It's The Simplest Things

How many times do we gloss over scripture because it is familiar? We have heard it a thousand times and still refuse to put it into practice. Why? Because we have convinced ourselves that it can't really mean what it means. For example, during the first two months of this year, my church small group has been studying the book "Life's Healing Choices." Each week was better than the previous one. It built into a crescendo until we concluded together "you know, the Bible has said all along to confess your faults to one another and pray for one another that you might be healed." We all had this "aha" moment. We acknowledged that maybe the Catholic church had the right idea. We all acknowledged how much better we felt confessing our faults to one another. And it felt good to know that they would take the information to the grave. We simply did what God said.......AND IT WORKED!



I had the privilege over the past three weeks for the Lord to speak to me clearly concerning two things in my life. I rejoiced over the fact that he spoke to me, and I saw another principle being played out in my life. The first time He spoke, I was listening to music and worshipping Him. The second time I was listening to a sermon by Erwin McManus. The Bible says in Ephesians 5:18: Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord...(NIV). You mean that if I sing spiritual songs and focus on God I can be filled/guided/controlled by His Spirit? Yes you can!



Psalm 100 tells us to "come before His presence with singing." Acts 13 tells us that as the saints were gathered and ministered (worshipped) to the Lord he spoke to the gathering and called out certain men for a special task. As they ministered unto the Lord. You mean that if I sincerely worship the Lord during a worship service and focus on him that he can speak to me and give me guidance for my life? Yes He can!

Sometimes it's the simplest things!

Everybody Needs A Barnabas

Everybody needs somebody to stand for them at some time in life. Everybody needs someone to believe in them. There are endless examples of people that possessed talent, drive, giftedness, calling, purpose and so on who lacked one thing. An advocate. One that could vouch for another. One person that said I believe in you. One person that said to others "I believe in this person." A person that could walk before the skeptical and say "This person is for real."

Perhaps it is laziness. Perhaps it is convenience. Perhaps it is sinister. However it may be, we have a terrible propensity for labeling people. It is like gossip: the label may be wrong but it tends to stick. "You will never do.......You will never be.......You will always......" The common belief is that in this life, you are what you are. People will even quote (misquote) scripture and say "Can a leopard change its spots" the implication being that you are stuck with being the way you are. I would believe that too IF I had not seen differently in life. I have seen and continue to see life transformation taking place. Marriages being restored, skirt-chasers straightening up, the angry calming down, the bitter releasing their bitterness, the resentful expressing forgiveness.

The apostle Paul was a religiously obsessed devoted Jew that pursued Christians and sent them to their deaths. And yet out of all people this same Paul was called out by Jesus Christ to be his servant, follower, and disciple. A true 180. Shortly after his conversion Paul tried to join himself to a group of Christians. They were understandably hesitant, and quite frankly, very afraid. What happened next is one of the great lessons of life. Barnabas, a follower of Jesus Christ, stood on the behalf of Paul and confirmed everything that happened to Paul, describing his conversion and the sincerity of his faith. What was the result? As Paul went throughout Syria and Cilicia preaching it was said of him "The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!' And they praised God because of me" (Gal 1:23-24). Paul went on to become one of the most influential men in history, authoring 2/3 of the New Testament and spreading the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire during the first century.

I have had a few people play the role of Barnabas in my life. My parents, who always saw grand things for me, even when I did not believe in myself. My cousin Karen Key, who through ways only known to her, helped me acquire my present job. Darlene Lawrence, who has been a steady advocate for my God-given gifts, talents, and abilities. Rev. Renardo Hunter, who has always acknowledged my calling and never lets me forget it or shy away from it. And the ultimate advocate, Jesus Christ, who changed my life when I had lost hope, and continues to stand with me until this very day.

So who will you stand for? Who will you tell "I believe in you?" Who will you go before others for and say "This person is true?" So let it be written. So let it be done.