What Do You Crave?

We all have cravings. For me, I crave E.L. Fudge cookies and during the fall, candy corn! We love sports, the national peanut festival (it is a big deal here in Dothan, AL), our hobbies, and more.

Cravings are a result of what we fill our minds with consistently. Many times I spend time thinking more about the negative aspects of life than the positive. I guess more of a cup "half empty" type of approach. For others, there is a more positive way to view and think about life. The world offers darkness as if it is light.

"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever" 1 John 2:15-17.

When I think about the world's cravings, it is just like John wrote in verse 16, "physical pleasure, craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions." In 1 John, he is writing specifically to Christians everywhere. The focus of 1 John is that worldly success equals doing whatever makes you feel good (sexual, lust, etc) and focus upon self (achievements and possessions). The kingdom of God is focused upon craving the glory of God!

What about when we have the wrong appetites? How do you respond when you fail? When my attitude, words or actions are not bringing glory to God, I tend to become discouraged. The discouragement is not from God, but from the enemy. You see, Christians aren't perfect. The world wants to point the finger and say, "hypocrite!" Our appetites can quickly crave the immediate cravings of the flesh. But we have been given life through Christ, how can we dive into the old cravings anymore? When we have been given the gift of salvation and restoration, how can we go back to the toilet of the world anymore? The reality is that everyone who is a follower of Christ is a sinner saved by grace. We are made new through Christ but still wrestle with our sinful nature. We should be convicted by the Holy Spirit but that leads to forgiveness and encouragement to run after God. The discouragement you and I feel on a regular basis is not from God, but the enemy. Don't lose heart and don't beat yourself up. Admit the appetite of the world and fill your mind with truth in order to crave the heart of Christ!

The outward, physical world is fading away. Every moment we are one step closer to eternity. Every moment the cars, houses, clothes and our possessions are deteriorating. We are not bodies with souls, but souls with bodies. Our bodies are temporary. Our lives on earth are here and gone the next. Every moment we live on the earth is a gift. Every breathe. Every heartbeat. Every moment. What will spend our life craving?

I am still a work in progress. One thing I do know is that God has given us a new identity as His sons and daughters! We should crave His kingdom and not the kingdom of this earth. What are you craving? Are you hungry for the heart of God or the "stuff" of the world? 

Football and Discipleship

“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

The importance of discipleship is a key element to the Christian life. You probably ask the question, “Why should I learn about this?” The importance of knowing Jesus more in your life is the key to success in life. It is like this: two guys named Frank and Joe who went out to try out for a college football team. Frank had never picked up a football or had any experience, but he had watched football games on TV and thought it looked pretty simple. Joe grew up playing football and had spent all summer working out in the gym and practicing drills. Frank and Joe get to the field and Frank is dreaming of greatness on the gridiron, as Joe stretches and prepares himself for the strenuous tryout. As the tryout started, Frank started out doing alright, catching a few passes. As time went on Frank began to get tired and fell down on his back heaving for air. Joe began the tryout with preparation and a sense of confidence. As time went on Joe stood out among all the other players because of his dedication in the off-season.

Which person would you like to be on the same team with? Which guy was disciplined and was a leader on the field? The same concept applies to our life, if we expect to grow as a follower of Christ and expect to be immediately in the super bowl, you will be discouraged. The need of discipleship is an integral part of the Christian life, just like Joe preparing himself for the tryout. The way that I would define discipleship is to become more like Jesus. The real question is why should we do discipleship in church?

 Let’s look at 2 Timothy 3:14-17. Paul was writing to Timothy about being a man of God. How do we become people of God? Paul tells the younger Timothy in verse 14 about how it is important to cling to the truths of scripture without compromise. Timothy had the privilege of hearing the Scripture through his family. Timothy was not as strong in the Lord as Paul, but he had a strong foundation of faith. In verse 16-17, it talks about how scripture is given by inspiration of God. The best way to understand why we need discipleship is that our Christian life is nothing without the Word of God. It is God’s love letter to you as a believer. The word Theopneustos literally means “breathed out by God or “God breathed.” We need to understand as a church that the Bible is given to us as a guide to follow in life. Do we follow it and spend time in it? That is why we need discipleship in this church. Paul encourages Timothy in verse 17 to become equipped and complete to fulfill good works.

You might ask the question, what does this passage mean to us today? What is the big deal with discipleship, can’t we just meet, hang out and go home? Jesus came to save us from ourselves and our sin, once we receive the gift of salvation, the journey is not over. So how can we understand this in a clear way, what if you are on a hike through the woods and you could choose two different guides. John said he knew all the trails and did not need a map, but Sally had a map and compass to guide her group. Which person would you follow? Of course our answer is Sally, but how many times in life do we find the easy way out? Discipleship is allowing God's Word to guide us!

 Knowledge is a good thing, but it won’t have any affect on your life unless you apply it. The first thing you have to realize is that it takes a willing, surrendered heart to Christ for the church to become what it needs to become.We have the Guidebook ready to follow, but will we pick it up and act upon the importance of discipleship? If we applied the same passion we have for college football to following Christ, you would see changed lives! Do the small things by spending time with Jesus daily and following His Spirit throughout your day.

No Fear - Psalm 23

(I'm on a mission trip right now in Africa, I would appreciate your prayers) We all have some type of fear no matter how big or small. The question is whether we will give into fear or find courage through a relationship with Christ?

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,  ³ he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. ⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley,^[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.⁵ You prepare a table before me    in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23

This passage of scripture is one of the most often quoted and best-loved in the entire Old Testament. However, despite all this, there is a section in this passage that has been widely misunderstood.  The attitude that was portrayed must be one that represents and focuses on missions. Understanding God’s protection in our lives, we are freed to serve Him and be provided for everything we need. A life of no fear results in reckless service to lift up the name of Jesus Christ. Missionaries all over the world have to live outside their own comfort zones and culture to reach the lost and that comes from not succumbing to the status quo.

We Should Ask God to be our Shepherd and make it personal. We know that He is always with us (Isaiah 41:10). If we are his, we will never been in need because He is our shepherd. Paul wrote that he is our "Abba father" in Romans 8:15.

The love and protection God gives will fuel our courage to follow at any cost. We will be rested and refreshed in our lives daily. Our souls will be restored and this will lead to steady, committed service to Jesus not because we have to, but because we get to! The sheep must stay close to the shepherd if they are to be fearless. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment, but he who fears has not been made perfect in love” 1 John 1:18.

In today’s world with reliable transportation and secure bank accounts we sometimes do not see much need in depending upon God. However, we must look back and see the results of David’s reliance on God. David was able to truthfully say that he would not fear even though he walked through a valley that was in the very proximity of death itself. The end result of David’s dependence upon and trust in God was a confidence that he was going to the “house of the Lord” after he died. In order for us to be able to experience the same results we must do as David. That is to be under the control of the Shepherd and be led by Him. To walk with the Lord is to think, act, and believe in Him with all of your heart. If we truly do this then we can truly say that no matter what happens, we will have no fear. Eternal hope is in Jesus and His power and guidance can help anyone live and glorify Him.

Will you live your life just to meet the status quo of culture, or will you seek the heart of Jesus? Will we deny ourselves and follow His command to go into all the world and preach the gospel? God’s power is always in full supply and we have been received a biblical mandate for missions in order to glorify God.