Let’s Get Out of the Huddle

September 22, 2015

Let’s Get Out of the Huddle

Ahhhh…’tis the season. Crisp mornings, where we see our breath. Changing leaves falling, crunching under our feet. We are in the full throws of pumpkin spice, harvest décor and football games on every channel and in every stadium. Even from my front yard on Friday nights I can hear the high school band playing and football fans cheering at the nearby Cuthbertson High School.

Imagine paying for college or professional football tickets. You’re in the stands, greasy food in your hands. You’re adorned in your favorite teams regalia, the fans are cheering, momentum is building….Your favorite team runs onto the field and gathers in a huddle. The huddle lasts for 10 minutes, then 20, then 40, then one hour! Then they walk off the field. What would you do? How would you respond?

Pastor Harvey Carey is the pastor of a thriving, mission-minded church in Detroit, MI. Pastor Harvey is the one who gave the aforementioned analogy about the long huddle at a football game.

Located in one of the poorest zip codes in America, Pastor Harvey Carey’s church was identified as one of the top churches in growing people spiritually. He says that some Sundays when his congregation shows up for church, they all walk right back out to go spread God’s love on the streets around the church for that hour.

Isn’t that what we do on Sunday mornings as Christians—huddle for one hour and go off the “field”? How do you think God reacts when He sees us all “huddled up”?

Pastor Harvey’s passionate sermon was quite convicting. I am guilty as charged, sometimes also staying in my Christian huddle of friends and family. Many of us “huddle” from one Sunday, one week to the next. We often don’t actually “play the game” of our faith, loving our neighbor as ourselves, fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28) and serving the “least of these” in Matthew 25. We can go to all these seminars, retreats, and conferences year after year, collecting binders of information on our shelves, which only collect dust. When are we to play the game?

After really feeling convicted about his sermon, I thought of the uplifting seminars and retreats and conferences I’ve attended. Have I been in a “huddle”? Maybe I’m wrong, but I liken them to Spring Training or Boot Camp to condition my/our spiritual muscles for the “game of ministry.” Fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, you are conditioned, you are prayed up, you have done your calisthenics. Let’s get out of the huddle now and play this Game of Life. Go serve! Go minister!

Reflect:

–In what ways are you still in your comfortable huddle? Please comment.

–How will you execute your plans from the huddle and play the game of Life?

Renew:

–“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” –Matthew 25: 40 NIV

–Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…’” –Matthew 28:19 NIV

–“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” –1 Corinthians 9:25 NIV

Recharge:

–Name three “Fields” you will play on this month.

–What is one way your family can help “the least of these’ or your neighbor?

Resource:

— www.citadeloffaith.org

September 15, 2015

It’s a Dew Perspective

Dew on lantana

It was the dew. It caught my eye, made me blink, as the early morning sun glistened over the shimmering landscape.

I was simply blow drying my hair, gazing out the bathroom window at the peaceful backyard as I do daily. On this particular Sunday morning the view made me smile. The beauty overwhelmed me.

The heavy dew refreshed everything and caused it to shine brightly, reflecting light on the grass, flowers, bushes, fence posts, Adirondack chairs. I couldn’t help it. I had to get an up close view. Wearing my church dress and high-heeled shoes, I trapsed through the drenched grass to snap photos of the lantana. The wet grass clippings stuck to my heels, and I didn’t care. The sweet journey was worth the effort.

My heart was enlivened, reminded me of the reassuring verses in Lamentations 3:23-24.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

What a sweet, dew perspective. No matter what we are going through in life, God’s “dew” of mercy, grace and love is fresh every morning. What hope. What encouragement.

Another way to refresh your soul first thing in the morning, before you even get out of bed, is to download the FREE Proverbs 31 Ministries First 5 mobile app on your phone. Just search in the App Store on your Iphone or Ipad (Android available also) for “First 5.”

An alarm is built right inside the app. Once you set the alarm and swipe it in the morning, you are taken straight into God’s Word for a five-minute inspiring Bible teaching. One chapter of the Bible is highlighted per day, in order. Currently the book of Genesis is being studied. The book of John was just finished and can all be found in the “Archives” tab. Amazing and profound Weekend Wrap-up summary videos are featured each Saturday. In 3 ½ years, with just five minutes each morning, you will have read the entire Bible. You can even purchase the “Experience Guide” journal from Proverbs 31 Ministries to enrich the book of the Bible being studied.

As Proverbs 31 Ministries President and friend Lysa TerKeurst says, “We must exchange whispers with God before shouts with the world.”

What hope. Just like the fresh dew in the morning, may we refreshen our hearts daily by going to God’s Word first.

Reflect:

–When have you felt “dried up,” in need of refreshment or morning “dew” for your soul?

–How will you look differently at the morning time and dew?

Renew:

–“In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.” –Psalm 5:3 NIV

–“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.’ –2 Peter 1:19 NIV

Recharge:

–Please join more than 400,000 other people from 199 countries who have already downloaded the First 5 Mobile App. Download it today and tell your friends.

Resource:

First 5 Mobile App

Proverbs 31 Ministries

September 9, 2015

Fruit or Foliage?

The majestic Hendersonville, North Carolina mountains beckoned my friends and I last weekend. The air was fresh; the breeze was crisp; the sun was glorious; the fellowship was easy. We awakened all excited to visit Sky Top Orchard. We were going on an apple-picking adventure. So many lessons came to my heart on that beautiful orchard about bearing fruit or foliage.

Friends Bearing Fruit IMG956157-1 We pulled into the gravel parking lot and my heart beat quickened. Acres of you-pick apples, jugs of fresh apple cider, and fun hay rides– all waiting for us.

The orchard was brimming with huge apple trees, as far as your eye could see–Granny, Fuji, Jonathan, Mutsu and others…some kinds of apples I had never even heard of. Rows and rows of them, apples just hanging off the branches. It was amazing. I climbed to the top of one of the apple trees, teeming with ripened fruit. All I had to do was barely shake the tree limb, and the apples fell effortlessly to the ground. The life application came to mind immediately…

How many of us have driven hours upon hours to the mountains of North Carolina or even flown to the Northeast in the autumn to spend a weekend “leaf looking”? The majestic transformation of the leaves in the mountains or in the Northeast is a sight to behold–for a few weeks. It is amazing to think that this beauty only lasts a mere three weeks or so. Then the leaves fall from the trees, withering and dying on the ground, crunching beneath our feet.

As I climbed down from the apple tree to pick up the buckets of apples on the ground, it occurred to me how fun yet full of hard work truly bearing fruit is. Flashy foliage is so appealing from a distance. Unlike the absolute majesty of “leaf looking,” would you make a special trip to see an apple tree ready to harvest? To see apples hanging on the limbs juicy and ripe, enough to feed a family sustainably for days, weeks, or years if needed? Sadly, the answer may be an under-the-breath “no.”

If you’re like me, at some point you may have started off doing a service for God, only to slack off in just a few weeks and get tired. I confess to you that in my past, some flashy foliage resulted instead of long-time sustainable fruit for God. Bearing fruit for Jesus Christ to better God’s Kingdom is exciting, yet not a glamorous job.

“‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit…This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples….You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last.“–John 15:5-8, 16. NIV

May we all take a trip to our own heart’s orchard, knowing we are called to bear much fruit for Jesus. The message is that simple, is that hard. Let’s roll up our sleeves, delve into God’s Word daily, work diligently for the Lord and bear much fruit.

Editor’s Note: Thank you, Patti Lesslie, Lee Warlick, Sarah Lerner, and Renee Konieczny for bearing fruit with me. I love y’all! Photo Credit: Thank you, Renee Konieczny! You are a precious friend and amazing artist.

Reflect:

–What are your plans to bear more fruit? Please comment.

–How can you encourage the “flashy foliage” bearers in your life? Please comment.

Renew:

–“‘ Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.'” –Matthew 7:15-20 NIV

–“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” –Galatians 5:22 NIV

Recharge:

–“If Christ, the heavenly Vine, has taken the believer as a branch, then He has pledged Himself, in the very nature of things, to supply the sap and spirit and nourishment to make it bring forth fruit…The soul need but have one care—to abide closely, fully, wholly. He will give the fruit. He works all that is needed to make the believer a blessing.” –Andrew Murray