A recent Harris Poll indicated that 77% of Americans reported feeling stressed about money at some point during the past month. And 22% of Americans revealed they experienced extreme stress about money during the past month. Are you in that percentage?

Take this simple inventory. Are you…

_____ Living your life paycheck to paycheck

_____ Consistently having more month than money

_____ Frequently doubting you will have enough to pay all the bills

_____ Losing sleep because of excessive worry about money

_____ Mapping out your commutes trying to limit the gas you use

_____ Questioning whether you will ever be able to eliminate your debt

_____ Having repeated arguments with your spouse about money

_____ Wondering if the unknown number is a robo call or a credit collector

_____ Obtaining a new credit card to transfer your balance to a lower interest rate

_____ Always thinking “Can I afford this?” instead of “Should I buy this?”

_____ Wanting to give when you see a need but thinking you can’t afford to

_____ Repetitively pondering how you can make more money

If you can say yes to even one of these things, odds are you are suffering some sort of financial stress.

How would it feel to live without financial pressure? How would it feel to get out of debt, have more money than month, stop fighting about money, reach your financial goals, be able to give freely to bless others and sleep peacefully at night? It is possible!

Pause for a moment and imaging a life free of financial stress.

Do you want that life? I certainly do! And I invite you to join us at Aldersgate Church as we begin a journey of overcoming financial stress.

• Join us in person or via livestream as we begin a brand new sermon series titled Making Change https://aldersgate.online/watch. Whether you are digging out of debt or saving for the future, overcoming financial stress begins my making change!
• Show up for the Financial Peace University class that begins TONIGHT, Wednesday, February 6^th. You can get more information here: https://aldersgatechurch.churchcenter.com/groups/small-groups/financial-peace-university

God has a plan for overcoming all financial stress!

 

Imagine that you are hanging from the edge of a cliff with a drop of twenty thousand feet. The only thing between you and an fall to your death is a rope, with the person of your choice on the other end. Who do you know that has the guts to pull you to safety? Who do you know that is going to let that rope burn their hand and not let go?

For whom are you holding the rope? For whom are you putting your life on the line? Who are you lifting up? For whom are you going to withstand the burning pain and watch the blood drip from your hands?

HOLD THE ROPE! Like the four men in Mark 2 who refused to let a crowd stand in their way, making a hole in a roof and using ropes to get their paralyzed friend close to Jesus’ healing hands.

HOLD THE ROPE! Like the unnamed disciples who held the rope for Saul’s basket to reach freedom beyond the walls of Damascus, not knowing the incredible impact the new Christ follower would have on the world (Acts 9:23-25).

HOLD THE ROPE! Like the repentant prostitute risking her life to liberate Israeli spies down a rope from her window in the wall of Jericho. (Joshua 2:15)

HOLD THE ROPE! Like the Israelis who released Jeremiah, pulling “him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern.” (Jeremiah 38:13).

Who is holding your rope? And whom are you holding the rope for?

 

 

Strip down, start running—and never quit!

Hebrews 12:1 – The Message

Imagine an elite track athlete lined up to race wearing gear like she is about to go snow skiing down a black diamond slope.  Her outfit is complete with numerous layers, massive ski boots, a cumbersome parka, and a heavy ski mask with goggles. That wouldn’t make any sense would it? A runner wants every competitive advantage he can get. And he will strip down to the bare minimum to get it.

Each of us have a little bit of that elite runner in us. We do the same thing when we step on the scale at home or at the doctor’s office. Trying to get every advantage we empty our pockets, remove our belt, take off our shoes, and strip off every layer of clothing we can.

That is the point the writer of Hebrews is making. In order to run our race well, we need to strip it down. It is imperative we let go of the heaviness that bogs us down, trips us up, and impedes our progress.

Early into this new year I encourage you to take an inventory. Take a break from this race we call life and meditate on the things that are keeping you from running at your best. Perhaps it’s the weightiness of a past you need to leave behind? Maybe a hurt you have refused to let go of? Or a habit that needs to be dropped? By chance it’s a schedule that needs to be paired down? Or a relationship that has turned toxic?

Take time to inventory what’s holding you back and strip it down.

 

 

This past Sunday I used the priority jar illustration as part of the sermon. You’ve probably seen it before. I pulled out a large jar and set it on a table in front of everyone. I poured a cup of small gravel into the a large jar. Then a cup full of medium size rocks. Finally I placed three larger rocks in the jar. And the lid on the jar wouldn’t shut. So I took out the large rocks, removed the medium size rocks and poured out the small gravel. I started over but this time I put the larger rocks in first followed by the medium size rocks and then poured the gravel into the jar. And guess what? The lid shut.

Of course, this illustrates priorities in our lives with the time we are given. The larger rocks are the truly important things such as faith and family. If all else was lost and only the larger rocks remained, your life would still be meaningful. The medium sized rocks are the other things in your life that matter such as work or school. And the pebbles signify the small stuff such as material possessions.

If we put the small pebbles in the jar first, there is no room for larger rocks. If we spend all our time and energy on the small stuff, we will never have room for the things that are truly important. But if we start with the larger rocks, there is room for everything. The challenge is to determine the big rocks in your life.

Jesus said it this way:

So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdomand the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Matthew 6:33 (The Passion Translation)

Funny thing happened Sunday. Between each of the services I moved the jar and the rocks into the green room to get re-organized and ready to show the illustration again in the next service. During one of the services, as I was setting up the illustration, I realized I had accidentally left the large rocks lying in the green room. Illustration complete!

 

 

 

Perhaps you’ve seen the movie The Bucket List.  It tells the story of two terminally ill men (played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) who escape from the room they share in the cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a list of all the things they would like to do before they die (or before they “kick the bucket”).  The things on the list range from great adventures to sincere reconciliation.  In the process, both of them become unlikely friends, heal each other, and feel content with all they have achieved.

Or consider the real life story of 55-year-old John C. Hughes from Butte, Montana. Hughes is a man who is pursuing his bucket list with a vengeance. Hughes’ bucket story begins with him innocently following a police car for a few residential blocks. Then, without warning, he put the petal to the metal, flew by the officer, and headed for the highway. The officer who pursued after him said Hughes reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour before his vehicle was brought to a stop four miles down the highway. After his arrest, Hughes shared the reason he had risked his life was that he had “always wanted to be a part of a police chase.”

What’s on your list? I certainly hope you don’t have a terminal illness or that you are not planning on doing anything illegal, but we should all have a bucket list. None of us ever really know when we are going to “kick the bucket.” All we know is that we definitely will. No matter what age we are or how our physical state stands, maybe we should all be living as if we only have a short time to live.  How would our lives differ if that were the case?

The question is not whether we should have a list but what should be on the list. So, what’s on your list?

But let me say this…the time that remains is very short…1 Corinthians 7:29 (NLT)

 

The Christmas story is literally crammed full of powerful lessons. I encourage you in the few days left leading up to Christmas to spend time reading the Christmas story (Matthew 1:1 – 2:23, Luke 1:1 – 2:40, John 1:1 – 18). Quiet yourself and everything around you, read through the narrative, and let God teach you some of the compelling lessons. During the weeks before Christmas, I’ve been blogging about some of those teachings. Here’s the last message:

JESUS IS RADICALLY DIVISIVE

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him…

Matthew 2:3

We tend to think of Jesus as nice, safe and passive. But Herod heard the news of the birth of a “king” and shook in his boots. So did the religious establishment. Rightly so. This is the same “king” who dumped tables over in the Temple, referred to the religious elite as a “brood of vipers”, and said, “Do not think I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). Jesus knew the truth of the gospel would divide the world. It is as true today as it has always been.

Which Jesus do you know? A passive, safe Jesus that exists primarily to meet your needs and make you comfortable? Or the real Jesus that is the “way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6)?

 

 

 

 

 

The Christmas story is literally crammed full of powerful lessons. I encourage you in the days leading up to Christmas to spend time reading the Christmas story (Matthew 1:1 – 2:23, Luke 1:1 – 2:40, John 1:1 – 18). Quiet yourself and everything around you, read through the narrative, and let God teach you some of the compelling lessons. During the weeks before Christmas, I’m blogging about some of those teachings. Here’s the second message:

GOD’S KINGDOM HAS ALWAYS AND WILL ALWAYS

PLACE TREMENDOUS VALUE ON THE LEAST, THE LAST AND THE LOST

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

Luke 2:8-9

Who were the first to hear about the Christ child’s birth? Who were the first visitors to see the Savior with their own eyes? The Roman ruler? The wealthy upper class? The religious establishment? Nope. Dudes keeping sheep. Those that were the least in the society of the day. Those that were the last anyone would expect to be the first to witness the birth of the Messiah. Those that were lost in society at the time. God’s kingdom has always and will always place tremendous value on the least, the last and the lost.

Is that where our heart is as well?

 

 

 

 

 

The Christmas story is literally crammed full of powerful lessons. I encourage you in the days leading up to Christmas to spend time reading the Christmas story (Matthew 1:1 – 2:23, Luke 1:1 – 2:40, John 1:1 – 18). Quiet yourself and everything around you, read through the narrative, and let God teach you some of the compelling lessons. During the weeks before Christmas, I’m blogging about some of those teachings. Here’s the second message:

WHEN GOD DOES AWESOME STUFF, THE PROPER RESPONSE IS PRAISE

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…

Luke 1:46-47

Mary knew God had touched her life. She didn’t have all the answers. She was probably still a bit fearful and apprehensive. She had no idea what exactly lied ahead for her. But she knew God had done and was doing something really awesome in her life. Her response? Unabashed, heartfelt praise. Mary sang a song of praise to God that’s recorded in Luke 1:46-55. Plain and simple, when God does good for us, the most perfect response is pure, honest thankfulness and praise, acknowledging his favor over us.

Where do you need to spend time praising God today?

I love the Christmas story! It never gets old. I have fond memories of my Granny reading the Christmas narrative every year. We gathered at her house on Christmas Eve. A huge family in a tiny house with oodles of food and lots of boisterous people. But there was one moment each year, just before we opened the presents, where we would congregate in front of the Christmas tree and everyone would get silent for Granny to share the Christmas story. Then all hell broke loose! Presents were distributed, wrapping paper flew everywhere, and Christmas was over. But not really, because the Christmas story is never over.

The Christmas story is literally crammed full of powerful lessons. I encourage you in the days leading up to Christmas to spend time reading the Christmas story (Matthew 1:1 – 2:23, Luke 1:1 – 2:40, John 1:1 – 18). Quiet yourself and everything around you, read through the narrative, and let God teach you some of the compelling lessons. During the next few weeks, I’ll blog about some of those teachings. Here’s the first message:

YOU ARE NEVER TOO YOUNG OR TOO INEXPERIENCED TO BE USED BY GOD.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

Luke 1:26-28

Mary was pretty young. Scholars’ opinions range anywhere from 13 or 14 to 18 or 19 years old. Either way, that’s pretty young. She didn’t have a lot of life experience. In fact, she was single and was a virgin. She more than likely came from a poor family not having a lot of material goods. The point is this: God used Mary in a miraculous way even though she was young, inexperienced and poor.  That’s God’s M.O. You are never too young or inexperienced to be used by God!

Don’t think you are too young. Don’t get fooled into believing your resume is lacking. Don’t thing your means are meager. Know that God wants to use you!

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day! A whole day set aside for food, family, food, football, and food! Oh, yeah, and a day reserved to give thanks. So, before you let the food, family and football commence, please take a moment to be grateful for this article you are about to read. Seriously though, it can have a profound impact on your life (the whole being grateful thing that is…the effect of the article is less certain).

Thanksgiving Tips (according to some good science):

Put down the Red Bull and pick up a thanksgiving journal!

In a research study (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) one group of participants kept a daily journal listing what they were grateful for. Another group recorded what annoyed them. Those who kept a “gratefulness” journal had more energy and enthusiasm and were happier than the other group. You don’t need an energy drink. You need a thanksgiving journal!

Say thanks and give Uncle Frank a break!

In a similar study by Emmons, the participants who daily journaled what they were thankful for reported that they were more inclined to help others with a personal problem. While those when recorded what annoyed them only became more annoyed with other’s problems. So don’t let annoying Uncle Frank get under your skin, just give thanks…for something!

Double up on the turkey, dressing, and pumpkin pie!

When we are grateful, our brains release the feel good transmitters dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. Our bodies like these chemicals so much that it evokes a “do that again” response. So, a grateful heart can feed on itself and help us want to repeat it. We simply kickstart the process by saying thank you. So have seconds of everything, including gratitude!

Skip the main meal and just have dessert!

Our brains have this thing called “negativity bias.” We have five times more negative circuits than positive ones, and so we naturally tend to focus on the negative. But, when we are grateful it forces our brain to think about the positive. Paul understood this when he wrote Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Think on all the sweet things!

Stop counting sheep and start counting your blessings!

A Chinese study discovered that gratitude decreases depression, lowers anxiety, and improves sleep (Korb, 2012). So, you don’t need the tryptophan in the turkey, just count your blessings!Start and end your day with a grateful heart.

 

Resources:

• Emmons, Gratitude and prosocial behavior: An experimental test of gratitude. Available from: https://www.academia.edu/365898/Gratitude_and_prosocial_behavior_An_experimental_test_of_gratitude[Accessed 26 November 2014].
• Emmons, R.A. & McCullough, M.E. (2003) Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84 (2), pp.377–389.
• Korb, Alex (November 20, 2012 ). The Grateful Brain. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prefrontal-nudity/201211/the-grateful-brain
• McCullough, Michael E. (2002) Savoring Life, Past and Present: Explaining what hope and gratitude share in common, Psychological Inquiry.
• Stone, Charles (November 12, 2018). How Gratitude Helps Your Body and Brain. https://outreachmagazine.com/features/discipleship/36976-how-gratitude-helps-your-body-and-brain.html?utm_source=omag-om-daily-nl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=omag-om-daily-nl-20181113&utm_content=button