Word Of The Year

I got this idea from Pastor Deanna Shrodes @ Lifetime Intimate Portrait. She got it from her friend who got it from... You take a long look at your life and pick one word that is a theme for 2009. You don't just pick one that you want. Let God guide you. Talk to a close friend. Find where you are and where God is taking you. What is the theme God is wanting you to strive for and focus on this year?
Last year my word was change. It just kept happening...change again and again. I noticed it about half way through the year. I didn't even think about it.
This year I found this idea to be good and I am up for the challenge. What is my word for this year? I took a week to figure it out. I knew my devotion and passion was lacking. I know I want to do what is right but the motivation to follow through with that wanting is the part I have the most difficulty with. I learned a lot last year and I know God wants to continue in that vein. I backed off a lot of things just to look and listen to find out what was the right thing to do for that situation. I became more of an observer than a reactor. It was a good thing but it carried over into all of my life and left me lethargic. Surprise I needed to change.
So what is that word? What's the theme for 2009? Passion? Devotion? After much time in thought and reflection I came up with "follow". If I just follow Him all will be well. I also needed to follow some people in my life. I tried some things in my life my way and it didn't work out so well. It seems to fit exactly where God has me and is leading me. Lead me I will follow, right?
It was my word until my first service back with the kids. It's been one year since I had any ministry with kids and two years since children's church. Except for forgetting or not knowing their names, it felt like I never left. God is good. The message was about giving to God and the 'Big Idea' was 'Give to God and He'll give to you.' It talked about excelling in all areas of life. We can live barely getting by or we can excel to be the best. I know it sounds like a commercial or a marketing campaign of some kind but with God we can excel in life. He expects us to be more than barely getting by. This lesson spoke to me loud and clear. I need to excel in life. I barely get by in so many areas. I know God wants my very best, not some made up plan by me but to follow Him in His. He'll supply all we need.
So my theme, my word is "excel". In 2009 God is calling me to excel, to be and do better. The verse for our lesson was Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." God wants me to give more, to give it all I got. Not in my strength but His. It's by our fruit we are judged. The fruit tells you about the tree. Matthew 12: 33 (Message)

Guard Your Heart

I saw 'Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.' It made me wonder about guarding and how much I do and don't do.
I have seen some areas of weakness as of late and even considered not going to a marriage seminar because of the stark reality of my shortcomings. I know I need all of God I can get and to surrender my ways for His but the shock was overwhelming how much I am still an infant. I'm holding on to the easy life. There is so little self sacrifice. I am still protecting myself from rejection, being hurt, and being wrong.
So guarding my heart more than likely needs improvement. Here's what I found:

• Proverbs 4:13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

Guard instruction...written and spoken word of God. I have been doing better this year but I need to learn to stand on the Word. I need to believe it by living it. There is stuff God told me that I need to stand on too.

• Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

Guard lips...what I say. I have to stop before I speak. I let this slip as of late and my wife has been letting me know.

• Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life.

Guard the way...what I do. I can do better. What programs/movies am I watching, conversations am I having, and time am I wasting? How many prayers have I neglected to pray?

• Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Guard against greed...what I own and want to own. How much money have I wasted on stuff that later I find out how dumb it was to buy? Do I need the newest, best, brand name, electronic item to make my life easier? By the time you get it home it needs an upgrade. I need to downgrade on earthly treasures and strive for heavenly treasure.

• Psalm 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

Praise God!!! Even when I'm stupid He's watching over me. I need to take an attitude that I'm protected and just obey God without worrying about the consequences. God's got my back!

It's my Fault

These are three words we never want to have to say. Usually when we say "It's my fault" we made a big mistake. Remember when you were little and 'somebody' did something they were not suppose to do and mom or dad said, "Who did this?". When "It's my fault" was finally said they got a whooping. How about at work when a project does not work out or you lose a customer. It's your fault and you just want to run and hide but somebody has to take the hit. In each case the parent and the boss will figure out the culprit so you had better come clean.
Whenever I am at fault I feel like a failure. I can't help it. I look at my progress in life and expect a certain level of performance. If I fail to meet that level, I become frustrated and want to blame somebody else for my mistakes. I may start yelling at every little thing that sounds like an accusation or put down. I have my eyes off of Jesus and onto the problem. If I could just keep my focus on His word and the promises He gave us, I could quickly get past this learning moment and see that His plan is still in place for my life. I could respond properly because I know what is right if I take time to think about it. If I had no answer I could ask God for wisdom and He would give it (James 1:5).
For some reason I tend to lean towards self preservation and avoid being hurt. Both of these get me into further trouble. Problems are not solved but only ignored. The more you try to protect yourself the more work you create. It can work it's way throughout your whole life. Problems grow at work, at home, in your health, in your marriage, at church, in your relationships, bills get behind, and your walk with God suffers.
In the end you start saying "It's not my fault". You could be so far down the wrong path that you actually start to believe it. In reality, it's all your fault and it won't change until you start taking responsibility for your faults. Confess your sins to God, get forgiveness, and walk in the right way. To know the right way you need to read the Bible, pray, and go to church. Spiritual disciplines cannot be ignored. To be in the right state of mind in peace and grace to walk effectively, we need to have a personal intimate relationship with God. Without contact the connection becomes corroded and we don't hear Him or remember what's right in a given situation.
So, being responsible in life takes courage and sometimes saying, "It's my fault". I struggle too much trying to escape this responsibility and need God's help to keep me connected and on track. Friends are another way to remember what's important in life. Talk about Jesus every now and then just to see where we are in our hearts. Sometimes one's desire to please the Lord awakens that desire in somebody else. Together our impact can be contagious. The very life around us can change just because we talked about Jesus. Joy becomes your strength and courage and the only thing that matters is making a difference in somebody else's life. You and God can change the world just by living to be a blessing. Give more than you get.