I STILL LOVE THOSE FRIES

by Milan Ford

In the fall of 2002, I was blessed with the unique opportunity to serve as the college ministry director for one of the largest and most influential churches in the country. For nearly four years, I had the opportunity to serve, counsel, lead, and learn from hundreds of college students who attended various schools within the city of Atlanta, Georgia.

During that span of time, I witnessed first hand what many ministry leaders throughout this country are experiencing today - a growing discontentment and apathy regarding the relevance of the local church in the eyes of today's generation of young people.

Despite all of the programs, events, concerts, scholarships, pizza nights, and other heart felt approaches our churches have tried to offer in order to reach this generation, what was once considered necessary, has now become optional.

And worse, what was once attractive... now repels.

And although many would like to attribute this pattern of apathy only to young people, there is alarming number of believers today (ages 30 and up) who now refuse to have anything to do with the local church because of either a prior unfavorable experience they had while apart of one, or perhaps being made aware of a considerable disparity between what a particular leader was saying or teaching in public, and what he or she was doing in private.

I am often asked by parents and ministry leaders alike what my response is when I encounter someone who has given up on God and their faith because of something that happened to them while attending a local church. My answer, although far from earth-shattering, is always the same. Feel free to borrow it whenever you like. Here it is:

I am in LOVE with McDonald's fries.
In my opinion, they are the best-tasting fries in the world.

Yet despite my unfailing adoration for them, I am not at all impressed with what I have to endure in order to get them. No matter the hour of the day, no matter which restaurant location I select, my experience at McDonald's has often been an awful one.

When going through the drive-thru, my order will always be missing something.
When inside, I always encounter that one cashier who clearly is upset that I choose her line.
And I won't even get started on having to pay an extra quarter for more barbecue sauce!

Yet, no matter the trial and obstacle, I still insist on returning. No bad experience I may have today can hinder me from expecting a better one tomorrow. Why?

Because I still LOVE those fries!

As believers, there must come a time when our love and commitment to the PRODUCT is no longer subject to the imperfections of a particular PROVIDER. Once we allow the SERVICE we have received from others to cast doubt on the SERVICE we have received from Him, we will become a great DISSERVICE to everyone we come in contact with.

On the night before He was to be crucified, Christ delivered perhaps His most important message to us all: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this ALL will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." - John 13:34-35.

It is literally impossible to truly love God without loving what (and whom) He loves. Despite its many challenges, I still believe the local church and the Body of Christ at large is by far one of the greatest ideas our God has ever had. Perhaps His finest. Imagine the impact we could have on this world if we as believers took the time to just believe the BEST of one another.

Let's face it; some of us (as Christians) can take ourselves way too SERIOUSLY. Once you and I make the decision to lighten up and embrace the fact that all of us have missed the mark from time to time, we will be able to extend the kind of grace and unconditional love that will bring glory to God.

And most importantly, draw others closer to Him.

Milan Ford

WHEN GOD SHOWS UP

By R.T. Kendall

Perhaps God spoke to you at a particular time or was present on a particular occasion. At the time, it didn’t seem as if it was God who was doing the speaking or even if God was present at all. You underestimated, if not rejected, what He did or what He said. Only years later did it become clear to you that you had failed to recognize His presence.

I remember many years ago, when Louise and I had moved away from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for only 18 months, we came back and found that Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church had been started. Before we went away, it had been a vacant lot with a big sign on it that read, "Future home of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church." That sign just stayed there month after month for a couple years. We wondered: What is happening here? When will that church start?

When we came back, the church had started, and it was the talk of the town. D. James Kennedy, who was the architect of what is now known as Evangelism Explosion, was using this evangelism method in Fort Lauderdale.

I have to say I was one of Kennedy’s greatest critics. I thought that Evangelism Explosion (EE) was not of God. It took two to three years for me to climb down and see that EE really was of God. But I couldn’t see it at the time. I had theological biases; I had other instincts, and I went by them.

Perhaps you can think of a similar experience when something came up that at first you thought God simply wasn’t in. Then later, like Jacob, you had to say, "The Lord was in this place. I didn’t know it. I wasn’t aware of it." Let’s not think ourselves so spiritual that we are sure we couldn’t possibly miss the Lord’s presence. Our very biases may keep us from seeing the Lord when He appears.

Let’s reflect on the possibility that God has appeared and we don’t see Him, even though we may have been praying for Him to come. He answers our prayer but we can’t believe it, either because our unbelief is too great or because our prejudices overrule our faith. Maybe the Lord appeared yesterday and we didn’t realize it. Maybe He has answered prayer and we haven’t recognized it.

Here are a few examples of failure to recognize the Lord’s presence.

• When we miss what God is doing in another person. Eli misunderstood what was happening to Hannah (see 1 Sam. 1:12-13). It is possible for someone who ministers to you in an official capacity not to recognize what God is doing in your life.

• When we miss God’s answer to our prayer and only later recognize His presence. Peter was in prison and the church was earnestly praying, but when he appeared at the door they didn’t believe it (see Acts 12:13-17).

• When we are dominated by fear even though God is all around us. Elisha’s servant was terrified of the enemy chariots until he was able to see that the Lord’s hosts were far greater (see 2 Kings 6:15-17). Perhaps you too are dominated by fear when the truth is that God is with you.

• When we are disappointed by the word God gives us. Naaman, who suffered from leprosy, did not want to accept the word given by the prophet to wash in the Jordan seven times (see 2 Kings 5). It may be that God has given you a word and you don’t like it. Accept what God has given you and who knows what will happen in the end (see Luke 16:10).

• When we are blind to what God is doing strategically. Often when we see how things turn out, our immediate reaction is, "God can’t be in this." God’s Messiah—Isaiah’s "root out of a dry ground"—ended up hanging on a cross. There was no hint at the time that this was God in Christ reconciling the world.

Looking back at particular times in your life, you might say, "God was at work, and I was not aware of it." You may be going through a time of trial at this very moment. James says, "Consider it pure joy, my brethren, whenever you face trials of many kinds" (James 1:2, NIV). The trial you’re going through at this moment may be God’s hint that He’s there after all.

A JOSEPH CALLING

by Os

"And he sent a man before them - Joseph, sold as a slave." - Psalm 105:17

God is doing a unique work around the world today. He is rising up Josephs throughout the world. Some are still in the "pit" stage of their pilgrimage, while others are heading toward fruitfulness. What does it take for a man to become a true Joseph? It takes years of preparation and testing to be a true Joseph. It takes what the psalmist says in Psalm 105:17. "He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; and he sent a man before them - Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true. The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free" (Psalm 105:16-20).

A true Joseph is one who is a provider both spiritually and materially for those in the Body of Christ. It is a person who understands that he is simply a manager of all that God has entrusted to him. It is a person who has humility and a broken and contrite heart before God. But how does God prepare modern-day Josephs?

Modern-day Josephs are prepared through their own versions of bruised feet, with shackles and necks put in irons. It is often through the adversity of failed finances, failed marriages, failed relationships, and broken dreams. These are the things that try men the most. These are the things God uses to allow the Josephs of our day to be proven by the Word of the Lord. Once proven, God brings them out of their prisons and uses them mightily for His purposes. Joseph went through his own trials - not because of any failure, but because of an incredible calling: to save and provide for an entire nation. God had to prepare this man with 13 years of broken dreams and humble circumstances in order to break every ounce of pride and self-will. God could not afford to have a 30-year-old steeped in arrogance and pride running an entire nation.

When I attended a world conference on global evangelization in South Africa, I was privileged to sit among 45 other men from different parts of the world who had a Joseph calling on their lives. These men of means had humility of heart and a spirit unlike any others I have met in my country. Each one had his own Joseph story. It was an incredible scene that changed my life and my own view of business. This allowed me to see firsthand this phenomenon that is going on throughout the world. Many believe God is rising up these servants to prepare for a worldwide economic earthquake and to fund a global harvest of souls. Even since this conference, one nation is being dramatically affected because of a Joseph who has stepped forward to fulfill his calling for that nation. It is an awesome demonstration of God's power working today.

Are you willing to allow God to do whatever it takes for you to become a true Joseph? Ask the Lord today to do whatever is necessary to fully use your gifts and talents for His eternal Kingdom.

THE GREATEST LOVE STORY

By Linda Sommer

Matthew 28:1-20 This is the day men give candy and roses to their wives or sweethearts. For me it usually means a dinner out or a weekend away. This day of celebration is in honor of the love between a man and a woman. It is interesting that the symbol of this day is a heart and the colors used to decorate are red and white. The greatest love story ever told also involves the heart and the colors red and white. On the cross Jesus died because the weight of our sin broke His heart, but because of His sacrifice, we now can have our broken hearts mended. The red blood of Jesus poured upon the ground and was offered as an atonement for all sins, which satisfied God's requirements for a penalty for sin. Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Though our sins were as scarlet, they became white as snow. On that day over two thousand years ago, the greatest love story was revealed to mankind. This story continues to unfold as we look forward to the day that we will sit at the table of the lover of our souls. There will be a marriage of the Bridegroom (Jesus) with the bride (the church), and the celebration will continue for all eternity.

In this passage today we see a portion of this great love story. First Mary Magdalene and Mary discover the empty tomb at dawn on the first day of the week. These women loved Jesus as both mother and friend, but soon this love would deepen into a supernatural love that would far exceed any human love. God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world to Himself. God's love is inexpressible, but God's love found expression through Jesus Christ. The height of God's love is His grace, the depth of God's love is His forgiveness, the length of God's love is His mercy, and the width of God's love is His truth. All these four aspects of God's love were fully expressed in Jesus Christ, who is the express image of the invisible Father. When the angel appeared to the two Marys, they were first fearful. But then, when they heard the message, "He is not here, for He is risen, as He said," they were filled with great joy and ran to tell the disciples. This story of God's love expressed through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ had to be shared with others.

Whenever we experience a loving act in our lives, we like to share it with others. On this special dawn, the two Marys could not wait to tell their friends. Their response to this great news should be our response today. Later Jesus spoke to His disciples and said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:18-20, KJV).

Is there someone you need to tell the greatest love story to today?

READ: Exodus 37:1-38:31; Matthew 28:1-20; Psalm 34:11-22; Proverbs 9:9-1

WHEN DESIRES BECOME EXPECTATIONS

by Milan Ford

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought I'd dedicate today's devotional to all of my fellow MARRIED believers out there. And for those of you who are still SINGLE, be sure to tuck this one away in a vault; you may need to read it again one day.

When I first got married, I like so many of you reading this today, had a box full of desires that I came to the wedding altar with.

Desires to one day purchase a new home.
Desires for when and how many children I wanted to have.
Desires as to how I would like to schedule quality time with my wife.
Desires for how I would like to save and spend our money.

And yes, I even had a desire as to what I ALWAYS wanted to see my wife wear to bed! I was convinced that Victoria Secret was going to be a staple in our marriage forever.

But after six years of marriage (our seventh anniversary is coming up this October), I found out something very interesting about many of the desires I had prior to getting married. All of them have one common denominator:

The letter "I"

Every desire that I had grown up thinking would be a core value of my marriage was rooted primarily in what "I" wanted and desired to see happen. And at first, nothing seemed to be wrong with that kind of value system.

Our wedding ceremony was incredible.
Our honeymoon was unforgettable.
Our first home purchase was essentially a snap.
And the birth of our first child was indeed nothing short of magnificent.

But over time, something significant happened. In fact, it happens to relationships all across this nation every single day. Perhaps it is happening to you right now.

The values I had coming in to my marriage, many of which I thought were great values to have, slowly became something they never should have.

They became EXPECTATIONS.

Somewhere along the way, the desires I had about what my marriage was going to be like became an expectation, and whenever a desire is confused with or transformed into an expectation, the dynamic of one's marriage will drastically change.

For example: When a husband no longer 'desires' for his wife to assist with the cleaning of the house, but rather 'expects' her to do so, he (over time) may no longer become a husband to her. But rather her master.

Or (as another example) when a man no longer 'desires' for his wife to wear romantic lingerie to bed, but rather 'expects' her to, he (over time) may no longer see her as his wife. But rather as his 'releaser.' (I'd use a different word there, but I think you get the point)

The following passage of scripture is one I had read several times before, but after reading it again this week, the words written here struck me like a ton of bricks.

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with washing of water by the word, and that He may present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." - Ephesians 5:25-27

For six years, my wife has met, and more often than not, exceeding all of my desires and expectations as it relates what a good and loving wife should do. And yet, despite all of her attempts to make me happy, I realized that I tend to be entirely more focused on what she is doing, but not BECOMING.

I forgot that she also (prior to marrying me) had some desires as well. There were some lifelong dreams that she had that were not being fulfilled because her duties were confined to meeting someone else's expectations.

She was not being 'presented' as a glorious church BY her husband.
But rather busy 'building' a church and sanctuary for HER husband.

Friends, that is not why Christ came.
And that is not what His love is all about.

So before you head out to that department store to purchase some new perfume for your spouse or significant other, and just before you reserve that table for two at your favorite restaurant this weekend for Valentine's Day...

...be sure you carve time out to truly INSPECT what you EXPECT.

There perhaps may be no greater sign of God's love than to free those in our lives we have held captive to fulfilling our desires. Let's break this cycle once and for all.

MAKE ROOM FOR GOD-ENCOUNTERS

Many of you who are avid watchers of Christian television have no doubt seen my friend, Alvin Slaughter. He's a singer of tremendous anointing and incredible good humor.

Alvin tells a story about a time when he was in one of those first class lounges in the airport, waiting to board his next flight. Wearing his ever-present Walkman, he settled back with a favorite music tape and became overwhelmed with the presence of the Lord.

He was so powerfully overtaken with a realization of God's faithfulness to him and his family that he began to weep—right there in public!

Not wanting to miss the moment but conscious that he was creating a scene, he got the bright notion that he could continue to worship the Lord privately if he just held up a magazine so no one would notice.

It was a great idea, but after several minutes of tearfully whispering his thanks and praises to the Lord, he noticed that no one in the room had been the least bit fooled. They knew he couldn't possibly be reading the magazine. It was upside down!

Maybe your spontaneous encounters with the Lord haven't been as humorous as Alvin's, but I hope you never lose the memories of those moments when, as Joy Strang puts it, "light came into the room."

I can remember an encounter of my own that occurred many years ago when I lived in New York City. I was taking the subway to work one morning, and like nearly everyone else who rides the trains there, I was reading.I was poring over "Hinds Feet on High Places" by Hannah Hurnard when I stumbled upon a precious heart-penetrating truth. It was as though Jesus whispered it in my ear.

There in the midst of that noisy subway car, filled with a mass of weary commuters, God opened the heavens to me. It was during rush hours, so the train was packed, but I was aware of no one's presence but His.Suddenly, that grimy, crowded train became totally quiet as God filled it with the light of His glory and ministered His love to my soul. How wonderfully surprising it was that He would do that for me!

Yes, I know He's always there, but if you've ever had an experience similar to Alvin's and mine—what Pat Chen refers to in her book "Intimacy With the Beloved" as a "holy visitation"—you know these special moments are charged with a greater awareness that the God of the universe has interrupted everything to communicate with YOU, He may have broken through to give you needed directions, to prompt you to intercede or simply to say, "I love you."

How much we miss when we bypass those whisperings of the Spirit of God that often come when we're too busy or too tired! Whatever we need to do, let's make room in our lives for more "God-encounters."

By Brenda J. Davis

"I CAN'T CHANGE"

As we launch our all new Fast from Wrong Thinking, 2010, believe in the possibilities of what can happen in your life. Nothing is impossible to the man or woman who conquers their thought life. God is with you. God is for you, and the best news of all: God is working IN you!


Today we’re fasting from the thought that says:"I Can’t Change!"


We’ve all felt at times like we can’t change a certain habit, or a characteristic about ourselves. Perhaps you feel like you’ll always be easily angered, afraid or worried. Well, that’s what this fast from wrong thinking is all about. As we change our thought patterns and mindsets, ANYTHING can change. And changing our mindsets is simply a process of replacing defective thoughts with biblical mindsets. So, if you’ve felt like you can’t change, you CAN...


CHANGE IT TODAY:1. Believe that the power to change is a GIFT. 2 Timothy 2:25 says God grants ‘repentance’, or ‘the power to change’, as a gift. The ability to experience lasting change in any area of our life is a gift from God.


2. Receive the gift of repentance or “the gift to change”, by FAITH. Believe that every good gift comes from the Father (James 1:17).


3. All change begins by believing you are loved by God. Romans 2:4b says, "Don't you realize that it is God's lovingkindness that is trying to lead you to Him and change the way you think and act?" (God’s Word Translation).


4. Notice in that verse His love & kindness changes the way we think; THEN it changes the way we act. All lasting change begins by surrendering my thought life to the Word of God (Romans 12:2).


5. Believe in the process that leads to progress. Don’t worry if it doesn’t happen right away. Jesus touched the blind man once, than touched him again, before he was completely healed (Mark 8:22-26).


6. Re-define yourself ONLY as what God says about you. Disconnect from past definition of your habits, traits and limitations. You are being changed into His image. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

THINK IT & SAY IT:God has given me the gift to change. I can change my habits, emotions and life by changing the way I think. I submit to the process of renewing my mind, and I expect divine progress and supernatural change. I believe the love that God has for me, and that produces change in me. I refuse to accept past definitions and limitations of myself. As I embrace God’s view of me through the mirror of His Word, I am being changed into His image, in Jesus’ Name.


In His Great Love,

Gregory Dickow