This morning I dove into the book of 1 Samuel. I believe God gave me an idea into his character, but also a stern warning against the way many of us live today. That warning was this; God is not our Lucky Rabbits foot. We don’t just get out of jail free whenever we “pull the God-card” and expect him to show up. The fact is that He does have great plans for our life, but that doesn’t mean we get to do whatever we want and it’s His responsibility to make it great. Continue reading “Your Lord or Your Lucky Rabbits Foot?”
This weekend I had the wonderful privilege to be able to preach here at Pathways Church. Not to be redundant, but the final point on prayer is worth taking some time to think about today so that it doesn’t just become words but translates into each of our lives. It comes from Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
So often we find verses in scripture that we can quote, but until they change they way we live they are not serving their intended purpose. Continue reading “Battle-Ready”
One of the biggest reasons people say that they don’t pray is because they “don’t have the time.” This then leads to guilt because they don’t pray, which leads to separation from God because they feel that they haven’t prayed in so long that when they pray this time God will wonder where they have been. Truth is, prayer is so much simpler than that! Actually, if you don’t already have a set devotional or prayer time my recommendation may surprise you. Its this: Don’t set a time… Yet. Continue reading “Lifestyle, not Event”
Over the last few weeks God has really been working on me with something, and as He usually does, He has lead me to his word and more specifically to Luke 10:38-42. It’s the story of Jesus at the house of Martha and Mary. As many of you may know, Martha was running around the house making sure all the preparations were perfect because Jesus was in her home. Everything had to be perfect for the King of Kings, right?!? Meanwhile, Mary, who was called to help with the preparations, sat in the living room with Jesus instead of helping out while Martha’s frustrations mounted.
This is a story that I continually have to come back to in my life. If you know the end of the story you know that after Martha cries out for help Jesus informs her that what is actually the best option is for her to join Mary in spending time with Him. The point of the story (which I will admit is SUPER convicting for me, and I think for many of us during this time of year) is that we can get so busy working FOR Jesus that we forget he wants us to work WITH Him.
The number one thing you can do in your life is to be a disciple of Christ. This doesn’t go away when your schedule gets busy; as a matter of fact it increases! As a pastor, a large portion of my week is spent in God’s word, but that doesn’t mean its devotional time. As a part of the Production Team here at Pathways Church I’m working to find supporting scriptures to where Pastor Brad is going with messages. As a part of the marketing team I’m working to put out the next quarter’s Elevate Prayer Journal to keep everyone reading through the Bible and finding passages that can be highlighted as devotional points. Even as one on the rotation of writing blogs for the Pulse, I’m constantly working on different writings and teachings. But notice the common word? Working… not studying the word, not applying.
During this season where there can be so much added to your “to-do” list, please remember that the most important thing you have to do each day is to spend time with Jesus Christ. Even this blog, although hopefully a good reminder, doesn’t count as your God-time. Your preparations are great. You should put your best foot forward in everything. But don’t allow it to distract you (the word “distract” taken directly from verse 40) from what is better (vs. 42). What is better is to make sure you are spending time with Jesus.
Today I find myself reflecting on the amazing opportunity I had this weekend to preach to the wonderful people of Pathways Church. The topic was to live a lifestyle of gratitude; to take Thanksgiving from a holiday or event, and realize that we should be thankful for everything we have, and have endured up to this point, and allow it to motivate us to do big things for the Kingdom of God.
As I sit here and think, my mind wandered to a missions trip I took as a youth pastor to Northern Ireland. I had no idea the real (and spiritual) battle that happened between “Catholics” and “Protestants” in that country until I witnessed it first hand. Yet, it was amazing to meet the people of Pillar Christian Church in Portadown who lived through the struggles. What was amazing is that they lived out a life of gratitude! They did not keep the residue of their countries past, but allowed it to motivate them to run straight into the “taboos” for the purpose of showing Christ’s love! Every day they were breaking down cultural barriers as they pushed forward to lift Christ up. This is a perfect example of not letting your past hold you back, but allowing it to motivate you.
While touring the city of Belfast (by the way it was cold and raining and I was on the top of an open top, double-decker tour bus…) we drove past a pub called, The Garrick (pictured). On the side of the building were inscribed the words:
“A nation that keeps one eye on the past is wise,
A nation that keeps two eyes on the past is blind.”
The message: When you stay focused on your past you can’t move forward, but when you recognize it while pushing on, it becomes motivation to do great things.
God has given you a gift; it’s called your testimony. None of us deserve it, but all of us should use it do advance the cause of Christ.
In the beginning of the book of Acts you read the story of the Day of Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit fell with the noise “like the blowing of a violent wind” and “tongues of fire separated and came to rest on each of them.” This caused them to speak in other tongues so loud that the people on the street heard it! I’m willing to go out on a limb here and say that their passion wasn’t from their past, even though they had been with Jesus (remember, when He died on the cross they all went back to fishing). I don’t think that they were even caught up in what was happening in that moment. I personally think that they were as exuberant as they were because Jesus had promised that when the Holy Spirit fell they would be empowered to do amazing things for the Kingdom of God! The fire wasn’t for the moment; it was for what was about to happen! They got “Fired Up” to actually go do something!
Continue reading “The “Fire””
Throughout this week I have been weighing some different things that I should write this blog about. There is a ton of things happening in our world right now and taking the forefront in our nation are the elections and corresponding campaign ads wherever you turn, and Hurricane Sandy blasting the east coast. Almost anytime of the year you could watch the news and get depressed but during this time you cant even get relief from commercial breaks! One word that keeps ringing through it all is Broken.
Homes on the east coast are broken. Mass transit systems are broken. Both candidates agree our government is broken (at best it’s just financially broke). And in the wake of it all are people whose lives seem broken. Now I don’t think that God sends natural disasters to lower the hammer and punish us all, but I do think he allows some things to happen so that we can be in the best possible place to be open to Him and receive Him. That place, unfortunately for us, just happens to be when we are broken. Continue reading “Broken”
Ever had a moment when your reading the bible and something small that you have read a bunch of times just jumps off a page? It just happened to me. The story happens in the book of Luke, chapter 5. Here’s the overview:
Jesus is teaching and healing people and the crowd gets big. There are a couple of boats there at the shore so Jesus decides it would be easier to speak from one of the boats instead of the shore and jumps in this unsuspecting fisherman’s boat, who happens to be named Simon Peter, and pushes out a ways to create a little floating stage. When he is done teaching he tells Simon to go out a ways in the boat and put down his nets for to catch some fish.
Continue reading “Because You Say So”
There are two things that are gravely important in our walk with God. The first is His will, which is not easy to determine all the time. There’s doors and opportunities that I have prayed with countless people about to decipher if it’s Gods will. Paths that could change their lives forever and they desperately need answers. As big as the question of “will” is, I think the other side of that equation is equally as big, and possibly harder to understand and accept, and that is Gods timing.
I know most of us who grew up in church could give the stats; Moses waiting in the desert 40 years before heading to Egypt to face the Pharaoh, the Israelites taking the long way to the promise land because they weren’t ready, even Jesus waited 30 years to start his ministry (and then told his mom that it wasn’t his time yet)! One of the biggest mysteries in life isn’t what to do, but when (and why not now).
But in all of these situations, God had a bigger plan. Too often we dive into an idea that we are sure is from God, and it may even be, but it’s not time for it to happen yet. This is where the trust and faith come in. Trust that God will let you know when to step, and have faith when you do.
Don’t get discouraged while you wait! God could be prepping you, or prepping the promised land for you!
Brandon Liebe 
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