Blog: If You Say So

I'm always amazed at the beginning encounters with Jesus.

In Luke 5, the disciples hadn't known Jesus very long (if at all). He shows up and immediately saves the day...

They just get finished with a long days work of catching nothing and He gives them direction to go back out and to go for it.

They're response: "If you say so."

And guess what happens... exactly what Jesus said would happen. They caught many fish, so much so they had to get help to bring it in. And even then both boats were on the verge of sinking (see Luke 5:7)!

What is your response when Holy Spirit speaks to your heart? Is it "Oh God, I can't do that?" Is it "Oh God, that's impossible?" Or is it "If You say so God?"

In the beginning chapters of Genesis and Luke we find how important it is to listen to what God says. If our response isn't if You says so... then we need to check out hearts... because obviously Jesus knows exactly where the best catch is.

Written by Chris on Yesterday, Monday, at 9:17 pm

Blog: Tale of Two Kingdoms

The kingdom of this world is self-serving.
The Kingdom of God is self-sacrificing.

In the kingdom of this world, everyone's opinion matters.
In the Kingdom of God, the only opinion that matters is that of Jesus.

To gain promotion in the kingdom of this world, one must sell one's self.
To gain promotion in the Kingdom of God, one must give up one's self.

Deceitful, political agendas are the way of the kingdom of this world.
Living a life of integrity and honesty is the way of the Kingdom of God.

Gossip and lies are the speech of the kingdom of this world.
Love and truth is the speech of the Kingdom of God.

Hypocrisy is the norm for the kingdom of this world.
Transparency is the norm for the Kingdom of God.

The kingdom of this world revolves around humanity and the common good.
The Kingdom of God revolves around one God-man, Jesus and His goodness.


So which kingdom are you truly a part of?

Written by Chris on Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 9:58 am

Blog: Really?

The tactics of our enemy, satan, are deceptive and evil. As followers of Jesus, he longs to ruin our lives. If we really thought about it, most of us are aware of this. But why then do we give in so quickly and easily to his schemes?

In Genesis 3, the serpent comes to Eve and the FIRST thing he says is "Really? Did God really say that? Did He really say that you would die"

satan uses this same ploy in our lives: Did God really say that when we sin, it breaks His heart? Did God really say that Jesus is the only way? Did God really say that He wants to heal you? Did God really say that He has a destiny for your life? Did God really speak to you about reaching that friend with His love?

It seems we listen too often to these lies and begin to question what God really said, and at that point we begin to question God

Don't forget, when God says something, it happens. Just check out Genesis 1:3.

Written by Chris on Friday, January 2, 2009 at 12:09 pm

Blog: In The Beginning...

You may have heard those words from Genesis 1:1 a million times but their impact still rings out.

I find it thrilling how it clearly states "In the beginning, God created..." It does not say, "In the beginning, God was created..." because He already was! The was no for beginning for God because He "is" beginning itself.

I know that may seem hard to wrap around minds around, but to me that speaks of the huge-ness of our God! It speaks of the greatness of who He is.

The story continues with Him speaking (in Genesis 1:3) "Let there be light." And guess what, there was. He simply spoke, and it happened.

That's how big our God is. When He speaks, it happens. Creation didn't argue with Him. It simple obeyed.

How different would our lives be if we lived instant obedience all the time! How different things would play out in our lives if we simply acted as soon as He spoke.

It's a new year... and a new day... an opportunity for each of us to simply obey as soon as He speaks.

Written by Chris on Thursday, January 1, 2009 at 5:32 pm

Blog: Meaningless Worship: The kind He hates

Meaningless worship. Yes, it is possible. See here and here.

I finished up reading Hosea and headed over to his neighbor Amos (neighbor in the Old Testament).

Even though Amos was a *just* shepherd, He was super-important to speaking the truth of God to a nation whose hearts were cold. I say just jokingly because so often we think we have to be in "full-time" ministry to be used of God, and obviously that is not the case.

Anyways, what the LORD says concerning worship through Amos takes what Hosea said a step further.

This is what He says in Amos 5:21-24:

"I hate all your show and pretense--the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won't even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your hymns of praise! They are only noise to my ears. I will not listen to your music, no matter how lovely it is. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, a river of righteous living that will never run dry."

When God uses the word hate, I think we should take note of what it is He hates. Actually, we should take note of everything He says... but that's a whole different blog for a whole different day.

Could the worship I'm giving Him be the kind He hates? Could He hate the worship you're giving Him?

Sure this is in the Old Testament, there is grace and mercy because of Jesus... and thankfully we don't have to bring physical sacrifices. But I believe 100% that these verses still speak to a truth and the still speak to the heart of God.

I had to check myself when I read this. I'm still chewing on it.

As we start this new year, maybe consider your worship... is it all for show... is it all for you...


Or is it all for Him?

Written by Chris on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 9:02 am

Blog: Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone.

Will pick up with "Meaningless Worship" on Friday.

http://merrychristmas.fromthedavisfamily.com


Written by Chris on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 2:40 pm

Blog: Meaningless Worship: Honoring the "Sacrifice"

So Hosea laid it out in Hosea 8:13 that Israel was loving their ritual of sacrifice more than they were loving the One to whom they were sacrificing.

I know for my own life (not that I've completely arrived) I seem to have come full circle.

There was a point where I was all strung out on *not* singing hymns and if we sang hymns then we were being religious and God didn't get anything out of it.

I was honoring my "sacrifice" more than Him.

What I wasn't understanding was that God doesn't get a lot out of our little songs anyways. He's interested in our hearts, our lives.

Now don't get me wrong, I love worship music. That's pretty much all I listen to. I've had some pretty intense experiences in worship settings. Ones that have completely changed my life. Ones where you forget where you are because you're so wrapped up in who He is. Ones where everything around you fades away because of the beauty of the moment.

But there's a point we can come to where we begin to worship those moments and forget the One we're worshiping.

That's why, when someone comes and asks me to do a hymn on a Sunday morning, I don't freak out... because I can worship with a hymn. I'm over my revival-religion.

When Christmas rolls around, it seems people discount Christmas Carols as "worship songs". I know it's more so a matter of semantics... but sometimes a whole arrogant attitude comes with it. I think Christmas Carols are fun to worship with because we're singing about the birth of our King... and honoring Him because of what He did for us. I personally have had some incredible times worshiping via carols.

So with all that (sounds like I'm rambling a bit) we definitely have to be careful with our worship... besides He's not after our music, OR EVEN THE MOMENT, He's after our heart, our eternal devotion.

I've got even more brewing for tomorrow... Hosea's "neighbor", Amos, has a few thoughts on worship as well. :)


So how do you worship?

Written by Chris on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 10:03 am

Blog: Meaningless Worship

These thoughts have been bouncing around in my head ever since I hit the book of Hosea last week.

Something else jumped out at me that can't be passed up.

Hosea 8:13 says "The people of Israel love their rituals of sacrifice, but to me their sacrifices are meaningless!"

Imagine your worship being meaningless. That's pretty intense.

You'd think because God DESERVES our worship, any worship we bring to Him would be cool... but that's not the case. You'd think because He's merciful and gracious that He'd accept any type of "worship". But again, not so.

Apparently, the people of Israel were enjoying the ritual of worship more than the One they were worshiping. Their sacrifice had become their idol, yet the One they were supposedly worshiped was to be enthroned in their hearts.

Again, we see the heart of God proclaiming His desire for hearts of man to be His.

How often do we do the same thing?

We get in our head that our worship has to SOUND a certain way, it has to BE a certain way, it has to FEEL a certain way... who are we kidding?

In the midst of all the sounds and the be-ings and the feel-ings have we begun to worship our worship?

More tomorrow...
(seriously, I've already got it written, just wanted to break it up)

So what do you think about meaningless worship?

Written by Chris on Monday, December 22, 2008 at 9:51 am

Blog: Hosea was The Man

Still wrapping my mind around the book of Hosea.

All I'm sayin' is that Hosea was the man.

I know that expression dates me. But it's true.

To go through what Hosea did... simply to get a message across to the people of Israel was intense.

I think he was willing to do it because He had found the heart of God and nothing else mattered.

His own personal desires and plans didn't matter.

His "American Dream" didn't matter... (if he had one).

His dream of simply having a "nice" life was out the window (hello, he was married to a prostitute!).

All that mattered was that the Word of the LORD be preached and that the heart of God be made known.


Written by Chris on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 11:17 am

Blog: Go marry a prostitute...

I just started reading through Hosea this morning. It seriously is one of my favorite books in the Bible (if not my complete favorite).

One of the reasons I like it so much is because God gives huge glimpses of His heart all throughout Hosea. To me, it shows how "real" and how loving our God really is.

When I say real, what I mean is... even though He is Holy and completely self-sufficient, He still longs for relationship with us humans. I don't see how you could think any differently from the messages the LORD gives Hosea to deliver.

Something else about the revelation of God through Hosea that really stands is that He has Hosea marry a prostitute... so that Israel will understand how much they've strayed from the LORD and how much God longs for their return.

Can you imagine how Hosea might have felt? Hosea 1:2 says that when the LORD first began to speak to Israel through Hosea, God told him to go marry a prostitute...

Craziness.

But to me, that shows HOW MUCH God wants relationship with His people. He'd go to any length to get our hearts back...

He even gave Himself. That's how far He went.

If you've never read the book of Hosea, I would greatly encourage you to read and re-read it. It will change your life.


Written by Chris on Monday, December 15, 2008 at 11:35 am