Your Words Speak Volumes About the Person You Really Are

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to say something, especially as a Christian? Whether it's something that's not completely accurate? Or something that's negative or critical? Or even straight up lying? Ephesians 4:23-25 is very clear when it says, "Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body." As Christians we should put a close guard on what comes from our mouth, especially since the Bible says we'll be giving an account for our words. Something we do in our home is to use the acronym "THINK" when it comes to our words. We use this acronym before we allow things to come from our mouth...
T...Is it true?
H...Is it helpful?
I...Is it inspiring?
N...Is it necessary?
K...Is it kind?
If you were to use THINK would it make a difference with your words? The average person speaks between 8-18000 words a day. What if those words were true, helpful, inspiring, necessary and kind? I think it would transform the world we live in :)

I Need Your Help

What an amazing HITC intern's Orientation. 3 wonderful and powerful days up in Cascade. I have so much I want to say about it but will save it for another time. However, there was one thing that stuck out to me while we were doing some of our team building activities. Regardless of how talented, athletic or intelligent a person is, there are just some things they can't do alone. Yet when operating as a team, tasks could be successfully accomplished. If there are some things where we need the help of others, why do we not ask for their help? Even if not asking means failing? As people, God created us to be dependent on Him. But He also gave us others so we might help them, or that they might help us. When people work together they can usually accomplish what none of them could by themselves :)

Being Perfect

Being perfect isn't easy. In fact, if you're not God it's impossible. Then why do so many Christians try to be perfect? We read in Matthew 5:48, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."Is Jesus emphasizing perfection in His followers? Absolutely not! The word perfection here isn't referring to sinless perfection or flawlessness. It's talking about growing in maturity of godliness and having visible fruit of it. Essentially it's all about your growth in God. Everyday there should be a little more growth in God. We should be a little farther along today as a Christian than we were yesterday. Sometimes this growth can be measured in miles, yet at other times in inches. The bottom line is growth. Even Jesus grew according to Luke 2:52, And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." If Jesus was had a growth mindset, shouldn't we? Enjoying growing in Him today :)

The Journey Begins Today...

It's hard to believe that another year of HITC http://www.coharvest.org/#/bible-college begins today. We head out of town for an action packed Orientation retreat with classes beginning next week. It seems like only yesterday we were at last years Orientation. I'm excited to see all the Lord's got planned for this year's class of students. I know there will be lots of stretching, strengthening, encouraging, training and growth. God has so many wonderful plans, and probably surprises, for this class of students. I can't wait to see these students as they stand at graduation next year. I know they'll be different than the people I see today. This group has so much potential and opportunity ahead of them. If you happen to think about them, pray for them. Pray that they would become all God's called them to be :) Here's the verse God put on my heart for this class, found in Philippians 3:12-14, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Are You Telling Others?

Usually when someone does something for you, it's natural to want to tell others about it. I feel the same way when it comes to telling others about what Jesus Christ has done for me :) He's washed away my sins, given me a future and a hope, is my strength and many other things. In Luke 8 there's a story about a man who was demon possessed. But this man was miraculously healed by Jesus. Then Jesus tells him in Luke 8:39, "Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you. And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him." This is exactly what we should do too. Wherever we go, people need to hear all about Jesus and what He's done in your life. When you do, people around you will be encouraged and want to know more about Him. Today you will have many opportunities to tell others about what Jesus has done in your life, just like the man in the story. Will you?

Hamstrings and Relationships...

So last week I was jogging over to the offices and for fun I started sprinting. After a few seconds I immediately felt the pain shooting up my hamstring. Having a history with my hamstring I knew I'd strained it. Just to be safe I haven't run on it this past week, just to be careful. I was pretty excited about my run this morning but after about a mile I again felt the sharp pains in my left hamstring. I couldn't believe it hadn't completely healed and was humbled by having to walk the rest of my course to make it home. Just like physical wounds are relational wounds, where a person has been hurt by something another person has either said or done. We think that time will heal all wounds, but I don't think this is the case. How do you know if you have a relational wound? Maybe you can only say negative things about the person to others? Or if you see them you just have this churning and bitterness inside because of your experiences. I'm glad that my hamstring is going to heal and I'm also glad that any relational wounds I've had in the past have all been healed because of my choice to forgive and the healing touch of Jesus Christ. Matthew18:21-23 are some of the key verses in my life, "Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!" I must be willing to forgive others and let whatever happened sink into the sea of forgetfulness. I'm thankful to the Lord for being my healer, whether physical or relational :)

So Quick to Jump Ship...

Just like many others in the Treasure Valley, last night I watched the Boise State Broncos play Michigan State. For a team who had many huge shoes to fill from last year, I just hoped they'd hold their own. The game wasn't a pretty one. Our defense did OK while our offense struggled. Even so the game was a pretty close one. In fact, the Broncos had many chances and were oh so close to pulling off a huge upset over a team 12 ranking spots ahead of them. In an 80000 seat stadium, where a majority were rooting for the home team. What surprises me this morning is how many people seem to be jumping off the Bronco bandwagon after the first game of the season. I guess the chances of playing in a BCS game are gone, along with the big national rankings, but this is our team. It may be easy to do with a sports team, but hopefully we don't do it with other things in life when they don't go well? When your kid has a bad day at school, or you have a bad day at work, don't you remain faithful? I'm so thankful the Lord stays faithful to us and loves us regardless. Jeremiah 31:3 tells us "I have loved you, My people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself." Just because someone has a bad day, that doesn't mean you should give up. Just because you have a bad day, don't give up. Just because your team has a loss, don't give up on them. And thank you Lord for never giving up on us :)