This thought occurred to me this morning: I write this sentence every month in the introduction to SEVENS: "It's a once-monthly devotional thought that is supposed to help us think about God and DO something about it."
Well then... let's DO something.
.ACTIVATE.
I want to know what difference this devotional project has made... to know if this stuff is getting done. Please take a look at the different "assignments" through the months, listed below. Find something you can do. Click on it directly or go straight to http://sevens-devo.blogspot.com/ and read about it. Go do it! Then maybe you can talk to someone else about it, and go out and accomplish it together. Then to back to the blog and comment on how you lived it out - helping others accomplish it too.
I don't write so you can say "Hey Aaron, nice thoughts" (although that does help, haha). I write so that you as a follower of Christ will be encouraged to live out your beliefs in a lifestyle of faith. Activate. Activate.
Here are all the previous assignments:
Oct 07: Pray with scripture as "conversation starters."
Nov: Write out all the blessings you can think of.
Dec: Make the best of every breath you have.
Jan 08: Consider those all around you with needs - and help.
Feb: Love the unloved.
Mar: Serve the Lord with gladness - it's a privilege.
Apr/May: Write devotional thoughts of your own and share them.
Jun: Love with your hands and feet - to love is to serve.
Jul: Do the most spiritual thing - though it might seem "unimportant."
Aug: Pray for salvation to come to a dark world.
Sep: Read and study the Word of God more effectively.
Oct: Disengage from the routine and spend time alone with God.
Nov: We need to be on our knees in prayer.
and TODAY: GET UP AND DO IT FOR HIS SAKE!
Aaron
(Originally published on December 7, 2008)
Monday, December 22, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
.PRAY.
Volume 14...
.PRAY.
Yep, that's pretty simple. In fact, that's where we started SEVENS, over a year ago. And last month, I was kind of getting at this point too, when I commented on how I kept seeing the scriptures saying things like "Jesus went off to a solitary place to pray."
But really, isn't this where we need to be? On our knees in prayer?
As I type this, we are about 3 hours into a 24-hour prayer vigil at Northridge, where I serve as youth minister. You probably know how it works: people in our church family have been asked to set aside 30 minutes, to peel away from our busy schedules and forget everything else... just for 30 minutes... and pray. There's even a sheet that has been put together with plenty of things people have brought to our attention - from the salvation of loved ones, to cancer, to financial difficulty, to depression... and so much more. People often say they wouldn't know what to pray for, but then they give it a try, they see this list we've made, and during their time in prayer, they think of so many more things that are on their heart... and they come out 45 minutes or an hour later saying, "Oops, I 'went over' a bit. I didn't even get halfway through my list!"
So what happened in there? I guess God wasn't watching his clock. He had a little more in mind than our 30 minutes.
Looks like maybe we could spend more time in prayer if we just ALLOWED it to be as important as it REALLY IS... I don't want to belabor the obvious, but we're talking about spending time alone with the Creator and Sustainer... our Savior and our Lord...
He wants that time. And we just have a thousand things that get in the way. Well, push them out of the way tonight. No matter where you are, have your own little vigil. Make an appointment to open your heart up and talk with YAHWEH SABAOTH - the LORD ALMIGHTY.
You'll find He's been waiting for you.
And you may also find he wants more than 30 minutes.
Aaron
(Originally published November 7, 2008)
.PRAY.
Yep, that's pretty simple. In fact, that's where we started SEVENS, over a year ago. And last month, I was kind of getting at this point too, when I commented on how I kept seeing the scriptures saying things like "Jesus went off to a solitary place to pray."
But really, isn't this where we need to be? On our knees in prayer?
As I type this, we are about 3 hours into a 24-hour prayer vigil at Northridge, where I serve as youth minister. You probably know how it works: people in our church family have been asked to set aside 30 minutes, to peel away from our busy schedules and forget everything else... just for 30 minutes... and pray. There's even a sheet that has been put together with plenty of things people have brought to our attention - from the salvation of loved ones, to cancer, to financial difficulty, to depression... and so much more. People often say they wouldn't know what to pray for, but then they give it a try, they see this list we've made, and during their time in prayer, they think of so many more things that are on their heart... and they come out 45 minutes or an hour later saying, "Oops, I 'went over' a bit. I didn't even get halfway through my list!"
So what happened in there? I guess God wasn't watching his clock. He had a little more in mind than our 30 minutes.
Looks like maybe we could spend more time in prayer if we just ALLOWED it to be as important as it REALLY IS... I don't want to belabor the obvious, but we're talking about spending time alone with the Creator and Sustainer... our Savior and our Lord...
He wants that time. And we just have a thousand things that get in the way. Well, push them out of the way tonight. No matter where you are, have your own little vigil. Make an appointment to open your heart up and talk with YAHWEH SABAOTH - the LORD ALMIGHTY.
You'll find He's been waiting for you.
And you may also find he wants more than 30 minutes.
Aaron
(Originally published November 7, 2008)
.DISENGAGE.
Hey, check it out! It's the SEVENS Anniversary Issue. Yep, SEVENS started a year ago. Maybe it's time for a new look. Maybe I should add a shiny foil cover and double the price! But seriously - let's keep this one short. You and I don't need to be sitting in front of our computers typing and reading. We need to get up and get outta here. So if you're getting this for the first time, give it a read and let me know what you think. It's a once-monthly devotional thought that is supposed to help us think about God and DO something about it. So here goes.
.DISENGAGE.
Been reading Matthew, and I noticed a lot of talk about Jesus retreating off to a private place. Usually it's something like "at daybreak Jesus went off to a solitary place to pray." Jesus withdrew. This is supposed to be this super great guy! Why does he want to be alone?
He often did this kind of stuff right before (or right after) meeting with a crowd of people. Try to read the gospels without noticing the phrases like "the crowds followed him" or "the crowds were amazed" or "seeing the crowds, he had compassion..." This guy's constantly being surrounded by the people he came to save. The ones he loves. He even hopped into a boat and backed up into the lake to give himself some space to teach!
So what's he doing? Praying and fasting (Matt.4). Gathering the courage to achieve his purpose (Matt.26). Listening to the encouragement of His Father (Matt.17). Once he even withdrew because he was sad (Matt.14).
Hmmm... so now I'm thinking... if Jesus had to do it, WHY DON'T WE?
Literally and figuratively speaking, crowds can be overwhelming. Who or what is crowding you? Or do you even notice? Ar you so used to the "daily grind" that you can't or won't escape it?
When was the last time you separated yourself from the routine, retreated from the "crowds" of work or bills or worries or running errands or TV or just whatever tasks seem so pressing... and went to a solitary place to just BE with the Lord?
It's been too long, hasn't it? I'm gonna say yes for me. How bout you? Make it a point to get away and spend time with God. Make it a point to disengage.
(Originally published October 7, 2008)
.DISENGAGE.
Been reading Matthew, and I noticed a lot of talk about Jesus retreating off to a private place. Usually it's something like "at daybreak Jesus went off to a solitary place to pray." Jesus withdrew. This is supposed to be this super great guy! Why does he want to be alone?
He often did this kind of stuff right before (or right after) meeting with a crowd of people. Try to read the gospels without noticing the phrases like "the crowds followed him" or "the crowds were amazed" or "seeing the crowds, he had compassion..." This guy's constantly being surrounded by the people he came to save. The ones he loves. He even hopped into a boat and backed up into the lake to give himself some space to teach!
So what's he doing? Praying and fasting (Matt.4). Gathering the courage to achieve his purpose (Matt.26). Listening to the encouragement of His Father (Matt.17). Once he even withdrew because he was sad (Matt.14).
Hmmm... so now I'm thinking... if Jesus had to do it, WHY DON'T WE?
Literally and figuratively speaking, crowds can be overwhelming. Who or what is crowding you? Or do you even notice? Ar you so used to the "daily grind" that you can't or won't escape it?
When was the last time you separated yourself from the routine, retreated from the "crowds" of work or bills or worries or running errands or TV or just whatever tasks seem so pressing... and went to a solitary place to just BE with the Lord?
It's been too long, hasn't it? I'm gonna say yes for me. How bout you? Make it a point to get away and spend time with God. Make it a point to disengage.
(Originally published October 7, 2008)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
.READIT.
Volume 12:
.READIT.
When I was a young kid there was a commercial that showed a bunch of frogs, and one of them was offering books around to the others and asking them to "readit." Of course it sounded like a ribbit. This had to have been over 25 years ago, but I still remember it. So the frog is offering these books, and they are all taking them and enjoying them... and that commercial played its small part in helping me fall in love with reading. The rest is history, haha.
Okay... "illustration two." For the last couple months, I have been encouraging the students in our middle school class to simply read their Bibles. We've gotten journals and the purpose is to give them an opportunity to read something, write a little about it, and bring that back to class, so we can discuss what we've seen from the Word each week. We started by discussing a few things that would help them make their reading time more effective, and came up with a list of nine TIPS (so far). I would like to share those "TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE BIBLE STUDY" with you now, and then ask you to shoot back at me with some additional tips if you have any. Some of them may only specifically apply to our class, but perhaps you can see the spirit with which they were intended, and make the best of it.
1. UNDERSTANDING: Always pray before you read.
- Simply ask God to help you understand what He's teaching you through what you read today.
2. REINFORCING: Take some notes!
- If you don't have a Bible journal, get one. The more you involve yourself in the reading, the more you will remember.
3. PERSEVERANCE: Stick with it!
- It's not always going to be immediately gratifying. True discipleship takes time. Good habits take from 21-30 days to form.
4. ACCOUNTABILITY: Always bring your Bible and journal to class.
- Showing others that you have spent time studying really helps keep you honest.
5. CONSISTENCY: Use a Bible that belongs to you - buy one if necessary.
- It should be worth it, in order to have the tools necessary to grow with God. And it makes it easier to do #6.
6. PERSONALIZE: Underline the stuff that hits you.
- Your Bible should look like you use it. When you come back to a passage you have read, you can see the places where God really spoke to you, and it will remind you that you have been on a journey with God!
7. CONTEXT: Finish whatever book you start, no matter how long it takes.
- The best understanding of the Word comes from taking things in the proper context, and you will get the best of that when you read books, not random chapters.
8. FOLLOW-THROUGH: Participate every time you're in class.
- The whole purpose of doing this is to grow in community, and we intend to discuss the scriptures we've read each week. Tell your peers (in whatever class you attend) something that really struck you. Ask a question about something you might not have understood. And that also means getting yourself TO class each week. Some weeks that will be easy, other weeks you will need to drag yourself out of bed; but God rewards discipline.
9. BITE-SIZE: Read whole chapters.
- With very few exceptions, you can read a whole chapter of scripture in less than 5 minutes. Just as tip 7 speaks of context, you really can't get a good idea of what you're reading if you don't at least read a chapter a day. For some of you that will take some discipline. But you can do it.
(10. more to come...)
Okay, so there it is. I would love to write much more on each of these, but I have always tried VERY hard to keep these things "blessedly brief."
And I know some of you may be beyond these basic tips, but I would especially like to enlist your help in making my class more effective with your added insights... your thoughts on how you have fallen in love with the Word, how you study, how you find nourishment in it. And to those who may not be reading their Bible, I hope to provide some encouragement to you. For HIS sake, for YOUR sake, get up from the computer right now, and go read your Bible! All I can say is what I've said to my class... when I teach, my ONLY goal is to create disciples. And disciples, by definition, must spend time with their master. If you aren't praying and reading the Word, how are you a disciple?
Let’s READIT.
SEVENS: Do not merely listen to the word... do what it says. James 1:22.
Aaron
NOTE to PARENTS: If you have a middle schooler in your house, and they are a part of the Northridge family (or could be), ask them about it. Give them a little reminder once in a while. Get involved in their growth. It can only help. [PS we're still doing this in our class in December! Keep asking your kids to read!]
(Originally published September 7, 2008)
.READIT.
When I was a young kid there was a commercial that showed a bunch of frogs, and one of them was offering books around to the others and asking them to "readit." Of course it sounded like a ribbit. This had to have been over 25 years ago, but I still remember it. So the frog is offering these books, and they are all taking them and enjoying them... and that commercial played its small part in helping me fall in love with reading. The rest is history, haha.
Okay... "illustration two." For the last couple months, I have been encouraging the students in our middle school class to simply read their Bibles. We've gotten journals and the purpose is to give them an opportunity to read something, write a little about it, and bring that back to class, so we can discuss what we've seen from the Word each week. We started by discussing a few things that would help them make their reading time more effective, and came up with a list of nine TIPS (so far). I would like to share those "TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE BIBLE STUDY" with you now, and then ask you to shoot back at me with some additional tips if you have any. Some of them may only specifically apply to our class, but perhaps you can see the spirit with which they were intended, and make the best of it.
1. UNDERSTANDING: Always pray before you read.
- Simply ask God to help you understand what He's teaching you through what you read today.
2. REINFORCING: Take some notes!
- If you don't have a Bible journal, get one. The more you involve yourself in the reading, the more you will remember.
3. PERSEVERANCE: Stick with it!
- It's not always going to be immediately gratifying. True discipleship takes time. Good habits take from 21-30 days to form.
4. ACCOUNTABILITY: Always bring your Bible and journal to class.
- Showing others that you have spent time studying really helps keep you honest.
5. CONSISTENCY: Use a Bible that belongs to you - buy one if necessary.
- It should be worth it, in order to have the tools necessary to grow with God. And it makes it easier to do #6.
6. PERSONALIZE: Underline the stuff that hits you.
- Your Bible should look like you use it. When you come back to a passage you have read, you can see the places where God really spoke to you, and it will remind you that you have been on a journey with God!
7. CONTEXT: Finish whatever book you start, no matter how long it takes.
- The best understanding of the Word comes from taking things in the proper context, and you will get the best of that when you read books, not random chapters.
8. FOLLOW-THROUGH: Participate every time you're in class.
- The whole purpose of doing this is to grow in community, and we intend to discuss the scriptures we've read each week. Tell your peers (in whatever class you attend) something that really struck you. Ask a question about something you might not have understood. And that also means getting yourself TO class each week. Some weeks that will be easy, other weeks you will need to drag yourself out of bed; but God rewards discipline.
9. BITE-SIZE: Read whole chapters.
- With very few exceptions, you can read a whole chapter of scripture in less than 5 minutes. Just as tip 7 speaks of context, you really can't get a good idea of what you're reading if you don't at least read a chapter a day. For some of you that will take some discipline. But you can do it.
(10. more to come...)
Okay, so there it is. I would love to write much more on each of these, but I have always tried VERY hard to keep these things "blessedly brief."
And I know some of you may be beyond these basic tips, but I would especially like to enlist your help in making my class more effective with your added insights... your thoughts on how you have fallen in love with the Word, how you study, how you find nourishment in it. And to those who may not be reading their Bible, I hope to provide some encouragement to you. For HIS sake, for YOUR sake, get up from the computer right now, and go read your Bible! All I can say is what I've said to my class... when I teach, my ONLY goal is to create disciples. And disciples, by definition, must spend time with their master. If you aren't praying and reading the Word, how are you a disciple?
Let’s READIT.
SEVENS: Do not merely listen to the word... do what it says. James 1:22.
Aaron
NOTE to PARENTS: If you have a middle schooler in your house, and they are a part of the Northridge family (or could be), ask them about it. Give them a little reminder once in a while. Get involved in their growth. It can only help. [PS we're still doing this in our class in December! Keep asking your kids to read!]
(Originally published September 7, 2008)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
.OLYMPICS.
Volume 11:
.OLYMPICS.
Yep, the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. That's what's on my mind right now. And I've been thinking about it for weeks. It all starts tomorrow, 08/08/08. Every so often, the best athletes from all over the world come together to prove themselves, to represent their sport on the worldwide stage, to represent their country, to participate together in one sport or another.
And of course there's the controversy. It seems the Olympics have always been controversial in one way or another. But if you've had the news on in the last couple months, you've certainly heard repeated mention of problems with China… in reference to human rights, Darfur, Tibet, steroids, smog in Beijing, Iraq's participation… sheesh. But I don't want to make this a political thing. I just want to point out that there IS controversy, just in case you hadn't heard. And then I want to get to the point, right?
Olympics are a microcosm of our world's society. This event, these Olympians… well, they represent both the BEST in us (perseverance, giving your all, making it to the top, "running in such a way as to win the prize…" and maybe a few gold medals) and the WORST in us (pride, cheating, dirty politics, the aforementioned scandals…).
Okay, so what difference does that make? Well, I'd like to ask you to go along with me for a while, and watch the Olympics. Look at the different countries involved. Consider that some of these athletes you see may represent a country where the Word of God is not accessible in their own language. Some may come from a place where Christians are persecuted. It's such a strange idea to think that some of those athletes may never have heard the name of Jesus. The Olympics should be an eye-opening experience for Christians, reminding us that millions of souls are constantly at stake. Followers of Christ must want desperately to see the world won for God's kingdom, for His glory.
So pray for them. And pray for their countries. I keep coming back to a handful of my favorite "world-wide" verses:
Matthew 24:14. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached IN THE WHOLE WORLD as a testimony to ALL NATIONS, and then the end will come.
Matthew 28:19-20. Therefore go and make disciples of ALL NATIONS… baptize and teach them…
Luke 24:47. Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to ALL NATIONS, beginning at Jerusalem.
Revelation 15:4. For you [God] alone are holy. ALL NATIONS will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.
I guess what I’m getting at is that we should see these people as representatives of the world - a world that needs God, a world that needs a savior. From England to Brazil to Egypt to China… and yes, even America. We should take this chance to open our eyes to the billions of people they represent, and that all those people will bow their knee to the returning, conquering LORD of LORDS, whether he has become their Savior or not. So yeah, it's time we start praying for salvation. It's time we start praying for the missionaries who go to those countries - for their funds, their safety, their cause. It's time we start praying for the wisdom of those working diligently to translate the Word of God into new tongues and for those who will take it to new tribes and nations for the first time. It's time we start praying for the persecuted churches throughout the world, for their protection, for their boldness in proclaiming the Truth, even when lives are at stake. It's time we start praying for conviction, that God would help US to see all of those people, no matter what color, what nation, what language… as children of God, and as our brothers and sisters.
Let’s pray.
SEVENS: Do not merely listen to the word... do what it says. James 1:22.
Aaron
(Originally published August 7, 2008)
.OLYMPICS.
Yep, the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. That's what's on my mind right now. And I've been thinking about it for weeks. It all starts tomorrow, 08/08/08. Every so often, the best athletes from all over the world come together to prove themselves, to represent their sport on the worldwide stage, to represent their country, to participate together in one sport or another.
And of course there's the controversy. It seems the Olympics have always been controversial in one way or another. But if you've had the news on in the last couple months, you've certainly heard repeated mention of problems with China… in reference to human rights, Darfur, Tibet, steroids, smog in Beijing, Iraq's participation… sheesh. But I don't want to make this a political thing. I just want to point out that there IS controversy, just in case you hadn't heard. And then I want to get to the point, right?
Olympics are a microcosm of our world's society. This event, these Olympians… well, they represent both the BEST in us (perseverance, giving your all, making it to the top, "running in such a way as to win the prize…" and maybe a few gold medals) and the WORST in us (pride, cheating, dirty politics, the aforementioned scandals…).
Okay, so what difference does that make? Well, I'd like to ask you to go along with me for a while, and watch the Olympics. Look at the different countries involved. Consider that some of these athletes you see may represent a country where the Word of God is not accessible in their own language. Some may come from a place where Christians are persecuted. It's such a strange idea to think that some of those athletes may never have heard the name of Jesus. The Olympics should be an eye-opening experience for Christians, reminding us that millions of souls are constantly at stake. Followers of Christ must want desperately to see the world won for God's kingdom, for His glory.
So pray for them. And pray for their countries. I keep coming back to a handful of my favorite "world-wide" verses:
Matthew 24:14. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached IN THE WHOLE WORLD as a testimony to ALL NATIONS, and then the end will come.
Matthew 28:19-20. Therefore go and make disciples of ALL NATIONS… baptize and teach them…
Luke 24:47. Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to ALL NATIONS, beginning at Jerusalem.
Revelation 15:4. For you [God] alone are holy. ALL NATIONS will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.
I guess what I’m getting at is that we should see these people as representatives of the world - a world that needs God, a world that needs a savior. From England to Brazil to Egypt to China… and yes, even America. We should take this chance to open our eyes to the billions of people they represent, and that all those people will bow their knee to the returning, conquering LORD of LORDS, whether he has become their Savior or not. So yeah, it's time we start praying for salvation. It's time we start praying for the missionaries who go to those countries - for their funds, their safety, their cause. It's time we start praying for the wisdom of those working diligently to translate the Word of God into new tongues and for those who will take it to new tribes and nations for the first time. It's time we start praying for the persecuted churches throughout the world, for their protection, for their boldness in proclaiming the Truth, even when lives are at stake. It's time we start praying for conviction, that God would help US to see all of those people, no matter what color, what nation, what language… as children of God, and as our brothers and sisters.
Let’s pray.
SEVENS: Do not merely listen to the word... do what it says. James 1:22.
Aaron
(Originally published August 7, 2008)
Friday, November 14, 2008
.FULL. (by DeeDee!)
This is the TENTH installment...
This month, we had a "guest writer," my beautiful bride. I was talking with her about what I should write... and she came up with (in my opinion) an even better idea than the two ideas I had, so I asked her to go ahead and write it! Let her know what you think! Her email is: deedeeshirley at hotmail dot com.
.FULL.
Someone once told me that there are lots of things that we think of as spiritual, but that when we get right down to it, may not be exactly what God wants us to be doing at that time. Like we think that, in order to be spiritual, we need to read our bible, and serve at our church, and visit people at the nursing home, and baby-sit our neighbor’s kids, AND wash the preacher’s dog, AND hold a prayer circle at our house, and, and, and, and the list can go on and on. But God doesn’t just want everything FROM us, He wants the BEST FOR us.
Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is to... GO TO SLEEP.
I reflected on that today, as of course lately I have been running around like a crazy person getting ready for Vacation Bible School. Yesterday about 8:30pm I just totally ran out of steam. I laid down for a few minutes, just to “pull myself together” a little... and I fell asleep. I was in the middle of putting my kids to bed and I FELL ASLEEP!!! Oops. So I slept, the kids went to sleep without me, and all was well, and I slept, and slept, and slept. 11 hours I slept.
Then today, I woke up feeling good - refreshed and ready to hit the day head-on. I proceeded to meet the cable man, clean the house, work on VBS and more, but most importantly I played Whack-A-Mole with the girls.
So I guess I didn’t really see it yesterday, but the most spiritual thing I could do for the Lord, right then, was go to sleep - and today the most spiritual thing I could do for the Lord was play with my kids. That’s not an excuse to be lazy; some days the thing the Lord wants from me isn’t nearly as fun as taking a nap, but it is still what he knows is best for me. Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) That means that whatever it is we do each day needs to be what He says, so our lives can be full. Not just BUSY, but FULL... full of HIM.
So what is the most spiritual thing you can do today?
Is it time with your family?
Or is it serving His church, or hosting a prayer group?
Could it be reaching out to your neighbor?
Or visiting the nursing home?
...Or is it maybe a nap?
Only you can find out what it is that God wants you to do today. Ask Him.
Hoping you have a day Full of God.
Love, DeeDee
(Originally published July 7, 2008)
This month, we had a "guest writer," my beautiful bride. I was talking with her about what I should write... and she came up with (in my opinion) an even better idea than the two ideas I had, so I asked her to go ahead and write it! Let her know what you think! Her email is: deedeeshirley at hotmail dot com.
.FULL.
Someone once told me that there are lots of things that we think of as spiritual, but that when we get right down to it, may not be exactly what God wants us to be doing at that time. Like we think that, in order to be spiritual, we need to read our bible, and serve at our church, and visit people at the nursing home, and baby-sit our neighbor’s kids, AND wash the preacher’s dog, AND hold a prayer circle at our house, and, and, and, and the list can go on and on. But God doesn’t just want everything FROM us, He wants the BEST FOR us.
Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is to... GO TO SLEEP.
I reflected on that today, as of course lately I have been running around like a crazy person getting ready for Vacation Bible School. Yesterday about 8:30pm I just totally ran out of steam. I laid down for a few minutes, just to “pull myself together” a little... and I fell asleep. I was in the middle of putting my kids to bed and I FELL ASLEEP!!! Oops. So I slept, the kids went to sleep without me, and all was well, and I slept, and slept, and slept. 11 hours I slept.
Then today, I woke up feeling good - refreshed and ready to hit the day head-on. I proceeded to meet the cable man, clean the house, work on VBS and more, but most importantly I played Whack-A-Mole with the girls.
So I guess I didn’t really see it yesterday, but the most spiritual thing I could do for the Lord, right then, was go to sleep - and today the most spiritual thing I could do for the Lord was play with my kids. That’s not an excuse to be lazy; some days the thing the Lord wants from me isn’t nearly as fun as taking a nap, but it is still what he knows is best for me. Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) That means that whatever it is we do each day needs to be what He says, so our lives can be full. Not just BUSY, but FULL... full of HIM.
So what is the most spiritual thing you can do today?
Is it time with your family?
Or is it serving His church, or hosting a prayer group?
Could it be reaching out to your neighbor?
Or visiting the nursing home?
...Or is it maybe a nap?
Only you can find out what it is that God wants you to do today. Ask Him.
Hoping you have a day Full of God.
Love, DeeDee
(Originally published July 7, 2008)
Friday, November 7, 2008
.SERVE.
This is the NINTH installment...
.SERVE.
I'm sure I've already written on this topic. It's kind of the central emphasis for Sevens. But I just keep coming back to it. I keep thinking there is something more that needs to be done, something more than needs to be said. I've said before that it's a privilege to serve. And I really think that the people who figure that one thing out, will have a much more fulfilled life than those who live life centered on themselves.
But this last week I've had plenty of opportunity to think about the behavior of service... And the phrase kept bubbling up in my head... TO LOVE IS TO SERVE.
You see, the last several days, I've been at Woodland Christian Camp, with about 70 middle schoolers. And boy, there was plenty of opportunity to serve there. Many of the young people were really struggling, figuring out how to live out their faith. And no two were going into it with the same life story. They struggled in so many different areas: guilt, loss, deceit, self-centeredness, confusion, anger, self esteem, general awkward-ness, and all the other stuff that comes with new hormones...
So I just asked God to help me look with compassion on each of them, asked Him to show me opportunities to love them by serving them. And He did. I pray I didn't miss any of His leading.
I pray you'll do the same for your situation. Who are the "struggling middle school campers" in your life? And what wisdom and guidance can you give them? How can you serve them, showing them the love of our Lord through your actions?
Romans 12:9 says "Love must be sincere." But listen to The Message: it says "Love from the center of who you are. Don't fake it." That's just another verse that brings this idea into sharp focus again. You can PRETEND to love someone, and even say it to them, but in order to REALLY love, to love from the CENTER of who you are, you're going to have to DO something about it. You're going to have to ACT. So... to say it again, the result is this: to love is to serve.
TO LOVE IS TO SERVE. TO LOVE IS TO SERVE.
I'm still tired from this week, cause really I'm a wimp, and all that "real work" wore me out. Serving makes my back hurt! :) But boy, it's very fulfilling. Like I said, those who figure out that it's a privilege to serve will end up being fulfilled, happy people. It destroys your chance to have a negative spirit, simply because the heart of a servant does not usually cohabitate with a negative spirit within the same person.
I hope this little devotional thought has also served you in some small way. Because it is a privilege to serve you, if you know what I mean...
SEVENS: Do not merely listen to the word... do what it says. James 1:22.
Aaron
(Originally published June 7, 2008)
.SERVE.
I'm sure I've already written on this topic. It's kind of the central emphasis for Sevens. But I just keep coming back to it. I keep thinking there is something more that needs to be done, something more than needs to be said. I've said before that it's a privilege to serve. And I really think that the people who figure that one thing out, will have a much more fulfilled life than those who live life centered on themselves.
But this last week I've had plenty of opportunity to think about the behavior of service... And the phrase kept bubbling up in my head... TO LOVE IS TO SERVE.
You see, the last several days, I've been at Woodland Christian Camp, with about 70 middle schoolers. And boy, there was plenty of opportunity to serve there. Many of the young people were really struggling, figuring out how to live out their faith. And no two were going into it with the same life story. They struggled in so many different areas: guilt, loss, deceit, self-centeredness, confusion, anger, self esteem, general awkward-ness, and all the other stuff that comes with new hormones...
So I just asked God to help me look with compassion on each of them, asked Him to show me opportunities to love them by serving them. And He did. I pray I didn't miss any of His leading.
I pray you'll do the same for your situation. Who are the "struggling middle school campers" in your life? And what wisdom and guidance can you give them? How can you serve them, showing them the love of our Lord through your actions?
Romans 12:9 says "Love must be sincere." But listen to The Message: it says "Love from the center of who you are. Don't fake it." That's just another verse that brings this idea into sharp focus again. You can PRETEND to love someone, and even say it to them, but in order to REALLY love, to love from the CENTER of who you are, you're going to have to DO something about it. You're going to have to ACT. So... to say it again, the result is this: to love is to serve.
TO LOVE IS TO SERVE. TO LOVE IS TO SERVE.
I'm still tired from this week, cause really I'm a wimp, and all that "real work" wore me out. Serving makes my back hurt! :) But boy, it's very fulfilling. Like I said, those who figure out that it's a privilege to serve will end up being fulfilled, happy people. It destroys your chance to have a negative spirit, simply because the heart of a servant does not usually cohabitate with a negative spirit within the same person.
I hope this little devotional thought has also served you in some small way. Because it is a privilege to serve you, if you know what I mean...
SEVENS: Do not merely listen to the word... do what it says. James 1:22.
Aaron
(Originally published June 7, 2008)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
.YOUR TURN. followup
Hey there. Welcome to the special “follow-up edition” of SEVENS. I challenged our readers to write their own - and got some interesting responses. They were good, and you can see them below. But there were also far fewer than I had expected, so I’ll just say this: many of you still have an awesome thought on your heart. Share it. So without further ado, here are our special guest submissions:
JESSICA CRAIN is my niece, and once again I gotta say, I’m proud of her. Attached is a letter from her momma - my sister KAROL - appropriately entitled...
Pony Up. On April 9th, 2008, 57 ladies from the Grayslake North High School wanted to give back. Their gift was not money, or gently worn clothing. It was not a car wash in bikinis or selling candy at the big game. They gave their hair to women who underwent chemotherapy to fight for their lives against cancer. The room was full of girls in yellow “Pony Up” t-shirts, waiting their turn to be registered and measured. I wondered if the girls were thinking of the women with bandannas on their heads and hope in their eyes. Of course they were nervous about how their hair would look for Prom, a short 34 days away. After all, they are high school teenage girls. Nearly a thousand students gathered in the Gym to witness each of these girls making ‘the cut’. The students roared in pride and support of their classmates. All of the students, faculty and guests wore the name of family members or friends that had been touched by cancer. Banners were made and hung on the walls of the gym. As the crowd left the gym, each of the names were peeled from their shirts and pasted on the banners for display for weeks in remembrance of this special event at GNHS. They held up their gift with pride as mothers and reporters took photo after photo. They made ‘the cut’ in my book. If only all of us would “Pony Up” every day for those less fortunate than us. These girls are a good example for High School Girls everywhere. Pictured above is Jessica on the ride home after donating 9 inches of her hair to women who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy treatment for cancer.I’m so proud of Jessica for giving back. "Mom"
DR. JO ANN MANLEY is a member with me on the board of directors at the Baldwin Christian Learning Center. Her words:
One of my favorite scriptures is Second Timothy 2:15: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of God."
We are challenged to study the word on a regular basis and seek understanding. No matter how hard we try, we never fully comprehend all that we need to do, therefore we must continue to study and never be ashamed of our search for understanding.
In today's political arena we are constantly seeking the truth, with the media attempting to sway our thinking. I am grateful that I can read (remember reading is word recognition and COMPREHENSION). Many people around the world never have an opportunity to learn to read and many in our country have limited reading ability, especially comprehension. Let us continue to study and seek the truth in all that we do.
DEBBIE FERGUS is a friend and mentor from my home church in Illinois. Her words:
I liken the choice of accepting or not accepting the wonderful gift of salvation to going on a vacation. When you’re going on a trip . . . a wonderfully exciting trip that you’re really looking forward to (like to an exotic Caribbean beach or something like that!), you don’t just wake up one morning and go to the airport and expect to get there.
Instead, you make plans, you save money, you read about it, you listen to others who have been there, you make a reservation, and then you TELL EVERYBODY where you’re going!!!!!
So as far as salvation is concerned, the same principles apply. You know you want to go to Heaven, but just “wanting” to go doesn’t get you there.
Instead, you make your plans . . . you read the Word of God, you listen to others who know how to get there, you make a “reservation” by accepting Jesus as your Savior, and then you TELL EVERYBODY where you’re going and invite them to go along!!!
So there you have it. People sharing some inspiring words and exciting actions to encourage us, and to remind us to ACT on our faith. God is good.
I love ya. Talk to you again soon.
Aaron
(Originally published May 8, 2008)
JESSICA CRAIN is my niece, and once again I gotta say, I’m proud of her. Attached is a letter from her momma - my sister KAROL - appropriately entitled...
Pony Up. On April 9th, 2008, 57 ladies from the Grayslake North High School wanted to give back. Their gift was not money, or gently worn clothing. It was not a car wash in bikinis or selling candy at the big game. They gave their hair to women who underwent chemotherapy to fight for their lives against cancer. The room was full of girls in yellow “Pony Up” t-shirts, waiting their turn to be registered and measured. I wondered if the girls were thinking of the women with bandannas on their heads and hope in their eyes. Of course they were nervous about how their hair would look for Prom, a short 34 days away. After all, they are high school teenage girls. Nearly a thousand students gathered in the Gym to witness each of these girls making ‘the cut’. The students roared in pride and support of their classmates. All of the students, faculty and guests wore the name of family members or friends that had been touched by cancer. Banners were made and hung on the walls of the gym. As the crowd left the gym, each of the names were peeled from their shirts and pasted on the banners for display for weeks in remembrance of this special event at GNHS. They held up their gift with pride as mothers and reporters took photo after photo. They made ‘the cut’ in my book. If only all of us would “Pony Up” every day for those less fortunate than us. These girls are a good example for High School Girls everywhere. Pictured above is Jessica on the ride home after donating 9 inches of her hair to women who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy treatment for cancer.I’m so proud of Jessica for giving back. "Mom"
DR. JO ANN MANLEY is a member with me on the board of directors at the Baldwin Christian Learning Center. Her words:
One of my favorite scriptures is Second Timothy 2:15: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of God."
We are challenged to study the word on a regular basis and seek understanding. No matter how hard we try, we never fully comprehend all that we need to do, therefore we must continue to study and never be ashamed of our search for understanding.
In today's political arena we are constantly seeking the truth, with the media attempting to sway our thinking. I am grateful that I can read (remember reading is word recognition and COMPREHENSION). Many people around the world never have an opportunity to learn to read and many in our country have limited reading ability, especially comprehension. Let us continue to study and seek the truth in all that we do.
DEBBIE FERGUS is a friend and mentor from my home church in Illinois. Her words:
I liken the choice of accepting or not accepting the wonderful gift of salvation to going on a vacation. When you’re going on a trip . . . a wonderfully exciting trip that you’re really looking forward to (like to an exotic Caribbean beach or something like that!), you don’t just wake up one morning and go to the airport and expect to get there.
Instead, you make plans, you save money, you read about it, you listen to others who have been there, you make a reservation, and then you TELL EVERYBODY where you’re going!!!!!
So as far as salvation is concerned, the same principles apply. You know you want to go to Heaven, but just “wanting” to go doesn’t get you there.
Instead, you make your plans . . . you read the Word of God, you listen to others who know how to get there, you make a “reservation” by accepting Jesus as your Savior, and then you TELL EVERYBODY where you’re going and invite them to go along!!!
So there you have it. People sharing some inspiring words and exciting actions to encourage us, and to remind us to ACT on our faith. God is good.
I love ya. Talk to you again soon.
Aaron
(Originally published May 8, 2008)
Friday, October 24, 2008
.YOUR TURN.
This is a SPECIAL SEVENTH installment...
.YOUR TURN.
This one's gonna be just a LITTLE bit different. As I said last month, this one is going to depend a lot on you... and you know, each month I ask you to do something for God.
So this month... it's your turn.
I want YOU to "write a sevens" of your own.
Yep. I've been thinking about this for at least a couple of months now, mostly wondering how I would lay this one out for you. What sort of instructions could I give without placing some unnecessary limits on your creativity?
But I have really wanted to do this for several reasons, one of which is to say that I am definitely NOT the only one who can do this sort of thing. I pray that my thoughts have been helpful to you; I know that some of you can and should be able to do the same for others! I want to share that joy with you.
So here's what I'm thinking... The goal for you will be the same as the goal has always been for me when writing these thoughts: Help the reader spend time with God, to grow, and to reach others. Everyone has something in their heart that they can share about our great and glorious God. And many of those thoughts are unique, or at least that they can be expressed in unique ways.
I recently asked a friend, if she had one chance to stand before the church and give a message, what would the sermon title be? What would she "preach" about? Well, what one message would YOU give to the body of Christ? What thoughts would YOU share with God's family? I've started asking others the same thing and they have come up with some interesting "titles" for sermons, but I'm taking you one step further:
Write it out.
Write a modern parable.
Write a psalm, a song for God.
Type out a verse or two of scripture, then relate it to a life experience that will give someone else a fresh new understanding of the Word.
However you do it, whether it's just a few sentences or several pages of opening your heart, it matters not. My style of writing is rather conversational, but others may write very differently. Different styles and approaches will most certainly appeal to different kinds of people. Think about this: what you say may seem simple or silly or obvious or unpolished to you, but it may allow someone to see their loving God in a whole new light. You could bolster someone's faith with just a few words! That is a very exciting possibility for each of us. Let's get to it!
But don't rush. Take a few days to let some thoughts simmer around in your heart and mind. Talk with Jesus about it. Let the Holy Spirit form a "holy idea" in you. Then type something out. Sanctify your keyboard - use it for something honorable and Godly! Type something out and email it back to me. If you are okay with it, I may send your thoughts out later this month.
SEVENS: Do not merely listen to the word... do what it says. James 1:22.
Aaron
(Originally published April 8, 2008 because I was out with some great friends until midnight)
.YOUR TURN.
This one's gonna be just a LITTLE bit different. As I said last month, this one is going to depend a lot on you... and you know, each month I ask you to do something for God.
So this month... it's your turn.
I want YOU to "write a sevens" of your own.
Yep. I've been thinking about this for at least a couple of months now, mostly wondering how I would lay this one out for you. What sort of instructions could I give without placing some unnecessary limits on your creativity?
But I have really wanted to do this for several reasons, one of which is to say that I am definitely NOT the only one who can do this sort of thing. I pray that my thoughts have been helpful to you; I know that some of you can and should be able to do the same for others! I want to share that joy with you.
So here's what I'm thinking... The goal for you will be the same as the goal has always been for me when writing these thoughts: Help the reader spend time with God, to grow, and to reach others. Everyone has something in their heart that they can share about our great and glorious God. And many of those thoughts are unique, or at least that they can be expressed in unique ways.
I recently asked a friend, if she had one chance to stand before the church and give a message, what would the sermon title be? What would she "preach" about? Well, what one message would YOU give to the body of Christ? What thoughts would YOU share with God's family? I've started asking others the same thing and they have come up with some interesting "titles" for sermons, but I'm taking you one step further:
Write it out.
Write a modern parable.
Write a psalm, a song for God.
Type out a verse or two of scripture, then relate it to a life experience that will give someone else a fresh new understanding of the Word.
However you do it, whether it's just a few sentences or several pages of opening your heart, it matters not. My style of writing is rather conversational, but others may write very differently. Different styles and approaches will most certainly appeal to different kinds of people. Think about this: what you say may seem simple or silly or obvious or unpolished to you, but it may allow someone to see their loving God in a whole new light. You could bolster someone's faith with just a few words! That is a very exciting possibility for each of us. Let's get to it!
But don't rush. Take a few days to let some thoughts simmer around in your heart and mind. Talk with Jesus about it. Let the Holy Spirit form a "holy idea" in you. Then type something out. Sanctify your keyboard - use it for something honorable and Godly! Type something out and email it back to me. If you are okay with it, I may send your thoughts out later this month.
SEVENS: Do not merely listen to the word... do what it says. James 1:22.
Aaron
(Originally published April 8, 2008 because I was out with some great friends until midnight)
Thursday, October 16, 2008
.PRIVILEGE.
This is the SIXTH installment...
.PRIVILEGE.
I Timothy 1:12 - I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
It is a privilege to serve. I've said that a thousand times. I feel especially blessed to be able to serve God as a minister to youth and families - to HIS family. And it is my prayer that this devotional provides a small but effective means of service to YOU. You see, I love serving God, and I love that He lets me do it... that He lets me be on HIS team. I love that He gives me so many opportunities to serve Him and give Him glory by serving others in love.
This is not the way the world is. Every store has a "customer service" desk or department. McDonald's sign says "billions and billions served." But do those in the "service industry" truly show a desire to serve? Is it a pleasure? Do they count it a privilege? Does it bring joy to the cook to prepare your Big Mac and jumbo fries? :) It's just a means of getting a paycheck, and "if I don't HAVE to smile or look you in the eye, I won't."
Lest this sound like a complaint, I just want to make clear my point: For those serving a Lord they love, it IS a privilege to serve. But without that motivation, service is just work. It's demeaning labor.
But Jesus told us that WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD!!! In serving others, and doing it with a smile, doing it with love, we definitely set ourselves apart. As the world continues to get darker, we set ourselves apart by shining ever brighter (Matthew 5:14, Ephesians 5:8-10).
"The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." - Albert Schweitzer. Whether or not you agree with all this man did or wrote, this thought is still very true. The more we seek out opportunities to serve others (and in doing so, serving the Master of Creation), the more fulfilled and joyful we will be. The more we can take the focus off ourselves, the more we can serve others with a glad heart, and put a smile on the face of our God.
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. - Psalm 100:2 (NASB)
Let's do this. It's the only life worth living, and it's a privilege. Will you join me?
SEVENS: Do not merely listen to the word... do what it says. James 1:22.
Aaron
Thanks for readin' ... and be blessed!
(Originally published March 7, 2008)
.PRIVILEGE.
I Timothy 1:12 - I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
It is a privilege to serve. I've said that a thousand times. I feel especially blessed to be able to serve God as a minister to youth and families - to HIS family. And it is my prayer that this devotional provides a small but effective means of service to YOU. You see, I love serving God, and I love that He lets me do it... that He lets me be on HIS team. I love that He gives me so many opportunities to serve Him and give Him glory by serving others in love.
This is not the way the world is. Every store has a "customer service" desk or department. McDonald's sign says "billions and billions served." But do those in the "service industry" truly show a desire to serve? Is it a pleasure? Do they count it a privilege? Does it bring joy to the cook to prepare your Big Mac and jumbo fries? :) It's just a means of getting a paycheck, and "if I don't HAVE to smile or look you in the eye, I won't."
Lest this sound like a complaint, I just want to make clear my point: For those serving a Lord they love, it IS a privilege to serve. But without that motivation, service is just work. It's demeaning labor.
But Jesus told us that WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD!!! In serving others, and doing it with a smile, doing it with love, we definitely set ourselves apart. As the world continues to get darker, we set ourselves apart by shining ever brighter (Matthew 5:14, Ephesians 5:8-10).
"The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." - Albert Schweitzer. Whether or not you agree with all this man did or wrote, this thought is still very true. The more we seek out opportunities to serve others (and in doing so, serving the Master of Creation), the more fulfilled and joyful we will be. The more we can take the focus off ourselves, the more we can serve others with a glad heart, and put a smile on the face of our God.
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. - Psalm 100:2 (NASB)
Let's do this. It's the only life worth living, and it's a privilege. Will you join me?
SEVENS: Do not merely listen to the word... do what it says. James 1:22.
Aaron
Thanks for readin' ... and be blessed!
(Originally published March 7, 2008)
Friday, October 10, 2008
.THE UNLOVED.
Hi again. This is the FIFTH installment...
.THE UNLOVED.
There's a song playing on my iTunes right now, which asks the question:
"The unloved... who will love us?"
A couple weeks ago in church, as I was listening to the sermon on serving like Jesus, something Mark said sparked a thought in my mind - what would it be like to not EVER feel loved? I mean, I haven't always FELT loved, but I have always KNOWN I was loved. What if that wasn't there?
Check out Matthew 25:40. Jesus says that whatever we do to serve "the least of these," we do for him. So you know what that makes me think? I want to spend more time with the LEAST OF THESE. Just in case. Because hey, I love Jesus. You too, right? But to love is to serve... and we love and serve HIM by loving and serving OTHERS. Show love to someone today by serving them humbly.
If you need some humility, check out the God of the universe washing people's feet in John 13. Or recall the fact that Jesus was criticized for spending time with the unsavory: the sleazy, shady, sinful people. You know... all those lepers and tax collectors and prostitutes... all those people who probably felt unloved.
I think finding the LEAST OF THESE would mean finding someone who is UNLOVED. They might be someone who wreaks of booze or urine and hasn't changed clothes in a month. They might be the cashier whose boyfriend left them last night. They might be the coworker who lost their family and never learned to love again. Look around with Jesus' eyes and see if you can't find someone who is unloved.
And love them.
SEVENS: Do not merely listen to the word... do what it says. James 1:22.
Aaron
PS - Hearing from you will help me know if these thoughts are making a difference to you. Let me know if you're accomplishing the "project."
Thanks for readin' ... and be blessed!
(Originally published February 7, 2008)
.THE UNLOVED.
There's a song playing on my iTunes right now, which asks the question:
"The unloved... who will love us?"
A couple weeks ago in church, as I was listening to the sermon on serving like Jesus, something Mark said sparked a thought in my mind - what would it be like to not EVER feel loved? I mean, I haven't always FELT loved, but I have always KNOWN I was loved. What if that wasn't there?
Check out Matthew 25:40. Jesus says that whatever we do to serve "the least of these," we do for him. So you know what that makes me think? I want to spend more time with the LEAST OF THESE. Just in case. Because hey, I love Jesus. You too, right? But to love is to serve... and we love and serve HIM by loving and serving OTHERS. Show love to someone today by serving them humbly.
If you need some humility, check out the God of the universe washing people's feet in John 13. Or recall the fact that Jesus was criticized for spending time with the unsavory: the sleazy, shady, sinful people. You know... all those lepers and tax collectors and prostitutes... all those people who probably felt unloved.
I think finding the LEAST OF THESE would mean finding someone who is UNLOVED. They might be someone who wreaks of booze or urine and hasn't changed clothes in a month. They might be the cashier whose boyfriend left them last night. They might be the coworker who lost their family and never learned to love again. Look around with Jesus' eyes and see if you can't find someone who is unloved.
And love them.
SEVENS: Do not merely listen to the word... do what it says. James 1:22.
Aaron
PS - Hearing from you will help me know if these thoughts are making a difference to you. Let me know if you're accomplishing the "project."
Thanks for readin' ... and be blessed!
(Originally published February 7, 2008)
Friday, October 3, 2008
.TUNICS.
Hi again. This is the FOURTH installment ... you know the drill. This month...
.TUNICS.
This scripture has been flashing in my mind lately.
LUKE 3:11. The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.
Reading that strikes at something deep within me. We'll get to that. But it also makes me think of several other scriptures. Let's look at some of them, rapid-fire style...
Matthew 5:42 says, "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."
In Matthew 6, Jesus is in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. Talking to a crowd of people. And in the midst of that lesson, He says "WHEN you give to the needy..." There is no room for the word IF. It's understood that someone who is submitted to God is going to care for others!
A longtime favorite verse of mine is James 1:27: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." I don't know a lot of orphans and widows. But what action would that cause me to take if I were to live it out today?
That's the point I'm getting at, really.
I don't even have a tunic. But I certainly do have a lot of things I don't need.
I don't know a lot of orphans, but I know a lot of people in distress.
People don't often ask me to give them something, but occasionally I know of a need without being asked.
So... here's the deal. The scriptures are full of instances where Jesus or John or James or some other man of God wrote about helping someone in need. But... the circumstances are different now, so I'm asking you this: How would you translate giving your extra tunic to someone who doesn't have one? How would you translate that into action? For YOU, here and now? Do you need to go to your closet and your dresser and see if you have more than enough clothes? Do you need to volunteer at the Salvation Army thrift store to help them get clothes to people who need them? Do you need to check out Compassion International or World Vision and sponsor a child in another part of the world who has nothing? Literally, there are millions of people who have NOTHING. It makes me so ashamed to see just how cluttered my house is when people live with NOTHING.
Think about it for a bit while you check out James 2:14-26.
So let's be honest. You know of some desperate needs. Sit down and think of a few. Pray for them, then for heaven's sake get up and act!
SEVENS: Do not merely listen to the word... do what it says. James 1:22.
Aaron
Hearing from you will help me know if these thoughts are making a difference to you. Let me know if you're accomplishing the "project." Thanks for readin' ... and be blessed!
(Originally published January 7, 2008)
.TUNICS.
This scripture has been flashing in my mind lately.
LUKE 3:11. The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.
Reading that strikes at something deep within me. We'll get to that. But it also makes me think of several other scriptures. Let's look at some of them, rapid-fire style...
Matthew 5:42 says, "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."
In Matthew 6, Jesus is in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. Talking to a crowd of people. And in the midst of that lesson, He says "WHEN you give to the needy..." There is no room for the word IF. It's understood that someone who is submitted to God is going to care for others!
A longtime favorite verse of mine is James 1:27: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." I don't know a lot of orphans and widows. But what action would that cause me to take if I were to live it out today?
That's the point I'm getting at, really.
I don't even have a tunic. But I certainly do have a lot of things I don't need.
I don't know a lot of orphans, but I know a lot of people in distress.
People don't often ask me to give them something, but occasionally I know of a need without being asked.
So... here's the deal. The scriptures are full of instances where Jesus or John or James or some other man of God wrote about helping someone in need. But... the circumstances are different now, so I'm asking you this: How would you translate giving your extra tunic to someone who doesn't have one? How would you translate that into action? For YOU, here and now? Do you need to go to your closet and your dresser and see if you have more than enough clothes? Do you need to volunteer at the Salvation Army thrift store to help them get clothes to people who need them? Do you need to check out Compassion International or World Vision and sponsor a child in another part of the world who has nothing? Literally, there are millions of people who have NOTHING. It makes me so ashamed to see just how cluttered my house is when people live with NOTHING.
Think about it for a bit while you check out James 2:14-26.
So let's be honest. You know of some desperate needs. Sit down and think of a few. Pray for them, then for heaven's sake get up and act!
SEVENS: Do not merely listen to the word... do what it says. James 1:22.
Aaron
Hearing from you will help me know if these thoughts are making a difference to you. Let me know if you're accomplishing the "project." Thanks for readin' ... and be blessed!
(Originally published January 7, 2008)
Thursday, September 25, 2008
.LAST BREATH.
Hi again. This is the third installment in the monthly devotional project, SEVENS...
.LAST BREATH.
If you could plan it out, what would you say with your last breath? Take a minute to consider it. As this thought occurred to me this morning on my drive to work, I amused myself with a few...
"Ta-daa!" ...or... "And now, let's see what's next." ...or... "I regret nothing!" - I actually had some friends in college who agreed that this is what they would say if they ever fell off a cliff to their death.
But what really would I choose to say? I don't know. I might go with "My life is just beginning."
What would you say?
A few years ago, my dad and I went with a friend of his, to pick up a Studebaker truck that someone had sold him. Dad was in a Studebaker drivers club with this friend, and this was a somewhat common but always joyful occurrence - going to "rescue" a special old car from someone who didn't need it any more. This was on Saturday, and my dad's friend died on Sunday. I remember trying to help my dad deal with the sadness by saying, "at least he got to do something he loved."
Earlier this week I was asked to speak at a weekly Bible study at a local middle school. A girl had been killed on her way to school on Monday of that week, and I would be standing in front of close to 200 of the students - her friends, her classmates - on Wednesday morning. Many of them had seen her just days before... a lively 7th grade girl!
That very evening, my wife pulled the minivan (with our two kids inside) into the church parking lot, and through her tears she simply said, "We almost died." I tried to make light of it, so the kids wouldn't be scared, but as I pulled my 2-year-old our of her car seat, I realized once again just how precious they are - how precious life is - how empty I would feel if they were gone with no notice.
That same night, an old friend told me that a child at the school where she teaches had died a few weeks ago. He was in school one day, gone the next.
Another good friend lost her grandmother yesterday. The family knew she was dying, but didn't know how soon, so they went quickly to be with her. They had prayed for nothing more than the chance to talk with her before she died.
None of these stories have a sweet, happy ending.
None were the way we would have planned them.
No one knows when their last breath will be.
But what we DO know is that EACH breath we get is a gift from God. EACH breath is a privilege. So as your "assignment," I would like you to...
First, take a deep breath, hold it, thank God that He has given you life - and breath. Then GO! Make the best of every breath you have. Take the time to say some important words to the people you love. You may need to heal a relationship or two. You might need to make a difficult phone call or visit someone personally in order to do this. And someone may even say some very hurtful things back to you while you are sincerely trying to mend a broken relationship. But your responsibility is to give it your best. Open your heart.
So... it's not going to be easy. But I will give you the same advice I gave those middle schoolers: Care more. Listen more. Show genuine concern for others. Help provide peace and comfort for each other, amidst a world that is all too full with sorrow, brokenness, hurt, and pain. And above all else, cling to the cross: Jesus knows very well what it's like to experience separation and sorrow. Thank him for going through this process with you.
Hearing from you will help me know if these thoughts are making a difference to you. Let me know if you're accomplishing the "project."
Thanks for readin' ... and be blessed!
Aaron
PS - this came, in part, as a result of a conversation with an old friend, who is actually on the mailing list. Thanks, Ruth.
(Originally published December 7, 2007)
.LAST BREATH.
If you could plan it out, what would you say with your last breath? Take a minute to consider it. As this thought occurred to me this morning on my drive to work, I amused myself with a few...
"Ta-daa!" ...or... "And now, let's see what's next." ...or... "I regret nothing!" - I actually had some friends in college who agreed that this is what they would say if they ever fell off a cliff to their death.
But what really would I choose to say? I don't know. I might go with "My life is just beginning."
What would you say?
A few years ago, my dad and I went with a friend of his, to pick up a Studebaker truck that someone had sold him. Dad was in a Studebaker drivers club with this friend, and this was a somewhat common but always joyful occurrence - going to "rescue" a special old car from someone who didn't need it any more. This was on Saturday, and my dad's friend died on Sunday. I remember trying to help my dad deal with the sadness by saying, "at least he got to do something he loved."
Earlier this week I was asked to speak at a weekly Bible study at a local middle school. A girl had been killed on her way to school on Monday of that week, and I would be standing in front of close to 200 of the students - her friends, her classmates - on Wednesday morning. Many of them had seen her just days before... a lively 7th grade girl!
That very evening, my wife pulled the minivan (with our two kids inside) into the church parking lot, and through her tears she simply said, "We almost died." I tried to make light of it, so the kids wouldn't be scared, but as I pulled my 2-year-old our of her car seat, I realized once again just how precious they are - how precious life is - how empty I would feel if they were gone with no notice.
That same night, an old friend told me that a child at the school where she teaches had died a few weeks ago. He was in school one day, gone the next.
Another good friend lost her grandmother yesterday. The family knew she was dying, but didn't know how soon, so they went quickly to be with her. They had prayed for nothing more than the chance to talk with her before she died.
None of these stories have a sweet, happy ending.
None were the way we would have planned them.
No one knows when their last breath will be.
But what we DO know is that EACH breath we get is a gift from God. EACH breath is a privilege. So as your "assignment," I would like you to...
First, take a deep breath, hold it, thank God that He has given you life - and breath. Then GO! Make the best of every breath you have. Take the time to say some important words to the people you love. You may need to heal a relationship or two. You might need to make a difficult phone call or visit someone personally in order to do this. And someone may even say some very hurtful things back to you while you are sincerely trying to mend a broken relationship. But your responsibility is to give it your best. Open your heart.
So... it's not going to be easy. But I will give you the same advice I gave those middle schoolers: Care more. Listen more. Show genuine concern for others. Help provide peace and comfort for each other, amidst a world that is all too full with sorrow, brokenness, hurt, and pain. And above all else, cling to the cross: Jesus knows very well what it's like to experience separation and sorrow. Thank him for going through this process with you.
Hearing from you will help me know if these thoughts are making a difference to you. Let me know if you're accomplishing the "project."
Thanks for readin' ... and be blessed!
Aaron
PS - this came, in part, as a result of a conversation with an old friend, who is actually on the mailing list. Thanks, Ruth.
(Originally published December 7, 2007)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
.THANKFUL.
Posting another of the "back issues" for you... Once again, please post your comments, and if you would like to get the monthly devo, please email me at uthminsta@hotmail.com
This is the second installment in the monthly devotional project, SEVENS. Each month, on the 7th, you will be asked to do something for God. It will be something different each month, but the goal each time will be for us to spend time with God, to grow, and to reach others. Last month, we prayed, directed by some brief scriptures. This month...
.THANKFUL.
November is a month when the weather changes, the leaves are changing, or falling, and you can break out your favorite sweatshirt. Autumn is beautiful. It's something to be thankful for. In fact, this month, we want to stretch our appreciation for ALL our blessings... even the most simple things. God has indeed blessed each of us in more ways than we could count.
So... if you count today, it's 16 days until Thanksgiving. Your "assignment" is to list your blessings. Do you have a home? Electricity? Running water? Transportation? And not just the "stuff" ...who loves you? Are they a blessing? Give it a try. Literally, go get a pad of paper, and each day take a few minutes to write out what you're thankful for. Write out your blessings.
Then... make it your practice EACH day, from now until Thanksgiving, to live in appreciation of those people and things. How you choose to apply that is up to you. A friend reminded me today that "we are blessed so that we can BE a blessing," so you may choose to find a person who means a lot to you and share with them how much of a blessing they have been. You may choose to see that you have more blessings than you need, and choose to share them. But however you choose, above all else, give God the glory for each and every blessing. Be thankful.
Practicing, exercising, truly LIVING in thankfulness will not be easy. If you're like me, you'd rather complain about the slow driver in front of you than be thankful for having reliable transportation. Thankfulness, like all aspects of spiritual maturity, is no simple thing. Growing never is. I pray success for you.
Aaron
PS - there is no contest for the person who comes up with the most things. :) But just out of curiosity, I'd like to know what you come up with, if you care to share. Hearing from you will help me know if these thoughts are making a difference to you. Thanks for readin' ... and be blessed!
(Originally published November 7, 2007)
This is the second installment in the monthly devotional project, SEVENS. Each month, on the 7th, you will be asked to do something for God. It will be something different each month, but the goal each time will be for us to spend time with God, to grow, and to reach others. Last month, we prayed, directed by some brief scriptures. This month...
.THANKFUL.
November is a month when the weather changes, the leaves are changing, or falling, and you can break out your favorite sweatshirt. Autumn is beautiful. It's something to be thankful for. In fact, this month, we want to stretch our appreciation for ALL our blessings... even the most simple things. God has indeed blessed each of us in more ways than we could count.
So... if you count today, it's 16 days until Thanksgiving. Your "assignment" is to list your blessings. Do you have a home? Electricity? Running water? Transportation? And not just the "stuff" ...who loves you? Are they a blessing? Give it a try. Literally, go get a pad of paper, and each day take a few minutes to write out what you're thankful for. Write out your blessings.
Then... make it your practice EACH day, from now until Thanksgiving, to live in appreciation of those people and things. How you choose to apply that is up to you. A friend reminded me today that "we are blessed so that we can BE a blessing," so you may choose to find a person who means a lot to you and share with them how much of a blessing they have been. You may choose to see that you have more blessings than you need, and choose to share them. But however you choose, above all else, give God the glory for each and every blessing. Be thankful.
Practicing, exercising, truly LIVING in thankfulness will not be easy. If you're like me, you'd rather complain about the slow driver in front of you than be thankful for having reliable transportation. Thankfulness, like all aspects of spiritual maturity, is no simple thing. Growing never is. I pray success for you.
Aaron
PS - there is no contest for the person who comes up with the most things. :) But just out of curiosity, I'd like to know what you come up with, if you care to share. Hearing from you will help me know if these thoughts are making a difference to you. Thanks for readin' ... and be blessed!
(Originally published November 7, 2007)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
.PRAY.
Okay, here is the original post that went out on October 7, 2007. Only SLIGHTLY edited. Please post your comments. And if you would like to get the monthly devo, please email me at uthminsta@hotmail.com
Hi
This is the first installment in the monthly devotional project, SEVENS. Each month, on the 7th, you will be asked to do something for God. It will be something different each month, but the goal each time will be for us to spend time with God, to grow, and to reach others.
Okay, here we go.
SEVENS. October 7, 2007.
You may have heard the acrostic A.C.T.S. used as a means of teaching people ways to pray: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Over the next four days, slowly read (and reread) the scriptures for each day. Soak them in. Then do your best to have a conversation with God using these four "conversation starters." Throughout your day, take these thoughts with you and let them direct your attitude. Allow the Word and your time with God to affect your daily life.
Day one.
Hebrews 12:28-29
God, I ADORE you because...
Day two.
First John 1:9
God, I CONFESS to you...
Day three.
First Thessalonians 5:18, Revelation 11:16-17
God, I THANK you because...
Day four.
First Timothy 2:1-8
God, this is what is on my heart...
It seems like a pretty simple project, but really... consider what it takes for us to give our whole selves to God. This is no simple thing. I pray success for you.
Aaron
(Originally published October 7, 2007)
Hi
This is the first installment in the monthly devotional project, SEVENS. Each month, on the 7th, you will be asked to do something for God. It will be something different each month, but the goal each time will be for us to spend time with God, to grow, and to reach others.
Okay, here we go.
SEVENS. October 7, 2007.
You may have heard the acrostic A.C.T.S. used as a means of teaching people ways to pray: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Over the next four days, slowly read (and reread) the scriptures for each day. Soak them in. Then do your best to have a conversation with God using these four "conversation starters." Throughout your day, take these thoughts with you and let them direct your attitude. Allow the Word and your time with God to affect your daily life.
Day one.
Hebrews 12:28-29
God, I ADORE you because...
Day two.
First John 1:9
God, I CONFESS to you...
Day three.
First Thessalonians 5:18, Revelation 11:16-17
God, I THANK you because...
Day four.
First Timothy 2:1-8
God, this is what is on my heart...
It seems like a pretty simple project, but really... consider what it takes for us to give our whole selves to God. This is no simple thing. I pray success for you.
Aaron
(Originally published October 7, 2007)
Friday, August 8, 2008
SEVENS, now in convenient blog servings.
October 7, 2007 was one of those days that kind of changed my way of thinking just a little. Nothing big, it's just that I had been toying with the idea for some time, of sending out an email-based devotional project, and decided on that day to go ahead with it and send it out.
I decided on the name SEVENS for several reasons, the most obvious of which was the date it was supposed to be sent out each month. It's also the minimum amount of time I think someone should spend in the Word and in prayer each day. I often fail at that minimum daily requirement, and feel "spiritually parched" if I don't get back into that holy rhythm. So I figured there might be a few others out there who felt the same way, and on the off chance that there was anyone who might read what I had to write, I wanted to help just a little.
So I went ahead with it, and sent the original one out to about 250 people, asking anyone who wanted to keep getting them to reply and let me know. It wasn't really that good, and I didn't really introduce it that well, but it went over okay, I guess. My sister Karol was the very first person to respond, asking to be kept on the mailing list. That made me feel good. And over the next few days, I was... well, not exactly flooded, but at least somewhat bombarded... with people who said they would like to keep getting the devos. I ended up with about 50 adults who responded, and have sent it to them ever since. I have also continued to send it to the students/youth in my email address book, to give them another little spiritual boost if ever they should desire such a thing.
All that stuff was just Unnecessary Details, I guess. But a few months later I started thinking it might be nice to actually have them all in one place to come back to if I wanted. And, you know, in case my email ever crashed or whatever. And when I thought maybe I could put them in a blog, that meant that maybe a few more people might actually comment on them, and maybe a few new people might find out about 'em too. I want this thing to grow. Lest that sound selfish, I just want to be used by God. And I want to share some good thoughts in community, seeing what the others in this little experiment might have to say about these little thought-starters.
So here begins the SEVENS blog. I will be putting the previous volumes up here every so often, and will continue (at least for the time being) to send them out via email. Please comment, adding your perspective to the mix. You've certainly got something to add. And really, I think it will only make these thoughts better to hear what people are thinking and how they are responding.
Alright, I'm going to leave you for now with some famous words from two men at the opposite ends of the spectrum of Godly wisdom... but which, stunningly, say the exact same thing. Here goes.
Do not merely listen to the Word... do what it says. - James
orrr...
Git-R-Done. - Larry the Cable Guy
Aaron
PS. There was actually a Christian record label called Five Minute Walk records, and they made it well known that they chose the label name to encourage people to take five minutes a day to be alone, or "taking a walk with" their Savior. Here's some brief info on 5MW:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_Minute_Walk
I decided on the name SEVENS for several reasons, the most obvious of which was the date it was supposed to be sent out each month. It's also the minimum amount of time I think someone should spend in the Word and in prayer each day. I often fail at that minimum daily requirement, and feel "spiritually parched" if I don't get back into that holy rhythm. So I figured there might be a few others out there who felt the same way, and on the off chance that there was anyone who might read what I had to write, I wanted to help just a little.
So I went ahead with it, and sent the original one out to about 250 people, asking anyone who wanted to keep getting them to reply and let me know. It wasn't really that good, and I didn't really introduce it that well, but it went over okay, I guess. My sister Karol was the very first person to respond, asking to be kept on the mailing list. That made me feel good. And over the next few days, I was... well, not exactly flooded, but at least somewhat bombarded... with people who said they would like to keep getting the devos. I ended up with about 50 adults who responded, and have sent it to them ever since. I have also continued to send it to the students/youth in my email address book, to give them another little spiritual boost if ever they should desire such a thing.
All that stuff was just Unnecessary Details, I guess. But a few months later I started thinking it might be nice to actually have them all in one place to come back to if I wanted. And, you know, in case my email ever crashed or whatever. And when I thought maybe I could put them in a blog, that meant that maybe a few more people might actually comment on them, and maybe a few new people might find out about 'em too. I want this thing to grow. Lest that sound selfish, I just want to be used by God. And I want to share some good thoughts in community, seeing what the others in this little experiment might have to say about these little thought-starters.
So here begins the SEVENS blog. I will be putting the previous volumes up here every so often, and will continue (at least for the time being) to send them out via email. Please comment, adding your perspective to the mix. You've certainly got something to add. And really, I think it will only make these thoughts better to hear what people are thinking and how they are responding.
Alright, I'm going to leave you for now with some famous words from two men at the opposite ends of the spectrum of Godly wisdom... but which, stunningly, say the exact same thing. Here goes.
Do not merely listen to the Word... do what it says. - James
orrr...
Git-R-Done. - Larry the Cable Guy
Aaron
PS. There was actually a Christian record label called Five Minute Walk records, and they made it well known that they chose the label name to encourage people to take five minutes a day to be alone, or "taking a walk with" their Savior. Here's some brief info on 5MW:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_Minute_Walk
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