4 Ways to NOT Follow the Lord

1. Focus on Your Problems

Focusing on your problems = worry = not trusting the Lord. Pretty simple, huh? When we place our focus on the storms of life, we can't follow the Lord.

2. Focus on Yourself

I've been guilty of this one recently. When your focus is on yourself, not matter how good your intentions, you can't follow the Lord. God wants us to put all our trust and focus on Him.

3. Focus on Your Rights

We are told to protect our rights in this country. Nothing wrong with that... but you have no rights in God's economy. We were bought at a high price:

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (ESV)

¹⁹Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

²⁰for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

4. Focus on Doing Right

When you place your emphasis on keeping the rules (following the law), you will break them more. God doesn't want us to focus on doing right... He wants us to place our focus on Him.

Wrap-up:
The truth is, you can't focus on anything but God in order to follow Him. Everything else just gets in the way! Do any of these four hindrances speak to you today? Refocus on Him and follow Him today.

3 Things We Forget

As I get older, I tend to forget things more easily. Whether it is my keys or a recent conversation, sometimes I forget. At times, I forget things about God that are much more important than my keys.

The circumstances of life can get our focus off God. I have been going through a time of life where my circumstances are not what I had hoped. Sometimes, we forget some basic truths about God that get us off track during these times. Here are three things I have had a memory loss on recently that God had to reset my focus. See if you can connect to any of them.


1. It is all about God, not about me.

I am not here for me. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, "for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." I was bought with a price. He paid for me with the precious blood of His Son. I am not my own anymore. I am not here to look out for my interests. I am here as a bond slave of Jesus. 

When I start having a pity party (you know, "Whoa is me I don't have a job. Whoa is me,  I'm running out of money. Whoa is me...") I sometimes forget that it is all about God. If I believe He is in control of everything (which I do), then I have to trust He is right in the middle of every circumstance I'm in. Which leads to #2.

2.  God allows my circumstances for my good.

I'm not saying that God causes every circumstance, but that He uses them all for our good as believers. Romans 8:28 (NASB95) says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." If you have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you are called according to His purpose. Which means that God CAUSES all things to work for good for us! 

No matter the circumstance, as believers, we can know that God is using whatever we are going through for our good. These circumstances of life will mold us into the image of Christ. They cause us to look more like Jesus! I don't know about you, but that's what I want.

3.  God wants us to live today for today.

I've got to be honest, I am so ready for God to move me on to my next assignment.  I have been so ready at times to move on I have forgotten that God wants to use me today. God wants us to focus on what He wants from us today. He is not nearly as concerned about the future as He is about molding and shaping us today.

Matthew 6:34 (NLT) says, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

No matter your age and mental ability, let's don't forget these three important truths every day as we life out Jesus in us. God has such a great plan. We just have to walk in it. Let's walk it together in truth!

Hi, My Name is Jim and I have TJS...

It's Friday. An awesome day for most people. Everyone is ready for the weekend. Fridays have been hard for me lately. You see, each Friday when you are waiting on God to open your new place of service means another week of not hearing anything. Silence. Nothing.

I don't want you to feel sorry for me. No pity needed. I have just what I need to make it through another Friday.

Don't tell everyone, but I have TJS. TJS is not a disease. TJS can be transmitted though.

I have my emotional ups and downs. But my TJS is what keeps me rolling during the good days and the bad days.

I have Trust Jesus Syndrome. No matter the circumstances I go back to the truth that is found in Jesus. Sometimes I don't feel like it. But I trust Jesus to take care of everything because he is trustworthy. He has all things under control.

Here's a couple of verses I fall back on:

Romans 8:28 (NLT)

²⁸And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NLT)

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

⁶Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Circumstances come and go. Emotions come and go. I have good days and not so good days. But trusting Jesus is my foundation for living. Let's trust Him together today. Share this blog with someone who needs to hear that God is in control today!

 

R U Having the Faith Passed On to You?

I had lunch today (can't beat Drago's oysters) with my good friend and mentor, Dr. Jimmy Dukes. We had no agenda and I always come away from our times encouraged with new insight and wisdom. Dr. Dukes has poured his life into many people throughout his ministry. He is a giver. I need Dr. Jimmy Dukes in my life. Everyone needs a Dr. Jimmy Dukes in their life!

My passion is discipleship. I love watching people grow in their faith. That gives me more joy and excitement than anything else in ministry. I have often quoted 2 Timothy 2:2 (NASB95), "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." Paul is writing to his child in the faith Timothy to encourage and train him. Paul was investing his life into Timothy.

I have always concentrated on finding people to pour my life into... to "entrust to faithful men." I now understand how important it is to also have a "Paul" in my life. Do you have someone in the faith that you regularly meet with that will listen to you and speak the truth in love? Do you have a "Paul" in your life? If you don't, begin praying now for God to place a "Paul" in your life.

If you have a "Paul" in your life, make a comment on this post and tell us about that relationship. You will help encourage others! "Encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB95)

Questions, Questions, Questions???

With some time on my hands, I've had some time to be introspective. Through this self examination, I've found some wonderful things... and some things to work on.

My friend, Dave Jochum, has been coaching me through some leadership material. One of my assignments was to have some people that are close to you answer these two questions:

1. What do I do when I communicate that connects with people?
2. What do I do when I communicate that turns people off? (Ouch!!!)

The first question is wonderful and I got some great feedback.  A couple of the answers to question number 1 were similar. That helped me to see some of my strong points in communication.

The second question is tough... but beneficial. I am glad I love all the people that answered these questions! It is sometimes hard to hear constructive criticism but I knew it was given in love. As I thought about the answers to question number 2, I realized that there was a lot of validity to what they were saying. This gave me some things to work on in my communication.

I need your help! Reply to this thread and let me know some tools, questions, ways that you use to examine yourself. These can be spiritual or personal. List and explain whatever tools you use (have used) to look at yourself to make you a better person. Let's grow together!