Invest
Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes-it only makes things worse. Before long the crooks will be bankrupt; God-investors will soon own the store. - Psalm 37:8 (Msg)
What are you investing in? Stocks, bonds, savings accounts, retirement plans, a mason jar in your backyard? Well when the final ticker tape falls it really doesn’t matter where you invested your material wealth. We’ve all heard “you can’t take it with you” but, guess what, you can send ahead. Not physically of course but in the reward received for the way you invest your time, energy, and wealth. By investing in others, for Christ, we will have something better than material wealth. We will be rewarded with peace of mind, peace with God, and then peace in God; the peace which the world cannot give, and which the world cannot have. Are you using the time, energy and wealth that God has given you to invest in others? I know I sure could improve in all of these areas. There are many ways we can make this happen. We could mentor someone. Help them find and follow the path God has laid out for them, encourage them, pour into them the way others have poured into us. Assist someone financially. We can do this anonymously or not. Purchase gift cards or groceries for them. We don’t have to give them cash or a check and they never have to know where it came from (ultimately, for them, it was provided by God). Help them mow the grass or shovel snow. Paint or repair their house. The ways to invest in others are limitless and endless. It could even be as simple as spending a little time with them. When it’s all said and done everything here on this earth doesn’t matter because it will all be gone some day and so will we. So go out there find someone or a few someone’s and buy, buy, buy… the dividends are sure worth it and His “market” will never crash.
Lord, use us today and everyday to seek out others to invest in. Give us the message they need to hear from You just as You once did with us. Work through us to build Your kingdom and speak Your Word so others can come to know that ultimate payoff that is Your mercy, grace, love and forgiveness. Amen
by Rick Phillips
To tithe or not to tithe
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. – Malachi 3:10
When it comes to money I tend to be a little tight. Giving is not high on my list of spiritual gifts. It took me a while to realize that everything I have belongs to God. It is through Him that I have all that I have. All He asks for in return is ten percent. Not a bad deal for us as commissions go, ninety percent. Early in my walk God called me into a leadership position at the church. Tithing was not something I paid much attention to at the time. I knew we gave money. Jenni wrote a check now and then but we never really discussed it. It was not intentional, it just never came up. It came to my attention while doing a spiritual inventory of sorts that we were essentially robbing God by not properly tithing. From that point on we made sure our ten percent made it there. At times we would look at some budget issues or look to cut back our spending but we left His money alone. We also, when able and moved too, have given above and beyond. We have some friends and family that think this is crazy. But, I know that through our obedience in this He has blessed us and seen us through times, financial and otherwise, we probably should not have made it through. I truly believe in tithing and would challenge anyone that has not taken that step in your walk to take this challenge. You give ten percent for the next two months. During this time pray for God to use that tithe in ways to bless others and carry out ministry needs and build His kingdom. At the end of this two month period look back over everything you have seen happening at the church during that time. Look for where God used your tithes and offerings to bless others. Reflect back on where your money may have been spent. It could have been used in the H.O.P.E ministry to help someone in need. It could have been used to purchase the coffee that made a new guest feel welcome and comfortable enough to relax and really hear the message that day and give their life to Christ. It might have paid the electric bill that heated the water that filled the baptistery for someone formerly lost just like you and I once were. It may have bought the tape to film their testimony that a new guest or one of their family members saw that day which moved them to give their life to Christ. The small and great possibilities are endless for Him if we don’t stand in the way.
Dear Lord will have the strength and courage to give or continue to give during these troubling times. Father I trust that You will see me through and that You will use my tithe to reach others and to grow Your kingdom. Amen
by Rick Phillips
Heaping up riches – for what?
If we please God, he will make us wise, understanding, and happy. But if we sin, God will make us struggle for a living, then he will give all we own to someone who pleases him. This makes no more sense than chasing the wind. – Ecclesiastes 2:26 (CEV)
Do you own your possessions, or do they own you? Consider how many things you have that you could just as easily live without. Are you like the sinner described in Ecclesiastes, spending your whole life struggling for a living? (Ec 2:26) Solomon devoted much of his life to the acquisition of great riches. “I got whatever I wanted and did whatever made me happy,” he said. Yet he concluded that this was nothing but “chasing the wind”- Ec 2:10,11
Here is a brief self-assessment to help you take account of what you own, and how important these things are in your life.
- Do you have specific possessions that you would never consider giving away to anyone?
- Do you have certain possessions that are important in establishing you identity among friends and in your community?
- How do you define success? To what extent does a certain level of income or wealth enter into your definition?
- How many of your major decisions are calculated mainly by their financial value for you and your family?
- Is it easier for you to buy luxury items than it is to give money to your church, world missions, or a charity?
- Do you have any friends who could be considered poor? If not, why not?
- How do you measure self-fulfillment? How do you know when you are happy?
- How important is it for you to outdo your parents’ level of financial achievement
- Do you measure your progress in life by whether you are making more this year than last year?
- Do you think your financial success has any effect on the poor and needy in your community, or elsewhere in the world?
Where do you stand?
by Rick Phillips
(Taken from “Consider This” Word in Life Bible CEV)
The power of a moment
Please allow me a moment to get off topic. The following post came from Pastor Steven Furtick, the Lead Pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. I can’t seem to get it off my mind. It spoke volumes to me in so many ways I pray it does you too.
The power of a moment
I happen to be a leader who believes in the power of a moment. A single moment in the presence of God can alter a destiny and rock the world. I hear something almost every day that reinforces that reality.
I read a card today from a thankful mother. Her son had been far from God for many years. She reminded me about one line in a sermon I preached this summer. (I don’t even remember saying it like she said I said it…hmmm…) The Holy Spirit used this one sentence to draw the kid back to Christ. It sparked a sequence of spiritual steps in his life, and apparently, he’s preparing for mission work in Africa now. That all began because of the power of a moment.
Don’t minimize the magnitude of a moment if you’re:
- Standing up to preach Sunday
- Leading a small group in your home Tuesday
- Leading God’s people in worship through music this weekend
- Engaging a difficult conversation that God has been prompting you about for a while
- Coming up on an opportunity to encourage someone who’s on the edge of disillusionment
- Disciplining your children consistently when it would be easier to let them run wild
- Forgiving an offense that feels unforgiveable
- Praying for a breakthrough that seems complicated and out of reach
Significant change takes time. But it’s often ignited in a moment. Don’t underestimate the uniqueness of your moment. Make it matter.
It is my prayer that you make every moment God gives you matter for the benefit of others and for His glory.
by Rick Phillips
Hope
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” - Hebrews 13:5
Whether you’re doing ok, struggling, or nearly drowning in this current economic crisis you must never forget the second part of the above scripture “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”. This is Gods promise to us as His followers. We must continue to be faithful and obedient to Him and follow His plan for us. It would be very easy in these hard times to lose your hope and faith and give in to so many temptations. Think about that, no matter what happens, what we encounter, He will never leave us and never forsake us. A few years ago I was struggling with some financial issues with my business. I was scared, and I felt as if I had nowhere to turn. Something brought me to church that week. I had been there on occasion (mainly to get my wife off my back) but I didn’t buy into all the “happy, happy, joy, joy” stuff I thought I was seeing. That week though, I gave my life to Christ. Now things didn’t magically change. My problems didn’t go away but suddenly I had a support system to turn to. However, one of the biggest things I found was hope. Hope that if I worked to turn things around and follow Him I would not be forsaken. Hope that no matter what I had done to get where I was or where I was going next He would never leave me. Have I had tough times since then? Yes. Do I expect to encounter tough times in my future? Yes. Am I worried? I try not to be. (I’m working on that). Please know and remember no matter how bad it gets, if you have accepted Jesus as your savior, His promise “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” And ultimately with that you won’t need anything else.
Heavenly Father we praise You and thank for this promise. We pray for those experiencing the hardships during these times especially those that still do not know You Lord. We pray that they find hope in Your Word and that You use us to show them that hope through our faith and strength in You. Amen.
by Rick Phillips
Different.
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Daniel 3:17-18
King Nebuchadnezzar constructed a ninety foot tall idol made of gold and commanded that everyone bow down and worship it. Daniel’s friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to do so and were threatened by death if they did not comply. The three young men were determined to be different from the culture around them…no matter what.
As we finish up this week talking about vision…that’s the question you need to ask yourself: “Am I willing to be different from the culture around me…no matter what?”
We call the Ridge a “different kind of church” and that means a lot of things. Casual dress. Practical messages. Upbeat music. But one of the biggest things that makes us different is that we not only expect to grow (reach more people for Christ) but we make plans to make that happen. In 2009 our plans to grow include hiring a full-time Teaching/Discipleship Pastor, more Acts of Kindness, re-vamping our Life Groups, a renewed emphasis on prayer, and re-focused Missions activity. But our greatest potential as a church in the Kingdom of God cannot be realized unless the entire body of Christ works together. You have an enormous amount of potential inside of you. The key is deciding to be different. Most people in our world live for themselves. We need to live for others. I can’t think of a more significant thing to do with your life than to assist in building the Kingdom of God. Every minute of your life that you invest is making a difference in eternity.
Are you willing to be different…no matter what…for the sake of the Kingdom of God?
“Dear God please give me the courage to be different. Help me to die to myself and instead live for You and for others. Show me how I can help the Ridge fulfill it’s greatest potential. Thank you Father for the great things You’re going to do in my life and at the Ridge in 2009. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Can you see it?
“For without vision the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18a
The toughest thing for many church families is getting a good look at the future. In many cases we are blinded by the past, our own personal agenda, or by simple day-to-day distractions. We are mandated by God to “go and make disciples”. What we are to do, that much is clear. What can be more difficult to decipher sometimes is how we accomplish that. I believe that one of the best ways to make a difference in our communities and to touch people with the love of Christ is to do “acts of kindness”. AoKs have been a major engagement point between our church and the community since we first started the Ridge. However, in the last few years we have done fewer and fewer AoKs. We are making a concerted effort to change that in 2009. Look and listen for multiple opportunities in the coming months to help with simple acts of kindness. We will do free car washes, give away free pop & cold water, rake leaves, shovel snow and so on. The idea behind these AoKs is to warm people’s hearts toward God. To show the love of Christ in a simple, yet powerful way. To qualify for doing AoKs you need two things – a willing heart and love for others.
“Simple acts done with great kindness can change the world.” – Mother Teresa
Can you see it?
“Heavenly Father speak to us about how we can show Your love to others. May we see the vision of sharing the love of Christ in simple ways. We ask that these acts of kindness will warm people’s hearts toward You and have an eternal impact on their lives. Amen.”
Seeing Beyond
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:18-19 (NIV)
We’re talking about vision in this week’s “Digging Deeper” blog. In many ways vision is simply seeing beyond the surface. It’s not unusual for busy people today to just take a quick peek at something and not take the time to look a bit deeper. And when we do that we miss out on a whole bunch of possibilities.
I’m thankful that Jesus is not like that. When Jesus went looking for disciples He could have easily targeted the well-known, influential, and educated of the day. Jesus could have gone for the knowledgeable religious leaders. But instead He recruited the kind of men most people would not have targeted. Like the rough and tumble fishermen brothers, Peter and Andrew.
Thankfully Jesus has the vision to see beyond. Beyond the imperfection. Beyond the sin. Beyond the surface. The Savior is calling you as well. You may not think you are very talented or gifted. You may believe that you’re not smart enough or clever enough to do anything for God’s Kingdom. But Jesus sees beyond what you see. He sees you as a forgiven, gifted, loved creation packed with potential. The only limit on the godly potential inside each of us is our lack of faith. Allow yourself a few minutes today to step back and look beyond yourself so you can see yourself through the eyes of Jesus.
“Dear God help me to have the vision You have for my life. Help me to slow down long enough to discover that You have a plan and a purpose for my life. Father, help me to see beyond the surface and to be obedient in building Your Kingdom here on earth. Amen.”
What is in your hand?
“…So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone…” 1 Samuel 17:50
In the story of David & Goliath, Saul tried to get David to put on his tunic, his armor, his helmet, and take his sword into battle. But David did not give in to the temptation to be someone other than who God called him to be. Instead David used what was in his hand – a sling and a stone – to bring about victory in the name of God.
Too often we find ourselves wishing that we were more talented, more gifted, taller, thinner or whatever. The truth is that God created us to be unique individuals. When you look in the mirror in the morning, the person looking back at you is like no one else. As you look into the eyes of the one in the mirror remember that God created that person (You!) for greatness. The key for us is to be obedient to God’s calling. Like David, we need to learn to use what is in our hands. In other words, embrace the you that God created and use the gifts, talents, abilities, experiences, and personality that were woven into your DNA to help change the world.
I believe that our church has enormous potential and that God wants us to do great things in 2009 that point people to Him…but in order for that to happen all of us must use what is in our hands in order to allow the body of Christ to accomplish the tasks set before us.
“Heavenly Father, speak to each of us and show us what You want us to do in service to You. May we be willing to step out in faith, trust that You are in control, and be obedient. Amen.”
Day Off
In keeping with the message at Vision Weekend 08 this past Saturday and Sunday, Pastors Darrel and Rollie will be sharing more with you this week on the Digging Deeper blog. Since this is their day off the blog will resume tomorrow. So, check back here tomorrow to learn more about where God is leading the Ridge next and how you can and do play an important role in this direction. God bless.
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