I remember having childhood heroes of Spider-Man, Batman, and Superman. They were great, but I really wanted to find REAL life heroes I could model my life after.

I looked for people with integrity, character, and a sense of purpose. Sure there were people setting goals and achieving, but when I followed them long enough they had no sense of their purpose.

When I became a Christian, I began studying the Bible. Excitement came over me when I saw flawed men, like myself, be transformed by God as they humbly pursued Him with PURPOSE.

John the Baptist was one of those men. He had a more clear sense of his purpose than most. When pressed by the Pharisees, he confidently answered, “I am not the Christ”.

He was not looking for fame or a platform. Instead, He was there to prepare the way for Jesus. His whole life was lived for someone else.

There was no mid-life crisis for John mentioned in scripture. He was laser focused on his mission and pursued it to the point of death. That is the kind of unshakeable purpose and passion I wanted.

We, too, can have that kind of laser focus. We can avoid the mid-life crisis. We can wake every day with an unwavering sense of passion and purpose…when Christ is at the center of every part of our lives.

Is Jesus an after thought or is He at the center of all your plans?

#MPWarrior

#MissionAndPurpose

#JesusAtTheCenter

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But what about during the times of prosperity? How quick we are to claim the glory of “our hard work” instead of thanking God for His provision.

We are at a greater risk of forgetting Him when things are going well than when we are struggling. We cannot just put Jesus our back pocket only to pull Him out when we have trouble.

What if you treated our spouse like that? I’m guessing you wouldn’t even qualify to be in the dog house.

The cyclical nature of trials and rest periods is not unlike a Sport. In the off-season, you are training hard to learn and be ready for game time.

You could think of the trials as the off-season. Spend time in His word, journal all the things God is bringing you through, and take time with Him in prayer developing your trust and relationship.

Then, when you are at a place where the trial has subsided, it’s game time. Time to remember all the things you learned from His word.

Read your journal daily to remind yourself of all the good things He has done for you that you may not forget Him during the times of prosperity.

Praise Him for bringing you through and granting you a time of rest and renewal. Let your lips be filled with thanksgiving and praise as you meditate on all His mighty works!

May God bless these efforts to keep Him at the center of our lives now and forever more.

#MPWarrior

#NoBackPocketJesusAllowed

#KeepHimAtTheCenter

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Truly living a life that matters can only happen when we are confident in God, thankful for His provision, and equipped to carry out His mission.

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Prior to the healing He was asked who sinned in regard to the blindness, him or his parents. Jesus clearly states it was neither but so that the works of God my be displayed.

The irony in all of this is that the blind man trusted and received sight. No matter how much evidence Jesus shows to the educated religious leaders, they still chose not to see.

They were trained in the Word. No doubt they have seen all the prophecy regarding the coming Messiah. They have seen more then everyone, yet they refused to believe and choose blindness.

We have God’s word freely available to us 24×7. We see the evidence around us every day in the complexity of design in every species that points to a designer. My own eyes have seen the impossible become possible through prayer.

Let us not be lo like the men who saw and heard but choose to be blind and deaf, but instead as those who were blind and now see. Let our mouths not remain silent of what we have seen of Him.

#MPWarrior

#DontBeBlindAndDeafToTheruth

#TheBlindSeeAndTheDeafHearThroughJesus

Not only does He have a vision for the universe for all eternity, but He also has a vision specifically for you. As you read Ephesians 2:10, what elements of His vision for us do we see?

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NASB‬‬

There are three things that confirm God’s vision in my mind:

Design by Him: we are His workmanship. If we journey back to Genesis, we find that we were created by His hands and He breathed His breath of life into us.

Designed for good works: we aren’t just an awesome creation to be admired. We were created for a purpose. That purpose is described as the good works we are to walk in. These include discipling others, baptizing them, and teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded us (Matt 28:16-30). We do this all for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God.

Designed for action: while God did the heavy lifting in this plan, In His Vision, we are given the responsibility of action. We are to “walk in” the good works that He prepared beforehand. This implies planning and vision as they were “prepared beforehand”

Too many times we throw away or ignore God’s vision for our own vision of having earthly success. It’s easy to do in a performance-based world. We must fight to hold onto the vision God has given us if we are to live in accordance with our design. When we do this successfully, our body, soul, and mind are filled with joy as we serve our Father in heaven and bring Him glory.

Reflection

In what ways has God designed you specifically to carry out the great commission(Matt. 28::18-20)?

What has been your biggest distraction?

What’s one step you can take today to prevent that distraction and stay focused on carrying out your mission?

Prayer

Father, You have knit us in our mother’s’ wombs. From before the world began, You knew us and prepared a mission and vision for us. Reveal this truth to our hearts that we may be energized for You and the mission You’ve called us to. You have designed us according to Your perfect plan. Let us walk in the good works You have set before us and not be distracted. May Our lives be pleasing in Your sight and bring You honor and glory forever; in Jesus’ name, Amen!

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, your mission is clear.  There are no age, gender, or socioeconomic requirements.  If you have surrendered your life to God, trusting completely in the person and work of Jesus, you are a disciple maker.

Yes, your life will look different from everyone else’s in how you carry that out(your Vision) because you have been given specific roles, activities, attributes, skills, abilities, gifts, personalities, resources, and experiences.  These are all to be used for the sake of the gospel when making disciples and bringing God glory.

I love how this section of scriptures wraps up in verse 20:  “And lo, I will be with you even to the end of the age”. God has not asked you to run a rogue mission.  He is right by your side as you learn what the mission is and carry it out.  As a matter of fact not only is He beside you, but the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in you.

You have everything you need to carry out this mission successfully.   So let’s go love, serve and disciple today!

Reflection

What does God say our mission is?

What opportunities do you have today to carry out that mission?

How has God specifically wired you for this mission?

Prayer

Father, You have knit us in our mother’s’ womb specifically for carrying out your mission. Give us insight as to how you have designed us hat we may use it all for Your glory. You desire to dwell in our inmost being and lead us on to victory. We praise You for giving us purpose and teaching us to live a life that matters. Thank You, Father, Amen!

Looking back from where my faith is now, I see things even more clearly.  My thoughts then were only the beginning of the most amazing relationship in my life.  Not only was He my Savior but also my King to whom I swear my allegiance.   For I will work for Him with all diligence.  When it gets hard I will remember the cross and what He has endured for me. 

I must remember this earth is not my home.  I’m only on a work trip for my King.  It is Him that I seek to please.  One day I will return home to receive my inheritance He has protected for me. He has given me my work assignment (Matt 28:18-20) and many instructions on how to carry that out.  He has even given me the ultimate teacher, mentor, and helper (John 14:25-26).  Let us all press on working diligently for the One who has set us free and allowed us to work for Him!

Reflection

Who are you working for today?

How can you work more diligently for the Lord?

Spend some time today picturing your inheritance the Lord is protecting for you. Praise Him for His mighty victory at the cross.  He is such a good King!!!

Prayer

Father, You are mighty in power and have purchased us with the precious blood of Christ.  We are Yours forever.    You have sent us on a mission to work for You.  Let us carry out that work with all diligence, honor, and glory to You. May the work of our hands be pleasing in Your sight.  May strongholds be torn down in the minds of those we serve and may they join us on this amazing work trip You have us on.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Read 2 Samuel 11. 

This chapter comes right after some of David’s mighty victories.  There are two things in this story that help us understand the breeding ground of sin.  The first is captured in the opening verse:

“Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.”

~ ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭NASB‬‬

Did you catch it? At the time when the kings go out to battle David stayed at Jerusalem.  There are times when we are tired, want to give up, and yet there is a mission we are on and a specific vision for our lives. We must not withdraw from that mission, lest we put ourselves at risk of idleness and sin.  Said another way, if our focus wanders from Christ and we stop even for a moment living His mission, and we remove ourselves from active duty, and we have lost the battle already.  We must keep fighting the good fight taking rest in the Lord only along the way.  

By the time we get to verse 4 David has already committed adultery in his heart as well as physically.  The other sad part of this is that the men working with the king willingly participate in helping him carry this out.  It’s not until Nathan challenges him, that he sees the sin that has overtaken him.  Could not any of these men appealed to David’s heart or had David closed his heart to them?

Reflection

So what can we take away?

We must remained focused on the mission with eyes fixed on Christ

We must be connected with others that will hold us accountable and advise us from God’s word.  (Yes this implies we must trust, be humble and vulnerable)

We must also be ready to confess and repent for when we forget these truths.  

Prayer

Father You have searched and known our hearts. For we are capable of much evil.  Help fix our eyes on Jesus and equip us to live out the mission you have for us.  Surround us with godly brothers and sisters in Christ that will speak truth into our hearts even when it hurts and prepare our hearts to receive that truth.  Thank you LORD for Your great love with which You love us through Christ, Amen!

I had been trying to hold my life’s pieces together by myself and it seems that I had reached my limit in that moment. More importantly, through the truth shared from God’s word, I had entered into the presence of Jesus Christ. 

I have to admit I was a little caught off guard.  Perhaps that was because, like Paul said, Jesus is light and there is no darkness in Him at all.  Being in the presence of Jesus’ pure holiness causes our darkness to be see clearly.  That night, for the first time, I clearly saw the darkness of my soul; my blatant disregard for my loving Father in heaven, my willful disobedience and self-centeredness.  I felt worthy to be in His presence.  

As Simon (Peter) was cleaning his nets from the unproductive attempts , he likewise had an encounter with Jesus.  Our Lord requested that he put out into deep water and let down the nets again.   I’m sure Peter was tired, frustrated and there may have been a hint of sarcasticastic tone as he speaks to Jesus but obeys.  The nets end up getting filled to full measure so much so that it takes two boats to haul in the catch.  Peter falls at Jesus feet and says “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”  

There are three things that stand out to me in this passage about the presence of Jesus. 

HUMBLED- Jesus is light and therefore exposes our darkness.  Peter was humbled. Jesus didn’t comment on Peter’s sin.  He didn’t have to. The powerful presence of His holiness and light revealed that Peter was not worthy to be in His presence. 

DEPENDENT- With God all things are possible. Peter had worked hard all night without any success.  I’m sure he had used years of experience and every trick he knew and yet his hands were empty.  Peter was taught a simple lesson that he would need reminding of later.  We need to be dependent on the Lord, not our own hands, to provide. 

PREPARED – Jesus prepares us for our mission.  Later in the text we see Jesus tell Peter that he will be a fisher of men.  To do this it was necessary that he be humbled and dependent.  As they arrive at shore, a new journey in life began for Peter as he leftbehind everything and followed Jesus. 

Reflection

I believe those of us who sincerely profess Jesus as Lord must remain humble and dependent as we walk out our mission as fishers of men.  One of the biggest dangers in the Christian life is forgetting the holiness of God and thereby our need of Him. 

Take some time to remember back to when you first understood your sinful nature and your need of Jesus. 

Are you still operating in that humility and dependence?

Prayer

Father, let us never discount your holiness and think that we are good enough.  May our hearts ever desire to be more obedient and dependent on You.  Hide Your word in our heart that we might not sin against you.  Fuel us by every word that proceeds out of Your mouth as we fish for the men and women You have set in our path.  We lift all this in the powerful and holy name of Jesus, Amen!

Unfortunately, this mission demands more than my strength and ability.  As a matter of fact, while those things can be used to connect to people around me, any “success” enjoyed is the direct result of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  My running myself ragged in my own strength ends up detracting from the mission not helping it.  

Look at Paul’s exhortation in 2 Thessalonians 3:5  Notice he does not encourage them to do anything in their own strength.  He knows that your heart is the furnace for your mission. What 2 fuels are mentions to stoke that furnace?

• The Love of God

• The steadfastness of Christ

Both of these fuels come from God and are gifts to us. They are the fuel that produces consistency and results. They require dependence and submission and not only fuel the mission but also our faith!

Reflection

In what ways are you trying to carry out your mission in your own strength?  Exchange the cycle of work hard and burnout for God’s plan.  Let your heart be directed to the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ and you will have an endless supply of fuel for your journey. 

Prayer

Father we love to be the hero/heroin of the mission.  Kill our pride and teach us to walk in step with you, in willing surrender. May Your love overflow our hearts and may the steadfastness of Christ transform us for the work You have prepared us to walk in. All of this we lift in Jesus’ name. Amen!