Day 16: 50 Days of Impact

 

Let’s take 2 min and be truly honest with ourselves. What do we want? What is the purpose for us to be living? Okay it may take more then 2 min to answer that question, it may take a lifetime, but if we can see the target that is set before us it will help propel us to do something amazing. I love the way Mike Miller of NOVA Church puts it “You are an arrow, only effective when propelled towards the target” (Paraphrased) If we don’t move forward, if we stay satisfied where we are at we will never be effective. Our target needs to be telling others about Jesus and the love he has for them. We can’t let troubles get in our way.

 

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”

2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT

 

Francis Chan has a video of him holding a 20 foot rope. The length of the rope doesn’t really matter, but the 2 inch on the one end painted red does. The red paint represents out life here on earth. We focus really hard on that red paint. Nothing matters more it seems at times. But we tend to forget about the other 19 foot 10 inch, which represents eternity.

 

So when troubles come our way we think of them merely in the hear and now. Imagine if when troubles came our way we measured them in light of eternity? Things that cause us so much pain and drama would seem petty in comparison. Of course we can’t ignore that they are happening, and we must deal with them, but our way of pushing past the troubles would change.

 

What are you doing today that will impact eternity? Are you motivated in sharing the love of Christ with your family, coworkers, the strangers you meet? Life is very short compared to eternity. The choices are very different, heaven or hell. Use what life you have to share Jesus love. I know I need to work on it too.

 

Dear Jesus, life is short. People know that, that’s why they try to cram so much into it. But in doing that they push you out. Help us as believers to be able to share your love and make an impact in their lives. Life is more then the red paint, but eternity is forever. Holy Spirit empower us to get in with the mission. Let us not be stone not in our faith. Amen.

 

Day 3: Original 50 Days of Pray Revisited

 

Day 3 Thoughts

My original thoughts for 50 Days of Pray was to get some outside help from other leaders and ministry leader. I believe I had two actually submissions and a few interested but I understand the busy lives these hard working people have. I hope you enjoy Pastor Mike Millers entry for today. I added a prayer as well.

Today’s Devotional is brought to us by Pastor Mike Miller who Worked at the Rock Church in Lwr Sackville NS. Mike has been busy in launching Nova Church in Halifax NS.

Battle over the Balcony
Why do leaders at the pinnacle of success seem to derail themselves? Rob Ford has become the punch line to every late night TV joke but at one time he had goals and dreams too…what happened?

Bad news gets around the world before good news gets it’s boots on!
This past year there have been a lot of texts, calls, tweets and chats sharing bad news involving moral failures it seems.
Many have involved dear friends or people I don’t know yet respect highly and in either case, my first response has always been one of grief. If you are looking for judgement this isn’t the place, I agree their actions were wrong but they know it and are reminded daily as they rebuild their lives and families.

I’ve been thinking a lot about WHY these things happen and hope to learn, strengthen and provoke myself in the process.

2 Samuel 11 has helped me process this. This is the story where King David should be out at war on the battlefield but instead stays home on the balcony where he sees Bathsheba commits adultery with her and eventually kills her husband.

How did this history making legend go from being on top of the world to his world falling apart

Few things I know

1.Your victories yesterday don’t promise you legacy tomorrow.
David was the same guy he always was. The Same guy who killed a lion and a bear, same guy who pushed past a father who undervalued him to say “is there not a cause?” the same guy who challenged the giants of his day that mocked his faith and persecuted his nation.

2. Timing is everything
“There is not only a right thing to do but a right time to do it” – Abraham Lincoln
2 Samuel 11 vs 1 ” It happened in the spring of the year at the time when kings go out to battle….but David remained in Jerusalem”
The spring time was the fighting season! The season before was rainy which caused impossible conditions for chariots to move in the mud and flash floods washed out roads, the season after was the harvest time which demanded every man to work fields to feed their family and keep the country going. The spring was THE time to fight.

3. When fatigue walks in faith walks out
Vs 2 “David arose from his bed”. It doesn’t say why David didn’t go fight but one would think that decades of fighting, training, being under insecure and violent leadership and then leading a nation himself has to have wore him down. We must learn to rest and withdraw without going AWOL or isolating

4. More leaders are destroyed on the balconies than any battlefield
Psalm 127:4 ” Like arrows in the hand of a warrior so are the children of ones youth” We like arrows are meant to be aimed not stored, to be launched not to lounge. To do anything other than your purpose will frustrate you.
Where have to shelved yourself? Don’t let your leaders or family fight your battle in prayer

5. God takes a mess and makes a message
God still chose to birth His Son through David’s name and legacy, He wasn’t done with David and He isn’t done with you!

Today I choose the battle over the balcony and I pray you do too!

 

Father, we thank you that you are always with us and ready to help us through the mess of this life. I pray that you will keep us away from distractions that will lead us into temptation. Keep us focused on the mission of reaching the lost. Holy Spirit guide us in wisdom and opportunities. The people of this world matter to you so they matter to us. Amen