Fine-Tuning

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

John 15:1-2

God doesn’t stand still and allow things to just be as it is. No, He’s a gardener that looks at His harvest and perfects it by trimming a piece here & adjusting a piece there. He will even remove a whole branch if it is no good. He has a vision, a design and purpose for each of His plants and it is perfect. But it’s not there yet and still in the early growing phase and God’s nurturing and caring for it the best way possible. We are these plants in God’s harvest. Our branches are the things we ought to get rid of; the addictions, the unforgiveness and the temptations. The pruning of good branches or the areas of our life that’s doing God’s work sometimes need to be shaken up for even better things. This doesn’t mean that it’s bad’ it means that small little adjustments or sacrifices will produce a greater harvest.

What areas of my life require pruning right now? Lots of things actually: my marriage needs adjustments, my health needs to be a priority, my performance at work could use a boost, my relationships with family & friends; so many areas need work. I spend time in daily devotions, prayer and study the bible but more needs to be done by living as Jesus lived. I have many unsure thoughts and I rebuke them but the fact that they’re there to begin with means my flesh hasn’t submitted to the Holy Spirit entirely. I need to find ways so that God’s Spirit can throw away these chains. My marriage is another area that I need help with. We still aren’t doing life together the way we should. We still aren’t connecting because of our differences; but that’s not the problem. The issue here is that we’re just not making time to sit down with each other and share our lives. It needs to go further than that by experiencing things together. Even though I don’t like shopping, I could go wither to share her emotions as she looks at things and learn what’s cute or gross. I need to prune things in my life so that this marriage continues to be fruitful.

Heavenly Father, thank You for cutting off & pruning branches in my life that prevents Your glory from shining brilliantly in this world and the next. There are so many good things we are doing but th3ere are great things, the greater gifts waiting for those who die to ourselves and live for the new. Help me LORD to identify and take action! I love You my Wonderful Maker! In the glorious name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!

Obeying Authority

"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:15-18

When you love someone, like your physical parents, and respect their authority; you will do as you’re told. This doesn’t mean you have to 100% agreed with them but respect their authority to trust they know what they’re talking about. The bible also talks about the faith of the centurion and how he too is a man of authority. Jesus goes on to say how his faith was great because he understood authority and obedience. We know love, obedience & authority is all tied into Jesus’ sacrifice and authority but how well do we practice this truth? We know this teaching need to permeate in and through Christ’s body, His church.

A couple thoughts run through my head as God places this passage in me. I think back to the beginning of my serving under Jerry at Sand Island Frontlines. The guilt that I had in turning down singing that song and getting the lecture on how I need to put my faith into the leadership. I was told that I need to understand that the leadership prayed on it and God gave them that song. It was hard and I struggled with it but ultimately the lesson was received about authority. Now fast forward to my leadership role in Frontlines and how we are told to obey leadership again by simplifying the vocal team. Everyone’s being obedient, following Jerry & Pastor Dom’s leadership and anointing. In my heart I just don’t have a peace with the leadership and we have no voice to change it. So I had to step down & JonK ended up stepping down too. God has anointed them and given them direction; I’m just not a piece of it. So today, I’m in the very initial stages of thinking about Resonate ministry. Chris and I spoke briefly about my passion in small groups. But I’m thinking of how my new understanding of buying in to the leadership and anointing will affect where I serve. I need to allow the Mighty Counselor to reveal the fine details of my design in order to faithfully pursue my calling.

Heavenly Father, it’s all in Your hands! Your authority needs to rule my heart, mind & flesh; help me to seek You out and I pray LORD that You place me where You want me to be. I seek Your Holy Spirit, the Mighty Counselor to make my path clear. In the most beautiful & powerful name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!

Focus on the Family

"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 13.33-35

I’m thinking about how a person on their death bed’s priorities becomes so clear in their final moments. The things said or the things most important are relationships and loved ones. Jesus here was just about to be arrested and His disciples were about to scatter. It’s like He parted with the best advice or instructions anyone could give: love one another so that others will know what family You belong to. The importance and urgency is amplified by reflection on His 3 years in ministry and the price He was willing to pay for us. Before we even step out into the world to evangelize we must take care of our own relationships within the body of Christ! We need to build, repair & love one another as Jesus loves.

Do I have healthy Christian relationships? Even before trying to be there for big events like sickness or congratulatory, am I there to do life with another? Nope, not even close. I’m selfish and it takes considerable effort for me to make time so that I can just talk story with another. If there was a purpose of the conversation then great, something to analyze or fix but when it comes to sharing emotions it’s hard. Jesus didn’t just teach all the time, they broke bread together and shared life. I need to make this a priority in my life to spend time with my family, friends and others God crafted into my life.

Father God, family is where it’s at. You designed us for relationships and family is the core. LORD, why did I ever think pleasing You was about going off without my family even if it meant doing Your will? Forgive me LORD for my selfishness. I pray that Your mighty Spirit holds my hand as I learn to put this as a priority in my life. I pray for repaired and strengthened relationships starting with You and my wife. Thank You Father God for being patient and compassionate with Your child. In the wonderful name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!

Sacrifice is More

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

John 12:24-25

Jesus was explaining why He was going to die. This was the end to one thing only to produce something far greater and He tried to explain it for all to hear. By His sacrifice so many other gifts will be produced so He really died in order to live & multiply. We need to get over ourselves and stop being selfish with God's blessings. There's no greater love than to sacrifice our own life for the sake of another. That's why Jesus did and we need to do the same.

How have I sacrificed for Christ? What have I done to lay myself down for the sake of another? What opportunities have I let slip away because I value my own skin over another? I think about these questions and realize that I'm terrible at this. How many times have I said to God, "use me, mold me" but still walk away from opportunities to love, heal and show compassion. And at the same time, why am I waiting for opportunities instead of going out into the world seeking these desperately needing a touch from the Holy Spirit? I need to shape up and put my hand to the plow; not necessarily with organized ministry things but with just being an ambassador for Christ in work meetings, walking around, being with friends but most importantly going through life with my wife. I need to continue to ask God for direction but also to be flexible to go where the Spirit leads me. This seems hard but is simpler than we think.

Glorious and faithful Father, thank You for allowing me to grow by being less. You know that my mind wants to do a hundred things but that's where I get stuck; it's in the detail. I fail to move on, paralysis through analysis is my stumbling block. Help me LORD God to truly die to my ways so that blessings can be redistributed through me. I thank You for every one of my brothers and sisters that I do life with. Love You, Daddy! In the mighty name of Christ Jesus, Amen!