Sometimes I wonder why it is so hard for me to see the need of others, or to encourage them, or maybe even get a long with them. I want to make a difference in other peoples lives, but I can't seem to connect or do anything. Then I start worrying about how I am failing at relating to them or developing a relationship with them. So where then is my focus?
I just saw the movie "Soul Surfer" which is about Bethany Hamilton, a surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack. Her story is tremendously inspirational and moving. But what really stuck out to me was her outward focus, and positive attitude. Through her whole accident and transition, her focus was on others rather than herself most of the time. God used this to point out to me where my focus has been. Even though I am in ministry, and I want to make an impact in these kids and youths lives, my focus has been on myself. "How I can make a difference. How I can be liked by them. How I know so much. I....I....I." Even being rejected is because of my pride. What a waste of my life!
God wants us, His children, to keep our eyes on Christ. Only by Him can we do anything. All through the Bible it teaches us to have an upward and outward focus, never inward. In Philippians 2 it tells of the attitude we should have, which is to be like Christ. When we keep our eyes on Christ, He is able to work in our hearts and lives. But when we focus on ourselves, and let Christ in around what is going on in our lives, nothing works, and He can't change our hearts and lives or use us as effectively in His work and will. To love Him is to never want to take our eyes off of Him.
Rather than worrying about myself, maybe I need to focus completely on Christ and how I can be Him to others, and spill His love into their lives, rather than trying to soak it up from them. Then look to the needs of others and their interests before I even think about mine. Lord, help me to be selfless, and have complete JOY in putting YOU first, others second, and myself last.
Showing posts with label joy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joy. Show all posts
Friday, April 8, 2011
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Joy of the Lord
“The joy of the Lord is our strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) What a statement that is to make. Say it with me again a little bit louder. “THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH.” Can you sense it? That wellspring of joy within your soul: the freeing feeling of having your sin, guilt, and shame lifted from your shoulders in exchange for God’s freedom, grace, and mercy. Or maybe the daily responsibilities of your daily life have become a burden to you. Have your thoughts and questions about the future – where to work, who to marry, should I marry, what classes should I take, did I take the right classes, sucked the joy right out of you? Have you come under such a burden that you can’t even get out of bed in the morning? Has your lack of joy and strength left you wondering what it is that God has done to you? Are you left questioning where God is in the midst of the circumstances of your life? Well… if that is the case, then take heart my friend because He has not abandoned you. He has not left you. He has begun a good work in you that He will not fail to bring to completion. That thought alone ought to bring some joyful ‘tude into your life. Let me ask you some questions as we continue on. Have you been spending time with the Lord lately? Have you been seeking Him? Meditating on His Word? Talking with Him throughout the day? Are you walking in obedience to the things that He has told you to be doing? Are you going to where He led you to go? Take it from me and my own personal experience. If you are not spending time with Him, walking according to His ways, and His path for your life you will not find your strength in the joy of the Lord, because your life is not lined up with Him. If though, as far as you can tell, you are walking in obedience to Him and to His Word, you are seeking Him; desiring to walk in His ways, then take heart: “Joy shall come in the morning.” Continue to seek Him and spend time with Him. One other thing that I have been thinking about that could be stealing your joy is the spiritual forces in this world. As followers of Christ we are at war with Satan and his demons. Maybe what you need to do is really begin to fight for your joy by engaging in this great spiritual battle that we are all a part of. I really do believe that by doing so you will begin to walk in the victory and in the joy that Christ has won for us. Maybe you need to put on that battle armor everyday and wield the Sword of the Spirit. Remember this; we are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) Maybe though you are simply lacking joy in your life because your life has become so busy that you have been ignoring or have forgotten about all that God is doing and has done in your life. If that is the case then maybe what you need to do is take some time in the near future and spend some time evaluating your life with the Lord; Asking Him if there are some changes that need to be made, because there probably are. Spend some time thanking Him for the things that He has done in your life and for the things that He has brought you through and given to you. Yep, I really am going to say it again. It is the joy of the Lord that gives us strength and by spending time with Him and thinking about His goodness is a help to igniting that joy within our souls. In closing I want to say this, “THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH!!!!!!!!!” Don’t forget it. The devil wants to steal your joy and squash it under his feet. Don’t let Him. By the power of the Holy Spirit within you, fight for the joy that Christ paid such a high price for us to attain.
by Justin Kantonen
originally posted September 2008
by Justin Kantonen
originally posted September 2008
Faith Like a Child
This summer I am working at Park River Bible Camp This week here in Park River is Jubilee Camp. This is a week where people with physical and mental handicaps come out to camp for a few days to experience the goodness of God in a very spectacular way. As I write this we are on our second night of three and already I have been blessed beyond measure.
On Sunday night we opened with a bluegrass/southern gospel concert with the Freedom Band, who came all the way from Canada (yeah Canada), and rocked our socks off. The joy and enthusiasm that was emitted from the crowd during most of, and after all of the songs was incredible. The band fed off of it and we worshiped our God that night with more joy than one could express. The next day was spent doing various activities around camp such as crafts, fishing, a hayride, swimming, and therapeutic recreation and with great willingness and joy, once again, the campers participated. For most of thesecampers life here at camp is one of the highlights of their year. When I look into their face and see them smiling and singing with so much life, despite not knowing the words, it brings joy and love flooding into my heart.
God has blessed us with great campers this week and great staff to work with them. I don’t write this simply to tell you about the great week of camp that we are having, but to encourage you to take a look into your life this week and ask yourself what your faith is like. Is it like the faith of a child, which Jesus says is all we need? Or is it cluttered and self-conscious and filled with worry, anger, fear, and sin? You know God does not look for faith that does not seek Him. Is your faith in Him truly causing you to seek Him or has it become so null and void in your life that you wonder if it still exists? I look at each of these campers and wonder what it would be like to have their faith or even just their lives. Not one of them can completely take care of themselves and are entrusted into the care of another. They know no other way. That is such a great picture of what our lives in Christ ought to be like, where we are completely entrusted into the care of our God in heaven. There is not one of us who can take care of ourselves; no matter how much we try, or think that we can, we cannot be self-sufficient. We may think that we can be for awhile, but when our lives are measured up against the Word of God and how things ought to be, we will quickly see that we are not. Maybe all it will take though is that first broken relationship or a constant anger in your life. Those things too quickly remind us that we cannot take care of ourselves and life around us; that we need to entrust ourselves with complete and childlike faith into the loving hands of our God.
And so, as the Jubilee campers continue to come here year after year and express their joy in Christ and hope in Him let’s learn a lesson from them and express our joy in Him as well.
by Justin Kantonen
originally posted July 2008
On Sunday night we opened with a bluegrass/southern gospel concert with the Freedom Band, who came all the way from Canada (yeah Canada), and rocked our socks off. The joy and enthusiasm that was emitted from the crowd during most of, and after all of the songs was incredible. The band fed off of it and we worshiped our God that night with more joy than one could express. The next day was spent doing various activities around camp such as crafts, fishing, a hayride, swimming, and therapeutic recreation and with great willingness and joy, once again, the campers participated. For most of thesecampers life here at camp is one of the highlights of their year. When I look into their face and see them smiling and singing with so much life, despite not knowing the words, it brings joy and love flooding into my heart.
God has blessed us with great campers this week and great staff to work with them. I don’t write this simply to tell you about the great week of camp that we are having, but to encourage you to take a look into your life this week and ask yourself what your faith is like. Is it like the faith of a child, which Jesus says is all we need? Or is it cluttered and self-conscious and filled with worry, anger, fear, and sin? You know God does not look for faith that does not seek Him. Is your faith in Him truly causing you to seek Him or has it become so null and void in your life that you wonder if it still exists? I look at each of these campers and wonder what it would be like to have their faith or even just their lives. Not one of them can completely take care of themselves and are entrusted into the care of another. They know no other way. That is such a great picture of what our lives in Christ ought to be like, where we are completely entrusted into the care of our God in heaven. There is not one of us who can take care of ourselves; no matter how much we try, or think that we can, we cannot be self-sufficient. We may think that we can be for awhile, but when our lives are measured up against the Word of God and how things ought to be, we will quickly see that we are not. Maybe all it will take though is that first broken relationship or a constant anger in your life. Those things too quickly remind us that we cannot take care of ourselves and life around us; that we need to entrust ourselves with complete and childlike faith into the loving hands of our God.
And so, as the Jubilee campers continue to come here year after year and express their joy in Christ and hope in Him let’s learn a lesson from them and express our joy in Him as well.
by Justin Kantonen
originally posted July 2008
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Bible Study - Psalm 66:1-6
Read Psalm 66:1-6
"1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
2 sing to the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!
3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come come cringing to you.
4 All the earth worships you and sing praises to you; they sing praises to your name."
5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him."
1. As you read through these verses of this chapter take the time to ask yourself what some of the things are that God has done recently in your life. What are the reasons that can cause you to shout for joy, or to sing the glory of His name, or give to Him glorious praise?
2. Have you taken the time to answer the previous question? If you haven't please take the time to do so, God will bless you richly as you take the time to think about His great and awesome deeds. If you have done it take some time now to thank God for what He has done.
3. As you read through the verses is there a verse that stood out to you more so than the others? If so take some time to meditate on that verse and allow God to speak to you about what He is trying to communicate through it to you.
by Justin Kantonen
originally posted December 2008
"1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
2 sing to the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!
3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come come cringing to you.
4 All the earth worships you and sing praises to you; they sing praises to your name."
5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him."
1. As you read through these verses of this chapter take the time to ask yourself what some of the things are that God has done recently in your life. What are the reasons that can cause you to shout for joy, or to sing the glory of His name, or give to Him glorious praise?
2. Have you taken the time to answer the previous question? If you haven't please take the time to do so, God will bless you richly as you take the time to think about His great and awesome deeds. If you have done it take some time now to thank God for what He has done.
3. As you read through the verses is there a verse that stood out to you more so than the others? If so take some time to meditate on that verse and allow God to speak to you about what He is trying to communicate through it to you.
by Justin Kantonen
originally posted December 2008
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