Life in the midst of chaos

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.

It is said that when you see “therefore” you should find out what it’s “there for”.

Paul just told the Thessalonians that in this world he saw two communities coexisting:

  1. Destruction, Darkness, and Death.
  2. Light and Life.

The followers of Christ are meant to be the latter in the midst of the former.

He also turns their attention to God’s ultimate purpose: salvation through Christ, and life with Christ.

It is in this context that Paul tells them:

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.

In times of chaos or uncertainty, I find myself making sure my own needs are met. In doing so, I overlook the needs of those around me (at home, work, church, friendships, etc.). When I do, I find that others are in similar situations, and feeling something similar.

It takes a conscious effort to do what Paul says. Step back and recognize that in the chaos of life, God has destined us for salvation and life. This is the ultimate mindset we should have. Not just for “me”, but for “us”.

In those moments that I need to be encouraged or built up, those around me need the same.

Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up.

Love and Blessin’s,

Dave

Encourage and Build Up

1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.

Let’s take one minute and review two key words in this passage to bring this passage to life!

Encourage:

  • “to put courage into” – literally “in courage”, giving confidence to someone.
  • “To bring someone along side yourself” – this lets them know they are not alone.
  • “to call out what is inside” – letting the person know they are known, seen and noticed.

Build up:

  • “Establish” – Think of putting something on solid ground so it can be sturdy.
  • “Restore” or “Rebuild” – Consider an item that was once in good condition and has since decayed. This word can describe the (often tedious) process of restoration or “rebuilding”.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.

Lord, help us find ways to encourage and build up others around us today and every day.

Love and Blessin’s,

Dave

God called me, but I don’t know what to do!

How do you feel when you hear that God has a calling for your life? Encouraged? Scared? Confused?

How do you feel when you hear that God has a calling for your life? Encouraged? Scared? Confused?

Maybe you think: What if I mess up? Why did God pick me? What if I don’t want to do whatever it is? The idea that God has a call on our life is mystical, encouraging, and scary. If you feel this way you are not alone.

Moses had the same feelings in Exodus chapter 4. During his conversation with God at the burning bush when God tells Moses to bring Israel out of slavery. Moses tries to talk God out of it. I am just going to focus on verses 10-12.

10 Then Moses said to the Lord, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in the past, nor since You have spoken to your servant; for I am slow to speech and slow of tongue."

Obviously, God chose the wrong person. God was calling Moses to speak, but Moses was not a good speaker. 

11-12 And the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes people unable to speak or hear, able to see or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.

Okay, maybe God did choose the right person.

I love the last part, I will…teach you what you are to say.

Teaching is different than telling.

Teaching is a process. Telling is a one time thing.

I believe this is true for you and I. God’s calling is a process of God teaching us what we are to do. God does not just drop a calling into our heart and sit back to see if we figure it out. God works in us and through us, teaching us the way in which we should go.

Sure it is scary. Of course it takes time. But God has designed us for this purpose, even if we don’t see it.

Let’s pray.

Jesus, thank you for calling us. Now make us students of your voice, so we can hear you teach us the way. Remind our excuses that You are the God who made us and called us. We know that if you began this work, then you will carry it on to completion. We love you! In your mighty name we pray. Amen.

Love and Blessin’s,

Dave

Turn Aside to Marvelous Distractions

Did you ever consider that Moses received his call from God through a marvelous distraction in his daily life?

Do you ever wonder how God calls people? Do you think there are too many distractions in the way of your calling? I love this scenario in Exodus:

Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he fed the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to Him from the midst of the bush…

Exodus 3:1-4

Summary:

  • Moses is doing his normal job (tending the flock)
  • He saw something out of sorts (bush on fire but not consumed)
  • He turned to inspect (he was curious).
  • When God saw that Moses turned to look, THEN God called to him.

Ponderings:

Here are a few questions that resonate with me. Maybe they will with you also.

  • Am I overlooking any marvelous distractions?
  • Would I even notice something marvelous in my busy workday?
  • Even if I saw it, am I too busy to stop and look? Am I too busy to turn away from the “busyness” of my life to see if that thing happening just might be a marvelous distraction?
  • Is this the only time God set up a marvelous distraction to get Moses’ attention? Or were there other times where Moses didn’t take the time to turn and look?

I love that the call of God on Moses’ life came “when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look…”. God set up the distraction, but Moses still had to express some curiosity.

It is also important that Moses’ calling was not a career in flaming bushes. What God used to get Moses’ attention was not what God called Moses to.

While God calls people in many ways, I believe there is much to learn from this scenario.

May we take the time to notice the marvelous distractions around us, turn aside to look, and be open to the call God may have for us in that moment.

Love and Blessin’s,

Dave

Message from Kla at Circuit Riders

As many of you know, my daughter is in a ministry program through Circuit Riders, and she sent a message for our church this week. I just wanted to share this with you.

I am so proud of her and all she is doing. She has always had such a heart for God, and God has blessed her with this wonderful opportunity. She has seen God heal, deliver, save and restore in these last few months, and I know this is just the beginning!

Also, if you have not signed up for the Send on May 14 at Arrowhead here in KCMO you can do so here at https://thesend.org/

I would love to see you there!

Love and blessin’s

Flatland Dave

Kla from Mexico! 4/29/2022

Quick Bible Thoughts: Judas

Do you find it interesting that the person who betrayed Jesus shared the name of his tribe?

Jesus was of the lineage of David, and of the Israelite tribe of Judah, which means “Praise”.

Jesus had 12 primary disciples during his earthly ministry. Perhaps the most infamous of Jesus’ disciples was Judas. “Judas” name is literally the Greek form of the Hebrew “Judah”.

Do you find it interesting that the person who betrayed Jesus shared the name of his tribe? Is it even more interesting that his name means, “Praise”?

I find that fascinating. But then, there have been times in my life where I have felt betrayed by those who I thought would have been the closest to me: those who were a part of my “tribe”.

Even worse, there have been times where I would praise Jesus at church, yet feel like I was betraying him behind the scenes. That is such a horrible feeling. I’m sad to say that I have been able to identify with Judas’ sorrow from time to time.

Even in this, Jesus is willing to forgive. I am so thankful that Jesus hasn’t given up on me, even after the times I have betrayed Him. I also know that Jesus will not give up on you either. Forgiveness is His speciality!

Jesus would have brought Judas back into the fold. He will certainly do the same for you.

Love and blessin’s,

Dave

Quick Bible Thoughts: His blood be on us

I have a tendency to think that prophetic acts must come from the most holy of people during a moment of deep spiritual worship. But the Bible is full of prophetic acts that come from the most wicked of people at the most terrible of times.

I have a tendency to think that prophetic acts must come from the most holy of people during moments of deep spiritual worship. But the Bible is full of prophetic acts that come from the most wicked of people at the most terrible of times. Here is an example:

So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Matthew 27:24-25

I wonder if they really understood what they were asking for when they said that. For those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, it is hard to understand the beauty and power of the blood of Christ. In fact, it is foolish. But to a follower of Jesus, there is nothing more wonderful than to be covered by His blood. The blood that Jesus shed was for our forgiveness and healing, and sealed our eternal life with God.

I bet that many who were cheering for Jesus to be crucified that day were soon followers of Him. I truly hope that God honored their statement, and the blood of Christ was on them and their children.

As we enter the passion week, I pray for all of us to have a fresh and real revelation of the power of the blood of Jesus Christ.

If you are not a follower of Jesus Christ, please at least take an opportunity to go to a church and hear the messages over the next few weeks. If it is fake, you have nothing to lose. If it is real you may just find the life God has called you to.

Love and Blessin’s,

Dave

Quick Bible Thoughts: David’s Praise Leaders

Imagine worshipping with leaders who are faithful in all they say and do, who are passionate about including others in the process, and who stay the course through good and bad.

King David had a plan for continual praise to God. In 1 Chronicles 6:31-47 we learn of three people who David put in charge of music in the house of God: Heman, Asaph, Ethan.

As you might guess from my January 6, 2020 post, I find it very fascinating what their names mean:

Heman = Faithful
Asaph = Gatherer
Ethan = Enduring

Imagine worshipping leaders who are faithful in all they say and do, who are passionate about including others in the process, and who stay the course through good and bad.

I can see how these are great characteristics of any praise leader at a Church. In fact, I think these are equally excellent leadership characteristics in general. What is important is that this wasn’t “one perfect” leader that David chose. It was a group of people, who brought their own leadership skills to the team.

Imagine working with leaders who are faithful in all they say and do, who are passionate about including others in the process, and who stay the course through good and bad.

I believe that a lifestyle of praise to God is instrumental to you being the type of leader God has made you to be.

Praise the Lord everyone!

Love and Blessin’s,

Dave

Quick Bible Thoughts: Give Praise

One aspect of praise to God is to “give” to Him. You may reasonably say, “But what can I give God?”

One aspect of praise to God is to “give” to Him. You may reasonably say, “But what can I give God?”

I believe one answer to this is provided in John’s vision in Revelation 5:12, as the multitude of heaven says,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

Here is a list of seven things we can give to God as praise:
1) Power – Any real, perceived or implied authority or power we have, or think we have.
2) Riches – anything valuable to us or others.
3) Wisdom – any concept of smarts, experience, or wisdom we have.
4) Might – Any concept of strength.
5) Honor – Any idea of fame we believe we hold.
6) Glory – Any weight or authority that has been given to us.
7) Blessing – any real or perceived favor that has been placed on us.

When we give these to God, we are truly left with nothing.

At this time, we are truly ready to be filled with whatever God has for us.

May God be praised today in our lives!

Love and Blessin’s,

Dave

This was originally written for the youth worship team at On-Pointe Youth, which is a group of amazing teens who love to praise God with all they have.

Quick Bible Thoughts: Whirlwind

Isn’t it easy to believe that God only speaks when we get silent? Doesn’t it all have to be calm and quite to hear from God?

I have heard several sermons about how God spoke to Elijah. It wasn’t through a strong wind, an earthquake, or a fire, but through a gentle wind or a whisper.

Isn’t it easy to believe that God only speaks when we get silent? Doesn’t it all have to be calm and quite for you to hear from God?

Nope!

In all the chaos of Job’s situation (loss of family, finances, and health), when is friends had been arguing with him about why all of this happened, God spoke to Job. And it wasn’t a gentle whisper. I love how it is written:

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind…” Job 38:1

Did you hear that? God spoke to Job through a whirlwind!

This is the same word used to describe the whirlwind that took Elijah to heaven. It really means a storm.

Remember this when your life seems out of control and things don’t make a lot of sense. When everything seems chaotic around you and within you, I want you to know that God speaks at that moment too. Right out of the whirlwind God can bring you a message that you need to hear.

The next time you see a storm outside, may it remind you that God will speak to us in any situation…even a storm.

Love and Blessin’s,

Dave