Trusting God's Path For Me!

How many of us can say far life has turned out just like we expected it would? Probably not very many of us. However, many of us can say life has turned out better than we expected! Early in our lives we develop dreams and expectations for the future. Some of those dreams will come true but some will change along the way. No matter what happens with regard to our dreams and expectations we must always remember WHO is in control...God! Looking back at the Old Testament, I think it's pretty safe to assume Joseph didn't expect to be: sold into slavery (by his very own brothers), taken from a jail cell to the throne room in order to interpret Pharaoh's dreams or become a very powerful man at the right hand of Pharaoh himself! No, this was not what he expected to happen! We can all learn a very important lesson from Joseph! Joseph didn't let the fact that his life took a different than expected course throw him off track. He made the most of those disappointments and learned from them - and look where God took him!

One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 16:9 "In His heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." This is such a good reminder to all of us! God knows that we have dreams and plans for our life and he allows us to keep those in our heart. However, since we are dependent on Him, He is the one who will direct our steps. The best example I have of this in my life is my long journey through singlehood. I had dreams of being married at the age of 25 or at least 27. But God had other plans for me, and I'm so thankful I allowed him to determine my steps or I would have missed out on the man I married 6 months ago! During this time, I didn't always understand the direction my life was going and often times I did become discouraged. But through prayer and patience God taught me many valuable lessons on that path. "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." Proverbs 3:5-6. God is God and we are not, He is the one making our paths just what they should be!

Kim

Self Effort or Christ?

I am reading a book right now called "Covenants and Blessings" by Andrew Murray and it has deeply convicted me. If you are looking for a good read that will challenge your faith and make you much more dependent upon Christ go to amazon.com and buy it!

Have you read Galatians 2:20 lately? Paul writes, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." We usually recognize our dependence upon Christ for our justification (to be declared in right standing before God through faith alone) but we often fail to see that our sanctification (the process by which we become more like Jesus...more and more perfect) is also dependent upon Christ and our faith in Him alone! The life we now live as believers is to be lived by faith (belief and trust) in Christ alone! If you are frustrated by your failures and lack of growth in your walk with God perhaps it is because you are trusting your willpower and sheer determination (self-effort) to make you more like Christ. Try letting go of control and place your faith in Christ for the work He has promised to do for you. Jesus promised to finish what He started on the day He saved you and made you His child (Phil 1:6). Jesus is making us more like Him so we don't have to take responsibility for making ourselves more Christlike! Our part is simple...we love Him, have faith in Him and cooperate with what He is doing in our heart.

Enjoy your relationship with Christ and have faith in the work He is absolutely doing in your life today!

James

Today...I Turn 40

When I was 7 years old I remember Elvis Presley dying of a heart attack at the ripe old age of 42. I thought at the time he had lived a long time! I think most of us who have achieved 40 would say 42 is quite young. Yet, so much life truly has already been lived; at times it is easy to think about the inevitable end which relentlessly approaches for us all. Many people have a mid-life crisis when they consider their life at the midway point because of their panic at that approaching end and their lack of accomplishment on their journey thus far.

I look at my life right now and realize more than ever the great blessings God has given me. I did nothing to deserve salvation in Christ but at the age of 9 Jesus saved me from sin and hell. At 9 I placed faith in Jesus and He came to live in my heart. Jesus gave me a brand new life! Everyday since that moment in 1979 I have been involved in a process of learning what that decision means for my life now and in the life to come.

I have had a great family and many wonderful friends; all of whom are an incredible blessing from God. My wife is a blessing for which I am more thankful everyday. My parents and siblings have been the best family any man could ever have. I could not have asked for better opportunities than those of attending Baylor and Southwestern Seminary for my education. I could not have asked for a better mentor than I had in Jimmy Nettles.

I have had great church families along the way too! I am very thankful for all of those at Inglewood Baptist Church in Grand Prairie who nurtured my young faith and help me discover so many wonderful truths about Jesus. Third Street Baptist Church in Waco was my first pastorate and those sweet people were very patient and loving to me. West Oaks Baptist overlooked my many mistakes and loved me deeply as I served as their pastor (my first full-time pastorate) for 8 years in Bryan, Texas. And now forest Avenue Baptist Church has blessed and loved me as I have taken the next step in life by marrying Kim Schupbach.

While there have been many blessings in the past there are (I hope) many more yet to come! I look forward to the next steps life takes and the places and people God allows me the opportunity to love and know. Turning 40 causes you to look back but for me it is more than ever a moment to look forward. Philippians 1:6 says, "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it." I look forward to every day and the many lessons God has in store for me as He completes the work of making me like Jesus.

James

Bored???

Are you living a radical lifestyle or a ho-hum existence? Is your life exciting or boring you to death? Which of these adjectives do you believe God intends to be descriptive your life? If you are bored or living in the doldrums why do you think these words describe your life? Does God have more for you?

Exciting and radical living comes to those who are willing to give up their paltry possessions for the riches of God's Kingdom. What are you holding onto that prevents you from receiving the better things God wants for you? Are you holding onto a job far beneath your abilities and the dreams God gave you when you started your career? Are you in a dating relationship with an unbeliever or someone uncommitted in their walk with Christ? Are you watching hours of television and spending little time with your spouse, children or God?

Jesus came to give us an abundant kind of life! That doesn't mean we will have a bed of roses but it does mean we will have the opportunity for a radical lifestyle of dependence upon Jesus and adventure with Him! Don't settle for anything less than HIS very best! Ask God to help you see what is holding you back from God's very best intentions for your life! If you are depressed or bored there is a better life if you are willing to be radically obedient to God!

Pastor James

In God We Trust?

Do you trust God? Do you trust Him with your WHOLE heart? Do you trust Him so much that you have stopped leaning on your own understanding? Proverbs 3:5-6 reads, "Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths." Many of us know this verse, have memorized it and can easily quote it when appropriate but how many of us actually apply it? How many of us actually trust God with our whole heart and refuse to take the easy way out by leaning on what we can know and do for ourselves? The key to the application of this verse is in "acknowledgment." We MUST acknowledge God is God and we are not. Once we recognize who God is (and who we are not) we can lean on what He knows and on what He can do rather than our own limited strength and knowledge. Who is your God and in whom are you placing your trust today?

Pastor James

Are You Running From God or To God?

Do You Know Your Value?