Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

Archives for May 2019

What Has Your Attention?

by

It is not uncommon for church services in Haiti to last 4-6 hours. Contrast this with the typical Western church service which is typically tightly scripted to last for an hour or an hour and 15 minutes. Anything beyond this time and people begin to bristle. We have other things to do after all. When Pastor Kyle Idleman visited Haiti, he inquired of a local pastor as to how he was able to keep the attention of his congregation for so long.

what has your attention,priorities,focus,purpose,discipleship

The pastor replied simply the people in Haiti had nothing else to do. While he said this with laughter, I believe he hit on an incredibly simple, but important, truth. Believers in Haiti spend extended time worshipping God because they have nothing else in their lives competing for the attention they give to God.

[Read more…] about What Has Your Attention?

Begin Your Day

by

I believe the way you begin your day significantly impacts how the day will go. It cannot be overemphasized how much your first choices each day impact how the rest of it plays out. Our first thoughts and actions will decide how we treat our spouse, our family, our friends, and our co-workers. They will determine whether we will put God first, and they will dictate whether we honor God by taking care of our own well-being.

begin your day,David Platt,radical,multiply,commitment,priorities,prayer,morning devotionals,quiet time,pray the word podcast

As people who aspire to live their lives wholly devoted to Christ, this means beginning each day talking with Him. We need our marching orders and to attune our hearts to His. No one begins a long journey without first consulting a map or their GPS. We need direction, and our roadmap is found in Jesus Christ.

[Read more…] about Begin Your Day

The Danger of Complaining

by

Complaining can kill our spirits. No one likes to hear someone else complain, but we love to do it ourselves. At the heart of complaining is a victim mentality. We feel an injustice has been done to us, someone else has been given what we deserve, we didn’t get a fair shot, or perhaps we weren’t born into the right family or country or endowed with the perfect looks or talents.

danger of complaining,discipleship,humility,complain,gossip,Philippians 4:8,think on these things,John 15:7,whatever you ask in my name,1 Thessalonians 5:16-18,pray without ceasing,pray constantly

Some seem to have elevated complaining about co-workers, friends, or family to an art form. For others, it seems to be more a sport, as each successive complaint tops the previous one. Despite our fascination with complaining, nothing good will ever come from it.

[Read more…] about The Danger of Complaining

Faithful Not Famous

by

We live in a world obsessed with self. I know it has always been this way, but the problem is perhaps more obvious today than ever. Not only is society continuing to encourage us to be self-centered, but we now have tools with which to promote ourselves twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Social media has exploded over the last few years and is now an integral part of the lives of many.

faithful not famous, Craig Groeschel,priorities,humility,Paris Hilton,Kim Kardashian,celebrity,celebrities

Younger people seem especially susceptible to this, but no one is immune to the siren call of popularity and self-aggrandizement. This should be particularly distressing to those of us seeking to follow Christ. We understand life is all about Jesus, not ourselves. As I heard Craig Groeschel say recently, “We are called to be faithful, not famous”.

[Read more…] about Faithful Not Famous

Suicide Mission

by

There are places in the world today where following Jesus is basically a suicide mission. To follow Christ may mean losing your job, your home, and your children. It is not uncommon for families to react violently when one of their own gives their life to Jesus. Every day I read stories of new believers who are beaten and thrown out of their homes because of their decision to give their lives to Jesus.

suicide mission,commitment,love,persecution,prayer,surrender,peace,mission,Matthew 10:34,not peace but a sword,Matthew 10:37,must hate father and mother,Matthew 10:21,brother against brother,John 16:33,trouble in this world,Matthew 16:25,lose your life to find it

In many cultures, the family is the center of all things, and to leave the family religion brings great disgrace not only on the one leaving but on the ones they leave behind. It takes great faith and courage to follow Jesus in many countries. As their brothers and sisters in Christ, it is essential we lift these people in prayer every day.

[Read more…] about Suicide Mission