3 lessons learned in the woods and their spiritual implications

You will get a kick out of this if you are an outdoorsman.  If you’re not, the spiritual implications arevaluable, trust me.   I recently spent a few days bowhunting in adense forest in central Missouri.  On thesecond morning of the hunt, I awoke 30 minutes before the alarm went off.  I slept great!  I was rested and ready to go.  Getting up extra early, I was able to readthe Bible, pray and enjoy some good coffee before we left the cabin.  I had only been in this set of woods oncebefore and yet walked directly to the tree I wanted to hunt from.  Awesome! The morning was goingperfectly.  I climbed the tree and gotsettled in my stand.  I knew this wasgoing to be a great day.

About 7:30 a.m. I saw movement on my right side.  Here he came. A nice buck emerges from the brush about 20 yards away.  I had only a small lane to shoot through andknew I couldn’t waste much time.  That’swhen it happened; a series of mistakes that would turn my “perfect” morninginto a long, wet, disappointing day.  Letme explain.

As I drew my bow, my peep sight turned.  Aargh! That’s when I realized my firstmistake of the morning; I didn’t give my equipment a thorough check.  Then, I made my second mistake, I didn’tregroup.  I thought about it.  I really did. But instead, I took a blind shot. The result was a poor shot and hours of tracking in the rain! 

Tired and frustrated, I settled into a different spot in theevening.  I just knew that the deer wouldcome from one direction so I set my climbing stand to face it.  I had good, clear shooting lanes, my peepsight was in

place and I was ready.  Thenit happened. The deer did not come from the direction I was facing. Nope, itcame from behind me.  When I realized it,I got impatient.  Instead of waiting forthe right moment to turn my body into position, I hastily turned around to geta shot.  By the time I got back to where Ineeded to be, I was busted.  I watched asthe deer galloped away from about 25 yards. I neglected to follow the basicrules of hunting.

Needless to say, as I lay in the bed that night my emotionswere much different than how they had begun earlier that morning.  My anticipation of a great day had turned toa restless night of disappointment and a list of “should haves.”

As I pondered on the mishaps it struck me.  The mistakes I made in the woods are often madein our faith journey with the Lord.  Wego from unspeakable joy and great anticipation to regret and disappointment

4 Focus Points to Greater Kingdom Impact

I’m sure you have heard it said just like I have; “If there are so many Christians, then why aren’t we seeing a greater impact on our society and world?”  Personally, I don’t believe it is from a lack of concern.  Every Christ-follower that I have had discussion with has a genuine concern over the moral and spiritual decline we are witnessing in society.   Now, I may be wrong, but I also don’t believe I have ever met a true believer who wasn’t deeply burdened for those who are without a personal relationship with Christ.  Yet, that still doesn’t answer the question, “Why aren’t Christians making a greater impact?”

As I mentioned, I don’t think it is from a lack of concern.  I believe for many of us, the enemy is using a different tool from his evil collection; he has got us distracted.  Christians are not exempt from the everyday pressures of life.  Like everyone else, Christ-followers have families to raise, jobs to go to, lawns to mow, dishes to wash, bills to pay, PTA meetings to attend and the list goes on and on. Satan knows that he doesn’t have to harden our heart, he can simply distract our focus.

I love the story about former New York Yankee catcher, Yogi Berra.  He was known for his

How to Make Decisions with More Confidence

Decisions, decisions, decisions…much of life is simply making decisions.  If you are like me, you wish someone would develop a fool-proof system for making the right decision every single time. You might even pay $19.99 plus shipping and handling for it, right?

Let’s be honest, that will never happen.  We can’t eliminate all the guess-work out of decision-making, but we can make decisions with more confidence.  In Genesis, the first book in the Bible, we read about a critical point of decision for Abraham and his nephew, Lot.  Bickering had begun between the farmhands of the two herders. Abraham approached Lot with a proposition.

He told Lot he would divide up his land between the two. The decisions made that day would define the legacy of both men.  Abraham’s name would become synonymous with integrity and faith, while Lot would become known as a disgrace.

Is it possible to have more confidence in our decision-making process?  I believe so.  Here are 5 solid steps to follow.

1. Understand that our decisions reveal our priorities.

Abram said to Lot, “If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right…Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt.  So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east” (Genesis 13: 9-11).

By all rights, Abraham could have made the first choice, but he gave the privilege to his nephew. What does that say about the heart of Abraham? Lot on the other hand was a different character. He must have been salivating as he looked over the land and quickly chose what appeared to be the best.  His decision was based on one thing…himself.   It appears Lot chose what he believed would give him the most return on his investment without much thought of anyone else.

2. Pray for guidance.

Lot’s decision would have grave consequences.  His poor decision-making would lead his family to compromise their convictions and live in wicked Sodom.  He would continue down the slippery slope until he lost his joy, his reputation and his children.  The Apostle Peter wrote that Lot’s soul was tormented day by day by the unrighteous deeds he saw and heard in Sodom (2 Peter 2:8).

Abraham’s decisions, however, were bathed in prayer.  The Scripture says, “There Abram called on the name of the LORD” (Gen. 13: 4).  He made a practice of having an altar before any major decision.  Abraham understood an important truth, our lives are not all about us; we are to live for God.  When we make decisions apart from prayer and seeking God’s will, we put ourselves on the throne.  We become our own idol.

Abram prayed and God answered.  He will do the same for us. The Psalmist declared, “Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:2).

3. Look ahead to where the decision will lead.

Lot made the mistake of looking at the “now” and not at the “hear after.”  Someone once said, “Never judge a decision by where it is…but by where it is going.”  This past summer, my family and I vacationed in central Florida and spent a few days at Disney World.  The most fascinating part of the Disney experience for me is the light and firework shows they put on every night before the parks close.  I have read that when Epcot opened, a man standing beside Walt Disney’s widow remarked, “If only Walt could have seen this.”  “He did see it.” Mrs. Disney replied, “That’s why it is here.”  

4. Seek wise counsel.

Proverbs 11:4 says, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”

My parents taught me a valuable lesson as a child; “When in the presence of your elders, listen more than you talk.”  No one knows everything about everything, but everybody knows something.

The Bible teaches us to seek wise counsel from…

• Other People
Proverbs 1:5, “A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,”

Proverbs 12: 15, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”

Proverbs 15:22, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

• God’s Word
Psalm 119: 105, “Your word is a lamp for my feet,  a light on my path.”

Proverbs 3: 5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

5. Gather the facts.

On my desk I have this quote, “Most decision-making is simply gathering facts.”  How true that is.  I have a confession.  There have been many nights that I have lost sleep, fretted, worried, sweated, tossed and turned about a decision I needed to make only to find out it wasn’t nearly as stressful after I learned all the facts.

Decision-making can be stressful.  Yet, if follow the principles taught in Scripture; we can have more confidence in making them.

Applying Precious Promises from Above

The beautiful thing about being a Christian is that when we surrender our lives to the Lord Jesus, we come to life spiritually.  Jesus told Nicodemus that we must be "born again" (John 3: 3). That is, we must become alive spiritually to God.  That happens the very moment you surrender to Jesus and receive Him as your Lord.  At that very moment the Holy Spirit moves into you.  The Apostle Paul proclaimed that we are the "Temples of the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor 6:19).  How amazing!

 Now, when the Holy Spirit moves in, He doesn’t move in empty handed.  He brings with Him wonderful blessings for you.  The Bible teaches in Romans chapter 12 and 1

GPS - God Positions your Steps

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.” – Psalm 37: 23

Like most men, my friend has a one–track mind when it comes to travel.  He likes to go from point A to point B, no detours, no alternate routes, minimal stops, just get in the car, put it into drive and get there.  One year, he and his wife were planning a trip to the Great Smokey Mountains of East Tennessee.  They had been there several times before and had their route memorized.  This particular year they decided to invite another couple to join them.  Shortly after leaving their home

The Voice Behind You...

Could anything be better than spending your days walking alongside the creator of the Universe?  Think about the questions you could ask.  Imagine looking into eyes of the one who flung the stars into place and gave life to all creation.  If someone came up to you with a problem, you simply look over to Jesus and say, “He can handle this one.”  How incredible!

Surprisingly though, just hours before His betrayal and crucifixion, Jesus says to His disciples, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7, NASB).

Can you imagine the look on their faces?  “To our advantage?  How can anything be better than having you here with us?”  But it really is to our advantage.  You see, when Jesus walked this earth,