Day 16: Prioritize Jesus in your CAR...

How many of you spend some time in your vehicles every day? Do you find your mind racing through what you have to do for the day? Places to be, things to do, deadlines to meet, lunch meetings, grocery shopping, kids to pickup, and of course soccer practice. The things of life. Its inevitable that each of us in this modern world will spend anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hour a day or more in a car (imagine the days of horses... takes commuting to a whole new level doesn't it?)

How do you use your time in your car every day? For some its a detox from the stresses of kids, work, school, life. A time to just be still, or to think and dream about the future. The good news is, you are stationary, you are not 'going' anywhere while driving in your car. I mean you are going somewhere but you are not leaving your seat buckled in until you arrive at your destination right? Its a perfect time to commune with Jesus, pray, talk to the Father. A great way to simply engage with the Creator of the universe. He wants to speak to you and help you, extend His love through you for the day. He desires that you would be filled during your morning commute, no matter how short or long that is. Would you prioritize him during this time?

Prioritize Jesus in your car by:

1. Acknowledging His presence with you.
2. Thanking Him for the day, that His mercies are new every morning.
3. Confessing your need for Him today.
4. Repenting of any sin that would hinder you.
5. Talk out loud to Him, sing to Him.

In all of our mundane activities and tasks throughout the day, Jesus wants to be Lord of those activities, thoughts, actions, tasks, and work. Allow Him to grace you with His presence, His voice, His affirmation, and His goodness over your life. Be blessed as you prioritize Jesus in your life.

Prioritize Jesus in your mind

Today is day 2 of our 21 day journey as we seek to prioritize Jesus in a greater way as families, individuals, and a local fellowship.

"Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God." Colossians 3:2-3

It's easy for our minds to wander in many different directions with the blink of an eye. How does one set their mind on Jesus daily, moment by moment? I believe it's a simple practice of surrender and a strong desire and conviction to think and do all things for the Glory of God. You can garuantee the man or woman who has prioritized Jesus in this way, is sure to bear much good fruit. All of their passion, energy, gifting, focus, and time is given to the things that Jesus cares deeply about. In other words the carnal mind cares about self and not others. Self image, self preservation, self promotion. The one whose mind is set and fixed on the Author and Perfector of our faith cares about love, justice, mercy, kindness, the poor, the weary and hurting. He cares about the fatherless and the widow, the alien and the rejected. Having the mind of Christ is having the heart of Christ.

The Kingdom of God is in Christ and each one who bears His image. A fruitful thought life in Christ will prove to be a mighty weapon in demolishing strongholds and lies. Let us therefore today focus our minds on Him. Think upon Jesus.

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable - If there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise, dwell on these things." Phillipians 4:8

Love Never Ends

Love Never Ends. These three words give me the greatest hope and encouragement. I hope they give you even more encouragement in your life.

Love never ends. Hate will end, all wars will end, all sorrow and pain will end. Every form of disease and cancer will end one day, but love will never end. Man's ambition and drive to produce, perform, succeed, and conquer will end. Tears of a world broken by hatred, violence, sectarianism, confusion, chaos, division, pride...these also will all end.

You remember the old movies? The two words that you see when the movie is finished? You guessed it, The End. The end insinuates that there was a start, a point of continuation, and then a line indicating completion, when it is over. We are born, we live, and we die. The end? Yea, but only the natural. Love is spiritual and manifests itself through beings created in the "Imago Dei" which means the image of God for the non latin speakers. In order for love to never end it must be of a supernatural, out of this world origin. Man, in all of his ingenuinity did not create love, we simply steward what the Almighty Creator has given through His very own personality and existence.

Take courage today in this truth, love never ends, and it never fails. When has love, true love ever failed you? Can you name one time? Love, in the form of a kind word, a hug, a generous gift, a smile, a shoulder to lean on in difficult times, a friend who stood with you when no one else would? Even in your darkest hour, real love did not fail you.

I am grateful today that love will stand out in my life if I allow the Lover of my soul to have full permission to love through me. It's not difficult, its just simply allowing the force of love to control you, over any other competing factor. You my friends, were and are created to love. You exist for this reason.