As millions of stars light up the sweet summer sky, a great lesson emerges from a simple act of play to which the neighborhood kids are engaged in.  All the laughing, jumping, and running through random yards, chasing bugs, would normally make one think that a bunch of crazy people lived among them; but this night is different.  On this night, these acts are completely acceptable because there appears to be as many lightning bugs flying around, at kid-friendly heights, as there are stars in the sky.  Glee and joy fill the air… well, for most participants, that is…

As a lightning bug, you probably wouldn’t be very joyous and gleeful over the new home to which you have just been placed in.  Milk jugs and jars with tightly twisted-on lids make breathing a bit difficult due to the lack of oxygen flow.  Though the kids find great excitement in their bug-illuminated flashlights, I venture to say that the lightning bugs are less than impressed with their sacrificial contribution to their owners’ creations. 

Why paint this picture?  Stick with me here; God is good…

If held in that small, confined space, each lightning bug will meet his death for two reasons:  First, he is cut off from the main source he needs to live and prosper; this source being adequate oxygen.  Second, he will be unable to fulfill the purpose to which he was created for, because he has been trapped by hands that refuse to let him go.  This same concept applies to the money which God has entrusted us each to. 

 First, let’s get one thing straight… God owns it All (Ps. 50:9-10).  There is nothing that He didn’t create, provide for, or bless one with, that didn’t cross His mind and release from His hands first.  Just as God freely gives us monetary means, we must also freely give to the church and others.  Our money is not ours and it will not be blessed if we hold it in and suffocate it with our selfishness, just as the kids held in the lightning bugs that weren’t theirs to being with.

 “God, make us generous!”  The more we give, the more God will be able to give us in return.  Bless others so that you may be abundantly blessed.  If we are not obedient by tithing and refuse to be generous with what God has given to us monetarily, then we too, like the suffocating lightning bugs, will be confined and cut off from our source of life blessing.  Money has a purpose.  God allows people to earn money so that they can satisfy purposes and needs in their lives, but if un-releasing hands refuse to let go, then each dollar’s ultimate purpose can not be reached.  How sad to be the one that stops a dollar from reaching its divine purpose to help build a church, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and provide for the needy. 

 This week, let’s focus on three key phrases so that we may become like Jesus, the Ultimate Giver. Let Go. Let God. Be Generous!  How have you been generous this week?

“Father in Heaven, Make Us One!”

What would happen if believers from all over the globe came together to impact the world like never before? As Craig Groeschel, from Lifechurch.tv, asked himself this question, a vision for One Lord, One Baptism, One Faith, One Prayer, was laid on his heart. This series engages over 1,400 churches and over a million individuals around the world, all at the same time. The goal: to unite believers to become the answer to Jesus’ prayer.

In John 17:23, Jesus prays, “… May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” His prayer is for unity. Our job is to unite! As our Heavenly Father looks down at His precious children here on Earth, do you think it pleases him to see us so divided and segregated with our argumentative worship styles and competitive denominational attitudes? Of course it doesn’t! So what would it take to unify believers around the church and around the world?

“Father in Heaven, Bring Us To One Enemy, One Heart, And One Passion.

One Enemy: The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. John 10:10 reminds us that Satan wants to steal our unity and destroy our worship. We unite together as one to defeat the one that seeks to devour us. It is with a Mighty God and One Heart that this can be done.

One Heart: How can we be One Heart? In Acts 4 we see believers unite. As they came together with in one heart and mind, they shared their possessions so that none of their own were in need. Everything they had, they shared. Though there is strength in diversity, triumph over the evil one comes when we have one heart that beats with the same passion for each other as God has for us all.

One Purpose: “Go!” This command is found in Matthew 28:19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” God has given us so many resources. If we would unite as one, get out of our consumer mindset in the church, and remember that we exist to be a light for the world, by Monday, starvation could be eliminated. By Tuesday, every person could have access to clean drinking water. By Wednesday, everyone with a medical need could get attention. By Thursday, every orphan could be loved. By Friday, poverty could be eradicated. By Saturday, all would know the name of Jesus, and by Sunday, we could worship as one, like never before, because the world would know the glory power and love of Jesus Christ.

“Father in Heaven, Make Us One!”

When one looks at this title, the thought might come to mind “Hhmm, Dangerous… Is this really what a church wants to make its people?” Answer: YES! Dangerous is exactly what Christians need to be. Now don’t freak out and think I’m going to do something crazy, but what if I told you that Jesus actually wants us to be “dangerous” for Him just as He was dangerous while He walked this earth.

In Luke 7:11 we see that Jesus has quite a following because he has been performing many miracles. The crowd following Him was on fire, waiting to see what he would do next. The first step of being dangerous can be seen here by these followers. They were walking with Jesus. Each and every day we should have a sense of anticipation, waiting with excitement to see what God will do next in our lives. I have always believed that one of the most powerful, and dangerous prayers one could pray is, “God, use me to do your will.” If we are not grasping opportunities to serve others in His power or seeking chances to share His love with people, then we are playing it safe. This is not exactly the dangerous life that we are called to live.

Now, it takes more than just walking with Jesus to be considered “dangerous.” In Luke 7:12-15 we see Jesus do something that would be considered most radical and an excellent example of performing a dangerous/risky act. Upon arriving at a funeral, Jesus speaks to a deceased man and tells him to “Get up.” At these words, the crowd is probably looking at Jesus like he is crazy. Get up? The man is dead! Wait, get this point… As Jesus stands in front of a dead man, he doesn’t see the impossible with his eyes, rather he listens to the commands of His Father with His heart. What this passage is telling us is twofold: one - Jesus is bigger than any problem we are facing, and two - listen to the commands to do the impossible instead of listing reasons why something cannot be done. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. This is a promise stated in the Word of God, therefore it is fact. Jesus was considered a radical in His day. We too will be considered radicals if we become dangerous, but unless we listen to Him instead of reason, that will never happen.

The last part of this section, in Luke 7:16-17, brings us to our third instruction on becoming dangerous Christians: Believe in Jesus. In verse 16 is says, all were filled with awe. After the man was raised from the dead, word spread throughout the region about the miracle that Jesus performed. People believed he could do the impossible. Do we believe the same today? Do we believe that He can do the impossible? Do we trade in the frustration we feel in our lives for the anticipation of what else Jesus can do through us? I know that sometimes the world can beat the passion and excitement for life out of us but if we still have a pulse, then we need to believe that Jesus Christ has something better in store for us.

The best is yet to come. Think of it like desert after a meal. But unless you are walking with Him, listening to Him and believing that He can do wonders through you, for His glory, then you will completely miss the best. As stated earlier, through Him, all things are possible. With all that being said you may ask, how are you confident that Jesus can “deliver the goods?” Because: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. - Hebrews 13:8. Now, go be dangerous (walk, listen, believe)!

“Do you take this man, to be your lawfully wedded….” There is only one acceptable response to be said at the point of this question; and really, this answer should come through a voice of excitement, passion, and commitment: “I Do!” One phrase, three letters, simply uttered, is enough to bind one to the commitment of a lifetime of “doing.”

After these words it is through the good times and bad that a couple must engage with one another in order to make their commitment work. Actions must take place! Engaging is not just suiting up or playing the part, rather, it’s being a consistent participant, knowing your teammate(s) intimately, and having contact with the one you love, regularly.

You may think that this is a blog about marriage and being committed to your spouse, but actually, it’s about your relationship with God and who you truly are with Him.

The church isn’t a hotel for saints, it’s a hospital for sinners. This means that God doesn’t require us to be fake or clean up our act before engaging with Him. Instead, God wants to see us for who we really are.

You are more likely to engage God if you have weaknesses or problems. For this reason, the Christian life isn’t perfect and problem free. If you want to be seen by God, then you have to be real and engage Him with all you are, sins and weaknesses included. While here on this Earth, Jesus engaged a man by the name of Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was notorious for being engaged with sinful tax practices among his peers, but because he had a moment where he engaged Jesus, he became the chosen one to whom Jesus shared dinner with one evening.

Matthew 9:12 says that it’s not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick. Zaccheaus didn’t clean up his act before coming to engage Jesus; he sought Him while he was still a sinner. After engaging with Jesus that night over dinner, this sinful man was changed! No one ever encounters the living God and walks away unchanged.

Whether married or not, we have all experienced being engaged with something or someone. Some of us engage with friends, where others engage with a spouse. Both kinds of engagement require work, “doing,” and follow-through. Now, take that thought and apply it to God. How are you engaged with God and His work here on Earth? Are you fellowshipping with Him on a regular basis in order to keep your commitment and faith in Him fresh and alive? Are you engaging with your home church so that you can serve the body of Christ as Jesus commands us to?

You can expect big things when you engage God with who you really are. Zacchaeus experienced a changed life and others were changed by him because he was willing to be real and engage in God’s plan. How can you engage? Think about it and let me know how I can pray for you in this area. Go Engage!

These are my favorite kind of Mother’s Days to celebrate—the kind where I don’t have to preach about being a mother. So I had a brainstorm. Let a mom talk about motherhood.

Just so happens I see an expert mom in action every single day—my wife!

Seriously, she’s the real Wonder Woman. She can bring home the bacon,

Fry it up in a pan,

and never, ever let me forget…

Well, that’s probably more information than any of you signed up for so we’ll leave it at that. But I will talk about what we all learned this weekend because there was some really good stuff for moms in a day and age when motherhood is not viewed as the lofty undertaking it used to be.

Seriously, think about how Hollywood starlets seem to try and figure out the best way to squeeze out a kid, shoot junior on over to the six figure making nanny to raise and one interact with him for an occasional photo op.

Ok, ok, so it’s not quite that bad for most, but you get the gist. Kids are something to be crammed in between movies or sitcom seasons, not something you dedicate your life to. And we are starting to see the ramifications of this casual outlook on being a mom.

So Michelle decided it was time we “Rethought Motherhood.”

Here are the areas moms need to take a careful reevaluation of:

1. Rethink Purpose
2. Rethink Prayer
3. Rethink Our Audience
4. Rethink Honor

For more on this past Mother’s Day message visit iTunes podcast area and type in Southbrook Church (Southbrook with a small b there is another church in Wisconsin? They spell theirs South Brook). The latest message is right at the top.

Enjoy!

Pastor Rob www.robsingleton.net

If I told you today that you could double, triple, even zillionoople (yes, I make that word up) your wealth in a secured future account, by doing just a few different actions here and there, would you want to know where the dotted line was to sign up for the program? Of course you would! We all want to increase our monetary, time, health, and quality of life “wealth,” so I don’t blame you for searching this blog for the dotted, John Hancock, line.

Well, here’s the secret to the “secured wealth and quality life” program, which you can begin today. There is no sign-up necessary, just act and then receive the benefits. The program is Generosity. The secret is Giving. That’s it… just be generous! When you feel the inner urge to give, do it. When you see a need that you can attend to, do it.

Here’s the best part… the benefits are guaranteed by the owner of the world. In 1 Timothy 6:18-19, God promises us that if we are generous, then we will lay up a firm foundation of treasures for ourselves and will be able to then take hold of a richly blessed, quality life. God gives us good things in life for us to enjoy, and if we are generous with what He has blessed us with and provided for us, then He will give us even more than we could ask for or imagine.

Generosity is contagious and it will radically change your life. When God whispers in your ear to be generous, it’s because He has a big blessing that He wants to give to you in return. Bless others so that you may be blessed. So now, go give!

Congratulations! You just won! You are now the most popular human being to walk the face of the earth! Everyone knows your name, people love you, and you have all the money in the world. How do you feel Mr. / Ms. _________________?

(Insert your name here)

Really… how do you feel? When you read that, did you wish that it were true? Is popularity something that you just have to have? Do you know how to be humble through your popularity? Maybe a better question is: Do you know how to be humble in the state you are in right now?

One of the number one causes for failure in an individual’s life is popularity, because people don’t know how to remain humble, when put in the spotlight. The “it’s all about me” mentality rules our nation. But tell me, if it’s all about you, then were does your power, fame, and fortune come from? God alone is the giver of all things. That alone should be a humbling thought for you. If it weren’t for Him, you would have nothing, be nothing and get absolutely nothing done because you wouldn’t be alive. Wait though… because He is alive and is a part of your life, the same power that He has and gave to His Son, is the same power that is in you. That’s exciting!

So if this power is in us, then why do we fail, fall, and flounder down in our faith from time to time? The answer is simple. It’s because we take credit for things that God does in our lives; and when this happens, our heart has to be broken so that He can put it back together with humble pieces that will praise Him instead of praise ourselves.

The broken heart part doesn’t have to occur. You can bypass that step by staying humble. Here are a few tips on staying humble. Check yourself and see if one or two of these might need to be applied to your life as you go through this 30 day challenge:

• Learn from your losses – Everyone fails, but it is the one’s that move on and learn from their experiences that become the champions.
• Take responsibility for your losses – Proverbs 28:13 (LB) says, “A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.”
• Let go of your guilt – Guilt, held on to for too long, will blur your spiritual vision a little at a time and then before you know it, it will blind you completely to the love and forgiveness that God has for you. If a perfect God can forgive an imperfect human, then why in the world can’t an imperfect person forgive himself/herself? Humans are not better than God. We should follow His example.
• Surrender to God’s strength – The power to live this life powerfully and with hope comes from only God alone. Have you surrendered yourself and all you have to God? The more of you that’s in you, the less of God you can experience.
• Pursue God’s Path – Psalm 119:32 says, “I run in the path of Your commands, for You have set my heart free.” Find God, find forgiveness, find your passions, and then you will be able to find God’s path for your life!

Which one or two of these humbling tips might you need to work on the most this week? Each day our goal should be to grow closer to God in at least one way so that at the end of each day, we can say that we are closer to God that day than we were the day before.

Can you do that today? Have a great week. Go in humility and love and watch God shine through you. It really is a beautiful thing to see!