Encouraging and equipping seekers, disciples & servant leaders
So many people these days are alone.
Surrounded by people, large “friends” lists on social media and yet still alone.
The reasons for this are many. Distraction, preoccupation, busyness are at the top of the list. Continue reading “Surrounded but alone”
Dear Pastor,
As leaders in the church, you and I are privy to seeing a lot of brokenness, pain, and heartache.
As leaders of God’s church we are on the front lines when people are brought into the spiritual emergency room.
And just like in a physical emergency room, things can get messy. When people have been in car accidents, or been shot or face horrific illnesses, the pains that they experience, the blood that flows and the tears that are shed can many times be too much for people to bear. But as servant leaders of God’s people we are called to carry this load so that others may know the love of our great Savior!
Sometimes the sheer messiness of helping hurting people can seem like something we don’t want to have any part of, and yet when the persons we help are made whole, it is all worth it.
When the people who have been in darkness, extreme pain and suffering, loneliness and rejection are loved and made whole by the grace and power of God we are reminded why we are spiritual ER doctors. So please in the midst of some of the difficulties in the world these days, please remember that after the healing takes place among the hurting people, the resultant health will be a testimony to God and we will literally shout His praise when we see the miracle of His power!
Let us keep working, keep serving, keep loving and keep praying and watch and see what God does in the Spiritual Emergency Room called The Church of Jesus Christ. I believe thousands will be saved, healed and delivered and the pain and suffering we endure along the way will all be worth it!
Christ is for us, Christ is in us!
Mike J
Dear Pastor,
Who believes in you?
Who is constantly telling you that you will make it, you will overcome, you will prevail?
Who never stops believing in you despite your shortcomings and failures?
Who reminds you that all things are possible with God and that as His child, God is working everything in your life for God?
First, if you can’t think of someone who is that for you, I am so sorry. That must be lonely and difficult. Let’s work on getting you tied into someone who is your cheerleader and encourager. Send me a text (205-910-7050) or an email and let’s set up a time to talk on the phone or meet together in person. I will offer you the encouragement that I am able to and then we can pray and talk about how you can have a cheerleader in your life from now on.
Second, I want to remind you that the perfect and eternally faithful cheerleader is the Lord Jesus Christ. He never stops loving you and always lives to intercede for you. No matter what you do right or wrong, God loves you, rejoices in you, sings over you and cheers you on. Never forget that and don’t forget that He has given us the beautiful place of sweet communion in prayer and the Word in which He very tangibly cheers us on.
Lastly, stop and think about your spouse, your kids, your family and friends, and your flock. Who cheers them on? Who encourages them? Who do they know will always keep working that they may know all that is available to them and all that is possible for them? Make sure that you are that person to others and make sure that those in your care are encouraged and have a cheerleader in their life.
Please know that I am praying for you and that you are deeply and dearly loved
Christ is with us, Christ is in us
Mike J
Do you know what you need today? Do you even know the next step to take?
I find myself today (like pretty much every other day!) in need of the Lord to guide me.
It is the wisdom from God that I am most in need of.
We buy new stuff, set new goals and try new things. We try to turn over a “new page”, start a “new chapter in life” and try to become a “new me”. In all of this new stuff, we obviously have to let go of some of the old stuff. We need to quit certain things. So when is it okay to quit? And what should we quit?
I hope you and I have enough common sense that when we start something new it is actually something helpful. The truth is that is not always the case. Sometimes we start new things that hurt, distract or encumber. So here is something you and I need to fiercely hold to in all of life:
“Start new things according to what is true and helpful, quit things that are untrue and harmful”
It’s always okay to quit lying, cheating, and stealing. It’s always okay to quit lusting, envying and boasting. It is not only okay but necessary for you and me to quit sinning and pursuing selfish ambitions. God’s mercies are new every morning (all thanks and praise be to His holy name!). It is so wonderful to know that we can quit the harmful, sinful things of the past and that we can begin afresh and anew the helpful, life-giving things which God is calling us to.
I do however want to give you a warning.
You and I can’t ever quit pursuing God. We can’t quit learning about love. We can never stop pursuing holiness. There are a myriad of obstacles we will come up against and a thousand reasons to quit, but we simply can’t.
You know immediately the answer to those questions: there is no number, no point at which we should quit those things! The enemy, the devil, would love to say you have done too much, gone too far, failed too much, come up too short, so you might as well quit. But you and I can’t and won’t!
Life is too short, eternity is too long and God’s love is too precious to ever quit running after what really matters.
Keep persevering. Keep calling out to God. Keep pressing into God’s loving embrace. Even with all our shortcomings, God loves us and invites us to take another step with Him!
Hebrews 12:1b Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Dear Pastor,
Have you ever noticed that it’s the little things that seem to make your day?
You know, like the one single person who went out of their way to let you know that you messed up. Or the one little text that said “You are loved. I am proud of you”. Both of these are little things, and yet they both can have a big impact!
It seems that much of the time people are quick to repeat what they see and hear. In a world where Jesus reminded us that we would have trouble, it seems people are quick to repeat the little things of fear, doubt, worry, negativity, complaining, tearing-down, etc. And these little things stack up to a miserable life full of unbelief and defeat. Let us intend to live and speak and repeat the little things that are positive and full of love.
You and I have the power to redefine and reshape the world around us by a bunch of little things. If we are constantly saying and doing things with kindness, mercy, and grace, if we are regularly encouraging and building up, if we are consistently affirming and adding value to people, all of those little things can add up to a life and ministry of joy, peace, and victory!
This week, I encourage you to treasure the little acts of kindness and generosity that people express towards you. This week I encourage you to intentionally build a life of uncommon and unconditional love by sending a text, making a phone call, writing a letter, visiting someone, giving a gift, being an active listener, crying and laughing with people. Let these little things shape you and honor God even as you pour life into those around you.
Christ is with us, Christ is in us!
Mike J
Have you ever noticed how some days are just better than other days? Some days are easy, others are hard. Some days you hope will last forever while other days you and I hope will end as quickly as possible. There are a few simple things that you and I can do to make each day we live better:
I know you could add 100 other things to this list, but I would encourage you to remember that there are always things that you and I can do to make each day better. It will take intentionality and perseverance, but with God’s grace and wisdom and some good old-fashioned stick-to-it-iveness, I know today can be a good day for you!
Dear Pastor,
I want you to know that you are not alone. Indeed you and I preach and teach often that God is near. He is near to the brokenhearted, He does not leave us as orphans but comes to us, He does not leave us or forsake us*. You and I share these beautiful, powerful truths with people all the time, but perhaps it is time to stop and be reminded of them for our own sake.
Maybe we would do well to stop….breath in and out….and then gratefully reflect on these statements:
Ministry is the hardest thing I have ever done in life (tied perhaps with being a father) but I am so glad to know that God who freely gave Himself for my sins also freely gives us all that we need (Romans 8:32). Remember that He who began the good work in you is faithful and will bring it on to completion! (Philippians 1:6)
I would also like to let you know that you are not alone because you are part of the family of faith. As such I would like to invite you to send me a personal text (205-910-7050) or email (mike.annajohnson@gmail.com). In your correspondence let me know your family members’ names and I will commit to praying for them. Also, just know that once you contact me I will send you occasional emails or texts to encourage you and lift you up. In a world where isolation and loneliness are the norm, I want to avail myself to you so that we can walk together and sharpen each other.
God is with us, God is in us!
Mike J
*Deuteronomy 31:6, John 14:18, Psalm 34:18
Let’s face it: you and I can’t do it alone. As a matter of fact, we rely on people and certain tools all the time to help us to live and to do our jobs. I imagine your phone and computer are tools right at the top of the list. Hopefully your spouse, family, and friends make the list too. But can I ask you a question? What singular thing or person do you rely on more than anything else?
Dear Pastor,
I want to take a moment and share some encouraging words with you. As people living in 21st century America we know that the world is filled with all manner of difficulty. As disciples of Jesus Christ we know that helping people to fall in love with Jesus and become fully devoted followers of Him is really hard. As leaders in God’s church we know that helping a voluntary group of diverse people find unity, work together on a common purpose and discover how to be the body of Christ is seemingly impossible. And yet I want to share a couple of things with you.
1. God has said that He is the One who started the church, owns the church, is head of the church and will build the church. He is doing it! We can bank on it and we can look around for His handiwork and give Him praise.
2. We know that with God nothing is impossible. Laying down our lives for others can be done with and by His Spirit within. Remembering the forgotten, giving grace to all and sharing love with people different than us is possible because Christ is within us. Remember that not only is your Christian life possible by the Spirit but so is the role He has called you to as a shepherd of His people.
3. God has hope for you and for me. It says so in the Bible. In Colossians 1:5 the apostle Paul lets us know that God has prepared, set aside and stored up hope for us in heavenly places. All we have to do is come to God, believe that He is willing and ready to give us of His hope and then ask Him for it. He will show us what we must do and He will dispense hope into our hearts.
Please remember these three things this week. God truly is building His church, nothing is impossible with God and God has hope set aside just for you and me. Please remember this week as God-called and God-ordained shepherds of His people, what you and I do is not in vain and is not impossible. Let us press on in Jesus’ name and in the hope (certainty!) that He has given us. Let us love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves. This truly is kingdom truth and kingdom living!
Christ is with us, Christ is in us!
Mike J
Pastor Michael Johnson