Your Gift, God's Glory!

"As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:10-11

I love that the Word of God is living and active! I'm pretty sure I've never heard this verse before... but then again I know I have! But I love how new and applicable things can become as our circumstances change! God knows exactly what we're going to need, when we're going to need it, and He gives us the exact words of comfort, encouragement or conviction that are necessary for that moment.

Peter reminds us that we've all been gifted in different ways, as Paul talks about in Romans 12, and that those gifts are to be used FOR GOD'S GLORY! "...so that in all things God may be glorified through Christ Jesus, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Yeah! I'll "Amen!" to that! What an awesome concept... and yet so fundamental. To live our lives for Christ, since He lived and died for us. Let's look again at the example of Christ. Because, to say that He lived and died for us is not the entirety of why He came. Christ came to live a life that honored and glorified God. In the process of honoring and glorifying His Father, Christ also had the purpose of being the perfect sacrifice for our sins. So, just as Christ lived with the focus of glorifying His Father, so we should live!

So... what's your gift? Are you a master of the written word? of the spoken word? of one of the arts? Are you a minister to those who are troubled in spirit? Whatever your gift is... you have been given it for a reason! God made you, who you are, for a purpose... be sure that you use your gifts wisely. Don't let the chance of being a part of the eternal pass you by because you're so caught up in how your talent/gifting can serve you for the here-and-now! Don't misunderstand me... our gifting can usually be quite a profitable opportunity for us... but we cannot think of them as such. We MUST use them to God's glory! However, look at this part of the verse again...

"...whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies..."

This can also be applied to an area in which God has put you, as an employee or employer. So, don't misunderstand me in thinking that our gifts are never to be used for our personal gain, but the FOCUS must be on bringing God ALL of the glory. If being the best employee in your entire workforce is the way that God has given you to be a witness, then go for it! Be the best employee, but at the same time... give God the glory! Be a light in your workplace and don't let the corporate ladder take more precedence in your life than reaching the lost co-workers around you.

I may have made this whole thing more confusing than it needed to be! You may have already figured this our for yourselves. However, I will continue to proclaim the goodness of my Savior and the things which He reveals to me, through His Word!

Friends, I encourage you to take hold of that gift which God has so richly blessed you with... and use it as a sacrifice of praise and honor, back to Him!

Grace and Peace!

Questions or Comments? E-mail me at afflquestions@yahoo.com .

A Quick Shout Out!

Hello All!

I hope you've been having a good week! As you know, if you've been reading this blog, my week has been very helpful in re-directing my focus! I'm constantly amazed at how, even in the middle of a study, God will instantly convict me of the times that I've gotten off of the straight and narrow!

Well, today has already been a pretty full day, and we're just at the 12 o'clock marker! Today I am going to Waco with the band, Courrier, and we're going to be doing a show there. Unfortunately, with all of the things going on this morning, I haven't had a lot of time to get on here and write something. So, I will hopefully catch up on everything tomorrow morning, but I just wanted to throw out a quick shout and make sure y'all know that I'm on the way to recovery! It's been a crazy time... but God is faithful to shape me as He would have me to be!

I pray that He will continue to do the same for you!

Grace and Peace!

Questions or Comments? E-mail me at afflquestions@yahoo.com .

The Trunk: Our Testimony of God's Work In Us

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

Did you know that Paul mentions standing firm at least twelve times in his epistles to the early churches? What better example of standing firm than that of a tree? Now that we have talked about the root issues that we face... let's look at the trunk!

The trunk is the outward assurance of what's happening under the ground. When the roots grow... the trunk is also widening and becoming stronger. In the same way, a Christian's outward influence should become stronger and more sturdy (more noticeable, if you will), as he or she continues to root themselves in the rich soil of the Scriptures.
We need to become a noticeable figure on the landscape of morality, today. There are so many "scrub-brush" type people out there... the type who lack depth and leech the soil of nutrients, but do not provide any sustenance for others. Their goal is one and the same, to hoard for themselves all that the earth might offer them. There is no return or thanksgiving for what they've received.
A strong, sturdy tree, however, gives shade and yields its fruit to those who would pass by. Let's look at the call, through our actions, of a Christian... as portrayed by a tree. "Come, rest in the Shadow of the Almighty, Who lives inside of me. I am but a mirror of the peace and rest that He gives to those who trust in Him! So rest... lay down your burdens and be revived! Here! Taste the fruits of a life lived for Christ! The fruit that is produced here is good. It satisfies and does not leave you desiring other things."

The Tree of Life, which is Christ, is a strong and mighty tree! He provides His shade, which protects us from the scorching and withering heat of the sun. His fruit is more satisfying than any other food! When you taste of the "Bread of Life" He has said that we will not hunger again! Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of our every need and desire.

Does this mean that we will be invincible against the cries of the flesh? No! As I have admitted to you, the things of this world will still weigh heavily against you. However, you will always end up without complete satisfaction, anytime you eat of the fruits of this world. What the world has to offer only satisfies for the moment, but Christ is the ever-satisfying sustenance that we need.

Back to the issues of the trunk! (I am King of rabbit trails!) A good, broad trunk defies the storms of life. The mighty oak is a symbol of strength, fortitude and unshaken character. Such should be the influence of the Christian... at work, at school, at home, at our friends house.... the list goes on and on! Our neighbors ought to see our "trunk" of faith and have no doubt about its sturdiness. Such should our witness be, that all who would see our countenance in the face of adversity would marvel at the confidence which we display.
Okay... that was kinda wordy... let me rephrase that in everyday-speak! Our lives should show a confidence in God that is so great that, even in times of hardship, we do not falter in our walk... The result of this being that others would wonder what makes us so strong.

Let us strive to have trunks that do not bend in the winds of adversity, but that stand strong in the face of the most punishing persecutions that we might face. Friends! Be trees that boast greatly of God's glory and power in your lives! Remember... the oak itself comes from a tiny acorn, which is easily crushed under foot. It is only by the will and direction of God that it rises to its fullest potential! So are we, as the beloved children of God! He has chosen us, His acorns, to rise as mighty monuments and testimonies of His power in our lives! Do not presume that this is a feat that we might accomplish aside from the grace and allowance of an all-powerful Creator. We are testimonies of His work... we must not seek our own glory in any of these things. For, just as easily as God allows us to rise, He can topple the mightiest of trees with but a word from His lips!

Friends, live to the glory of God! This is my only command, my only plea! I say this as one who is also having to, daily, sacrifice my idols before the King of Glory!

Grace and Peace!

Questions or Comments? E-mail me at afflquestions@yahoo.com .

More on Roots...

Okay... I took a good deal of time, yesterday, to examine my roots and I am very disappointed in what I've found.

When I actually began to look at my life, who I believe myself to be, I was startled to find how shallow my roots really are! I was ashamed... my confidence and my happiness have been determined, in these past several months, by my own abilities and accomplishments. As I delved deeper into my own heart, I found an uncertainty there. There was a whispering voice, telling me that music was my only chance of success or acceptance... my only chance of being needed by anyone.

Okay, so here's a disclaimer... I am not the greatest musician in the world, but I do love music. Unfortunately I have just realized to what an unhealthy extent my love for music has reached! I have measured my worth by my abilities as a musician and a singer... what sorrow! I am poorly lacking as a skilled musician, and my voice does not have an incredible range. However, this is not the issue at hand.

The issue at hand is this... What I once used for the glory of God, I have now made my idol! Friends, this is no easy admittance! Do you think I want people to know that music has meant the world to me, and that when people seemed either passive or disinterested I felt that it was a personal attack on me? I am admiting to you my fears and my failures as an example of what a Christian ought to be. I was seeking to be fulfilled in something other than Christ.... what a futile effort! I ought to have seen this sooner...

I admit all of this to you in order that you might see my roots... I know that there are deeper roots in my life, but I have been drawing all of my sustenance from these, more shallow, surface roots. So, I now have a task before me... I must lay down my music, which I have allowed to become my primary, and once again delve deep into the rich soil of God's Word... of understanding exactly who He is to me... I need to re-discover my first love. For, if I continue on in my search of fulfillment through the things of this world, I will only come up short-handed in the end!

Where are your roots, Christian? Are you drinking deep of the Father's love and are you being satisfied, completely, in Him? Or are you struggling as well? There is no shame in struggling against our flesh... it's when we succumb and no longer resist the flesh... that is where we get ourselves into trouble!

Unfortunately... I'm going to be late for work if I don't get moving! I would ask you to pray for me... that I might rediscover my worth, which is truly in Christ! I would also ask that you take some time to examine yourself... where are you drawing your fulfillment from?

Please, feel free to share with me, via e-mail or a comment on here, about how you're doing. I'm always encouraged to see what God is revealing to His children!

Grace and Peace!

Questions or Comments? E-mail me at afflquestions@yahoo.com .

Some Thoughts on Roots...

"How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers." Psalm 1:1-3



Okay, so maybe this verse spoke to me because of the plant illustration... but it is a very good example of what happens when we follow God's commands in Scripture. In case you don't know this about me... I work at a garden center, and I am always pleased when there is a plant-to-life illustration involved in a verse! Like when Jesus talks about us being branches on the Vine, which is Christ, and the Father being the Vinedresser.



This verse (Psalm 1) is a prime example of such an illustration. A firm believer being compared to a tree... what do you think of when you think "tree"? I think of a firm-standing trunk, but not only that... I think of the massive root-system that is under the ground. The roots are drinking in water and nutrients through the soil in which the tree is firmly planted!



Look again at verse 2... "But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night." Here's where our roots come into the picture. Plant your mind the Word of God! Do not allow yourself to worry about tomorrow, or the cares that this world calls our "top priority," but rather dwell on the promises and commands that we have been given by Almighty God! (Matt. 6:25-34)

Too often I catch myself worried about the things that the world tells me should be my primary concerns in life... a good paying job, a nice car, a big house, entertainment, etc...

Especially in the area of entertainment... we live in a society that says, "entertainment is everything!" If we are not constantly being entertained, we feel as though something is missing or wrong with us. That is, actually, correct! We were never promised, nor can we ever achieve, complete satisfaction in entertainment or the things of this world.

However, I still find myself struggling with "boredom," that illusion that says, "I need to always be busy with something or else I am not fulfilled." I ought to be completely fulfilled in Christ!



Back to my original point... plant your mind, firmly, in the Word of God, SO THAT you will not be torn away from it in times of trial.

Have you ever tried to tackle a tree that is well-seasoned? How does it respond to your attack on it's structure? No, I'm not talking about a newly planted sapling here... we're talking about the tree that has been firmly rooted for quite some time... a trunk of at least 8 inches in diameter. Go ahead... run at it! Give it all you've got! Unfortunately... all you've got is probably nowhere near what it would take to uproot the tree.

In the same way, you too should be planted firmly in the understanding of the Scriptures, so that you are not easily uprooted.



We will examine the other parts of this Psalm, in greater detail, in the next few days... for now...

take some stock of your "roots." How deeply are you planted? Are you constantly expanding your understanding of Scripture and of Christ? Bury yourself deep within His Word, and you will not easily be torn from it.



Let's focus on the development of our roots... without good roots we are susceptible to disease and drought... these things will prove fatal to the shallow tree, as well as to the shallow-faithed Christian.



With these thoughts, I leave you.



Grace and Peace!



Questions or Comments? E-mail me at afflquestions@yahoo.com .

Howdy, Folks!

Okay... so, I've been pretty bad about posting things on here, ever since we finished the Fruit of the Spirit study. However, I'm going to begin blogging again on Monday, November 10th!

Now! Here's where YOU come in to the picture... if I don't post... I would like you to bombard my e-mail! That's right! Don't let me get away with procrastination and sleeping-in anymore! If you can help me to stay accountable, I would very much appreciate it!

So, here's to a new beginning, with no agenda and a "who-knows-what-we're-studying today" sort of format!

I'll "see" you all on Monday!

Grace and Peace!

Questions or Comments (or keeping me accountable) e-mail me at afflquestions@yahoo.com .

Thoughts on Hypocrisy

"The opposite of sincerity is hypocrisy, a lie with an attractive cover." -William Gurnall, "The Christian In Complete Armour" Vol. 2

"A lie with an attractive cover." Have you ever had one of those moments? Have you ever caught yourself outside of sincerity's graces? I have! It's very easy to become a "churchy" Christian, and to give all of the right answers. We speak "Sunday School" very fluently, yet our hearts do not understand or believe the incredible things that our lips are proclaiming!

Hypocrisy, my friends! I present to you the number-one threat to the avid church-goer's relationship with Christ. Being an "avid church-goer," so to speak, becomes dangerous when we hear truths over and over, but they no longer impact us. We become familiar with all of the right answers and all of the right things to say in response to others, but we do not ever truly allow what we have heard to enter into our hearts and change the wickedness that is inherently there.

This is a dangerous place to be! How do we change it? How do we learn to be more sincere in our faith???
These questions and many others have been going through my head this morning! It has caused me to examine my life and ask the question, "Do I really believe what I'm saying?" Do I believe what I say when I pray to the God of heaven? Do I believe that there really is a God in heaven? How much do I actually believe that Christ ACTUALLY DIED and became THE ransom for my sins?
Do I believe these things to the point of such conviction that I cannot escape the truths that they bear? That I do not chance hypocrisy when I speak in a group of fellow believers?
"...for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13) Paul shows us, in this verse, that even our will to do good comes from God.
So, our safest escape from hypocrisy is through times spent in prayer before our Maker. Plead and ask the God of Heaven to show you His truth! Ask Him to help you to believe the things that you read in Scripture. Ask Him to help you to understand and believe in the saving work of Christ's death on the cross, on your behalf. Ask God to make Himself real to you. When you have a sincerity of heart, a sincerity of mind, and sincerity is on your lips... hypocrisy will have no foothold in your Christian walk.

I would love to hear your input on this subject of hypocrisy. Please e-mail me with any questions or comments at afflquestions@yahoo.com .
Grace and Peace!