Wow. What a great week of VBS we had last week, here at Trinity Assembly in Algood, TN. It was nothing short of amazing. What made it that way, was the the atmosphere that was created by a group of diligent servants. These servants simply responded to the vision cast by the leadership of the team and gave all they had for five nights.
It began at the conclusion of last years VBS. A survey taken to ask the hard questions about what needed to change and what worked right. Then the leadership team went to work looking for the right curriculum that would be appealing to the kids. Then the recruiting of the lead team by the VBS director and Assistant. Once these people were put into place it was then time to cast the vision and recruit the rest of the team. Plenty of training and vision casting helped give the proper direction for all who were involved. This is classic leadership 101. Now you who are reading this realize it is easier to write about this than to do it, but this is essentially how it happens.
I have heard it said that everything rises and falls on leadership according to John Maxwell. I believe there is truth to that statement. I watched the two principal ladies who worked tirelessly over the last few months to make this VBS happen. They were committed and believed in what they were doing. It became a passion and this passion was seen and heard by all who became a part of this team process. Their leadership was seen and demonstrated, and because of it the program became a great success. They lead, the servants followed, and the kids benefited by receiving the Word of God and the love of these tireless laborers.
It always amazes me to see the process and to know that God has such talented people in His body. To all of you who labored I say thank you! To you Lacy and Jennifer I say way to go! You truly are leaders who are making a difference in the Kingdom of God.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Laying Your Life Down
I have been giving a lot of thought lately to the term laying your life down. I am not sure I fully understand what it is that God wants from me and other Christians. I know that he is not wanting robots but servants who willingly choose to follow Him and His will with no rebellion in them. It seems that the church has not quite caught on to this concept or maybe it is just me.
It is easy to read in scripture about the young rich ruler, who was asked to go and sell all that he had, then give to the poor. He could not obey that command and follow because his will continued to trust in earthly treasures. He was not able to die to self by selling all the goods he had. He was not willing to lay down his life or his will to take on Jesus' life or will because he had not put his trust in
God's provision. As long as man's will is greater in his life than God's will, the man will not have his trust in God. The one thing I have found to be true is that the life of a man is found in his will. So also is the life of God. His life is found in His will. When we say we love God with all our heart, mind, emotions, and strength but do not do His will, we deceive ourselves. Paul said in I Corinthians 15:31 that he died daily to his will that God's will might live in him. In verse 36 of that same chapter he says that unless what is sown dies it cannot live. We think that we have sown our lives in God but the truth is this: When we still allow our wills to live we have not died. Therefore there can be no increase in our potential with God.
John 12:24-26 gives us insight into this truth. Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it cannot produce much grain. The potential lies in the seed and, unless the seed dies, the potential cannot be reached. God honors those who do this very principal of sowing, dying, and then great harvest. I have found out that denying self simply means saying yes to what God wants and no to the temptations that desire me to go my way with my will. Simply put, every time I say no to temptation I am dying to self and the potential of my seed with God is growing.
I am tired of religious junk. We live in the days of harvest and we will never harvest unless we first die to self and then get about the Father's will. What are your thoughts on this subject? What is dying to self and how have you done this monumental task so that your life is maximized?
It is easy to read in scripture about the young rich ruler, who was asked to go and sell all that he had, then give to the poor. He could not obey that command and follow because his will continued to trust in earthly treasures. He was not able to die to self by selling all the goods he had. He was not willing to lay down his life or his will to take on Jesus' life or will because he had not put his trust in
God's provision. As long as man's will is greater in his life than God's will, the man will not have his trust in God. The one thing I have found to be true is that the life of a man is found in his will. So also is the life of God. His life is found in His will. When we say we love God with all our heart, mind, emotions, and strength but do not do His will, we deceive ourselves. Paul said in I Corinthians 15:31 that he died daily to his will that God's will might live in him. In verse 36 of that same chapter he says that unless what is sown dies it cannot live. We think that we have sown our lives in God but the truth is this: When we still allow our wills to live we have not died. Therefore there can be no increase in our potential with God.
John 12:24-26 gives us insight into this truth. Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it cannot produce much grain. The potential lies in the seed and, unless the seed dies, the potential cannot be reached. God honors those who do this very principal of sowing, dying, and then great harvest. I have found out that denying self simply means saying yes to what God wants and no to the temptations that desire me to go my way with my will. Simply put, every time I say no to temptation I am dying to self and the potential of my seed with God is growing.
I am tired of religious junk. We live in the days of harvest and we will never harvest unless we first die to self and then get about the Father's will. What are your thoughts on this subject? What is dying to self and how have you done this monumental task so that your life is maximized?
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