God's Will For Your Life

Vocational ministers or professional clergy get to hear questions from people that are not normally asked in casual conversation. The questions change a little bit depending on the role; pastor, chaplain, evangelist, or missionary. The questions, however, are consistent in large part. One of the common questions is "What is God's will for my life?" I heard it often as a youth pastor and I thought it would diminish as I transitioned to ministering to adults predominantly. It hasn't. People's thoughts of their lives and God's plan and purpose for them seem to transcend generations. The part that is interesting to me and my subject today is not specifically God's will for your life, or you knowing that will, but your motivation in wanting to know it.

Seasons and Change

We are three quarters of the way through September and that means a number of things. County fairs and harvest festivals are taking place all over the country. The kids are settling back into school. The weather is starting to cool down. Being a New Englander by birth I think there is something inherent in Autumn that causes you to be a bit nostalgic. Autumn arriving also shows us the wonderful plan God put into motion during creation. It is part of the circle of seasons that is so representative of life. If you are like me, Disney's The Circle of Life from The Lion King is now playing in your head. Your welcome. At this seasonal change I return to my favorite Old Testament book, Ecclesiastes.

I Am Compelled

Summer is over and my children are uttering the all too familiar "I'm bored" less now that there is home work and school night bed times. When they do utter that amazing phrase I have to smile and ask, "Would you like me to find you something to do?" They almost never take me up on it. When they do they begrudgingly do what I've asked them only halfheartedly. It's obvious they don't want to. The same holds true for us followers  of Jesus Christ. We get so caught up in the emotion or experiencing of life that when the "good feeling" isn't there, we get bored. We get caught up in routine. It's as if we are saying to God, "I'm bored." There is a scriptural answer to this phenomenon.

Be Who God Made You To Be

A friend recommended a book by Max Lucado recently. It's titled The Cure For The Common Life. The friend who recommended it said it sounded a lot like what I share with people when they are struggling with who they are in God. It's a great book so far, and I have no doubt it will be fantastic all the way through. Then on one of my weekly trips across the state I was listening to a podcast from Brian Houston of Hillsong Church. His podcast was reiterating the same thoughts from a different point of view and using different scriptures to make the point. I've taught and counseled this often and I believe the Lord wants me to share it with you.

Looking Back

"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." - Edmund Burke (1729-1797). That's an often misquoted quotation of an eighteenth century British statesman. There are countless examples of it being proven true, of course if you ignore history, you wouldn't know that. There is, however, a big difference between studying the past and learning from our own and other's mistakes and wanting to return or retreat to the past. It is completely human to long for the good ol' days, but there in lies the problem. It is completely human. What's the modern Christian to do?