Tag Archives: Ministry

Throwing in the Towel

Do you ever just get tired of it? Do you feel time to time like throwing in the towel, finding a safe hiding place, and sleeping your life away? Or at least hiding out for a couple of days? Can I be honest with you and admit that I do? From time to time I do get tired of it all. I get tired of the critics, of the long-hours, of the “job is my life” lifestyle. Sometimes I don’t want to be nice, I don’t want to be helpful. I want to think about me and only me, I want more “me time.”

I inevitably ask myself, “Why am I feeling this way?” The simple answer: Satan is at work. He wants all of us to have those thoughts. He wants us to give up because God is using us to do great things for his Kingdom. I think it is easy to forget that at the end of the day, while we all have bosses and earthly authorities we must answer to, our ultimate authority, the only one who truly matters, is God. Galatians 1:10 says, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not a servant of Christ.” Wow! That last part is like a punch in the face. Trying to please people, working only for people means we are not servants of Christ. You see it’s easy to get discouraged and want to give up the fight if we are focused on winning the approval of people.

Although it is easy to forget, I think when we want to surrender we have to remember our Savior and everything he endured. Hebrews 12:3 reminds us, “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Christ knows what criticism feels like. His job was his life. He worked long hours. He knows and in fact promises that following and serving him isn’t going to be easy. It’s going to be difficult. It’s going to be exhausting. There may be times when we want to give up. But it’s at those times we have to remember who we are working for, who we are serving, and who promises to be there as a refuge and support when we are weary. And that person every time is our Friend and Savior Jesus.

So if you ever feel like throwing in the towel, know that you’re not alone. But also check yourself. Ask yourself why you are feeling that way. And remember all your Savior endured for you. Remember that he feels your pain and he promises to be there, to get you through if you will lean on him.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
– Galatians 6:9

To God Be the Glory

“It is, perhaps, one of the hardest struggles of the Christian life to learn this sentence – ‘Not unto us, not unto us, but unto Thy name be glory.’”

To God be the glory – It is one thing to say it, yet another very different to believe it and be convicted of it. But when I make myself take a moment to stop and reflect on the world in which I live I can’t help but think “To God be the glory!”

It has been nothing short of a crazy rollercoaster ride since we embarked on this crazy adventure last fall. I wish words could capture the amazing ways in which God has been glorified through the process and the countless ways in which he has shown his greatness.

I get the question all of the time, “What do you do exactly?” The next question is usually something like, “How do you know how to do all of that?” That answer is easy, I don’t. I learn as I go. God is good and he uses people like me, people like you, to do seemingly impossible things that he might be glorified.

So, as we continue on this journey together let us learn from one another, let us share ideas, let us work for the Kingdom side by side, but most importantly I pray that we remind each other often, “To God be the glory.” It is only by his power and grace that we are able to accomplish anything.

Dreaming With the Dream Team

I can’t say I clearly remember America’s original Dream Team in the 1992 Olympics, but I do remember hearing about it from time to time though mostly in connection to a McDonald’s commercial. Rumor is that team was an incredible group of individuals on and off the court. They had big dreams, lofty goals. They set out to win and win they did.

How big are you willing to dream? Sir Francis Drake wrote the following prayer, “Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves. When our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little. When we arrive safely because we have sailed to close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord.” Are your dreams proportionate to the amazing power of your God? Are you willing to dream dreams that can only be accomplished with His help and guidance?

I have the opportunity to dream big dreams for the Kingdom with some pretty amazing and creative people. It’s a blessing for which there are no words. They are a dream team of sorts. And the one advantage we have over the 1992 Dream Team – God is on our team. It is an exciting time here at The CORE as we grow and dream big dreams together. Everyday is a challenge. It is a challenge to force myself outside of my comfort zone to a place of risk, a place of big dreams.
I encourage you to take a look at your dreams, at your goals and dare to dream bigger than yourself. Don’t put God in a box. Let God push you outside of your comfort zone and use you to accomplish great things for the Kingdom. Remember, with Him on your side, you are part of the greatest Dream Team possible.