A Moment of Hope

Your holiness or your happiness? Which is more important to you? To God, our eternal holiness is far more significant than our momentary happiness. Of course Jesus wants us to be happy. That's the essence of the Beatitudes where the word "blessed" can also be translated as "happy" (Matthew 5:1-11). In these verses, Jesus gives us a roadmap for happiness. But God is much more concerned with our eternal personhood than our temporary state of happiness. God's desire is the purity of our character. Why? Because we are commanded to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16). Happiness comes and goes. Being holy lasts forever. Work today on being a holy person in God's sight. Seeking his will above all else. Making obedience to him a master passion of your life. Allowing the Holy Spirit to conform you to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29). Because God is much more concerned with our eternal holiness than our present happiness.

"God can't steer a parked car." It's a hackneyed phrase you've likely heard before. The reason behind its staying power? It's true. Have you ever tried to steer a parked car? It's impossible. Without a moving car, the power steering cannot work. The wheel won't turn to the left or the right. You're stuck. Exactly where you are. With no ability to change course or move forward. Do you want to see change in some area of your life? Take the first step. Start moving in the direction God is leading you. He will direct you. His Word says so. "The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way" (Psalm 37:23). When you take the first step, God's power steering kicks in. He directs your next step. And the next one. And the next one (Proverbs 16:9). Keep moving toward the Lord! Let him direct your steps. And you will eventually arrive at the destination where he is leading you.

Did you know that delayed obedience is the same thing as disobedience? It is. The Bible says, "Without delay I hurry to obey your commands" (Psalm 119:60 GNT). Consider what would happen if a parent told a child to do something. But instead of obeying, the child hesitates. Waits. And then delays obedience some more. Then finally says, "Well, let me think about it for a while." Parents don't let kids get away with that. Neither does God. If God has spoken to your heart, and you know what you are to do but aren't doing it - that's delayed obedience. Which is really disobedience! You can't expect God's favor and blessing in that posture. When God tells you to do something, do it! Immediately. For delayed obedience is disobedience.

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). When we follow Jesus, he does speak to his people. He will lead us to exactly where we need to be. That's a promise he has given to all his followers. If you haven't heard Jesus's voice recently, here's a question to ask yourself: When did he last speak to me? And here's the follow-up question: Have I obeyed what Jesus told me to do when he last spoke to me (Isaiah 30:18)? Consider this biblical illustration. God told Abraham to leave Ur and go to Canaan where he would settle. Abraham left Ur, but stopped at Haran. For 15 years. 15 years! The next time Abraham heard God's voice was after he left Haran and continued on to Canaan - where God had commanded him to go. Where he was supposed to be. Do you see the point? It was only after Abraham obeyed God when he heard his voice the first time that Abraham heard God's voice again for the next step in his life's journey. Don't expect Jesus to speak to you if you haven't obediently done the last thing he told you to do. When Jesus speaks and tells you to do something, first obey him. Then, Jesus will tell you the next step he wants you to take. And the next one. And the next one. Until you go home to be with him forever.

Have a L-I-T-T-L-E faith. What? According to Jesus, I thought we were supposed to have an enormous, vast, gigantic faith? One that can move mountains (Mark 11:22-24). We are. But also think about your faith this way: Every minute of every day, have a faith that says: L: Leave I: It T: To T: The L: Lord E: EVERYTHING Every day, give everything to the Lord. In faith. Surrendering it. Letting go of it. In his hands. Believing it's all taken care of (Proverbs 3:5-6). When you do this, your faith grows. Your little faith becomes a big faith. And that's what God wants more than anything else.

Make sure God's Spirit and Word - both together - are in your daily life. Sadly, Christians too often emphasize one over the other. But both are very important for the mature Christian life to occur. God places his Spirit inside us when we are born again (John 3:3). When our old life dies, Jesus puts his new life in us. Then the way the Holy Spirit can grow in us is through the study of God's Word (John 17:17). Our faith increases. Intimacy with Jesus begins. But do note that we need both the Word of God and the Spirit of God together as we continue walking with Jesus all the days of our lives. It's the never-ending process of discipleship. For the Word without the Spirit causes us to dry up. The Spirit without the Word causes us to puff up. But the Word and the Spirit together allow us to grow up. Commit to keeping God's Word and Spirit an active part of your faith journey. When you do so, your faith will not become stagnant, but will continue to grow.

What is Jesus's divine order for his followers' faith to work? You do and I will. Note the order. Commit it to memory. First, we do. Then, Jesus will. Do. Will. Our human brains are inclined to embrace this backwards mentality: "Jesus, if you first do (fill in the blank), then I will (fill in the blank)." We've all done it at some time or another. As did Jesus' disciples (Matthew 14:22-33). We say: "If you do the miracle, then I'll believe." Jesus says, "If you just believe, then I'll do the miracle." We say: "If you calm the waves, then we will get out of the boat." Jesus says: "Get out of the boat, then I'll calm the waves." Without faith it's impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Where do you need to take that first step? Get out of the boat? Move toward Jesus? You do…then see if God will.

Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden won more NCAA basketball trophies than anyone in history: 10. His coaching acumen has informed thousands of coaches and players through the years. There's one thing Coach Wooden would do at the beginning of every season before the first practice ever began. He'd lecture and show his players how to smooth out their socks before they put on their shoes. Rub out all the uneven places. Smooth them on the bottom and sides. Why? Because the one thing that can so easily put a player on the sidelines is blisters on his feet. They can happen quickly, suddenly and painfully. And the player can be out for weeks with this malady. Learning and practicing little things in life can often be what determines success or not. That must be why God said not to despise the day of small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10). Meaning, before you move on to the big challenges in life, make sure you are properly taking care of the small things. God wants us to pay careful attention to every detail in our lives, especially what can cause blisters: sin. If not paid close attention to, a small sin can become a big, destructive sin. One that can sideline you for a long time. And success will become elusive. First, smooth your socks. Small beginnings are key to big success.

"From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'" (Matthew 4:17). Repent! It's the MIA word in the Christian vocabulary. Bring to mind the words most commonly associated with Christianity: grace, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, peace, etc. Yes, they are all important aspects of the Christian faith. But the one word that seems to have been forgotten among Christians is repent. It means change. Turn around. Go in a different direction. Or simply, "Stop it!" To receive Jesus's grace, mercy and forgiveness, repentance must first occur. Life changes. A new direction in how you choose to live. Otherwise, you've not truly understood what it means to come to faith in Jesus. Jesus's first word in preaching was repent (Matthew 4:17). We should never forget this extremely important word in our Christian vocabulary. And actually leave our old, destructive life behind.

What do vastly successful people do that sets them apart from others? They dream dreams. Big dreams. Dreams so huge only God could make them come true. And they work hard and diligently to achieve them. Most successful people are able to see things others don't see. Can't see. They are visionaries. Brimming with inventiveness and creativity. God willingly pours out his Spirit to enable his children to dream dreams and see visions that desire God's glory to be exemplified and expanded (Joel 2:28, 32). But hard work is also needed for big dreams to be accomplished. "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). Success requires perseverance. Dedication. Determination. The will to press on. An unwillingness to give up. Do you want success in your life? Dream big. Work hard. And your dreams just may come true. Because success usually demands lots of inspiration and perspiration.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34). Followers of Jesus are expected to lead with love. This means assuming the best in others until proven otherwise. If you are skeptical, wary and distrustful of others - expecting them to let you down - then you'll view whomever God brings into your life with suspicion. Guarding yourself. Living with the purpose of not being hurt. Missing out on the love God intended you to receive. However, when a person disappoints you because of their bad character, then yes you should have your guard up around that person going forward (1 Corinthians 15:33). But until then, love others as Jesus has loved you. Reread the biblical characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Assume the best in others until prove otherwise. And enjoy the loving relationships God has placed in your life.

"We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope" (Romans 5:3-4). If I was delivered once, I can be delivered again. Hope is one of the strongest forces in the universe. Without it, it's hard to continue to live. Consider this illustration. An experiment was once done on rats. They were placed in a vat of water. For hours they swam furiously. Finally, they started to give up, resigning themselves to the fate of death. At the last moment, they were rescued. Dried. Fed. Allowed to rest for several days. Then they were placed back into the vat of water. What was different the second time? Instead of swimming for only a few hours before giving up, they swam for 24 hours straight before resigning themselves to drowning. Why the difference in hours? They believed that since they had been saved once before, they could be saved again. Think of a time God has come through for you. Firmly fix it in your memory. Think about it for several minutes. Don't you feel hope arise in your heart? You simply know that if God did it once, he can do it again! Persevere. Don't give up. Hope does not disappoint.

NFL quarterback Carson Wentz created AO1 as a reminder of how to live out his faith in every area of his life - especially with the cruel critics in the NFL. It was his way of making sure he kept God at the center of his life, not the fickle opinions of others. What does AO1 mean? Audience of One and that one is Jesus. Wentz came to realize that he was playing to an audience of one: God. Seeking only God's approval. Not man's. Defining true success as doing his best with what God had given to him. Nothing more, nothing less. This should be our perspective as well. To seek only God's approval (1 Thessalonians 2:4). To live each day simply doing our best for him. Our one true desire? Hearing God's applause. We do this because we have come to a profound reality: People make lousy gods. Live AO1 in your own life. Play to an audience of one - Jesus. When you do so, the opinions of others will no longer matter.

In the gospel of Mark, Jesus cautions his disciples to beware of the leaven of Herod (8:15). In biblical times, leaven was a symbol of evil or corruption. And King Herod was the poster child of this leaven—an egotistical political figure widely known as a tyrannical ruler. What exactly was Jesus warning his disciples about? He was warning people of the danger of cozying up to political powers and thinking that they can ultimately change a society. It will never happen. Herod is a primary example of why, as Jesus knew. Herod manipulated his politics and people for his own power, as many politicians today continue to do. Herod colluded with whatever or whomever he needed to in order to maintain power. Sound familiar? Jesus was clearly warning his followers that politics cannot bring in his kingdom. And those with political power will often use anyone they can to grab and keep power. Be careful about putting your hope in a donkey. Or an elephant. Or any political process or person. Only the Lord Jesus controls all. And his animal is the lion. The lion of Judah. And Jesus's kingdom is not of this world. But it will last forever. Until his kingdom comes, Jesus warns us to be aware of the leaven of Herod!

How would your life change if you heard God say to you, "I've got this!"? He does. It's true. God oversees every area of your life. "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who live in it" (Psalm 24:1, NIV). God takes hold of your right hand and says to you, "For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you.'" (Isaiah 41:13). Your name is engraved on the hands of the Creator of the universe. "Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands" (Isaiah 49:16). Don't you see? God's got this! All your problems and concerns. Every area of your life. It's all in his hands. And all means all. Again, how would your life change if you really believed that God's got it all? You just might find yourself more peaceful. Less anxious. And more courageous in all you face.

My college basketball coach, Dean Smith, had a rule he implemented from day one. At the end of the game, holding a lead and being fouled by the opposition to shoot free throws, he would repeatedly say to us, "Sprint to the other end of the court!" Why would he do this? He wanted our energy level to say to our opponent, "We aren't tired. We will win this game!" This "sprinting" mentality should be the attitude of all Christians toward the enemy of our soul, the devil. No matter what happens to us, we keep sprinting forward. No matter what our age or what stage our life's game is in. With our eyes fixed on the author and finisher of our faith - Jesus our Savior - who awaits us at the finish line (Hebrews 12:2), we sprint. We run, with every ounce of energy in us, toward Jesus. If you are going through a season of weariness, don't let Satan know. Keep him confused. Keep running hard! Show the devil that you know the true race has already been won. Jesus was raised from the dead! Death is defeated. Eternity is yours. The enemy has been beaten! Forever! Keep sprinting! Why? Because he who lives in us is greater than he who lives in the world (1 John 4:4).

Do you believe God is the restorer of the broken places in your life? He is. The Bible says so. "For behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah" (Jeremiah 30:3). God promises the Israelites that he will restore them to the land after they had been removed from it for 70 years. Plus, God restored the Temple that had been destroyed. And the walls that had been razed to the ground. God restores broken places in the lives of all his people. All of them. Think of it this way. God the Restorer is a repairman. You take something broken to him. You leave it with him. You trust that he has the means and ability to get the job done. And done well. Because you trust your repairman, you do not call him every five minutes to see if he's doing his job properly. You don't question his process or progress. You leave what's broken with him, knowing he will fix what is broken and return it to you at the right time. So it is with God our Restorer. We give him our brokenness. We pray that he will heal us. We wait. Trust. And know that he is faithful and able as the Restorer of our broken places.

Rust out or burn out? It's an important question we all need to ask ourselves. Especially as we consider how we want to live out our last decades on earth. Everyone who competes in games trains to win a prize (1 Corinthians 9:25). Winning requires focus, purpose and discipline. As Christians, we are running toward our heavenly reward. Our prize is awarded by Jesus at the end of our lives, for our faithfulness as believers (2 Corinthians 5:10). How are you running your life's race? Bored? Stagnant? Sluggish? Rusting out? Blurred vision about your finish line? Or full force ahead? With great energy? Specifically focused? With enthusiasm? Giving all you've got? Burning out? Keep running strong! Until your end. Living for Jesus. Sharing him with others. Serving those in need. Giving your life away to others. And you will finish strong with a crown of rewards awaiting you as you cross this life's finish line.

The word "enthusiasm" comes from the Greek word "entheos" which means "the God within." When God is within us - through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit - how then can we not be enthusiastic? Joyful? Cheerful? Light-hearted? Enthusiasm is a key for success in the lives of Christ-followers. Scripture exhorts us to be "zealous" for what is good (1 Peter 3:13). To "not be slothful in zeal, but fervent in Spirit" (Romans 12:11). If Jesus lives in us, and He is the hope of our glory, should not His followers be the most enthusiastic, happiest, zealous, encouraging, upbeat and jovial people on the face of the earth (Colossians 1:27)? For we have found the secret to life: God in Christ lives in us. Empowering and strengthening us by the minute. No matter what obstacle or difficulty we may face. And we live successfully, in God, in His strength, and for his glory alone.

If you've experienced success in your life, then there are people around you who've helped you along the way. It's a requisite for success. Why? Because we all stand on the shoulders of other people. Those who've contributed to our achievement in some way. Through their words. Encouragement. Example. Wisdom. Time. Money. Faith. Prayers. Think of some of those people in your life. Ones who guided you to seasons in which you flourished. Maybe they were your parents. Coaches. Teachers. Coworkers. Friends. Siblings. The list goes on and on. Scripture commands the practice of thanksgiving. "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Giving thanks to others requires your appreciation to be made known. For those who have steered you toward prosperous seasons of life, take a moment today and call, text, email, or write. Simply say, "Thank you. I am who I am today partly because of you." The means of your communication doesn't matter. It's your words of thanksgiving that do. We all stand on the shoulders of other people. Let's make sure we say thank you to them.

Here's what I consider to be a fundamental key to life: Seek to understand more than be understood. How do we do this? By practicing empathy. By listening carefully to what someone is saying. Trying to see life as they see it. Trying to walk in their shoes. Considering how others' life experiences - including their wounding - have shaped their opinions and ideologies. Once we understand the plights of others, we're able to hurt as they hurt. Weep as they weep. Mourn as they mourn (Romans 12:15). Understanding also means not offering easy, uninvolved solutions. Or giving simple, shallow answers. Understanding means listening. Being there. Caring. When done, your love for others increases. And their love increases for you, too.

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19). Take a moment to let that profound truth sink in. Quick to listen. Slow to speak. Slow to anger. Said another way, there's a reason God gave you one mouth and two ears. Here's what James knew. When we talk too much and listen too little, we communicate to others that our opinions are better than theirs. Our ideas, superior to theirs. Our knowledge, vaster than theirs. We are more important than they are. Listening too little is sin. The sneaky kind of sin that we often don't immediately realize we're committing. But we are. Jesus was a listener. And he commanded his followers to become listeners as well, "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear" (Mark 4:23). Talk less. Listen more. Life's best listeners are life's most successful people!

Are you looking for a way to change your spouse? To make him or her be more like you desire? Then choose to serve your spouse and not be served (Mark 10:45). Do it even if you don't feel like it. Ask Jesus to change your heart. Desire to live and act more like Jesus. Desire to serve, not be served. Then you may see your spouse become the person you desire him/her to be. Here's a great example. A husband says to me, "When my wife changes her attitude, I'll do something she loves: rub her feet." My response? "Rub her feet, which she loves, and you'll see her attitude toward you change." Guess what? He tried it. And it worked. Just do what Jesus would do - especially with your spouse. Not based on your feelings but choosing to do Jesus's will toward your beloved because it's simply the right thing to do. And see if your spouse starts becoming the person you've always wanted.

I have come to this deeply held conviction: Everything that happens on this earth must first be Father-filtered. If we are God the Father's children, and he owns us and oversees all we do, then nothing can come to us unless our Father in heaven gives permission. Look at Job (Job 1-2). Satan had to first ask for permission from God before he did anything with Job. Also, examine Peter at the Last Supper (Luke 22). Jesus told him that Satan wanted to sift him like wheat, and Jesus had granted it. For followers of Jesus - all of our life's circumstances - must first be filtered by our Father. He must first give permission before bad stuff comes to us from the enemy. That means that all circumstances, both good and bad, will be used by God to accomplish his great purpose for our lives (Romans 8:28). Job became a mighty man of faith who believed that no plan of God could be thwarted (Job 42:2). Jesus told Peter that Satan's sifting of him would be used so he could build other people's faith as they went through difficult times. Our Daddy in heaven is in all things and using all things for our good and his glory. Always remember: For God's children, everything must first be Father-filtered.

Every successful marriage demands divorce. "What?" you say. Have I lost my mind? Fallen prey to culture's lies? Of course not. Here's what I mean: Every successful marriage needs a divorce from self-love. Or said another way, the "me first" mentality. In over 40 years of pastoral ministry, I've done a study. I've examined why spouses get divorced. Here is the major reason: Selfishness. Either by one or often both people in the marriage. God's design for marriage is Genesis 2:24. It's a loving covenant where husband and wife are submitted to God and to serve one another (Ephesians 5:19-33). Eliminate selfishness in your marriage. Serve your spouse. And watch your marriage flourish. That's because every successful marriage demands divorce from self-love.

I have three proven words of wisdom for you. Words that will fuel your prayer life and grow your faith: How much more. Jesus taught it. In fact, he looked to nature to make his point. Especially to teach us about the futility of worry. "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them" (Matthew 6:26). Birds can't grow their own food, yet God provides for them. "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin" (Matthew 6:28a). Flowers don't provide for themselves what is needed for survival, God does. Our Creator cares for everything he created - birds, flowers, grass - no matter how big or how small, God provides (Matthew 6:25-34). Jesus then asks the profound question: How much more will God take care of our needs as human beings? The crown of his creation! Unlike birds and flowers, we were created in the image of God. We, humans, are the reason he sent his Son to die on a cross. We are the only ones whom God adopts into his family as his sons and daughters. If God provides for every need of birds and flowers - that will soon wither and die - how much more can we be assured that God will care for us, his image bearers? How much more. Three words. Keep praying and believing them. And experience more power in your prayers.

Why do we act the way we act, and do the things we do? Here's the answer: first belief, then feelings, then behavior. The order is biblical. We act on what we believe. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Romans 12:2). It is our mind - where our beliefs reside - that informs our feelings. Feelings then bring about our behavior. It's why we must first think differently before we will act differently. Too often we try to change our behavior by practicing feelings modification. It seldom works. We must get to the root of our feelings, which is what we put in our minds. The apostle Paul understood the power of one's thoughts. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 4:8). As we are conformed to the image of Christ - which includes a mind with wholesome thought patterns - our feelings will follow suit (Romans 8:29). And then we will want to live as God wants us to live. Behave as he wants us to behave. Obeying his commands. Remind yourself daily to focus on things above (Colossians 3:2). When you do so, your beliefs are set. Feelings will follow. Then there will be the right behavior. And you will honor God with your heart, soul and mind.

If there was one mantra that my college basketball coach, Dean Smith, repeated over and over again, it is this: Play hard, play smart, and play together. Coach Smith believed playing these three ways - hard, smart, and together - was an absolute requisite for a winning team. Do you think Coach Smith knew he was developing his team using a biblical framework? He was. Hard work. "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" (Colossians 3:23). Smart: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 9:10). Together: "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil" (Ecclesiastes 4:9). In your life, are you playing this "game of life" hard - giving your all? Playing smart - with God's wisdom? Together - with good teammates. Trust God's framework for your life. Hard. Smart. Together. If you do, it's the best way to win! From Coach Smith. But more importantly, from the One who created us all.

Isn't it wonderful when God supernaturally delivers us from hardship? Gives us a miracle of faith? A giant problem we've had suddenly disappears? Supernatural delivery - the painless way through a life's circumstance - may seem like the "best" or "easiest" way to deal with adversity. But I've discovered that most of the time, God wants us to go through the problem. The water. The fire. Not over it. Nor under or around. But through. It's what Isaiah 43:2 clearly teaches, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." Did you notice the "when" in this Scripture? Not if, when. As Christ followers, we are guaranteed trouble. It's part of the cost of following Christ: "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33b). Yes, we will face adversity, but God has promised to be with us when we go through problems. And his grace is enough to help us get through them when they arise (2 Corinthians 12:9). Yes, we should thank God for supernatural miracles! We should also thank him for his grace in our storms to go through them.

Sexual purity requires self-discipline. Yesterday, we examined why sexual purity is so important to God. I shared with you one safeguard phrase Marilynn and I taught our children: Nothing below the neck. Here's another: Stay vertical. Nothing horizontal. In today's culture, many teens would laugh at the thought of staying vertical in dating relationships. It's evidence of the decaying and dark culture in which we live. Parents, we must teach our children that as Christ followers we are set apart from a hostile world (John 17:14). We are to believe and behave differently than those around us. We are to follow Christ, not culture. Consider these words the apostle Paul penned to Timothy, his young assistant in ministry, "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). While some youth may not like it, it is God's truth, which is why we gave our children an added safeguard to preserve their sexual purity: Stay vertical. Nothing horizontal. Problems come when you lie down with someone. You are unguarded. Without much control. Stay vertical! It's a helpful boundary for sexual purity.

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). God desires sexual purity in his people. His commands for purity are found throughout his Word. What is sexual purity from Jesus and his Word? Sex only within the parameters of a relationship between a married man and woman. Why is sexual purity so important to God? Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit within us (1 Corinthians 6:19). Therefore, as followers of Christ, we are commanded to "put to death" immorality of all kinds, including sexual (Colossians 3:5). Parents, we must teach this biblical truth to our children. How? My wife and I came up with a safeguard phrase we ingrained in our children's minds. A rule to be able to follow God's expectation of sexual purity. Here it is: Nothing below the neck. Simple. Concise. They have never forgotten it. Yes, in our culture, this is not a popular message. But it's God's undeniable biblical design for human sexuality. And always remember: Followers of Jesus live to please him, not people. When dating, nothing below the neck! It's an important lesson for parents to teach to their children. And all of Jesus's disciples to follow.

You can almost hear the sound of someone drinking a slurpee. The classic, large drink many love to "slurp" down. In big, slushy gulps. With the last gulp bringing the loudest slurp! A slurpee is delicious as a drink. But it's disastrous in a marriage. What is a "slurpee" marriage? It's when one person in a marriage continues drinking from the other. Until the end, when the large "slurp" shows that the drink - in this case, the spouse - is empty. Done. Emotionally spent. Your spouse will never meet the deepest longings of your heart. No mortal being can. Not even your beloved husband or wife. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). Taking delight in the Lord means seeking our peace and fulfillment in him. And only in him. When we do so, our desires will begin aligning with his desires. And our deepest longings will be fulfilled by him. Not our spouses. Make Jesus your life (Colossians 3:4). He will meet the needs of your heart. Then you can enjoy your spouse the way God intended. To share all the days of your life. Together. Forever.

Whatever you fuel grows. Whatever you starve dies. With what are you fueling your mind? Thoughts of faith fuel God's peace. Think of faith as fertilizer, promoting the growth of peace in your heart. "The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). Faith precedes peace. What's the polar opposite of peace? Fear. What fuels fear? Thoughts of unbelief. And unbelief precedes fear. Faith fuels life. Peace. Purpose. Unbelief fuels anxiety. Fear. And wandering. Let your mind be fixed on Jesus. Fill it with faith in him. And experience a peace that you've never known before.

It's a memory engraved on my brain from my college coach, Dean Smith. He said it regularly, sometimes even right before our games: Read your jersey. Coach Smith wanted us to consider the full meaning of what our jerseys displayed: the University of North Carolina. He was reminding us that when we played, we were representing every fan, former student, present student, and indeed the entire state. Therefore, we should play hard, smart, and together. Playing with a respect for the game - and our audience - that would make the university proud. Reflect positively on who we were representing. What does this mean for followers of Jesus? Answer this question: What would happen if Christians did the same? Reminded ourselves daily that we represent Jesus and his Kingdom with our words, attitudes, and behaviors? What if we wore a jersey every day that read "Christ-follower"? Would we be positively representing Jesus to those around us? We are not our own. We are alive now only because we were bought with a price through Jesus's death on the cross (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We live for him. His glory. Kingdom. Name. Followers of Jesus should live accordingly.

Today, I want to give you this simple but profound statement that we should remind ourselves of repeatedly. God is in control. Of everything. If one atom is outside his sovereign control, then every atom is outside his sovereign control. We must discipline ourselves to continually believe and speak this truth. Every day. Every hour. Every minute. God is in control. "No plan of God's can be thwarted" (Job 42:2). In the mountains. In the valleys. In my times of suffering. In my times of rejoicing. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all (Revelation 1:8). God is in control. Trust him. Surrender all to him. Relax in him. Enjoy your day. Give him your stuff. Don't worry. Be happy! Like a child being held in his loving daddy's arms, so is God with you. Today and forever. God is in control.

Which do you think matters most? Ability or availability? To the world, ability matters most. But to a holy, sovereign God, it's availability that truly matters. There is a significant biblical example of this truth, found in the story of Samuel. As a young child, Samuel heard a voice repeatedly calling out to him. He asked Eli, his mentor, for guidance. Eli finally encouraged Samuel to open his heart and become available to God no matter the personal cost (1 Samuel 3:4). God then uses Samuel as Israel's greatest judge. We should all be like Samuel. It doesn't matter how gifted we may or may not be. Our call is simply to say to God, "I'm available." God can use anyone for his glory. God is not looking for ability, but for availability. Are you available to him today?

"I am a little pencil in God's hands. He does the thinking. He does the writing." Mother Theresa penned these insightful words. She considered herself a "little" pencil, yet God wrote a large and magnificent story through her life on earth. God's hand is writing the story for each of our lives. An individual story written solely for us. Using our specific, unique gifts given to us by God. The author and perfecter of our faith has marked a race just for you and me (Hebrews 12:1-2). It's our choice to run it according to his design. God wants to use our story not only for our benefit, but for others' benefit as well. As we persevere faithfully through our life's journey - with our eyes fixed on Jesus - God uses us more frequently and more powerfully to impact his Kingdom. But again, it's our choice to let God hold the pencil. What does God ask of us? That we be like Isaiah when he said these simple words to God, "Here I am, send me" (Isaiah 6:8). God can use anyone with this kind of attitude. He can and he will. We are all pencils in God's hands. Let him write your story. For God's glory.

Any dead fish can flow with the stream. Picture small ocean waves lapping onto the shore, or the slowly moving waters of a stream. Now remember a time when you've seen the lifeless bodies of dead fish, as well as other types of debris, simply going where the flow of the water takes them. They have no choice. No ability to fight for or determine their direction. But in today's society, that's what a lot of people do instead of confronting the evilness and selfishness of culture. They go with the flow. Unlike the dead fish, we do indeed have a choice. God gave us free will. We can choose to be salt and light as Jesus commanded (Matthew 5:13-16). But to do so demands conviction. Strength to swim against the stream. To do nothing leads to spiritual death. Resulting in lifelessness. With no convictions. The same condition Paul uses to describe people who are "dead in sin" and "who follow the ways of the world" because they have yet to meet Jesus (Ephesians 2:1-2). Be alive in Christ! Stand for him. Be strong and courageous for truth and righteousness. And swim against the streams of godlessness.

Are you hurting? Broken? Recovering from harm inflicted by another person? Only time in God's presence heals our wounds. Healing is something we wish would happen instantaneously. In a moment. A week. A month. A year. But that's not how healing happens - it takes time. Time during which you experience God's love, grace, mercy, kindness and compassion. It's the time we spend in the open arms of our loving, comforting Father - in his very presence - that he heals our hurting hearts. Our broken places. Our bleeding wounds. In Psalm 51, Nathan the prophet confronts King David about his adultery, murder and attempted cover-up - almost a year after David committed those sins. It was then that something finally broke in David. He realized the enormity of his sins. Finally, he ran straight into his Father's arms. It was there - in the very presence of the Lord - that David experienced God's healing grace and forgiveness. There and there alone is where healing happened. Do you know that the same grace that healed King David is available to you? It is. Run to God today. With all your sins, wounds, and brokenness. Only time in God's presence heals our wounds.

When you wake up in the morning, how do you feel about the day ahead? Is your first thought a negative, "Good Lord, it's morning!"? And you just want to stay in bed. Or, are you filled with excitement and anticipation expressed through a greeting, "Good morning, Lord!" And you're looking forward to the day ahead of you. Each day is a new day. A new opportunity to have a cheerful heart. Inwardly, we are being renewed day by day through the resurrection life of Jesus burning within us (2 Corinthians 4:16). Pause and think about that. You face a new day being a new person! "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). If you love the Lord, every day should be a new start. A fresh beginning. Begin today with a "Good morning, Lord," not a "Good Lord, it's morning." "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

It's easy to leave your spouse. It's impossible to leave your best friend. Who is your BFF, your Best Friend Forever? If you're married, your BFF should be your spouse. Think back to when you were dating and couldn't wait to be together as a couple. Bring that eagerness back to your marriage. Commit to a weekly date night. Mark it on your calendar. Don't let anything interrupt it. Pray together. Worship together. God is Spirit - and when you develop the spiritual side of your relationship, you not only become one flesh (Genesis 2:24), but Jesus said no flesh and blood person can ever separate you (Matthew 19:10). Studies from secular universities show that couples who simply pray together bring the divorce rate down to one out of over 1,000. But mostly, become each other's best friend. Spend time together. Ask this important question to one another, "How is your heart?" Listen to the other's feelings. Share your deepest thoughts and longings. Grow so close that you actually start to become one person. BFFs. For it's easy to leave your spouse. It's impossible to leave your best friend.

"Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water. Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the seas." These lyrics from a 1970's pop song are wonderfully accurate for all times. Is your hand currently in the hand of "the man"? It's quite an image to picture, isn't it? Holding tightly to Jesus's hand - especially when our life's seas are rough and filled with fear. When we reach to Jesus, he will uphold us with his righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). Teach us his ways. And when we stumble, we will not fall. (Psalm 37:24). We may try to let go of his hand, but he will never let go of ours (Hebrews 13:5). What a great and mighty promise! Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water…and calmed the seas. Firmly in the grip of the Lord. You'll never walk alone nor be fearful again.

"Take better care of my basketball!" How often I'd hear Coach Smith say this to his team. He knew that we had only so many possessions in a game, so when we turned the ball over, we gave our opponent more opportunities to score. Which would usually result in a loss for us. Of course, it wasn't really Coach Smith's basketball. But he did control the game. Who would play. Who wouldn't. How many minutes of game time each player would have. Eventually, we all came to realize that the better we would take care of "his" basketball, the more playing time we'd get. And the better we would play as a team. I wonder how differently each of us would live our lives if we truly believed that we should take better care of God's "basketball?" His life that he gave us. His possessions he's loaned us to oversee and steward for our temporary years on earth. I think this world would function better. And we would feel no worry about facing our eternal Coach one day when he asks us about how we handled his "basketball." His world, and his gifts he gave us to use while here. "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1). Let's all take better care of God's basketball. For his glory alone.

The best definition of character I've ever heard: Who you are when no one is looking. Character is too often influenced by people-pleasing. Schmoozing others to get something from them. Wanting public acclaim. An emphasis on the outside, not inside, of your life. Your words don't match your deeds. Who you are in private is real and what matters most. Who are you at home - really? Do you act the same with your family in private as you do when in public? What about when you're alone? What do you watch privately online, or on a TV screen? How do you spend your time when no one is looking? Here are two great biblical truths. One, "A good name is more desirable than great riches" (Proverbs 22:1). That good name begins in private, then bleeds over into who you are publicly. Two, God sees everything. Everything. You may think that in private the Lord doesn't see, but he does. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3). Make sure you are faithful, especially when no one is looking. That is the best definition of your true character.

Whether you realize it or not, you are most likely a leader in some way or another. Leadership is simply influence. If you have influence over anyone - as a parent, co-worker, coach, manager, friend - then you are indeed a leader. As a leader, here's your job description: to serve others, not use others. And here's a question all leaders should be asking themselves daily: How am I serving the people I am leading? Consider the leadership style of Jesus, the Savior of the world. "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). Jesus was a servant leader. He came to earth not to use others for his own gain, but instead to serve them. Why is this significant? Because in today's society, too many leaders use their followers for their own purposes. Self-aggrandizement. Self-promotion. Financial gain. That's why Jesus washed his disciples' feet. To show others the heart of a servant leader in action (John 13:1-13). When led by a servant leader, followers will do anything they can to help the leader succeed! Because they know how much the leader cares for them and wants to serve - not use - them.

As followers of Jesus, Christians need to have solid doctrinal beliefs. To know what is true in both doctrine and theology. But it's much more important to know personally the one in whom you believe: Jesus. No Christian ever was more doctrinally sound than the apostle Paul. But it was his personal relationship with Jesus that kept him going in the midst of persecution, imprisonment and pain. Facing imminent death, Paul penned these words: "For I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me" (2 Timothy 1:12). Do you know Jesus personally, your friend in whom you believe? Remember, it's the personal relationship you have with Jesus now that will carry you through this life and all its trials. And finally into heaven. It's not just what you believe that's important but knowing the One in whom you believe that matters most.

Have you ever had a friend or coworker who seems to make everything look easy, even though you know it's not? Here's what Coach Dean Smith had to say about such people, "Great players make the hard plays look easy, not the easy plays look hard." Sometimes we try to make life harder than it should be. We try to control things we were never meant to control. We look to our own strength to handle life's burdens instead of relying on the Lord. It's what Jesus meant when he said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). If we claim to be Christ followers, then we should want - and choose - to live by God's rules. His regulations. His statutes. His principles. Not our own. When we do, life is easier. Burdens become lighter. And we just might hear our Head Coach in heaven say, "You're becoming a great player!"

Throughout the first chapter of the book of Romans, a multitude of sins are listed. They include: unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness, gossip, slander, pride and faithlessness (Romans 1:28-31). And there are many, many more. As human beings living in a fallen world, every single one of us can find ourselves committing a sin somewhere in that list. The fact is that our fallen flesh causes us to actively sin every day. Until the day we die. But did you know that sin can also be practiced when you don't act? Consider this Scripture, which Paul writes after he lists all the above-mentioned sins: "They not only (sin) but give approval to those who practice (sin)" (Romans 1:32). How do we "give approval" to sin? By remaining silent in the face of evil. Our silence heartily approves of evil. In fact, it condones it. Albert Einstein said it this way, "The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything." Let us not be those people. May we always seek truth. Speak the truth. Do so in love. And always hate evil.

Has America become a nation who has forgotten how to blush? In the beginning of the book of Jeremiah, God repeatedly chastises the nation of Judah, warning about their flagrant sins and abominations. Their apathy toward obeying God's commands. Their calloused hearts (Jeremiah 2-6). Judah no longer felt ashamed of their sin. Didn't even attempt to hide it. Much less ask God's forgiveness. Indeed, they had become a nation who had forgotten how to blush (Jeremiah 6:15). Shame emerged as one of the first negative emotions felt by Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden. Shame was born from the Fall in Genesis 3. Adam and Eve attempted to use fig leaves to cover their sin. They weren't willing to admit it. Already, they had forgotten how to blush. We're all still wearing fig leaves today, aren't we? Feeling ashamed of our sins can be healthy - as long as it leads us to the cross, where Jesus took all of our shame and guilt upon himself. "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). May we as a nation repent of our sin. Go before our loving Father and receive his grace anew. His mercies never end. And never be a nation that has forgotten how to blush.

Catastrophe. Calamity. Crisis. Although these words look like synonyms at first glance, crisis is actually very different. The word "crisis" comes from ancient Greek roots meaning decision. Opportunity. Turning point. Therefore, think of a crisis as a moment in which you get to decide to take a different direction. Many of us have crises occur throughout our lives. It's a matter of when - not if - they occur, for tribulations come to all, including followers of Jesus (John 16:33). So when the inevitable crisis occurs, what are we to do? First, you have a decision to make. Do you stay where you are? Or move in a different direction? Do you remain stuck? Or find another place to serve God? Use your crisis for positive gain! For careful examination. As an opportunity. To ensure your decisions are serving the Lord instead of man (Joshua 24:15). And if you are presently in a crisis, don't despair, but always remember the following truth. The crisis you are in could very well be God's opportunity for something much better.