Through Your Lack!

If you’re anything like me, and I suspect you are, many times throughout our lives we find ourselves with limited resources and a great need. Oftentimes the need in front of us seems so great that it consumes our vision. I believe that at times our needs can be so overwhelming that as we look out at the vast landscape of possibilities that are lives should be our vision is blocked by the expanse of our needs.

In the sixth chapter of John we see this exact Situation in the lives of the disciples. Christ finds himself in a familiar position standing in front of a multitude of people with need. However this time, the needs are seemingly less significant than in days past; no one is dead or dying, there’s no lame man looking for restoration, no blinded eyes that need to be healed, and no deaf ears to unstop. What we do see however, is a group of people including 5000 men plus women and children that are hungry with nothing to eat. We see Christ’s heart of compassion compelling him to meet the needs of the multitude; and we see the disciples in an all too familiar state, one of confusion and doubt.

The disciples had watched as Christ performed the miraculous time and time again; they had been a part of life shaking events, they watched as Christ performed miracle after miracle, and now here they stand in the face of another opportunity to experience the power of God! However, more often than not we find ourselves staring opportunity in the eye and all we see is the challenge. God is waiting to shake our world, but we are so preoccupied with our need, that we can’t see the possibilities for God to do the miraculous.

I don’t know if you realize it, but your Heavenly Father is looking for a way to bless you. His greatest desire is to poor Himself out on you, and do something extraordinary in your life. The key is to learn to be thankful for what we have. The lad in this story offers up a ridiculous offering, two fish and five loafs to feed this multitude is worse than laughable. But, it was after all, everything that he had!

Christ took this humble offering and performed the miraculous! Now, I want to propose a question, what was the greater miracle? To feed the multitude with so little or that Christ was able to be thankful when his resources fell well short of the need.

I want to challenge you today, take your resources in your hands, no matter how limited you feel that they are, and begin to give God thanks for meeting your need through your lack!

As Always,
Looking Forward,
Pastor Floyd

Away From It All

In a conversation this week with a wonderful young man, who is struggling with the call of God on his life, I was reminded of the words of Christ. Jesus said to his disciples, “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while:” (Mark 6:31)

This man was expressing his apologies for taking a few days of solitude to recover from what had been a very trying time in his life. Through speaking to him and dealing with my own crazy schedule, I could almost here Christ saying, “Everyone deserves a little rest.” As I spoke with him I became all but convicted myself. The thoughts kept running through my head; “When was the last time you went away alone … When was the last time you took some private time … When was the last time that you spent some quality time with yourself …When was the last time that you went to a Dodgers game … When was the last time you even played a round of golf?”

The longer we talked the worse I felt! In this day and age of “modern convenience” it seems almost impossible to get away from it all. Often times between the cell phone, the Palm Pilot, and the lap top there is not a private moment to be had, and solitude seems galaxies away. Even in the life of a minister and in some cases maybe especially in the life of a minister, it is important that we make the time to work on the relationship with ones self!

I know what some of you may be thinking, “I just don’t have time!” Understand, I am not talking about days in isolation, even though, sometimes that sounds like Heaven. I’m talking about a cup of coffee, or a round of golf. I’m talking about a quiet bath or a good book. With the cell phone turned off and the email far, far away. A place where, for a few moments you are untouchable. A few moments of seclusion and solace.

I promise you, it will make you a better spouse, parent, friend, and even a better Christian! One of the most important relationships you will ever have is the one with you! Don’t neglect you!

As always,
Looking Forward,
Pastor Floyd