Bringing Your Faith Into Focus - Day 5

Today's devotional is adapted from the Life Development Sermon Series at Lifechurch.tv by Craig Groeshel.

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Matthew 4:2

As a Christ follower, one of the most awesome disciplines we can implement is the discipline of fasting. The Bible Encyclopedia defines fasting this way: “To afflict the soul or self, the practice of self-denial.” The Bible describes many types of fasts, as well as many different purposes for them.

In the Old Testament, fasts were observed before certain feasts. People undertook fasts as a part of the mourning process after the death of a loved one. Fasting was also used when seeking divine favor, protection, or as evidence of sorrow for sin. The fast could have been abstaining from a certain food, total abstinence from all food and/or washing, anointing, and sleeping. The length of time could vary from one day, from sunrise to sunrise (Judges 20), seven days (1 Samuel 31), to as many as 40 days (Exodus 34).

Although fasting is often recommended as a modern means of improving health, the foundation of this discipline was spiritual. As a person who loves food, I’ve never been a big fan of fasting. To go two or three hours without a snack is like torture. For years I’ve heard different ministers speak about the spiritual benefits of fasting, and although I agreed with the principles in scripture, it wasn’t until I actually practiced the discipline of fasting that I began to experience great spiritual benefits.

How do you fast? I’ve known people who simply fasted one meal and devoted that time to pray, rather than eating. I know others who have fasted from certain kinds of food, like chocolate. Every time they would desire this food, they would be reminded to seek God in prayer about a certain subject instead. I’ve known some who have had what they call “media” fasts, denying themselves TV viewing or listening to the radio, investing that time instead with God. Essentially, in a fast, we deny ourselves something we’re accustomed to, in exchange for intimacy with God, increased ability to hear from Him and to discern His will. That’s a sweet deal!

In the times that I fast, I abstain from food, drink lots of water, and occasionally, juice. At times I’ll do a bread and water fast, denying myself foods that I generally enjoy. I’ve fasted for loved ones’ marriages, direction for personal decisions, and for major decisions within the church.

Every time I’ve fasted, I’ve been amazed at what God has done. In our self-indulgent, microwave, fast food world, most of us desire instant gratification. We want what we want now. Fasting is a tremendous discipline that denies self.

The first principle in following Christ is that we deny ourselves. Then we’re to pick up our cross and follow Him. As I learn to deny myself, occasionally, for a spiritual fast, this discipline transfers into other areas of my life. It becomes easier for me to deny sin, rebuke Satan, and reject selfishness. If you’re seeking God’s direction, desiring an answer from God, or simply wanting to grow closer to Him, make fasting a part of your relationship with God. Even Jesus, the Son of the living God, fasted for forty days and forty nights. If it was an important discipline in Jesus’ life, then it should be important enough for me.


Next Steps For Today:

• List three things that might require prayerful fasting. A decision? A prayer request for someone else? For deeper intimacy with God?
• Spend some time today seeking the Lord to determine if He’s calling you to fast about any of these things, and what He’s calling you to fast from.
• Consider how this area of your relationship with God could become an important discipline in your life.

Prayer For Today:
Lord, we desire You above all else. Give us wisdom and direction in fasting, so that we can draw closer to You. Please provide us with a clear path, and give us energy, focus, and resolve as we fast. We pray that as we are obedient to You, we would experience You in ways we never have before.

Bringing Your Faith Into Focus - Day 4

Today's devotional is adapted from the Life Development Sermon Series at Lifechurch.tv by Craig Groeshel.

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. John 4:23

As you grow in your intimate relationship with God, you will inevitably be moved to a state of worship. Knowing God in His purest essence moves us to worship Him. Jesus said in John 4:23, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”

A couple of things from this verse interest me. First, Jesus said there are true worshipers. If there are true worshipers, that implies there are also false worshipers, or hypocrites. God’s desire is that we be true worshipers. The second thing is that the Father seeks true worshipers. Notice what God wasn’t seeking. He wasn’t seeking speakers, evangelists, or good-looking people. He was seeking those who would worship Him. Ultimately, God desires to be glorified,
and He deserves it. He’s the only one worthy of our praise, and we are created to glorify and exalt Him.

How do we become true worshipers? The Bible teaches us to worship with:
1. Awe.
In Revelation 1:16-17a John said, “...His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead...” In the presence of God, John “fell at His feet as though dead.” He couldn’t speak, move, or stand. He could only worship with awe. In the original language, the word shachah is used 170 times in the Bible. It always refers to royalty or to God. It means “to bow down, to fall down flat, to do reverence, to worship, or to worship with awe.” When was the last time you were stunned and shaken in God’s presence? Hebrews 12:28-29 says,“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us
be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” True worshipers worship with awe.

2. Abandonment.
King David worshiped with abandonment. In 2 Samuel 6:21-22, David said to Michael, “...I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.” Notice that David wasn’t in church—he was simply in the presence of God. Even as the king, he lost himself and became undignified as he worshiped with abandonment in the presence of an almighty God. The Old Testament Hebrew word hallaal is the word from which we get the word Hallelujah. It means “to praise, to be clamorously foolish or mad before the Lord.”

If you were to win the lottery, you would likely worship with abandonment. If your favorite sports team is ranked number one in the nation, you may
worship with abandonment. In the presence of an almighty God, you worship with abandonment. The Bible says to “shout to God,” “dance before Him,” “bow down,” “tell of His might,” “meditate on His truth,” “run to Him,” “lift your hands,” “clash the cymbals,” “sing a new song,” “clap your hands,” “lift up your head,” “stand in awe,” “walk in His ways,” “cast down your idols,” “make a loud noise,” “tell the nations,” “seek His face.” True worshipers worship with awe, abandonment…and intimacy…

3. Intimacy.
In the holiness of His presence, you can’t help but worship the One who is worthy. In Psalm 27:4 David said, “One thing I ask of the Lord. This is what I seek. To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon His beauty and to seek Him in the temple.” Focus on David’s
intimate love of God. The only thing he desired was to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. God is not a distant, uninvolved God. He is a loving God who is present with you at this very moment. And He desires your intimate worship.

Next Steps For Today:
Honestly consider the following questions. Respond to the Lord in truth and ask Him to reveal things to You through your time:

• When was the last time you were overwhelmed in the presence of God?
• In view of who God is and what He’s done, what is your appropriate response of worship?
• God is seeking true worshipers. Is worship a way of life for you?

Spend some time in the next few days focusing on specific characteristics of God. Meditate on His holiness, His righteousness, or any other quality that you want. As He reveals Himself, you will be drawn to worship.

Prayer For Today:
Lord, we are overwhelmed by who You are and what You have done. We desire to be true worshipers that bless You and honor You. Draw us into Your presence, so that we can be moved to worship You in fullness. Please take us in our current state and make us awestruck, abandoned, intimate worshipers.

Bringing Your Faith Into Focus - Day 3

Today's devotional is adapted from the Life Development Sermon Series at Lifechurch.tv by Craig Groeshel.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. Matthew 6:5

Prayer is an extremely important discipline in deepening our relationship with God. Yet, many Christians struggle with prayer. I’ve found that many of us don’t feel like praying because we’re
not sure God will answer our prayers. Others express they’re not really sure how to pray. Some, like me, tend to become bored and then feel guilty. Then, there are those who feel they should not “bother” God with what they deem insignificant requests.

Toward gaining an effective prayer life, let’s first redefine what prayer is.
The most simple and accurate definition of prayer is communicating with God. When we see prayer as nothing more or nothing less than communicating with God, we establish a foundational step to growing closer to God through prayer.

In my relationship with my wife, I can communicate in many ways. I can communicate with a look, through writing, by a grunt (although I don’t recommend this), a sigh, laughter, talking, hand gestures and by a twinkle in my eye.

The same is true with God. Communicating with God through prayer should not be limited to the spoken word. Let’s look at four different people from the Bible and learn about communicating with God through their prayer journeys:

1. Jeremiah teaches us to pray honestly. In Jeremiah 20:7 he says, “Oh Lord, you deceived me, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I’m ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.” I absolutely love the honesty of Jeremiah’s prayer. He didn’t hold anything back. It’s easy to pray a hypocritical prayer when praying in front of others, wanting them to think we’re praying a spiritual prayer. When talking alone with God, we may even pray what we think He wants to hear. One of the best ways to pray is like Jeremiah prayed—that is, to pray honestly. You may say, “God, this is how I’m feeling, I don’t understand, why won’t you do something about this? God, I don’t think this is fair.” God already knows your heart, so you might as well go ahead and express it to Him.

2. David teaches us to pray creatively. In Psalm 5:1-2 he prayed, “Give ear to my words. O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you, I pray.” Notice that David prayed creatively and asked God to “consider his sighing.” Then he even referred to his sighing as prayer. He said, “…for to you, I pray.” You can pray creatively just as David did. Try writing your prayers. Pray during routine tasks, in different places or positions. Try praying by listening to God. Because prayer is communicating with God, it’s a two-way street. Be quiet and listen. You may be surprised to hear God speak.

3. Nehemiah teaches us to pray about everything. Nehemiah 2:4-5 says, “The king said to me, ‘What is it you want?’ Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king.’” My guess is that Nehemiah didn’t kneel down and have a long, drawn-out prayer time. Instead, he shot a
prayer up to God and believed that God cared, heard him, and gave him favor. There’s nothing too big, and nothing too small for God’s concern.

4. Hannah teaches us to pray continually. She continued to seek the Lord even when her initial prayers of requesting a child went unanswered. 1 Samuel 1:12-13 says, “…as she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard.” The phrase in this verse that I love is “as she kept on praying to the Lord.” I want to keep on praying to God even when He doesn’t do what I want, when I don’t understand His response, or when I get bored and fall asleep praying.

The more I learn about prayer, the more prayer becomes an important part of my life. God wants to know you personally, and God wants you to know Him personally. Make prayer a daily part of your life.

Next Steps For Today:

• Be honest with God. He created your emotions, so you can’t shock Him. Take some time today in honest prayer to God.
• Listen. God speaks in myriad ways. Cultivate a listening ear and heart. You won’t be disappointed. Today ask God to show you how to be more sensitive to His voice.
• Remember to pray creatively. Try an unusual way of praying for you. Maybe you could write down your prayers today. Or, try praying in a different place or position.

Prayer For Today:
God, we know that Your Spirit alone can change our lives. We ask you to supernaturally change our natural desires. Please give us a new found freedom, joy, and passion in prayer. Reveal to us Your heart for our prayer lives. Please change our hearts to conform to Your heart in this area.

Bringing Your Faith Into Focus - Day 2

Today's devotional is adapted from the Life Development Sermon Series at Lifechurch.tv by Craig Groeshel.

For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. 1 Corinthians 4:17

God is a relational God. He created you as a relational being. When Jesus came to earth, He exemplified relationships like no other. He selected twelve men and poured His life into them. These men, empowered by the Holy Spirit, impacted the world. The legacy of their ministry continues today. Why were they so effective?

Because Jesus, our example, was the greatest mentor who ever lived. The word mentor is derived from the Greek word that means “enduring,” referring to an enduring relationship between an older person and a younger person. The Bible details many relationships like this. One of the most well-known examples is Paul, who was Timothy’s mentor.

How do you find a mentor? Start by praying. Ask God to bring the right person or people into your life. Next, ask others. Ask people in your LifeGroup or people you serve with to recommend wise and experienced leaders they think might be willing to help you grow. Qualify potential mentors by asking yourself if you have a well-rounded respect for them. Do they have sustained success? Do you like them? Before actually asking them to personally mentor you, do a heart check. Ask yourself why you want this particular person to mentor you. Is it because he has
an important position? Finally, once you’ve determined your motives are pure, go ahead and ask.

Here are some suggestions to consider:

• As you seek a potential mentor, approach him or her in a casual setting. If you don’t know him well, set an appointment at his convenience. Tell him why you admire and respect him and that you would like to learn from him. Ask him point blank if he would consider being your mentor.
• If this person agrees to be your mentor, decide before your next meeting with him what you would like to learn. Then watch. Study everything, and take notes. If he travels, ask if you can travel with him sometime. If possible, have your mentor observe you in your work environment.
• Pray together.

My top ten suggested questions to ask a mentor are:
1. What are the five books that have most influenced your life?
2. How do you stay balanced and healthy?
3. What are three things you would do differently if you had life to do over again?
4. What are the three most important things you do with your time?
5. What are some of your failures, and how did you overcome them?
6. How do you hire great people?
7. What potential do you see in me?
8. What are my blind spots?
9. What do you do that keeps you growing?
10. How can I serve and bless you?

Remember, God is a relational God, and He loves to use His people to lead others. If you’re young, please seek a mentor. If God has blessed you with wisdom, experience and age, please be available to pass along what God has taught you. Together, we will become fully devoted followers of Christ.


Next Steps for Today:

• Spend some time asking God to bring the mentor of His choice into your life.
• Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Before you begin a mentoring relationship, think about this: Are you truly willing to be “sharpened”—to accept God’s wisdom, spoken through another person? If your honest answer is “no,” that’s okay! BUT, spend time today asking the Lord to soften your heart in this area, making you able to receive His Truth.
• Is God calling you to be a mentor? Yield to His call to bless others in this way and in return, receive an inevitable blessing. Begin today taking steps towards building that mentoring relationship with someone the Lord is leading you toward.

Prayer for Today:
Father, please grow us into people who are refl ecting You more and more in our lives. Please form relationships in our lives that will cause that to happen. Please reveal to us Your purpose in relationships that already exist, and please bring new people into our lives to guide and direct us. Let us glorify Your Name together!

Bringing Your Faith Into Focus - Day 1

Today's devotional is adapted from the Life Development Sermon Series at Lifechurch.tv by Craig Groeshel.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness… 2 Timothy 3:16

God desires that we have a personal relationship with Him. One of the best ways to get to know God in a personal way is by reading the Bible, His words written to us and for us. According to George Barna of The Barna Group, a Christian research firm, less than 20% of Christ followers read the Bible regularly. This is really quite alarming. Can you imagine going to see a doctor who doesn’t read medical journals? How long do you think a football player would last if he never studied the playbook? Yet many Christians fail to strengthen their relationship with God or
increase their knowledge of Him simply because they won’t read His Word.

Jesus said in Matthew 22:29, “You are in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God.” I don’t want to be in error.

Here are some things to consider as you seek to know God personally through reading His word:

Get a good translation.
Nehemiah 8:8 says, “They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning, so that the people could understand what was being read.”

Personally, I find it more than a bit challenging to read through the King James Version. The “thees” and “thous” bog me down. Find a translation that’s easy for you to understand and follow, and not difficult to read. My personal picks are the New International Version (NIV), New Living Translation (NLT), New King James Version (NKJV), Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), and the English Standard Version (ESV).

If you’re looking for a good study bible, I enjoy the NIV Study Bible, the ESV Study Bible, or the NKJV Nelson’s Study Bible.

My favorite Bible for new followers of Christ is the Life Application Bible. Simply ask for help in a Christian bookstore. Tell them about you and what you’re trying to accomplish, and they’ll help you pick the right Bible for you.

Get into an easy book of the Bible.
2 Peter 3:16 says, “He writes the same way in all of His letters speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand...” Some books of the Bible are harder to understand than others. My top four picks for a new student of God’s Word are:

• Genesis is a great place to start because it gives you a foundational history of creation and a broad stroke over many great stories in the Old Testament.
• Proverbs is great for daily readings. Many people read one chapter of Proverbs a day.
• John provides a clear picture of Christ and His love for you.
• Philippians is an inspirational book that gives a foundational theological understanding.

Get Bible Study on your calendar.
Psalm 119:16 says, “I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” You will do what you choose to do. When people say they don’t have enough time to do something, they’re often not being totally honest. They choose to not have enough time. Put Bible Study on your calendar. Make it a priority.

Get in a Life Group.
Acts 8:30-31 says, “Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.”

In a LifeGroup, you’ll fi nd that you can draw from the wisdom of others. They may help explain God’s Word to you in a way that can transform your life. At the same time, you can share your own insights with them.

You wouldn’t invest with a stock broker who didn’t know what was happening on Wall Street, would you? You wouldn’t want to be in error, right? Let’s do better
than 20%. Pick up your Bible and read it. Seek to know God in a personal way.

Next Steps for Today:

• Follow the steps mentioned in today’s devotion. If you don’t have a Bible, or if you have a Bible that’s difficult for you to read, then get a new Bible that has an easy, readable translation.
• Determine a time and place to meet with God daily. If this is new to you, start small. Spending five minutes a day for 21 days will establish a habit.
• Then, as God meets with you, you’ll find yourself looking forward to this time with joy and anticipation.
• As you do this, meditate on the scripture He highlights for you. It may be a single word, a verse, or a passage. He may have you in one chapter for days. Remember, it’s quality, not quantity.
• If you’re not part of a LifeGroup, check out the extensive list on the church website: www.mycornerstone.org. Choose to make a connection.

Prayer for Today:
Lord, we know that Your Word is life to us. We desire to grow in hunger for that
life. Please reveal to us through Scripture Your heart and Your passions. Let them
set us on fi re for You! We long to trust Your Word, to love Your Word, and to live
by Your Word.

Bringing Your Family Into Focus - Day 5

We’re talking this week about how to have healthy family relationships. By looking at the acrostic PLUG, we can learn about how to strengthen our family. In a car, there are many parts that make an engine work. Each part is crucial to power an engine, but one item puts a spark in the life of the engine. You see a spark plug doesn't create power, it transfers power. It is a conduit that takes the power and creates a spark that ignites the fuel. Our lives need to be "spark plugs" for God. We need to be a conduit for God's love and power to the world we live in, including our families.

P - Praise
L - Love
U - Unity
G - Giving

In order for us to have healthy families, we must model the importance of generosity and giving.
One of the biggest impacts that you can have on your children is not what you say, but what you do. When your family sees you giving of your time, your talents, your gifts, and your money, then they will see you put your love for others into action

Our country is going through some rough economic times, and our area has been greatly affected by job losses. It is in times like these when Christians need to make an impact on their communities. To do that we must get ourselves out of debt so that we can help others in their time of need.

Did you know...
• The number one cause of divorce in America is related to financial issues?
• 75% of American churchgoers live paycheck to paycheck?
• The average American today has over $38,000 of consumer debt.

So we have the haves, the have-nots, and the have-not-paids.
According to Social Security records, the majority of Americans have less than $250 saved when they reach the age of 65. How much did Americans save last year? The average American went 2.2% in the hole.

Our finances are very important because they represent our time and energy. The money that we have is a direct result of the effort that we expend at our job. God trusts us to manage his resources. The principle that we must embrace is that everything belongs to God. God is the owner, and we are the stewards, or the managers.

In the James 2:15-17, we read
Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

Our heart and compassion are demonstrated through our generosity. If we are enslaved to debt, then we are not able to help those who are in need. If you are struggling in the area of your finances, then use the following websites to develop a budget and a plan to manage your money. Don't let your money manage you.

Joe Sangl came to Cornerstone last year and shared how to effectively manage your money. He has a great website listing free tools that you can use as you budget and plan. Check out his Next Steps website here. He also has a great book titled, I Was Broke, Now I'm Not.

Dave Ramsey is another Christian who provides many different resources on getting your finances under control. You can visit his website to learn more about the resources he provides.

Next Steps for Today:

• schedule a budget conference with your family for some time in the next week. Look over spending habits and look for ways to reduce your spending
• develop a budget and stick to it. Use the money you save to reduce debt and give to others.
• using the tools from Joe Sangl's website, determine you debt-free date and track your progress.
• look for ministries and individuals that need assistance and give generously

Prayer for Today:
Lord, You have provided everything we have. All that we have is simply something You blessed us with. Please constantly remind us of this truth. We know we are blessed and we desire to be a blessing to others. Please soften our hearts in this area. Please teach us to be obedient to you and not to our worldly desires. We praise You and want you to receive glory and honor from our faithfulness in this area.

Bringing Your Family Into Focus - Day 4

We’re talking this week about how to have healthy family relationships. By looking at the acrostic PLUG, we can learn about how to strengthen our family. In a car, there are many parts that make an engine work. Each part is crucial to power an engine, but one item puts a spark in the life of the engine. You see a spark plug doesn't create power, it transfers power. It is a conduit that takes the power and creates a spark that ignites the fuel. Our lives need to be "spark plugs" for God. We need to be a conduit for God's love and power to the world we live in, including our families.

P - Praise
L - Love
U - Unity
G -

In order for us to have healthy families, we must have unity within the family. When we have unity, our families can be an example of God’s love to the world around us.

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12

Our families need to stand strong. So Let’s talk about what destroys unity

There are 5 Main Enemies of Unity:
1. Poor communication
2. Gossip
3. Unresolved disagreements
4. Lack of shared purpose
5. Sanctioned incompetence

The first thing that we must avoid is poor communication. It can take many forms, but when the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing, strife sets in.
Communication will not just happen. You must work at it.

The second thing that destroys unity in our families is Gossip. By definition, gossip is when a negative is discussed with anyone who can’t help solve the problem.

The third thing that destroys unity in our families is Unresolved disagreements.

Ephesians 4:26-27 says And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

We must follow the example of the great theologian Barney Fife and nip it in the bud

When you are aware there are hurt feelings and/or disagreements, act quickly so that unity can be restored in our families

The fourth destroyer of unity is a lack of shared purpose. When the family is not working together, division will naturally occur. We must learn to put the needs of others ahead of our own.

The fifth and final roadblock to unity is sanctioned incompetence. When a family member does not pull his or her own weight, you can be sure that disagreements will happen. It has been said that sanctioned incompetence demoralizes and that laziness must be dealt with. As Christians, our level of service within our families should be stunning.

John 17:20-21
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Next Steps for Today:

• Discover the causes of division and disagreements in your family. Do they fall within one of these roadblocks to unity?
• Meet together with your family to discuss why your love should be evident to everyone. Share with them the importance of loving God and loving others

Prayer for Today:
Lord, help us to be one so that the world will believe in Jesus through our example. Help us to work hard at maintaining unity within our families.

Bringing Your Family Into Focus - Day 3

We’re talking this week about how to have healthy family relationships. By looking at the acrostic PLUG, we can learn about how to strengthen our family. In a car, there are many parts that make an engine work. Each part is crucial to power an engine, but one item puts a spark in the life of the engine. You see a spark plug doesn't create power, it transfers power. It is a conduit that takes the power and creates a spark that ignites the fuel. Our lives need to be "spark plugs" for God. We need to be a conduit for God's love and power to the world we live in, including our families.

P - Praise
L - Love
U -
G -

At almost every wedding, you will hear 1 Corinthians 13, it’s a familiar passage about love

The apostle Paul shares that

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and love keeps no record of being wronged. Love does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Now I want you to do something, go back and replace the word love with your own name. Can you honestly say that you are patient and kind, not jealous or boastful or proud or rude or irritable? Go through the entire passage and think about your relationships within your family.

Does that sound like you. Because For a follower of Christ, love should characterize your life. You should have an abundant love for God and for others. And your love for your family should be evident to all.

Next Steps for Today:

• Read through 1 Corinthians 13 and make a list of how you can show each aspect of love mentioned. Be specific.
• As a family, spend time talking about what you love about each other. Don't bring up the negatives, just focus on how each person shows love.

Prayer for Today:
Lord, help us to love as you have loved us. We are called to love you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help us to love others as you have commanded. We know the importance of love in our families, so help us to show and display love in all of our actions.

Bringing Your Family Into Focus - Day 2

We’re talking this week about how to have healthy family relationships. By looking at the acrostic PLUG, we can learn about how to strengthen our family. In a car, there are many parts that make an engine work. Each part is crucial to power an engine, but one item puts a spark in the life of the engine. You see a spark plug doesn't create power, it transfers power. It is a conduit that takes the power and creates a spark that ignites the fuel. Our lives need to be "spark plugs" for God. We need to be a conduit for God's love and power to the world we live in, including our families. How can we do that? We start by sharing Praise

P - Praise
L -
U -
G -


Ephesians 6 is a familiar passage that helps us understand how a family should function.

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

God has designed a structure for our family relationships, and when that blueprint is followed, we see a picture of God’s love for us. Paul goes on to say in verse 4

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Do you realize that your children need your praise and affirmation. They need to hear you say how much you love them. They need to hear you praise them when they do the right thing. And we need to correct them, when they stray. We provide discipline and instruction, so that our children will learn to follow God as they grow.


Next Steps for Today:

• Do you praise you children more than you correct them? If not, make a point this week to find ways to praise your spouse and children.
• Remember not to provoke your children to anger. Be patient and firm, and provide loving discipline and instruction without losing your temper or your patience.

Prayer for Today:
Lord, help us to love our families as you love us. Help us to have patience with our families when they mess up, and help us show them love by providing correction and discipline in a way that honors you. Strengthen our families, and help our families be an example of your love for us.

The Family Survival Kit

We used this at Cornerstone Sunday morning as a humorous intro to Todd's message on family. I think we all have family members that need some of these items.

Bringing Your Family Into Focus - Day 1

Today's devotional comes from the Life Development Sermon Series at Lifechurch.tv by Craig Groeshel.

He (Cornelius) and all his family were devout and God-fearing… Acts 10:2

In the Garden of Eden, God told Adam and Eve “to be fruitful and multiply.” The Bible says children are a reward from God. Not only are children a reward, but they’re also one of the greatest responsibilities God puts in our trust. If God has blessed you with children, or does so in the future, the most important responsibility of your life will be to lead your children to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

One of my favorite verses is about a man I’d like to emulate. Acts 10:1-2 says, “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing.” That last sentence grabs my heart. Imagine what it would be like if people described you this way—that you and all of your family, every generation to come, feared God and were devout to His ways. Remember, God calls us to lead our children to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

I like to say that part of our call is to build “family esteem” or “es-team.” The family unit is one of God’s greatest teams on earth. An effective team works toward a common goal, is committed to continuous improvement, cooperates rather than competes, communicates openly, and resolves conflict effectively. God’s greatest teams will glorify Him in all they do. Building a great “es-team” boils down to four things:

T - Teaching
Job 27:11 says, “I will teach you about the power of God. The ways of the Almighty I will not conceal.” As parents, God calls us to teach our children about Him. Proverbs offers us seven great things to teach our children. Teach them to:
• Fear God. (Proverbs 1:7)
• Guard their minds. (Proverbs 23:7)
• Carefully select friends. (Proverbs 13:20)
• Control their lusts. (Proverbs 2:16-19)
• Watch their words. (Proverbs 4:24)
• Be responsible. (Proverbs 6:6-8)
• Manage God’s money. (Proverbs 3:9-10)

Your church is not responsible for teaching your children. The school system is not responsible for teaching your children. You are! Teach them about the power and goodness of God.

E – Encouragement
The Bible says in Hebrews 3:13, “Encourage one another daily as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Our children can easily be deceived by sin. Encouragement is our greatest weapon against sin. As parents, it’s tempting to always find fault, and it’s easy to do more correcting than encouraging. Make it a goal to encourage your child ten times more than you correct them. In a climate of encouragement, correction is much more fruitful. Encourage and love your children toward God in everything you do.

A – Affection
2 Corinthians 6:12-13 says, “We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange I speak as to my children; open wide your hearts also.” Please do whatever it takes to openly relate to your kids. The greatest way to show affection is with appropriate touch and with your time. It’s interesting to note that girls are touched five times as often as boys. When boys reach age eight or so, their needs change: they love wrestling, pats on the bottom, secret handshakes. With girls, their need for appropriate touch is heightened in the pre-teen years. Dads often feel awkward about this, but this is the most essential time. One of the most powerful things we can do to deter sexual sin is to offer appropriate physical touch.

We also need to show affection with our time. I read in an article recently that the average dad spends thirty-seven seconds per day in meaningful conversation with his children. That simply won’t cut it.

M - Ministry
Psalm 34:11 says, “Come my children, listen to me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” A great family will see great opportunities to minister together. Prayerfully find a place to serve in church. Seek projects that will minister to your neighbors. Go on a mission trip together. Children learn by example. When we’re kind to cranky clerks, stop to help someone with car
trouble, or visit shut-ins, this is ministry. Involve them in these everyday ministry opportunities.

God trusts you to lead your team. He wants you to build a great team. Teach, encourage, show your affection, and minister together as God empowers your team to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

Next Steps for Today:

• Develop a plan for spending one-on-one time with each child. Something as simple as walking around the block with him and listening can produce great benefits. As you develop this plan, exercise accountability! Write down your plan and give it to your spouse, other relative, or close friend to hold you accountable.
• What are you doing to minister together as a family? Make a plan for this month to participate in a ministry opportunity together. Be specific and make sure everyone gets it on their calendar.
• Take advantage of “teachable moments.” For example: Share when the Spirit speaks to you about an issue or a task. Your children, in turn, will learn to seek and hear God’s voice for themselves. Begin today incorporating this into your daily life.

Prayer for Today:
Lord, we ask for help in leading our children to become fully devoted followers of You. We desire to build family esteem and create a bond that glorifies You. Teach us Your ways, Lord. We want to be a family who are “devout and God-fearing.”

Bringing Your Physical Life Into Focus - Day 5

Today's devotional comes from the Life Development Sermon Series at Lifechurch.tv by Craig Groeshel.

May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

As we talk about our physical life, it’s important to remember that our physical life has three parts. Just like our heavenly Father is a triune God—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit—we’re created in His image as a triune being.

As a follower of Christ, we have a spirit, a soul, and a body. As we seek to treat our body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, it’s important to nurture the other parts of our triune being. I like to compare running our lives to operating a car. In a car it’s important to check the gauges. Is your car overheating? Do you have enough gas? Is your oil pressure where it should be? The same is true in life.

In yesterday’s devotion, we talked about rest for the body. I’d call this the physical gauge. It’s important to check the physical gauge to make sure our physical body is where God wants it to be. Make sure you have the right diet and the right exercise, and that you’re receiving the right amount of rest. Today we’ll look at two other gauges.

We’ve talked about the physical, but have you stopped to consider your emotional gauge? 3 John 1:2 says, “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you even as your soul is getting along well.” John Wesley used to ask, “How is it with your soul?” He could’ve asked, “How is your emotional gauge?” When I ignore my emotional gauge and become emotionally depleted, I find that four things happen:

1. My relationships lose intimacy.
When my emotional tank is empty, I don’t have the ability to relate intimately to Amy and those whom I love.
2. People become a burden…instead of a blessing.
Instead of being seen as someone to love, people start getting in my way.
3. I become defensive and can’t handle correction.
I can’t look at myself objectively and receive Godly guidance with an open heart.
4. I become emotionally isolated.
I pull away from my support systems when I need them the most.

How are you doing emotionally? Have you checked your gauge lately?

Bill Hybels gave a talk one time about the size of his heart. He explained that when God called him to ministry, he entered ministry with a big heart, overflowing with love for God’s people. Over time, as he gave and gave and gave emotionally, he became emotionally depleted, to the point that he forgot how to receive.

You may be like this. It’s easy for you to give to those in need, but receiving is a different story. This is dangerous because, when we cut ourselves off from receiving others’ love, we become emotionally isolated, and the capacity of our heart dwindles. Bill Hybels said that instead of his heart growing and becoming larger as a Christian, he found his heart becoming smaller. Is your
love for people growing?

2 Thessalonians 1:3 says, “…and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.”

What are the things that help you refuel emotionally? Time off? The intimacy of close relationships? Spending time with your closest loved ones? An afternoon of fun with people from your Life Group? Identify the things that help you recharge emotionally, and make
those things a regular part of your life.

The third gauge that’s important to monitor is our spiritual gauge. In 1 Timothy 4:8 Paul said, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things.” We definitely want to make sure that our physical body is in good shape, but even more importantly, we want to make sure that we’re spiritually in good shape. I find at least fi dangers in my own life when I start to drift spiritually from God:

1. I become critical of other people.
It’s ironic that when I’m spiritually struggling, I find myself being judgmental of others..
2. I become extremely negligent in spiritual discipline.
The things that I know are important, such as reading God’s word and spending time with Him in prayer and worship, become the first things I set aside when I’m struggling spiritually. The very things that I need to do most are the things that I neglect.
3. I become vulnerable to sin.
Sin can be an escape. As I drift from God, the things that hurt God’s heart look more appealing.
4. I rationalize sin.
I try to “explain it away.” What does it mean to rationalize? It means to try to make lies sound like truth. And it’s a very dangerous thing to do.
5. I become entangled in religious bondage.
What do I mean by religious bondage? It’s drifting away from a personal relationship with God into a life of “going through the motions.” Going to church becomes a burden rather than a joy, reading God’s Word becomes a discipline rather than a delight, and worship becomes a duty rather than a genuine expression of love.

During these times, I think to myself, “I’ll get back to God, He’ll understand.” Some people have lived this life so long that they’ve departed from spiritual innocence without even remembering when the drift started. What about you? How are you spiritually?

I heard a story about a husband and wife who had been married for twenty years. During this twenty years, a pickup truck had always been the family transportation of choice. One day the husband and wife were driving, and the wife said, “Honey, do you remember when we were first married how we used to always sit side by side in the truck? You’d have your arm around me, and we’d snuggle as you were driving.” The husband looked over at her and said, “Yeah, I remember. I miss those days.” The wife said, “I do, too. I wish we still sat like that.” The husband looked at her soberly and said, “It wasn’t me who moved away.”

If you find yourself struggling spiritually, understand that it wasn’t God who moved away. God is still here for you. God longs to be with you. Go before God honestly today and check your gauges. God wants you to prosper in spirit, soul, and body. Check your emotional gauge, your spiritual gauge, and your physical gauge, and let God refi ll you to overflowing!

Next Steps for Today:

• Identify at least two things that recharge you emotionally.
• Identify one practice or habit you could adopt that would allow you to recharge spiritually and renew your connection with God on a regular basis.
• Sit down with your calendar for the upcoming month and plug in your ideas from above. “Book” time for an emotional and spiritual recharge!

Prayer for Today:
Lord, You know every need we have. You know we need rest and restoration for our spirits and our souls. You’re faithful to provide us so many ways to do this through Your Word, Godly teaching, and the Godly people You place in our lives. Please help us recognize these opportunities and take advantage of them. Grant us emotional and spiritual peace as we seek You in our lives. Bring us back to Your side and into close communion with You, the only place we can find true rest.

Bringing Your Physical Life Into Focus - Day 4

Today's devotional comes from the Life Development Sermon Series at Lifechurch.tv by Craig Groeshel.

God had finished the work He was doing and on the seventh day, He rested from all his work. Genesis 2:2

Most people live in what I call “survival mode,” and I’m not referring to the TV show. Basically, people are doing far more than they should be, and they end up fighting just to make it through another week. For many, survival mode becomes their primary mode, and most don’t even realize they are living this way. In survival mode, people start skimming over the important things. They start economizing, cutting back, and neglecting their investments in long-term relationships and goals. Just doing what they can to “get by” becomes the norm.

Are you in survival mode? You may be tempted to say no, but what if someone asked your spouse, your kids, or your closest friends? Are you taking shortcuts and fighting just to keep your head above water? Survival mode is dangerous because we become exhausted. When we’re exhausted, we find ourselves risking four things. We:

1. Become self-absorbed. It’s all about us, and all we can see is our own life.
2. Lose compassion for others. Others become an inconvenience and a burden, rather than someone to love.
3. Become negligent. All we’re trying to do is make it through another day, and we can’t focus on what’s most important.
4. Become vulnerable to sin, perhaps the most dangerous side effect of exhaustion. Remember? Satan tempted Jesus after his 40 days in the desert. When people are tired, they seek escape, and many types of sin are easy and dangerous forms of escape.

Maybe you’re ignoring the warnings. Maybe right now God is sending you some warning signals that you’re in survival mode, and instead of dealing with it, you’re hoping it will just go away.
Rest is spiritual, rest is holy, and rest is a priority to God. Don’t overlook the fact that God commanded us to rest. God said in His Word that the Sabbath is a day of rest, and everyone should honor that day. “God had finished the work He was doing and on the seventh day, He rested from all his work.” (Genesis 2:2)

Hebrews 4:10 says, “For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his work, just as God did from His.” One of the most spiritual things you can do is rest! Take time off from your work, and enjoy the presence of God and His blessings.

If you think that you can’t afford to take time off, I’d argue that you have one of two weaknesses:
1. You’re full of pride. You think you’re the only one who can do what needs to be done. That attitude is a dangerous thing. Scripture teaches us that pride always comes before a fall.
2. You’re exhibiting poor leadership. Any growing leader will see the value of rest and learn how to delegate, empower others, and generally make whatever decision is necessary to take time off.

It’s ironic, but when people are exhausted, sometimes they find it hard to sleep. 51% of the American workforce reports that sleepiness on the job interferes with the amount of work they get done. At least 2/3 of adults say that sleepiness interferes with their concentration. Nearly one out of four adults has difficulty getting up for work two or more days per week.

What’s happening? People are living in survival mode.

Think about this: What’s putting you in survival mode? What are you doing that’s so important that you find yourself disobeying God’s command to rest? Chances are you may have been lured into a lifestyle that is diametrically opposed to God’s plan. Jesus said, “…Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

In Christ’s presence, our burden should be light. That doesn’t mean we don’t have responsibilities, but it means that we handle our responsibility as we are empowered by the Spirit. If you’re in survival mode right now, ask yourself, What radical steps can I take to get out? This is a very serious question. How do you need to change your life?

Someone recently explained to me that there are two ways to charge a car battery. The first is a quick charge. If the battery’s dead, you put the cables on, hook them to another car, and jump-start the low battery. While this has immediate results, over time, too many quick charges can actually damage the battery. The better way to charge a battery is with a trickle charge. This takes more time, but it doesn’t take away from the long-term durability of the battery. Many people are living their lives with quick charges, quick hits.

Maybe for you it’s a trip to Starbuck’s caffeine emporium, or an afternoon off that you think will help you “hit it hard” for another month. I’ve found that Jesus’ model of taking extended time with God and “trickle charging” (in other words, physical and spiritual rest) is always the best recipe for full recovery.

Next Steps for Today:

• Spend some time in reflection. Ask yourself, In what areas of my life am I in survival mode? Ask family, friends, or co-workers for their input.
• If you’re in survival mode in some areas, what radical steps are you going to have to take to get out? List at least one that can begin immediately, with others for future consideration.
• Schedule time for rest this week. Write it on your calendar…and guard that time!

Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, we know that You know what’s best for us. You designed us to take periods of rest. We desperately need time to recharge in all areas of our lives. Help us to heed Your call, as Jesus did, to spend time with You in rest. We know You’re faithful to restore us. Thank you.

Bringing Your Physical Life Into Focus - Day 3

Today's devotional comes from the Life Development Sermon Series at Lifechurch.tv by Craig Groeshel.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

Americans have the unfortunate distinction of being one of the heaviest, unhealthiest cultures on the planet. Despite our access to a wide variety of food choices and abundant information on nutrition, we eat too much of the wrong things. Most of us are the victims of poor habits. We could eat better. But we choose not to!

The most common diet pitfalls can be found under bright lights at almost every corner. What draws us to those foods that we know aren’t good for us? They’re so convenient that they practically beg us to eat them!

Quick
Fast food and ready-made dinners are so convenient after a long day at work when everyone in the back of the minivan is “starving.” Keep in mind that “quick” is just another way to say, “highly processed.”

Cheap
Put the grocery store shelves (or the fast-food menus) to the test. The cheapest brand of any type of food will be the one with the worst list of ingredients. The more a food is refined and processed, the longer its shelf life, and therefore the cheaper it is to stock to sell to you. High quality ingredients and craftsmanship cost more. Just like anything else, you get what you pay for.

Easy
Beware of anything you can eat with one hand while simultaneously driving and talking on the cell phone! The more chopped, processed, and stuck together in a convenient shape it is, the worse it is for you.

Rewarding
Be aware of your attitudes about food. Does a productive day at work mean ice cream on the way home? Does diffusing a temper tantrum in the store mean you can buy a candy bar on the way out? Many of us have strong emotional ties to food, and these trends start early in life.


Just like in your car, fuel is vital to your body! “You are what you eat,” as the saying goes. Your body is fueled, repaired, and ultimately constructed by what you put into it. Not only that, but you should always be on the lookout for a bad tank of gas. A little water or dirt in your fuel lines, or sugar in your bloodstream, can cause you a lot of problems.

Improving the fuel you and your family consume is mainly about changing habits. This may seem overwhelming. Fad diets, nutritional supplements, and conflicting advice are everywhere! All meat, no meat, nothing white, everything green, only liquids, nothing after 7 p.m.—what are we supposed to be eating?

Your best guide is, of course, common sense and a few general guidelines:

Eat as much raw as you can.
No, not an all-sushi diet, but all the fresh, uncooked veggies and fruits you can fit in your mouth never hurt anyone.

Go natural.
Artificial sweeteners, hydrogenated oils, chemical preservatives, and food coloring are all labeled “artificial” and have long, unpronounceable names for a reason. They were not meant to be food!

Cut down on refined grains.
When a grain is broken down (milled and bleached), the nutritional value is lost by destroying its vitamins and fiber.

Cut down on sugar.
Beware of hidden sources of sugar. Almost everything—ketchup, peanut butter, juice, even soup!—contains a lot of added sugar. Read labels!

Avoid processed foods.
Heavily processed foods violate all of the above rules. They’re obviously not raw, and they’re packed with artificial ingredients, refined grains, and sugar.

Choose fresh, lean meats.
Avoid processed (processed = more preservatives and higher fat) and fatty meats. Try fish! It contains valuable Omega-3 fatty acids that other meat sources don’t.

Explore alternative sources of protein.
We love all types of red beans as a great source of protein, but tofu may scare some folks. Go ahead. Try a few soybeans! For the really adventurous, try God’s recipe for bread in the book of Ezekiel. The plants listed there combine to form complete proteins…found elsewhere only in meat.

Over time, you can begin to change old habits and make better choices. As your diet improves, so will your energy level, appearance, and overall health. As you realize how much better you’re feeling and looking, good nutrition becomes its own motivation!

Next Steps for Today:

• Keep a detailed “food diary” for at least three days, listing every single thing you eat or drink. I know you saw that on the cover of the latest diet book in the grocery store check-out lane, but it works. Nothing opens your eyes to your habits like paying attention to how often you open your mouth, and what you put in it.
• On your next trip to the grocery store, stop before you head to check out. Replace at least two processed, pre-packaged convenience foods in your cart with two fresh items (fruits, veggies, or whole grains). Prepare these foods (wash them, cut them, etc.) as soon as you get home, so they’re ready when the munchies hit.
• Find someone in your circle (church, LifeGroup, work, family) who has good nutritional habits. Set up a time to talk with this person, and get some advice for your problem areas. How do they navigate those “catered-in” lunches? What are some healthy recipes that you can prepare ahead of time to avoid the after-work crunch time? Which stores have the best produce?

Prayer for Today:
Lord, thank You for providing food in our lives. Help us take this part of our lives seriously and learn to make wise choices. Give us the strength and self-control to overcome bad habits. Help us think of our bodies as the temples You say they are, and to give them the best possible fuel.

Focusing on Fitness

This is an inspiring video that we showed at Cornerstone this past Sunday to highlight the importance of taking care of our bodies. Josh Farmer is a young man who has been through some very tough problems and has lost over 120 pounds. Remember, every BODY ends up somewhere, but not every BODY ends up somewhere on purpose. Let's take care of our bodies so that we can serve God faithfully with all of our strength.



Bringing Your Physical Life Into Focus from Mike Morris on Vimeo.