Living a 220 life

Kids Corner: Standing up for your faith

220 Life Ministries will be starting something new…a KIDS blog! That’s right, devotionals written for kids BY kids. These blog posts will be identified in the title and will be linked to a kids page on the 220life web page. I hope you enjoy and feel compelled to offer your comments.

This post is by Audrey, age 10.

Genesis 6:9-22

No one likes it when they get laughed at or bullied at school just because of their faith. But we as kids have to stand up for our faith no matter what. For example, when God told Noah to build an ark and to bring two of each animal on it how do you think Noah felt? He got called mean names, laughed at, and bullied but did he stop? NO! He kept on building the ark. After the 40 days and 40 nights God gave Noah a beautiful blessing of a rainbow. That shows us that if we do as God asks he will return us with a great gift. So next time someone starts to make fun of you for your faith just remember Noah. Never stop believing in Jesus because you get picked on, bullied, or anything at all.

Faith in Action for KIDS

TAKE A PENCEL AND PUT IT NEXT TO THE WALL. TRY TO MAKE IT STAND UP ON ITS OWN. IT CAN’T DO THAT, RIGHT? IT HAS TO LEAN AGAINST THE WALL. WELL THAT’S JUST LIKE US AND GOD. WE HAVE TO LEAN UP AGAINST HIM TO MAKE IT THROUGH TIMES. ALWAYS LEAN ON GOD, HE’LL NEVER LET YOU DOWN.

Joy that transcends circumstances

As a Christian we’re called to be joyful all the time. I mean, at any given time a non-believer should recognize a joy in us that sets us apart from everyone else. This sounds good in theory but how in the world are you supposed to remain joyful when life takes the inevitable turns it always does? You know, when the bank makes an error in their favor, when the car breaks down while you’re on the way to the airport, so you miss your flight, so you miss your child’s wedding, so you get a ticket while speeding, etc., etc., and the list goes on. Honestly, sometimes life becomes really “un-joyful”. So how do we remain joyful when every circumstance in life is un-joyful?

Paul had every reason to be un-joyful in Acts 16. Let’s begin with verse 22 where we read, “A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods.” Ok, so this is one of those “un-joyful” moments. The judge orders Paul and Silas beaten for their faith. I don’t know about you but I probably wouldn’t be very joyful at this point. Then in verse 23 we read, “They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison.” OK, again…un-joyful moment. But now for sure I would NOT be joyful. My circumstances would definitely overtake me and I would be un-joyful. However, in Paul’s case we find him and Silas signing and praying in verse 25. How in the world is Paul able to do this? How do these guys remain joyful in this time of beating and imprisonment?

The answer rests in Galatians 2:20 when Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” You see, Paul is stating that he no longer views the world through his own circumstances but everything is now viewed through his life in Christ. Paul recognizes that his life is no longer his own. In fact, he states in Romans 14:8 that, “If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Circumstances will change every day just as the wind blows however; Jesus remains a constant, unchanging, rock. If we are to find unending joy we must find it in Christ.

Our un-joyful attitudes come about only through the shifting of our focus from Christ to our self. When we submit our lives to something larger than ourselves, namely Jesus, we no longer view circumstances as a personal catastrophe. Paul was able to sing and pray in prison because he had already died and gone to heaven. Not literally but figuratively. Paul gave up caring about how circumstances affected him personally and cared only about living for Jesus. Paul knew the rest of his life was simply service to Jesus until he moved on to heaven.

If we find ourselves burdened and un-joyful due to our circumstances we’ll likely find a Lordship issue in our heart and an over indulgence in self concern. An example is found in the entertainment world of football. Some people will watch football for fun and enjoy the game. Other people will know every detail of every player and get intimately involved in “their” team. I’ve heard many people refer to a professional football team using inclusive terms such as “we”, “us”, and “them” while the person has never actually been a part of the team. These two types of people represent those detached from the world in Jesus and those completely attached through self concern. While the first person enjoys the game and understands what is going on, they aren’t significantly attached to a team and aren’t emotionally impacted when their favorite team loses. Certainly they aren’t happy about a loss but the game is merely an external item to their meaningful life. The person who is emotionally invested in “their” football team has brought the external item into their life and places a great deal of importance in the football game out of a selfish desire for more entertainment.

My friends, when we become overly concerned with our own well being we become slaves to the circumstances of life. When we surrender our lives to Jesus we become slaves to Him. Hard times will still come in life but we are no longer changed by them. Understand, bad things still happen, that doesn’t change; however, we are rooted in the unchanging joy of the Lord. Brothers and Sisters, we must be Christians who are in the world but not of the world. Only when we learn to truly detach ourselves from this world while still living in the world will we be able to remain joyful all the time. Friends, won’t you die to self today and realize the unchanging joy Jesus offers us in this life? AMEN!

Digital Devo: The hard times dont last forever

Click here to hear the message:The hard times dont last forever

The Beauty of Pain

I just finished a five mile run and am writing this with sweat still dripping from my face. As a matter of fact, it’s getting my keyboard all messy, but the Lord taught me something during my run that I must share.

As I was hitting around mile 3 I began to hurt. I was very uncomfortable and was reaching that point where I just wanted to stop, sit down right where I was at, and wait for someone to pick me up in a vehicle. I began asking myself, “Why do I do this to myself?” I answered myself, “So eventually I will be in shape and can run without it hurting.” Then it hit me: No matter how fast I am, even if I’m a gold medalist in the marathon, if I want to get better I MUST run until it hurts. No one has ever gotten faster by taking the slow easy jogs. The athlete training for the gold medal will always run into the pain. In essence, the pain is somewhat of a prize for the athlete, honoring the hard work put in as preparation for the big race.

Folks, the Lord revealed our spiritual life is very similar. We don’t grow without some tough times. The storms and winds force the great oak tree to grow deep roots and the storms and winds of life force us to also grow deep roots in the Lord. I’ve heard it said, “Pain is God’s megaphone to a deaf world.” Philippians 1:29 reads, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” The first time I read this I thought, “Oh no, thank you. You can keep the suffering part. You don’t need to grant that to me Lord. I’m just fine without it.” However, as the illustration of training for the race demonstrates, the Lord truely is granting us a wonderful gift in the suffering we receive.

The suffering we receive from the Lord is similar to a star coach pushing his players to become champions. Do the players suffer during practice? Yes. Is it painful? yes. Do the players sign up to suffer under the star coach? You better believe it. The players who voluntered to play for Bobby Knight considered it a priveledge to suffer under such a great coach and knew they would be transformed into champions.

Friends, are you still complaining about the suffering you endure? Are you still stopping in the middle of your run and waiting for a vehicle to pick you up? Every time you stop and sit down you miss the blessing that comes from suffering for the Lord. May you endure the hardships the Lord blesses you with and may you hear His voice through the megaphone of pain. AMEN!

Making it through the worst day of your life

It’s getting pretty late at night and I should be in bed, but the Lord has laid this message upon my heart. I’ve learned, when He does this I won’t get to sleep until I share the message. Friends, the message is this: Jesus wants us to follow His example. He’s given us numerous lessons in scripture but the one example He wants me to share tonight is from Luke 5:15-16.

“However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities,” (v.15) Friends, the message here is that Jesus had tough days at work also. He had long hours and frustrating encounters with people. (pharisees for one) His life wasn’t a bed of roses. When you’re suffering through the worst day of your life, when your boss is simply unrelenting, when the bills are mounting against you, when the kids are possessed (not literally I hope), when the world just seems to be going in the other direction from you, Jesus understands. He’s been there. He offers us an example of what to do during times like this.

“So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” (v16) So many people turn to everything but God during these times. Friends, follow His example and withraw often, in order to pray to your Father. You may not believe me, but as you practice this simple but powerful spiritual discipline you’ll find it changing your life. As you spend time with the Master you’ll find Him holding those crumbling walls from crushing you. The bills may remain, but He provides. The boss may remain, but He calms. The debt may still be there, but He provides contentment. The kids will still be there, but they eventually turn 18. (Just kidding, I have 4 amazing kids who bless me every day)

Honestly though folks, Jesus is so much stronger than you or I and yet He withdrew often. How can we expect to make it if we don’t withdraw often in order to pray? Let me challenge you: Make a commitment to pray at least 10 minutes a day for 30 days and see if the Lord doesn’t transform your life. He is in the business of changing hearts and will likely soften pieces of yours you didn’t even know were hard. Trust Him…Spend time with Him…fall passionately in love with Him. AMEN!