Ever been stuck in a rut?   Ever been stuck in the Groundhog movie that just keeps repeating itself over and over.  It just seems if life is sucking the life out of you, instead of being enjoying and fulfilling.  It can be defined as apathy.  Apathy can be found in your everyday duties as well as your spiritual relationship.  Apathy can be defined as:  lack of feeling, emotion, interest, or concern. It is a state of indifference, or the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation and/or passion. An apathetic individual has an absence of interest in or concern about emotional, social, spiritual, philosophical and/or physical life and the world.

Apathy can be felt in a lot of churches today.  You have churches shriveling and dying because somewhere along the way people stopped caring, they lost their vision, and they lost their passion.  Somewhere along the way people began to think it was ok to be mediocre, and maintain.  We don’t want our churches to just survive, we want them to thrive!

How have we ended up at this point?  How has apathy rooted itself among so many people?  I was at Isabella’s school today working on the Polar Express.  Our Librarian goes to great lengths to blindfold the kids and have them travel a great distance to actually reach the Polar Express.  As Mr. Land ended the last part of the book, it grabbed my attention.  Santa had left the bell, which the little boy had lost on his sled.  The boy was so excited Santa had returned his bell.  He rang the bell to hear it’s beautiful sound, but his parents remarked, “Oh too bad it’s broken”.  They could no longer hear the magic of the bell because they had stopped believing.  It pulled on my heart- strings because sometimes we as Christians have stopped believing, not in Santa, but in the power of God.  Some have lost their ability to hear the soft whisper of the Holy Spirit?   We say we believe, but then we are secretly afraid to try.  We no longer challenge our self to be in the center of God’s will because we are afraid of what people might say, or do.  We are afraid to try because it is a lot of work, if we don’t truly believe we can succeed.  Our Pastor said,  “if you are favored by God, that usually meant a tough road”.  I would agree because something that is worth doing is always work;  it will always offend, but it will always succeed because it is God’s plan.  When we stop hearing the bell; or in our case the Holy Spirit, we began to drift into a state of apathy.  Then we are no longer God’s church, but a church that has chosen to live within a box we know we can control.

I have recently decided to work on a bridge Doctorate Program in Evangelism and Church Growth.  I love the challenge of casting a vision.  One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 29:18 where there is no vision, the people will perish.  I promised myself when I went into ministry  when I no longer had a vision, or when I stopped wanting to change, I would move to a different type of work. I never want anyone to suffer spiritual apathy because of lack of leadership. Being in the ministry requires leaders to have a vision; what are our goals, where are we now, where do we want to be at the end, what can we do to help draw people to the Lord.  It is all about creating the excitement of what God can do, and leaving behind the negativity of what is now.  We are starting a new Women’s Ministry at our church next month.  It has been so exciting to see women of all ages come to serve on a women’s leadership team.  We have planned, laughed, prayed, and have truly had a wonderful time.  It is going to be fabulous. We truly believe it will have the ability to draw people closer to each other, and the Lord, therefore making a difference in our whole church.  I am so thankful these women can hear the soft whisper of God breathing life into a new ministry.

I just encourage you today to look at your life.  Do you find yourself struggling with apathy in your spiritual life, or maybe just in life altogether.  The only cure for apathy is the very presence of the Lord.  I love this particular song by Jason Gray “For the First Time Again”.  I am going to put the words below because they are simply a call to God to bring our hearts back to where they use to be.  Does your heart need to return to better times? Do you need to go back to the fresh encounter of the very day you were saved?  Allow God to take you back, just like the first time.

For the first time again

I'm tired of the sound of my own voice
And I'm weary of adding to the noise
And I'm fearful of missing the point of it all
I remember the way it used to be
The way this love felt like the first day of spring
And I want that back more than anything in the world
It's as cold as winter in my veins
But I long to feel the summer rain
Can you take me back to where it all began?

Jesus I come
Come to you again
Like it was the first time
I came to you for new life
I need you now
As much as I did then
I need a new beginning
So Jesus I am coming
For the first time again

I'm jaded from all that I have seen
I'm bitter, but I don't want to be
I'm believing, can you help my unbelief?
Sometimes I think I know too much
But even then it's not enough
Can you take me back so I can move ahead?

Jesus I come
Come to you again
Like it was the first time
I came to you for new life
I need you now
As much as I did then
I need a new beginning
So Jesus I am coming
For the first time again

For the first time again

Take me deep inside the grace that forgets
Instead of down the well worn path of my regrets
I'm older than I've ever been
Can you take me back and make me new again?
'Cause I need you now, as much as I did then

Jesus I come
Come to you again
Like it was the first time
I came to you for new life
I need you now
As much as I did then
I need a new beginning
So Jesus I am coming
For the first time again
For the first time again

For the first time

Life can sometimes be hard.  We all have things that drive us crazy, things we find hard to do, or maybe even people that we find difficult to tolerate. It could be a health issue, an emotional issue, or financial issue.  Although this does not exhaust the list, it gives us a good start.  Sometimes when we look at these areas in our life we look at them long term.  Although we obviously have to do this at times, other times it can be too overwhelming to look at large blocks of time.

What if we took life and thought about it in increments.  For example, instead of looking at a week, a month, or a year, what if we looked at a day? What if we literally took those things we wanted to try to accomplish, and tried to perform them for twenty-four hours.  It could be anything from watching our attitude; eating healthy, stop smoking, exercising, and the list could go on for days.  I think most of us would say that we could probably survive most normal things, if we knew it was only going to be twenty-four hours, unless it was a juice fast. I am convinced if our staff had to juice for twenty-four hours some would not make it, but of course we will not say their names (GW)!  I am pretty sure they are not getting on board. 

 Today was one of those days that I needed to think  in a 24- hour time frame.  It started in the morning, and continued into the night. I have tried to reassure myself tonight, that tomorrow is indeed a new day.  I can start it however I choose.  The slate will be clean, and it will be up to me how I handle it.  Often times we get caught up in our situations and begin to allow them to dictate how we feel.  Do you realize that your circumstances usually affect your perceptions? Think about it for a moment: what you are feeling, thinking and experiencing now may be controlled by your current situation. Are you happy, content, peaceful . . . . ? It is probably because things are going well in your life right now. Are you sad, empty, troubled, angry . . . . ? Chances are things are not going as you wish. The general tendency of people is to follow their circumstances. However, I have seen some people live through some unimaginable tragedy.  In the process of ministering to them, I would often think how are they surviving, and with great faith and perseverance.  These verses continually came to my mind.

Lamentation 3:22-24 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

Proverb 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.”

As I was sitting in the Doctors office today, waiting for what seemed like an eternity, I saw a newspaper clipping.  It was an article from Dear Abby Dec 31, 2012.  As I began to read it, I was intrigued by its words.  I immediately marked it on my phone so I could share it with you.  It basically says we can do anything for a day.  The idea is living life one day at a time, so we fully live each day.
                                                                                             
                                                                                     Just For Today
JUST FOR TODAY, I will live through this day only. I will not brood about yesterday or obsess about tomorrow. I will not set far-reaching goals or try to overcome all of my problems at once.

I know that I can do something for 24 hours- that would overwhelm me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

JUST FOR TODAY, I will be happy. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. If my mind fills with clouds, I will chase them away and fill it with sunshine.

JUST FOR TODAY, I will accept what is. I will face reality. I will correct those things that I can correct and accept those I cannot.

JUST FOR TODAY, I will improve my mind. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration. I will not be a mental loafer.

JUST FOR TODAY, I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable. I will be kind and courteous to those who cross my path, and I'll not speak ill of others. I will improve my appearance, speak softly, and not interrupt when someone else is talking. Just for today, I will refrain from improving anybody but myself.

JUST FOR TODAY, I will do something positive to improve my health. If I'm a smoker, I'll quit. If I'm overweight, I will eat healthfully -- if only for today. And not only that, I will get off the couch and take a brisk walk, even if it's only around the block.

JUST FOR TODAY, I will gather the courage to do what is right and take the responsibility for my own actions.

The prayer of St. Francis (of which there are several versions) contains a powerful message:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope.
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

I just sat and thought about this article for a while.  What if today we did in fact take our life one day at a time?  Only tried to handle the things that were necessary for that day.  What if just for today we tried to live just as Jesus did?  What if just for today we tried to pour out everything we have to give?  What if?  That statement is waiting for us to take it, and finish the story for the day.  Before we know it one day might be two, two days might be a week, a week might be a month, a month might be a year.  We could literally transform our whole life, by a simple twenty-four hour approach.

Will you begin the twenty-four hour challenge today?  We could find ourselves poured out before the Lord for the rest of our life.  Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23They are new every morning

Recently some of my friends and I were having a conversation about church.  They were frustrated about some things going on in their church.  As I listened, I was in a unique position because I currently work on a church staff.  I have been on both sides of the fence, and could see both sides of the situation.  The truth is that in every church, and I do mean every church, there are always problems.  Obviously, we are human, and are not going to be able to be perfect all the time.  So as our conversation continued we began to talk about the problems we had in the World, and how as Christians we seemed to be lulled into silence. I could not get those thoughts out of my head.  I am just going to say if you do not want to read a pointed devotion, please stop reading here.  A great preacher once said, “If your toes are getting stepped on get them out of the isle.”-Tim Anderson.  My toes were stepped on in that conversation, and in my prayer time that followed.

If you have a job you are expected to work when you come to work.  If you are on a sports team you are expected to show up for practice, and play hard.  If you are a parent you are expected to take care of your kids.  If you live in a house you are expected to pay your bills.  If you are in school you are expected to study.  The list could go on and on, but I find it fascinating that church is the only place we seem to not expect anything.  Church seems to be a place you can say what you want, do what you want, or simply take up space without doing anything, and nobody will say a word. We have become so afraid of hurting someone’s feelings, that we have forgotten the truth of the gospel.  We allow people to slip in and out of our church doors for years without really knowing them, or seeking to know them.  God has called us to be engaged, to be active.  We excuse the action of not knowing these people because they are not involved, but have we sincerely made a personal effort to encourage them to be involved. We have created in our churches the attitude of hoping people are present, not concerned if they are active. Church is about community and relationships. Sometimes Jesus was probably inconvenienced but because he loved, he made the time.

What is the church today? What is our message? My Evangelism seminary professor always use to say. “the delivery of the message always has to change, but the message always stays the same.”  The church is the body of Christ no matter where we are.  When someone comes to church we have a responsibility to that individual. If the church is afraid to tell the truth, then who will be willing to proclaim the whole gospel?  Have you looked around lately at what the world thinks is acceptable?  We as Christians believe we shouldn’t get involved in people’s personal business.  Have you read the Bible lately?  Jesus called out a woman that had been married five times, he dared those to cast the first stone who had not sinned, he turned over the tables in the Temple, he called the Pharisees a “brood of vipers”.  He was definitely in people’s personal space.  The difference was he was not like the Pharisees; he did it out of love and out of obedience to his Father. Yet we sit back as Christians and watch millions of unborn babies die, children abused, people having affairs, people living together out of marriage, homosexuality, and we are silent.  Going to church every Sunday and sitting in a pew is NOT all that is required of a Christian. The Bible has some really tough verses that we would like to skip over at times.

James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 

John 2:3-4 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 

Luke 14:33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

The Great Commission states, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

There are very important words in this verse “teach” and “observe all commandments”.  If we truly love God we will not only obey his commandments our self, but will teach others so they can obey as well.  How are people to improve if no one holds them accountable?  I of all people realize there is a balance between what you want to say sometimes, and what is actually said.  However, if there is an injustice and I do nothing, I am just as guilty because I did not speak God’s truth.  In Acts we read about Paul boldly proclaiming the word of God, even in chains.  He states he wanted to claim it “boldly and fearlessly” Ephesians 6

Don’t misunderstand this devotion.  It is not a rant; there has been nothing that has happened to me personally, it is just watching the world around me, and trying to understand why the church is so quite.  Why we sit on a pew week after week if we are not willing to change the way we deliver the message of Christ in our own lives.  Are we really seeking God, or are we checking the list?  Just this past week Chad had to take a child from their parent. Basically she was being used as a bargaining chip in a divorce.  Are we to the point that we are sacrificing our own children in games of revenge?

I believe it is time for the church as a whole to start proclaiming the whole gospel, even the hard parts. We have churches that are simply buildings and walls but lack the Holy Spirit. We have closed the door and instead use our own thoughts, beliefs, and agendas. So what do we have to do to have the Holy Spirit dwell among his people?  What do we have to do to allow us to boldly proclaim the scripture?

Revelation 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 

The process is simple. All we have to do is be willing to open the door.  But in opening the door, we give up all of our rights, and agendas. I love the church that is why I am devoting my life to it.  I am not downing it because I don’t believe in it.  I am saying these things because I love it, and we could do so much better.  I am simply disgusted how we as Christians have forgotten the purpose of what the true church should look like.  We get so caught up in who we should make happy that God is simply shoved to the side, in the very building that was built just for Him.  It doesn’t matter the size, the denomination, the social status, all churches have the same mission. We should proclaim the entire gospel even when it’s not popular. We should be engaged in each other’s lives.  We should seek to build relationships in order to mentor. We should ultimately be willing to be in someone’s personal space, not to judge them, but because we want to “love our neighbor as our self.

God has called us to live outside the box.  Jesus was definitely a radical in his day.  Will we be one in ours?