Ephesians 4:16
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

The body is an amazing things. It reproduces itself. We grow new cells continually. Our bodies are continually building themselves up. And the body of Christ is no different. The whole body is held together. Your part and mine are both included. It is important to note the source of this ability. It come from Him. It is found in Him.

It is from Him that we derive our strength and the nourishment that others may need. And that last part maybe the most important. Your part might be the place where God’s strength flows through in order to bring nourishment to some other part. So once again, we are reminded to pay attention to God’s work in this world. We are challenged to surrender our agendas to take up His. Believing and trusting that this time and this place that I will occupy today will be useful to fulfilling God’s purposes here in this world.

Lord, today I want to fulfill my part. I hope you will use me to bring nourishment and strength to those I am around. Let me bring Your strength. Again, I pray, use me so that when others see me, they will see You and I will contribute to the body’s increasing strength! Amen.

• If every moment matters, why is it challenging for many to see those ordinary moments of of life as opportunities to make an impact? How can you begin to see these “ordinary” moments as opportunities to surrender your agenda for God’s?

• What ordinary moments are you letting pass you by that could be used to reflect your One Word to others? How does the issue of surrender factor in to your failure to act?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

This afternoon my wife went out with our girls so I could get some writing done. The sole responsibility she left me with was to fold the laundry. To make my task even easier, she took the clothes out of the laundry for me. However, hours later the clothes sit in the same spot. At least, I can tell her I knocked out a huge chunk of this writing assignment. Now don’t get me wrong; I’ve had every intention of getting my task accomplished. I even pictured the joy that would appear on my wife’s face when she’d come home with the clothes not only folded, but also put back in the drawer (since this is her definition of actually doing laundry). When I’d get stuck on a sentence I’d even go to pick up a shirt. My intentions were good, but so far my execution has stunk.

The problem with intentions, even the good variety, is that without action they are meaningless. This truth isn’t confined to household chores or tasks on my ‘honey do’ list. It serves as a universal truth. Think about it for a moment. Most parents don’t want to be described as absent, abrasive or a failure by their children. Every individual who has held a little one in their arms dreams about being able to earn the title of “Mom of the Year” or “Best Dad on the Planet” and proudly display their accomplishment on a coffee mug or t-shirt.

The majority of parents start out with the good intentions of nurturing their child and raising them to become fully functional members of society. Yet, without taking tangible steps towards that end goal, their dream will never become a reality. You don’t just wake up one morning and instantly become an outstanding parent.

A husband can have ever intention of showing his wife how much he loves her, but all the intention in the world will never make the love magically appear in their relationship. Action is needed. One can dream about crossing the finish line after a grueling 26.2 miles, but unless they lace up their shoes and start running, there is close to a 0% chance of them becoming a marathoner. Action is needed. You can desire to reflect Christ’s heart more profoundly in your actions through your One Word, but unless you are willing to take that first step, your walk will remain in a standstill. Action is needed.

Good intention is not the same thing as actually doing good. True faith always leads to action. Movement and momentum define a relationship with Christ. We must live our beliefs and do something with the intentions we feel. Scripture speaks very clearly about our actions not earning salvation, but rather serving as a response to the hope we have in Christ. If we truly believe that Christ is life, then it would be counter cultural for us to live as if this weren’t true. In Matthew 5:13-16, the imagery of salt and light is used to describe the basic character of a Christian’s life:

13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Captured in this passage is the reason we must make every effort to be great stewards of the influence we’ve been given and not sit on the sideline with just good intentions. The Greek word for salt is ‘halas.’ They used this term to describe a preservative or something which cleanses and purifies. In essence, we have been charged with doing the purifying work of Jesus here on earth. To be like salt means to add something that is beneficial to the earth. By living your life differently and acting on your intentions, you are adding the essential qualities of Jesus to this world.

This leaves us with some pretty challenging questions we must look into ourselves for answers. How can we be a light to the world through acting on our One Word? Where do my intentions and actions not line up? What must the world see? If we don’t live as the salt to this world then what is the point in being salt in the first place? If I am a believer and don’t try to live as a light to those around me, what is the point? Jesus tells us who we are. We are the salt and light. We are called to make a difference and directly impact culture. If our salt doesn’t add flavor to this world and our light fails to illuminate then what is the point?

As the salt and light we are urged to go out in the world. Not Jesus, but you. God is calling each of us to be a light in a darkened world. But, this won’t take place unless we act on our intentions. Our hope is the way we live our lives will lead men and women to glorify God and catch a glimpse of the transformation which occurs when God captures someone’s heart. Being a light is about point others towards God.

• Read Galatians 5:25. When it comes your One Word, in what ways are you actions inconsistent with your good intentions and desires toward change? What action is needed to push you towards movement?

• Why doesn’t intention always lead to action? What has prevented you from making your intentions with your One Word a reality?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

The problem is that our view of greatness has been drastically skewed from God’s original intent. In fact, over time God has gone missing from this picture of greatness. Instead, people are scrambling to make much of themselves. The most basic response of our fallen nature is to draw attention to ourselves.

Our culture adds to the pressure we feel to promote ourselves by stressing that we must take responsibility for our own satisfaction. This message causes despair and hopelessness because we worry that we have failed or missed our shot at greatness. So, we work even harder to prove that we matter and manage our image so we look great to others. When we fall into the trap of grabbing for greatness, we are prone to find our sufficiency and satisfaction in things that disappoint and ultimately leave us longing for more.

Pride requires a disconnect from the reality that says this world is not about you. Pride says I matter and must make certain of that fact. It is based off the assumption that no one else cares as much about you as you. This line of thinking comes from the often-quoted notion that God helps those who help themselves. Nowhere in scripture does this message appear. Instead we read in James 4:6 that “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Until we realize that God has made a way for us to be complete, we will continue to cling to every shallow advantage to prove ourselves, justify our worth and compensate for what we perceive that we lack. Pride is fueled by our need for security and satisfaction. What we have to realize is that we do not have to grab what you’ve been given. Our faith is found in our security in His faithfulness.

Our soul’s desire is fulfilled when we simply delight in Him by surrender our desire for control. God has made a way for us to be complete, both satisfied and secure. We are free to live the life we have been given. Yet, this only comes as a result of humbling ourselves through the act of surrender.

There is a lot more to humility than just being good. It is not simply a nice character trait to make you more likeable and easier to be around. Any definition of humility that begins, ‘humility is seeing yourself as…’ is wrong. Scripturally, humility is not seeing yourself at all because you are looking at God. Humility takes root in our heart only when we kneel before Him and surrender all of our lives before Him. The only antidote to pride is the act of kneeling. Author John Piper puts it this way, “humility can only survive in the presence of God. When God goes, humility goes. In fact you might say that humility follows God like a shadow.”

In God’s economy, humility is the very path to greatness. Our prayer should be that we are humbled by God’s presence in our life so that we are not humbled by our circumstances that happened by our poor choices driven by pride.

• What places in your life are you currently being “graspy” in search of control and significance? What would it look like for you to surrender these areas to God and trust that He is the ultimate source for your security and satisfaction?

• Read Luke 9:23-25. Comfort, pride, feeling you’re owed, the desire to control. What is inhibiting you from surrendering this area to God?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

Without breaking a sweat in their flannel shirts, these guys renovate a basement, expand a kitchen and update a bathroom. This, however, is not the reason for my disdain of home improvement shows. I don’t like them because as they walk outside into a tent and use a laser level and compound miter radial arm saw as if it is assumed that an Everyday Joe would have these tools sitting around in his garage. I don’t have a laser level, compound miter radial arm saw or even a tent for that matter. To get started on the project they are describing, it would cost me 10 times the amount of the project. I simply don’t have the right tools for the job.

For many of us, another renovation project remains unfinished. This renovation is an inside job; one which deals with what is taking place deep within the heart. Reasoning we don’t have the right tools, we resign ourselves into believing this is the way I am and always will be. But, this is simply not the case. Most of our problems don’t require therapy. Instead they require we surrender them to the One who invites us to do such. The problem is we tend to forget this is the God we worship and resort to depending on our own strength to get us through. We need a tool which will help us remember to follow the invitation to cast our issues, burdens, cares and concerns to Him.

Without this tool, the normal chain of events will continue to take place. You are confronted with the facts that things need to change in your life. You realize the choices you are making are leading to frustration and pain. Taking it a step further, you even know what things you should change and the different direction you should be heading toward. With all the zeal and motion you can muster, you surrender your issue and concern over to God. There is a freedom you experience from this initial surrender, which leads you to assume the issue is done. Unfortunately, you quickly find out your assumption is wrong.

Surrendering an issue once is never enough. Surrender intervals are defined as the amount of time between points of surrender. Time is measured by our standard units of measure while the points of surrender were defined as those points in time when we muster up the emotion to surrender to God and mean it.

These gaps in surrender describe the pattern of life for many of you. You struggle deeply and consistently. Every week you make it to church and every week you surrender. Your surrender interval is 7 days and still you struggle with issues you thought you surrendered a long time ago. Maybe you have reduced your surrender intervals by attending small groups or Bible studies which cuts your moments of surrender down to ever other day or so. Then there are those of you who have a consistent daily quiet time. You wake up every morning and with all the zeal and meaning you can muster as you surrender your life to God.

What I have begun to realize is twenty-four hours is way too long of a gap. The truth is there are too many things which can happen between those moments of surrender. You surrender first thing in the morning and all seems to be going well until your kids get up, your spouse uses all the hot water or someone cuts you off in traffic. Twenty-four hours is way too long. In order to consistently cast your cares on Him you must position yourself to do so. What I need in my life is a very short surrender interval – a moment-by-moment surrender which comes with every breath.

• How does one measure surrender? How do you know when you have fully given up control of a situation to God?

• Read 1 Peter 5.7. As it relates to your One Word, what is one area where you feel God is calling you to surrender to Him? How often are you faced with the decision to yield to Him?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

You and a few of your friends hand over two tickets and enter one of the favorite attractions in the House of Mirrors. As everyone goes their separate ways, you get misplaced from your group and lost amongst the hundreds of mirrors. Out of the corner of your eye, you see reflections of your friends in a few of the mirrors. Numerous reflections, but only one is where you friends will be found. You try to pursue them and head towards a reflection. WHAM! Your head smacks up against a mirror. Wrong reflection.

Your second and third attempt produce similar results. Just when you think you are on the right track there comes another dead end. Frustrated and sore you give up your pursuit and head towards the exit. From the way the walls are constructed to the angles of the mirrors, the purpose of the ride is to mess with someone’s spatial and visual senses. The shapes in the House of Mirrors give the participants unusual and confusing reflections of themselves and those around them.

Whether we realize it or not, we tend to live our lives like we are in that House of Mirrors by engaging in the game of self-preservation. Even though we crave to be in relationships with others where we are known, vulnerability is something we fear at the same time.  Our culture has programmed us to keep people at arm’s length. We have grown into a society that seldom trusts the intention of other people and because of this we are often apprehensive about letting people know us.

This is not meant to imply that you don’t have close friends or anyone in your life that really knows you. But even in those relationships there are often barriers that are erected to manage an image that we want to maintain. The barrier to developing authentic relationships is self-preservation. In general, we want others to perceive us better than we even perceive ourselves. We often struggle with disappointing other people or not measuring up to some standard that always feels out of reach.

We are afraid that if we take off our masks or expose our problems, we will be rejected. At the fall carnival, we shun the rejected like the Bearded Woman, Two Headed Boy and Midget Lady to the House of Freaks. We pay our money and snap our pictures as we gaze at people who don’t fit in to normal society.  We struggle with whether others will perceive us as normal or not.

What we fail to realize is that everybody has a habit they struggle to control, a past they can’t undo, an insecurity they hide, or a flaw they are desperately trying to correct. The good news is we don’t believe anyone is normal or has it all together. Everyone is crazy. Unfortunately, if things remain the same and we allow self-preservation to exist, we hinder our spiritual formation and growth.

If we are to survive and continue to grow out of our struggles we need a community around us to encourage us. If we are more concerned with our own self-preservation we will hide behind an image that we want others to have about us. Our desire for self-preservation is often at the expense of developing authentic relationships with those around us. So how do we start? As with all things, we center on God.

If we are going to develop authentic relationships, we have to be authentic ourselves and authentic with God about where we are. Authenticity is an accurate reflection of truth. Authenticity enables us to truly reflect where we currently are in our relationship with God. Whether it is good, bad or ugly, our honesty serves as a starting point for conversations to begin and change to occur.

• There are many reasons we have for not engaging with others. What barriers are you constructing that are preventing others from seeing the real you? How is this hindering your pursuit of your One Word?

• Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Colossians 2:9-10 and Psalm 139:23-24. According to these verses, what does it mean to be authentic before others and God? Would you say you are being authentic before God or engaging in self-preservation? What makes you answer in the way that you do?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

When the workers introduced our group to Pat I couldn’t help but snicker from the irony of it all. You see, Pat was a porcupine and porcupines aren’t regarded as the friendliest of creatures. With thousands of sharp quills attached to their body for protection, ‘patting’ or even petting a porcupine seems like an activity which should be avoided at all costs.

Regardless of Pat being a bit more laid back and docile, his natural tendency was the same as any porcupine. If someone invades his personal space, Pat either attacks or hides. In his mind, lashing out or withdrawing are the best options on the table. His quills keep him safe. They keep him alive. But, they also leave him very lonely.

Part of me felt badly for poor old Pat. Having a relationship proves to be a tricky thing because relationships require closeness and vulnerability. How does one experience community if their first reaction to someone getting close is impaling them with a razor sharp quill? How is someone ever known if they hide in the bushes whenever another animal comes by just to say hello?

Then out of nowhere I began feeling sad for myself after realizing Pat and I have a lot in common. I might not have quills to stab another individual, but my hurtful words, judgmental tone, deflective barbs, sharp sarcasm and destructive thoughts can wound any relationship which gets too personal for my liking. The thought of others getting to know the ‘real’ me terrifies me and puts me in attack and withdraw mode.

Hiding my weaknesses, bad habits and ugly tendencies from those around me always seems to be the best course of action. This action appears to provide me with a sense of security, peace and comfort. Yet, these feelings are fleeting at best and rather than thriving, it leaves me living life alone in pure survival mode.

We need each other in order to grow and for our One Word to take root in our lives. To be fully loved an individual must be fully known. This will never take place if you have your quills raised ready to pounce on anyone who dares to see past the façade of the false self you present to the world. So, today we want to leave you with this question: How are you being a porcupine in your relationships? What can you do to be a little less ‘prickly’ today to those trying to care for you?

We desperately need a growing soul so we are energized to pray for a growing concern taking place in a growing world. Over time we must begin to develop a fundamental understanding that we are all connected to one another and we cannot afford, or survive, being obsessively concerned about ourselves.

When you welcomed Christ inside your heart you said goodbye to authoring your own story. Life is now about joining a larger community (the church) whose ultimate goal is to make Christ known. This makes your pursuit of living out your One Word all the more important. Everybody’s contribution, including your own, ultimately determines the overall effectiveness of the ENTIRE body.

The call is not for us to feel bad or wish we could do more. The charge is merely to do something and realize that God has equipped you with gifts and passions that He wants you to use to make His name known. Go and put your heart and soul on the line before God by asking: Lord, what would you have me do in light of my growing concern and expanding heart? How can living out my One Word make a difference in the lives of others?

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 speaks to the fact that God has given each of us unique gifts, talents and passions. If we are honest, some of us are guilty of comparing our gifts, or perceived lack thereof, to others and pondering why we received the short end of the straw. This questioning paralyzes us, keeps us on the sidelines and enables one to rationalize their lack of action by saying their part will not be missed anyway. The Message version of this scripture goes as far as saying that until ‘you accept your part of the body does your part mean anything.’

The Church that is built on Christ is the only organization on the face of the earth that has been entrusted with what every human heart longs for and in fact needs.  We must not shirk our responsibility and make excuses for why we are not more effective. The power lies in our ability to follow Christ and demonstrate this by our love for one another. It requires trusting God will be faithful to lead us and put us in places where we will be useful to fulfilling those purposes.

You might not believe it right now, but your dedication to your One Word will determine the churches overall effectiveness of shining God’s love to the world abroad. Imagine the impact we could have if each person understood how critical his or her part of the puzzle was to the common vision. Let it start with you and let it begin by being known inside of community.

• It has been said that our soul shrinks or expands to the size of our greatest concern. How have you seen this statement to be true in your own life? In what areas do you see your soul expanding recently? What has caused your heart to gravitate towards this concern?

• Have someone read Psalm 37:4-5. How does God show us what the desires of our heart are? Do you feel the desire to be used for God or are you satisfied with where you are at the moment? How is this currently influencing your drive to live out your One Word?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

Philemon 1:6
“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”

Have you been struggling with applying your word? If so, talking it out is a sure way to gain some insight on what may be hindering you. Community is what helps us see the forest for the trees. If your word is just a private matter then you risk not seeing the big picture of what God is doing. When you open up to your community, and discuss what you are learning throughout this journey, your understanding of how God is using your word increases. Even if the opposite is true, and my one word has been a great experience thus far; Acknowledging every good thing that takes place in your life is a reminder for you of God’s faithfulness. Reminding yourself of the progress you have made puts you in a position to better receive and apply what God has revealed to you.

Another way of looking at the word sharing, in the verse above, is that of participation. When we open up to others concerning our word, this encourages them to do the same. Suddenly, there is a common thread, a partnership between us. This sense of partnership encourages us to view each others word as equally important to God. By sharing with one another we are exploring what God has given us for the formation that we want to see take place.

Our walks are designed to be a collaboration. We are to serve and support one another in love. This begins by actually opening up and sharing, both the good and the bad. It’s just as important to celebrate our small achievements as it is to admit when we aren’t making the kind of progress that we had hoped we would. In doing so, we discover a common bond that is sure to bring clarity and encouragement for moving forward.

As a husband and father, I didn’t exactly feel like much of a provider working a part-time job, at a less than desirable hourly rate, but my wife saw things differently. The fact that I would do whatever I could to support our family helped her apply her word at the time, which was release. My humility in taking that job encouraged her to release some of her worry, or need for control in her own life, taking the pressure off of herself and putting her trust in God.

Gods plan is to use the change taking place within you to cultivate change in your family, your neighborhood, your job, and your church. Ephesians chapter 5 talks about different gifts being given to people “for the equipping of the church.” The Greek word for equipping is katartizo and it means to cause something to function properly. This same principle applies to your word. God wants to use your word to ensure that your church, as a whole, functions properly. What an awesome thought!

When we pick our word we spend a lot of time trying to find that perfect word that defines our lives. I would like to challenge you to think about how your word not only defines your life, but also the lives of those around you, and the church as a whole.
There are words, such as serve, that seem more far-reaching and have an obvious effect on other people. Then there are those words that seemingly only affect the individual such as faith, or persevere. So does that mean that one word carries more significance than the other when it comes to having an impact on your community? Of course not! There is a wide variety of words out there and each one has something unique to contribute to the growth of those around you. You have no idea how your word may overlap with another persons word; there is always going to be someone who will benefit from what God is doing in your life.

• Has your word helped someone else in their walk with God, or given them a new perspective on their word? If so, how has this encouraged growth in your own life?

• Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 Reflect on how your word can be part of Gods plan for your family, friends, work, and church.
  

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

When people get to close to those boundaries, we start to backstep and rethink our connections to those people.  When it becomes personal, it becomes dangerous.  People might actually figure out that we don’t have it together.  Living authentically means being vulnerable and transparent.

If someone is taking you seriously and is willing to hold you accountable to your word, it requires willingness on your part to accept responsibility for your own spiritual change.  This means taking on a posture of help and transparency. We must fight our natural inclination to hide from others when we are struggling with something or living in sin.

Entering into a relationship where accountability and spiritual vulnerability are cornerstones requires us to be honest and upfront with our struggles, not sending our friends on a fishing expedition for the truth.  Doing life together requires all to be proactive in their own relationship with Christ. The challenge before us is to step up our walk by examining our heart.

If we are not willing to be vulnerable before God, we will never go deep with others. Our relationships will remain superficial at best and we will continue to use others solely for our own benefit. We have to remember that in Christ we have the fullness of love necessary to live with others without having to get.

• What are the places where you need support, encouragement and accountability? Who knows about these places?  For those that could not come up with a name, we encourage you to tell someone you trust about your experience with my One Word. For those that have a community of supporters, take a moment and reflect on how well these people know about your current progress towards growth. In both cases, be honest about your need for accountability.

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!