Real Strength

One of the traits I have observed people attempting to show is being a “strong man” or “strong woman.” I believe it is important to be a strong person; however, it also seems that people may have somewhat of a wrong idea about what it means to be strong. These are some qualities that may provide some idea that show true strength (emotional, mental, social, etc). I invite you to study this list and see if something should be taken off or added.

A “strong man” or “strong woman” should:

  • be compassionate toward others
  • be able to listen
  • realize there are things we can learn from anyone
  • be able to learn from other people
  • not think anyone is beneath them
  • be the most loving person (without allowing others to “run over them”)

These are just some of the qualities and traits of strong people. What else would you add?

The Purpose of Our Gifts

Each one of us has been given certain gifts. We can call these talents or natural abilities. What we call them doesn’t matter as long as we can understand why we have been given these gifts/abilities and how we can humbly live with them and continue to learn about and develop these gifts.

This video message talks about why we have been given the gifts/abilities we have and what purpose they serve. Ryan delivers this message for our Saturday evening worship at Buda UMC. All people are invited and welcome to attend worship with us each week. www.budaumc.org

The scripture reference for this 25 minute message is 1 Corinthians 12.

May God strengthen each one of us as we joyfully proclaim Jesus Christ to a world in desperate need of Him.

Lord, I

How many of us have started our prayers with, “Lord, I…” and precede to tell God everything we want God to do for us? Last week, as I was praying, I noticed the prayer started with, “Lord, I…” Yes there were legitimate things I was praying about; but I asked myself, “how does this phrase really place God in my life?”

This was a hard question to think about because I realized that whether I knew it or not, there were times when I doubted God’s faithfulness, or sometimes it seemed that my faithfulness to God depended on how much God gave me.” The truth of it is, people’s faithfulness sometimes depends on circumstances and how much they get. God’s faithfulness depends on his devotion to you.

I’m not sure where you are today, or what you are going through. I can promise you that God’s faithfulness to you and to me goes way beyond understanding. In fact, God proved his love and faithfulness to us on the cross when Jesus Christ hung there for our sins. With this in mind, we can look at this verse from Luke, “If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Luke 11:13 CEB)

How is your personal prayer life? What kinds of things do you pray for? The disciples only questions they asked Jesus to teach them about was, “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1)

Because we have a high priest in heaven right now (Jesus Christ), we have a constant intercessor for us. Jesus prays for each one of you and for me. (Hebrews 7)

So, as I continued to pray, I felt in my heart the prayer begin to change. No longer was it, “Lord, I want…” or “Lord, I want you to…” or “Lord, please help or be with…”. The prayer focus became more about the relationship I have with God through Jesus Christ. The prayer became, “Lord, You…”

Lord, You are the giver of all good gifts.
You are the source of life.
You provide my needs.
You are with those who need you.
You are my rock and my strength, a very present help in times of trouble.
Lord, You are faithful to me, even when my faithfulness to you runs dry and disbelief and unbelief seep into my thoughts.
Thank You!
Thank You, Lord!
It is amazing what is done in the power You have provided.

May our prayers and prayer life give God the glory and keep him in the right place in our hearts.

IMG_2564.JPG

Why?

There is a simple question most children will ask and it consists of three letters–“Why?”. They are curious and are simply seeking out answers so they can try to learn what’s going on or the reason behind a particular question or statement,  etc.

As I have grown older, “why” has become a favorite question for me to ask simply because I enjoy learning the “behind the scenes” instead of what’s shown. Seeking answers to this simple, three worded,  question has helped me understand people and situations with a clearer view than just taking it at face value.

This question also teaches me and reminds me I do not know it all and that I still have much to learn. This excites me that I get to learn something new all of the time!

How often do you ask “why?” and listen to the answer? This simple question also helps us keep a childlike attitude when it comes to viewing the world and seeing people as they are. Not just their skin color or what they have; but as someone we can learn from and see how much value they have.

Say What?

“I can’t believe you just said that!”
“Well, if you knew what I was really thinking…”

How often have we said or thought those phrases or something like them? I bet you’re like me and often hear the meaning behind the words even if that’s not what the person meant.

I do not particularly enjoy confrontation. It is, however, interesting to hear conversations going on around me. I believe my job, as a Christian, is to say what needs to be said in a convicting yet caring way. This is not always easy.

Imagine if you are talking with a stranger and this person says some way you need to change. Now imagine the same conversation, but this time it’s a close friend not a stranger. Who would you take offense at? Who would you get defensive with or have your feelings hurt?

Speaking with strangers is sometimes easier than friends or family. Doesn’t it seem we’re nicer and more patient with strangers?

What would it look like to speak the same way to family and friends?

Our speech should build up and encourage. Sometimes encouragement comes in the form of criticism, but it’s purpose is to build up. The language we use is important to pay attention to so that it is used in the right way.

Using communication to build up is not as easy as tearing down; but I know we can all do it.

20140805-200315-72195956.jpg

Communication & Prayer

It is easier to internalize everything than talk about it. We find it easier to talk with people than to speak to God.

“Just pray about it.” We hear this a lot, but why?

*What is prayer? How do I know what to say?
*What posture should we use for prayer?
*Public or private prayer?
*How can I live a life of constant prayer?

This is the video about Saturday worship. Hopefully these thoughts can help us improve or begin a deep prayer life with our Creator.

Click here for video message.

20140803-210357-75837623.jpg

What Do You See?

Cloud gazing is fun and relaxing for me. It’s fun to see different shapes, animals, faces, etc.

We should all use our imaginations more. As children we make up games, rules, and like to come up with the best costume for Halloween. Our imaginations help our creativity. This shows we can have fun in life when more and more adults are taking life too seriously.

What do you see when you look around? Can you see leaves dancing with each other? Can you hear music when the wind blows over the water?

What do you see? I see a crocodile with a wide open mouth.

20140724-214459-78299540.jpg

Faded Reflections

If I were to ask you what you least liked about yourself you may go quiet and say you don’t want to talk about it, or you may quickly say something regarding your apearance. Why do we do this? Why do we see the worst in ourselves when our friends and others can see the best in us? It seems to be human nature to be pessimistic when it comes to our appearance or our perceived value we bring; but this means we’re just listening to the wrong voice.

I fall into this false paradigm about myself more than I care to admit. Most of ths time this way of thinking comes when someone cancels a meeting or shoots down an idea that has been on my mind for a while.  Sometimes I even fall into thinking I’m not good enough or “cool” enough to be in a position oraround certain types of people.

When we fall into this way of thinking, we should ask ourselves what voice are we really listening to? Do we listen to the voice that tells us we’re not that good, or to the voice that tries to tell us we are worth something?

The real challenge is to remember to not stay focused soley on us.  We should remember there are many people who think differently about us; people who know the real us.

It doesn’t take long for me to get out of a funk like this. The thing that helps me is I begin to talk with God. This may be something difficult for some  people; but there are ways we can take the focus off us. We can go to a park or find a place that will bring you joy. Finding a person to talk with helps a lot and so does writing down thoughts in a journal.

Whatever you do to get out of a bad state of mind, do it and come to the truth that you are special and have more value than comes to mind at times.

Sacrifices Today

A common scripture we may hear is Romans 12:1-2.

Let’s read this and see again what it says:
So, brothers and sisters, because of God’s mercies, I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service. Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature. (‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1-2‬ CEB)

What is something you noticed? As I was going about my day, the notion of a “living sacrifice” kept coming up in my thoughts.

Dictionary.com defines sacrifice as
noun
1. the offering of animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession to a deity, as in propitiation or homage.
2. the person, animal, or thing so offered.
3. the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.

Thinking about this, I wandered if we are “living sacrifices” so others can see Christ in us.

Jesus Christ made the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Yes, we are called to “die daily” to ourselves, and “pick up our cross daily;” but these are figurative.

Sacrifice can be anything from giving money away we could us to taking someone’s place in death to save them. If we are to be “living sacrifices,” what have we done today or what can we do tomorrow?

One of the things I enjoy sacrificing is my time. Sure I have plenty to do; but the opportunity to spend quality time with another person is incredible. What I am freely able to give is my time. I could pick up a phone and call someone and talk; but it is so much more fun and meaningful (for me) to sit and give undivided time face to face.

In a world where sacrificing seems to be a taboo lifestyle because we have to look out for ourselves, we have the chance to show greater love, care, compassion when we really give of ourselves. This is how we won’t be “conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds (Romans‬ ‭12‬:2).

Now it’s your turn. How do you think you can be a “living sacrifice” to someone (family, friend, co-worker, acquaintance, stranger) the next time you leave the comfort of your home?

Learning About God at the Beach

Standing on the beach and staring at the ocean can make us feel small. We may even feel like there is so much going on around us (birds flying and feeding, waves never ending, avoiding sea weed and jellyfish). With all of this going on around us, it can be difficult to see or hear from God; or even allow our minds and spirits to be quiet and calm so we can learn more about God.

Two mornings in a row, I’ve had the opportunity to just walk on the beach and learn 3 amazing things about God, God speaking to us, and something about us:

1) We have heard God’s love is like the ocean (vast, endless and never ending). As the waves were coming in, it occurred to me something is trying to stop them or at least break them apart. Then, looking at the land and feeling the breeze, it dawned on me that we are like the land and the breeze. We’ll try and try to stop God and His love from reaching us; but it just keeps coming and reaching out for us.

2) We can see there are many waves and they can be loud. We know the waves are there but we also have ways of tuning the sound and the presence of waves out. It was at this point I felt God saying the waves are like His voice, His words trying to speak to us. A question to think about is: How often do we really pay attention and tune in to hear the voice of God instead of ignoring it? Water is life. Without water, the land would dry up. So is the same with us when we try to avoid and run away from God. We need His life giving spirit each and everyday.

3) Last but not least. This morning there was a lone sea gull trying to search for food and wandering about. This reminded me of us, as humans. We are constantly reaching out and wandering about to find something, anything that will fill us up. Just as the water kept coming toward the land and the sea gull, God is always reaching for us. It is in Him we find fulfillment. It is in Him we find spiritual nourishment. It is in Him we find our purpose.

My prayer is that we never look at the beach or the ocean the same way again. May we be the people who see God everywhere!

20140709-123802-45482545.jpg