Tripp Atkinson

Pastor, Speaker, Consultant

Christian Living

Excusing Yourself From God’s Blessing

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Is it possible that you are excusing yourself from God’s blessings? Let me explain…

In Exodus 3, we see that Moses found himself in a really awkward situation one day.  It was one of those awkward situations where things just got weirder and weirder.

1 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” 4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”  “Here I am!” Moses replied.  – Exodus 3:1-4

Talk about a turn of events!  Moses is tending sheep in the wilderness (probably not the most exciting thing in the world) when he sees a bush that is on fire, but not burning up.  As he is checking it out, the bush begin to talk to him.  Not only is the bush talking, but God is speaking to him through the bush and calls him by name!!  Now in the midst of probably freaking out just a little, Moses responds in a way that has the potential to change his entire life and future.  He enthusiastically says “Here I am!”

As God calls Moses’ name, Moses enthusiastically and expectantly gives God his undivided attention.  When God has his attention, God tells Moses that he has chosen him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.  This plan would involve Moses going to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and demanding that he release the Israelites from captivity.

So God says, “Moses I’ve got a plan and it involves you.  You be willing to give and watch what I do.”

Moses immediately begins to do what we sometimes do when God asks something of us.  Moses immediately begins to give excuses as to why God could not use Him… reasons why he could not give to God.

But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” – Exodus 3:11

But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” – Exodus 4:10

Apparently Moses had a speech impediment, which made this ask from God completely illogical to Moses.  Moses says, “God, you’ve got the wrong guy.  You are asking too much!”  It becomes clear that God really hates excuses.  God had enough of Moses’ excuses and said to him…

Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord?”
– Exodus 4:11

Of course God has a great comeback for Moses’ excuses.  God says, “Oh, I can’t use your mouth?  Well, who made your mouth?  If I want to use your mouth, I can do whatever I want with it.”

“Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” – Exodus 4:12-13

Moses is destined for greatness, yet he is trying as hard as he can to sabotage his own future by making excuses.

DON’T SABOTAGE TOMORROW’S GREATNESS WITH TODAY’S EXCUSES.

 

Even as Moses is still making excuses, look at what God does…

14 Then the Lord became angry with Moses. “All right,” he said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you. 15 Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do. 16 Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say. 17 And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”

God says, “You give.  Let me use and provide.”  It may not always make sense to give.  We might think “What can God do with this?”  I think of the little boy in the Bible who gave his couple of small fish and five small loaves of bread to Jesus and watched in amazement as Jesus feed over 5,000 people with them and then had 12 baskets full of leftovers.  I think of the widow who gave her only coin and how her legacy of sacrifice has made a difference to this day.  There is story after story from Scripture and also my own life where God has proven faithful to take little and use it much.

Even when it doesn’t make sense, you give, God will use, and God will provide.  God takes what we can do, does what only he can do, and the result is beyond what we could think or imagine on our own.  As God asks of us, he always gives more.

God doesn’t ask you to give without him giving more.

As we give, consider what God promises…

As we give, God promises:   

    – His presence. (God said, “I will be with you.”)
    – His power. (Exodus 4:1-9, “Trust me, everyone will know I’m behind this”)
    – His provision. (Exodus 4:14, “Look Aaron is already on the way.”)

As we give to God, he is always faithful!  And through faithful obedience, we can experience God’s absolute best for our lives. 

Consider when Moses experienced God’s best…

Moses experienced God’s best when:

    – He gave God his attention.
Is it possible you may not be hearing God calling because He doesn’t have your attention?
    – He moved beyond excuses.
What excuses are robbing you of experiencing God’s best?
    – He trusted God’s plan.
In what areas do you need to trust God today?

Today, would you give God your full attention and ask, “God, what do you want me to give?  How do you want to use me?”  Whatever God is asking you to give, would you trust him enough to move beyond excuses and trust his plan.  As you do, I’m confident you will experience his presence, his power, and his provision in your life.  

Stop “excusing” yourself from God’s blessings and walk in the fullness of all he has for you today!

*For a podcast of this devotional, click here.

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An Adopted Child of God

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Who Am I?  An Adopted Child of God

 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
– Romans 8:14-17

Adoption can indeed be a very tough and costly process for prospective parents as they navigate the necessary channels to acquire the child they so desperately long for.  This was certainly true for God as well, as He gave His very Son to the cross, so that we could have the opportunity to be called His children.   How amazing it is that God would give so much to choose us!  And all we have to do to receive this adoption is choose Him back.  That is what being “led by the Spirit” is all about…daily choosing to allow God’s Spirit to lead your life.

Not only does this passage remind Christ-followers that we are children of God, but also heirs of God.   An heir is one who has a right of inheritance.  Because of what Christ did on the cross, God has given all Christians the inheritance of eternal life.  (Titus 3:7, John 3:16)  As if that’s not enough, Scripture tells us that one day all Believers will also inherit all things in God’s new creation. (Revelation 21:7)

No matter what your earthly family is like, know that as a child of God you are a part of the family of God.  You can come before God boldly, knowing that you have full access to your Heavenly Father who has adopted you.  You can have confidence that no sin, mistake, or anything in all creation can separate you from His love. (Romans 8:38-39)  Even if you do sin, His discipline is further proof of His Fatherly love.  Revelation 3:19 says, “I correct and discipline everyone I love.” (NLT)

Challenge…

As you pray today, do so with confidence as you come before your Father.  Use terms of endearment (“Abba, Father”) as you spend time with the One who has given His all so that He can call you His child.  Embrace your significance as a child of The King!

*Devotion by Tripp Atkinson as it appears in Impact Student Leadership Devotional.  To purchase, click here.  For more devotions and encouragement, click here. 

The Delight of God

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Who Am I? I am the Delight of God.

The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

– Zephaniah 3: 17 

Have you ever paused to really consider that God rejoices over you?  The NIV states, “He will take great delight in you.”  Think about that.  God.  Delights.  In.  You.  As sinful as you may be, you are God’s prized creation (Genesis 1:26-27) and He delights in you.

So many lose sight of this life-changing realization.  Instead of humbly celebrating the fact that they are the delight of God, many find themselves exhaustedly running on a hamster wheel of religion in an attempt to gain God’s favor.  This wheel may partially be created by well-intentioned Youth Pastors and Sunday School teachers who give student leaders “checklists” of Spiritual Disciplines and Bible Studies that will help them draw closer to God.  Although such resources can be extremely helpful, it is important not to confuse a list of “do’s” with enjoying a relationship with God.  This can quickly lead one to feel like a spiritual failure, which is exactly what God does not want.

What God does want is for us to delight in Him.  Psalm 37:4 states, “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 70:4 says, “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, ‘Let God be magnified!’” God delights in us as we delight in Him.  Just as an earthly father, God desires for His children to desire and take joy in Him.

Do not forget today the great price that God paid to have this love relationship.  While you were still a sinner, Christ died for you. (Romans 5:8)  Christ’s death and resurrection not only offers freedom from sin and death, but it also offers freedom from an exhausting form of religion that seeks acceptance.  Accept the fact that you are loved by God with an infinite amount of love.  May your acts of service and devotion today be an overflow of your delight in the Lord; not to be checked off a list, but to be given as a spiritual act of worship.

Challenge…

As you pray today, take time just to delight in the Lord.  And pray that you will enjoy His company as much as He enjoys yours.

 

*Devotion by Tripp Atkinson as it appears in Impact Student Leadership Devotional.  To purchase, click here.  And for more devotions, click here. 

An Invaluable Part of the Body

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Who Am I? I am an Invaluable Part of the Body of Christ.

“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”  – Romans 12:4-5 

 

Leaders naturally desire more influence. In fact, there are many leaders who begin each day praying a prayer like that of Jabez when he asked God to “enlarge my territory.” (1 Chronicles 4:10)  Leaders certainly should be driven to increase their influence for the sake of reaching more with the Gospel. But if we are not careful, that desire for more influence can evolve into something unhealthy.  It can become a desire for someone else’s ministry and giftedness. This can lead to a form of “spiritual jealousy” that seems admirable, but can render us ineffective as Christian leaders.

It is easy to see the ministry of someone like Billy Graham and desire that for yourself. But don’t forget the reality that if God wanted you to be Billy Graham, he would have made you Billy Graham. God doesn’t want you to be anyone other than you. In fact, “God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.” (1 Corinthians 12:18) And all of these members purposely do not have the same function.

No matter how insignificant or humble you may think your gifts are, the rest of the body depends on them. Consider this….If you remove your gifts from the body, the whole body of Christ suffers. God has uniquely gifted you to contribute to the body of Christ in ways that Billy Graham never could. There are people you can reach with the Gospel that your Pastor never could. God has given you a ministry that is markedly original.

Look at Romans 12:4-6 through the Message, “So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.” Go ahead and be what you were made to be today.

 

As you pray today, confess any “spiritual jealousy.”  Thank God that He has uniquely gifted you to do what no one else in the body can. Ask God to help you increasingly embrace your significance as an invaluable part of the body of Christ.

*Devotion by Tripp Atkinson as it appears in Impact Student Leadership Devotional.  To purchase, click here.  For more thoughts on your unique ministry, click HERE.

An Ambassador of Christ

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Who Am I?  I am an Ambassador of Christ.

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:20  

This verse has some incredibly good news, and also some incredibly bad news.  The good news is that we are ambassadors for Christ.  Imagine the significance of that reality.  As followers of Christ, we not only receive forgiveness of our sins, have a personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe, and enjoy eternal life that begins at the moment of Salvation; but we also have the privilege of representing Christ to this world.  What an honor!  This isn’t about representing your class, school, or even country, but about representing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  How amazing that we have such a high commission.

The bad news is that WE are ambassadors for Christ.   This same overwhelmingly prestigious honor of being emissaries for Christ becomes soberingly bad news when we consider that most who call themselves Christians don’t take this responsibility seriously.  Think of all the times that “we” Christians grossly misrepresent our Lord.   The very word Christian means “little Christ”, but how well are we imitating Christ?  In fact, instead of drawing this world to Christ, many who claim His name do just the opposite.

Consider Paul’s description of his role as an ambassador of Christ;  “as though God were pleading through us… be reconciled to God.”  To whom in your life does God want to plead through you?

Do you feel overwhelmed and under-qualified to be an ambassador for Christ to this person?  The good news is that you do not have to do it on your own strength.  (In fact, you can’t.)  The Holy Spirit will empower you to produce Christ-like ”fruit” in your life, will give you the words to say, and will fill you with boldness as you yield to His work in your life.  Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He left his followers with these words, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8).

 

So pray and ask God to help you fully embrace your significance as an ambassador of Christ.  Thank Him that you have the power available to you today to be a person of influence for His Kingdom.  Pray for boldness as you allow God to work through you to point others to Him. 

 

*Devotion by Tripp Atkinson as it appears in Impact Student Leadership Devotional.  To purchase, click here.

God’s Masterpiece

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Who Am I?  I am God’s Masterpiece.

“This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb…” 

– Isaiah 44:24 

In the fairytale Snow White, the Queen (step-mother) finds daily disappointment in looking in her mirror only to be told that her beauty doesn’t quite measure up to that of Snow White.

While most children want to be Snow White in that story (or the handsome prince…sorry guys), the reality is that most children grow up to find themselves playing the role of the vain step-mother; obsessed with what their mirrors “tell” them each day.

Imagine the amount of time teens spend looking in the mirror.  For many, what they see in that mirror is not a reflection of who they really are, but an image that’s formed through the lens of what others have told them they are.   Good or bad, the labels that are put on teens can distort their true identity.  Labels such as “fat”, “ugly”, or “reject” can lead to a lack of self-worth and an obsession to change one’s appearance.  Labels such as “hot”, “cute”, or “popular” can be just as damaging, often acting like a drug to those who become obsessed with maintaining such an others-pleasing image. 

Imagine what would happen if students looked in the mirror, and instead of first noticing their hair, complexion, or shape, they noticed the amazing realization of Isaiah 44:24… they were formed by the Lord.  The Hebrew word for formed means to fashion or mold, much like a potter would create a work with a specific purpose in mind.  The NLT translation of Ephesians 2:10 communicates this same amazing message, “For we are God’s masterpiece!”  What an awesome truth!

When God created you, He assigned a value and purpose to you that is priceless. Because your value has been assigned by your Creator, no label, sin, circumstance, or person can ever change that value.

 

[bctt tweet=”When God created you, He assigned a value and purpose to you that is priceless.” username=”TrippAtkinson”]

 

Take time today to thank God for creating you as a masterpiece.  Confess to Him the times you’ve accepted labels others have tried to place on you and how you’ve allowed them to shape your identity.  Pray that you’ll see the beauty and value God has given you.  So, as you look in the mirror today, celebrate that value with the prayer of Psalm 139…

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” 
– Psalm 139:13-14

 

*Devotion by Tripp Atkinson as it appears in Impact Student Leadership Devotional.  To purchase, click here.

Sleeping with Frogs (How today’s stubbornness leads to tomorrow’s hot mess!)

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One of my favorite Old Testament stories is found in Exodus chapter 8. In this story, we see that God has called Moses to approach Pharaoh and instruct him to release the Israelites from slavery and captivity so that they may be free and may worship God.  As Pharaoh hardens his heart toward God, God sends a plague of frogs to get his attention.

In Exodus 8:1, we see this incredible scene begin to unfold…

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 2 If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land. 3 The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come up out of the river and into your palace, even into your bedroom and onto your bed! They will enter the houses of your officials and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your kneading bowls. 4 Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.’” – Exodus 8:1-4

To paraphrase what God said to Pharaoh through Moses, “Let go of what is mine and if you refuse to let it go, it will not be for your good. If fact, if you don’t respond in obedience, things will get a little crazy.”

Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he refused to let go of what was God’s. And as he responded in disobedience, things certainly got crazy. Now picture this scene with me. Frogs came up out of every river, canal, and pond in Egypt and there were so many of them, they covered the entire land! Can you imagine walking across a ground completely covered in frogs… wearing sandals?? The frogs went into Pharaoh’s palace, and into his bedroom, and even into his bed!

Think about this. You get in bed at night, get all tucked in, start to fall asleep, and then you feel it…something crawling under the sheets. And as you are kicking and screaming like a Middle School boy (they squeal much higher than girls) you realize that you are sleeping with a bed full of frogs! Not only are you freaking out about now, the frogs have also entered the houses of “your people” and (as NIV says) are “ON your people.”

So not only is YOUR life being affected by your disobedience, the lives of everyone around is being affected as well. When you think it can’t get any worse, it actually does. We are told that the frogs “jumped into their ovens” (imagine putting in a pan of biscuits and pulling out crispy critters) and into their kneading bowls. Now this is the worst. Imagine kneading some dough to make those biscuits and you feel a lump in the dough. So you squeeze that lump really hard… We are talking about a HOT MESS!!

And the root of this hot mess?? Disobedience. So we see in verse 8,

Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, “Plead with the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord.” 9 “You set the time!” Moses replied. “Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River.”

So Pharaoh said “Pray to God and ask him to take the frogs away” and Moses replied “You say when.” Pharaoh’s answer is astounding.

10 “Do it tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.

What!? Tomorrow!? This guy’s life is literally being ruined by the consequences of his disobedience and he says “tomorrow?”

Why in the world would he say this? Pharaoh’s heart was so hard, so selfish that even though he was feeling the pain of his disobedience, he wanted to have his way just one more day. He would rather sleep with frogs one more night, than respond in immediate obedience to God.

As crazy as this seems, consider how we sometimes do the same thing. Now we may not be sleeping with frogs, but whenever God calls us to obedience and we delay, there are no doubt real consequences that affect not only our lives, but also the lives of those around us. Imagine today how you may be missing God’s best for you life by telling Him, “OK, but tomorrow.” We may have the best intentions but we forget, delayed obedience is disobedience. 

 

“Delayed obedience is disobedience.”

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  • What is it God has called you to give today?
  • What step of obedience have you been delaying?

 

Whatever it is, have confidence that as you respond in obedience TODAY that God can take your frogs and give you His very best! What a deal! Be assured today, just as Moses told Pharaoh, as you open your hands and hearts to God, “Then you will know that there is no one like the Lord our God.”

So walk in God’s best for you today and stop sleeping with frogs!!!

 

*For a podcast version of this post, click here.

The Trademark of Following Jesus

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Nike, Volkswagen, Under Armor, & Apple all have something in common.  They all have a trademark that has become an unmistakable identifier of their products.   Companies spend a ton of money developing their branding which include these logos / trademarks that mark their product.  For example, there is no mistaking a Nike shoe, because of the swoosh logo that has become synonymous with their name.

In the same way, Jesus talked about an undeniable evidence or mark that we are followers of Him.  That trademark or stamp that identifies us as His followers is how we love.

 

John 13:35 – “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

 

We have talked a lot about what love is and what love does.  But how do we know if we are getting it right when it comes to the way we love?

What is the standard by which we measure love?

Many times people measure love by the wrong standards…

So many things in our culture equate love with an emotion.  (Songs, videos, advertisements all reinforce this idea).  But the idea that love is simply a feeling is not based on truth.  While emotions can certainly be a real part of love, love is not about feelings.  Having “warm fuzzies” does not mean we are loving well.

Love also cannot be reduced to what we say.  There are plenty of people who say “I love you” out of the wrong motives.

I have a goal of my children hearing me say “I LOVE YOU” multiple times a day. But if I only said I love you, and never gave any other evidence of that, what would they believe?

What is the best test of my love?  The best test of my love is what I DO.

Certainly people do things out of the wrong motives, but motives become clear through what I do and how I do it.   I firmly believe that you can do without loving, but you can’t love without doing.

You can do without loving, but you can’t love without doing.

I want my kids to know I love them by not just what I say, but by what I do.  I want this idea to be so engrained in my daughter that she won’t dare believe a guy that says “I love you” if their actions are not loving and biblical.

Throughout Scripture we see that love is tied to action.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave…”  (John 3:16)

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)

God proved his love by action, and His followers were told to do the same.  Jesus told his disciples,

“If you love me, obey my commandments.” –  (John 14:15)

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter (who had denied him three times) and he asked Peter three times if Peter loved him.  After an emphatic “You know I love you” from Peter, Jesus said,

“Then feed my sheep.”  (John 21:17)

It is abundantly clear that love is tied to action.

1 John 3:18, “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”

How can you SHOW your love to others today?  Start with those closest to you…your family.  Make it a goal today to let each person in your household know that you love them by what you say AND in an active and tangible way.  What can you DO for each person that is an undeniable mark of your love….. that leaves no doubt about the truth of your love!

Today, Let your words and deeds of love be an undeniable Trademark that you a follower of Jesus Christ!

 

*For ideas of how to serve in ways that are unique to you, check out this article.

*For a podcast of this post, click here. 

Move On… (Getting past the WHO's & WHAT's that rob you of God's best)

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*The following is an outline from a message to High School students on HOW and WHEN to move on from those things that keep us from God’s best for our lives.

Summary:  If you want God’s best for your life, you’ve got to move on from the things that rob you from experiencing it.  Sometimes you need to move on from a WHO, other times it’s a WHAT.

 

Hebrews 12:1 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Sometimes you need to move on from a WHO
– Relationship
– Friendship
– Someone who hurt you

Sometime you need to move on from a WHAT
– Past
– Guilt / Shame
– Pain
– Lies
– Abuse

 

Here are some keys to knowing WHEN to move on:

 

1)  Step back and look at the big picture.

  •  Evaluate where you want to go
  • Is your current situation, life choices, relationships pointing your life in that direction?
  • What people or things are holding you back?

 

2) Make decisions based on truth, not feeling.

  • Feelings change, truth does not.
“Don’t sacrifice your future on the altar of monetary feelings.”
  •  Seek wisdom from someone who loves you & wants the best for you.

Proverbs 27:6 – Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

  • Meditate on truth.  “The truth will set you free.”

 

3)  Clarify the WHY.

  • The WHY is bigger than the WHO or the WHAT

 

4) Commit to action.

  • Make sure that the plan is:
    – Specific
    – Accountable

 

HOW to move on…

 

  1. Receive God’s forgiveness, then give it  (to yourself & others)

– Receive it.

1 John 1:9 – But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Ephesians 3:17-19 – Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Psalm 103:11-12 – For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

– Give it.

Colossians 3:13 – Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Unforgiveness doesn’t punish the other person, it punishes you.

A Few Words About Sexual Abuse

  • God understands your pain & cares
  • It is in no way your fault.
  • You are not alone.
  • Help is available.
  • There is hope & healing is possible

 

2)   Look forward, not back.

– The past is over.

Philippians 3:13-14 – …I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

If you run towards all God has for you, you distance yourself from your past.

1 Corinthians 9:26 – “So I run with purpose in every step.”

– Don’t limit the power of God.

Ephesians 3:20 – Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

 

3)  Treasure God’s grace; don’t cheapen it.

Romans 3:8 – And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.

 

4) Live in truth.

– Don’t hide.  (Your sin or from people)

John 3:21 –  But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.

– Immerse yourself in God’s truth

2 John 7-11 – I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.  Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.  Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement.  Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

You can’t control the things that hurt you, but you can replace them with truth.

2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

 

5) Celebrate freedom / healing!

Psalm 32:1-2 – Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!  Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

 

Notice the key through it all…

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.[a] Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.  – Hebrews 12:1-2

 

Takeaway (The 140)…

 

140:   Don’t let anything rob you of God’s best for your life.  The WHY is greater than the WHOs & WHATs that would keep you from it!
#questionit

 

TAKE IT HOME:
  • What people or things tend to rob students of God’s best for their lives?
  • How do you know when to move on from someone or something?
  • As you move on, what does it mean to live in truth?
  • What steps do you need to take today to move towards God’s best for you?

 

*For more resources and encouragement, click here.

The Gift of YOU! (How to give something that no one else can…)

by

Countless time and money is spent on searching for the most unique and special gifts to communicate value and love to others.  While physical gifts can be quite special and meaningful, don’t overlook the greatest gift you can share with someone.  The greatest gift you can give is actually the most valuable gift; in fact, it is priceless.

It’s THE GIFT OF YOU.

Take a few moments to consider the value of you and some things you can give that are truly unique.  What is it you can share with others that is unlike anyone else?

 

1) Your encouragement…

Your encouragement is something that no one else can give.  It is unique to you, and no one will be able to give it just like you.  When considering the encouragement you can offer others, keep these things in mind:

  – Everyone needs encouragement.

Everyone.  Some may need it more than others today, but everyone needs it.  Even people you think have a perfect life and have it all together, they need encouragement.  In fact, it could be that those whose lives you envy most may need the most encouragement.  It is often those without the obvious or public problems that receive the least encouragement.  Perhaps those around you with the most on the outside are hurting most on the inside.

– Saying something is always better than saying nothing.

Have you ever thought about encouraging someone and just didn’t know what to say…so you said nothing at all?  It is often said, “It’s the thought that counts.”  Well, that’s just not true.  Just thinking about encouraging someone is really no encouragement at all.  In fact, if you were to tell someone “I thought about encouraging you a while back, but didn’t” that probably communicates the opposite of your desired sentiment.  What you are really saying is “I thought that you may need encouraging, but I didn’t value you enough to do it.”  If you think about encouraging someone and don’t know what to say, just say something.

– Do it now!

If you think about it now, do it now!  If someone comes to your mind to encourage, there is most likely a reason for it and timing is everything.  As you see an obvious need or situation, now is the time to encourage.  If someone’s name “randomly” comes to mind to encourage, it could be that the Spirit of God is leading you in that moment to be a blessing to them.  Perhaps they are praying in that moment for encouragement from God and God has chosen you to be His voice to them.  If you think about it now, do it now…later will probably never come.

 

2)  Your time.

How do you spell “love?”  T.I.M.E.  Nothing communicates value more than giving your time to someone.  Your time is valuable… extremely valuable.  Your time on earth is finite and is a non-renewable resource.  Although you don’t know how much time you have, you know that time is running out every day.  While most people don’t live in the reality of this truth, most understand that when someone willingly gives you their time, it is a precious thing.  When considering how to communicate value by giving your time, consider the following:

– Pause to see needs.

Most of us would give our time to help loved ones in need if they were to ask.  But how much more precious is it when someone offers their time.  Sometimes we get too busy to see even obvious needs around us.  Pause a few minutes and look around.  Who around you is hurting?  What needs do you see?  Who around you could use help?  Take the time to identify needs and how YOU can meet those needs.  Maybe the need is simply someone to talk to.  Maybe it is help with a project.  Pray that God will help you see others’ needs and look around.  Walk slowly through the crowd and look beyond the obvious.  Consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:35-40.  Pause to see needs.

–  Schedule it.

Intentionality is key when it comes to investing your time in others.  Life is so busy and if you wait on the perfect moment, it will never come.  If you want to give the gift of your time to someone, put it on the calendar.  If you are having a hard time figuring out who to invest your time in, schedule time to think and pray about it.  Scheduling makes giving your time to others and serving a priority.

– Involve others.

Sometimes your individual and sole attention is the most valuable thing you can give someone.  Often times, as you invest your time you can include others as you do.  Including others as you encourage or meet needs can be an encouragement to them as well.  By involving others in ministry and service you are not only meeting the need of one person, but also challenging another to make a difference.  By doing so, you have multiplied the gift of your time and been a blessing to more.

 

3)  Your faith.

Of course you can’t really give your faith to someone else; but you can share it.  At the core, everyone’s greatest needs are to be loved and to belong.  Both of these needs are ultimately and completely found in God, and with His people (the church).  There is no greater encouragement than to spiritually encourage someone.  There is no greater investment than helping someone discover and live God’s best for their lives.  As you consider how you can share your faith with others, think of the following:

– Recognize those hurting.

You probably know those around you who are hurting spiritually right now.  Have you considered that God brought you into their life so that you can be their spiritual encouragement?   Maybe you have never talked about spiritual things with them.  Perhaps the idea of that is a little awkward.  Consider what is at stake.  If you don’t love someone enough to talk to them about the most important thing in the world, what kind of friend are you?

– Tell your story.

You have a story and your story matters!  In fact, your story is part of the greatest story ever told!  Two of the most powerful and encouraging things you can share is how you came to know God (salvation testimony) and how God has worked in your life (growth story).  God can use both of these in a powerful way to encourage others and point them to how God can work in their lives.  Telling your story communicates to others that they are not alone.  Your story could be the most significant way to communicate the life-giving Good News of Jesus.  Tell it.

– Realize the power of Scripture.

Have you ever been at a loss for how to encourage someone spiritually?  Don’t forget about the power of Scripture.  Simply sharing a Bible verse with someone can be the most powerful encouragement you can give.  Sharing Scripture is sharing something that can speak to needs you may not even understand.  Don’t forget this truth of God’s Word, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Hebrews 4:12)

– Pray with someone.

When we pray for someone, we are lifting them before the One who knows their deepest needs and can best meet those needs.  But sometimes we can go an extra step with our prayers.  My mom reminds me of the power of not only praying  for someone, but praying with someone.  When we tell someone we are praying for them, that can be encouraging for sure.  But when we take the time right then to pray with them, that could be a moment they never forget.  That is also a great way for them to hear your faith as you lift them before God.

– Don’t underestimate what God can do through you.

Don’t forget that if God can do the impossible (and He can), then God can do the impossible IN you and God can do the impossible THROUGH you.  The most life-changing prayer you can pray today could be “God, what do you want me to do?”  Such a prayer can be life-changing for both you and those around you.  Would you be willing to be used by God today?  You do what you can do and allow God to do what only He can do in you and through you.

 

In a season of looking for the perfect gift to give others, don’t neglect the most valuable (actually invaluable) gift you can give…the gift of yourself.  Pray about how you can invest your unique encouragement, giftedness and time in others.  Ask God how you can best share your faith and enjoy giving to others what God has richly given to you!

Give well,

Tripp