Friday, August 31, 2012

Hey James, just one more time!

I have really benefited spiritually from taking the time each day
to read God's Word as well as spending time in prayer.
When I regularly engage in spiritual disciplines God
reveals Himself to me in powerful ways. His Word becomes
alive and speaks into my circumstances. I connect with
Him below the surface, at the heart level, where His Spirit
begins to minister and guide my thoughts.

Because we live in a fallen world and therefore inherit
a sin nature, we must be careful how we live each day.
For followers of Jesus remember this, we are most
vulnerable when we think we are kickin it for the
kingdom of God, when we think God is pleased
with our works, and when we think we can rest on our
successes.  When we begin to let our guard down
we open ourselves up to the enemy and His plan
to distract and mislead God's people. That is why
the Bible warns us:


Ephesians 5:15-16 New International Version 1984 
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,  
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil

1 Peter 5:8 New International Version 1984 
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around 

like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

For these reasons above we must remain humble and realize
the importance of staying connected to the Holy Spirit.
We must plant God's Word in our heart. We must not lose
focus and attempt to do God's work in our own strength
and in our own way. We have to recognize that without God
we are powerless. The enemy would have you believe that
you have power and that you can handle the temptations of this
world in your own strength. Remember, be careful when you are
confronted with these thoughts. Only God can properly set the
course of your life. Only God can give you the perspective and
strength to deal with temptation.

We are also exhorted in James to persevere when we are oppressed, and mistreated
Jesus warns us in John 16:33, "in this world you will have trouble",
but then goes on to say "But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

So when we read James 5:11 which tells us "We consider blessed
those who have persevered."
we know trouble will come our way
but we also know that Jesus has already defeated sin and death and
our hope is in Him and the victory He completed on the cross. So when
we struggle due to the actions of others, we can rest in the fact that Jesus
can help us. In fact, when we are tempted Jesus promises us this:


Hebrews 2:18 New International Version 1984
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those 
who are being tempted.

What an awesome Savior we have! Even in temptation and suffering He is right there 
with us willing to help us.


Even when we experience physical or spiritual suffering we
can rest in the promise that "The Lord is full of
compassion and mercy."
(James 5:11)

The only way to know this is true is through experience.
Have you ever felt God's compassion and mercy in your
suffering? Think about this for a while before you
continue reading.

One thing that jumps out at me is that during my
struggles and suffering as a believer, God never
abandoned me. He was and continues to be my source
of comfort and strength.

I can remember  my moments of torment and physical pain
being filled with God's love. He extended His hand toward me
giving me a solid anchor that I could hold on to. I really felt God's
compassion in my suffering. And as my suffering ended, I relished in
His mercy, and love, and grace.





As followers of Jesus there is something else we need to realize.Part of our
suffering is due to the fact that we don't  belong in this world. Our time here
is really a preparation to be with God in Heaven. James encourages us to be
patient as we wait for Jesus to return.

James 5:7 reminds us:  "Be patient, then, my brothers, until
the Lord's coming."

Question: What do we do while we wait for Jesus' return?

While we wait we must always focus on the mission of
God has given us.


Matthew 28:19-20 New International Version 1984
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, and teaching them to 
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, 
to the very end of the age.”

We must focus on loving God and others:

Mark 12:30-31 New International Version 1984
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with 
all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your 
neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”




We must also think about leaving a legacy for future
generations. Our love, faith and service to God
can have a deep and powerful impact in our families
and in the world around us.

Here are some other things we must do:

James 5:12 New International Version 1984   (A Believers Word must be Trustworthy)
Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by 
anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be 
condemned.

Integrity is the key. How can non-believers trust us
when we share Gospel if we ourselves
cannot be trusted. If a non-believer looks at our life
and sees contradiction, we can damage the image of
Christ and even cause believers to stumble.


James 5:16 New International Version 1984  (Confess and Pray)
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that 
you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Self introspection is important. We need to be more in tune
with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can open our eyes to
the truth and lift the veil of deception of our misguided ways. 

That is why prayer and confession should not be taken lightly.
During our time with God, praying and confessing our sin will draw
us closer to Him. He desires a close relationship with each of us.
If we say God is our #1 priority, where is the evidence of
that in our lives? Are we giving it all to God?

I know it is difficult sometimes, but we should
consistently strive for a daily God focused life. We
must look for the things that separate us from God and
remove them with God's help. Along with sin,
distractions play a large role in keeping us from
focusing on God. Prayer and meditation on God's Word
can be hindered when we don't have a quiet place to spend
time with Him. Find a time and place to be alone with God
even it it means getting up a 1/2 hour earlier in the
morning. There is no better breakfast than receiving
spiritual nourishment with your cup of Joe.

One last thing.

James 5:20 New International Version 1984 
 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will 
save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Those who wander from the truth and live a life
separated from God need help. Ask yourself, What can I
do to help them?

Sometimes it seems futile to help someone whose "Will"
stands in direct opposition to God.
I know because generations of my family have been
champions of this effort.

I pray for them, I love them, I try to inject wisdom
and truth whenever I can. But I realize it is God who
changes the Heart of a person. But I also know that I should
always look for opportunities to share my personal God story.
God will put people in our lives to give us the privilege of planting
seeds of hope. I must make sure I continue to be in relationship with
my family in hope that one day those seeds of hope will begin to take root.

We should also invite others to part of our communities of faith.
If God extends an invitation to us, shouldn't we do the same
for others? 

Character matters:
Remember each example of a Christ filled life can
help change some of the "bad stereotypes" that damage
the reputation of the Church and followers of Jesus.

In this time when so many people are lost & suffering
our Christ-likeness can make a difference.

My prayer is that we will live a purpose filled life. That we will
fulfill God's calling. And that each of us will be known by our
identity in Christ so that there will be no question who we are
and whose we are.

Just Sayin..............Dave



Monday, August 27, 2012

Wake me up James!

There are times we all need to be smacked upside the head.
As followers of Jesus we have to think about the consequences
of our words and our actions. For those who are leaders in the
Church take heed:

James 3:1
"Those who teach will be judged more strictly."

This passage is of course a warning to those who teach.

My personal opinion is this:
If you are teaching the principles of God's Word
and explaining to others of the importance of abiding in His teachings,
then you should live it out those teachings as well and not be a hypocrite!

The truth for all of us is this: we need to be careful how we live.

Ephesians 5:15-17 New International Version 1984 
Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the 
most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be 
foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.


The fact is we do have freedom in Christ, but this freedom does not mean we should
incorporate worldly perspective into our teaching, our thinking and our doing in order to
be relevant to the culture. God expects us (His will is for us) to be Holy and set apart
to Him and nothing else. "Loving the World" or anything in the World is one thing God has
asked us to not to engage in.

1 John 2:15-16 New International Version 1984 
Do Not Love the World
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.


Freedom in Christ is great but it has to be done God's way and not our own. If we say that
God's wants for us to be like His Son Jesus, then we need to begin to be like
Him (Christ-like) in character, how we relate to the world, and in the way we treat others.
We can't pick and choose what we want to incorporate from the Bible when it comes to
God's principles. If we don't abide in love, and live set apart to God, we can do a lot of
harm to ourselves and those who are looking for something authentic they can believe in.
The problem is when we say one thing and do another it harms people
and reflects poorly on the kingdom of God.Our hypocrisy can cause someone
to stumble and think of us, our beliefs, and our Lord as just another ripoff.

As Christians I believe we have a responsibility to
not only teach God's Word but to live according to it
as well. This may mean we will have to change some
behaviors that do not honor God. If we only speak
God's Word but do not obey it ourselves, we should
question our motives and reflect on which master we
are really serving.

Here is a warning to us all:

James 3:6
"The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the
parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets
the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself
set on fire by hell."


Wow! who would that think one of the smallest members
of our body could be the most evil.




Also note, apart from using the tongue speak evil, those who teach
need to make sure their words truly reflect the heart and wisdom of God.

We are all aware of the damage the tongue can
do. I think Gossip is the easiest form of sinful
behavior we get caught up in. We are just a vocal cord away
from cursing the people who we should be blessing and
praying for.

Do we really honor God with our tongue when we talk
behind peoples back, judge their motives, question
their salvation etc? We really need to understand how
much a single word spoken from an angry and self righteous
heart can damage the spirit of another person.

Our words should be uplifting and encouraging. We
should also speak the truth in love and offer God's
wisdom and grace to those who have fallen out of God's ways.
Even though Jesus rebuked the Jewish leadership, His
words were always filled with God's wisdom. Jesus was
teaching even when having to deal directly with their
sin.

Here are some things we can do when faced with
opposition:



We should love and pray for those who oppose us.
We should continue to do all things for the glory of God.
We should pray our response reflects Godly Character

This passage helps me get the right perspective:

Philippians 4:8-9 New International Version 1984 
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, 
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, 
or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Therefore when we are faced with opposition, we can reflect
those principles of God's Word that have changed us from the inside
out. We want those who oppose us to see what Godly character looks like.
It is hard to deal with opposition, but with God's help we can and therefore
be authentic ambassadors for Christ. Our words can infuse love into a fallen world.
We can even love those who hate us.

One thing we can do daily is truly surrender our agenda to God
and ask for Him to lead us. We should be willing to give up our
own feeble, finite thinking and perspective and put our life into
God's trustworthy hands. This way we allow the Holy Spirit to fill our
minds and hearts with wisdom and direction, leading us into the perfect
will of God.

We must always remember that we will reap what we sow.
As we continue the mission to plant the seeds of God's love in other
peoples lives, the level of our identity in Christ, and the way
we treat others, will continue to be the reflection of who we are
to the world. The benefit of that is, those who are willing to listen to
God's truth, will connect the fact that God is love if we truly live it out
our Christ-likeness. 

Remember what Jesus said:


John 13:35

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

As God continues to refine us (sanctify us), He equips and inspires us to be able
continue on the mission he has placed before us. That mission is to bring
the hope of the Gospel to the world.

These passages from Philippians have really encouraged me:

Philippians 1:6
"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to
completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 2:13
"For it is God who works in you to will and act
according to His good purpose."
Philippians 4:13
"I can do everything through Him who gives me
strength."


I pray that each of you will continue to pursue your
relationship with Jesus every day. Let His glory be
the light you bring to the world.

Just Sayin...............Dave


Friday, August 24, 2012

More insight from The Book Of James

James Chapter 2:
Here is some more insight from the Book of James that
will give us a handle on the importance of love in a believers
life, the sin nature we all struggle with, and faith in action.

James 2:8-10 New International Version
 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Jesus said this:


Luke 6:31 New International Version
"Do to others as you would have them do to you"





He also said:

Matthew 22:37-40 New International Version
"love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your mind.

"This is the great and foremost commandment.
"The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor
as yourself.

"All The Law and Prophets hang on these two
Commandments"



The problem - We all have a sin nature
                      - No one is righteous
                     - We do things to please ourselves and serve our own agenda
                        even if it is sinful before God.

 
Lets think about how we treat others and ask ourselves some important questions:.

Questions:
Is our identity in Christ reflected in the choices we make each day?

Is our identity in Christ reflected in the way we treat others?

Compassion, kindness, generosity, mercy and love are just some
important attributes that should be part of who we are in Christ.

The Bible tells us that The Fruit of a Spirit filled life contain these attributes:

Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version 
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, 
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.


Evidence of real faith in Christ is how we treat others.

Remember: We will reap what we sow!


What can we do to help us love our neighbor?
The more we pursue our relationship with God and study His principles found in the Bible,
the more He will reveal to us how we are to love others and live out our faith in Christ.

Here is a passage that can help us make progress in our desire to be Christ-like:



Philippians 4:8-9 New International Version
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in meput it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

When we put into practice God's principles we are aligning our hearts with His.
With daily practice, living a life of love will define who we are in Christ, and prove
to others we are His disciples

John 13:35 New International Version
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
.....................................................................................................................................
Faith & Deeds:

James 2:14 New International Version
"What good is it my brothers, if a man claims to have
faith but has no deeds."

James 2:26 New International Version
"As the body without spirit is dead, so faith without
deeds is dead.

We must completely understand what James is saying.

James is saying that there are 2 kinds of faith one
that is legitimate - Completed faith, and one that is
illegitimate - Faith without deeds.

When we have a legitimate faith we go beyond the
intellectual understanding of the principles of faith and reach a
heart level demonstration of our saving faith in our daily lives.

When we truly trust God, we will act on our faith.

Understand this: The Holy Spirit is the change agent that helps
us become more like Christ and therefore helps us act on our faith.

We must remember our faith matures and grows deeper over time.
As time goes on our minds and hearts are conditioned to
respond to Gods calling guided by the wisdom and direction
from the Holy Spirit. Application of the intellectual and heart 
level understanding of God's ways will produce the kind of fruit 
( faith and actions working together) James is talking about.

I pray we will all ask God to help us grow in our
faith and understanding of His Word. That we will become
the disciples God wants us to be through application of His principles.
That we will continue to trust God with every area of our lives.
That we will love and serve God with excellence as well as demonstrate
our Christ-like love toward others.

With God's Help not only we will be changed from the inside out,
but we will have a greater positive impact for God's Kingdom in our
families, our Churches, our Communities and beyond. 

Just Sayin.................Dave



Monday, August 20, 2012

Quick review of James Chapter 1

Quick review of James Chapter 1

If you are need of good instruction to help you live out the life God has called you to live, then reading the Book of James and applying God's principles written in the Book, will give you the proper insight and direction to live set apart to God.

We live in a fallen world. All you have to do is look around and keep an ear to the news of the day and you will see a daily dose of broken people continuing to suffer due to the sin nature of mankind. Those who follow Christ know that joy is possible even in the most difficult of circumstances. This is due to the eternal perspective given to us by God's Word and with the power of Holy Spirit who will change us in a Christ-like way starting from the inside out. With the Holy Spirit's supernatural intervention into our minds and hearts, we can be joyful in even in during the trials of life, be guided into making good decisions, be taught how to live set apart to God, Love even those who don't love us, and make changes to our habits and actions that represent who we are as a new creation in Christ


Let's look at some important verses and passages from James Chapter 1 that can help us develop into a follower of Jesus who represents Him well in thought and in action.

James 1:2-5 (NIV1984)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,   

because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.   
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, 
not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who 
gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 

James 1:12 (NIV1984)
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,
because when he stood the test, he will receive the
crown of life that God has promised to those who love
him."

James 1:19-20 (NIV1984)
"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and
slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring
about the righteous life that God desires."

James 1:21 (NIV1984)
"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil
that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word
planted in you, which can save you."

James 1:22 (NIV1984)
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive
yourselves. Do What it says."

James 1:25 (NIV1984)
"The man who looks intently into the perfect law that
gives freedom, and continues to do this, not
forgetting what he has heard, but doing it- he will be
blessed in what he does."

James 1:26 (NIV1984)
"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does
not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives
himself and his religion is worthless."

 James 1:27 (NIV1984)


Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look 
after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being 
polluted by the world.


These are all great verses to refer to regularly. I am sure we
have all faced trials and temptations lately so it is important to
pray and stay close God's Word by remembering God's promises
and taking them to heart. If we do this together, as the body of Christ, we
can minister to one another and others who are struggling with their sin nature
and with living life in a fallen world.

Just Sayin..................Dave

Friday, August 17, 2012

Don't Just Know It, Apply What You Have Learned


Question
What should you do with the wisdom and principles that God reveals to you through His Word?
Answer
Apply what you have learned to your life.

Seems simple doesn’t it. Well it’s not. It has taken me years to apply some of the wisdom and principles 
that God has revealed to me through His Word.With application I can develop good habits, live with integrity, gain hope, grow in my faith, serve and benefit His kingdom, become God-centered, and reflect 
the heart and character of Christ. If I am called to be an ambassador for Christ, it becomes helpful to know what God desires from me.  Romans 12:1-2 points to ways I can please God and know His will for my life.

Romans 12:1-2 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
Living Sacrifices
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,  
holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Proverbs 3:5-6 helps us as well:

Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Question:  
How can God's Word help me live help me live in this day and age?

Answer:  
For example *Read all of Colossians 3 - Rules for Holy Living

Here is a passage from that chapter that gives us a deeper understanding of how we should live:

8 But now here are the kinds of things you must get rid of. You must put away anger, rage,
hate and lies. Let no dirty words come out of your mouths. 9 Don't lie to each other.
You have gotten rid of your old way of life and its habits. 10 You have started living a new life. 
It is being made new so that what you know has the Creator's likeness.


Question:  
How do I begin the process of applying Gods Word to my life?
Answer
Start with prayer, read and meditate on God's Word. Ask God for the strength to do  
what His Word says.  Ask, Seek and Knock. Allow the Holy Spirit to take charge and   
guide your heart and mind.

Matthew 7:7-8 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
Ask, Seek, Knock
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

(1 Thessalonians 5:17)…………….”Pray Continuously”

The Context of the above Verse is (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)………………..
“Be Joyful always. Pray continuously. Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will 
for you in Christ Jesus”.

The Author of this passage, Paul, from a letter written to the Thessalonians,  was speaking directly to
the  people of His day but we can also apply these same Principles to our lives as well. 

Truth - In order to gain the desire and strength  to apply God’s wisdom and principles, we will need
             His help.

If you read the Book of Psalms you see a lot of what is written are prayers that cry out to God for help,
Wisdom, strength etc.  The authors of these prayers understood that they needed God’s help
to process and gain Godly perspective for the times they felt weak, depressed, persecuted, or for just 
plain survival.

There are days I totally identify with the struggles  the writers of the psalms experienced. Yet I also
know that applying God’s principles to my life lifts me above survival mode into a new level of joyous 
living. I can even celebrate  the times when I experience difficulties and hardships because I get to see 
how God is perfecting my character, helping me grow in my faith, and building my trust in His lordship 
over my life.

So take the time this week to pray about your life.  Pray about those things  that God has been putting 
on your heart. Ask God for the strength to apply the wisdom and principles He has given you. Then
 live in expectation and wait for God to act. You may find yourself growing in your faith and trust in God while at the same time being transformed into a person who shares the Good News and reflects the heart and love of Jesus...............Just Sayin..................Dave





Monday, August 13, 2012

Excellence VS. Perfectionism Part 2

Hey Everyone,
Here is Part 2 of "The Heart of The Artist" based on Chapter 4


*Be Kind To the Artist in You:

(Ephesians 4:32) tells us to "be kind and compassionate
to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ
forgave you."
(Apply this to yourself)


The Perfectionist is not kind to the artist inside.
As we've seen, the perfectionist constantly criticizes
the artist inside, sets unrealistic high expectations,
and sees only the negative. But God made us to be
artists. When we mistreat the artist in us, we
diminish someone God made and loves.

...................................................

*Does God Really Like Me:

If you base your self-esteem on what you do instead of
who you are, your self-image will go up and down
depending on your latest reviews. Building your
self-concept solely on your gifts and talents is like
building a house on shifting sand.

Instead, build your self-esteem on who you are as a
child of God.


The Key to a healthy self-image is not about doing.
It's about being a beloved child of God.

Put Yourself in touch with God's love:
(Romans 8:38-39)
"I am convinced that neither death
nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height
nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be
able to separate us from the love of God that is in
Christ Jesus our Lord."


The only hope non-Christians have for a healthy
self-image lies in their ability to think positively
and to focus only on positive feelings about
themselves.

The only hope believers have for a healthy self-image
lies in our concept of God. That's the key. Our
God-concept is more important than our self-concept.

It's a paradox. You find your life by losing it.
 
Matthew 10:39
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life 
for my sake will find it.

*You find your worth and your value by losing yourself to God.
......................................................

*Don't Make Self-esteem Your God:

We are to love God above all things and all people,
even above ourselves.


Jesus said that we are to love the Lord with all our
heart, with all our soul,and with all our mind. This
is the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:27-38).

Loving others  (Love your neighbor as yourself)
is the second greatest commandment (Matthew 22:39). 

In Fact, when we love God first, we can truly love
others and ourselves.


Be careful not to make self-esteem your God.

Seek first God's kingdom, and things like having a
healthy self-image will be granted to you.

Matthew 6:33 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things 
    will be given to you as well.

....................................................

*Set realistic expectations (With God's help):

While we might be expecting artistic perfection, that
might be the furthest thing from God's mind.

Try to keep the big picture in mind.

God cares about all the details of our artistic
endeavors, but He's also in the business of saving
souls.
What's more important?

We can't control how well we perform or how people are
going to respond. But we can control our motives
and how prepared we are to minister with our talents.

...................................................

*Pursuing Excellence:

The Best Artists pursue excellence, not perfection.

While perfectionism is destructive and man-centered,
pursuing excellence is constructive and God-honoring.

Pursuing excellence means we do our best with what we
have, to the glory of God.


God didn't just throw things together when he created
the universe. He modeled creative excellence for us.

It's obvious that we serve a God who delights in
creativity and values doing things with excellence.


Excellence is also a powerful witness for Christ.

When we do things with excellence, the world will sit
up and take notice, and we can point them to a God who
created us, gifted us, and loves us.

.................................................

Just Sayin.............Dave



Friday, August 10, 2012

Heart Of The Artist - "Struggling with Perfectionism"

Hey Everyone,
 This week we will focus on
Chapter 4: of The Heart Of The Artist:
"Excellence VS. Perfectionism".

.....................................................
Chapter 4:

*Signs of perfectionism:

Perfectionism is one of the artist's biggest battles.

Perfectionism can take the joy out of your art and
your ministry.

....................................................
*Maximizing the Negative, Minimizing the Positive:

First of all, the perfectionist tends to maximize the
negative and minimize the positive.

For the perfectionist, one thing gone wrong means
everything's going wrong.

.................................................
*Black -and -White Thinking:

The perfectionist is guilty of black-and-white
thinking. Something is either all good or all bad.

Perfectionists tend to be very critical, and they can
come down very hard on themselves when they fail. As a
result, perfectionists engage in a lot of negative
self-talk.

....................................................

*Self-Esteem Based on Performance Instead of identity:

One of the most shocking contradictions in the
American Church is the intense dislike many disciples
of Jesus have for themselves.

They are sick of their own mediocrity and disgusted by their
own inconsistency even more so than another persons who they .
may view through a critcal human lense.

This mode of thinking can cause the person to struggle
with their self esteem because they are wrapped up
into what they do instead of who they are.

..................................................
*High and Unrealistic Expectations:

The perfectionist often sets high unrealistic
expectations.

If You and I set unrealistic expectations, we're
setting ourselves up for frustration and
dissapointment every time.

People with unrealistic expectations often end up
sabotaging themselves.

We need to work hard and aim high, but a perfect
performance or a perfect life is an unrealistic goal
that is more man-centered than God-centered.

God is the only one who is perfect.

Perfectionism is a very subtle form of sin Adam and
Eve were guilty of in the Garden: wanting to be like
God.

For those of us to expect life to be easy all the
time, perfectionism is also a way of being in control;
if I can control my environment, I can protect myself
from pain and disappointment.

...................................................

*Suggestions for the Perfectionist:

First of all, Savor the Positive.

If God uses us in a special way, or if something
exciting happens concerning our artistic gifts, it's
Okay to celebrate what God's doing through us
.

God doesn't like it when we pass up an opportunity to
savor him. God delights in Worship-filled celebration.

Maximizing the negative is self-centered because it
focuses on us and our shortcomings.

Savoring is God-centered because it celebrates God
gifting us and using us.

We've got to stop downplaying the good things that
happen when God uses us. We've got to learn to savor,
for the glory of God, the good things God does in us
and through us.


Let God be God. He alone is perfect. It is one of the
reasons we worship Him and not ourselves.


Artists who strive for perfection are chasing the
wind. It's folly. We're not perfect--never have been
and never will be.

(Phil 3:12) Paul says "Not that I have already obtained
all this, or have already been made perfect, but I
press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus
took hold of me".


Paul is saying:  "Folks I am not perfect. I have not
arrived."


God wants us to cease striving for perfection and to
know that He alone is God.


Psalm 46:10 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
10 “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Remember only God is perfect!

................................................

That is all for now more to come next week...........Dave





Monday, August 6, 2012

More from the Heart Of The Artist

Here are some more insights from Chapter 3 of the Heart Of The Artist:


A Team Player doesn't care who gets the credit or the Glory:

If you really believe in the cause of your team, does
it really matter who gets the credit or the glory?

Is it more important that you get the credit or that
the work gets done?

It's typical for us to want to receive all the credit
and glory for something we have done, but if you look
below the surface, there's almost always an
unhealthy, self-serving motivation behind this desire.

In Many cases there's a craving for attention that
drives us to seek the spotlight. And nowhere is this
more prevalent than in the world of the arts.

It should be a thrill to play any role, large or
small, on any team that's doing something great for
God.

Leaders should recognize those who serve. They should
show appreciation and thank them for their
contribution.

...................................................

A Team Player Brings all His or Her Spiritual gifts to the team:

Instead of asking, "What do I get out of this?" We
should be asking "What can I give."

Hebrews 10:24 tells us to "consider how we may spur
one another toward love and good deeds."

As a Member of a spiritual community I should
stimulate my fellow artists to new spiritual heights.

Ask Yourself: "Is there anything I can do or say that
could benefit someone else on the team?"

..................................................

A Team Player sees His or Her role on the Team as valuable, no matter how small:

1 Corinthians 12:22-25 says, Those parts of the body
that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the
parts that we think are less honorable we treat with
special honor.

Entire passage:

1 Corinthians 12:22-25 New International Version (NIV)

22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
...................................................

A Team Player submits to Authority:

It is true that the Bible encourages believers to submit themselves to their leaders in the faith.

Heb 13:17 NASB
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. 

1 Cor 16:15-16 NIV
I urge you, brothers, to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. 

Recognize that we are called to submit to authority however, church leaders are not given absolute power.
There should be no question about it: when faced with a choice to accept biblical truth or the teachings of men, obedience to God always supersedes submission to human leaders.

It is your responsibility to go talk to the leader you
may disagree or have a problem with.

Always pray before confronting any situation.



....................................................

A Team Player Doesn't Lose His or Her Autonomy of
Artistic identity:


We all must take personal responsibility for
development of our gifts and the nurturing of our
souls.

Each artist must take responsibility for their walk
with the Lord and the sin in their lives.

It is dangerous for any artist to live for the
approval of others and stop listening to God.
.................................................

We must all question our motives. Whose Glory are we
working for? When people look at us, we want them
to see a reflection of Christ in us?

I hope this chapter has shed some light on what it takes to be a team player
and build a strong loving community of artists
Just Sayin...................Dave


Friday, August 3, 2012

The Artist In Community

Here are some of the highlights from the Heart Of The Artist.

Chapter 3 "The Artist in Community"

The Church as a Colony of Artists:

Part of what God wants our churches to be is a place
that harnesses the arts for His glory and nurtures
artists.

Relationships Matter:

Even if you don't consider yourself to be very
relational, you need to learn how to relate to, and
get along with other artists.

If you want to have quality relationships, you have to
put in effort.

Be proactive about spending more time with people.

Teamwork:

Ministry is best done in teams.

The beauty of working in teams is that together we can
accomplish greater things for God than if we were on
our own.

When God calls you to be part of a team, He takes into
account who you are as well as what you can do.

No one is going to contribute to the cause and
community of the team in the exact same way that you
do.

You're not indispensable but you are irreplaceable.

The Things That Kill Teamwork:

Besides the fact that we artists have a propensity to
shy away from teams and community, the Evil one does
everything he can do to disrupt teams. He'll try to
sow disunity; he'll try to undermine morale; he'll try
to sabotage the cause; he'll try to frustrate plans.

The 4 things that Kill teamwork:

1. Selfishness:

People who are focused only on themselves will miss
the big picture.

We can sometimes get so focused on ourselves that we
miss what's really important.

2. Grumbling and Complaining:

Grumbling and Complaining are usually a result of
selfishness.

And many of us with artistic temperaments have a
tendency to complain and grumble whenever things don't
go our way.

Philippians 2:14: Instructs us to-
"do everything without complaining or grumbling"
because like a cancer a team or an entire church can
be killed.

3. Competitive Spirit:

Instead of competing with one another we need to learn
to cooperate and encourage one another.

4. Unresolved Relational Conflict:

A lack of unity can really hurt a team.

It's not easy for a team of artists to achieve unity,
because of the constant clash of egos and
personalities.

If a team of artists can dwell together
in unity, it's a major accomplishment.
...............................................

We must remember the importance of having an authentic loving community that defines the Artist in the Church. The idea of Community should also be representative of the Church as a whole. A real loving body of believers can battle the stereotype of the Hypocritical Church. This view of the Church runs rampant in our society due to the way those who oppose God attempt to define the church through those few who mess up through their hypocrisy and sin, those who misrepresent Christ and His teachings, and those who water down God's Word to the point where black and white principles become grey.

Our love for God through the heartfelt way we give Him our Worship and Praise, as well as our deep love for others and those who may be far from God, should define the Heart Of The Artist. This same authentic love should be the way to build real community in the Church as a whole. Lets remember that Jesus said  love proves we are His disciples. 



John 13:34-35 New International Version (NIV)

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 


Have a great day...................Dave