Northpointe Community Church

CR Blog 123109

Remember y2k? All of that stuff about how the world was going to stop turning?

It was New year’s Eve and I was standing in line in Winco. It was very early in the morning. There was a middle aged couple in front of me. They had three carts. One was full of charcoal, the next was full of bottled water and the third was loaded with canned food. I remember thinking how silly it all looked, but I had to admit in the back of my mind was a strong sense of wonder at what the new century held for all of us.

Well that was ten years ago now and today we seem to have all but forgotten the hysteria surrounding New Year’s Eve in 1999. The world still turns, the grass and the weeds still grow and God is still in control. He had a plan for this past decade and He has a plan for the next one and the one after that as well.

That couple in line at Winco was obviously counting on living through whatever the new year was going to throw at them and I am just as much counting on living in 2010. I’m not much for your typical new year’s resolutions, but I am a planner so here’s my plan;

I plan to spend some time each day letting God tell me who He is, how He operates and who I am in His eyes. I further plan to spend the rest of my life seeking God’s plan for my life and when I go to bed at night I plan on resting well, trusting in the knowledge that God is perfectly capable of making the world go around while I get some sleep. He did a great job with the last ten years, I plan to trust Him with the next ten also. Happy New Year! Sleep well!

Jeremiah 51:15 (MSG)

By his power he made earth. His wisdom gave shape to the world. He crafted the cosmos.

CR Blog 121709

Listening to Pastor Steve’s message last weekend, as he was talking about the imagination of children, I happily flashed back to one of my favorite Christmas memories.

Back when I was still young enough to be totally in awe of Santa Claus my brothers and I awoke one Christmas morning to find our tree completely covered with candy canes. Now I wasn’t a big fan of hard candy when I was little, but I did love to be showered with attention and caring. This is something I think we miss out on as adults. What happens to us while we are growing up that makes us uncomfortable when others are generous to us? Why do we pretend to be “okay” when what we really want is for someone to show us they care? How is it possible that we can say “I know God loves me” and then not look for evidence of His caring out of stubbornness?

I realize not everybody struggles with this all of the time, but I think if we were honest with ourselves each of us would admit there have times in life when we wished we were still a kid so we could be released of the responsibilities of adulthood. Jesus said in order for us to enter God’s Kingdom we must become like children (Matt 18:3). I don’t remember much else about that Christmas morning although I’m sure it was good. What I do remember is standing there looking at the tree and trying to imagine how it all happened. It was simply Joyful.

“Billions and billions of stars and planets out there, and behind them all are God.” Billy Graham

Merry Christmas

CR Blog 112409

I looked up the word “goodness” while preparing for the Thanksgiving Eve message. On dictionary dot com I found a secondary definition for goodness listed as: the beneficial or nutritious part. This was especially helpful as I was considering the fact that God is the source of all goodness.

When I think about what I’m made of, I mean really made of, it doesn’t have a whole lot to do with the physical me. I’m much more than I appear to be at first glance and so are you. We require more than physical nutrition. We are spiritual beings with spiritual needs. Our spiritual appetites crave the nutrition only a sovereign God can provide. Our need cannot be met by any mortal person, place or thing.

Take some time today to consider the new life God has breathed into you, His goodness. And, if you haven’t allowed that to happen yet, take some time to just consider God.  Consider the fact He loves you in spite of your past, your present, even your future choices. Think about how he accepts you, not because of your goodness, but His. Then accept Him.

James 1:18 (NLT)
In his goodness he chose to make us his own children by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his choice possession.

CR Blog 111809

“All I really need, is good love” is how the old song by “The Rascals” goes. While the lyrics may somewhat simplify the needs of a human being, the fact is love IS what we really need. Love makes us feel complete, significant and wanted.

Do you ever notice how companionship doesn’t seem to be important when we are making a big purchase, striving to win a competition or maybe trying to get that promotion at work? However as soon as any of these are accomplished (or not accomplished) we immediately seek out someone to share the experience with don’t we?

Loving others when they are succeeding and when they are failing meets a basic human need. When was the last time you sought out someone to celebrate with or someone to comfort and encourage?

My very first ministry experience came as a result of a project I was involved with through Big Heart Ministries at NorthPointe. When we were done I heard this comment; “once again we reached out to encourage somebody else and WE we are the ones who were blessed”. I have never forgotten that.

Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

CR Blog 111109

The word service means many things to many people. There are service industries, military service, voluntary service, etc. These are noun versions of the word unless you are directly involved in one of these activities. When the word “service” becomes personal it becomes an action word, a verb.

There is also a modern day term we use; “self-service”. But, what about service solely for the sake of others? is that a noun (impersonal) or a verb (personal) in your life? Is it something you see happening around you or is it something you do?

When we choose to serve others we take something personal, such as our time, talent or treasure we and give it away. As a result both recipient and giver are blessed. This is a lifestyle to strive for. This is where joy is found, in service as a verb.

Here is a basic principle of the recovery process; We come to a point when we can see where we have been self serving and are able to see the damage it has done in our relationships. We then choose to reverse this by getting the focus off of ourself and onto others. We get into service as a verb.

My sponsor taught me how to think about joy with this little acronym. J = Jesus first, O = others next, Y = yourself last. Jesus taught me how to experience joy by commanding me to love Him first and foremost, and then to love others as I love myself.

My heartfelt thanks to all military veterans and their families today and everyday. God bless you.