Isaiah 53

I read Isaiah 53 a couple of weeks ago and it completely messed me up. I mean I've read this before but it never hit me the way that it did this particular morning. It literally brought me to tears. I got choked up telling my wife about it. I suggest that you read it, but here is a portion:

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. Isaiah 53: 4-6

This is Old Testament prophecy of Christ and what He would do for the world. What He did for me!! I mean, I understand what Christ did for me, but this particular morning it was revealed to me anew. I got it! It broke my heart and, in breaking my heart, it changed my prayers.

I now pray that God will break my heart for what breaks His. It scares me because I don't know where that might lead, but I want to be able to show others the grace and mercy that Christ has already shown to me. After the gift that He has given me, how could I not share that with others? I have to! I struggle with this because it takes me out of my comfort zone, but I'm learning.

Is your heart broken? If so, have you turned to Christ and asked for His grace and mercy? If not, you should - He will take your burden and make it light.

I believe... that I shouldn't drink alcohol

I said, I shouldn't drink alcohol. That doesn't mean the I believe everyone should avoid alcohol. The Bible doesn't teach us to avoid alcohol, it teaches us to avoid drunkenness. (See 1 Cor 5:11 & 6:10)

A few years ago, while going through my divorce I spent way too much time and money on alcohol. I never became an alcoholic but I did get drunk with some regularity. After I was saved, God convicted me about my drinking and I cut myself back to 2 drinks on any given occasion. If I was drinking, it was 2 drinks and no more.

Later, when I was called to a leadership position in the singles ministry of my church, I realized that I was in a place where I was known by many people. I may not have known them, but many of them knew me or at least knew my position in the ministry. In realizing this, God convicted my heart to give up alcohol altogether. I didn't want people who struggled with alcohol to see me, a leader in the singles ministry, having a drink and then decide that it was okay for them to have one, also. God's Word tells us in Romans 14:13; "Decide instead to live in such a way that will not cause another believer to stumble and fall." It goes on to say in verse 23; "If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning." I believed that by drinking alcohol I may cause another believer to stumble so I quit. God convicted me and I listened to Him.

So, should you drink alcohol? If you don't struggle with drunkenness or alcoholism, have a drink and enjoy yourself. Just don't get drunk.

But that's not really the entire issue here. This post is actually inspired by a Facebook discussion on whether or not believers should celebrate halloween. I've met believers on both sides on this issue. I, personally, believe that it's okay for me to enjoy halloween. I don't struggle with evil thoughts or desires on that day any more than I do any other day of the year. It has no negative affect on my spiritual walk. But I also believe this, if my celebration of halloween causes a fellow believer to stumble, then it's no longer okay for me to celebrate halloween.

So, if you believe something is wrong, don't do it. It really is that simple. But, remember to not become prideful in your conviction because that is just as detrimental the the cause of Christ as whatever you decided not do. Don't replace one sin with another.

Do what you think is right and honors our Lord and...

...Enjoy the ride.

I believe... that I need to be rich!

Well, I don't completely believe that, but I'm working on it.

When I say rich, I mean what you think I mean; I want lots and lots of money. I also want to be rich in relationships, in knowledge, in health, etc.... I want the abundance that God talks about in His Word. Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that His "purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." " Them", by the way, is you and me.

Before you go off on how selfish I am, you need to know that I don't want the abundance so that I can hold onto it, I want it so that I can give out of that abundance. Sure I want things for myself. I want vacations and big screen TV's, but I also want to be able to write $10,000 checks to meet the needs of those less fortunate. By the way, those $10,000 checks will be in addition to the tithe that I already bring faithfully to my church.

I'm trying to change my mindset about wealth. I'm working to teach myself to risk big so that God can bless big. I'm learning to think like a rich person. It's scary and I'm not the biggest risk taker in the world, but I'm working on that, too. I sparred with a 4th degree Black Belt the other day. I've got a nice bruise across my chest and I almost lost a contact but I got a few shots in and had fun in the process. Bruises heal and I can always make more money, but I don't like the idea of my life ending without having really lived it. I don't want any regrets - I want to know that, while I might not have accomplished everything that I tried to do, at least I tried.

I believe that I need to be rich. More importantly, I believe that God wants me to be rich. His Word is true and that's what He tells me: "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have abundance for every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8 There it is; He will bless me so that I can be a blessing.

Enjoy the ride...