First Baptist Church Cross Plains

Thursday September 21, 2017

 

 

David said, “I confessed all my sins to you…And you forgave me!  All my guilt is gone.”  Julie Ann Barnhill writes:  If you’re tired of pretending you have it all together, it’s tie to act.  For too long Christian women in particular have believed they’re the only ones dealing with shameful issues, agonizing regrets, and skeletons I their closet.  Once we open up to God, ourselves, and others, we experience exhilarating freedom and peace.  A woman wrote to me:  ‘I had an abortion when I was eighteen.  No body knows.  For years I marked the date on my calendar and grieved for the child nobody knew about, and the young woman who bore the guilt alone.  No more! Now I know I’m not alone, and for the first time in my life I truly believe God is bigger than my secret–and He’s willing to forgive.’  Secrets only hold power when they’re hidden.  Once they’re revealed in the light of God’s love they lose their control.  However, there are some things to consider before opening up to someone: (1) If that person repeats things others have shared in confidence, guess who’s up next for discussion?  (2) Beware of someone who’s apt to offer unsolicited advice, then take offense when it’s ignored.  (3) Stay away from somebody who tries to ‘fix’ you, and tells you not to worry about your secrets.  Instead, look for someone who: (a) has good sense and knows when to ‘back off’ and /or move forward when you’re upset; (b) undergirds their words and counsel with scriptural truths.”

Monday, May 16, 2016

A vision is a picture of what “can be” rather than “what is.” Your vision may be to bring health where there is sickness – like the vision Albert Schweitzer had for Africa. Or of education where there’s ignorance – like the one that motivated Gilbert Tennent to help establish Princeton University. It may be a vision of freedom where there’s oppression – like the one that made William Wilberforce give up a life of privilege to eradicate slavery. Or your vision may be smaller and simpler – like being the first one in your family to graduate from college, or becoming a great parent to your child even though you never had one. Or breaking a bad habit before it breaks you…or overcoming your fear of technology and learning to use an iPad…or spending your retirement years impacting the world around you instead of sitting in a rocking chair waiting to die. Thoreau said, “If you’ve built castles in the air…put foundations under them.” But having a vision isn’t enough; there has to be a commitment to act on it. That’s called a mission – and it requires setting specific, measurable steps to achieve it. Those steps are called goals; they establish a plan for accomplishing your mission and thus fulfilling your vision. You’ll generally have one vision, but many goals. And each goal you reach brings you a step closer to fulfilling your vision. And here’s the really good news: When your vision comes from God, He’ll give you strength, wisdom, connections, relationships, and resources to make it happen because He’s “the author and finisher of our faith.”

Friday, March 4, 2016

Sometimes we view the call of God on our lives through rose-colored glasses. But hearing His call isn’t the same thing as falling into your dream career. When God called Jeremiah to preach to a people who refused to listen, he cried so much he became know as “the weeping prophet.” Our first response to a God-sized assignment is generally-fear. Henry Blackaby writes: “Some people say, ‘God will never ask me to do something I can’t do.’ I’ve come to the place in my life that if the assignment I sense God giving me is something I know I can handle, I know it’s probably not from God. The kind of assignments God gives in the Bible are always God-sized. They’re beyond what people can do because He wants to demonstrate His nature, His strength…and His kindness…to a watching world.” Saying yes to God’s call often means putting in hours of effort when you’d rather not. And it doesn’t always reward you with the kind of recognition you’d hoped for. People may disapprove of what you’re doing and try to block you. For sure, it’ll involve trial and error and some false starts. And natural talent alone isn’t enough to honor your calling; you’ll need ideas, strength, and creativity beyond your own resources to do what God requires of you. Paul says, “We are labourers together with God” (1Co 3:9) because in order to succeed it has to be God and you doing it together. He doesn’t just call you to work for Him; He calls you to work with Him!