Hold Fast

As I was thinking about what I might share to encourage everyone who reads this post today, two words came to mind: hold fast. These words come from one of my favorite passages of scripture, Hebrews Chapter 10; to be more specific, in this case, verse 23 which reads: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. As I considered this word usage, I thought about the fact that our language has changed since the translation of the Bible so I said to myself, 'I wonder if there's another phrase that would state the point more clearly.' As I spent some time on the vast sea of information that Google provides us, I began to realize that this was absolutely the best phrase that could be used. The direct definition of hold fast is, 'to stick to firmly.' That says exactly what is needed regarding the way that we are to hold firmly the confession of faith and commitment that we have to our Lord and His word.

Looking for further solidification on this subject, I continued down the road of research and found out that there is a tool that is sometimes used in carpentry called a hold fast (in the picture above). This tool is used to fix a piece of wood on top of a workbench while it is being worked on. WOW!! The reality that these words describe the tool that keeps an item being crafted in place, while the master carpenter works was such a beautiful prophetic picture of our being fixed on Father God's workbench, so to speak. All the while, through holding fast, we are firmly held in place as He completes the necessary work in our lives - remember, He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). As this truth came to light I was reminded of the cry of the psalmist in Psalm 138:8 - The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. The Psalmist reminds us here as he cries out to the Lord, that the Father will perfect the work of His hands and not forsake us. Our responsibility is to hold fast our confession and commitment to Him WITHOUT WAVERING. Just like the work of a hold fast, our holding firmly to our commitment to Him will keep us securely in place where He wants us. No matter what struggles or temptations you may face, there is a hope which remains sure in our Father. 'He who promised is faithful' and never wavers. So my encouragement today is to stay on 'the workbench' and hold fast.

No Higher Calling

In this post I want to encourage anyone who leads worship in any way, to maintain your focus and realize the significance of our ministry. Whether you sing, play an instrument, dance, or do all of the above, we must all realize the value of what we do in the body of Christ, not because we're great, but because He is great. Each time we gather for corporate worship, we literally help people prepare the way of the Lord and bring them into a deeper communion with Him. At the end of the day, the responsibility of true worship is on the individual, but we help establish that atmosphere through the posture of our hearts and the way that we lead those around us to do the same. Never take it lightly and realize the privilege that we have. There is truly great value in sitting at His feet (Luke 10:38-42).

I'd like to share with you the words of a powerful song from years ago written by Lenny Leblanc that says it all:

No Higher Calling

Down at Your feet Oh Lord

Is the most high place

In Your presence Lord

We (I) seek Your face

We (I) seek Your face

There is no higher calling

No greater honor

Than to bow and kneel before Your throne

I'm amazed at Your glory

Embraced by Your mercy

O Lord, I live to worship You

Remember the high call that it is to worship Him and lead others to do likewise. Real communion and fellowship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords can never be replaced by anything else. Truly, in the life of all believers, when it comes to worshipping our Father, there is no higher calling.

Think on These Things

Today as I was considering all of the things that we're facing as individuals, as families, as a church and as a nation, I was reminded of the words of Paul in Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things [are] noble, whatever things [are] just, whatever things [are] pure, whatever things [are] lovely, whatever things [are]

of good report, if [there is] any virtue and if [there is] anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

There are so many things that we face each day that can cause us to lose our focus, steal our joy or just bring us to a place of disillusionment concerning our faith. Through this post, I want to encourage you all today with what I have freshly received from the Father in this area. He is always able, He is always faithful and He is above all things. So whenever the opportunity arises to be thankful or complain, choose thankfulness. When the opportunity arises to worry or be at peace, be at peace. When the opportunity arises to be critical, choose to build up and encourage in truth. When the opportunity arises to walk in fear, choose to walk in faith. Just as Paul encouraged the Philippians in verses 6 & 7 of the same chapter, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

When we choose to believe Him and meditate on the true, noble, just, pure, lovely, virtuous & praiseworthy things that are of a good report, we demonstrate our trust in Him and His ability and not our own. Negative thinking is done away with and faith arises. Things look much more like a bright hope and future and not like doom and gloom. We see with His eyes and not our own. So today, I exhort and encourage you to remember the things that He says are good and 'think on these things.'

History Makers

As we go about the day to day, I want to encourage you to realize the divine nature of our very existence. You might be going through it on the 9-5, facing some stressful situations, or even getting tired of what seems to be ‘the same old, same old.’ Regardless of where you are, realize that we are still ‘a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…’ Never forget that he called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light so that we could show forth His praises (1 Peter 2:9-10). Jake Hamilton from Jesus Culture said it well in his one of his songs: because of who we are, we will 'shape history.' Our responsiblity is to continue in His word and become who He’s called us to be through the work of Holy Spirit. Allow each day to be extraordinary simply because of who God has made you; you are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). With all of this considered, today and everyday, choose to be a history maker for the Kingdom of God.

Worship Unrestricted

Lately I've been considering the subject of worship a little more than normal; go figure right. What I've come to realize is that we often restrict our worship to music or even to just music on Sunday mornings/church gatherings. The reality is that Jesus called us to much more when he said that the true worshippers would worship the Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). Truth encompasses all of who God is and who he's called us to be and the work of the Holy Spirit reaches every area of our lives as we submit to Him. This means that everything we do must be worship. Our very being cries out to worship in all that we do. That's why so many people pursue money, fame, sports, entertainment, relationships, etc. with such passion in an effort to fill the void of worshipping our Heavenly Father.

My encouragement to you today is to not let anything restrict the way that you honor the Lord, but to do whatever you do as unto Him (Colossians 3:23). So whether it's business, family, entertainment, exercise, teaching or music, let's offer everything we do and everything we are as a sacrifice of praise to our God as we make our worship unrestricted.

Do Your Part

'But God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.' (1 Cor.12:18) This scripture can sometimes be one that 'preaches easier than it lives' if you know what I mean. As people we have a tendency sometimes to desire what someone else has, even in a good way. We often look at someone else's gifts and desire that those were ours. Why can't I prophesy like him? Why can't I sing like that? I would love to dance like her. How come I don't have a healing ministry? Why can't I teach like that? The reality is that God through His great wisdom placed each of us right where we need to be in the body of Christ. Although some gifts are desireable to all of us, it's not promised that all of us would operate in them. Verses 27-31 of 1 Corinthians 12 explain this beautifully:

1Cr 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
1Cr 12:28
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers,

after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
1Cr 12:29
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
1Cr 12:30
Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
1Cr 12:31
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Immediately after this, Paul goes into the famous 'love chapter' of the Bible (1 Cor. 13) where we are encouraged that above all things we should walk in love. This shows so clearly that Father God is concerned with us loving Him and loving others and that He would be the one to distribute gifts as He sees fit. Jesus even said that the two great commandments were loving God and loving your neighbor (Matt. 22:35-40). Consider this and never let yourself feel like you are less than someone else who seems more gifted; you are loved and complete in Christ (Col. 2:9-10). He has called you, He has established you, and He has placed you right where He wants you so long as you obey His word. Trust in Him to fulfill your purpose and release every gift and talent that He has ordained for you to walk in.

So the next time you're tempted to desire to be who someone else is, remember, He's simply called you to do your part.

Let the Word Dwell in You

In Colossians Chapter 3:16-17 we receive a great challenge from the Apostle Paul. As he gives some of the framework for how we should live as believers he inserts the 'meat and potatoes', so to speak, of how we live victoriously and advance God's Kingdom: 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom ...' Simply stated yet profound in it's significance. We are called as believers not to simply know some of God's word here and there. Not to just know our favorite verse or 'bless me' scripture. Not to look to the word of God only when it's convenient. We are called to be so intimately tied to it that it dwells in us richly. One of the dictionary definitions of richly is 'in full measure.' What a beautiful way to describe our call to the word of God. It must be in us in full measure. Not in part, but in it's totality. Christ doesn't just come into our lives to hang out a little, but to abide in us always as we abide in Him. He doesn't come in part, He brings all of who He is and if we are to receive all of who He is, we must receive His word. When this happens there will be great wisdom, knowledge, understanding and whatever pertains to life and godliness flowing in and through us (2 Pet. 1:3). We will teach one another, encourage one another, worship the Father in unity and do all that we do in the name of Jesus so that God would be glorified (Col. 3:16-17).

So as time passes and distractions come. As you have good days and bad. As you press forward in what God has called you to do and to be, remember that we must allow the word of Christ to dwell in us richly.