Mission statement

A buzz word that is on the street is “mission statement”. When you first think of that word, you think of it as a business terminology, which it is. According to “Wikipedia” “A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making.”[1] There are even groups out there saying that everyone should have a mission statement, whether in their own life, career, or ministry. I have to say, it seems a little weird to “create” a mission statement for my own life, but I see the value in it. A mission statement gives direction to your intended goal. If you do not have any goals, it doesn’t matter what direction you go; but if you have “end goals” you know what direction to direct your energies. 

Today I “stumbled” upon a verse, and the first thing I thought of was, “This is a clear mission statement given directly from Jesus’ mouth. Acts 1:8 “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Now I have read this multiple times and never really caught this. When you accept Christ as your personal savior, the Holy Spirit is indwelt within you to help you. With the Holy Spirit indwelt in you and helping you, Jesus says, “you will be my witnesses”. You might be asking, “What is a witness?” According to Mr. Webster, a witness is “someone who testifies of a fact or event, or one who has personal knowledge of something.”[2]  The disciples were told to tell others what they personally know about or what they saw. The disciples saw the many miracles in Jesus’ life, and that he was put death, buried in a tomb (proof of the death), and was resurrected on the third day.  They personally knew that he was God’s son (Matt. 3:16-17).  Now the disciples were told to tell others what they know and saw about Jesus’ life, death, burial, resurrection; starting where they were at (in Jerusalem) and to go out from there (to Judea, Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth).

Just to shake things up a little, the word “witness” (martys) is where we get our word “martyr” from. I liked how the Frigburg lexicon defined martys: “as one who tells what he believes, even though it results in his being killed for it.” Remember, Jesus told his disciples that they will be empowered with the Holy Spirit to proceed with this new mission, because He knew in their own power, they would be fearful of telling others, but when they are empowered by the Holy Spirit, they will be bold witnesses for Jesus. 

This same thing is what Jesus wants from us.

Now we were not there to see Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, or the works in his life first hand, but we have a reliable resource (the bible) that tells us these truths. Having the bible, we know what is true and like the disciples, we need to tell others what we know about Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection. 

I know that a time or two (okay many more times than that) I have been afraid to tell others about Jesus and maybe, so have you. But I encourage you to let the fear melt away, because the Holy Spirit is with you; helping you and empowering you. Starting were you are at (your Jerusalem), tell others what you know about Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection. 

Take this mission statement seriously!

Jesus said, “be my witnesses” and you might be one who turns this world “upside down.”

Acts 17:6…"These men who have turned the “WORLD UPSIDE DOWN” have come here also, 

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_statement Assessed January 28, 2012

[2] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/witness Assessed January 28, 2012

picture from:  http://www.raffleticket.com/blog/charity-mission-statement/  Assessed January 28, 2012

Prayer Tips

Prayer is one of the toughest disciplines for me. I found this helpful guide for prayer in the booklet "Jesus' blueprint for prayer" by Haddon Robinson. Maybe, you will find it as helpful for you in your prayer life.


Haddon uses the Lords prayer and breaks in to two halves. The first half of the prayer talks about praying about the "Father".

• The "person" of God: "Your name"....Praise his attributes. He is holy, good, just, all-powerful, all-knowing,...

• The "program" of God: "Your kingdom"...Pray for his work to be done.

• The "purpose" of God: "Your will"...Pray for his will to be done for his glory.

The second half of prayer talks about praying for the family of God.

•  Pray for the "provision" of the family of God: "Give us"...asking for basic needs for you and your friends and family.

• Pray for "pardon" of your sins:  "forgive us" First John 1:9  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

• Pray for "protection": "lead us"..If needed, pray for protection for you or your family.

 Matthew 6:9-13   
9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.  
10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.  
11 'Give us this day our daily bread.  
12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  
13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.'

Our Country Tis of Thee The Greatest Nation to Ever Be

I wrote this as the day unfolded on September 11, 2001.

Our Country Tis of Thee

The Greatest Nation to Ever Be

With no warning of this raid.

Down goes two great towers of trade.

With smoke filling in the sky.

All people know to do is cry.

As planes are directed to land.

We ask, “Where is God’s hand?”

People are now really feeling the scare.

With planes unaccounted for in the air.

The fear of war,

Is from shore to shore.

As we watched with fright.

Now is the time to be humble and contrite.

Has our Christian ways been left in the past?

Is this why our flags are now at half mast?

We are the home of the brave,

But is it money or God we crave?

How our nation is in an uproar,

Is the problem we’re rotten to the core?

In schools we’ve taken prayer out,

Now in the halls drugs roam about.

Now our freedoms we have to fight in court,

Like the Ten Commandment plaques they want to abort.

What about the people on meth?

Or what about a doctor taking a baby’s last breathe?

 Through this there is only one place to be,

With a broken spirit and down on one knee.

As our revenge will be quick and just,

We are now realizing only in God we can trust.

With our power we like to boast,

But we really need is the Lord of Host.

We know what the Bible has to say,

We need to humble ourselves and pray.

Cling close to God with all your might.

Then once again we’ll be a beacon of light.

God help us to seek your face,

And don’t hold back your amazing grace.

This country was built with you as the Corner Stone,

Help us to follow you alone.

As “Old Glory” flies high,

Remember the men and women who had to die.

To make this the land of the free,

There’s not another country in the world I’d rather be.

 Our Country Tis of Thee,

The Greatest Nation to Ever Be.

Written By Brian Hill on 9/11/01

Photo found at: http://picsbox.biz/key/american%20flag%20pictures%20with%20boy on September 10, 2011

Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit

Zechariah 4:6  Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.

Even though there was a shortage of supplies and interest to rebuild the temple;

the temple will be completed, not by military strength or by man’s own power, but this work will be done by God himself through the Holy Spirit as he works through Zerubbabel as he leads his people to rebuild the temple.

Zechariah 4:7   ⁷ 'What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"'"

Every enormous obstacle (mighty mountain v. 7) will be leveled.

With God’s help, Zerubbabel will put on the top stone or finishing touches on the temple. With God’s help, this seemingly impossible work will be finished.

Everyone will see that God did it. So God gets the glory not man

The same in your situation. As you walk with God, and seek his direction, and allow yourself to be led by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will empower you to do the work that he has called you to do. By His Spirit every obstacle will be removed. 

This will be done for God's glory.

Failure

Failing is hard. I know when I have failed in my own life it has been the time that I have learned and matured the most.

Good article; hope you enjoy:

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/whole-life/features/26303-why-you-need-to-fail

The World Has Yet to See

In spring of 1867, a young American shoe salesman came to Bristol and one day was invited to a prayer meeting in a private home.

During the meeting, the minister, Henry Varley stood up and spoke. He said one memorable thing in that prayer meeting: “The world has yet to see what God can do with one man wholly committed to him.” 

That young American walked out of that prayer meeting an hour later – with these words etched on his mind. They gave him no peace and he resolved to be such a man.

No one remembers Henry Varley – but that young American was D.L.Moody - who went on to become the “Billy Graham” of the 19th Century.

Thousands came to Christ through his ministry his day. 

God wants to use you for his glory, but he needs a holy vessel to use.


Are willing to be that holy vessel used for him?

The world has yet to see what God can do with a man totally committed to him. 

Isaiah 6:1-8  In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.  2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  3 And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory."  4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.  5 Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."  6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs.  7 He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven."  8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!"