Sorry for not being consistant in my blogs. I have decided to move over to wordpress and have added several new writings since my last post here. I would be very grateful if you would stop on by and have a look around.
http://joshminso.wordpress.com/
Thanks.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Spiritual Beggars
Church: Bible studies: small groups: outreach ministries: prayer. Good activities, right? Sure, but are we so focused on these activities that we miss God’s prompting along the way?
Take Peter for example; in Acts chapter 3, Peter and Paul are heading to the temple in the afternoon, most likely to pray. A good activity but on the way they encountered a beggar. How would we have reacted? Hastily brush past them? Ignore them? Throw them some spare change and chalk it up to a good deed, a godly deed even? After all we are on our way to speak with God, to pray, what could be more important? We are doing something religious, something God wants us to do. We can’t waste time with a beggar, right? Peter did. On the way to do something religious, Peter was prompted by God - Interrupted by God. He could have easily missed this prompting but he didn’t. Peter allowed his activity to be interrupted and God used Peter to heal the beggar. No, he didn’t give the beggar what he was begging for; Peter said he didn’t have any money. That could have been the end of it, no money means we can’t help, right? Peter didn’t have money but he did have Christ and that is what he gave the beggar. In the name of Jesus the Christ, Peter healed the man born crippled and through that healing the beggar jumped, danced and shouted praises to God. As a result many came to believe in Jesus Christ and we have learned a valuable lesson.
What lesson can we learn from this event? How about don’t be too busy for God even in our religious activities. Or perhaps it is realizing that we often pass spiritual beggars on our way to do something religious and we do nothing. How many people walked by that beggar every day on their way to pray and never offered help. Sure, there were probably people who dropped some spare change in the jar but they missed the real need; the need for a savior. That brings up another lesson; in our haste we often give spiritual beggars a band-aid when they need surgery. We do not want to get too involved with beggars or their lives, it is too dirty there and we may get dirty, banged up or even hurt if we get too involved. Throwing scripture references to someone who needs to be shown love, pointing someone to a sermon when they need a friend or showing forgiveness to someone that has hurt us. It is much easier to drop some change and move on. What if Peter had that attitude, would all those people have come to know Jesus if Peter didn’t allow himself to be interrupted? I’m not sure, I believe God would still have reached those that accepted him but Peter would have missed out and not been a part of that event.
But that was Peter, he walked alongside Jesus. I couldn’t do those things. That is for the professionals to do not me. I don’t have schooling in the Bible, I hold no degree and I am not paid to do it. Acts 4:8a “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit”. See that? It doesn’t say then Peter who graduated seminary. Not Peter who was well educated. No, it says “Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit”. On our own we cannot do these things but through the filling of the Holy Spirit in us we can. Do we want to? Or do we want to drop in our loose change and be on our way?
Take Peter for example; in Acts chapter 3, Peter and Paul are heading to the temple in the afternoon, most likely to pray. A good activity but on the way they encountered a beggar. How would we have reacted? Hastily brush past them? Ignore them? Throw them some spare change and chalk it up to a good deed, a godly deed even? After all we are on our way to speak with God, to pray, what could be more important? We are doing something religious, something God wants us to do. We can’t waste time with a beggar, right? Peter did. On the way to do something religious, Peter was prompted by God - Interrupted by God. He could have easily missed this prompting but he didn’t. Peter allowed his activity to be interrupted and God used Peter to heal the beggar. No, he didn’t give the beggar what he was begging for; Peter said he didn’t have any money. That could have been the end of it, no money means we can’t help, right? Peter didn’t have money but he did have Christ and that is what he gave the beggar. In the name of Jesus the Christ, Peter healed the man born crippled and through that healing the beggar jumped, danced and shouted praises to God. As a result many came to believe in Jesus Christ and we have learned a valuable lesson.
What lesson can we learn from this event? How about don’t be too busy for God even in our religious activities. Or perhaps it is realizing that we often pass spiritual beggars on our way to do something religious and we do nothing. How many people walked by that beggar every day on their way to pray and never offered help. Sure, there were probably people who dropped some spare change in the jar but they missed the real need; the need for a savior. That brings up another lesson; in our haste we often give spiritual beggars a band-aid when they need surgery. We do not want to get too involved with beggars or their lives, it is too dirty there and we may get dirty, banged up or even hurt if we get too involved. Throwing scripture references to someone who needs to be shown love, pointing someone to a sermon when they need a friend or showing forgiveness to someone that has hurt us. It is much easier to drop some change and move on. What if Peter had that attitude, would all those people have come to know Jesus if Peter didn’t allow himself to be interrupted? I’m not sure, I believe God would still have reached those that accepted him but Peter would have missed out and not been a part of that event.
But that was Peter, he walked alongside Jesus. I couldn’t do those things. That is for the professionals to do not me. I don’t have schooling in the Bible, I hold no degree and I am not paid to do it. Acts 4:8a “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit”. See that? It doesn’t say then Peter who graduated seminary. Not Peter who was well educated. No, it says “Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit”. On our own we cannot do these things but through the filling of the Holy Spirit in us we can. Do we want to? Or do we want to drop in our loose change and be on our way?
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Genie [God] in a Bottle
People talk about putting God in a box, bag or backpack so that you can pull Him out when you need Him but have the option to stash Him away when you feel like doing something questionable or when you just don't want Him around. I grew up viewing God as a genie, stored away in a bottle until the time I would rub the bottle to make my wish.
Please God I really want to win the lottery. God, could you make that girl like me. And sometimes when we are truly desperate we resort to bargaining with God. Dear God I know I haven't talked to you much but if you help me get this job I promise to give you more of my time or God if you do this for me I will start praying/tithing/reading you word more.
The specifics do not really matter, the general idea is the same throughout; God is being used as a genie, there to grant our wishes [prayers] but set or cast aside until there is something that we need or want. When did we start viewing the creator God; the maker of the heavens and the earth; the one who sacrificed His only Son to save us and restore our relationship with Him, when did we turn God into a magical being that we store in a bottle to be summoned when we wanted Him?
It's not that God doesn't want to answer or prayers and meet or needs but He wants a relationship with us. His desire is that we consume Him and we let Him live through us. We bring nothing to God, we come empty handed and broken and it is His desire to give us life. There is no bargaining with God, He has already offered us everything, we have nothing to bargain with. From God, through God and to God is everything. Even if we think we have God confined to a bottle, box or compartment He is not. God is everywhere and it is an illusion if we believe we can confine Him. But God has given us the choice to allow Him into our life and to live through us.
It is time we break the bottle that we have created in our minds and fully surrender to God. Once we do that God will work through us to fulfill His will and we will have the privilege of being used by almighty God. We may not win the lottery, be financially blessed or have our worldly desires fulfilled but we will have life and that life will be abundant and more amazing then we could ever imagine. So join with me and break God out of the compartments that we think we have put Him in and let Him have all of us.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Weekend Christianity
Sunday morning comes and there is a good chance you will be going to a building to have
your “church”. According to www.religioustolerance.org and average of around 40% of
Americans reportedly attend a Church service regularly whereas only about 8% stated that they
rarely or never attend. Jesus Christ used 12 regular people to change the world, why is our
country in a downward spiral if 40% of the people are attending church? The problem, in my humble opinion, is that only a very small fraction of that 40% are fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, the rest just make an appearance on Sundays.
According to studies and surveys conducted by The National Sleep Foundation, A.C. Nielsen Co and various other phone surveys the average American spends 46 hours a week working, 56 hours sleeping, 28 hours watching T.V. and just over 10 hours each week in their vehicles. That leaves about 48 hours left out of the 168 hours that are in a week: start adding in playing on the internet; eating and preparing food; talking on the phone; spending time with your families and there just isn’t much time for God so you make your appearance on Sunday morning and think you are all good. How can you combat all that time spent in the world with 2 hours on a Sunday morning? How can you possibly expect to grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ if you only make an appearance once a week for an hour or two? How would your relationship with your family be if you gave them the time and energy you give God?
My church home offers something almost every night of the week to grow and connect and serve and yet out of more then 1,000 attendees only a small fraction of them attend the other events and often times it is many of the same faces that are seen at the different events. What are you doing, what am I doing, what are WE doing to encourage the Sunday morning Christians to venture out into the church community that exists on more then just Sunday? You cannot stoke a fire once a week and see it grow, it has to constantly be around a fuel source. Take an ember out of a burning fire and you see it burn out and die, true it may still be warm but the fire is gone but all that needs to be done to reignite it is for it to be place back within the fire. When you see dieing embers, your church family, go and bring the fire to them or bring them to the fire but don’t let them die out and become cold. The time is now for us to ignite our community, our state and our country. People need Jesus Christ and he has commissioned us, his fully devoted followers, to reach out to those around us so let’s roll.
your “church”. According to www.religioustolerance.org and average of around 40% of
Americans reportedly attend a Church service regularly whereas only about 8% stated that they
rarely or never attend. Jesus Christ used 12 regular people to change the world, why is our
country in a downward spiral if 40% of the people are attending church? The problem, in my humble opinion, is that only a very small fraction of that 40% are fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, the rest just make an appearance on Sundays.
According to studies and surveys conducted by The National Sleep Foundation, A.C. Nielsen Co and various other phone surveys the average American spends 46 hours a week working, 56 hours sleeping, 28 hours watching T.V. and just over 10 hours each week in their vehicles. That leaves about 48 hours left out of the 168 hours that are in a week: start adding in playing on the internet; eating and preparing food; talking on the phone; spending time with your families and there just isn’t much time for God so you make your appearance on Sunday morning and think you are all good. How can you combat all that time spent in the world with 2 hours on a Sunday morning? How can you possibly expect to grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ if you only make an appearance once a week for an hour or two? How would your relationship with your family be if you gave them the time and energy you give God?
My church home offers something almost every night of the week to grow and connect and serve and yet out of more then 1,000 attendees only a small fraction of them attend the other events and often times it is many of the same faces that are seen at the different events. What are you doing, what am I doing, what are WE doing to encourage the Sunday morning Christians to venture out into the church community that exists on more then just Sunday? You cannot stoke a fire once a week and see it grow, it has to constantly be around a fuel source. Take an ember out of a burning fire and you see it burn out and die, true it may still be warm but the fire is gone but all that needs to be done to reignite it is for it to be place back within the fire. When you see dieing embers, your church family, go and bring the fire to them or bring them to the fire but don’t let them die out and become cold. The time is now for us to ignite our community, our state and our country. People need Jesus Christ and he has commissioned us, his fully devoted followers, to reach out to those around us so let’s roll.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
I Surrender All
We had our First Wednesday communion service at Blue Ridge Community Church (BRCC) last night. I love all of our services at BRCC but our First Wednesday and Thirsty services easily top the list. I just love the close intimate feeling of those services and music is one of my spiritual pathways. Last night Angie was leading the music and prior to singing “I Surrender All” she asked us to make this our prayer and when we were ready to surrender it all to God, or at least want to want to surrender it all we could stand and join. Immediately I was ready to stand up in my proclamation of surrendering all to God; but I couldn’t. I got to thinking, what does it mean to surrender all to God? I mean, sure I am giving more and more over to Him but to surrender all is a big deal. I have plans and dreams; I want to travel and see the world; I want to change jobs and do what I love. I want to lie my life and I do want to live it for God but it really hit me when I heard the words “I Surrender All”.
I have control of my life and to surrender it all to God gives Him total control in all aspects. I had control when I made all of my selfish choices that caused myself and others pain. I had control when I went out on my own for a new job and ran up debt. I had control when I didn’t go to my college classes and dropped out. I had control when I would yell at my kids. I had no control. I am not in a position to manage my own life because I do not truly know what is best for me and what is best for those around me but God does.
The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation) that “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” The creator of the Heavens and Earth has a plan for me. God knows what I need and what is best for me. I don’t know what God will do in my life but I know the promises He has made and I have seen how much I can damage my own life when I try to have power over it. I stood up and proclaimed to God and to all that I Surrender All.
On a side note, as I am getting ready to post this I am hearing these words from the song Mighty to Save:
“I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender (I surrender)”
I have control of my life and to surrender it all to God gives Him total control in all aspects. I had control when I made all of my selfish choices that caused myself and others pain. I had control when I went out on my own for a new job and ran up debt. I had control when I didn’t go to my college classes and dropped out. I had control when I would yell at my kids. I had no control. I am not in a position to manage my own life because I do not truly know what is best for me and what is best for those around me but God does.
The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation) that “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” The creator of the Heavens and Earth has a plan for me. God knows what I need and what is best for me. I don’t know what God will do in my life but I know the promises He has made and I have seen how much I can damage my own life when I try to have power over it. I stood up and proclaimed to God and to all that I Surrender All.
On a side note, as I am getting ready to post this I am hearing these words from the song Mighty to Save:
“I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender (I surrender)”
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Am I serving God?
I had the privilege of going to a small group last night and listening to Peggy, one of our churches leaders, speak (actually I know that God wanted me there last night). Peggy talked about serving values and why we serve God and how we go about doing that, she also had many amazing stories that she shared with us. What really hit me the hardest, there were a couple of things that perked my ears but this was the biggest, is her question of “are we prepared for Sunday mornings when we come into church, are we prayed up for it?”
I use to think I was prepared for Sunday mornings; I get to church a little early so that I can go around and talk with many of my friends and then I go into the big room and worship God through music, tithing and the message. Sounds pretty good right? Wrong! I was making it about me. I wanted to talk to my friends; I wanted to worship God for me alone. I wanted MY seat and I even got a little upset last Sunday because someone moved MY bulletins in MY seats and they sat in MY spot. I didn’t know who those two people were who so rudely stole MY seat. See all of the “MY” there? My. What a selfish word. I didn’t think about who those people were, I didn’t introduce myself to them and I am guessing I probably didn’t have a very warm and welcoming look on my face. What if these people were new to church or at least new to Blue Ridge? Did they know God and if they didn’t they sure would not have seen Him too clearly in me at that moment. Some body of Christ I was acting like at that moment. God may have had them there because He wanted me to meet them and talk with them. I hope they were not visitors looking for an excuse to not come back because I very likely could have been the reason they chose.
I don’t serve on Sunday mornings; no car parking, kid community or greeting but I am a part of the church and I am representing the church and while I do not have an assigned place to serve on Sunday mornings I am always serving my God and savior. I don’t pray during the week for Sunday service, true many people come to Christ throughout the week but Sundays are the biggest gatherings of people in one spot who are drawn by God. I pray that God will use me and I often make myself available but often I am very selfish on Sunday mornings. I have a new outlook on Sunday service now. I will come prepared for the spiritual warfare that will be taking place and I will open my ears for God to speak to me. I will let Him lead me to where I will sit and who I will talk to and stop thinking just about me. I will serve God by serving others and I pray that people will see God through me and if I seem to be closing off Gods light I ask that my fellow believers will tell me, no matter how harsh the words may seem. This is a battle for lost souls, who cares if I have to sit in a different seat this week.
I use to think I was prepared for Sunday mornings; I get to church a little early so that I can go around and talk with many of my friends and then I go into the big room and worship God through music, tithing and the message. Sounds pretty good right? Wrong! I was making it about me. I wanted to talk to my friends; I wanted to worship God for me alone. I wanted MY seat and I even got a little upset last Sunday because someone moved MY bulletins in MY seats and they sat in MY spot. I didn’t know who those two people were who so rudely stole MY seat. See all of the “MY” there? My. What a selfish word. I didn’t think about who those people were, I didn’t introduce myself to them and I am guessing I probably didn’t have a very warm and welcoming look on my face. What if these people were new to church or at least new to Blue Ridge? Did they know God and if they didn’t they sure would not have seen Him too clearly in me at that moment. Some body of Christ I was acting like at that moment. God may have had them there because He wanted me to meet them and talk with them. I hope they were not visitors looking for an excuse to not come back because I very likely could have been the reason they chose.
I don’t serve on Sunday mornings; no car parking, kid community or greeting but I am a part of the church and I am representing the church and while I do not have an assigned place to serve on Sunday mornings I am always serving my God and savior. I don’t pray during the week for Sunday service, true many people come to Christ throughout the week but Sundays are the biggest gatherings of people in one spot who are drawn by God. I pray that God will use me and I often make myself available but often I am very selfish on Sunday mornings. I have a new outlook on Sunday service now. I will come prepared for the spiritual warfare that will be taking place and I will open my ears for God to speak to me. I will let Him lead me to where I will sit and who I will talk to and stop thinking just about me. I will serve God by serving others and I pray that people will see God through me and if I seem to be closing off Gods light I ask that my fellow believers will tell me, no matter how harsh the words may seem. This is a battle for lost souls, who cares if I have to sit in a different seat this week.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Happy Birthday
December 25th marks the day we celebrate Jesus Christ’s birthday. My son asked if Jesus is 2,008 years old this year (out of the mouths of babes). The bible tells us that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning”1 and a few verses later that “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”2 So Jesus has always existed but this year we will celebrate the 2,008th birthday of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the day that the eternal God put on human flesh and came down to us, being born in a manger over two thousand years ago. “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”3 God left His throne in Heaven to come down to us and was born in a manger. A manger? The God who created everything humbled Himself and was born in a manger because there was no room for God in the inn.
No room for God, oh how often is that the case with us? Thanks for coming God but there is no room in my life for you, why don’t you just go wait over there. Is your life too full for God to have a place to stay in you? Is Christmas too full for Jesus to have a place in it? Christmas is a day of celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ. He came to us! His birthday and yet He was the gift. The bible says “but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”4 Don’t be afraid there is good news, a great joy, a savior –the long awaited messiah- and this gift is for everyone. The gift is for all who will receive it, but you have to open the gift to have it. What good is a wrapped gift sitting in the corner collecting dust? Sure it may look nice over there and maybe that is what you want from God. You like to look at the wrapped gift He has given you but there is no room to open it in your life right now so you will keep it under wraps. That’s insane! You have to open the gift to enjoy it, to use it.
This Christmas let us celebrate the birthday of all birthdays; the birthday of Jesus Christ leaving Heaven and dwelling among us to redeem us. While you are exchanging gifts this year with one another don’t forget whose day it is and the meaning behind it. And don’t forget to give Jesus a gift this year. After all it is His birthday, isn’t He the one who should be getting presents? I say we should all write down something we are going to give to God this year. Maybe it’s something that is holding you back from fully devoting your life to Him. Perhaps it is the forgiveness of someone who has wronged you, maybe its money, time; an addiction, your marriage or maybe it is your life. If you have never given your life to God what better time then now, what better place then here? This is why Jesus came here. Maybe it is time you open your gift from Him.
Notes 1. John 1:1(NIV) 2. John 1:14(NIV) 3. Luke 2:6-7(NIV) 4: Luke 4:10-11(NIV)
No room for God, oh how often is that the case with us? Thanks for coming God but there is no room in my life for you, why don’t you just go wait over there. Is your life too full for God to have a place to stay in you? Is Christmas too full for Jesus to have a place in it? Christmas is a day of celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ. He came to us! His birthday and yet He was the gift. The bible says “but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”4 Don’t be afraid there is good news, a great joy, a savior –the long awaited messiah- and this gift is for everyone. The gift is for all who will receive it, but you have to open the gift to have it. What good is a wrapped gift sitting in the corner collecting dust? Sure it may look nice over there and maybe that is what you want from God. You like to look at the wrapped gift He has given you but there is no room to open it in your life right now so you will keep it under wraps. That’s insane! You have to open the gift to enjoy it, to use it.
This Christmas let us celebrate the birthday of all birthdays; the birthday of Jesus Christ leaving Heaven and dwelling among us to redeem us. While you are exchanging gifts this year with one another don’t forget whose day it is and the meaning behind it. And don’t forget to give Jesus a gift this year. After all it is His birthday, isn’t He the one who should be getting presents? I say we should all write down something we are going to give to God this year. Maybe it’s something that is holding you back from fully devoting your life to Him. Perhaps it is the forgiveness of someone who has wronged you, maybe its money, time; an addiction, your marriage or maybe it is your life. If you have never given your life to God what better time then now, what better place then here? This is why Jesus came here. Maybe it is time you open your gift from Him.
Notes 1. John 1:1(NIV) 2. John 1:14(NIV) 3. Luke 2:6-7(NIV) 4: Luke 4:10-11(NIV)
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