Snared In An Invisible Web
by Rob on Jul.28, 2011, under Helpful Advice, Opinion
We’ve all heard the slogan, “Freedom isn’t free.” While most read that and immediately think about men and women giving their lives to earn and protect America’s freedom, I want to look at that slogan from a different angle. While freedom in and of itself is good, it is also easily abused and carried beyond its purpose and intent. That’s something, when looked at closely, is a tactic of Satan’s that is all to common in our fallen world.
How many good things, given by God, has Satan manipulated into becoming idols, things that divide, and things that some people will kill over? Satan is a master of twisting good things and good promises of God’s into things that wound, divide, and kill. Satan twists entertainment, communication, love, sex, power, and many other naturally good things into things that wound and destroy.
I’ve been meditating on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 recently. It reads, “Be joyful always; pray without ceasing; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”
It can be a challenge to discern what good things have snared us in Satan’s invisible web of manipulation. What makes it difficult to discern is that good things can easily be enjoyed to a point where they cloud our view of God and our communication with Him. Like a bug that gets trapped in a spider’s web, especially if the spider doesn’t immediately respond to the captive’s vibrations of their web, it is easy to give up and accept one’s fate when one becomes familiar with their surroundings (culture or circumstances). Greed, lust, time wasted excessively watching sports, spending time social networking, and the list could go on, all gradually begin to pull us further away from God. They steal our joy, prevent us from praying continually and giving thanks, cause us to resent the Holy Spirit when he convicts us of drifting away from God, and even drift away from spending daily time in the Word of God.
If you’ve opened your eyes today to notice that you’re caught in an invisible web where seemingly good things have captured more of your time, focus, and attention than maybe they should, confess that to God and ask Him to release you from the snares you find yourself in. You may also want to ask Him to point out others ways you’re snared but are too familiar with to notice outright.
Being set truly free is why Jesus came to earth, and is why He will soon return again. Captives of sin and deception need not remain that way. True freedom, and the discernment of true from false freedom is something God gives abundantly. Let’s seek Him while He still may be found!
Driving Lessons
by Rob on Jun.02, 2011, under Helpful Advice
Driving through town is becoming increasingly challenging. I wonder how much of it has to do with warmer weather, an increase of family activities in summer time, or simply drivers attempting to cram too many activities into a certain span of time.
No matter what the reason is, all I seem to see are drivers driving with increased aggression and reduced willingness to let another driver pass in front of themselves.
In the span of 3 minutes this afternoon, I had two different drivers cut me off, three drive dangerously close to my bumper, and one refuse to yield the right-of-way. Should I mention I was only driving in a 40 mph speed zone?
Regardless of peoples’ intentions, motives, and the like, the common denominator involving all these drivers is self-pride. One puts himself ahead of others because he believes he will reap some internal or external benefit because he does so.
The hardest thing I deal with when I’m frequently confronted by others’ pride ends up being my own! It’s in these times when my internal “default” strong desires to complain, grouse, and call another a name of some sort. But the source of that is my own personal pride! What does one do?
It’s in these times when I must turn the focus on self, fight back the prideful urges inside, and forgive those who’ve offended me.
It is not an easy lesson, but if I must go through this driving lesson, there will be tests along the way.
Too Busy Today?
by Rob on Mar.07, 2011, under Prayer Devotional
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah..,- Psalm 95:6-8a
We serve and worship the God above all other gods (and there are countless gods throughout our land and the earth). Here, in the West, we scurry about going from one task to another; we carry our lists filled with things to purchase and tasks to check off throughout our days- and many days begin with leftover tasks left undone from previous days. We’re often like hamsters scurrying on their little running wheels.
While it’s rather entertaining to watch the little rodent run his little legs off (some call it exercise), he doesn’t accomplish much and certainly doesn’t go anywhere.
In our scurrying culture and world, it is terribly easy to hear God’s voice and harden our hearts. Have you ever heard His voice then procrastinated in carrying out what He tells you to do? Have you ever doubted or questioned something God told you? These are two examples (sometimes subtle) of how we can harden our hearts toward God.
He is our LORD and Maker and deserves our worship and praise. While this is often said in the church, how often do we carry it out- and how often is it the very first thing we do after being commanded or requested to do so? We are the flock of His pasture (what an incredible pasture we live and serve within!) and we are under His care! There’s no One greater who cares as much as He does!
Let’s worship Him now. Speak or sing praises to Him. Worship Him for His perfect attributes. Worship Him for His perfect plan being worked out in our lives and in the lives of those around us. The tasks on our lists can wait a bit longer. Let’s not make God wait any longer for the praise He deserves!
The Me, My, I, Generation
by Rob on Aug.03, 2010, under Opinion
Ever since the Fall of man in the Garden of Eden, man has desired to take God’s place as #1 in the universe. Never has that been more noticeable than in our day and age!
Much of the focus in the West is self-centered (and this influence is quickly spreading across the globe). I-this (phone, pad, etc), My-that (space, life, etc); websites and material things are centered on making and keeping the individual, king/queen.
The focus on self is ingrained in children in our culture too.
I recently listened to a group of adults and teenagers share stories and impressions from a recent mission trip. Adults commented on things they witnessed God do (Divine appointments, movements of the Holy Spirit in actions and conversations, etc.). Teenagers, however, shared with a vastly different focus. “It was really cool how so many of the kids swarmed me. I really felt loved,” said one teenager. “I really liked how some children never wanted to leave my side,” said another.
I believe that these students will deepen their walk with God in time, but in the meantime, it’s incredibly noticeable that the focus on self trumps a focus on giving to others.
It’s a trend I hope changes soon. But as ingrained as it is in our society, it will take a work from God to change it!
Summer Tour Prayer Guide- July 25, 2010
by Rob on Jul.25, 2010, under Prayer Devotional
Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Psalm 150
As we complete our tours and return to Westfield, IN, let’s praise the One who has done great things within each of us, and through each of us! Like the grand finale of a great fireworks display, let’s inundate the heavens with prayers of thanksgiving and praise!
God has done great things in our midst. To Him be the glory forever!
Prayer point: Ask the Lord to guide your next steps for His glory.
Summer Tour Prayer Guide- July 24, 2010
by Rob on Jul.24, 2010, under Prayer Devotional
For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25
During the course of tour, some people you’ve met have discovered that they have strayed from their Shepherd and Creator. Give thanks for the Holy Spirit’s convicting and transforming work in their lives. If you know specific names of people who made decisions for Christ, pray for them to grow in faith, trust, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer point: Ask God to help you finish your tour well and in the power of His Spirit.
Summer Tour Prayer Guide- July 23, 2010
by Rob on Jul.23, 2010, under Prayer Devotional
Be merciful to those who doubt; Jude 22
We have a natural tendency to drift toward, and congregate with, people we know and agree with. It’s a comfortable thing to do- and we all appreciate people who see things the same way we do (or at least most of the time).
But what about those who don’t? What about those who doubt what we believe? Suddenly we’re not so comfortable and friendly. It can suddenly be easy to be rude, angry, or cold.
We’re commanded to be merciful to those who doubt. Many who once doubted the power of the Lord’s work on the cross now know Him as Lord and Savior. Someone was merciful, or showed love to them, and God used that to bring them to faith.
Prayer point: Pray for your final concerts of the tour. Pray for audience members’ hearts to be open to the gospel. For those with harder hearts, pray for God’s strength and mercy as you love them closer to the kingdom.
Summer Tour Prayer Guide- July 22, 2010
by Rob on Jul.22, 2010, under Prayer Devotional
“Ministry is the stuff that happens during the interruptions of life.”
Although this is not a direct quote from Scripture, Jesus’ ministry was full of opportunities to serve- that could’ve been dismissed as interruptions.
Mark 10 tells of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar sitting next to a road between Jericho and Jerusalem. When he hears Jesus, his disciples, and a large crowd pass by, he calls for Jesus. Jesus stops. After calling Bartimaeus over, Jesus asks him what he wants Him to do. “I want to see (again),” says Bartimaeus. Jesus heals him and they continue toward Jerusalem.
Jesus could have easily kept walking and ignored the man. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem where He’d soon be nailed to a cross for the sin of all men. As important as that mission was, he stopped, and ministered to Bartimaeus. That beggar’s life was never the same again!
Watch for the opportunities to serve others- especially when you find yourself busy or focused on another task or project!
Prayer point: Pray as the Spirit leads today.
Summer Tour Prayer Guide- July 21, 2010
by Rob on Jul.21, 2010, under Prayer Devotional
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
By this stage in a tour, fatigue can set in and begin to steal joy, unity, and excitement. It’s time to deal with the “T” in HALT (hunger, anger, loneliness, tiredness) and invite the Lord in to tell us what’s true about this race we’re running.
We’re surrounded by a great, many, witnesses.
Sin easily hinders and entangles
Let’s persevere! The race is not yet finished. God has more for us if we’ll only persevere!
Prayer point: Pray for endurance, perseverance, and for the Lord to restore your joy (especially if it seems to be lacking!).
Summer Tour Prayer Guide- July 20, 2010
by Rob on Jul.20, 2010, under Prayer Devotional
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Romans 1:16
The gospel contains the power of God. No greater gift has been given in eternity! Yet many shy away from freely sharing that life-altering gift with others. Thank you for stepping out in faith this summer to do what many fear to do!
Prayer point: Pray for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon your audience members today- and in the days to come.
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