synchronized provisions

I was reading about the death of Moses(Deuteronomy 34) and the rise of Joshua (Joshua 1) as the new leader of this developing country called Israel. One things I noticed was that Moses and Joshua were very different men. Moses was the prophet, theologian, and leader. Joshua, on the other hand, was a warrior. Different men with different giftedness and talents doing the same job.

I love what it says about Moses at his death, "Since then no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, for all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh." When the Hebrews were in Egypt they were a race of people not a nation, and they hadn't heard from God in years. They were a broken people who really didn't know God any more. What they needed was a leader who would get them out of Egypt, remind them of the power of God, refresh them with what God desired, and galvanize them as a nation. That is what Moses did with his personality, his leadership, his teaching, and his miracles.

Years later they had become a nation, still with no land and wondering in the desert, they knew God, and there was a whole new generation of adults who are leading. They do not need to be re-introduced to God like their fathers...no they needed the courage to fight for their land. God replaces Moses with Joshua. Joshua didn't perform all the miracles Moses did. He, instead, led them to fight with courage.

God knew what the Hebrew people needed and when they needed it. If God will do that for a nation he will do it for you. God knows exactly what you need in every season of life and he longs to provide it. He may not change your circumstances (the Hebrews still had to fight for their land.) but with synchronized precision he will provide what you need to conquer it.

We have seen that happen over and over at Piedmont. When a great need arrives God always seems to send a way for us to satisfy that need.

God is not just a provider of good things, but he is a synchronized provider.

The Unstoppable Movement

I was thinking today how when Jesus left this earth, he left it with no building in His name. There was not a place for those who loved him to go and worship. There was not a church building for His followers.

The reason is that Christianity is a movement, not an organization. Organizations are housed in buildings but movements can not be housed. Do not get me wrong, I am not opposed to church or church buildings...Piedmont just bought one. But in moving closer to our own permanent location we must not forget, Piedmont Church is not to be a Christian club or organization but a part of a huge movement. A movement that began over 2000 years ago and still going strong. A movement that brings incredible life change to anyone who responds.

A movement that I believe can have a huge impact on the city of Macon and all of central Georgia. A movement that will blow your mind. So if are a Christian, join the movement and follow Christ as he leads out in your life. If you are not, come to Piedmont Church, 10:30, Sunday and check out the movement.

What would I do

I asked previously what you would do with your last 24 hours if you knew it was your last 24 hours. I am intrigued by that question. I find that when I think like that my mind is immediately taken to what is really important, to what I know has lasting value.

Sadly, I often live as if all my tomorrows will be like my today, but they will not. Sure, I may not die real soon but I might. What I do know is that my children are going to grow up and not want me to play with them so much, my strength will not be as present and I will not be able do as much, I also know that today I have opportunities to do things for Christ that will not be available in the future. I know this to be true.

The end result is that iIwant to live like there is no tomorrow, I want to believe God for BIG things and live like I believe it, I want to go crazy loving my kids and wife, and I want to live large today for my tomorrow will not be like my today. It might even be better, but it will be different.

Are you live large enough?

Only one day to live-part one

Ok, here is something that has passed by my mind recently. If tomorrow, 9 AM, you were told that you have only 24 hours to live...what would you do with that day? Respond in the comment section and tell me.

Fear

Fear is not my friend. Generally I am a fearless, running straight ahead, charge the hill kind of guy. But on occasion fear sneaks into my life and tries to lay claim to my heart and emotions. I had one of those moments today. Some news was told to me that got my heart battling with fear. It can really cripple you if you let it. Christ tells us that we have not been given a spirit of fear, but sometimes it feels that I have season tickets.

I am amazed at what Satan will do to get us distracted. He studies my life and knows the exact situations when I am most vulnerable. At that moment he attacks with news that drags me into the pit of fear.

But I will not let fear win. I work, in those moments, to choose to believe that which my emotions seem to forget. My Father, my God, my forever Dad is also the author of everything. The cross reminds me that he is totally committed to me, and the His empty grave reminds me of what he is capable of doing. Then why fear? Why let myself get distracted by buying into all that which I feel. No, I choose to believe that I can do anything...ANYTHING with my God.

My challenge to you is to relentlessly battle to put fear in its place. When it comes focus on what God has done for you, look to the scripture to see what he has promised and is capable of doing. Never give up to fear...never...never give up.

I am sitting in Panera Bread. I am a people watcher and this is an interesting place to do it. It is times like this that I am reminded of the creative capacity of God. All you have to do is to look at the people around us and see that God creatively put us uniquely together. You are unique!!!

If that is true, than why do we spend our days trying to be like everyone else. We want what everyone else has, wears, drives, etc. It is time to acknowledge and celebrate that God has made us and a life the is unique to each of us...accept it, live it, and enjoy it.

Why

I ran into a Minister of Music the other day that was challenging me in why we are doing church the way we do. He is at an established denominational church that has not changed anything in decades (not that that is wrong but it gives you idea of his perspective). Our talk was good and in the end he was very supportive. Later, however, I was sitting in my office at the house and I thought about his question of why we are doing church in a way that presents Christ in such a creative and compelling way. Something begin to stir in me, the more I thought about the more fired up I became.

My answer to this question is really simple...We do it because hopelessness is a reality, loneliness is a reality, and most of all Hell is a reality. People are really going to hell and existing forever without any hope of relief and we can't stand by and do little or nothing. We only have our one lifetime to help reverse that in people's live and the rest of eternity to focus on ourselves. So like Christ, we are more focused on going after the one that is lost than just hanging out with the ninety nine that are found. We have this passion because hell is a reality.