KLOVE Radio Features – October 2022
WHY I DO WHAT I DON’T WANT –
Do you find yourself doing things you don’t want to do? Impossible! You wouldn’t be doing them if you didn’t want to. HA! You just need a BIGGER “WANT.” In Romans 7, Paul the Apostle had the same problem, “I don’t really understand myself, for I WANT to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” (Romans 7:15, NLT) He then asks, “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” (Romans 7:24, NLT) And answers the question with, “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:25, NLT) The reason why I’ll choose to DO the things I need to do is because I love Jesus more than the foolish thing I DON’T WANT to do. Wash your heart and mind with God’s Spirit and Word, and He’ll change YOUR “WANT” into His “WANT!”
FAR AWAY FROM CAMP
Jesus went into the wilderness to pray. Moses went outside the camp. We each have to find our secret place. The God of the Universe wants us to get to know Him. Amazing! That’s why He created us. It’s the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow . . . the pearl of great price . . . what makes all the pain on Earth worth it. It’s God’s heart for all of us. “Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.” (Exodus 33:7 ESV) Everyone needs God’s presence! Time alone with Jesus is the best of all options for each of us. Come away! Jesus wants to be with you!
REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE
If you spent your whole life examining every magnificent option of who you could possibly become… And if you could actually figure out what that best option was, and then make it totally happen… You would have arrived at God’s original intention for your life, when He imagined you before He created the world. As the Creator of all possible options, He has intentionally chosen the absolute best one for you, in order for you to become the most fulfilled person you could be. I don’t have to strive or stress about my future if I’m committed and obedient to do God’s will. If you have done that, and fully accepted God’s best for your life, the question you should then ask is, “How can I help others remember all that God has done for their lives and the amazing person He has called them to be?”
FIVE-MINUTES OF SCARY
In January 2009, 100 seconds after takeoff in New York City, a commercial airliner struck a flock of Canadian geese. After the birds went into the engines, the plane completely lost power. Three terrifying minutes later it landed safely and miraculously in the Hudson River. The plane’s captain, “Sully” Sullenberger said about those five minutes of terror, “…for 42 years, I’ve been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience, education and training. And on January 15, 2009, the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal.” We never know when our “five minutes” of Short, Scary, Powerless, but Safe will come!Our five minutes of the “unthinkable,” when God comes to our rescue. It’s coming for all of us. Trust God and He will see you through.
FLOATING SNACK TRAYS
Would you believe that our time on Earth is the shortest portion of our eternal life? The Bible calls it “…a wind that passes away.” (Psalm 78:39) It’s the dress rehearsal for countless seasons ahead. We’re actually being prepared for greater responsibilities. In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus said to the good steward, “You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.” (Matthew 25:21) To think that in eternity we’ll be sitting around on silvery clouds while cherubs float around with snack trays is pretty silly. Greater stewardships are ahead. I have a Christian friend who thought we won’t need faith and hope forever. It’s just not true. The Bible says, there are three things that last forever: “faith, hope & love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) The spiritual muscles we grow on Earth we’ll take into eternity. Continuing to grow in faith, hope and love is the only good option.
WHEN YOU’RE IN TRANSITION
When I was a young Christian and people asked how I was doing, I found myself saying repeatedly, “I’m in transition.” Until, one day, I realized I was always in transition. It was a silly comment! Our lives are filled with transitions, going from one stage of growth to another. The Bible calls it going “…from glory to glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) In the New Testament, “glory” always results in praise and honor! Flowing from one season of our lives to another will result in praise and honor if our transitions are done in obedience to the will of God, and not our own will. It’s not just the fastest way to fulfillment, it’s the only way to become the person God created us to be. If, right now, you’re in the middle of a transition, trust that God will meet you on the other side of your obedience.