Author: pastordarryl68

Love. Live. Serve. Minimizing me...making much of JESUS! Loves God, family and crossroads|church. Husband, father, teacher, student, servant and worshiper.

Consumers and Contributors

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Whether in a society, an organization, a business, a team, a church, or a family…CONSUMERS DO NOT BUILD OR LEAD ANYTHING.

A CONSUMER cannot be depended on as a foundation for anything. By definition, they will only consume, take, and receive for their own benefit and when they no longer find personal benefit, they move on to consume elsewhere.

A society is built by CONTRIBUTORS and plundered by CONSUMERS. CONTRIBUTORS are the foundation of any society, organization, business, team, church, or family. CONTRIBUTORS invest through radical generosity of their time, their talents, and their treasures (their possessions and money).

I’m extremely grateful for the sacrificial generosity of those who have contributed to my family, my church, and my society. I’m grateful for the examples God has placed in my life to teach me to pay that same generosity forward.

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. ~Hebrews 13:16

Tell Your Stories

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I’ve preached very few sermons that someone didn’t come up to me and, in jest ask “Have you been following me?”, “Do you have my house bugged?”, “Have you been talking to my spouse/parent?”, or “Were you lurking in the shadows at my workplace?” It is somewhat comical but shows the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to use The Scriptures and His storytellers to affect, influence, convict, encourage, and heal so many people from so many walks of life with one story.

Every breathing human being tells stories about things they’ve experienced and/or observed. Many, many people share these on their social media platforms. Life is a story, and we are designed to be the storytellers…all of us.

Unfortunately, some do it with ill intent or vengeful hearts. Some may mean it as a passive-aggressive attack on someone. Of course, these are wrong motivations, IF those are true motives…but I can only know a person’s true motives if the person admits it or I can read their mind. Otherwise, I’m just lowering myself to what I presume is their level by behaving the same way – judging as fact what I cannot possibly know. If I’m taking offense because I think it’s about me (and probably 5,000 other people who think the same thing), or worse yet, if I take ownership by proxy of offense because I think it’s about someone else (who isn’t even offended OR aware) – that’s on me – not on the storyteller. Chances are, I don’t trust the person and am assuming the worst about facts not presented.

But most are just sharing their experiences, lessons learned, or just making conversation. Let’s be honest – authors, journalists, bloggers, preachers, teachers, motivational speakers, influencers, and comedians would all be out of a job if there was something inherently evil about sharing the stories you’ve participated in and/or observed.

Hundreds of thousands of books (including the Bible) could never have been written if there was something evil about writing/talking about things you’ve experienced and/or observed and applying your thoughts or Yahweh’s inspired teachings about those things.

Now, if we’re talking about cowardly calling someone out behind a screen, naming names, throwing people under the bus, pointing blame, exposing secrets, or sharing confidential information that you’ve been trusted with – that’s an entirely different story. Many do it, but that doesn’t make it right. It’s a big part of what journalism today has become – partial or out-of-context truths, assumed motives, rumor-milling, and gossip-mongering. It’s wrong to do it with your friends, on your social media, on TV, or in print.

Tell your stories. Leverage who you are and what you’ve been given to help and serve others…some of my most tragic stories have helped way more people than they hurt me. Do it with compassion. Do it with humility. If you’re a follower of Jesus, do it for the Kingdom and not for yourself. One of the greatest truths for those of us who are followers of Jesus is this – realizing that it’s not really MY story. It is HIS story!

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ~Philippians 4:8

Search Me, O God

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Follower of Jesus, before you assume guilt assigned to you by someone else, stop and humbly confer with the Holy Spirit. David prayed this prayer in relation to those who were doing and speaking horrible things over both he and Yahweh: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:23-24) Yahweh will honor your request. If your heart or actions have been wrong, He’s not going to withhold that from you.

However, what Yahweh MAY reveal to you is the person’s pension for doing the same thing to others. How many others have they treated the same way? How many others do they blame for doing them wrong? How many relationships or churches have they abandoned because they were offended? How many other people have they blocked, unfriended, and canceled rather than seeking holy reconciliation and restoration by following Jesus’ prescriptive plan in Matthew 18 for when a brother or sister sins against you?

At some point, the “offended” might have to look in the mirror and realize that THEY are miserable and alone, that THEY are the victimized, not the victim.

I know that as a pastor/counselor, I’ve seen this cycle so many, many times in relationships. I’ve told people for years, “I’ve gone to many churches…” is not an asset to your resume or your reputation! It’s like saying, “I’ve been married many times.” You’re not instilling confidence in your character. I’ve heard the question, “Why does this keep happening to me?” way more times than I’ve heard, “Why do I keep doing this?”

Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! ~Lamentations 3:40

Commit Your Plans to God

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It seems we live in a culture where people make many plans and then cancel a number of them. Unfortunately, this most often happens because a more appealing option comes along…sometimes because people get over-extended or just don’t “feel like it.”
Aside from REAL illness and emergency, ghosting on commitments and canceling plans displays a lack of integrity, self-discipline, commitment, and respect for others.

Do you struggle with any of this? If so, here are a few ideas for how to grow in this area:

  1. Honor your commitments…this includes your spouse, your children, your church, and your employer.
  2. Make fewer but more meaningful plans.
  3. Learn to say “no” to some things so you can say yes to the things that are truly important.
  4. Be a person of your word.
  5. Be dependable.

Instead of establishing your plans on the most appealing option, prayerfully take your potential appointments, meetings, and tasks to God.

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3

Every Minute

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Every minute I spend in the negative is a minute I won’t get back…a minute I won’t get to leverage for the glory of the One who gave it to me:

  • every minute I spend enumerating my problems, past or present;
  • every minute I spend angry and rehearsing my anger in my mind or on my lips;
  • every minute I spend gossiping – I’ve not only wasted my minutes but the ones of those to whom I am listening/talking;
  • every minute I spend giving the enemy credit for the wrongs, disappointments, and struggles in my life;
  • every minute I spend in jealousy of someone else;
  • every minute I spend elevating myself over another in word, thought or action;
  • every minute I surrender to the rule of pleasure.

The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy his presence forever – to leverage who we are and what we’ve been given (our minutes and hours) to reach our world with Gospel-focused ministries of mercy so they might come to know, love, and follow Jesus into His Kingdom.

I have no time to waste on the negative.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ~1 Corinthians 10:31

The Future is Bright

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If only believers LIVED in this Truth!

The Lord reigns from heaven, exercising all rule and dominion. From that place He will destroy every enemy, and every thought that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (2 Cor. 10:1–5).

The Lord’s promises to us are truly staggering, and it is not surprising that we cannot get our minds completely around it. But He delights to give to His people, and one of the greatest gifts that He has given to us is the FUTURE.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. ~1 Corinthians 2:9

We must fix it in our hearts and minds that these staggering promises do not begin to be fulfilled at the close of history. They began to be fulfilled when a child was born, when a Son was given.

Transformation: More than Meets the Eye

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I LOVE to watch Yahweh transform the life of an adult through regeneration, baptism, and discipleship. It is a truly fantastic thing to behold. Their lifelong worldview and daily practice get turned upside down…or right-side up, if you will. The way they think and process is transformed – made new. The way they behave. The way they treat others and talk about others. The way they treat who they are and what they have been given.

But not only actions are changed…the reason/mission/purpose behind their actions change. What they value is transformed. Everything is affected by their repentance (turning the opposite direction from their sin) and their regeneration (being brought from death into life by the indwelling Spirit of God).

It’s not always easy. There are some strongholds in their lives…secular worldviews or generational sins that are deeply rooted and engrained by their family of origin or their secular education that they struggle to let go of. This is why we believe it is essential to teach and to train our children from a Biblical worldview from a very early age. But “OH!” the transformation when it happens. It is radical and victorious and the LIGHT of the gospel that shines brightly as a testimony of Who Yahweh is and what He has done.

This is something sooooooooo different from the act of “becoming a Christian” or “converting to Christianity.”

When people attempt to add the church to their life as a loving, accepting community;
When they add Jesus as a “safety net for heaven” to their already broad collection of gods that they worship (self, image, wealth, entertainment, pleasure, success, career, family, church, etc.); When they don’t repent of offending the person and the character of Yahweh by their sin; When they don’t submit to the Lordship of Jesus; — there is no regeneration…there is no transformation. All the “change” that happens in their lives is sheer self-initiative by self-power motivated by self-glorification. It doesn’t last. It never fulfills. It eventually fades, disenchants, and departs, and the individual eventually walks away from their version of “christianity”, blaming God for not performing for them or being there for them, the church for not caring for them, the bible for being antiquated and irrelevant, and the list goes on.

New life in Christ is UNMISTAKABLE. It is upside down/right-side up transforming. It is redeeming. It is restoring. It is lasting. It is eternal. It is holy. It frustrates those who are not of the Spirit. It infuriates its opponents.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Disagreement Does Not = Disrespect

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It is possible to disagree with someone without disrespecting the person. I know…my wife and I often disagree, but I respect her more than anyone else on earth. I may not agree with the opinion she has, but I have mad respect for her.

Disagreements are a sign of freedom of thought and expression. Disagreements are a sign of diverse individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures learning to live in community together…as God designed both our individuality AND our diversity. If we are both exactly the same, one of us is unnecessary in the relationship.

As followers of Jesus, for us to live in community together, there are a handful of doctrines that we must have unity in to be of one mind and one accord in Jesus, as He prayed to Yahweh in John 17. But even essential doctrines should never produce disrespect for one another.

Disrespect is a sign of a lack of character. The day you learn to disagree without being disrespectful is the day that a leader is born.

Ephesians 4:15

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ”

Just Look at the Fruit

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There will always be critics who pretend to be invested in your life, motivated by all sorts of self-centered emotions and agendas, speaking from their own narrative, perspective, and assumptions.

At the same time, sometimes even in the same moment, God will gift His people in your life with exhortation, discernment, mercy, wisdom, faith, and generosity to speak hopeful TRUTH into your life – even in correction or rebuke. These truths from God are edifying to the soul and refreshing to the Spirit, equipping you for every good work in the body of Christ.

How do you know the difference? You will know them by their fruits…every single time. Fruit doesn’t lie. Look at the fruit. Look at how they spend their time and with whom they spend it. People are easier to read than a book, if you know what to look for.

“You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:16-20

Repent

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Unlike so many of us who try to be loving and supportive to others, God never coddles our insecurities and weaknesses. He never says, “Bro, you got this. You’re amazing.”
Instead, He simply says, “I’m with you. I got this.”

Why? Because HE IS AMAZING!!!!

His PRESENCE is the guarantee. Not our person.

Jesus didn’t eat with sinners and tax collectors because He wanted to appear inclusive, tolerant, accepting, or approving. He didn’t do so for His own benefit, entertainment, and well-being.

He ate with them intentionally to graciously call them to repentance…to compassionately and mercifully offer them forgiveness and redemption FROM their sin, not acceptance OF their sin.

As image bearers and having been indwelt by HIS Spirit, we are called to do the same.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:17