When you feel like you are "second rate."

As I listened to a young leader share his disheartened, defeated feelings, I felt like I was being beaten within. He and others who supposedly were experiencing the same feelings, felt like 2nd rate, under appreciated people. They felt like they were being treated as lower class servants or leaders!

On one hand, I said, NO, NO...THAT’S NOT TRUE - SO GET OVER THOSE DEMONIC THOUGHTS!“ On the other hand, I said, ”I’M SO SORRY IF I HAVE ANY PART OF YOU FEELING THIS WAY! PLEAE FOGIVE ME!“

Well, there’s more to this story, but the outcome for me was a lesson (actually several lessons!).

1. Listen closely to the pain people are experiencing.
2. Guide them gently to the Word of God.
3. Correct any wrong thinking or behavior.
4. Call them to God centeredness, out of self centeredness.
5. Be a leader who communicates through my life, actions and words, that NO ONE IS 2nd RATE!

We Believe that every person, Christian and non-Christian alike, is valuable to God and to His Kingdom. Because people are eternally valuable to God, they are to us as well. Responsible evangelism will always be our cause and ongoing discipleship will always be the core of the ministry.

Christ-likeness and my time

“I don’t’ have time!”

That’s a common phrase isn’t it?

Does it really mean, that “It’s not my priority.” (right now or ever:)

We all have 1440 minutes in a day.

Knowing our purpose, being focused, setting direction & goals for the day, will enable us to use our time wisely. Lack of discipline, not lack of time, in these areas can affect our initiatives to be Christlike in life.

Does every second and minute of how we live life count?

Jesus...to be and become more like You, to know and fulfill Your Kingdom purpose, is my highest aspiration. I submit my life, my time into Your hands!

Christ-likeness and my heart

In order to be a growing Christian, to become more like Jesus, we need to live out certain spiritual disciplines. Reading and meditating on God’s Word, Prayer, Fellowship, Bible Study ...and I’m sure you can think of more. But these disciplines can turn into spiritual activities on a check list. Our hearts and lives may not be changed by “doing” these practices.

So let’s not forget that Jesus didn’t come into the world to save us from what we are doing wrong, just to help us live right. He came that we might be transformed in heart, mind, motives, desires, character. Let’s allow God to work on these areas and the spiritual disciplines will follow.

Am I loving, living our His joy, overcoming evil desires and motives? Am I humble, slow to anger, kind...? I want to be like You Jesus...in heart and character...and life!

Romans 14:17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. (NLT)

Special Guest Jeremy - on character before skill

Jeremy's thoughts about hiring employees relates to the process of the church and who we place as leaders over our ministries and fractal teams. At New Hope, where we desire to develop and deploy people's gifts and skills for God, we must continue to develop the heart and character of our people.

Discernment; Training for Christ-likeness

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. ~ writer of Hebrews [ch.5]

• What area in your life is God asking you to train your discernment?
• Can you hear what God is saying to you involving the "good & evil" you need to be aware of in a particular situation?
• What is He calling you to do or change to become more like Christ in this area?

"Still Undefeated!"

I was tired after a long weekend at church but decided to go running. I was doing some wind sprints (trying to:) and I was exhausted! While trying to muster up energy to continue, I saw a t-shirt someone was wearing that said “Still Undefeated.”

Yes, i really enjoy martial arts, boxing and contact sports! Having a winning record on a team or individual sports is a good goal. Who wants to lose or be known as a loser? Of course, I believe losing can build character, losing can be a part of life, losing can make winning that much more rewarding and all the other benefits we can list of losing.

But when it comes to my Lord and Savior - my personal relationship with Jesus - how I live my life - I can say by the grace and mercy of God [and I mean by the grace, love, mercy, forgiveness, strength of God!] - I am STILL UNDEFEATED! Undefeated because Jesus has already defeated the devil and conquered sin, death and all evil!

Brothers and sisters!

You and I are undefeated because of the work of the cross of Christ! Yes, we get knocked, down, stumble in our sin, get discouraged, yadi-yadi-yadi-yadi...ya!

But thanks be to God who ALWAYS leads us in triumph in Christ! 2 Cor. 2:14

Let’s get a hold of our victory, by getting a hold of our promises and truths in Jesus, through His Word! We’ve got the victory because we’ve got the Victor --- living in us!

Hiding His Word in our hearts

• Do you see the value of memorizing Scripture?
• When was the last time you memorized a particular passage?
• Is there a Scripture verse or 2 (or 3) that you will start committing to memory...today?
• ...Just do it!