Overcoming Obstacles

When we are no longer able to change a situation,
we are challenged to change ourselves.
- Viktor Frankl


temptation:
Maybe you've committed to read your bible or pray every day. It's almost a sure bet that the devil will try to distract you with other things. It's important to remember though that it's not a sin to be tempted. It's what we do with temptation that makes all the difference; it's when we yield to it that it becomes sin.

understanding sin:
"Sin" is a word most people outside the church - and perhaps many inside the church - don't really understand. Sin isn't a list of fun stuff we can't do. It's stuff that separates us from God and others. God never asks us to do something that won't benefit us or others in the long run.

three temptations:
Satan tempted Jesus three times and in three categories. Jesus resisted perfectly. Hopefully we can do the same. We have to remember that to do so we have to be living lives that reflect Christ's life. Our busyness frequently makes it harder to resist temptation.

scriptural strategy:
The next time you're tempted, whether it's to satisfy your physical appetite, be an exception to the rule, or to become more powerful, remember what Jesus did. He stood on God's word. As James 4:7 says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

dive in:

• How could the enemy try to keep me from moving ahead in my walk with God?
• How could God help me fight temptation?
• Who in my life could I confide in and ask for prayer in overcoming temptation?

Love Your Neighbor

God has not called us to see through each other,
but to see each other through.
- Author Unknown


What does Love really mean? Jesus told us to do it in John 13:34-35: "So now I am giving you a new commanement: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."
We're told in the beatitudes that: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand it's own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
Do we really love like that?

love in action:
If we'll see the world around us through the eyes of Christ, we will see people as they could be.
We need to see the world through a window and not a mirror. Our focus should be on others and not ourselves.

acceptance and forgiveness:
If we accept the people around us as Christ accepts us "then God will be glorified." (Romans 15:7) Jesus prayed "Father forgbive these people, because they don't know what they're doing." (Luke 23:34) We should imitate Christ and forgive just as freely those who have wronged us. And we shouldn't keep a record of the wrong that we flaunt in others face.

humility and authenticity:
"Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!" (Romans 12:16) How sad it is when we come across as thinking we're better than others, or that we have all the answers! Sooner or later as it's long been said, "Pride comes before a fall." Sooner or later the one doing the judging will be judged.

dive in:

• What's my biggest challenge when it comes to loving other people?
• How could God change that?
• Is there anyone that I'm holding a grudge against? If so what can I do to turn the situation around?

Finding a Niche

Certain it is that man must completely despair of himself in order to become fit to receive the grace of Christ.
- Martin Luther


everybody's a winner:
We're the Body of Christ and all the parts have a job to do. Whenever we take time to reach out to a sick neighbor or teach a Sunday School class we're helping change those people's lives.

made by design:
God's word teaches us that we were beautifully and perfectly designed by God.

"You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Eveyr moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

all things are possible :
Since the dawn of the Olympic games man has sought to run a 4 minute mile. It wasn't until 1954 that Roger Bannister was able to run a mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. That same year more than 39 other people ran a mile in under 4 minutes. The year after that hundreds more did. The world will tell us that things are impossible. They might even try to tell us that working on a relationship with God is impossible or that it isn't worth the effort. The Bible tells us that with man some things are indeed possible. But according to Matthew 19:27, "with God everything is possible."
Bannister had to believe that the impossible was possible, or he would have never tried to run the race. He must have believed that he could make a difference and have a lasting impact on the world around him.

group effort:
One more thing about Bannister: He didn't run alone. The race was very carefully planned - there were two pacesetters that ran with him. One in front and one behind so Bannister could stay at the pace he needed to break the record. In the middle of the race, the one behind ran forward and the frontrunner fell back. That way neither of the pacesetters was too taxed. In the last stretch Bannister picked up speed, lengthened his stried, and finished the race alone.
You can't break a world record alone. That's probably not what God is calling you to do right now. But whatever you're called to, know that your willingness to take your place on the track will put you a step closer to discovering and fulfilling God's intentions for you.

dive in:

• Am I a functioning part of the Body of Christ? Why or Why not?
• Has there ever been a time I should have stepped up to the plate but didn't? What was the result?
• How could God use me if I were committed to following his lead instead of my own?

Great Expectations

What we are is God's gift to us.
What we become is our gift to God.
- Elanor Powell


The Real Deal:
We're to be really committed, and authentic Christians. We don't need to be fakes. When we're committed we're establishing priorities, as in Matthew 6:33. Putting God's Kingdom first will insure that everything else will be okay.

Follow the Leader:
Jesus called Peter and Andrew from their fishing boats and they followed. The left their means to earn a living immediately and followed Christ. When we're invited to follow we just need to take the first step.

A Little Consideration:
God wants to bless us, but he wants to know we're serious. We have to be faithful in the little things, not because we feel like we have to, but because we want to. As Luke 16:10 says, "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones."

Focus:
We've got to be willing to sacrifice something. Usually that means we choose to please God rather than choosing to please other people. If you can get this nailed down, it'll save you a lot of trouble. When we try to please everyone, we can lose our own sense of what's right and what's not.

Be Deliberate:
Commitment means making a conscious choice about what we're going to believe and who we're going to serve. We need to carefully consider our decision and count the cost. Whom do we serve? Who is the master in our lives?
When we really do put God first we're able to balance out all the rest. When we spend time in God's presence every day we can more clearly distinguish between things that are important and things that are insignificant.


Dive In:

• On a scale of one to ten, how committed am I to seeing God as the master of my life?
• What things compete with God to take control in my life?
• How could making God my top priority change my circumstances?

God really does care

The dying Jesus is the evidence of God's anger towards sin;
but the living Jesus is the proof of God's love and forgiveness.
- Lorenz Eifert

Searching Souls:
We were created to live lives of rich fulfillment. We're probably not there yet, but we can get closer every day. Many of us are complacent and bored with living a life that glorifies God. Sometimes we don't even realize that our lives can be more satisfying with God.
"Every one, though born of God in an instant, yet undoubtedly grows by slow degrees"
- John Wesley

A Key Element:
The Bible has a lot of references to water. The red sea, the flood, and Jesus washing his disciples feet. Living water is different though. It wells up inside of us when we finally understand that we're not the ones who choose God. It's God who chooses us. God is available to us all the time. The Living Water that is available to us constantly if we'll only come and drink.

"When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.... Do not be afraid, for I am with you."
- Isaiah 43:2-5

Taking the Plunge:
To really understand Living Water, you have to understand the One who made you. God is absolutely committed to you. You were created to be connected to and in relationship with God. There's nothing that can't be accomplished through a person who is connected to God. Elton Trueblood said "Faith is Closer to courage than it is to intellectual assent." Like Peter stepping out of the safe boat and onto the stormy seas, we have to step out and start walking towards Christ with our daily lives. Growth will not take place without discomfort, or at the very least without doing something different.

Lifeline
Have you ever needed to cry out for help? Take comfort in the response of Jesus in Matthew 14:31: "Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed him." Jesus didn't say, "Well I told you not to do that." He didn't say, "I'm busy right now, but I'll get to you when I can." He responded instantly. Jesus was right there, knowing what Peter would need before Peter even knew he'd need it.
Jesus will do the same for you.


dive in

• If I met Jesus at the well, what could he reveal about my life that others may not know?
• Have I ever put Jesus to the test? How did he respond?
• What's my response when Jesus says, "Come."?
  

The need for more

How much money would it take to be really satisfied? Just a little bit more.

- John D. Rockefeller

The Thirst Within: 

We need water, and when we drink anything else our body is just not satisfied. God created us with a thirst that we try to ignore rather than quench. We're not satisfied with the status quo - whether it's our job, our lifestyle, the weather or our health. This dissatisfaction only results in emptiness.

Delusions of Self Sufficiency: 

We need help and are unable to find true joy and fulfillment apart from God. We were created to be in relationship with God. When we run from that Truth we'll always wind up frustrated and empty.

Drink Deeply: 

God has a life for us that is full and refreshing. We are to seek God and devote all of our time, energy and effort into pursuing relationship with God through Christ. Do you turn to God when you have a difficult decision or trial? Do you seek God's presence when you need comfort and peace? That's where abundant life is found. When we're willing to believe that there really is more to this life - and that God is the only One who can provide the way. 

Satisfaction Guaranteed: 

We're going to take a closer look at what it looks like to seek God. We're given a simple promise: If you give God more of yourself, you will get more of God. And when we receive that, our lives and our purpose are fulfilled and made whole.

God is not what you imagine or what you think you understand. If you understand you have failed.

- Saint Augustine

Dive In

• For what am I thirsty?
• In what ways do I try to satisfy that thirst?
• How could God help?