) in someone then INVITE that person to church.

Our Only Hope

Have you ever been so frustrated with the state of things that you’ve turned off the news, pushed the paper aside and just agonized “Why are things so bad?” That is the sentiment of Habakkuk who is tired of seeing the outbreak of international hostilities, marriages shattered, life savings become worthless or stolen, young people making horrible life choices, political corruption, and moral bankruptcy in society. Can’t you hear the agony in his words?

“Lord, how long do I have to call out for help? Why don’t you listen to me? How long must I keep telling you that things are terrible? Why don’t you save us? Why do you make me watch while people treat others so unfairly? Why do you put up with the wrong things they are doing?
I have to look at death. People are harming others. They are arguing and fighting all the time.
The law can’t do what it’s supposed to do. Fairness never comes out on top. Sinful people surround those who do what is right. So people are never treated fairly.”  Habakkuk 1—4 (New International Version)

Whoever said that the Bible is not relevant has never read Habakkuk. His words are so relevant we can almost think he lives next door, or works in the cubicle next to us. But there is one thing that separates him from most of those around us—his conviction that the Lord is in charge and that only He can make things right.

Be like Habakkuk, get frustrated with sin but remember your hope. Never hinder yourself from feeling the frustration caused by a sinful world for it is only then that we truly long for our Savior God and His ultimate salvation—‘thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Remember to read Habakkuk as you go through the week.

A Major Reason Why Jesus Had To Rise

As we considered five reasons why Jesus had to rise from the dead let us not forget a major one that is to affect us—so that we can intimately walk with the resurrected Jesus each day of our lives. This is the desire Paul has in mind as he penned a life goal in Philippians 3:10:

“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” 

My prayer is that each of us will walk through this day as if having one hand outstretched to remind us that our greatest need is to walk hand-in-hand with Jesus. I know that it is only then that we will experience the resurrection power of a risen Savior on a daily basis.

God All Knowing

The prediction of King Cyrus’ appearance in Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-7 is one of the most fascinating prophecies in the whole Bible. Here God through Isaiah not only warns His people of a coming judgment that will lead to their being removed from their homeland, but it also includes the prediction of their return with the very name of the ruler who will allow the nation to re-gather in their homeland. How wonderful is our God who makes such a prediction at least 150 years before the event actually occurs!

As you move through your day today please remember that our God is omniscient, ‘all knowing.’ Couple that with His promise that He causes ‘all things to work together for good to those who love God’ (Romans 8:28) and you have reason to make this a great day.

Eyes that See the Strategic Intent of His Actions

Are the words of Mordecai to Esther still echoing in your ears as they are in mine? “Who knows if you have attained royalty for such a time as this?”(Esther 4:14)  One of the key truths that is communicated to us through this statement is that we never know the significance of where we find ourselves in life. Every step along the journey is significant in the eyes of God for what He is seeking to do in our lives and possibly in the lives of others.
That is why the strategic outlook of Mordecai led him to consider the way in which God was working in the life of his cousin Esther (Esther 2:7) in placing her where she now lived. As we noted Sunday, we need to live strategically.
Yes, even in the difficult moments of our lives we are to have a strategic outlook knowing that even at those times God is working to bring about His good pleasure. Note the words of Paul in Romans 5:3-5.—“ We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!”
Take a moment and focus your attention on the Lord through prayer. Ask God to give you eyes that see the strategic intent of His actions in your life, and then request the strength to allow His actions to run their course for His glory.