There were a couple of different times in the Gospel where the Apostles asked Christ to increase their faith. I was reading in Luke yesterday morning before our celebration service started. In Luke 17:5, the Apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith...why would the Apostles ask for more faith? Well you need the whole context. Right before they ask for more faith Jesus drops this on them:
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
You get it now?
Seriously, how difficult is it to forgive? And not only to forgive but to continue to forgive over and over and over and over again?
Please Jesus, I'm going to need more faith!
Christ response, faith the size of a tiny mustard see will allow you to say to the mulberry tree, get up and get in the sea.
I love the conclusion of this section in Luke 17:10, "...we are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done."
It's time we all understand that we do not need or deserve praise for doing what we are commanded to do...just simply do it.
We praise our King because He is gracious and worthy - why would He even allow us to serve him?
Precious Christ, increase our faith...
~Amen
ZS
Monday, September 14, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
:::Meditation on Psalm 85:::
I read this Psalm yesterday and it became a point of meditation for me.
Psalm 85
Prayer for God's Mercy upon the Nation.
For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
1O LORD, You showed favor to Your land;
You restored the captivity of Jacob.
2You forgave the iniquity of Your people;
You covered all their sin. Selah.
3You withdrew all Your fury;
You turned away from Your burning anger.
4Restore us, O God of our salvation,
And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.
5Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
6Will You not Yourself revive us again,
That Your people may rejoice in You?
7Show us Your lovingkindness, O LORD,
And grant us Your salvation.
8I will hear what God the LORD will say;
For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
But let them not turn back to folly.
9Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.
10Lovingkindness and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11Truth springs from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.
12Indeed, the LORD will give what is good,
And our land will yield its produce.
13Righteousness will go before Him
And will make His footsteps into a way.
A couple of things that really jump out at me in this text:
1.) The declaration of what God has done. "you showed favor...you restored...you forgave...you covered all sin...you withdrew you fury...you turned away from your burning anger"
2.) I love verse 9, salvation is near to those who fear Him and it is through those who fear Him that shows His glory throughout the land.
3.) I'm not sure I have ever read more beautiful poetry than that which is found in verse 10. Only by the grace of God.
4.) I am praying for my family, our community of faith and for myself personally that we would see the footsteps of our Gracious God as our WAY.
For The Praise of Your Glory!
ZS
Psalm 85
Prayer for God's Mercy upon the Nation.
For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
1O LORD, You showed favor to Your land;
You restored the captivity of Jacob.
2You forgave the iniquity of Your people;
You covered all their sin. Selah.
3You withdrew all Your fury;
You turned away from Your burning anger.
4Restore us, O God of our salvation,
And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.
5Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
6Will You not Yourself revive us again,
That Your people may rejoice in You?
7Show us Your lovingkindness, O LORD,
And grant us Your salvation.
8I will hear what God the LORD will say;
For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
But let them not turn back to folly.
9Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.
10Lovingkindness and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11Truth springs from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.
12Indeed, the LORD will give what is good,
And our land will yield its produce.
13Righteousness will go before Him
And will make His footsteps into a way.
A couple of things that really jump out at me in this text:
1.) The declaration of what God has done. "you showed favor...you restored...you forgave...you covered all sin...you withdrew you fury...you turned away from your burning anger"
2.) I love verse 9, salvation is near to those who fear Him and it is through those who fear Him that shows His glory throughout the land.
3.) I'm not sure I have ever read more beautiful poetry than that which is found in verse 10. Only by the grace of God.
4.) I am praying for my family, our community of faith and for myself personally that we would see the footsteps of our Gracious God as our WAY.
For The Praise of Your Glory!
ZS
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Profile of The Obsessed by Francis Chan
I loved these so I wanted to share with you...
Obsessed - To have the mind excessively preoccupied with a single emotion or topic.
*People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly, without censure. Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back.
*People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people are more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.
*People who are obsessed with Jesus live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another. Obsessed people believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was really important to Him.
*Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don't always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth. As Martin Luther put it, "There are two days on my calendar: this day and that day".
*A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never be "humble enough," and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known.
*People who are obsessed with Jesus do not consider service a burden. Obsessed people take joy in loving God by loving His people.
*People who are obsessed with Jesus are known as givers, not takers. Obsessed people genuinely think that others matter as much as they do, and they are particularly aware of those who are poor around the world.
*A person who is obsessed think about heaven frequently. Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them.
*A person who is obsessed is characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being. (I love this one)
*People who are obsessed are raw with God; they do not attempt to mask the ugliness of their sin or their failure. Obsessed people don't put it on for God; He is their safe place, where they can be at peace.
*People who are obsessed with God have an intimate relationship with Him. They are nourished by God's Word throughout the day because they know that forty minutes on Sunday is not enough to sustain them for a whole week, especially when they will encounter so many distractions and alternative messages.
*A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort. Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God.
*A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life, continually saying "Thank You!" to God. An obsessed person knows there can never be intimacy if he is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy. He revels in his role as child and friend of God.
Holy Father, allow me to be completely obsessed with Jesus and may the Gospel always be on my lips.
Amen!
Blessings!
ZS
Obsessed - To have the mind excessively preoccupied with a single emotion or topic.
*People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly, without censure. Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back.
*People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people are more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.
*People who are obsessed with Jesus live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another. Obsessed people believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was really important to Him.
*Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don't always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth. As Martin Luther put it, "There are two days on my calendar: this day and that day".
*A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never be "humble enough," and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known.
*People who are obsessed with Jesus do not consider service a burden. Obsessed people take joy in loving God by loving His people.
*People who are obsessed with Jesus are known as givers, not takers. Obsessed people genuinely think that others matter as much as they do, and they are particularly aware of those who are poor around the world.
*A person who is obsessed think about heaven frequently. Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them.
*A person who is obsessed is characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being. (I love this one)
*People who are obsessed are raw with God; they do not attempt to mask the ugliness of their sin or their failure. Obsessed people don't put it on for God; He is their safe place, where they can be at peace.
*People who are obsessed with God have an intimate relationship with Him. They are nourished by God's Word throughout the day because they know that forty minutes on Sunday is not enough to sustain them for a whole week, especially when they will encounter so many distractions and alternative messages.
*A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort. Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God.
*A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life, continually saying "Thank You!" to God. An obsessed person knows there can never be intimacy if he is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy. He revels in his role as child and friend of God.
Holy Father, allow me to be completely obsessed with Jesus and may the Gospel always be on my lips.
Amen!
Blessings!
ZS
Monday, August 17, 2009
Loved By The God of All Creation
Below is from an email that my friend Ray sent me. Ray is 60 and has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma lymphoma. I do not really need to add anything else to it:
"Some times I wonder, what do people do without the Lord in their heart and life. What do people think, when their mortality knocks on their door and all they have before them is darkness. I am amazed at the comfort that my wife, Eileen, and I are receiving in our spirit by the Holy Spirit. My natural mind is wondering, Why aren't you going crazy? Don't you know how scary this is? But inside of me I know that I am good either way. How strange is that? How strange is it that I know that the Lord of creation loves me even to the point of knowing my name, and all my stumbling, and yet He comforts me in such personal ways that I don't wonder I know I am loved. Amazing."
Ray, I am praying with you and Eileen for a miracle. Love ya brother.
Blessings!
ZS
"Some times I wonder, what do people do without the Lord in their heart and life. What do people think, when their mortality knocks on their door and all they have before them is darkness. I am amazed at the comfort that my wife, Eileen, and I are receiving in our spirit by the Holy Spirit. My natural mind is wondering, Why aren't you going crazy? Don't you know how scary this is? But inside of me I know that I am good either way. How strange is that? How strange is it that I know that the Lord of creation loves me even to the point of knowing my name, and all my stumbling, and yet He comforts me in such personal ways that I don't wonder I know I am loved. Amazing."
Ray, I am praying with you and Eileen for a miracle. Love ya brother.
Blessings!
ZS
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
:::A Desperate Kind of Love:::
As most of you know we have been doing a book study on "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan in our Tuesday night Connect Group. Tonight we are going to attempt to work through chapter six. He begins chapter six with this from A.W. Tozer's "The Pursuit of God". I love this and want to share it with you. My prayer is that it stirs your affections for Christ.
"O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, 'Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.' Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long." - A.W. Tozer
Blessings!
ZS
"O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, 'Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.' Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long." - A.W. Tozer
Blessings!
ZS
Monday, July 6, 2009
Scarred for Life...and Eternity...
What kind of person would take the Holy Spirit of God into a tattoo parlor? I can hear the questions...
To which I would rebut, what if the Holy Spirit of God takes you into a tattoo parlor?
Today I took a message that has been carved on my heart for 13 years and tattooed it on my arm. A simple message that has profound and eternal impact.
By Grace Through Faith
As I sat in the chair (at Fine Lines in Garland)and Casey (the artist) was getting things prepped I was just chatting with Trent Brown. Casey asked me what we were out doing today...this is it, just getting tattooed. I introduce Trent as my pastor and told him that we started a church in Royse City about 3 1/2 years ago.
Casey told me how he really enjoys studying different world religions and said he guesses that he connects to Christianity the most because "as an American it's what we know the most."
I guess Casey, like the vast majority of Americans, has some head knowledge of Jesus but doesn't exactly know what to do with Him.
Over the course of the half hour or so that I sat there...I explained to him why the Gospel was important enough for me to etch in ink on my right forearm. We talked about Christ's teachings a little, we talked about the early church in Acts and we even talked about what seems to be another reformation of the church in the 21st century. We spent a great deal of time talking about how important authentic community was. Casey continuously repeated these words, "Good for you guys, man...I'm glad to hear that". He also told me how beautiful he thought Christianity was when he's actually seen it in someone. I'm assuming the problem being that he just simply hasn't seen it very often.
Even as I write this, I can still feel a little bit of a burn from the needle...but, at the same time, I can't wait to take Casey some more business and talk to him about a Savior who would go into a tattoo parlor with a sinner SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH...
For The Praise of Your Glory,
ZS
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Stories of Faith ::: Bobby Minor
This post is from my buddy Bobby Minor. Thanks for your story Bobby. I know this will be real talk for a lot of people.
I know this one is longer but please read it all...such a powerful story of Grace and Mercy.
"I am 42-years old and have live my entire life in Fort Worth. My life started out pretty much in Leave it to Beaver fashion. Me, my mom and dad, sister and brother lived in a two-story house on a tree-lined street near TCU in South Fort Worth. Life was good. That is until I was six-years old and found out one day when I came home from school that my dad no longer lived with us but one of his buddies from work did. He would become my mother's second husband. I also found out later that even at this time my mother was already selling drugs and had been arrested in a big drug sting that was written about in the FW Star-Telegram. We would soon be lose the house to foreclosure and would be forced to move to a place we could afford, right in the middle of the hood. Here's a summary of the next six years or so...mom arrested again for selling drugs, being evicted and having everything we own thrown out on the curb and coming home and seeing everything after it had been picked through, having our utilities cut off numerous times, going without food, our house was like a commune with hitchhikers being invited to stay at our house as long as they would like. I remember a time watching cartoons in the living room with a group of my mom's friends and while they are getting high someone passed the joint to me. I just passed it to the person sitting next to me and when they realized what they had done they all just started laughing. I was 11 years old at the time. Another that stands out around this time is not having any gas or water for two months and running a water hose from our next door neighbors backyard to our backyard where we would bathe in our swimsuits. There's a lot more but for the sake of time I'll save it for later. Here are bullets that can summarize my life up to now:
Ultimately my mother would marry and divorce four times before passing away at the age of 48 (14 years ago) after years of drug and alcohol abuse...
I came home from school in the 6th grade to be greeted by my mother's third husband (still a family friend to this day) who told me that she had moved out of state with the man that would later become her fourth husband...
I started running the streets, selling drugs, hustling and having sex frequently by the age of 13....
Had a felony arrest on my record by the age of 19...
Would be arrested twice more over the next couple of years...
Committed many felonies that I never got caught doing....
Always had some sort of hustle going on...
Got married at the age of 24 and had my first son later that year...
Still continued selling and using drugs, keeping it from my wife. All she knew was that I always had a lot of extra money...
Committed adultery numerous time throughout our 12 year (10 years together, 2 separated) marriage...
Up to this point in my life I had always made it about me. On the surface I seemed like a nice guy but I can look back and see all of the lives I destroyed along the way...
The ironic thing is that while I lived a lifestyle that was a complete 180* from that of a Christ-follower if you would have asked me if I thought I was going to heaven I would have said yes and actually believed it. I wasn't that bad of a person, besides, I never robbed a bank or killed anyone...
I pretty much lived my life for today and if anything good was happening in my life I didn't think it would last and it didn't, usually through self-sabotage...
I figured if I didn't let myself get close to anybody I couldn't get hurt (like I was hurt by my mother)...
While I was separated from my wife I ran into a childhood friend that had been a partner in crime on many occasions that wanted to share with me his newfound joy and peace...
I avoided him at all costs because I thought I had it all figured out and didn't need what he had "found"...
He tried to minister to me for two full years without giving up...
Finally, on September 11th, 2001 something happened that would change all of our lives....
As I saw mothers, children, wives, crying wondering if they would ever see their loved one again it made me think of all the people that also thought "they had it all figured out" that got up that Tuesday like it was any other day and got dressed for work, only never to return...
It made me think that maybe I didn't know everything that I thought I did, that I didn't have it all figured out, that it wasn't all about me...
I called my friend and asked him what time church started that Sunday and on September 16th 2001 I walked through the doors of Waves of Faith for the first time...
I was blown away by everything, the presence of God, the people, the music, everything...
I didn't change right way though, for several months I had one foot in and one foot out...
I would go to the club on Saturday night and be in church on Sunday morning (with a stamp on my hand)...
Got tired of playing the church game and on April 15th 2002 I pulled my car over in downtown Fort Worth and made a commitment to put God in the drivers seat and stop playing games...
Got baptized in July of 2002..."
More to come...stay tuned...
Blessings!
ZS
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)