The "Me" Factor

How often do you cycle through life being hot for Jesus and then cold and then hot and then cold and then hot again. There seems to be this continual roller coaster and we don't know how to handle the dichotomy of our lives being torn in two, wanting to follow Christ, but maintain our status of "me." I won't lie, Revelation 3:16 is talking to me too! I can't stand being lukewarm, and yet it seems that I spend quite a lot of my life in that status, because I can't continually keep my eyes focused on Christ.

We tend to think in terms of fully working or fully vacationing. We're either completely following Christ or we're  just taking time to focus on "me." And yet, we know, from Scripture, that the Christian life will be hard. Jesus doesn't make light of that fact, nor does He make excuses for it. He simply reiterates, "Follow me."

Since you will probably find yourself in the same boat that I continually find myself in, I'd like to offer some encouragement. Rather than throwing up your hands and saying, "I can't believe that I am so far away from Christ, yet again," I encourage you to just take a moment and reflect upon where you are at this point in your life. No matter what has happened or what you've done, just stop and consider your "now."

After you have done that, I'm going to say something that might sound harsh - "Get over yourself."

See, we weren't put at the center of God's universe. Many of us think that is the case, but it's not. God is at the center of His own universe. We were created to join Him, but contrary to popular opinion, we are not central to God existing. He exists on His own, with or without us, spanning the entirety of time. And yet, we treat Him as if He revolves around us. "Lord, just give me some time to get my life together," seems to be a popular excuse among Christians today. At what point did you begin thinking that God couldn't handle you where you are NOW? What makes you think that you are immune to Satan's attacks? What makes you think that you are the only one in the universe that is feeling this way? Stop it!

Christ came to forgive us of our sins. And yet, rather than ceasing our sin, we continue on acting as if He's not good enough to take care of us. Instead of making Him our center, we expect Him to cater to our every need. We are stuck facing "me" and we can't seem to reorient our lives back to Christ. If that's the case, then we're in a sad state of affairs.

It's time for change. Stop worrying about what everyone around you is thinking. Stop your own worry about everything that is happening in your life. Point your life toward Christ and start walking in His direction.

"But, Bryan, it's SO hard." Yep. And it will continue to be. Learn to walk toward Christ, despite the difficulty, because He is the only one that can carry us through each of these difficult situations. Instead of pushing Him away and resisting His call, rest in the only One that can truly make you whole. No more me. Leave me behind.

Thoughts for New Year's Resolutions - 12/19/11

I've been keeping track of some kick-start thoughts for New Year's resolutions. Maybe some of these apply to your life.
* If you don't start it, no one will start it for you. We seem to have a tendency to wait for others to do something for us, when in reality, we should've been working on a postponed project for quite some time. Just get to it!
* At the beginning of January, turn all of your hangers backwards. After you wear an item in your closet, turn the hanger back the right way. In June, donate all of the clothing items that are still facing the wrong direction. You haven't worn them in six months, so you probably won't wear them anytime soon. Why is it that Americans feel the need to hang on to useless things? We have a tendency to hold on more than let go. Quite applicable in many areas, don't you think?
* Find at least one thing to celebrate every day. Don't be afraid to celebrate the small things. Christ is our salvation, right? I mean, He's already made all things possible and yet we get caught up in unnecessary drama. Celebrate, don't stew.
* Rather than making the largest "home improvement" list that you've ever known, schedule out one home improvement project per month. This will give you time to plan out the project, will protect your budget, but still allow you to make the changes that you desire to see. We often forget that the small accomplishments add up to big change.
* Go through your contacts and delete people that don't need to be there. I don't think this is mean, in any way. We have contacts that just take up space - people in our lives that don't do anything for us. Granted, not EVERYthing is about us, but at some point you have to evaluate whether or not the relationship is worth it. Consider pouring more energy into those that are.

I'm usually not a fan of resolutions, because I start a new one every Monday, after our Sunday services. And...by about Tuesday, it's over. But, I think that there is some worth in taking an annual evaluation of our lives and allowing Christ to lead us in His direction.

I hope this helps point you toward Him!

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan
http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com
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To My Love

The essence of my life
Bringing wonder to my soul
My sustenance and ever-present desire
Keeping my heart healthy and whole

Your love is known round the world
Serving those who are in need
You are at the fore of every heart and mind
But you are precious only to me

I love you in my inner-most heart
For you alone do I crave
This thing called food will ever be
The thing for which all I gave

Bring the Best Robe

What percentage of people spend their lives in fear, guilt or sadness? How many people miss out on the amazing opportunities that God has for their life, because they are stuck in the rut of their current life? My attention is drawn to the lost or prodigal son found in Luke 15:11-32, in which a story of a lost son returning into the father's care draws upon the strings of our hearts. Check this out!

Most of us are already familiar with the story, so I won't recap the whole thing. I'll only say this - the son was so tired of living a lost and wandering life that he finally came back to his father to beg for a place among the servants. Consider what he must have put himself through as he wandered the streets, looking for a bit of food or a warm place to spend the night. Picture the humility that he would have gone through, just to eat with the pigs, because he couldn't find food enough to feed his appetite (which had dwindled considerably at this point). Imagine the rags that he wore as he approached his father to beg for mercy.

As he walks up to the father (and I consider this to be a dramatic, staggering walk with the last of his unspent energy), his face is sunken in from malnutrition and his gait has turned into a hobble. His eyes are probably tired, dry, and yet filled with tears, because he just took his first steps back onto his father's property. The servants are probably staring, knowing that they're supposed to be working, but can't help themselves. The older brother is scornful and wishes the father would just turn him away.

The humility, the pain, the guilt - all of these things weigh heavily on the prodigal son's heart. Nothing else matters, though, because just by being in the father's presence, his heart is restored. Just knowing that his father hasn't cast him away melts his sadness into even more tears of joy. Bowing before his father, he just sits and weeps with his head down around his father's feet.

But, the father says, "Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him."

Shock! Everyone turns to look at the father's face. Is he joking? Is this a ploy? Why would he say that? What RIGHT does this son have? He squandered his father's living! He made a mess of the family name. He doesn't deserve ANYTHING, let alone the best robe!

How does the prodigal respond? He didn't want the best robe, he just wanted something to cover him as he sleeps at night. He didn't want a ring on his finger, he just wanted a warm meal to tide him over until he could work again.

"This is sick! This is disgusting," he thought. He didn't deserve anything, let alone a place of honor among his family. "Why would my father do this? He has to be wrong. He has to be crazy!"

But, the father insisted. In fact, he turned to his manservant and gave him a well-known glare that said, "If you don't complete the task that I give to you, you can return back to the fields to work." He was completely serious and within seconds everyone rushed to comply with his command. As they brought the robe out, the father grabbed it out of their hands and bent down to kneel face-to-face with his lost son. "Get up," he said.

Not knowing any other way to respond to his father's command, he slowly rose. Joints cracking from a lack of exercise, the son stood before his father with his head bowed. The father gently placed the robe over his shoulders and straightened it as it lay there on his shallow frame. For seconds that seemed like an eternity, the son just stood there and sobbed. His shaking body could barely stand, but the father's hands upon his shoulders kept him upright.

And then, the father wrapped him in his arms. The most welcoming hug that he had ever given anyone was the breaking point for everyone in the room. All that were staring gasped in awe at what the father had just done. He had welcomed an undeserving orphan into his household - into his inheritance. The son knew, perhaps for the first time, his father's complete and undivided love.

What I find interesting about this story is the fact that God is ready to replace our filthy rags with the best robe. He desires to wrap us in His arms and just welcome us into His inheritance. If I knew what it was like to allow God that full and complete place in my own life, I'd express it. All I know is that I spend most of my time waiting on the outskirts of my Father's property, unwilling to take that first step. My fear, my guilt, my shame all keep me from walking into His presence.

Doesn't He deserve more? Wait! Bryan, you're asking the wrong question. Shouldn't you have asked if WE deserve more? No! God deserves our love. He deserves our undivided attention. After all, we are placed on this earth to glorify Him. Nothing else matters. So, rather than sitting in our guilt and shame, isn't it time for us to step into His presence and just allow Him to protect and guide us?

It's just something I struggle with. What about you?

Living Out Christmas - 12/12/11

As I sat and watched our children's Christmas play last night, I was reminded of the sparkle and twinkle of Christmas. In the U.S., we have wrapped the holidays up in a very nice package. We mostly spend time worrying about how it is wrapped, rather than considering the gift that comes inside of the wrapping. And here's a thought - no matter how you wrap Jesus, He's still the same gift.

In Luke 9:57-62, Jesus tells those following Him that they have to be willing to give up everything in order to follow Him. This isn't a one-time recruitment message, nor is is a simple prayer and your done. We seem to think that by going to church on Christmas and Easter, that our relationship to God will simply pan out in the end. However, this is NOT the message the Jesus communicates! It will be hard. It will be tiring. It will be grueling. Does that sound like the simple message of the Messiah coming that we usually hear at Christmas?

Instead of spending all of this Christmas season wondering about all of the beautiful wrapping and lights, I encourage you to deeply consider how the Messiah has changed your life. I encourage you to consider His message of hope to humanity along with His desire that you follow Him intimately. I encourage you to spread the word about God's affect on YOUR life. Show them how the Messiah has forever changed who you are and invite them to start the journey this season. It's not a one-time commitment and then your done; but, they can start the walk now. There's never a better time than now!

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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Understanding God's Healing

I'm not going to profess to understand everything about God's amazing power to heal; but, I would like to share God's healing hand in my life tonight.

I've always known that God has the ability to bring about physical healing. I read the stories of His healing throughout the Bible and also of His other miraculous works, and I continually am amazed what He has done. However, I wasn't raised in a church that overtly talked about physical healing, so it was always something that I expected happened at other places. Sure, I didn't doubt that God could heal someone from my church, or even my family, but it just wasn't something that we saw.

Tonight, I experienced yet another healing moment, but I'm not sure that I've ever really thought of it as such until now. Since we have youth group on Wednesday nights, I usually come very tired after a normal work day. On several occasions, I have come home from work with a headache, sometimes borderline migraine, and not wanted to go to youth group. It's not that I don't love my church or my people, but rather that I literally feel as if I am going to fall over. Tonight was one of those nights.

I specifically remember driving to pick up a couple of the teens at their school and thinking, "I hope that I can stay conscious long enough to just get through this service." But, I also spent some time in prayer. I know that, if God has called me to the task of preaching, then He will equip me with everything that I need to get the job done. So, I just asked that God heal me - even if it was only to preach.

7 o'clock rolled by and still the headache was there. It was so bad, I was having trouble seeing straight and didn't even know how I was going to remember the message. And then God, as He has often done, said, "It's time to start. Let's go." Immediately, I was taken to another place and I was ushered on stage to lead the group in praising God. No headache. No thought of a headache. No desire to be in bed. My only thoughts and desires were to lead my group into the presence of God, so that they could connect with God.

As soon as church was over and I was back in my car, the headache had returned. I realize that I had it for a reason - I was dehydrated; but, what blows my mind is the fact that God takes care of me, every time He needs me to do His work.

Sure, it's not like I had a broken arm that was healed. It's not like I had a terminal disease that was taken away. I wasn't taken from a mat, carried into the presence of Jesus, touched by His hands, and told to walk; but, my body was healed so that I could preach the Word of God to the group.

Well, Bryan, that's not really that big of a deal.

Maybe not, but one of the teens was saved tonight. A young man, lost and alone, was forever changed, because he heard the message of the Gospel. Call it whatever you want, but I believe that my God handles things when they need to be dealt with. I believe that He intends for us to prosper. I believe that He desires a blessed relationship with us. And, I also believe that many will turn their back on Him, because they don't quite get it - the message, that is.

I just want you to be encouraged. I know that, often, we are required to follow God without knowing what will happen or how it will happen or even who will go with us. That's exactly how I felt tonight and I was reassured that only one thing mattered: connecting to God. I encourage you to follow that same path. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then connect with me and I'll connect you to Him.

Blessings upon your life.

Second-Rate Love

As I sit, considering tomorrow's Thanksgiving festivities, I'm forced to reflect upon tonight's communion service message from Revelation 2:2-5. Some of us are thankful for things. Others of us are thankful for family and our church body. Sometimes, we forget the only thing worth remembering: our First Love.

In a recent conversation with a friend, I was drawn to the fact that my love for Christ, however strong, never fully reaches the love that Christ first had for us. "How are you today?"

"I'm about 75%."

"Interesting, because 75% pure gold is still considered to be impure." It wasn't a statement of condemnation, rather one of self-reflection. Have I ever attained first-rate love? A communion service, a remembrance of our communion and one-ness with Christ, should bring us back to remembering our First Love. And yet, why is it, that most of my life is spent with the feeling of being a second-rate lover.

I offer the following lyrics as my reflection. I realize that it can sound like a love song, but consider the words as you stand face-to-face with Christ. Maybe I'll record the music...someday...for now, consider the reflection.

You look so beautiful to me

Reminding me of nothing that I've seen

Drawing me to reframe the everything that I'm dreaming

I think the state of my me brings a purer love for Thee

I stand here as a second-rate

Holding only the shadow left behind

I sing hallelujah-lelujah

For the wonder of Your love

So pure and mine

I feel Your scarred and wounded hands

Not keeping me from driving the nail again

Bringing me to the place of giving up my needs

I think with less of me I'll find a purer love for Thee

I stand here as a second-rate, a second-rate

Holding only the shadow left behind

I sing hallelujah-lelujah

For the wonder of Your love

I bring to You the praise with my life

Leaving my depravity and sin so far behind

I sing hallelujah-lelujah

For the wonder of Your love

So pure and mine

Giving Love for the Ninja Nod-Off

Not all of you are aware, but there is a wonderful blog that I like to follow called Stuff Christians Like. Not only does it make my day, but also, it gives good ideas for things that we can do better in church. Check out today's post entitled, "The Ninja Nod-off!" I hope that it makes your day better :)

When Super Mario Bros & Dating Collide

There seems to be somewhat of a discrepancy over the different stages in getting to know someone. What many people don't actually understand, and seems to be a lesser-known fact, is the idea that dating is not simply defined as it used to be in the golden days. When I was in elementary school, if you wanted to date someone, you called it "goin' around." That was it. There weren't multiple steps or stages or whatever. We didn't kiss, because that was such a disgusting idea, that only the most raunchy of students actually tried it. When I moved into high school, it was no longer called "goin' around," but was changed to "dating." OK, that's still pretty simple.

Now, with the addition of social media into our world, there is a WHOLE new slew of stages that takes the concept of "dating" to a whole new level. I've described it in terms of Super Mario Bros for the sake of all of the guys out there that are still confused.

World One: Gently Stalking - This happens until the two become friends on Facebook. Generally speaking, this is the introduction phase, where you're learning how to play the game.

World Two: Texting - This is a casual conversation that allows the exchange of information, but no emotional connection. You probably think that you have a handle on things, but don't get cocky.

World Three: The Coffee Date - You are now able to establish an emotional connection in a Starbucks (or similar coffee shop), without feeling trapped or overwhelmed.

World Four: The Actual Date - If you are the guy, you wear jeans and a button-down, so as not to seem too excited, and take the girl to a restaurant that has been pre-approved by your non-dating-status girl friends. If you are the girl, you wear pants and a nice blouse that says, "Don't get crazy."

World Five: The First Call - This is initiated by the guy, because the girl doesn't want to seem too forward. He's usually unsure as to how long after the date to call, because Google data analysis still hasn't caught up to the modern age of social media awkwardness.

World Six: The Dating Phase - If you've passed World Five, then you are now launched into one of the longest levels of your life. It will seem insurmountable, but there are hints below to help you pass this level.

World Seven: The Question - There are multiple theories as to the best plan of attack for this level. If you don't keep a healthy balance at this point, then you won't follow through to the end. The question is only asked when you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you got this.

World Eight: The Wedding - You've Saved the Princess! Not yet...You are now facing the moment of truth. You have persisted and maintained your lives all the way up to this point. This is the final battle that will decide the truth of your relationship.

You will definitely need help throughout this process. If you think that you can do it alone, don't even try. The following are hints to help you along the way.

Warps - If you've played the game before, or at least been coached along the way, then you will find ways to warp between worlds. If this option is available and is not going to hurt you in the long run, then take advantage of it.

1-Ups - You NEED these. There is no way that you can make it through without these. You are going to make mistakes, so save your 1-Ups for the times when you make mistakes. Not only will they give you new life, but also they will give you a chance to rethink your plan.

Pause - There have been attempts to drink caffeinated beverages and just streak through the game without stopping. Don't do this. Take your time, if necessary, to pause and reflect. And...use the bathroom as necessary.

Coins - You can make it through the game without collecting coins, but it would be better to grab as many as you can. Pay attention to opportunities to gather more coins. Don't stop to get them, if it will hurt your time, but don't just pass them by without paying attention. You will need the 1-Ups that they bring.

Fire Flower - There will be times when you feel as if you are completely on fire. Enjoy it. Bask in it. But remember, it doesn't last forever. You still need to brush up on your overall skills, because the Fire Flower will not always be around to rescue you.

Starman - These are less common than Fire Flower, but allow you to blaze through anything without being affected. Please take caution when using the Starman. If you run out of your invincible power and are not paying attention, then you will surely die.

Remember that Bowser is just that - Bowser. He represents every guy that stands in your way of rescuing the princess. Don't let them defeat you. They will act stronger, tougher, and some may even spit game; but, don't let that stop you. You have ONE mission: Rescue the princess!

Good luck!

Sermon Notes - 11/14/11

I was reading a blog, recently, about taking sermon notes. Regardless of the rest of the blog, I started thinking about how often we take sermon notes and why. And, then I started thinking about whether or not we actually pay attention in church. I mean, do our notes reflect what we learned in the sermon? Do they just represent the main points that someone tried to get across to us? Are they just doodles?

Do you pay attention? To life?

We just had a recent discussion in youth group about the usefulness of cell phones in a church service. Their response, without my prompting, was that phones are unnecessary in church. I asked that those with the Bible app on their phone to raise their hand. About half of the hands went up. Then I asked that those who owned a physical Bible put their hands down. Only one hand was left up, and I promised to get her a Bible.

When we take out all of our excuses for not paying attention, we really are forced to ask the hard question. Do I really and truly want a relationship with God or am I just really, really good at pretending?

Psalm 78:1-4 says, "My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old - things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, His power, and the wonders He has done."

I hope that you can answer the question of life.

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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Widows and Orphans - 11/7/11

Yesterday was Orphan Sunday (around the United States), so I thought it would be appropriate to have a discussion about our responsibility as the church in regard to widows and orphans.

James 1:26-27 says, "Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

I see three very basic things rising up out of this passage. The first is that anyone who first considers themselves religious is just fooling themselves. Speaking out about your religion, but having not actions to back up your words, proves just how shallow you truly are. If you desire to have a deep sense of "religion," then look out for others in greater need than yourself, and ensure that you are following biblical principles.

Secondly, James warns us to look out for the orphans and widows in distress. Do we even know who those people are? That seems to be the question running through my head. How do I find them? Well, in order to know who those are in distress, I have to first have a relationship with them. Some people are so secretive about their issues, that they don't want anyone to know. You may have people in distress, right under your nose, but wouldn't know what is causing that distress, because you haven't been paying attention.

And lastly, keep yourself from being polluted by the world. I don't think that this overshadows our attention to others, but rather it coincides with it. Helping others is a part of how we keep ourselves from being polluted. We can't have more concern for others than for ourselves, but it also works the other way. There is a constant pull between what we feel for ourselves, and how we respond to others, and that balance that we find is what comes from being filled with the Spirit of God.

I say these things, almost more to myself than to you, because I know just how hard it is for me to remain faithful to the call of God upon my own life. I hope that this week, you are able to seek out those in distress and pray for them. Bring them comfort. Help meet their physical needs. They are truly all around us, we just have to look.

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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I Pulled the God Card

Have you ever considered forgiving the person that hurts you the most? How about the person that drives you insane? Or the person who should already know better, but they continue to act inappropriately? I have...

Honestly, I'm not thrilled about the prospect of forgiving them. The social justice side of me wants to speak out, "But, they need to be held accountable!!" I'll share with you tonight's lesson from the track.

I was walking, as I sometimes do when I cannot run (by sometimes, I really mean a lot) and having a conversation with myself. Well, I was really having a conversation with "the other person." There were a lot of "Oh ya, do you know what you did??" statements and also calls for repentance. But, the entire time I was NOT convincing the other person to see my side of the argument (interesting, since it was ultimately myself).

I finally pulled my wild card. I mean, I had "the other person" dead to rights with this card. There was no escaping, no denying - NOTHING. This was the "God" card.

"If you were standing in the presence of God, you would have to repent. If you don't, then God is going to smite you." I don't think I actually said smite, but I like the word, so it'll fit closely enough. I was there, intimately looking for a response. God was standing next to me and He said, "If there is no repentance, then you make the call and I will end the life of 'the other person.'"

WHOA - wait a minute! You mean to tell me that I get to make the call? This was the moment. I could finally get an apology! This was the thing for which I had been arguing until my legs hurt from walking.

And, then it hit me. I was condemning this person to death. The judgement that I was to deal out, was the judgement that is reserved only for God. But, He said I could! No. But, "the other person" deserves it! No. In that moment, I knew that I had no more argument left.

How could I, a sinner just like "the other person," justify anyone's life? To this moment, I still feel a sense of loss, as if I had really pulled the trigger or swung the axe. I wanted it so badly, even if it meant the other person's condemnation to an eternity in hell.

I hope you learn from my mistake. Maybe "your other person" has done worse than mine. If that's the case, then you have a longer road to walk. I can't say that I envy either of our situations, but I can say that mine is ending in forgiveness.

One of my fears is that "the other person" will hurt me again after I forgive. The truth is, I can't control that. I can only promise to remain faithful to God and ask that He direct my steps. I hope that you can do the same.

The Bride of Christ - 10/31/11

In John 3:27-30, John the Baptists refers to Christ as the Bridegroom, referring to the anticipation that the Groom has while waiting for His bride (the church) to finally enter the marriage. Think about that! Christ truly desires us, His bride, as a groom that waits in anticipation for the wedding day.

For those of you that are married, you can probably still remember the giddy feeling that you had, while waiting for the final moment in which you would say your vows and seal your marriage relationship. Think about Christ, waiting for us on the day of judgment. He is excited to see us enter into a relationship with Himself, because that is our original purpose. This communion with God is ultimately our undeniable calling that many people toss away so willingly.

I encourage you to think about the anticipation of entering into the presence of Christ. Just remember that He desires you, much more than you have ever (or will ever) desire Him. And that, brothers and sisters, is the hope that we have in Him.

I hope that you are able to share this with those that are closest to you. Spread the word about what Christ has done in your life lately. Let them know about the blessings that you have, and encourage them to enter into this same relationship.

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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Considering Joy

James 1:2 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

I'm curious as to what those "trials of many kinds" actually look like. When was the last time that I faced something that was seriously considered a trial? For that matter, when was the last time that I actually did something that serious. If I consider my minuscule issues "trials," what will actually happen when I face a real trial?

I love how James phrases this, because he says "trials of many kinds." That means I will sometimes have big trials, sometimes small ones, and sometimes even things that I have no clue how to classify. But, he says that regardless the type of trial, when I come through it, my faith will have been tested and proven. THAT is what really gets me.

I desire perfection, but obviously won't get there any time soon. However, I know that when my faith has been tested and comes out stronger, that I will have more perseverance for the future trials. How amazing is it, that we are blessed with a God who sees exactly what we need and helps us through?

In Luke 11:11-13, Jesus asked, "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

When you are faced with trials, pray for the Spirit of God to fill your life and dwell with you. There is nothing more that you can ask for and God expects that you ask for nothing less. He knows exactly what we need to persevere, so give Him the opportunity to make it happen!

True and Glorious Salvation - 10/24/11

Matthew 7:21-23 says, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"

Think about the many thousands of people that have cried, "Lord, Lord," but will never enter heaven. While we know that God is a loving Father and the Creator of the Universe, we also know that He is a just, jealous, and righteous God. For the sake of us understanding this text, we need to realize that some of the people that call themselves Christians will NOT enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. You're probably running through a list of 4-5 people right now - people that you know are not living their lives for the Christ, the Messiah.

So, what does it mean to have true salvation? It's not the fact that we open the door and finally allow Jesus to participate in our lives. Rather, it is the undeniable reality that we are absolutely NOTHING without Him. We have nothing of value to offer for our lives. Just opening the door to His call seems shallow.

The picture that Jesus paints is one of a dinner table, in which we sup with Him. This, from my understanding, is His call to commune with Him. We feast, we talk, we laugh, we obey, we struggle, we do everything with Him. This type of radical salvation is not something that we can take lightly. If we are truly "saved" from the pit of hell, it is because we are allowing the Holy Spirit of God to make sweeping changes in our lives, bringing us closer to mirroring Him, and not our former life.

If there is truly a great need in our lives, it is that we tell everyone that we know of the salvation that God offers through His Son, Jesus Christ. Many are calling Him "Lord," but He is not the Lord of their lives. If you care about those that are without Christ, then you will do something about it. I challenge you to consider this message today. Salvation is not for us to keep to ourselves. There is a Savior that can change our lives, and we need to share Him with everyone that we can!

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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If you'd like to subscribe to this weekly devotional, please forward your email and name to thebtaylor@gmail.com. Also, the idea for today's devotional comes from David Platt's book Radical.

Letters to My Wife, Chapter 6

I was asked, repeatedly, what my "type" was. Who would I desire to date? What did I look for in a wife? I mean, I wanted to be completely honest, but sometimes I just didn't know what to say. Most people wanted to know if I looked for a brunette or a blond and how tall she should be and whether she was thin and all of that superficial stuff. While I'll admit, I desired a woman who was beautiful, I didn't necessarily have a "type" as most people wanted to know.

I wanted to see the heart. I wanted someone with whom I could have a real and honest conversation. I wanted deeper than the typical, superficial relationship that I saw in so many people around me. Often people wondered why I was so picky, and it was because I just couldn't see myself with this girl or that one. There was nothing beyond the physical attraction and that bothered me.

So, when people asked about my type, I shared my prayer:

"Lord, I ask that you bring me a beautiful woman to be my wife. Please let her be someone who will love and respect me; and someone that I can love and respect in return. Let her be someone that will join with me in ministry. And, let her be someone that I can pour my heart into and will pour her heart into me in return. Thank you, Lord."

At hearing this, most people would respond with, "Awwe," as if I had discovered some secret to love and happiness. The truth is, I was still single. I would often wonder if I had prayed the wrong prayer or if my prayer would ever be answered. But, I waited with anticipation. I knew that God would send you, and I held on to that hope. I knew that, if I was faithful to my God, He would bless me, more abundantly than I had ever thought possible.

Now that we're finally married, I realize that I couldn't have asked for anyone more appropriate. My God supplied my needs and blessed me with a woman who completes me so fully, I haven't the words to express it. So, I simply say, "I love you. Thank you, for being a part of the rest of my life."

Chapter 1 :: Chapter 2 :: Chapter 3 :: Chapter 4 :: Chapter 5

A Message from Jesus - 10/17/11

Jesus Christ is our salvation, and yet, we spend so little time actually examining the messages that He had to impart to humanity. More specifically, I think we sometimes forget to look at the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5. I'd like to spend a little time on the Beatitudes for the next few weeks or so. The Beatitudes are Jesus' opening remarks for the rest of the sermon, and really outline, I think, His desire for Israel to turn back to their God.

Last week I discussed hungering and thirsting for righteousness, but I didn't do much to introduce the first three verses. This week, let's look at Matthew 5:3: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Poor in spirit? What on earth does THAT mean? Do I have to lose my spirit? Is my spirit not good enough? Is He talking about God's Spirit?

Imagine our spirit as a glass jar or container. An empty container is still filled with something - air. So, imagine your spiritual container being filled with things: emotions, reactions, thoughts, words, ideas, beliefs, etc. All of these things are direct change agents to our spirit. If I start filling my container with negative emotions, my spirit is going to look negative. If I begin to fill my container with positive thoughts, then I will be filled with a bunch of "good words". But, imagine me emptying my container of all of MY stuff. If I do this, then I am making room for it to be filled with something else.

This emptying can be dangerous, because it leaves room for either negative things or positive things to fill it. But, if my entire desire is to be filled with God's spirit (going back to Matthew 5:6 from last week), then I HAVE to empty my container to make room for Him. That's a risk that I take, but one that I am absolutely willing to do, because I cannot continue to live my life without Christ. To live without Christ is nothingness. To live without Him is emptiness. To live without Him is worthless.

Once I have emptied my spirit (or become poor in spirit - my own spirit), I have room to inherit the kingdom of heaven. And THAT, brothers and sisters, is the desire of my heart. This week, I hope that all of your actions, statements, and thoughts glorify God. May you have God's peace, to surround your life and keep you humble.

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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Things to be Remembered

Have you ever found yourself wondering why you are in your current situation? Have you been so completely overwhelmed with life that you forget to remember the GOOD things that Christ is doing in and through your life? To hopefully avoid finding myself in that place, I'd like to share the following story. It may not be that significant to some, but it is to me, and therefore is set up as an Ebenezer for future remembrance.

Last night, youth group was a different service that what we've experienced lately. Don't get me wrong, I've been enjoying our youth services, but last night was special. It was the culmination of a number of changes that God has been making in my life and in the lives of many of my teens. It was the turning point and a time that should not be forgotten.

We started with our music. While the teens were excited and full of rambunctious energy, when we began singing, we were moved from our current place of understanding, to a place in which the Holy Spirit was able to speak into our hearts. This was in addition to the fact that I really had fun playing guitar with my brother. I mean, there's just something about playing well together, when you are in sync, that let's you know that the groove is on and you're playing out of the overflowing abundance of your heart. THAT was cool!

But, back to the teens. There is something about hearing a bunch of teens lift their voices in praise and adoration of our Father and Creator that soothes the soul. There is something about that moment in time that allows the Holy Spirit to just say, "Peace. Hear my voice and respond." In that instant, you are moved from thinking about your current situation, your problems, your worries, and your concerns with life to only caring about serving the one, true Savior. THAT was cool!

But, put the guitar aside. Put the music and lyrics aside. Open the Word of the Lord to Hosea 10:12. If, as most Christians would state, our desire is to draw closer to God through righteousness, we would look at this passage and wonder, is my field fallow? Is my soil rocky? Do I have weeds in my life that are keeping me from worshiping God with every part of my being? If so, then I HAVE to plow my field and get it ready for God's great and abundant blessings for my life.

This brought us to the point of an invitation to answer the Spirit's call on our lives. Hands were raised, teens were feeling the Spirit moving in their lives. The altar was open and ready to receive people for prayer. In that moment in time, there was absolutely no doubt about God's call for repentance, changed lives, and new attitudes. To leave there without connecting with God was a very purposeful and rebellious decision.

Afterward, the teens wanted to stay and talk. I mean, we have days in which people jet out the door and are ready to go home; but, not last night! I literally had to force them out the door so that we could have our new believer's Bible study. The fact that they were disappointed to leave the House of God just warmed my heart, and warms it still.

Fast forward through Bible study, which was great, and you are brought to the van ride home. There was laughter! There were giggles. There was fun. There was excitement. There were good conversations. How can you get better than a van full of life?

To look back and say that God's Spirit was not present would be a scandalous falsehood. God was present last night. He was real. And, He was moving. I would rather have that with only a handful of teens, than a room full of disengaged and disinterested teens. But, here's the kicker! We had a great number of teens! More than I expected for "Christian concert" night at the fair, for which many people decided to skip our mid-week service. I don't hold that against them, but rather I rejoice in the fact that God still brought new people into His house so that they could hear the Gospel message. THAT was cool!

I fully recognize that there are times in life that seem dreary, dull, and without hope. Let this be a reminder that God is still God and that He reigns on His throne. He is the King and He will always protect and care for His people. Let this be a reminder that He's got our back! Let this be my Ebenezer!

Blessings on you! Feel free to share the message! Christ lives and His salvation changes our lives!

Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness - 10/10/11

Matthew 5:6 says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

Righteousness, as defined by the dictionary, is "the quality or state of being just or rightful." Righteousness is something that everyone understands, whether they can put words to it or not. We are trained from birth to act correctly, because we understand very early on what sin is. Living in righteousness means that we are living through justified actions. How many people can honestly say that every single one of their actions is justified?

In Romans 5:15-19, we see that, through the actions of Adam's original sin, each of us is plagued with sin and condemned to an eternity away from God. We also see, however, that because of Christ's pure and righteous act (death on a cross and resurrection into life), we can reenter into righteousness.

Often, people try to justify their actions on their own, stating "their" reasons for acting in the manner observed. Unfortunately, this is the most childish of responses that we can have. We can't justify our own sin, so what good does it do to reason things away? Wouldn't it be better to just own up to the mistakes made?

Every time that someone tries to reason away their mistakes, they work out of their own strength. Working out of one's own strength just uses up whatever energy they had and thus leaves them with less than when they started. This is the essence of being burnt out and is the complete opposite of God's original intent for us to be filled.

Consider your life. Are you tired of paying the price for your own actions and mistakes? Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying that you will live a life without consequences; but, you can live a life that is finally justified. Christ's actions don't justify us continually living in sin, but rather they justify us being removed from sin, to no longer be caught in the trap of unfulfilling and useless words. Do you desire to be filled by God? Then stop trying to make excuses for your wrong actions! Just stop doing them.

This week, I encourage you to take inventory of your thoughts, words, and actions. Do you have a growing sense of God's presence in your life or are you continually feeling empty and alone. Only you can change that. God will save you, if you would just let Him have authority in your life.

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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A Healing God - 10/3/11

Do you believe that God truly wants to see His people healed and healthy? I'm not just talking about physical healing, but also spiritual and emotional healing. Often we don't trust that God has our best interests at heart. We wonder why He is taking so long to help us, but I want to encourage you to rest in God's amazingly perfect timing.

Last night, for our service, we baptized 9 teens/children! Here's what's really cool - I wasn't the only one baptizing them. Some of the children were baptized by their grandfathers. Some were baptized by their fathers. Imagine the legacy marker being left, because the Spirit of the Lord was working through fathers and grandfathers to bless the children of the next generation!

When you think of God's perfect and healing hand, His timing was exactly as it needed to be. For a church that has been wondering how God is going to continue to bless, adding 9 members to the family seemed an amazing shot in the arm.

I'm not sure how last week went, but I would like to encourage you as you start the new week. God has plans for our lives, but we are so busy trying to figure things out on our own that we miss Him. Look for the things with which God is blessing your life. Celebrate those things! It brings healing that we never even imagined could happen.

I'll leave you with a story from a friend. He was riding his motorcycle and a big SUV came racing up behind him, almost touching his tailpipes. After it happened twice, he almost lost his cool. In the moment, he wasn't sure what he would do; but, after he had cooled down, he said, "I should've just smiled." Smile this week, no matter what happens. You have a Savior that is completely in to you. Live like it!

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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Follow Me As I Follow Christ - 9/26/11

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1)

That's a rather bold statement, isn't it? I mean, Paul has a huge assumption that he is actually following Christ. Obviously, he thinks that he is, but what if someone contended that fact? What if you said, "Follow me, as I follow Christ?" Would you be ridiculed for that statement? Would people think that you are arrogant? Would they judge you?

Let me ask another question: What if no one is showing them Christ? What if they have no example of Christ in their lives? Do you think that it's more important to remain "without judgment" or to be an example for others?

"Bryan, there has to be another option than just those two." If there is, please pose it for me. Put words to your thought - your rebuttal - or consider the implications that my question leaves behind. There are plenty of people that live without a godly example in their lives. The problem is, none of us is willing to step up and take action. That is ridiculous!

People know that you are going to fail. In fact, they probably expect that you will fail, and fail hard. So, why not put yourself out on the line and guide them as best you can? Let them follow you, as you follow Christ. This will do two things: (1) give them a godly example to follow as they get plugged in to the truth of God's word, and (2) keep you accountable.

I think most of us would rather not be held accountable. If you've read any of my previous posts, you know that having no accountability is not an option. So, this week, see who you can influence in a godly way. Point others to Christ. We all know that you can't save them, but point them to the One that can! I hope that love becomes your guiding light, rather than fear of judgment.

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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A Longing In My Heart

To borrow the phrase from Dannah Gresh (in today's D6 Conference), I am emotionally wealthy at the moment. What does that mean? It means that my emotions are super-charged and am have wasted at least half - if not all - of my ability to cry. So, the rest of this post is an explanation of the longing in my heart.

Many of these emotions are derived from our most recent church split. Over the last 7 years, Harmony Church has gone through a succession of three pastoral resignations. For a church, that is a lot of turnover. I remember reading Doug Fields' Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry, and in that he tells the story of a girl who had 5 different small group leaders during the course of her 6-year participation in youth group. That much change can wear on a person. That much change has worn on me. I'm not planning to leave, but I have been left with scars - things that don't ever go away.

In addition to that, past feelings that I thought were put to rest have, once again, been drummed up. I thought I was content with being single. I know that you probably don't want to spend much time reading this part, but I feel compelled to share part of this experience. When we had our church business meeting (two weeks ago), I was forced to think about my brother's recent engagement. Knowing that my future sister-in-law was new to the church, I wondered what she thought about our fighting and squabbling during the business meeting. I also wondered what it would have been like, if I were recently engaged and living through this event with a fiance.

Would she be upset over this? Why would she want to be with someone who had committed his life to working in the church, if this was the mess that she could look forward to? Why would anyone even want to consider me as a future spouse, knowing the conflict that I would face? Why would I want to make this my life, my goal, my passion?

Obviously, these were rhetorical questions, but I found myself wondering them. And, I found myself revisiting the previous issue of singleness, wondering if I was truly content.

Now, to add another lay to this complexity, I am leaving the freshly wounded church, to fly out to Dallas and attend a conference about keeping people healthy within the family of God - ironic. In the morning session, however, we heard from David Platt - a man with whom I was previously unfamiliar. Following an encouraging talk from Doug Fields, Platt proceeded to kick our butts. Very simply summarized, there are too many unsaved people in this world to continue playing Christian. There is a calling more profound than anything we have ever known and that is to follow Christ, with everything that we have and with all that we are.

In Luke 9:57-62, Jesus talks about the cost of being a disciple. The cost, however, is not something that we are prepared for - leaving behind all that we have, including family. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't love our families or work hard to train them in the ways of the Lord. It does mean, however, that we are undeniable called to seek Christ's Kingdom, despite our family. Christ is not a means to an end. He IS the end.

Couple this with my previous thoughts and it seems that I have nothing left to stand on. What I perceive to be a "hard time" or a difficult situation to deal with, really looks stupid in comparison to the ultimate goal of the Kingdom. Why has Harmony Church gone through this pruning? Why am I left to the life of a single male? Why are each and everyone of us faced with difficult situations? Does it really matter, when compared to the larger goal of the Kingdom?

Christ has called us to join Him on His journey, and most of the time, all we can think about is our own selfish ambitions. When are we going to catch the vision for His Kingdom work? We have talked for so long about needing the vision from a pastor, but the vision has already been cast! All we have to do is open our eyes to see it!

We live in a wicked and depraved world that tells us that we're bad if we judge people and mad if we take a stand for justice. Look around us! People, on every street corner, are looking for justice - they just can't stand a righteous Judge. We have been so timid to preach that vision, it just proves our selfishness in not taking a stand.

I, for one, can no longer stand to sit on the sidelines, when billions of people remain unreached for the cause of Christ. I can't let the church stand in the way. I can't let my own timidity stand in the way. I can't let ME stand in the way.

I'm sitting here in the hotel room and Chris has "God of this City" playing as a reminder of the vision that we have already been given. We have been called to rise up and follow Christ by reaching the lost of our world. I, for one, don't intend for mission to be put on the shelf for another day - we are called NOW!

This renewed longing in my heart is what I should've been passionate about during all of this conflict. Whether inner turmoil or exterior anger management, I can't lose sight of the fact that God has wrapped His indelible Spirit around His me for the purpose of protecting and guiding me into the next generation of winning souls for His Kingdom. This longing is an awakening to the true potential of all believers, and shouldn't be quieted for the world.

No matter what you have been going through, know this - Christ is here to save us from our depravity and give us a new life, a new Spirit, and a new vision. You are called to be one of His children.

Leave me your feedback on God's specific call for you to take His message to the world! I'd love to hear from you.