Merry Christmas!

As a child I looked forward to Christmas all year long.  When the day finally came, like lots of other kids, I was up before the sun staring at the tree just waiting for the moment when my parents would let me tear into my presents.  Now, don't judge me.  You know you did the same thing.  Back then Christmas was about what I got.

Things are different now, though.  I still love Christmas and I still look forward to it, but for slightly different reasons.  My excitement isn't for my own gifts now.  Instead I love to watch my wife and kids open their gifts.  I love their excitement, and I love the look on their faces as they tear off the paper.  Christmas is now about what I give.

We are blessed to have much of our family nearby.  Holidays, especially Christmas, are times of celebration.  We set aside significant amounts of time to be with family, both immediate and extended.  There is always good food to eat, games to play, late night talks, and lots of laughs.  Christmas is also about family.

Long ago God gave us the greatest gift ever given, He gave us Himself.  One of the names that the Bible uses for Jesus is Immanuel which means God with us.  In Jesus God stepped into our world in a way that allowed us to see Him and get to know Him.  Most of all it allowed us to see how much God loves us.  Faith in that changes everything.  That is why Christmas is about Christ.

Thank you so much for reading what I have had to say this year.  I pray that this has been a source of encouragement for you, and I look forward to continuing this journey with you in 2015.

Merry Christmas!

Don't Quit!

photo credit: sippakorn @freedigitalphotos.net

For the last several days I have been praying and thinking about what to say to a Pastors' meeting where I have been invited to preach.  My initial thought was to give a good, solid challenge.  I was considering either a call to come back to our first love, Jesus, or a look at the calling of being a shepherd.  Both are great challenges, but I am considering going a different path.

Just recently I accidentally overheard a portion of a conversation where a pastor was asking for help with a challenge he is facing in the church where he serves.  It sounded like so many stories I have heard before.  The pastor is trying to honor God, but somebody in the church thinks they know better and has thrown down the challenge, "my way or the highway."  The pastor is discouraged and not sure where to go from here.  Many times these scenarios end in the pastor leaving the church or leaving the ministry all together.

So the new direction that I am looking at is to encourage the men who will be there.  Some of them are trying to be faithful to God, His word, and His people, but have been beat up on by the churches and people they serve.  I want to challenge those men to hold on, continue to persevere, and to run the race that God has called them to in that church and in their ministry.  That is very similar to the encouragement that Paul wrote to Timothy in the 4th chapter of 2 Timothy.

As Paul considers his potential death and the passing of the baton to Timothy he says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (verse 7)."  Paul has done his job and has held on to his calling in spite of all kinds of challenges and opposition, and I believe his desire for Timothy was that as he took Paul's place in the race that he would run hard and stay faithful in spite of the challenges that he was facing and the ones that would come farther down the road.

So, as I have looked over this passage today here are the reasons that Paul gave Timothy for staying in the race.  I believe that they are just as valid for us today, and my prayer is that as I open God's word with these pastors in a couple of weeks that it will encourage them to also hang in the race until like Paul they can say they have finished it and kept the faith.

God will be our Judge (verse 1) - One day each one of us will stand before God and give an answer for our lives and ministries.  We need to serve Him with our very best.  Don't quit or move on unless it is very clear that it is His will.

The Word needs to be preached (verse 2) - The answer that the world is looking for is found in Christ as He is revealed in God's word.  If we don't preach it how will they hear?  Stay faithful to God's word.  We can't afford to compromise on it or the priority of it being preached with passion.

A time is coming when people won't listen to sound doctrine (verse 3) - This is already on us in a big way.  People tend to not want to hear truth, especially if it convicts of sin and challenges us to change.  We are all resistant to that, but it will get worse.  That means time is not our friend.  We need to hold fast to God's word and preach and teach it at every opportunity.

There are many teachers who are not faithful to God's word (verse 3) - Let's face it.  There are too many preachers and teachers out there who are willing to compromise in order to draw a crowd.  With that being the case we can't afford to allow God preachers and teachers to leave the ministry because of hurt, discouragement, or moral failure.  Stay the course even when its hard.  Our competition certainly will.

People still need to hear the Gospel (verse 5) - It's the Gospel that changes hearts and lives.  There are millions who need you to stay in the race so that they can have the opportunity to hear this all-important message.  God called you and gave you the privilege of being a part of that process.  Don't quit now.

Here are some bonus thoughts.

How to hang in there:

Keep your head

Endure hardships

Keep the faith

Lessons on Prayer

We have been talking about prayer the last couple of weeks at my church, so I thought I would share some of what we have been learning here.  The following observations all come from Matthew Chapter 6.  I hope that they will be a help to you!

Pray in Secret – verses 5-6

This isn’t a condemnation of praying in public.  Jesus did that a lot.  Instead it’s an attitude check.  We need to be praying to the right audience, and for the right reason.  Our audience is God, not each other.  Also, don’t do something in public that you’re not doing in private.  In other words if we don't put in the time to pray when we are alone, we should hesitate to pray in front of others.

Pray with Purpose – verses 7-8

It's easy to get in the rut of praying out of habit without engaging our minds.  Jesus isn’t saying that we shouldn’t ask for something more than once, instead he’s giving a challenge to be intentional and genuine in our prayers.  Both Paul and Jesus repeated prayers.  Jesus asked multiple times for an option other than the cross (Matt 26:36-46) and Paul repeatedly asked God to remove his thorn in the flesh (2 Cor 12:7-8).  The idea is just that we don't shift into autopilot when we pray.

Jesus’ Example – verses 9-13

Our best example for prayer is to look at what Jesus did.  His teaching here is an example or sample of how we should pray.  It’s a pattern to follow, but not necessarily meant to be memorized and repeated.  That being said I don't think it's wrong to memorize and repeat the Lord's Prayer as long as we keep our minds engaged.  Also, the elements don’t have to be kept in this exact order, or appear in every prayer.

Honor God

Think about who you are praying to.  Jesus says, “Father, in heaven, Hallowed be your name.”  You are talking to your Father who loves you.  He is in heaven yet His presence is everywhere (Psalm 139).  He is holy, separate, set apart.

 Pray for His will

Acknowledge who is really in control (Matthew 6:27 & James 4).  A big hint is, it's not us.  Jesus demonstrated this in the garden.  He prayed for another way, but submitted to His Father's will (Matthew 26:39, 42).  We can know God's will through the work of Holy Spirit and God's word.

Ask for Physical Needs

It's ok to ask for personal physical needs to be met, but that shouldn’t be our focus.  Sometimes, we don’t have because we haven't asked God (James 4:2.)  Jesus also said we should Ask, Seek, Knock (Matthew 7:7-11).  Always ask in faith, trusting God, and committing to His will (Matt. 6:25-34).

Different Answers that He may give:

Yes/No/Wait

 Ask for Forgiveness - verses 12 & 14

Forgiveness is a choice to not hold resentment over an offense.  It's not the same as withholding consequences or taking future precautions.  God expects us to forgive as we’ve been forgiven.  Forgiving others sets us free and displays God’s love.

Keep a short account with God.  Confess daily so that sin doesn't get the chance to harden your heart or hinder your prayers (1st John 1:9).

Do you have any thoughts or observations to share?  I would love to hear what you have been learning about prayer.

**As a reminder, I am moving my blog to Wordpress.  You can find me there at jasonseger.wordpress.com.  Please come by and check it out.  I would love it if you would leave a comment to let me know what you think.  Please also subscribe so that you can keep up with future posts. 

Connect is Moving

Dear friends,

I am honored that so many of you have joined me here.  I hope that you have enjoyed reading what I have been learning through God's word.  It has been a huge blessing for me to share my heart here, and I am looking forward to continuing to engage people through God's word this way.  In order to a little better job of that I have decided to move my blog to wordpress, and I hope that you will follow me to my new "home."

My new blog can be found at:
jasonseger.wordpress.com


For the next couple of weeks I will continue to add posts to both blogs, but after that I will no loner be posting here.  I will leave the old posts up here as long as I can for anyone who wants to access them later on.

Please let me know what you think of the new format when you stop by, and don't forget to subscribe there so that you can continue to receive updates on future posts.  I would love to hear from you.  May God continue to bless you as you seek His face through His word.

In Him,
Jason

The Impact of a Godly Mother

*photo credit - David Castillo Dominici & Free Digital Photos

Do you remember what it was like right after your children were first born?  You know, when they were still loveable?  Before there was eye rolling, back talking, and mess making there was a bundle of joy and potential laying there in your arms.

Do you remember wondering what they would look like, how they would act, and what they would become when they were older?  We did that a lot in the early days after our first daughter was born.  She gave us a lot of time to think about it because she didn’t sleep for the first 2 years of her life, or at least that is how it felt at the time.

Most parents have dreams for their children, but less are willing to make the investment necessary to see those dreams come to life.  For those of us who have Godly mothers we have seen in our lives the impact that they have.  They saw the potential in us early and they nurtured it with love as we grew so that we could realize the potential that God placed within us.

As Paul wrote to Timothy for the second time he encourages Timothy by pointing out the God-honoring traits he sees in him which had their origin in his mother's great faith.  My encouragement to you this week is that as you reflect on these attributes you would recognize your mother's investment in you and make sure that this week and every week she knows how thankful you are for her.

The below comes from observations of 2nd Timothy 1:3-6

Tears of Compassion

Paul outlines his memories of a great man’s character, and he attributes that character to the legacy which was passed from Timothy’s grandmother to his mother, and also from his mother to him.  Paul says that he remembers Timothy’s tears.  This is an expression that Paul uses to show genuine care and compassion for others. 

Sincere Faith

Timothy’s mother passed on to him the makings of a great man, but she also passed on to him something of much greater and eternal worth – a sincere faith.  There is no better foundation for faith to grow on than a consistent example of Godliness lived out at home. 

God's Call

Too many parents put unnecessary pressure on their kids to be or do a certain thing.  They want them to take over the family business, follow in a parent’s footsteps, or go to a certain school when that is not what the child desires and maybe not God’s will for them.  Godly mothers nurture God's calling for their children.  They do this no matter where it will take their kids because their greatest concern is for their kids to be everything God made them to be.

If your mother helped develop these attributes in you then you are truly blessed.  I know that there are many more good things that mothers do and inspire in us, but this is just a sample to get you thinking.  The real key is to recognize their investment in us and then to say "Thank you" not only with words and cards, but also with our lives.

Have you felt the impact of a Godly mother?  I'd love to read your story. 

Where is Your Confidence?

Confidence is a great thing. It can help you push through difficulty or uncertainty if it is placed wisely. Misplaced confidence or overconfidence, however, can lead to disaster. Confidence helped put the first man on the moon while overconfidence helped put the Titanic on the bottom of the ocean. Finding the right balance is delicate, but possible if you draw your confidence from the right source.



Paul was a man who tried it both ways. He had misplaced confidence in himself, and overconfidence in what he had accomplished, but that was in the past for him by the time he penned the words in Philippians 3:1-11. Take a quick look at what he wrote.


It is much easier to put our confidence in the things that we can see and touch than it is to trust in God. We more easily put our trust in bank accounts, jobs, and other things that we think we can control only to find out that they will fail us, or get puffed up with pride because we think that we are in control. Paul learned that degrees, social status, and self-righteousness are worthless in comparison to what Christ is and what He has called us to. In the end Paul considered all of that stuff to be garbage in contrast to the greatness of His Lord's plan for him.


What about you? Where is your confidence? I pray that if your confidence is in the wrong place you will make the necessary change. The truth is that our sense of control is an illusion and that any physical thing on which we put our confidence is prone to fail us, but He never will. His plan for your life exceeds anything this world can offer. Commit wholeheartedly to it and you will never regret it.

Want to read more?  I would love it if you checked out my new book Attitude Check.  The above is an excerpt from chapter 4.  I hope you enjoy it.  You can pick up a copy in paperback or for Kindle here.

*Photo courtesy of stockimages and FreeDigitalPhotos.net

3 Days to Hope

This weekend we celebrate hope.  Not just a slogan, not hope in a person or organization, but hope in God.  This hope is more like a promise or guarantee.  It’s a hope that changes everything.  It didn’t seem that way in the beginning, though.    

The first day began with disbelief and ended with despair.  Jesus’ followers watched as He was tried and executed for no apparent reason other than jealousy.  They had given up everything to follow Him, and now He was gone.  He promised to make them fishers of men and to establish a new kingdom, but then He died.  The beating, the cross, the nails, and the spear all seemed to come from nowhere and take Him without warning. They were helpless to stop it and their hearts were stricken by grief, but that was the first day and it would not last long. 

The second day was again marked by fear.  Jesus’ followers hid all day, windows were closed and doors were locked.  The sound of footsteps outside sent shivers down their spines as they tried to fight back against panic.  If the Pharisees would do that to Jesus they might do the same to those who follow Him.  So, they huddled together and waited for the Sabbath to pass so that they could finish preparing His body for burial.  They were confused and afraid, but that was the second day and it wouldn’t last long either.

The third day began early and at first was more confusing and raised more questions.  His body was gone, what happened, where was He moved?  Then the rumors of sightings began to circulate.  Had their grief driven them crazy?  By evening they were exhausted.  Again fear had driven them to huddle in a locked room, but then hope came in.  Locked doors and windows would not stop Him.  It was Jesus!  He is Alive!  That moment changed everything for this small group of disciples, and it has also changed everything for us.  We have a hope that will not fade no matter what may come because Jesus walked out of that tomb.  Because of this Hope we now have a Purpose, we know that we are Not Alone, and for us the Grave will not be the End.  This weekend we celebrate Hope! 

*Photo courtesy of bela_kiefer and FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ambushed by Unfaithfulness

I have a video that I would like to share with you.  This is from a couple of years ago, but the message is so important for us.  I have seen too many families torn apart by sexual sin to not do everything I can to keep this message out in front of people.  I pray this is an encouragement and challenge for you.

The text is from 2 Samuel 11 and deals with David's sin and attempt to cover up his failure.  We all need to learn from his experience to watch out for every ambush that is set before us.

 

Help Wanted

Over the last few weeks I have been asked to help people in a variety of ways.  There have also been times that I have volunteered to help with something without being asked.  Some times it has been things that fall within my responsibilities as a pastor like visiting at the hospital, counseling, or helping someone think through a passage in the Bible.  Other times it has been the things you would ask a friend or family member to help with like moving furniture, giving someone a ride, or babysitting.  Just the everyday things that we all do either willingly or after persuasion.

What has impacted me recently has been the responses that I have received.  It's amazing how a small act of kindness can be so meaningful to someone.  I think that the reason for this is that no matter what you are helping someone with the end result is that what you give them is yourself.  For those who receive this gift of your time the value to them is immeasurable.

I think this might be part of what Jesus had in mind when he spoke these words, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me (Matthew 25:35-36)."  Part of meeting the expectation of "Love your neighbor as yourself" is meeting physical needs.  It's great to offer to pray for someone when they have a need, but we also need to role up our sleeves and give them a hand.

That is one of the things that I admire about my dad.  All my life I can remember him helping people; working on a car for someone, building things, fixing things, or whatever was needed.  There was no task too big or too small for him.  If someone needed help he would make the time and be there until the job was done.  His investment of time in others has been one of the best sermons that has been preached.

There are people all around us who need help in practical physical ways, and also in spiritual ways.  Let's meet both of those needs.  Let's pray and preach, but also sit and cry with the hurting, visit the sick or imprisoned, repair the broken, and feed the hungry.  Each of these holds the opportunity to share the love of Christ and lift up those who need a helping hand.  Let's get to work.  

Two Are Better

I work alone.  I'm a loner.  I can handle this on my own.  I don't need your help.  Or as my children have liked to say over the years, "I can do this By My Self."

Why do we want to do things the hard way?  I get that independence is a good thing, but why are we so stubborn sometimes that we refuse help from people who care about us? There are a lot of reasons, probably too many to go into here.  So, instead let me offer some reasons to accept help and work together.

Solomon said it this way a long time ago:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.  But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

The first line really says it all, "Two are better than one."  God made us to work together.  We can accomplish so much more if we will give and receive help than we can if we go it alone.  There is multiplied power in numbers as well as safety, support, encouragement, and protection. When we work together our complimentary strengths can help overcome the areas where each of us would be weak on our own.

It is also true that if you or I choose to try and do it on our own that we give up the safety, support, encouragement, strength and protection that comes from being a part of a team.  No matter what our strengths and talents may be, if we are on our own we limit ourselves.  All we are left with is what we can bring to the table. 

That is why God gave us family, friends, the church, and Himself.  We don't have to be alone.

The bottom line is that two are better than one.

*Photo courtesy of cooldesign and FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Worth Dying For

In the beginning we make all kinds of promises to get their attention. We say that we will climb the highest mountains, swim the deepest oceans, and overcome all other obstacles in order to win their love, but then what? Once all that energy is spent to reel in their big catch some men consider their work done, and choose to sit back and cruise. For those couples life settles into a dull routine. The honeymoon eventually ends and the real world begins with a relentless barrage of work schedules, dirty diapers, and bills that need to be paid. They begin to drift apart and their love grows cold, but it doesn't have to be this way.



God designed the marriage relationship to be so much more than that. Of all the things that God made He only said that one thing was not good; for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). Adam’s wife was designed to complete and fulfill him, and he was to do the same for her. In the garden this would have come very naturally for them, but in our sin-soaked world it doesn't because our own selfish desires get in the way. This sabotages what should be the most encouraging and satisfying human relationship we have.



The problem is that the promises made while in pursuit are forgotten, yet men still expect their needs to be taken care of by their wives. A man’s failure to intentionally engage in his wife’s life will cause their marriage to become a passionless relationship where they more resemble roommates than lovers. Many become strangers sharing a house, or they just give up and go their separate ways.



The solution is to die. That’s right, you heard me. Here’s how Paul put it in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” He sets Jesus’ love for the church as our standard. His love is a love of sacrifice, one that went to the most extreme measure in order to secure the church as His bride. Unlike us, though, His love never changes or fades. No matter what we do His love will always remain consistent and complete. That should be the standard against which we measure our love for our wives.



In order to do this, men, we must be willing to die to ourselves. Here death is a picture of sacrifice. We are ready and willing to sacrifice when it comes to providing and protecting, but are we ready to sacrifice when it is time to listen and give of our time. The temptation is to sink into the recliner and relax at the end of the day with something to drink in one hand and a remote in the other, but our wives need and deserve our time. The love that Paul is talking about is one that will happily decide to engage and invest in their lives instead of feeding our own needs. It is willing to shut the T.V. off and listen and talk to our wives. We have such a short amount of time to share with them and invest in them. Don’t let it slip by. Take advantage of every opportunity to remind yourself that she is worth dying for. In the end you will gain far more than you will ever give up.

Let it go!

Philippians 3:13-14

There's a scene in Indiana Jones the Last Crusade where a character falls into a bottomless chasm that opens up right beneath her feet. Indiana grabs her arm to try and keep her from falling, but she slips and falls to her death because she's reaching for the Holy Grail which is stuck on a rock just outside of her grasp. As she falls Indiana almost follows her, but is caught by his father. He too reaches for the Grail, something he has searched for his entire life, and almost slips out of his father's hand, but his father saves him by convincing him to let it go.



In order for his life to be saved Indiana had to let go of what was behind and reach forward so that his father could pull him to safety. I believe that's what Paul is talking about here in Philippians. Paul says that he has not yet reached where he wants to be, but he is working on forgetting what is behind him and straining towards what is ahead so that he can reach his goal.



Sometimes in order for us to move forward we have to let go of what's behind us. We can learn from the past, we can grow from the past, but we can't live in the past and continue to move forward.



That means:

sometimes will have to forgive



sometimes will have to grieve



and sometimes will have to deal with unfinished business



But, ultimately we will have to let go so we can continue to move forward.



What’s holding you back? It’s time to let it go.

The Cross

The Cross

One of the most precious symbols of our faith is the cross.  It decorates our churches, we sing about it in songs, it hangs around our necks, and some of us even have it as a tattoo.  It so penetrates our lives that we can hardly go a day without seeing at least one.  If we are not careful, though, it can become a kind of idol to us.  There is nothing wrong with keeping it as a reminder of what has been done for us, but we have to keep it in the right perspective.  It is a symbol of the One we worship, not an object of worship.  The cross, in itself has no power.  It is the One who made the sacrifice for us on the cross and then walked out of the tomb who deserves our worship and devotion.  The power for saving souls and transforming lives comes from Christ, not the cross on which He gave His life.

He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.  Those words were written by the prophet Isaiah hundreds of years before our Lord's crucifixion.  They speak of hope; a hope that is found in the sacrifice of a loving God.  He gave His very best for us in spite of our constant choice to run after our own desires.  That kind of love has the power to transform us.  When we respond to His grace through faith it changes everything.  But, it is Him and His sacrifice that we celebrate when we worship not the implement of His death.  I pray that every time you see a cross that you will remember the great love that was spilled out on it for you and for me.  May it be a symbol of the One we love, and a reminder of all that He has done for us.

Giving Your All

Athletes are known for giving all that they have. They are motivated, disciplined, and focused and their results show it. What impact would it have if the church approached what we do with the same passion? Please listen to the message below and accept the challenge to Give God Your All.



Romans 12:1-2
New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Giving Your All

New Year, New You?

So, we're about a week into 2014, how are those resolutions/goals going?  We all have high hopes for the new year, but  it will take more than just will power and desire to be successful.  The truth is if we don't plan well and work hard we will not succeed in reaching the goals that we have.  Here are some thoughts:

Evaluate and Re-evaluate - Take an honest look at  2013.  What did you accomplish?  What went well?  What didn't?  Knowing where you have come from is crucial to getting to where you want to be.  Also, check yourself as you go and make mid-course corrections as needed.

Plan - If you don't have a target, you can't hit it.  Know where you want to go.  Set goals that are measurable and realistic, and then write them down.  Check your progress often so that you can stay on track.

Refuse to Quit - New habits take a while to form.  Work at your goals consistently.  If you fall in an area get back up and get going again.  Don't allow a setback to become a failure.  Reaching your goals will be worth the effort.

Be Accountable - This can be uncomfortable, but can also save you.  Ask someone to hold you accountable and ask you tough questions about what you are doing to achieve your goals.  Be honest in the answers you give this person and let the discomfort this creates in you motivate you to keep going and excelling in your plan.

Celebrate - Take time to celebrate your achievements.  Reward yourself with dinner at your favorite restaurant, go to a movie, or give yourself a gift.  Do something that recognizes you accomplished something and that will motivate you to accomplish even more.

Seek God - This is really the first step, but I am listing it here so that it will be one of the last things that you read here.  I believe that God has a plan for you and has designed you for a purpose and so it only seems reasonable to include Him in this process and ask for His guidance as you set your course.  Here are some passages to read and think about.  Matthew 25:14-28 and Romans 8:28-29.


I hope this has been helpful to you.  If you would like me to pray for you please leave a comment and I would be glad to.  Also, did I leave anything out, or do you have any other suggestions?  Please leave those as well, it might just be the encouragement that someone else needs.

Top Posts of 2013

Thank you so much for reading Connect this past year!  I appreciate you allowing me the opportunity to engage God’s word with you.  Since we have moved into 2014 I thought it would be nice to recap the top posts from 2013.  Below are the links to the posts that received the most reads.  I hope you will enjoy them and get some encouragement from reading or rereading them!

Happy New Year!

3)            Surrender(part 2)      (Part 1)

2)            Too Busy!

1)            Dressed for Battle