Crazy Like Us - Part 2

THE STANDARD AMERICAN VERSION

More money does not generate more self-control, more discipline or more contentment.  

More money does not eradicate worry.

The Consumption Assumption

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own."   Luke 12:15  NLT

Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.   Luke 12:16  NLT

He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’   Luke 12:17  NLT

Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.  Luke 12:18  NLT

Save it now to consume it later.

And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’   Luke 12:19  NLT

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’   Luke 12:20  NLT

enerous people don't assume it's theirs to consume.

If it can be taken away, you never really owned it anyway.

Jesus: Since it's all going to be taken away, why would you miss the opportunity to give it away?

Generous people think like managers, not owners and consumers.

Crazy Like Us - Part 1

YOU JUST THINK YOU ARE

Teach:  how to be generous

Generosity is more than random acts of giving.

Promise:
When you become generous you will give more, save more and consume less.

When you become generous you will be happier.

Generosity is not natural.

Crazy is natural.

We don't feel rich but we are, we feel generous but we aren't.

Generosity Myths:

Generosity is spontaneous.

Generosity is determined by cash flow.

It's the amount that counts.

Rich people are generous.

enerous is the premeditated, calculated, designated emancipation of personal financial assets.

When you free your money you free yourself from your money.

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.  Acts 20:24 NLT

And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.  Acts 20:32 NLT

I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes.  
Acts 20:33 NLT

You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me.  Acts 20:34 NLT

And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.  Acts 20:35 NLT

Happy is the person whose life is ordered around giving rather than receiving.

Address The Mess - Part 4

MESSY-ER

Every mess comes with some bad options.

David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him.  When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him.  But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle. For Saul thought, “I’ll send him out against the Philistines and let them kill him rather than doing it myself.”
1 Samuel 18:14-15 NLT

When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and how much his daughter Michal loved him. Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life. 1 Samuel 18:28-29 NLT

After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.  At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!  1 Samuel 24:1-3 NLT

“Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.  1 Samuel 24:4 NLT

If you ignore virtue, you will eventually make a mess.

ut then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.”  So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. 1 Samuel 24:5-7 NLT

This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ “May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.  1 Samuel 24:10,12 NLT

I'm opting for virtue over hurt you.

And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.  1 Samuel 24:17 NLT

Every mess comes pre-packaged with some bad options.

Your response to the mess is the real story.

What story do I want to tell?

Which of my options do you want as a permanent part of my story?

Address The Mess - Part 3

INSIDE OUT

Christians believe...Jesus loves the little messes, all the messes of the world, but, he loves us too much to leave us that way.

Christianity is not just stay out of trouble.

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.  Philippians 1:3 NLT

Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy. Philippians 1:4 NLT

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 NLT

Christianity is an inside out faith.

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.  Philippians 1:9 NLT

For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. Philippians 1:10 NLT

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.  Philippians 1:11 NLT

Help me to see as you see, and to do as you say.

Following Jesus...
 *is not primarily about doing what's right,
 *it's about doing what's right for others.

This week pray:
Father, complete the work you've begun in me.

Address The Mess - Part 2

BEST MESS EVER

The mess that brings us together is the mess that brought God near.

Your mess has the potential to bring God near to you.

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.  John 3:17 NLT

Jesus offers Himself as the solution.

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  John 8:12 NLT

To a good father what's more important than behavior is relationship.

But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. Matthew 7:26 NLT

When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. Matthew 7:27 NLT

Following Jesus is agreeing with Jesus.

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Matthew 7:24 NLT

Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. Matthew 7:25 NLT

You can't pray your way out of a mess that you've behaved yourself into.

But you can follow your way out.

I messed up, 
I gave up, 
I looked up, 
 God showed up.

It took the mess to arrange the meeting.

Address The Mess - Part 1

THE MESS IN THE MIRROR

"Hot mess"

Good news - there is always someone whose life is a bigger mess than yours.

Good news - it's not just you.

Christians believe:  the mess that brings us together is the mess that brought God near.

Christians believe:  the mess is a lens through which we discover God.

Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given...
Romans 3:19 NLT

"Nobody's perfect"

There's a "perfect" that nobody is.

...for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.  Romans 3:19 NLT

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.  Romans 3:20 NLT

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.  Romans 3:21 NLT

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. Romans 3:22 NLT

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23 NLT

Awareness of our messes awakens us to something outside of us to which we are accountable.

Once we acknowledge our messes, we are a baby step away from acknowledging God.

Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:24 NLT

Moral of the story - We all have something in common.

This Week:
"I know a mess when I see one because I am one."

Stress Less - Part 5

Devotion Emotion

Things you are most devoted to are things you worry about the most.

What if you shifted your devotion?

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.  Matthew 6:24 NLT

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Matthew 6:25 NLT

Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Matthew 6:26 NLT

Your emotions follow your devotion

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Matthew 6:27 NLT

And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? Matthew 6:28-30 NLT

I know God can, but I don't know if God will...

The issue of worry is an issue of trust.

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?  Matthew 6:31 NLT

These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.  Matthew 6:32 NLT

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 NLT

The solution is to redirect your devotion.

May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 NLT

Worry is like prayer in reverse - worry makes issues bigger, prayer makes issues smaller. 

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34 NLT

Worry is a waste of time and time = life.

Do what we can do and trust God with what we can't do.

What are you most devoted to?

This week
- make a list of all the areas of your life  
- read Matthew 6:24-34
- pray

Stress Less - Part 4

CHANGE-UP

Why do you get so stressed...daily? 

Among news media outlets negative news out-paces positive news 17:1.

Question:  Could this be having any impact on your stress level?

So what do we do?
- Change your source
- Change your course.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Phil. 4:6 NLT

God's faithfulness in the past gives me confidence in the future.

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  Phil. 4:7 NLT

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Phil. 4:8 NLT

So, do you?

Focus on what you know is true instead of what you feel is true.

Your problem may be your source.

Get practical:
1.  turn off all notifications
2.  do a social media fast
3.  eat dinner together
4.  change who you follow