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Seeing With God’s Perspective

How To Have The Heart Of A Champion

One of the prayers that I pray for my own spiritual life and growth is centered on seeing as God sees: seeing people as he sees them, seeing my circumstances as he does, and striving to see the big picture of his plan for my life, at least as much as I am able.

Seeing With God's Perspective

Seeing as God sees is an important part of having a heart like Paul did, the heart of a champion. Seeing things from God’s perspective helps us stay centered on the things that are important and helps us feel a connection with God that we might otherwise miss.

When we feel connected to God and his church, we have a greater sense of the Kingdom. We are able to understand just how God desires to build that kingdom by building people. And we sense the urgency that comes with the knowledge that he could return at any time.

Developing and deepening that closeness and connection with God is one of the ways that Paul displayed his strength of character. Look at what he says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 and 4:1:

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart…

When we stay connected to God and develop the closeness he desires, at least four things happen.

Camp Season!

It’s June, and that means summer is here! And with summer comes camp!

For the next couple of weeks, things may be pretty slow around JeffRandleman.com. I’ll be spending a full week at the High School week of camp at Rock Garden Christian Service Camp. I’m Co-Dean, so I kind of need to be present for the week.

But the camp has little or no Internet service, and I’ll have little or no extra time, and so, things will be a bit slow around here.

This summer, our theme is Heart Of A Champion, and we are taking a look at the life of King David. Our primary topics will be some of the major events in David’s life, from 1 and 2 Samuel, with our morning devotions coming from several of David’s psalms.

It’s going to be a great week!  See you in a few days!

Rock Garden 2017

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Coffee Break – 05.29.2017

Your Monday Dose Of Inspiration - Memorial Day Edition

In the United States, today is Memorial Day. This day of remembrance began in 1868, and was initially called Decoration Day. It was established as a day to decorate the graves of those who were killed in the Civil War. After World War I, the observance was expanded to include those who fell in all American wars. Memorial Day was officially declared a national holiday by Congress in 1971, and placed on the last Monday in May.

Coffee Break

We all need to be reminded of the sacrifice that many have given to ensure our freedom. In honor of Memorial Day, here are a couple of statements made by past Presidents of the United States.

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” — John F. Kennedy

“They do not need our praise. They do not need that our admiration should sustain them. There is no immortality that is safer than theirs. We come not for their sakes but for our own, in order that we may drink at the same springs of inspiration from which they themselves drank.” — Woodrow Wilson

“It was the transcendent fortitude and steadfastness of these men who in adversity and in suffering through the darkest hour of our history held faithful to an ideal. Here men endured that a nation might live.” — Herbert Hoover

“I don’t have to tell you how fragile this precious gift of freedom is. Every time we hear, watch, or read the news, we are reminded that liberty is a rare commodity in this world.” — Ronald Reagan

“Looking across this field, we see the scale of heroism and sacrifice. All who are buried here understood their duty. All stood to protect America. And all carried with them memories of a family that they hoped to keep safe by their sacrifice.” — George W. Bush

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who have lost loved ones defending the American Way.

If you are interested n finding out more about Memorial Day, here are a few resources:

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Memorize Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-2

Hiding God’s Word In Our Hearts

Once again, as 1 Peter 4 begins, Peter encourages his readers to stand strong in the face of persecution, and to continue living for God. In doing so, he makes some extraordinary statements! Take at look at the first part of this chapter in 1 Peter 4:1-2.

1 Peter 4:1-2

Peter realizes that the temptation for believers to fall back into their old lifestyles of sin is strong. As he begins this next section of his letter, he encourages his readers to stay strong, and to avoid that. It was true then, and is still true today, that the pull of our culture is a strong force. We feel the pressure to conform to the “norm,” regardless of what that may be. And when we stand up against it, our culture heaps abuse and torment upon us.

Peter’s encouragement here is to follow Christ in spite of this. Christ suffered “in his body.” This is a very similar phrase to what Peter wrote in 3:18, where he says Christ “was put to death in the body.” Peter’s connection is clear, and his point is that we need to arm ourselves with the same attitude that Christ had, and be willing to face such suffering when it comes. This sounds very similar to Paul’s admonition to take the same attitude as Christ in Philippians 2.

Peter’s next statement is a mind blowing concept, one which I think many present-day Christians forget all too often. He states that when we suffer for doing God’s will, we demonstrate that we are done living in defiance of God’s will, we are done with sin. We show the world that we are ready to live for God, even if it involves suffering and persecution. In other words, sin holds no power over us, because we belong to God. When we take up the same attitude as Christ, we long for his will, and no longer long for sin. We have decided to stop sinning.