Tag Archives: francis chan

Still Moments – Does Your Life Make Sense?

May 31, 2014 RunAndBeStill Leave a comment

“Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers.”
Francis Chan, Crazy Love

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Rom 12:2 (NLT)

Here’s to living a life that makes people wonder what makes you different…hopefully it’s because you are walking in God’s will but maybe it’s because you are a little crazy…some days I am not sure I know the difference.

Make today a wonderful, crazy day! Inspire someone!

Encouragement

One small step for man…

January 21, 2014 RunAndBeStill Leave a comment

A great question posed by Francis Chan in “Crazy Love” made me stop and think, “What are you doing right now that requires faith?”

As I was taking a personal inventory in an attempt to answer that question I was tempted to be discouraged but instead God brought me to a realization. Not every faithful act has to be earth shattering. This is where we, or at least I, tend to get hung up. I feel like stepping out in faith needs to be a major act, an all or nothing, jump out of the boat kind of leap. I am a fan of the huge gesture and have always in my own mind paralleled big steps with faith. Neil Armstrong’s famous moon walking words came to mind as I was mulling all of this over. “One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.” There are definitely seasons in our life when we are called to actions that we feel are great steps of faith. Today though, I want to encourage you, that even those small steps, prayers poured when you feel like you are stuck in place, beseeching and waiting on God’s direction, are indeed faith steps. Inaction is more difficult for me than action. Sitting still when I would rather be running out into the future instead of waiting for God to work it out and bring it to me goes against every fiber of my being and requires every bit as much (I might even say more) faith as jumping out of the boat. Listening instead of talking, sitting instead of running. Doing nothing takes courage; waiting takes faith.

Today I would challenge you to answer the question, “What are you doing right now that requires faith?” And realize that your small steps can be turned into a giant leaps when made in faith.

Encouragement

Praising in the hallway

November 16, 2013 RunAndBeStill 2 Comments

“Until God opens the next door. Praise Him in the hallway.”
I love this! I want to make this my anthem – praising in the hallway! A beautiful picture of praising God while we are waiting. Praising God before He answers. Praising God in spite of our circumstances, in spite of how we feel.
In reading the blog Spiritual Inspiration I came across this. “Remember, a sacrifice of praise is when it costs you something, when you don’t necessarily feel like doing it. Praise Him, not because of how you feel, but because He is worthy!” Francis Chan says this, “The point is not to completely understand God but to worship Him. Let the very fact that you cannot know Him fully lead you to praise Him for His infiniteness and grandeur.” Rick Warren, in his book “What On Earth Am I Here For?” says this, “Don’t be troubled by trouble. Circumstances cannot change the character of God. God’s grace is still in full force; he is still for you, even when you don’t feel it. When you feel abandoned by God yet continue to trust Him in spite of your feelings, you worship Him in the deepest way.”

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord, may I never forget the good things He does for me. (Psalms 103:1-2)

We need to learn how to praise the Lord in our darkest hour. Praise Him, even when we don’t understand, even when we don’t feel like it. We need to praise Him, not because of what He can do for us, but because of what He is to us. And I promise if you can do that, He will lift you out of the darkness. Your circumstances may not change, you may find yourself standing in the hallway for a really long time. But, if you praise Him while you are there, with a genuine spirit of worship, your heart will be changed!

Lord, I lift my hands up to praise to you this morning. I take my hands off every problem, every situation and circumstance that I am trying to fix on my own. Lord Jesus, I cast all of my burdens on you. Open my eyes to see that you know what is best for me. Strengthen my faith to take you at your word. Rise within me that I may boldly declare your truth. Cast out fear, remove all doubt, block unbelief and cause an unwavering trust to be stirred within me. Lord, change me. Amen