A Significant Life - What's It Look Like?

We all want to live a life of meaning, purpose and significance, but do we really know what it looks like? As we wrap up our study of John 10:10, Jesus tells us He came to do the total opposite of what the Thief came to do...."I came that you may have life and have it to the full (in abundance, rich, satisfying, overflowing,)".

What does a significant, full, rich, satisfying, abundant life look like? Is it even possible to attain?

1) A life of giving. The Thief came to steal; Jesus came to give. He is our example of a life of giving and serving. Mark 10:45 reminds us that "even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many." Rick Warren, in his book The Purpose Driven Life, clearly states that "Significance comes from serving others." Are you living a life of giving or just receiving?

2) A life of living. The Thief came to kill; Jesus came that we might live. He didn't die to save us from our sins so that we might sit around waiting to get to heaven. He wants us to live while we're here. According to Colossians 1:10-12, He wants us to bear fruit, grow in the knowledge of God, be strong with God's power to endure and joyfully give thanks to the Father. Are you truly living or just counting down the days?

3) A life of winning. The Thief came to destroy; Jesus came to give us the victory. A significant life is not lived in defeat. Jesus knows a victorious life is possible, if we depend on Him and His power. We must recognize who is fighting our battles. "For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory!" (Deut. 20:4) Are you living in victory or content with defeat?

A significant life is possible! It's about giving and serving. It's about living, not just surviving. It's about being victorious. Claim the life Jesus gave for you to live - not the one the Thief wants to destroy!

Victory is Yours...Claim It!!

Victory is yours today...are you claiming it or accepting another day of defeat?  The Father of Lies would love nothing more than to see you continue to be distracted, discouraged and ultimately, destroyed. But we do have hope. There is a way out of the Enemy's trap.

John 1:14 says that Jesus came from the Father, full of grace and truth. If we want to claim the victory, we need to believe the Father of Truth. Here's 3 steps that will get us started. I have to choose to do these every day - how about you?

1) When we are distracted, we must re-focus.
If we've lost our focus on God and have turned it onto ourselves, we must re-focus! In order to claim your victory, ask God to "guide me in your truth and teach me...for my hope is in you all day long." (Ps. 25:5) We have to choose to focus on being guided and taught by God and to focus our hope in Him all day long.

2) When we feel discouraged, we must renew.
If we find ourselves in the Thief's pit of despair, we need to renew: Our mind (Romans 12:2) and not allow ourselves to dwell on our problems. Our commitment (2 Cor. 4:16) and not lose heart. How encouraging to know that our strength is renewed when we hope/wait on the Lord (Isaiah 40:31).

3) When we've been defeated, we must be revived and restored.
When we give up the fight and accept defeat, the Enemy thinks he's won. But we don't have to stay down for the count. God wants to revive and restore us. As the Psalmist said in Psalm 119:25, "I lie in dust (despair, defeat, depression); revive me by your word."  Don't stay in the dust - let God lift you up!

The victory is yours today. Are you ready to take these steps and claim it?

Next Week: The Father of Life (John 10:10b)

Father of Lies vs. Father of Truth

Father of Lies vs. Father of Truth  (Part One)

Lately, I've encountered an onslaught of lies. Not lies about my character or myself spread by others. But lies that only I hear within my own head. And the sad thing is, I know I'm not alone. I know others fight this battle every day! Unfortunately, it's not something we like to talk about. We don't want others to know we have weaknesses. Questions. Doubts and fears. But we can igonore them; we must recognize where this lies come from.....

According to John 10:10a, the main goal of the Father of Lies (John 8:42-45) is to steal, kill and destroy. In order to accomplish this goal, the Thief (Satan, Enemy, Devil, Deceiver, Serpent, etc) uses a 3-step process!

1) Steal your focus by getting you distracted from God, His Will and His ways. We allow our mind to be consumed with busyness, lies, selfish ambitions, sin, life's challenges, hurts, disappointments, past failures, etc. If the Father of Lies can get our focus off of God and onto ourselves, Step One has been completed!

2) Kill your dreams by getting you discouraged. Step Two leads us to a place of depression, sadness, worry and anxiety. We start to believe the Thief's lies and doubt God really has a plan and purpose for our lives. We become angry, hopeless and weak. And when dreams die, so does the dreamer.

3) Destroy your life by allowing you to accept defeat. When we see defeat coming, we give up. We quit learning. We stop growing. We seclude ourselves from others and withdraw from living. When we get to this point, Step Three has been accomplished and the Thief's mission has been successful.

Are you believing the lies of the Enemy? Have you allowed the lies he's spreading to distract and discourage you? Do you fear that defeat is close at hand?

Hang on. There is hope! Tomorrow, I'll share the 3-step process we can use to gain our own victory by believing the Father of Truth!

How's Your Love Life? - Week Six

How Do We Love Others?

As we wrap up this six-week series looking at loving God, loving ourselves and loving others, we're at the point where we ask "How do we love others?" Is it really as difficult as it seems? Is it even possible to love everyone? Let's look at 3 simple things we can do in order to fulfill God's greatest commandment.... "to love one another as I have loved you!"

1) Care - Simply showing people that we care about them shows love. Paul tells us in I Corinthians 13:3, "If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it: but if I didn't love (care for) others, I would have gained nothing." Are we walking the talk of love?

2) Bear - Are you willing to love others by bearing their burdens; by taking time to focus on their needs instead of your own? Better yet, what about following Colossians 3:13 - "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Hmmm....

3) Share - We show others our love by sharing our time, talent and treasure with them. Hebrews 13:16 reminds us "...to do good and share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God." Sometimes sharing requires sacrifice on our part, but know that's the kind that makes God smile!

How's Your Love Life? - Week Five

Did you know that 79% of US adults think that Christianity is more about organized religion and a list of rules than it is about loving God and loving others?  How are you showing love for God, yourself and others to 79 out of 100 people today?

WHY do we love others?

1) Because God said so!  The Bible is full of commands, but according to Romans 13:9-10, the law of love fulfills all the other commands. In the book of John, Jesus reminds us that "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (14:15). What is that command? "Love each other as I have loved you" (15:12).

2) So the world will know God's love!  Just before Jesus went to the cross - to show His ultimate love for us - He gave His disciples a new command: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men (the world) will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).  It doesn't get any simpler than that!

3) So that peace prevails!  Proverbs 17:9 tells us that the person who covers over an offense promotes love. Why do we love others? To keep the peace in our lives, in the lives of others and ultimately, in the world.

I ask you again - How is the world seeing your love for God and others today? Are they seeing you follow a "religion"; a set of rules and regulations or are they seeing God's love lived out through you?