The Challenge of the Day

Every day we are faced with challenges. Challenges in our life, family, friends and many other areas you can think of. As I write this blog I am going through one of those challenging days. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it".We like to believe that God will not put challenges on our lives that are more than we can handle. However that is not what this verse says. God will not allow temptation to be bigger than we can handle. So my question is what do we do with our challenges? When we are ignored by friends, hurt by loved ones and betrayed by those you trust, how are we to respond. If we set the record straight we are considered defensive. If we give in we are considered passive. How do we lead from the point of challenge? Jesus all throughout His ministry faced challenges. His biggest challenges were from the His "people", the Pharisees. Not much has changed in 2000 years. The people called to shepherd their flocks face challenges from their own people. It is never good enough. So why do pastors continue to shepherd? We can work in secular jobs and reach the lost for Christ. I have pondered this question for quite some time but now I am writing because I need to. When I left Dayton, Ohio I had a good job, a nice house and many close friends. In four years I have a nice house and not much more. So I go back to my original thought, does God put us through challenges that are bigger than we can handle? The answer is yes. I am living proof of it right now. God does not do this so we can fail. God does this so He can be glorified through us. It is not easy, I want to quit, but I know God has called me to His mission. Therefore Quitting is not an option. I must continue press on for the prize that Christ has called us to, Philippians 3:13-14.

Pray, Catch, Rejoice...

The Band Perry has one of the most popular songs right now entitled "If I Die Young". The song is a ballad about life cut short. Kimberly Perry says, "We wanted to write a song about making the most of whatever time you're given -- whether it's two years, twenty years or two hundred". What are some of the most memorable events in our lives? Weddings, funerals, the birth of a child, there are many things in life that cause one to stop and think. Psalm 90:12 says "so teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (ESV). The psalmist speaks of the importance of living each day to it's fullest. Sometimes parents miss this point when it comes to teens. The stresses on teens may seem minimal to us as parents but it is probably the first time a teen feels real stress that really challenges them. Teens genuinely seek after the abundant life Christ speaks of in John 10:10. Let us help our teens to accomplish their goals by praying. Pray for wise decisions, no matter how much we agree or disagree, teens are going to make their own choices. Second catch, when teens fall because of their choices the last thing they want to hear is " I told you so". Be ready to catch them on their fall and get them right back in to the game. Lastly, rejoice with teens. The majority of choices teens make will result in rejoicing. Parents must rejoice when the decision made result in success. Teens, when a Choice is made that may go against your parent's counsel and it works, "I told you so" should never be your response. Encourage your parents to know you made the choice based on the parenting you received and the counsel you received from God. I pray that teens never get to the point where they begin to believe the line in the song that says:

A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar

They're worth so much more after I'm a goner

And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singing

Funny, when you're dead people start listening

Unfortunately many teens get to this point and truly believe this verse. Hope is in Christ and Christ alone.