Manly Minute -July 28th

Reset Button

Ever feel like you need a reset button?  It is usually when I am wishing for the reset button that I am most thankful for God’s grace!  Reset buttons can really be an asset if we practice using them. Sometimes we push the reset button when we honestly repent before the Lord and He graciously forgives our offense.  Reset buttons can be used in everyday life as well.  If you ever find yourself in a disagreement and things begin to become heated, this would be a good time to hit the reset button!  Whenever my wife and I find ourselves at odds there is a tendency for it to get off track because we become emotionally involved. Frustration has a way of getting us off track doesn’t it!  We are no longer discussing our differences of opinion, but rather trying to win a fight.  This is when we need to hit the reset button and get things on track again. When I do this I see amazing results because my wife sees my humility and willingness to work towards a solution. I simply say, “forgive me, I’ve gotten off track.  I really do want to resolve this, can we start over and try again?”.  This has paid major dividends in my marriage and I encourage you to give it a try. 

James 3:17

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

Yearning for God

By Amy Joan Culleny

As I was listening to worship music last night, there was a song in particular that really struck me. One of the lyrics was, "Lord, I wanna yearn for You. I wanna burn with passion over You and only You."


I started thinking about what it means to have a yearning (strong desire, longing) for God, and to me that meant not only desiring Him, but it also included a longing to pursue the desires He has for me.

I am always encouraged by our church's goal and prayer for Sojourn Productions which essentially is that we would be able to reach the lost and share our faith through the arts; however, as one who is heavily involved with Sojourn Productions, it is very easy for me in the flesh to forget this goal when things get difficult, or stressful, or crazy, or even when things are okay and I am simply veering off track of yearning for Him.


As the Lord convicted me with 1 Corinthians 10:31, "So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." I felt a strong prompting from the Holy Spirit to have a special night dedicated to prayer on Tuesday, August 9 at 7pm at the Griffith home for those who will either simply come to audition, or for those who will be with us through the entire rehearsal process. I know that we will have the opportunity to witness to many people who do not yet have that yearning for the Lord and it is my prayer that God will use the body of Sojourn to do miraculous moves in the hearts of those people we meet.

"...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." -James 5:16

You're Not Who You Think You Are - Somebody's Watching Me

You’re Not Who You Think You Are - Somebody’s Watching Me. 

Pt 3 by Sean Griffith

Proverbs 22:6 says, Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. 

Most of us know that young people, especially our children for you dads, look up to us and watch us like hawks.  Don’t let them fool you, they may not be looking at you, or seem to even be listening, but they are watching.  This constantly challenges me to be a good example to my children and younger people and not let them see my shortcomings.  I don’t want them to see me lose my temper, I don’t want them to hear me speak poorly about someone else, I don’t want them to ask me why I was staring at that nice lady (this is purely hypothetical of course).  Some of us do a pretty good job at being good examples of what not to do; however, how are we at showing them what to do!  

Young people need to see and hear what to do by the way we live our lives.  Do they see us reading our Bibles?  Do they ever hear us pray? Even the most simple and sincere prayer can go a long way in impacting our children.  Do they see us make church a priority in our lives?  Do they see how we help others and give to others?  Do they see us flirt with our wives?  Do they see us being encouraging to others?  Do they see a real love for Jesus?  The list goes on and on.  One of the best ways we can train up our children -- or for you non-dads be an example to young people -- is to not only show them what not to do, but what to do!  

Remember, you are a righteous, holy man of God!  You can and will be an example of how to follow Jesus so that our young people will also know how and not depart from the Lord. 

Manly Minute - July 7th

YOU'RE NOT WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE - SOLAR FLARES

PT 2 - By Sean Griffith

Solar flares are large bursts of energy that release up to 6 × 1025  joules of energy (that’s 1/6th of the total sun's energy output in a second). In other words, it is a massive amount of explosive energy in a split second. Men are known to have solar flares in their lives. It is when your wordly flesh overwhelms your spirit at a high level in a split second - much like your emotional response when someone cuts you off while driving. Each man’s response will look different.  Some will show it outwardly, others hold it in inwardly, but both feel it strongly.  

Solar flares can quickly become one of the shortcomings that we have been discussing.  Solar flares may happen in such areas as lust (when a steamy commercial comes across your screen unexpectedly), jealousy (when your co-worker gets a really cool new car or truck) and the ever so popular anger (someone offends you).  Realize that emotional solar flares are not sin, they are the initial reactions to temptation.  However, we know how quickly these temptations become sins if we don’t quench them quickly.

RESPONDING TO SOLAR FLARES

So how do we deal with these ever present solar flares in our lives?  

First,  RECOGNIZE you are experiencing one when your emotional state has a sudden burst of negative energy.  One moment you’re relaxed, the next you're ready to explode. That is a solar flare!  

Second, PRAY immediately.  Although you’re feeling something strongly, don’t let temptation become sin by responding poorly to your intense feelings.  Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help.

Lastly, OBEY what the Spirit is telling you even if your emotions are still high. I find that when I obey and do what is right before God, the Holy Spirit calms my heart and on many occasions fills it in abundant measure.  Don’t let your emotions lead you, lead your emotions by the Spirit of God. 

RECAP

1) Recognize 2) Pray for help from the Holy Spirit 3) Obey the Holy Spirit

Romans 6:16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?