S.O.A.P.

At times I like to use the tool S.O.A.P. in my personal time with God.  This process of Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer often help me gain clarity and apply the Bible to my daily life.  Here are some thoughts from this morning.

Scripture: 1 Kings 18

Observation:

·      Elijah was at risk because of his belief in God.

·      Jezebel was killing people because of their faith. 

·      Obadiah was afraid to let Ahab and Jezebel know that Elijah was alive because the news of this put him at risk. 

·      Elijah had tremendous trust in God for his own provision and protection.

·      Elijah stood up for truth. 

·      God was faithful and strong enough to beat the profits of Baal. 

Application:

1.    The Lord is strong enough to protect us in times of trouble.

2.    Hold firmly to the truth and walk closely with the Lord.

3.    God has the power to do anything. 

4.    It is better to be one with God than 400 without him.

5.    God is source of strength.

Prayer: 

“Lord in moments of fear and trouble give me the courage to trust in you.  Your strength and your power are more than enough to meet the challenges of this day.  I trust in you.”

5 Functions of the Church Leader:

1.    Apostle:  Focuses on the future by creating new expressions of faith communities.

2.    Prophet:  Speaks to what is next.  Can see what is coming and share it with others in a meaningful way.  Inspires others to reach for the vision.

3.    Evangelist:  Reaches out to those outside of the community.  Has a gift to relate, invite, and start spiritual conversations with those outside of the community of faith.

4.    Pastor:  Takes care of those in the community.  Likes to stay with a community for a long period of time.  Excels at care, leadership development and long-term relationship development.

5.    Teacher:  Communicates the scripture.  Can exegete the text and communicate it today. 

If you are serving as a leader in the local church what is your strength?  How are you compensating for the functions that you cannot fill? 

Thoughts on Acts 4

·      The movement of God will disturb those who long for control. (1)

·      This will cause some will try to stop, capture, and imprison the ones who share the hope of Jesus. (3)

·      This will not work.  God has a way for working around our attempts for control. (4)

·      Power of God is not found in a position or title.  It is found in simply in Jesus.  And He is available to all. (12)

·      It is amazing what God can do with the ordinary. The presence of God brings courage. (13)

·      People can tell when you when you have been with Jesus.  It shows. (13)

·      Beware of back room conversations. (17)

·      You will have difficult decisions to make in life.  There are times when you will have to choose between obeying God or man.  Choose God.  (20)

·      Our first response in moments of fear should be prayer (24)

·      Trust in His strength and faithfulness, not your own ability. (24)

·      Those who love power will appose God. (27)

·      Move forward with boldness in times of struggle.  Don’t be afraid.  You are not alone. (29).

·      The presence of God brings courage. (31)

·      The presence of God brings generosity.  It loosens our grip on this world. (32)

Thoughts on Nehemiah 2

·      Sometimes you have to let your vision/reality gap bother you.  Let your heart be troubled (1)

·      Sometimes you have to wait. (1)

·      Prepare and plan. (1)

·      Changing a person’s heart is not your job.  Only God can do this.  Don’t manipulate (1)

·      If you are real with others you may be hurt.  It is worth the risk (2)

·      Honor those who in authority over you.  Even if you disagree.  (3)

·      Share your burdens with others.  Real community is priceless (4)

·      Pray in the middle of defining moments.  (4)

·      When it comes to your vision be humble enough to ask for help.  Be gracious enough to receive it.  (5)

·      Make it real: make sure you have everything you need to start you vision.  (6)

·      Faith is not a synonym for disorder.  Have a plan (6)

·      Your vision will threaten others.  This is normal.  Expect that people will throw stones. (10)

·      Look carefully at your challenge.  Don’t be discouraged. (16)

·      Include others. (17)

·      Trust God when others mock you.  Move forward. (20)

Goals

As we move into a new year I have taken sometime to review my 2011 goals and have made a new list for 2012.  Here is a list my 2012 personal and professional goals.  Looks like another busy year!  How are your 2012 goals looking?

·      Spiritual

o   Finish reading though the Bible

§  Blog reflections

o   Pray for 10 minutes a day.

§  Listen for 6 minutes.

o   Explore a deeper presence of the Holy Spirit.

§  Trust His wisdom, guidance and power more in my life and ministry.

·      Family

o   Date my wife 20 times this year.

§  Show my love to her by serving her regularly.

o   Take my wife away on one trip.

o   Date my daughter Elena 10 times this year.

§  Teach her how to be loved.

§  Have fun!

o   Date my daughter Ava 10 times this year.

o   Take a Family Vacation

o   Visit my extended family

o   Continue to work on home projects

§  Finish basement

·      Personal

o   Read and review 1-2 books a month.

o   Unplug for 3 hours a day.

o   Workout 5 times a week (45 minutes)

o   Play basketball 1-2 times a week.

o   Learn from my travels.

o   Use time wisely, work hard, play hard, and rest.

o   Find a new way to invest in learning this year. (mentor, class, etc.)

o   Reconnect with old friends.

§  Make time to spend with those I have missed.

·      Ministry

o   Lead Crossroads Church in Cranberry to the next level.

§  Continue to invest and develop campus staff.

§  Continue to identify, develop, and deploy lay leaders in the church.

·      Hand more off this year.

§  Continue to develop an environment of spiritual health

§  Preach well with passion and truth.

§  Develop a passion for outreach in the Cranberry Campus.

§  Launch 2-5 more small groups in 2012

o   Preach well when called upon at Crossroads Church in North Fayette.

o   Preach well when called upon outside Crossroads Church.

§  Protect the time and energy to do this well.

§  Listen to God and allow Him to change me though my preaching.

o   Create my own Consulting/Coaching Company

§  Work with Church Solutions Group

·      Grow in my ability and confidence in the process of installing Strategic Plans

·      Grow in my ability and confidence in the process of Vision Coaching.

§  Explore 2-3 other partnerships in both non-profit and for-profit sectors.

§  Serve my Clients well.

o   Blog more personal reflections.

§  Use this to develop thoughts more.

o   Finish writing my first book “The Thing with Feathers” with Sam Morgan.

§  Finish final edits and have it to publishers by the end of the year.

What am I now?

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5

One of the most difficult steps in spiritual growth is making the time to examine one’s own heart.  We live in a time and place that constantly distracts us from looking within.  However, spiritual growth always starts when we ask the question:  “What am I now?” 

Today I am reading a collection of prayers by John Wesley.  In today’s reading Wesley asks:  Is the Sprit of adoption now in your heart?  Make the appeal to your own heart:  Are you not the temple of the Holy Spirit?  Does He now dwell in you? 

As we end this year it is customary to look ahead to what is next.  To set goals for what we want to happen and who we want to be in the next twelve months.    Before doing this I encourage you to a make some space to ask the question: What am I now?  Take some time to pray and carefully examine your heart and life to see what is there. 

If you are honest you will no doubly see both the good and bad of your heart.  Take some time to examine this.  Sit in it and don’t rush past.  In many ways this is the human condition.  However, it does not have to be the end.  Take this time to ask for forgiveness from God and move forward.  A New Year awaits and His mercy is new.  A fresh start is only a day away!

Happy New Year.

Thoughts on Luke 19:1-10

·      Jesus is not sedentary.  He is in motion.  He is a movement maker you need to catch Him as He passes by and keep up.  It is your job to follow not set the course. (1)

·      There is a need that wealth cannot fulfill.  (2)

·      What is the obstacle in your life that is keeping you from seeing Jesus?  Have you given up or will you find another way? (3)

·      You may have to change your vantage point in life to see Jesus. This may be difficult or require change.  It is worth it.  Get ahead of the busyness of life and wait for him. (4)

·      Jesus will notice your effort.  He will stop and meet you there.  He will invite Himself over if you let Him.  He wants to know you. (5)

·      Let him in. (6)

·      Jesus does not care about what others think.  It is not about prestige or what you have done.  It is all about the heart. That is what He cares about.  Others may mumble, don’t listen focus on what Jesus is changing in you. (7)

·      Getting close to Jesus will expose your faults. It's OK He won't leave you. He will change you. (8)

·      When He moves your heart listen to it.  Follow those promptings and allow your heart to change your life. (8)

·      He is the way to life. The only way to life. (9)

·      Jesus is for the broken.  The imperfect. He loves to make them whole and to give them hope.  (10)

Insights on Luke 18:35-43

·      We all are blind to something and need help to see but we can still hear.  Listen and change. (35)

·      We all are weak but some of us are good at hiding it.  In what way are you weak today? (35)

·      When you realize your weakness ask for help. This will take humility and faith. (36)

·      Jesus still causes a commotion when he passes by.  He rattles our hearts and lives let Him do this, it is for your own good. (37)

·      When you know that God is near and you realize your weakness, call out.  Ask for help and draw close to Him. (38)

·      Many people feel that only the strong and beautiful can come to Jesus but He likes the messes.  Yell to him when you are weak, He will listen. (39)

·      He has time.  He will stop. He will listen. He cares.  (40)

·      Trust Jesus with your mess.  Let Him know your weaknesses.  Lay it out to Him.  Ask Him to fix it.  Let your pain and weakness be the very thing that draws you closer to Him. (41)

·      When Jesus changes you thank Him.  He did it not you.  Give Him the credit and beware of pride.  If you do this others will see Jesus too. (43)

Awakening: “Walking in the Power of the Holy Spirit” (Day 12)

Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.  Luke 4:14

After Jesus prayed and fasted He returned empowered to do all that the Father called Him to do.  His power was not from His own strength but from the presence of the Holy Spirit.  When we spend time listening and receiving the word of God, His presence wells up from within us.  The Spirit confirms what we read, hear, and sing.  It is the internal conviction that guides us when we are walking away from God’s will and gives us the strength to do all that God has called us to accomplish.

It as Dwight Moody who once said, “Every movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure.”  Great spiritual breakthrough moments in our lives don’t start with our effort and strength, but rather start when we slow down enough to hear the direction of God and follow Him through the strength of the Holy Spirit that calls from within. 

In Matthew 7, Jesus challenges us to ask God for direction and provision in our lives.  He says, “Knock and the door will be opened.”  What request are you knocking on God’s door with today?  How are you seeking Him?  Ask Him to fill you with His presence today, to guide you through the challenges and joys that you will face.  Listen to the voice of the Spirit that guides, corrects, teaches, empowers, and comforts in times of need.

Awakening: “Alignment with Heaven” (Day 11)

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.  Matthew 6:10

From time to time, my seven year-old daughter will challenge my authority in our house.  This usually happens when she wants something that I have decided is not in her best interest. 

It is in these moments of frustration that she will often spout off and I will have to remind her who is boss.  “Who is the boss, Elena?” I often ask.  She usually responds by stating that she is the boss and whatever she wants should be hers!  “Who is the boss, Elena?” I ask again calmly.  Eventually she knows the response.  “You are the boss, Dad.”  It is in that moment of submission that I assure her that I love her and I want what is best.  Sometimes I can even give an explanation as to why I have denied her request at that moment, but she can only see it when she decides to submit.

The purest motivation for our prayers is that God will be glorified and that His will would reign supreme in our lives, just as it does in heaven.

However, we can only see this when we recognize who the boss really is.  When we submit to His will and align ourselves with heaven, it changes our perspective.  In Genesis 15, Abram laments with God over the fact that he does not have a son to take over his kingdom. In that moment, he knows who the boss is. As God shares with him the blessings and challenges that will come to him and his family, he aligns himself with God’s will.

Who is your boss?  What is the most challenging part of your life to trust him with?  How can you submit that to him today?

Awakening: “Cultivating Spiritual Hunger” (Day 10)

Prayer is reaching out and after the unseen; fasting, letting go of all that is seen and temporal.  Fasting helps express, deepens, confirms the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves, to attain what we see for the kingdom of God. –Andrew Murray

One of the things I have noticed over the last 10 days is a reduction in my daily hunger.  As I have stepped away from my old eating habits there was an immediate and violent response from my physical body.  My body wanted the same food it was used to receiving; the same sugar, the same dairy, the same caffeine, in the same portions it was used to receiving.  However, over time my body has begun to loosen its grip and refocus on the new food I have been giving it.

The same principle is true when we want to cultivate spiritual hunger in our lives.  All day we are faced with a steady diet of physical issues.  Our jobs, our families, our worries and thoughts are almost always captivated by urgent physical needs.  If we continue to only “feed” this area of our life, it will inevitably deaden our spiritual appetite.

This is an important lesson for every follower of Jesus: the delicate balance between enjoying the blessings of this world while holding them with an open hand. 

Cultivating spiritual hunger starts by choosing to switch your diet from the things of this world to the things of eternity. 

Where is your heart today?  Take some time to look at Mathew 6 today and re-center your focus on a “food” that lasts.

Awakening: “Prayer and the Process” (Day 9)

Prayer is not just about the answer; it’s also about glorifying God in the process of waiting for the answer.

I believe it was Tom Petty who said: “The waiting is the hardest part” and this is most diffidently true when it comes to prayer. We live in a culture (America) that loves to see completion.  We set measurable goals and work hard to achieve them.  This is also true in the church.  (See my article 5 Measures of a Healthy Church)  But how does one measure the effectiveness of prayer in one’s personal life?

One of the reasons I think that prayer is difficult to measure is because it is a process not a task.  In 1 Kings 18, Elijah prayed 7 times before God answered his prayer.  For him, prayer was about trusting God in midst of waiting. 

Like a good Father, the Lord longs to be involved with those who call on His name.  At times, He may let us wrestle and wait just so He can enjoy our presence.  This time of waiting for us can be comforting if we learn to enjoy His presence as we wait.  Prayer is not always about the answer.  Many times, the most valuable part of prayer is the process that God takes us through as we wait for an answer.

What prayers are you waiting for God to answer?  While you wait, enjoy His presence and thank Him for the process that is at work in you.

Awakening: “Clean House” (Day 8)

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  (Romans 8:5-6)

For me, there are few things better than a clean car.  I truly enjoy the process of pulling out the hose and soap to make an old and dirty car look new.  There is a deep satisfaction that comes when I step back at the end of my work and look at my renewed ride. 

I believe the same is true for God.  When we make the time to focus more on Him through fasting and prayer, there is a type of deep cleaning that happens in our hearts.  The old pains and grime that has burdened us is washed away as we focus on the voice of our Creator.  Fasting is the deep cleaning that helps us take our mind off the things of this world and instead have a refreshed focus on the things of the Spirit.

In today’s reading (Genesis 12), I see the adventure that came when Abram decided to listen and follow the voice of God in his life.  Of course his story was filled with missteps, just like yours and mine but he never stopped listening and allowing God to clean out his heart. 

Today as you reflect on what God has been revealing to you in your life: What needs to be cleaned out?  What pain, hurt, thought, anger, or action in your life do you need to let God wash away?  Will you give it to him today? He is the only one that will make you clean.

Awakening: “Hear Him” (Day 7)

“This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.  Listen to Him.“ Matthew 17:5

As a pastor one of the personal spiritual challenges I face often is balancing “doing” and “listening.”  My days are often filled with things I do for God.  I run meetings, plan events, organize groups, lead teams, help people and prepare messages all for God.  But there are times in my life when I fail to listen.

This is critical because it is impossible to follow Jesus with out listening to his direction in our lives.  We must listen to Him if we want to follow Him. 

How do you hear from God?  Do you spend time reading and meditating on His words?  Do you pray and pause to hear his quiet voice?  Do you seek wisdom through the counsel of others who have walked before you? 

As we start to enter the second week of our fast together slow down.  Turn off the static in your life and make space to hear from Him.  Be quiet and listen. 

Awakening: “Fervent Prayer” (Day 6)

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:6

Today, I am having trouble keeping my focus.  This might be because today is a catch-up day, full of a bunch of random tasks and meetings or it might because of the change in my diet. Either way, it feels difficult to stay present today.  I need to focus more in order to get my work done.

The same is true in prayer.  Often when we pray, we are tempted to drift off to the events and worries of our day but true prayer requires focus.  In Matthew 4, Jesus is tempted by Satan as He is fasting.  Satan tempts Jesus with food, pride, and glory.  However, in this moment Jesus stays focused. He knows that his connection with God, the Father is of utmost importance and He knows that his mission is just about to begin.

I believe that the same is true for us today.  It is often in those moments just before we “start the mission” that the voice of the tempter whispers.  “You can’t do that.”  He will say.  “What if you fail?” 

In those moments stay focused.  Fervently seek the voice of God and move forward.  Why worry about how your story will end?  Just listen to his voice and have the courage to write the next page. 

We must never forget that the highest kind of prayer is never the making of requests.  Prayer at its holiest moment is the entering into God, to a place of such blessed union as it makes miracles seem tame and remarkable answers to prayer appear something very far short of wonderful by comparison.  -A.W. Tozer

Awakening: “The Spirit is Willing” (Day 5)

“And I know that nothing good lives in me, in my sinful nature.  I want to do what is right, but I can’t.  I want to do what is good, but don’t.  I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.  But if I do what I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.”  Romans 7:18-20

As I finish day 5 of fasting I am even more aware of the internal battle that exists inside of me; the fight between right and wrong, darkness and light, selfishness and selflessness.  I can relate to the words of Paul as he struggles to follow the better path.  This is the good fight.  But as I enter into a better place and exercise the spiritual discipline of fasting I am sensing that God is near.  I can feel the peace of His presence and the assurance that He is near. 

Looking back to my youth, I remember the dreams and hopes that at times seemed naive to an adult with responsibilities.  As I make space and listen to His voice, those thoughts and dreams are returning.

Today I read through the genealogy of Noah in Genesis 10.  Listed there are generations and generations of people who have come and gone.  Some were noted for their accomplishments or character while others were just listed names.  It made me think of my genealogy.  I am Michael, son of Patrick, son of Robert, whose father we do not know.  Three generations from now what will my great grandson or granddaughter know of me?  What will last?

Tonight as I think about this, I hope what will last is heart.  I hope that I am described as “Michael, who listened to the still small voice of God and had the courage to follow it.  He loved those around him the way Jesus loved and he walked in the light.”  What else will last?  More important, do I have the courage to choose the better way?

Awakening: “When Grace Comes Down” (Day 4)

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17

As I venture though my fourth day of Awakening and my Daniel fast I am continually growing in my awareness of God’s grace in my life.  Today I stopped and looked at my pantry, which is full of food.  Most of it I will not eat for the next 10 days but I was astonished at just how much God has blessed me with.  In this world there are countless people living without clean water to drink or food to eat but I have more than I need.  It is only by His grace that I have these blessings and many more.

In American culture (I know many of you read this from outside of the USA) many of us have become accustomed to grace, some even feel entitled to grace. As I journey through this season of Awakening I am reminded that God is the true source of all these blessings. 

Tonight as we dwell on the goodness of God please remember to thank him for the grace in your life.  Consider the ways He has blessed you and the future hope he has given us through Jesus Christ.  Then, look for a way to pass this grace on to another tomorrow.

Awakening: Fasting “Removes Unbelief” (Day 3)

“When we fast, we don’t do so to change God or His will; by praying and fasting, we are the ones changed.”

When I was in 11^th grade my Bible teacher gave out awards for gifts she noticed in her young students.  At the end of the semester we all walked up to the front of the class and she presented the formal certificates with one word that best described each of us.  When it was my turn to receive my certificate the one word on it was Faith.

In Hebrews, Scripture says that faith is the confidence and assurance of the things unseen.  If you are like me then there are days when this “confidence” is strong and others days when this “confidence” is weak.  Even in those weak moments, we must always remember where we place our trust.  If our assurance is in what we can accomplish or provide, that is shifting sand and will not support us.  If we trust in the will and strength of God we can have confidence for both today and eternity.

Andrew Murray writes these words about faith: “ Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do.  Expect. . . “Above all that we ask and think.”

What are you hoping for today?  Where is your faith?  How does this show in your everyday life?  Ask God boldly to change one area of your life and trust in his strength today.

Awakening: “Tune In” (Day 2)

After one day of my “Daniel fast” I am amazed at the everyday distractions that I face daily: the foods, the conversations, the entertainment and pressures that pull my attention away from God. 

I have also been surprised at just how much control these cravings have in my daily life.  Just yesterday I spent some time with a good friend of mine at the Original Hot Dot Shop in Pittsburgh with my two daughters.  My friend owns the shop and usually feeds my family and me every time we step in.  I love the food at the “O!”  Yesterday, I sat and watched as my two daughters enjoyed my favorite French fries.  Wow they smelled good. 

As I start to “Tune in,” one thing this fast it is already teaching me to enjoy the simple things in life that I overlook daily.  The taste of a radish in my salad, the juice of an apple running down my chin, the quite calmness of waiting on the Lord.

In our reading of Genesis chapter 8, I noticed the first think Noah did when he stepped off the Ark was to build and alter and offer sacrifices.  His very first action on dry ground was to honor God.  Scripture says that this pleased the Lord.

Just a great reminder that as we exit storms in our lives that we too should honor and thank the One that has pulled us through.  He is good and I am excited to hear more from Him as I tune out the static and listen intently to his voice.

Audio: Escaping the Performance Trap

"Escaping the Performance Trap"" is a weekend message I preached at Crossroads Church in Cranberry, a growing faith community in the north hills of Pittsburgh, PA.