Setting Godly Goal

Setting Godly Goals

“Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).

Many of us set goals for ourselves in our personal and/or professional lives. How we go about setting these

God cares about every aspect of our lives, including the type of goals that we set. Secular goals can and should have a Godly component, which is essential in honoring God and achieving the goal. The achievement of a goal is actually a gift. James 1:17 teaches that ,“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Below are a few thoughts on setting Godly goals.

First, a Godly goals needs God’s Hand. We do not necessarily need faith to set goals that do not require faith. The Bible teaches, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). In order to please God, we need to set goals that require faith. In other words, you should set goals that are too big to reach on your own. Our faith is critical in setting the size of our goal and determining the role that we are asking God to play. God moves in a big way for big goals and in a little way for small goals. God will move commensurate with our faith. Matthew 9:29 puts it this way, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29).

Second, Godly goals develop our character. When we set a goal that requires faith, God uses the journey to change us as we work to reach that goal. Remember, He is the potter and we are the clay. Life is a journey of Christian sanctification. As for me, I have set God-sized goals that took alot of faith and years to finally achieve. This grew my character, witness, and my faith for future goals.

The apostle Paul wrote, “I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that. That is the reason Christ made me his” (Philippians 3:12). Paul recognized that the ultimate goal of a Christian is to be the person that God wants us to be.

Third, Godly goals give us hope. The worst thing you can take from a person is hope. The hopeless are truly the walking dead. In the midst of struggle, there must be hope of a better day on the other side. The current situation may be bleak, but Godly goals allow us to preserve. I often recite Jeremiah 29:11 to myself to remind myself that His plans are full of hope and a future. Godly, goals give us the comfort that the victory is won, and the goal will be achieved, we just need to preserve and wait for the perfect time of delivery and form.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for helping us to set and achieve goals that bring honor to You and grow our faith. We rest in your plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. We love You and need You. Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Certified Lay Minister and Men’s Ministry Specialist through Francis Asbury Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, LA. He is a Board Member for Gulf South Men, an Action Team member for The Kingdom Group, and a Board Member for the Lagniappe Country Walk to Emmaus. Todd is a contributor to Project XII and Baton Rouge Parents Magazine. He is a Past President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and remains active in this and many other local, regional, and international ministries. Additionally, he’s the author of the inspiring book “Fathering A Special Needs Child.” Todd also enjoys filling the pulpit to share the Good News of our Lord and Savior. Todd is the proud father of Emma and Kyle and resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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The Warning Signs of Pride

“So then, Your Majesty, follow my advice. Stop sinning, do what is right, and be merciful to the poor. Then you will continue to be prosperous” (Daniel 4:27 GNT).

Pride is often the unintended and inevitable consequence of success. Far too often when life is going well, we become prideful. Many of us have heard it said, “pride goes before the fall, which is true. As Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” Pride blinds us and makes it so easy to miss the warning signs of an impending fall.

We can make some simple choices that will help keep us humble and help us spot the warning signs of a coming fall before it’s too late. If we find ourselves in a position of influence or wealth, for example, we might simply need to go home, mow our own lawn, wash our own dishes, and personally take care of the people around you.

But no matter who you are or what your life is like, you also need to be on the lookout for messages from God that you’re headed down the wrong prideful path and need to be humble enough to turn around.

Nebuchadnezzar’s life is a clear picture of this. God cared enough about this pagan king to warn him about what was coming his way in Daniel 4. God could have just removed Nebuchadnezzar from power but instead He warned him and gave him a chance to change his ways. God gave him a dream and brought Daniel to interpret the dream. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar what was going to happen and how to avoid it. You can’t get much clearer than that!

Daniel told the king, “So then, Your Majesty, follow my advice. Stop sinning, do what is right, and be merciful to the poor. Then you will continue to be prosperous” (Daniel 4:27 GNT).

Through Daniel, God gave Nebuchadnezzar three things to do and said success would follow. But the king chose to ignore this warning.

Is it possible we are ignoring or missing God’s warning signs too? Maybe you are having conflict in a relationship. You’re just passing it off as the other person’s problem, but God wants to use it as a warning sign—to show you that you’re off track in some area of your life and trouble is on the horizon.

It could be a temptation you’re battling because you’re continually putting yourself in a bad situation. Or maybe it’s chaos and confusion in your life. These all are signs that you’re not trusting God—that you’re trying to do life on your own terms.

God’s trying to tell us through these warning signs: “Stop sinning! Come back to me!”

If you’re heading down the wrong path, God loves you enough to give you a warning. Listen to His warning, repent of your pride, and return to him in humility.

Just as the prodigal son humbled himself and returned to his father, so can we do likewise and return to our Father.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for love, grace, and mercy. Thank you for the warning signs you give us when we become prideful. Send Your Holy Spirit to help us discern your warnings and grant us the courage to take appropriate action that honors and glorifies You. Help us to remember that humility is a fruit of Your Spirit, and pride is a sin of the flesh. Amen.

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Hearing God’s Voice

Hearing God's Voice

“God does speak—sometimes one way and sometimes another—even though people may not understand it” (Job 33:14 NCV).

I have long been envious of my friends that when seeking the Father’s guidance in making a big decision are able to come away with a clear answer after time spent in prayer. For over 40 years I yearned for this but never experienced this.

I still struggle to hear His voice but have put myself in a much better position by attempting to silence the other voices (self, society, and the enemy) when seeking His voice.

God has designed us to hear His voice. In a sense, there is a “receiver” in us that allows us to get guidance from God.

What channels does God use? The primary way that God speaks is through the Bible. This is why it’s important to read the Bible every day. God’s will is found in his Word. That’s how you know if an impression you get is a message from God.

God also speaks through godly teachers. Have you ever been in church or at a Bible study and felt like the pastor or leader was speaking directly to you? In that moment, God was speaking directly to you.

If somebody truly has the spiritual gift of teaching, they are going to agree with the Bible. Period. I don’t care how entertaining someone is or how much emotion you feel from that person’s message. If what is said does not agree with the Bible, then the speaker does not have the gift of teaching and is certainly not honoring God or the white clerical collar.

The Bible talks about this in 1 Corinthians 2:13: “We do not speak in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual truths to those who have the Spirit.”

For me, I have often heard God’s voice through other Christians. Hopefully, they hear His voice through me. As we stay tuned in to Him and learn his Word, sometimes God will use us to say things to people that He wants them to hear. It’s not something reserved only for pastors. God speaks through every believer at different times.

I am convinced that God has spoken to me through pastors and friends but also homeless people and complete strangers. For example, I was very homesick when I went to college at the age of 17. The first semester was hard, and the weather was so cold. I was sad and homesick. One day I saw a blind boy walking toward me. He said nothing to me, but I felt God telling me, “This boy is also struggling, but he is preserving and so can you!” Thirty-five years passed and last week I was feeling sad and processing some things while going for a walk. A blind boy that looked like that same boy from 35 years ago was approaching me. Again, he said nothing, but I felt the Holy Spirit from the head on my hair to my feet, and I felt His assurance once again. This time I prayed for the boy and gave thanks to God for speaking to me.

Last but not least, God speaks to us through our circumstances and pain. That’s not always our favorite way to learn God’s will, but it is often the most powerful ways God speaks to us. God never wastes your hurt! God does not cause pain or hurt but can use it to get our attention and provide us a renewed opportunity to yoke up with Him.

God is speaking all the time. All communication is based on the signal to noise ratio. It’s important to be intentional in seeking and following the Holy Spirit. As we listen patiently, we will gain clarity at the right time and way. He will show us the right path.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for speaking to us. Help us to silence all other voices and to hear your Voice. Equip and empower us to take actions based on your Voice and your Word so that our words and deeds bring honor and glory to You. Please pour out your Spirit on those that have spoken Your word to me especially the blind boys that spoke Your word without saying a word. Amen.

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What Does God Think of the Five Love Languages?

What Does God Think Of The Five Love Languages?

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8 NIV).

First, I am the last one to understand the mysterious ways of God. I have read the Bible and the book Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, which has been an international best-seller for years, and I see some interesting similarities.

Christians knows that God is love, and we know this because 1 John 4:8 tells us. So, if God is love how does He show His love? I wonder what God thinks of the Five Love Languages?

The five love languages are receiving gifts, physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, and acts of service. Let’s take a look at each one.

Receiving gifts

I love to receive gifts and suspect many others do too. The gift indicates that the giver loves us and has invested time and money into a gift to bless us. Our God is the ultimate gift giver. He gave us Jesus to rescue us from sin and death. He created the world and gave us stewardship of this gift. He gave the fellowship, love, and wisdom of the Holy Spirit that resides in each one of us. James 1:17 reminds us of the source of gifts.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (emphasis added).”

Physical Touch

I have felt the touch of God. Many Christians don’t realize that God wants us to “feel” Him. I feel God in so many ways such as when the wind blows in my face, or I feel a tingle from head to toe after a friend or stranger has made a comment that I know was from God. I have received a hug from a stranger when I was feeling down and walked away knowing that God was hugging me through this person because I had a peace that transcended all understanding. We can feel His touch in prayer or being prayed for by others. A blessing given or received is a touch from God.have

Words of Affirmation

For many of us, we love to hear compliments when we do something well. In fact, God will say to each one of us individually when we enter heaven, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” He gave His affirmation to the Son after His baptism in the Jordan river by saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” We are also His children, and when we obey Him that pleases Him. God can affirm us through Christian friends, prayer, and Scripture.

Quality time

Some people feel loved when you stop what you are doing and choose to spend large amounts of time together with them.

God wants to spend quality time with us. through prayer and worship. Moses spoke to God “as a man speaks to His friend.” We do not need to have a formal conversation or a specific time for a conversation. He is always speaking to us but are we always speaking to Him? Better yet, are we listening for His voice? One way I enjoy quality time with God is to be in His presence outdoors to see His masterpiece.

Acts of Service

Through Acts of Service, we are putting love into action. Jesus washed the feet of His disciples as an act of service. Wherever we live, there are opportunities for service within and outside of your church. Jesus modelled for us how to be a servant leader. Jesus humbled himself and took on the “form of a servant.” We also can show God our love for Him by serving others: the poor, our family, our congregation. God has specifically called us to visit (serve) those most vulnerable in our society: elderly, orphans, prisoners, and the sick.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for all of your love languages. Help us to joyfully give and receive these love languages. We know that whenever a blessing is given and received that You are there. Thank you for teaching us about Your love, and send your Holy Spirit to equip us to be givers of Your love to others. Amen.

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Buy A Tent – It’s Important!

“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17 ESV).

It is natural when many people think of the Apostle Paul they think of his ministry as his work, and this is true, but perhaps we can look at his situation from a different perspective. I think his ministry was his calling from God, and he was gifted and equipped with the spiritual gifts of

teaching and preaching to step into his calling. His actual work was making and selling tents as described in Acts 18:1-3.

Paul knew that he must work to support the ministry that God had entrusted him with. This was the very same Paul who wrote, “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat’” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

I am blessed to serve as a “Timothy” under two “Pauls” who have dedicated their earlier lives to pastoral ministry and now to ministry to men. I have known Rev. Elmo Winters and Rev. Mark Lubbock for many, many years, and in my 53 years on earth, I have never met anybody else who has their level of dedication, perseverance, and effectiveness to advancing God’s Kingdom here on earth.

They both need our help. They need our prayers and words of affirmation. Today’s ministry leaders no longer sell tents but need financial support. We are stewards of the money God has blessed us with, and investing money from God back into the Kingdom is a blessing for the giver and the receiver.

These men have worked secular jobs their entire lives, as have their Proverbs 31 wives, and continue to do so. Much of their income goes to support their church first, their ministry second, and their family third with what is left. They all know the teaching of Paul in 2 Thessalonians better than anyone.

I think one of the greatest weapons that the enemy uses is to instill a sense of apathy within us that hinders us from supporting our church and ministries. Clearly, not all of us are called or able to support all ministries. However, many reading this blog have (1) a personal friendship with Mark and Elmo and are aware of their integrity and effectiveness in ministry, (2) an awareness of the positive impacts of the ministries that Mark and Elmo steward, and (3) knowledge of the need for financial support but fail to do so due to apathy. I am the first to admit that this has been one of my many faults for many years, but it stopped as I got more involved in ministry and grew closer to God, Mark, and Elmo.

Below, I want to share a few thoughts about Elmo and Mark’s ministry and how you can partner with them. I can assure you that each dime is prayerfully and wisely used.

As for my dear brother Mark, I encourage you to prayerfully consider joining me in donating to Rev. Mark Lubbock’s ministry – Gulf South Men. Please visit Gulf South Men’s website and GSMen.org to get a glimpse of the scope and impact of this ministry. Donations can be made HERE. Mark’s ministry helps men become disciples who are servant leaders as modeled by Jesus. His work cuts across boundaries of denomination, race, age, etc. His goal is to raise up Godly men that bring Christ into their homes and families and then out into the world. There have been dramatic impacts on men, but the ultimate beneficiaries are wives and families.

I have been blessed to have worked alongside Mark in ministry for several years and have seen the Holy Spirit work through him. If you have any questions or suggestions about the ministry, financial plans, etc., please give Mark a call at (225)252-3331 or email at [email protected]

To donate to Gulf South Men, please click HERE or mail a check to 7533 Quorum Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70817.

Now for my dear brother Elmo, I also want to bring to your attention a dynamic ministry that is making a positive impact locally and nationally. The KINGDOM Group International, Inc. is a Baton Rouge based organization that is successfully addressing racial and cultural divisiveness. For the past several years, this ministry has held meetings and special events that have resulted in very positive changes in the area of unity and reconciliation.

Giving to the KINGDOM GROUP is easy. You can visit the Kingdom Group website and click the GIVE NOW button. Or, you can mail your donation to KINGDOM Group, 8733 Siegen Lane, Ste. 141, Baton Rouge, LA 70810. You can also call Rev. Elmo Winters at (225) 305-3006 or email at [email protected] for additional information.

Both of these ministries are 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, so your gifts are tax deductible. Giving to any ministry is a second-mile donation. Your home church should receive your first mile, your tithe. After prayerful consideration, if you discern the ability and need to give more, then and only then should you give to any ministry. Please ask God what amount He would have you contribute, and whatever amount He puts on your heart is certainly the right amount, even if that amount is zero.

I pray that you can join me and call both of these godly men to learn how you can support and participate in their ministries. Please prayerfully consider becoming a monthly donor. Most importantly, I ask that you pray for God’s provision and protection for these men of Christ, their wives and families, and ministries.

The image above is that of a mite coin embedded in a ring. The mite, also known as a lepton, was a Jewish coin and the smallest used in New Testament time. At the time of Mark’s writing, it was worth 1/64 of a denarius. A denarius was a day’s wage for a common worker. In today’s terms, it would be worth about 1/8 of a cent. In Luke 21:1-4, we learn about a poor widow’s offering. “As Jesus looked up, He saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on.’” The same can be said of Brother Mark and Elmo.

Prayer: Thank you for the teachers and preachers that You have called, gifted, and equipped to help point us to You. Help us to consider financially supporting ministries that are bearing good fruit prayerfully. Most importantly, send your Spirit to remind us to pray daily for the success of all ministries that are seeking to glorify and honor You and point Your children to You. Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and a Certified Lay Speaker with the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is a Board Member for Gulf South Men, an Action Team member for The Kingdom Group, and a Board Member for the Lagniappe Country Walk to Emmaus. Todd is a Past President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and remains active in this and many other local, regional, and international ministries. Todd is the proud father of Emma and Kyle and resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Additionally, he’s the author of the inspiring book “Fathering A Special Needs Child.” Todd also enjoys filling the pulpit for pastors to share the Good News of our Lord and Savior.

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Sin Is Never Private

“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs” (Luke 12:2-3 NIV).

One thing we all have in common is that we are sinners and all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Most people work very hard to keep their sin a secret. Indeed, we may be successful at keeping most, or even all, of our sins secret but it is foolish to think that sin is private. Some sins are revealed here on earth, but many are not.

Our entire lives will be judged when we die, and most assuredly even the sins that remained private on earth will be revealed. Scripture teaches that everyone who has ever lived will be there (heaven) in their resurrected bodies. Jesus separates the sheep on His right; the goats on His left (Matthew 25:32, 33). There is but one judgment day (Revelation 11:18). Both the saved and lost will be judged (Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Perhaps the most sobering verse in the Bible is Numbers 43:23, “You may be sure that your sin will find you out.”

Our sin also has consequences here on earth. All of our actions, good or bad, are going to affect both directions on the cross. Our sins separate us from God, which is the vertical axis. And all of our actions, including sins, affect other people, directly or indirectly.

Not all sins are due to commission. Some sins are an act of omission. If a person that regularly plugs into God through worship, prayer, study, service, and tithing and then stops, there will be a change in this person. The “lens” on how they view the world will change as manifested in how they react to people and situations and how they reflect (or don’t) the Fruits of the Spirit. They have omitted God from their life and are no longer connected to the Vine. A person that is not plugged in, does not have spiritual power nor desire to fight sin. Romans 14:7 teaches about our connectivity to each other. “None of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.”

A lot of people will say, “What I do with my life is my business. As long as I’m not hurting anybody, why should anyone else care?” Our sins are hurting other people. God made us to be connected to other people. We are one Body and what we do and say always has an effect on others. We hurt ourselves and distance ourselves from God with sin, particularly unrepentant sin. A sinful life limits our ability to reach our potential, the impact we can have on the Kingdom, and the blessing that comes from a life lived in and for our Lord and Savior.

There is only one way to move past the sin that clings so tightly. Confess it, repent from it, and abide in the love of the Father.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the victory that we have over sin and death through the blood of Your Son. Send your Spirit to reveal to us the sin that separates us from You and give us the strength to repent from that sin so that we may grow closer to You on this earth and be presented holy and blameless to You upon the day that we are Healed. We love you and need you. Amen.

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How Should We “Tell It?”

“Love . . . always looks for the best.” (1 Corinthians 13:7 MSG).

I have been told by my close friends that I sometimes have unrealistic expectations, both of myself and of others. It’s not that I expect perfection of any human, especially myself, but I do have high expectations. Of course, this can, and often does lead to disappointment, but every once in a while, it leads to something wonderful, and that is the basis for my continuing high expectations. I want to show a connection between our expectations and our words or how we “tell it.”

We all know people that “tell it like it is,” right? They tell the honest and ugly truth, which can be great, but can also be a weapon if the truth is spoken absent of love. Indeed, Jesus identified Himself as truth in John 14:6 by stating, “I am the way, the truth and the life (emphasis added).”

In Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, he was concerned about dissension in the church, which can be caused by how we “tell it.” Paul was certainly aware of the Old Testament warning in Proverbs 18:21. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Paul was focused on our unity in the faith, knowledge of the Son of God, and Christian maturity. Paul’s letter links the importance of truth and love when we speak. A key verse from Ephesians Chapter 4 reads: “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature Body of Him who is the Head, that is, Christ (Ephesians 4:15, emphasis added). Speaking the truth in love is a fruit of Spiritual maturity.

When we have high expectations of someone, you don’t tell it like it is. We can speak the truth in love and tell it how it could be. What does that mean? It’s means you believe in what God wants to do in and through that person, and you affirm God’s purpose for them, and hopefully they will do the same for you. All of this should be done truthfully, lovingly, and privately. This is Proverbs 27:17 “iron sharpens iron” and love in action.

An excellent example of the good fruit of telling it like it could be comes from Bruce Wilkinson, author and teacher. Years ago, he was a new professor at Multnomah University, and at the first faculty meeting, he received his class assignments. Another professor saw his sheet and said, “Bruce, you’ve been given two section A classes. They’re the brightest students in the university. They’re really engaged and a joy to teach. You’re fortunate to have section A students in your first year.”

Bruce discovered that to be true—he absolutely loved teaching those kids. They were so much more fun to teach than the other classes. They were smarter and asked better questions. At the end of the year, Bruce told his department supervisor, “Man, I sure hope I get the section A classes again next year!” The supervisor told him, “Bruce, there is no section A. We canceled that program six years ago.”

When Bruce went back and checked his grade books, he found that those “section A” classes may not have been advanced placement, but they received higher grades and wrote more thoughtful term papers than his other classes. Bruce realized—because he expected them to be better students—they rose to the challenge. He had high expectations because his supervisor told him like it could be regarding his students. I would argue that Bruce was not lied to but rather he was told how it could be. Then, he accordingly established his expectations and what “could be” became reality.

My mother gave me some parenting advice many years ago. She told me that most children are equal in terms of intelligence and capability. The only difference is the level of expectations of them from their teachers and parents.

Throughout our lives we all will shape the people around us by our expectations of them, and the reciprocal is also true. On my better days, I expect the best from others, and it is at these brief moments that I am hopefully reflecting the lasting love of Jesus. You may ask how expectations are connected to love?

I stand steadfast on the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth. “Love . . . always looks for the best” (1 Corinthians 13:7, emphasis added). Lasting love is forward-looking, optimistic, and bathed equally in truth, hope, and grace.

I think the greatest, and most difficult, lesson that we can learn in life is how to love others as Jesus loved others. It is hard to love some people, and the truth is I cannot do it. However, you and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13). If we let God’s love flow through us, we can tell it like it should be by speaking the truth in love.

I love hearing success stories from people that were raised in disadvantaged situations, but somebody was in their life on a daily basis to mentor and inspire them. The focus of the child shifts from the current situation to what could be through hard work and the favor of our Lord.

Paul wrote in Philippians 2:5, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” I think the Mindset of Jesus was one that tuned out the voices of the flesh, society, and the enemy and tuned in the Voice of God. As we grow and mature as Christians, we can have the same mindset as Jesus, and we can tell it like it “should be.” Jesus expects our best. God sets a very high expectation of us in Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

This is not an unrealistic expectation but rather a command regarding how it “should be.” Indeed, this is how it “will be” when the Son presents us to the Father, if on earth we havedeclared with our mouths, “Jesus is Lord,” and believed in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead. Telling it like it “should be” is inspirational and the key to unlocking the chains of low expectations.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the gift of our tongues. Forgive us for the times we dishonor You by speaking words of death regarding other members of the Body. Send your Holy Spirit to reveal to us the sin that clings so tightly and help us repent of anything that separates us from You. Give us a new heart and Your Spirit so that others may see You and come to know You as Your Holy Spirit guides us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with You. Amen and amen.

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The Heart of the Problem is A Problem of the Heart

“Sin lurks deep in the hearts of the wicked, forever urging them on to evil deeds” (Psalm 36:1 TLB).

The human heart can be a dark place. When God is not pursued, and people declare themselves as Lord the result is dark. Yes, the light overcomes the darkness, but darkness rules where there is no light. We become savages. We victimize the vulnerable, spread gossip, and give in to every sinful desire of the flesh.

Dark hearts lead to a dark society where people suppress their better selves and rise based on intimidation, bribery, and blackmail. A dark society rewards power and force and downplays the Fruits of the Spirit.

Jesus taught, “Out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander” (Matthew 15:19). The heart of the problem, is simply a problem of the heart. We truly need a new heart and a renewed spirit that seeks Him above all else.

To be clear, in the Christian theology, humanity is treasured, priceless, and is destined for Glory. We are created in God’s image. But we have squandered our inheritance and dishonored God by ignoring Him and flowing another voice. Yet there is hope! And his name is Jesus. He came to rescue us from us.

I love the book of Genesis because it is so foundational to Judeo-Christian theology. It is in this book that the “first mention” often occurs, which is when a word or term is first used. The introductory use is often filled with foundational instruction and understanding. As with all Scripture, it is always important to remember the context and to use Scripture to interpret Scripture.

Most Jews and Christians will point to Genesis 3 as when sin first entered the world. The serpent came to sew seeds of doubt with his typical goal to deceive, divide, and destroy.

Yes, sin entered the world in Genesis 3, but the word “sin” does not appear until Genesis 4. The first teaching on the dynamics of sin is in the context of Cain’s bitterness towards his brother Abel, and the fact that Abel’s sacrifice was accepted, and Cain’s wasn’t. It’s in this context that we have the first mention of sin.

“Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him” (Genesis 4:6-8).

Cain was just warned by God that sin is imminent in his life, “crouching at your door,” its intention is “to have you,” and provided an escape route, “you must rule over it.”

I suspect that the Apostle Paul had Genesis 4 in mind when he wrote his first letter to the church in Corinth. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13, emphasis added).

So, how do we “rule over sin”? Romans 7:21-24 provides insight. “I have discovered this principle of life–that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” This “other power” that is at work in Paul is the same other power that is at work in all of us. In the book, “The Four Voices: Taking Control of the Conversation in Your Head” by Patrick Morley, founder of Man in the Mirror and author, he identifies the four voices inside all of our heads as God, the enemy, our flesh, and society.

Sin is so much more than “a mistake” but rather the result of saying no to God and yes to one of the other three voices. Sin is just like the enemy in that both seek to deceive, divide, and destroy you and me. Sin searches for our soft spots, which are typically one or more of the following: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth.

Throughout Scripture, God demands blood for the redemption of sin, and that is as true today as it was in the beginning. The only difference is our sin has been paid by the blood of Jesus on Calvary. Colossians 1:22 (emphasis added) reads, “But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical Body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation (emphasis added).”

Jesus wants us to be reconciled to Him and died for this purpose – to preset us holy to God. Our free will is a two-edged sword. We are free to earnestly repent of our sins or not.

Romans 6:22-23 tells us that each of us will ultimately end up in heaven or hell even though we have been “set free of sin”. “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (emphasis added)” Please note that a “gift” has not fulfilled its intended purpose if it is rejected by its intended recipient. The recipient of each and every gift has free will to accept or reject any gift.

Some people think that if the blood of Jesus covers their sin, then they do not need to repent of their sin. Matthew 18:18 goes directly to the problem of unrepented sin. Jesus taught, “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” In short, if you are bound by sin on earth, so shall you be similarly bound in heaven.

Repenting from sin is much, much deeper than saying “I’m sorry” or feeling regret for our words, thoughts, or actions. True repentance is a sacred, holy, and private conversation in the presence of the Holy Spirit and is completed by confessing the sin to the Holy Spirit and asking for His help to literally turn your focus away from that sin and toward your Lord and Savior.

In 2 Corinthians 7:10 Paul writes, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” True repentance from our soul bears fruit that is seen by God and leads towards reconciliation and salvation. God wants us in righteous relationship with Him and sin separates us from Him. The blood of Jesus will cover our repented sins. The unrepented sinner does not listen to the Shepard’s voice on earth, and their salvation is a matter of theological debate.

Jesus warns us in Matthew 7:21-23 of the perils that await those that “practice lawlessness.”

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

Jesus only gave us two laws. He told us in Matthew 22:37-39, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you are living in unrepentant sin, ask yourself this one question. Am I loving God by living in unrepentant sin?

We have free will to repent or not. Choose wisely.

Prayer: Dear good and gracious God, Thank you for your love, grace, and mercy. Thank you for Jesus and the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting that is available to us through Him. Send Your Holy Spirit upon each of us to search us and reveal everything that separates us from You. Help us to wisely use our free will to earnestly and sincerely repent of the sins that Your Spirit has revealed to us. Amen and amen.

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Will I See My Pets in Heaven?

“And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember My covenant between Me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.’ So God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I have established between Me and all life on the earth’” (Genesis 9:12-17 NIV).

Pets are good for humans. They provide love, joy, and companionship so we know they are good. James 1:17 teaches us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights.” So, pets are from God, and they are very much good. Humans that are wise will take actions regarding pets that honors God.

I think many of us have wondered if we will see our pets in Heaven. To answer this question, we can determine what God values by reading His word to see what He values. It is noteworthy to me that God instructed Noah to load his ark with animals, not plants, even though plants were created earlier than animals in Genesis 1 and 40 days of flooding would certainly create anaerobic conditions that would certainly kill all plants and animals besides fish. According to Genesis 7:8-9, “Pairs of clean and unclean animals, of birds and of all creatures that move along the ground, male and female, came to Noah and entered the ark, as God had commanded Noah.” God created and valued/values animals and they are included in His covenant with man in Genesis 9.

Most birds are not pets and are not given much consideration by society. However, God values all of His animals. Matthew 6:26 addresses this by teaching, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” The importance of “mere birds” is also found in Matthew 10:29. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.”

I have been blessed to have had so many pets in my life. As a young boy, I learned the Creation Story and animals are most certainly part of Creation. Psalm 50:10-11 reads, “For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is Mine.” I also learned that animals were put here on earth for companionship and a food source, but the earth and all plants and animals on the earth belong to God, and as such we dishonor God if we abuse His earth or His animals. I support the wise and humane use of animals, but I am equally opposed to the misuse and abuse of animals.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, taught that humans are stewards of—and responsible for the care of—God’s creation. When they failed to protect His perfect creation, humans sinned against God, and when pain and suffering then entered the world, animals had to endure it, too. The bond God had created was broken, and humans’ exploitation of and cruelty to animals began. Wesley spoke with anticipation of a new creation in which God would restore animals to their intended glory.

Martin Luther, who founded the Lutheran church, held a view similar to Wesley’s, saying, “In Paradise there was complete harmony between man and animals; one day again that harmony will be restored and all creation will be made anew as Christ will be in all and all.”

Scripture is rich in describing the Paradise that awaits Christians upon our Healing. We all look forward to seeing the Father’s Face as the Son presents us as perfect, clean and without sin. I am confident that any Perfect resting place for me will also include all of my beloved pets from throughout the years.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the blessing of pets. Their unconditional love, companionship, and goodness is a constant reminder to us that they belong to You as do we. Help us to be good stewards of all pets and all animals and to make decisions regarding all of Your creatures that bring honor and glory to You. Amen!

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Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and a Certified Lay Speaker with the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is a Board Member for Gulf South Men, an Action Team member for The Kingdom Group, and a Board Member for the Lagniappe Community Walk to Emmaus. Todd is a Past President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and remains active in this and many other local, regional, and international ministries. Todd is the proud father of Emma and Kyle and resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Creating And Enforcing A Boundary Does Not Make You A Donkey

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:15-17 NIV).

All was well with God’s creation on earth for the entirety of the first two chapters of Genesis. Then, the story turns as we failed to obey His instructions, and the rest of the Bible is His loving actions to bring us back into relationship with Him. The fall and exit from the Garden of Eden was due to our failure as humans to honor His rules. Another word for rules is boundaries. God established a boundary regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Once that boundary was broken, Adam and Eve were no longer welcome in the Garden and we all today deal with those consequences in the form of pain, physical death, and toiling for food.

Speaking of boundaries, I recently read a good book on the subject by Lysa TerKejurst entitled, “Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Lovoing Others WIthout Losing the Best of Who You Are.”

You my know her from her appearances on K-LOVE radio and her Proverbs 31 ministry. In the book she talk about the pain she experienced when her hsuband had violated the sanctity of their marriage and she subseuqnetly instilled boundaries. When the boundaries were broken, she enforced them and filed for divorce.

She now must deal with the snipers in her life that have launched a whisper campaign against her. How could a Proverbs 31 woman divorce her husband. God hates divorce so why would she do this? Why not show love instead of drawing up boundaries. Why is she trying to control him with these boundaries?

I think it is important to understand that our God is a God of boundaries. He has established boundaries on us and very likely understands the need for us to establish boundaries on others if we are to love ourselves as we love Him. We can, and should, still love those in our life with whom we have placed boundaries, but now we do so in a different manner. One that is healthy for all parties and respects and honors God.

Some of us do not honor the speed limit, and the consequence of failing to obey that boundary is a speeding ticket. It is natural to try to blame “the system” for the ticket but the real fact is we were speeding, we failed to honor the boundary, and we will suffer the consequences. In rural areas, a no trespassing sign is fairly common. The landowner is not a donkey because he wants to keep people off of his land. The property line is the boundary. Your trespassing, and disregard of boundaries, is done at your peril.

If a person has established a boundary in their life it is probably not because they have a desire to control somebody else. More likely, they do have a very strong desire to enforce a boundary around the things that they hold dear, which is likely their family, their self, their ministry, and their work. The boundary was likely instilled because somebody in word or action became a threat. Lysa wrote in her book, “Remember all the work you’ve done to draw boundaries was not about controlling someone else’s behavior. It’s about paying attention and being honest about how someone’s poor behavior and lack of responsibility is possibly controlling you. And when people close to us are acting out of control, that’s when we run the greater risk of lacking self-control. When a relationship shifts from being difficult to being destructive, it’s the right time to consider a goodbye.”

So, if we feel compelled to label the boundary setter “a donkey, unchristian, mean, controlling, psycho, etc.” because they have established a boundary and we are unwilling and/or unable to respect that boundary, then perhaps it is time for us to entertain the possibility that the true “donkey” is the one looking at us in the mirror. Perhaps it is now time for us to do one of the most difficult, most necessary, and also most rewarding tasks that we can do as a human. It is time to find our quiet place and invite the Holy Spirit in to search us and reveal to us all of the many times that we have failed to respect and honor this other person, and consequently have failed to respect and honor our Lord and Savior. If this process cannot be done honestly and sincerely, then there is no need to do it. Also, if this process is attempted without the invitation and presence of the Holy Spirit, there is no need to do it. This is an important process, a sacred process. This is part of our pruning and sanctification. This is a task on our own personal road to Damascus.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the boundaries that you have placed in our lives as we know that they are for our own good. Forgive us for the times in which we fall short of honoring your boundaries and when we fail to honor the boundaries of others. Amen.

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