Overcoming

The key to a thankful heart

Overcoming /

We are a forgetful people. That is why the last thing Jesus did before His death was to institute communion. He invited us to practice it regularly so that as often as we would do it, we would remember Him and what He has done for us. To truly do something in remembrance means more than a mental ascent, it can move a person into the experiential dimension of the thing remembered. And here is the secret Jesus knew. Such remembrance inspires thanksgiving and thanksgiving to God has transforming power.

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3 ways to navigate through trying times

1 Comment / Overcoming /

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

These well known verses are probably the best advice ever given for dealing with trials and difficulties. They contain three tried and true crisis management principles that have helped people through the ages navigate trying times.

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A prescription for waning spiritual passion

2 Comments / Overcoming, Relationship with God /

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” Isaiah 42:3

In my late twenties, several years following my conversion to Christ, I found myself struggling in my relationship with Him. I had been burning the candle at both ends carrying a full time job, trying to be a Godly husband and father with two little children while seeking to maximize whatever time was left over in serving Him. In the midst of leading a small group, teaching Sunday school, volunteering in a prison ministry and trying to be at church every time the doors were open I suddenly found myself without any passion in my personal relationship with Jesus.

Feeling overwhelmed and the need to cutback on my commitments to the church I went to the pastor to tell him about my burnout and feelings of estrangement from Jesus. With trepidation I approached him after a Sunday service and asked if he would release me from several of my serving commitments at church and pray for me.

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Overcoming a spirit of rejection

13 Comments / More on that message..., Overcoming, Relationship with God /

“He has made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:6 AKJV)

Why is it that we so readily give credence to the voice of rejection whispering in our ear? You know that voice. It says “I don’t belong here. No one listens to or cares about me. I have nothing to offer.” It’s always in the first person “I”, because that is the way the devil deceives us into thinking its coming from us rather than from him, the father of lies. (John 8:44)

Seeds of rejection sown into our lives through experiences of being disregarded, abandoned or betrayed are fueled by the devil’s lies and lead to self-rejection. We then become our own worst enemy. Henri Nouwen writes “Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that declares we are loved.”

The heart of the message of the Gospel is the very opposite of rejection. It is the promise of acceptance by our heavenly Father in the unconditional love of His son Jesus Christ.

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Blessed is he who misses the boat

5 Comments / Church History, Overcoming, Relationship with God /

One of the truly amazing things about Jesus’ nature is that He is the Redeemer. He takes lives that are on a path to destruction and rescues them. He takes things that are bad in our lives and makes something good out of them.

To be on the receiving end of His redemptive work in our lives is always so overwhelming because it is not something that can be earned. To undeserving recipients His redemption is the free gift of His abundant grace and the hallmark expression of His love and care.

Redemption comes in many forms from small daily doses to huge breakthrough turnarounds. I love redemption testimonies because they inspire faith and hope for good to yet be resurrected out of bad.

Many times redemption is disguised as disappointment. Opportunities may pass us by. Things we really wanted and looked forward to do not materialize. Or one of the hardest things of all, something we have been praying for and were even convinced was God’s will for us does not come to pass.

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