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Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.  – Luke 9:23

Do you remember the following question from Dr. Brooks’ sermon Sunday: Do you like Christ or are you like Christ?  I’ve been thinking a lot about this.  I was reminded of a message I heard John Ortberg give about the difference between being an admirer of Christ and a follower of Christ.  He said, “An admirer is impressed.  A follower is devoted.  An admirer applauds.  A Follower surrenders his life.”

An admirer likes Christ.  They may go to church and tithe but if God asks them to give up something dear to them or if things don’t go their way, they draw the line.  A follower leaves everything on the table.  If God asks for their time, money, position, or anything else, they are willing to give.  If life doesn’t go the way they want it to, they cling closer to Him, trusting in His plans.

It is hard to examine your life in this way.  I don’t know about you, but the truth is that I fall into the category of admirer more often than I think.  When I examine the choices I make each day about how to spend my time and resources, it becomes clear what’s more important.

The good news is that God is not finished with me yet.  He’s not finished with you either.  So the question is do you want to be like Christ?  In the coming months, we’ll be talking more about this.  I’ll be asking you some questions.  Feel free to ask me some as we journey together in faith.

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
       that can succeed against the LORD.
                                                               –Proverbs 21:30

Did you read the verse?  Read it, or read it again.  Nothing succeeds against the Lord.  Whatever you are dealing with in life, this is good news.  It’s good news that we often, sometimes, conveniently forget.

Our plans don’t cut it.  Neither do the plans of others.  This Proverb proves true time and again in Scripture, and in history.  Men devise their own plans.  Sometimes God thwarts their plans.  Sometimes he uses them to fulfill his plans.  Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews ends in his own death.  Joseph’s brothers sell him to a caravan and he ends up saving their lives.  Saul sets out to kill more Christians, God turns him into one of the greatest advocates for Christ.  The Pharisees plot the death of Jesus and in doing so, play right into God’s plan.

We know that God’s plans succeed, but sometimes we find it difficult to trust.  We want to trust, but we don’t want to be thrown into a fire.  We don’t want to go through the dessert to get to the Promised Land.  We want our inheritance and we want it our way, right away.

What we need to remember is that God’s wisdom is greater than ours.  His insight…well He is the creator after all.  His plans and purposes are being worked out each and every day.  Nothing, not even death stands in His way.

Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.  – Philippians 3:1

As a sophomore in high school, I was required to take biology. It was memorable for several reasons: the textbook weighed 3 lbs, it was the same textbook AP classes in the U.S. used and, my mom spent every evening re-teaching the material until I understood it. I was fortunate to have a mom who had taught biology. I think I might have flunked had it not been for her tireless efforts.

Mom wanted me to succeed in biology, so she repeated the things I was learning in different ways until I got it. Paul wanted the people he taught to succeed in their faith journey and continue to grow so he never grew tired of teaching the truths God taught him.

There’s a lesson here for us. First, the truth of Scripture is always worth repeating. Just because we have heard something before doesn’t mean we don’t need to be reminded of it. God uses Scripture to show us how to live and walk with Him. Secondly, as we disciple others, we must never grow tired of teaching the same truths again and again. The Holy Spirit may use your teaching at the moment to convict someone who has heard the truth before.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”   -2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Have you ever experienced what it is like to be a foreigner?  Many times, people look at you funny or are suspicious of you.  I spent my formative years as a foreigner in a country that I called home, but whose language I did not speak and whose customs I did not always follow.  I was fortunate to mostly be looked upon with curiosity rather than disdain.  On the other hand, I have come back to and live in the country of my citizenship and, in many ways, I am still a foreigner.  I understand the language and I look like I belong, but there are cultural things that I do not appreciate because they are not a part of my experience. 

They call people like me Third Culture Kids because we don’t quite fit in the culture of our citizenship or in the culture where we grew up.  I was reminded of this as I began praying through this week’s devotional.  I worked through several of Paul’s letters and kept hitting on phrases like “brought near”, “new creation” and, “one in Christ.”

Isaiah uses “brought near” to refer to a convert to Judaism.  Prior to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, this was the only way to know God.  Even Jews were divided into classes which determined how far you could go into the temple-how close you could get to God. 

Christ’s death on the cross brought us all near.  In Christ, we are no longer outsiders or enemies of God.  We are new creations.  We are not divided into classifications limited in our access to God.  In Christ, we are one.  In a sense, we are a Third Culture-something entirely new and different.

You may never have had the experience of being a foreigner.  However, all of us have, at some point; experienced what it is to be an outsider.  We know the pain of not being in the inner circle.  This week, take time to think about what it means to have been reconciled to God.  You are no longer an outsider.  You are a child of God with the full inheritance available as one of God’s children.  Don’t you want to tell people about that?

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. – Ecclesiastes 3:1

I have really enjoyed the weather this last week.  It has been warmer and sunny and everything is beginning to bloom.  I have even noticed the grass beginning to get green again.  I don’t remember a time when I enjoyed watching things blooming more, even though my allergies are going haywire.

I have wondered why I suddenly noticed this year.  I think it is because the winter was longer and harsher this year.  The gray, colorless cold affected me more this year than any I can remember. Because of this, I have been ready, anticipating sunny blue skies and green.

God has reminded me as I have watched that seasons do change in nature and in life.  Growing up in Nigeria, we had only two seasons: rainy and dry.  Sometimes, the dry season lasted longer than usual, but the rain always came.  Sometimes, the winters of life are longer and harsher, but God is still God.  He created the seasons and He knows the seasons of our life.

Whatever season you find yourself in today, know that God is there.  You may be enjoying a wonderful spring or summer.  It may be that you have found yourself stuck in winter.  Wherever you are, God is there with you even if you can’t feel the sunshine of His presence.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  -Philippians 2:9-11

Last Friday, I woke up with sore legs.  I hadn’t been exercising, so I wondered what was going on.  Then I realized it was because I had done some kneeling during the revival services.  Thursday evening, in particular, I spent much of worship with my head bowed and given the opportunity, kneeling at the altar.

One of the things God taught me last week is that I need to kneel more both physically and spiritually.  I do not believe you have to kneel to pray but there is something about the act of kneeling that puts feet to your heart, so to speak.  Therefore, it is something I am compelled to do more. Whether or not you are physically able to kneel, I have no doubt that we could all kneel more spiritually.  What does this mean?  It is a heart attitude of submission to God, to His plans and purposes.  It is an attitude of availability to God to do His work for His kingdom and glory and not for our own gain.

I want to practice kneeling physically so that my legs are not sore afterwards.  More than that, I want to kneel spiritually so that my heart is not sore from struggling against God, but rather refreshed with every encounter.  I want it to be my nature to kneel, so I plan to practice.  Will you join me?

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
      but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

                                  -Proverbs 17:22

This year at Tallowood, we’ve been hearing a lot of words with the prefix “re”: refresh, revival, restore, renew.  It means “again” or “again and again.”  I don’t know where you find yourself on this day.  I know some are rejoicing over new jobs, new friendships and new opportunities.  I also know some of you are greatly in need of restoration.  You identify with the above verse not because you are cheerful, but because you feel broken and sapped of strength.  You are weighed down with concerns for family and friends and your own needs and desires.

The good news is that God invites you to “come.”   Scripture says “come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”  He wants to revive and refresh.

I hope you are planning to come to the revival services next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7 PM.  However, even if you are unable to come, God is able to meet you where you are.  He can begin to renew and restore even now.  You need only to come to Him.  Take refuge in Him.  He is able to turn your mourning into dancing and restore the joy of your salvation.  Will you come?

If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. -1 Peter 3:13-16 (The Message)

Whether of not you are a football fan or watch the Super Bowl, you may have heard about the controversy surrounding a Super Bowl commercial by Focus on the Family.  The ad features college football star Tim Tebow and his mother sharing the story about Tim’s birth. Doctors urged Tim’s mother to have an abortion.  She chose not to.

Today, I read an article about Tebow on ESPN.com.  It is a well written article praising Tebow for his courage regardless of whether or not one agrees with him.  It would have been a whole lot easier for Tim to do the typical endorsements, make millions and not have to deal with the criticism he is sure to face.  He could have still maintained his faith, but life would have been easier. Discipleship isn’t easy though.

I think Tim gets the 1 Peter passage.  I wonder if we do.  I’ll be the first to confess that while I want to do the right thing, I don’t often want to do the hard thing. I don’t like it when people throw mud at me.

This morning, a small group of people met to begin fleshing out plans for evangelism in March and to think about long range plans for outreach and evangelism.  Any plan moving forward has to start with us as individuals believing we do indeed have hope to offer the world.  If you don’t believe it, you are not compelled to share it.  Chris Tomlin sings:

“There is no one like our God
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this city”

Do you believe this?  If so, how will you respond to God?  Will you plan to be at the Refresh Revival services February 23-25 at Tallowood?  Will you plan to participate in the Refuge Prayer Journey prior to each service in order to prepare your heart?  Will you participate in a prayer walk in Tallowood’s neighborhood on March 6^th?  Will you be involved in other evangelism efforts in March and beyond?  If you are not able to do these things, what will you do?  Who knows what God will accomplish with hearts committed to His Glory?

So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.
-1 Thessalonians 5:11 (The Message)

And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another— and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrew2 10:24-25 (NIV)

Years ago in the days prior to email, Facebook and Twitter, I was an avid letter writer.  I wrote because I wanted to continue to build my relationships with friends who were no longer part of my daily routine.  I was very intentional in my efforts to stay in touch.  I kept a chart in my day planner of all the people I corresponded with.  I even tracked each time I sent or received a letter.  Yes, I was a little obsessive, but then I loved to write and receive letters.  One year, my New Year’s resolution was to write one letter each day of the year.  I did not write 365 letters that year, but I did write more letters than any other year.

These days I’m not the letter writer I once was.  Email, Facebook and other technologies have made it easier than ever to stay in touch.  However, I find myself out of touch more often.  I’ve been thinking about this and realized that though it is easier, I still have to be intentional about personal contact.  Posting to my Facebook status and reading my friends status does not guarantee a connection.  I still have to interact on a personal level whether through comments or email or some other means. 

This same principle is true in every aspect of my life.  In order to build relationships and encourage each other, we must interact on a personal level.  In order to build community, we must be intentional.  With that in mind, here are a few challenges for us:

• Don’t wait for someone to update their Facebook status to find out what they are thinking and what’s going on.  If you are thinking about them, let them know.  Ask them what’s going on?
• Take time to write a note or send a card to someone you know is going through a tough time
• Don’t wait until someone misses church or Bible Study to send them a note.  Let them know you are glad they are here
• Find creative ways for your Bible Study class attendance list to become a ministry list
• Thank your teachers for the time they take preparing the lesson
• As you pray through the prayer list each week, take time to send a note to someone you are praying for

These are just a few ideas I had.  The bottom line is…be intentional.  Find ways to encourage those around you at work, at home, at church and all around you.