i got a new Bible

About every 3-5 years I usually get a new Bible. Today I bought a wide-margin, English Standard Version (ESV) published by Crossway.

It’s a much more literal and accurate translation of the original texts which is very different from the New International Version (NIV) that I have used for years.

If you ever feel like you need to jumpstart your spiritual walk…buying a new Bible is a great way to get started.

great church story

Here’s a story about a church in Charlotte that gave $250,000 to local charities in their community…AND PLANS TO GIVE EVEN MORE!

Click here to read the story!

great quote

“Watch your thoughts they become words. Watch your words they become actions. Watch your actions they become habits. Watch your habits they become character. Watch your character it becomes your destiny.”

-Unknown

ten questions for personal growth in 2010

1. Who should I stop listening to?
2. Who should I start listening to?
3. What do I need to stop tolerating?
4. What do I want people to say about me?
5. What do I most want to change about myself?
6. Who can I use my gifts and abilities to help the most?
7. Who are the most important people in my life?
8. What are my top five goals or priorities for this year?
9. Does my daily schedule reflect what is most important to me?
10. What is God’s plan and purpose for my life?

great online devotional for Advent

The folks at Passport offer a great online devotional for Advent each year.

It’s thoughtful, brief, filled with scripture, and offers great music!

Click here to check it out.

ten reasons I take time pray everyday

I will be the first person to admit that sometimes I think I’m to busy to pray. But I have learned that out of everything I have to get done everyday – visits, meetings, planning – nothing is more important spending time in prayer. Here are ten reasons why I take time to pray everyday:

1. Because I am so selfish! Let’s be honest…you are too! Thank God that for his grace and power to change us from the inside out I’m not as selfish as I used to be. Through prayer I learn to discern between my own selfish desires and God’s will for my life.
2. I know that God has a plan for my life that is WAY BIGGER than the plans I can make on my own…and I want to know what His plan for me is! Check out Jeremiah 29:11-14.
3. To avoid temptation. That’s right. Even pastors face temptations and I know that I cannot resist Satan’s temptations alone. I figure that if the first disciples were likely to fall into temptation…I probably am too. Check out Luke 22:39-46.
4. So I don’t forget who God really is! Sometimes I get so caught up in life that I actually forget that God is perfect, holy, all-knowing, eternal, omnipotent, righteous, impartial, loving, merciful, infinite, wise, just, incarnate, faithful, transcendent, compassionate, true, and sovereign…just name a few!
5. For strength. Psalm 29:11 says, “The Lord gives strength to his people….” I often ask for strength when I have to have difficult conversations with people, when my family really needs me, or when I’m just not sure if I’m going to make it through the week. I don’t always have enough strength to make things work out on my own…but with his strength I do.
6. Because I genuinely love and care about people! Actually, this was the biggest reason that I ever considered going into ministry…because I genuinely love people and want them to know how much God loves them. Everyday I pray for neighbors, friends at church, and people I’ve just met just to ask God to touch their lives.
7. For guidance. Psalm 32:8 teaches us that we can trust in God and count on him to guide us through every decision and situation we face in life. Some of my most intense prayers are when I ask God to guide me through difficult decisions and situations.
8. Because I am so thankful! You know, my life’s not perfect and I’ll bet yours isn’t either…but I am thankful to God for the many ways he watches out for me and cares for me! I’m thankful that he loves me for who I am and that his grace is sufficient for whatever I face!
9. To get to know God better. James 4:8 states that if we draw close to God that he draws close to us. I believe that the more we try to draw close to him, the more we seek his will for our lives…the deeper and more meaningful our relationship is with him.
10. To grow up spiritually and become a mature believer. Ephesians 4:15 tells us that God wants us to grow up! Praying is just one of the ways we can grow up into the adult believers that God wants us to be. I don’t ever want to be content with who or where I am spiritually…I know that God wants us to continually be growing, changing, learning, becoming more and more the people that he wills and desires for us to be!