Archive - February, 2012

Is Jesus Really Enough?

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Have you ever heard someone say, “As long as I have Jesus, that’s all I need”? While the sentiment is nice, I’m not sure how Scriptural it is. In fact, I would say that, if one is not careful, it can become a very dangerous motto.

I think about when God was creating the world. He would speak something into existence, look down, and finish it off with a hearty, “It is good.” That’s true in every instance…save one. There is one time when God looks down and is less than excited about the job He has done…one time when His, “It is good.” is replaced with a resounding, “It is not good….FOR MAN TO BE ALONE.”

Loneliness is contrary to the very nature of God…who is, in Himself, three-in-one (Father, Son, Spirit) God’s very nature is one of relationship. If we are created in His image, would it not stand to reason that we, by OUR very nature, need others?

Even in the time of Jesus’ ministry, he surrounded himself with 12, was close to 3, and intimate with 1. When he sent his disciples out to try their hand at ministry, he did not send them alone. Multiple references are made throughout Scripture about the power of relationship:

  • a chord of three strands is not easily broken
  • woe to the man who walks alone and falls
  • do not neglect the assembling with other believers
  • the world will know your are His by the way you love one another

Yes…emphatically, Jesus is all you need to be saved. But, he is NOT all you need to live the fullness of life that he purchased on the cross. You need others. Others need you. We need each other.



Written by on February 29, 2012 and categorized under Individuality

Too Loaded Down to Listen

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We live in a busy world. Every day is a balancing act with:

  • jobs
  • family
  • friends
  • hobbies
  • ministry

It’s amazing we can squeeze it all in…let alone save time to just be still and hear the voice of God. It is so easy to fall into the trap of getting so busy doing FOR God that we aren’t taking the time to hear FROM God. When that happens, we inevitably begin to:

  • move in the wrong direction
  • give focus to the wrong things
  • operate under the wrong set of priorities

When Moses first spoke to Pharaoh about allowing the Israelites to take some time to worship God, his immediate response was, “Make these people work harder and keep them busy; then they will not have time to listen..” (Exodus 5:9 NCV). Our enemy still uses that tactic today. If he can keep us to busy to worship, he can load us down with so much stuff that we never have the strength to move forward.

Don’t let what you do for God take away from your time with God. Take an example from Jesus. He only did what he saw the Father doing. In order for that to happen, he had to steal away for quiet moments alone with God…away from the crowd…away from the distractions of ministry.

Don’t get so loaded down that you no longer take the time to just listen.



Written by on February 27, 2012 and categorized under Impact

Gotta Get There Together

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Have you ever been in a 3-legged race? I remember them well from growing up. One of your legs is tied to your partners leg and you run together trying to reach the finish line. The key word…TOGETHER. If you try to go separate directions…if one of you goes too fast or too slow…if you can’t find your rhythm and run TOGETHER…you’ll never make it.

Marriage is that same kind of partnership. The moment you say, “I do,” God works one of His greatest miracles…two become one. There is no longer a He and She…only a We. That “We” must work together, stay on the same page and in the same rhythm if they ever want to experience the fullness of God’s promise for their family.

God DOES have a promise for you family. And…if you put God at the center of your marriage…you WILL get there. BUT…you gotta get there together.



Written by on February 22, 2012 and categorized under Impact, Individuality

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