Joel Osteen's Prescription For Stronger Families

In the April 2012 issue of Guideposts Magazine, Joel Osteen shared his prescription for stronger families.  With so many pressures pulling families apart these days, lets look at these practical suggestions that can lead to having a strong, successful family.


Show up. Life is busy but family members need to show up for each other.  They go to the game, the recital, the play, the open house.  They show up for dinner.  Whether in the big things or little, stay close to the people God has put in your life.


Don’t keep up with the Joneses.  Try to be the best parent you can be, but remember, its not a competition.  Stop comparing yourself to imaginary rivals.  Pray for wisdom and strength and do your best!


Have fun together.  Couples and families that laugh together stay together.  When was the last time your family had fun together?  It doesn’t have to be a big deal or cost a lot of money.  Be creative and have some fun!


Pick your battles.  Being stubborn or unreasonable will kill any relationship.  When in that battle about your pet peeve ask yourself, “Is this really important?  Is it worth the fight?”  How much tension are you bringing into your home unnecessarily?  You may win the fight but will it be worth the stress?


Spell it out.  Every day tell your spouse, your children, those who mean the most to you, how much you love them. Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking our families know we love them.  No matter how busy you are take a break, make that call, send that note, do something to let your family know you love them.

Take Time Alone

Take time alone, with God a part
Take time - take time - oh restless heart,
Lest rushing so, you headlong spin
Into fruitless work that should never have been.
A busy day?  Take time alone,
To gird yourself at Heaven' throne,
Lest stumbling on, you lose your way
And in your own strength you will end in dismay.
Take time alone - oh enter not
On work for God - 'til Him you've sought.
Lest working thus without His plan
You will work for the eyes of your fellow man.
A burdened heart for one you love?
Take time alone, with God above.
Lest speaking first to that lost soul
You will lose the bliss of the Spirit's control.
When sorrows come - take time, my friend,
With Him, Who sticketh to the end.
Lest trusting in the things of time
You will never know His comfort sublime.
Take time alone - in quiet hush -
Take time - oh shun that needless rush:
Take time with God, in Him confide,
Take your place 'neath His wing, and there abide.

A poem from my Grandma Mary Merrill

November 21, 1939

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

Romans 10:17

Faith comes by HEARING!  You were never intended to only need God's word occasionally. Your faith needs to grow every day!  Faith is never built from what you heard yesterday.  Faith comes by what your hearing today.

We need daily digestion of God’s Word.  It’s good to READ our Bibles, but its also good to LISTEN to the Bible.  Listening to the Bible is the greatest daily habit any believer can birth and maintain. 


When it comes to the Bible, some people regard listening instead of reading as “cheating.”  Earlier generations of believers NEVER read the Bible.  They could only hear it.  The printed Word was rare.  Many couldn’t read.  Those that could would never be able to afford a Bible.  They would have to go to church to hear the Word of God read out loud.  Owning and reading a Bible is something accessible only in our modern history. 

I urge you to download the Bible today to your computer, iPod, phone, etc.  You can purchase the Bible on CD as well.  The YouVersion app allows you to LISTEN to various versions of the Bible for free.  Remember, listening has a different reward than reading.

Whatever you do... make God's Word your highest priority.  The rewards will be spectacular!  Start by reading the blessings found in Deuteronomy 28 and  then check out this verse in Joshua...


Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Joshua 1:8

Be Still

Be still, and know that I am God. 
Psalm 46:10


Life has been crazy lately.  All good, but crazy.  I don’t remember a time when I’ve been busier.  I seem to have every day booked solid and I’m still looking for moments to squeeze in a few more things.  I have a feeling I’m not alone.  This appears to be a reoccurring theme in a wide variety of people.  Our obligations with work, home, church, life, etc. are piling up quicker than we can handle.  This is a problem.


When we get busy we usually make cuts in our personal time with God.  At the point we need Him the most, we seek God the least.  In John 10, Jesus likens our relationship with Him as a sheep with its shepherd.  Sheep know (verse 14) the voice of the shepherd, listen (verse 27) to the voice of the shepherd, and follow (verse 27) the the shepherd.  I know life is busy, for all of us, but its imperative that we make time for our shepherd.  If we don’t, we’ll find ourselves lost, sick, and dying. 


God gives us a ton of promises in His Word.  These promises and commands are God speaking to us.  Its His voice.  Do we know His voice, His “nudge”?  And if we are listening, do we obey?  Or are we to busy?


In the midst of our busy lives, we must make time for God and stay sensitive to His voice.  Remember what God is telling us in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  Being too busy for God will lead you in a direction you DO NOT want to go.  Staying close and obedient to Christ is the key to true abundant life!

Investing In Your Children

This weekend is our After-Easter Egg Hunt!  This is one of the most exciting annual events for our children’s ministry.  We are called to be good stewards of the children God gives us. What we do for our children is one of the most important investments we can make in this life.  We want our children to love God with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength.  But how do we accomplish such a big task?


Here are some suggestions to help raise our children “up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4)

• Make God and your family your priority.  You will give your time to the things that matter most to you in life. What possibly could be more valuable than the most important relationships you will ever have?
• Tell your story.  Talk about what God has done and is doing in your life.  Share your testimony.  Share about your life experiences.  Your story is important in the lives of your children.
• Be an example... at home, at work, at church, in your spiritual disciplines.  Remember, everything you do, both good and bad, is the example you are teaching your children.
• Teach wisdom.  The Bible is God’s blueprint for life and godliness.  Let it be your guide. Speak and live the Word.
• Show grace. Teach them that grace is always greater than sin. Teach them that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.  Teach them that there is nothing that can separate them from the love of God.
• Encourage.  There is no greater motivator in the life of a child than encouragement.  Show them you and God believe in them!  God created them for a purpose.  Push them toward that purpose with positive regard.
• Pray together.  Pray often.  Take time each day to pray a blessing over your children.  Teach them when there is a need, go to God first. Teach them how to listen to God during times of prayer and how to hear His voice.
• Never give up.  Overwhelmed? Be faithful no matter what!  Parenting is probably the most important and most likely the most difficult calling you will ever have.  No matter how hard it gets, don’t give up.  If God calls you, He will equip you and give you strength to accomplish your calling!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!


It truly is a happy Easter!  God blessed us at the Ascension Convention (thanks to everyone for your help… you guys are awesome!) and today we get to celebrate our risen Lord and Savior!


The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of the Christian faith.  Some may ask what is the historical evidence that Jesus actually rose from the dead?  Christian apologist Josh McDowell provides six facts that prove the resurrection of Jesus Christ in history. 


Fact 1 – The broken Roman seal
Fact 2 – The empty tomb
Fact 3 – The large stone removed
Fact 4 – The Roman guard goes AWOL
Fact 5 – The graveclothes
Fact 6 – The appearances of Jesus after His resurrection


I don’t  have room to go into all of the powerful details of each of these facts, but if you’re serious about looking into this evidence or know someone who is, take please visit www.josh.org and click Evidence for the Resurrection to get the whole story.

Connecting With God

Richard Foster, in his book The Celebration of Discipline, provided the following list of Biblical spiritual disciplines.


Inner Disciplines
The Disciplines of Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study


Outer Disciplines
The Disciplines of Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service


Corporate Disciplines
The Disciplines of Confession, Worship, Guidance, Celebration


While practicing these disciplines no doubt shape our lives in profound ways, the point of spiritual disciplines is to connect us to God.  Simply put, it’s all about relationship. 


It’s not whether you pray for 5 minutes, 20 minutes, or an hour, it’s whether or not you connected with God in your prayer time.  It’s not whether you read a verse, a chapter, or an entire book, it’s whether or not you heard God’s voice through His word.  This same connection principle is true in our worship, church attendance, service, etc.  It’s not about “doing your duty” or “fulfilling a requirement,” it is all about connecting with God in relationship.  You were created for a relationship with God and when you make that connection, that’s when you find true fulfillment. 


This week take time to partake in at least one spiritual discipline and when you do have only one goal...connecting with God.

21 Commands for the Christian

21 Commands for the Christian from Romans 12:9-21.

• Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. 
• Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
• Love each other with genuine affection. 
• Take delight in honoring each other.
• Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
• Rejoice in our confident hope. 
• Be patient in trouble.
• Keep on praying.
• When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. 
• Always be eager to practice hospitality.
• Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.
• Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
• Live in harmony with each other. 
• Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. 
• Don’t think you know it all!
• Never pay back evil with more evil. 
• Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.
• Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
• Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God.
• If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
• Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Inviting People To Church

With Easter coming up on April 8, now is an excellent time to begin to invite people to church.  Our mission at Christian Life is to Connect People to God.  Each of us is called to share our faith and what better way than to invite a friend, family member, or neighbor to the place where you connect with God.  Here are a few helps for inviting someone to church.

• Big days. Days like Christmas and Easter are perfect times to invite someone to church.  Also, watch for other days throughout the year that lend themselves to inviting someone.
• Special events. There maybe a breakfast, seminar, outing, etc. that peaks someone’s interest.
• Kids. We have an stellar children’s and youth ministry at Christian Life with a wide variety of regular and special activities.  
• Lunch. Don’t forget to take your guest out to eat after the service.
• Share a card.  Take a blue card from the lobby and let them know how they can connect with the church for a service, online, or on the radio.
• Check out our website.  Share our brand new website in order to let people know about our church.
• Just ask.  Research teaches us that most people will come to church if they are invited.  Just ask!
• Pray.  Pray about who you should invite and that God would make their hearts hungry for Him.
• Keep asking.  God honors perseverance.  

AND, remember the A, B, C’s of inviting people to church.
A - Always look for opportunities to invite others. 
B - Be ready to seize the opportunity when it arises. 
C - Communicate in such a way that says you care. 
D - Don’t be pushy; there will be future opportunities.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

This past week I was a contestant on the game show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”  It was a crazy yet marvelous experience, but the thing I enjoyed the most was the encouragement and cheers I felt from my family and friends.  While I didn’t win a million dollars, I realize more than ever before how rich a man I am with all of you in my life.

Today I thought I would blog about some LIFE LESSONS I learned through my “Millionaire” experience.

• The game is always easier when you’re watching.  The difficulty seems to increase when you’re actually playing.
• Play to win.  Don’t play NOT to lose.  There is a big difference.
• Be ready.  Plan.  Have a strategy.
• If you fall behind don’t get down and don’t beat yourself up.
• If you need it, ask for help.
• Manage unrealistic expectations, don’t let them manage you.
• Cheer others on.  It creates a positive atmosphere.
• Enjoy yourself.
• Don’t over-think the easy stuff.
• Learn and grow.
• Money can make people stupid.
• Know when to walk away.
• Sometimes you only get one chance.
• Your value doesn’t come from how smart you are or how much money you have.
• God puts you wherever you’re at for a purpose.  Live for His glory.

The Church

“I will build my church.”

- Jesus (Matthew 16:18)

This is Vision Weekend at Christian Life Church.  I believe more than ever that God is building His Church at Christian Life!  Every week God is blessing our congregation in fresh new ways and I enjoy seeing the growth God is bringing in our church family.  


While the Bible teaches that every Christian is a member of the Body of Christ, the Bible also tells us that it is important for every believer to commit themselves to a specific body and become a member of the a local church family.  


Just as a plant needs to remain in one place long enough to get it’s roots down deep before it will bear fruit, so it is with the Christian.  Membership in a local church is absolutely necessary for accountability and growth in the things of God.  The times we live in dictate more than ever that we put down  roots in the Lord and into a local body of believers.  


Additionally, in our roles as Christ’s bondservants we should do whatever we can to advance His Kingdom, to invest our resources and time in His church, to get under the heavy end of the log and help lift it.


As Christians embrace their identity, employ their spiritual gifts, sacrifice out of a servant mind-set, and love and honor one another, that’s when there’s a cohesive unity of purpose within the church.  That’s when an audience turns into a powerful, organized army. 

Prayer

Here are 12 prayer maxims from Mark Batterson’s newest NY Times Bestseller, The Circle Maker.

• Prayer is the difference between YOU FIGHTING FOR GOD and GOD FIGHTING FOR YOU.
• Prayer turns appointments in DIVINE APPOINTMENTS.
• Pray like it DEPENDS ON GOD and work like it DEPENDS ON YOU.
• If you don’t establish a PRAYER HABIT you’ll never break the SIN HABIT.
• Prayer is the difference between THE BEST YOU CAN DO and THE BEST GOD CAN DO.
• The more you HAVE TO DO the more you HAVE TO PRAY.
• You are only ONE PRAYER away from a totally different life.
• The MORE YOU PRAY the MORE YOU DREAM and the more you dream the more you HAVE to pray.
• WHO YOU BECOME is determined by HOW YOU PRAY.
• 100% of the prayers you DON’T pray WON’T get answered.
• God honors BOLD PRAYERS because BOLD PRAYERS honor God.
• The greatest tragedy in life are the prayers that go UNANSWERED because they go UNASKED.

HALT

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

- Jesus (John 10:10)

Last week on 180 WITH KARL CLAUSON, a new program in the afternoons on AM1160, they were discussing how NOT to experience the overcoming Christian life.  That if you want to live in lack, depression, and an overall defeated life, just live the “HALT” way.  Want to be defeated in life?  Just live...


HUNGRY - Live life continually running on empty.


ANGRY - Forget peace and love.  Live mad.


LONELY - You don’t need anyone else bothering.  Stay isolated.


TIRED - Rest is for wimps.  Keep the pedal to the metal.


The host and guest were obviously having some fun with the listeners but the point is well made.  If we want to live the abundant life God promises we have to live life God’s way.  God’s Word teaches how to live the overcoming life.  We can’t live according to how we feel at any given moment we have to live a life of faith saturated the Word of God.

Active Discipleship

“Follow me...”

- Jesus

Following Christ requires action.  There is no such thing as an absent or passive disciple.  I remember at the end of one semester when I was asked to turn in a grade for a specific student.  I remember telling administration that I didn’t know who the person was.  They informed that this individual had signed up and paid for the class and thus needed a grade.  There is only one grade that can be given for a student that doesn’t show up or do the work for a course.


Jesus provides the ultimate discipleship teaching for His students in the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7.  Jesus deals with a wide variety of life issues as well as the attitude of our hearts.  Jesus didn’t say IF, He says WHEN you pray, fast, give, etc.  Jesus is assuming our action as apprentices of the master.  Actively living out the Sermon on the Mount is one way of following and becoming like our teacher Christ.


Our job as a church is to teach all the Jesus commanded us to do. (Matthew 28:18-20.)  Last year we launched our activ8 series.  Eight active practices that true disciples partake in.  You can borrow the DVD’s from this series in the Welcome Center in the lobby to help you continue on the road of discipleship.

Lifelong Learner

Matthew 28:18-20 - The Great Commission
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”


The church’s core mission is to make disciples.  This call of discipleship is offered to everyone who is willing to follow Jesus.  Jesus’ invitation, “Follow Me,” is found throughout the Gospels and continues through the centuries to this very day.  But what does it really mean to “follow” Jesus?  How does the church teach disciples “to obey all the commands” Jesus gave us?  If this is our church’s main assignment, how do we do it well?


The word disciple would best be understood today as “student.”  Actually, I like to use the term, “lifelong learner.”  There is an understanding that we will be in a continual growth mode toward maturity as we seek to obey all Christ commands His disciples to do.  It’s not about perfection, its about growth.  This maturation process is often called “spiritual growth” or spiritual formation.”  


Dallas Willard defines spiritual growth as the, “process of an individual taking on the character of Christ.”  He goes on to define spiritual formation as, “moving from conformity with this world to conformity with Christ.”  I like to think of it as moving from the 1.0 version of ourself to the new upgraded 2.0 version.  However you define or think about it discipleship needs to be an active process in your life. 

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

Since we are embarking on reading through “The Story” Bible in a month, here is an email that's been making the rounds. How does it strike you?

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone? 




What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets? 


What if we flipped through it several times a day? 


What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it? 


What if we used it to receive messages from the text? 


What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it? 


What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled? 


What if we used it in case of emergency? 




Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities'? 




Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected, because Jesus already paid the bill.  

And no dropped calls!

New Year

With a New Year comes New Year’s Resolutions.  Since they are quickly broken far more then they are kept, we often neglect to make them anymore.  Who wants to be discouraged by unkept resolutions?  But the New Year is an excellent time for assessment, and an opportunity to write down a vision for your life.  A New Year allows us a fresh start, an opportunity for God to do something new in your life.


Here is an exercise I do with our church staff each year that can help you work on your goals for 2012.  I ask each staff member to take out a sheet of paper and write four words on it: KEEP, DROP, CHANGE, ADD.  They are given private time to think, pray, and meditate on what they are going to keep, drop, change, and add in their life and ministry.  You can’t just do a couple or even three you have to do all four in each area of your life.  It takes a little effort, time, and thought but is definitely a worthwhile exercise.


I have taken time to work on my personal goals for 2012.  There were a wide variety of areas I considered: personal goals, family, professional, health, etc.  Then came the spiritual goals.  When I began to think about it I quickly realized that each category of life should reflect a spiritual goal.  I am first and foremost a disciple/follower of Jesus.  I should be living life the way He wants me to.  I need to order my life according to God’s will and plan in EVERY area of my life.


A corporate goal for our Christian Life family in 2012 is to be men and women of His Word.  God tells us everything He wants us to know in His Word.  It is all we need for faith and practice.  That is why at the beginning of this year we are going to read through the Bible in a month.  Pick up a copy of The Story (Zondervan - ISBN-10: 0310936985, ISBN-13:978-0310936985), read twelve pages a day, and you will read through the Bible in one month and one day.  You won’t regret making this resolution.  It will take time and effort, but I can’t wait to see results of spending time with God in His Word.

A thought from Pastor Jack Hayford this Christmas...

"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." 

Luke 2:10

A thought from Pastor Jack Hayford this Christmas...

When we hear people say, "Bah, humbug!" as Christmas approaches, we know what they mean: our world's approach to Christmas can seem commercialized, crazed, and even cold. Still, we can never forget the love, light, and warmth of God's Christmas Gift to us: His very own Son. And that is a Gift worthy of our celebration! Christmas provides a great opportunity to share the love of God. Even people who don't know Jesus celebrate the season, and I believe God honors that, wanting us to reach to them with His Spirit.

Years ago, I decided to freshly open to the Holy Spirit each Christmas, and to refuse the "bah humbug" or "Scrooge spirit" that dampens delight and diminishes joy. Today, let's welcome the Lord and His season. 

Connecting with God at Christmas

Christmas is the perfect time to connect with God because its the moment God chose to connect with us.  “She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23b  Let’s make the time to focus on God this season and follow the examples of the Bible characters in the original Christmas Story.

Listen & Obey - Mary found herself with an overwhelming calling.  Joseph found himself with a difficult decision.  Both listened and responded positively to God and His leading.  (Luke 1:38; Matthew 1:24)

Worship & Give - The Wise Men also listened and followed the leading of God both through the star and an angel.  Their journey of obedience ended with them worshipping and offering gifts to the newborn King. (Matthew 2:11)

Reach Out & Invite - Shepherds were considered the “least of these” in their culture.  Because of their status in society they weren’t even allowed to give testimony in court.  And yet, God chose them to be the first witnesses to the newborn Savior. (Luke 2:20)

Make time this Christmas to listen and obey, worship and give, and reach out and invite.  You (and He) will be glad you did.

Advent

We have entered the Advent season on the Church calendar.  “Advent” in Latin comes from a word that means “coming.”  We celebrate and prepare our hearts for the coming of our King Jesus.  We remember his coming in the past as a baby in the town of Bethlehem.  We celebrate the present as Jesus comes into our heart.  And we look to the future as He comes as King to establish His new Kingdom.


In the front of church we have an advent wreath with candles.  Each week we light a new candle which symbolizes the expectation of our coming Messiah.  


Week 1 - (Purple Candle) Represents HOPE, signifying the hope that we have in Jesus when we allow Him to lead us out of darkness into light.  


Week 2 - (Purple Candle) Represents PEACE.  Jesus came to bring peace.  From the words of Zecharias in Luke 1:79….”He will guide our feet into the way of Peace”.


Week 3 - (Pink Candle) Represents LOVE.  We are reminded that He is Love and that He loves us with an everlasting love and that we are called by Jesus to love others.


Week 4 - (Purple Candle) Represents JOY.  The angel in Luke 2:10, "...I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”  As the day of celebration draws close we become excited with anticipation and joy. We are reminded that a life with Him is one full of Joy! 


On Christmas Eve a final white candle is lit.  


This Advent let us all prepare our hearts for the coming of the King.