Jim George's Blog, page 5

Your Priorities Are Showing

What do your calendar, “to do” list, weekly commitments—and even your checkbook register—say about you? What do they suggest about your walk with God? About your priorities? Take a look. Is what you see based on solid priorities you believe in, or on the desires and whims formulated by what you see and hear via people and advertising?

Prayerfully consider what changes you need to make to set your priorities on what you believe about God and His call to service, on what He says about helping others. Jesus said, “…where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Moses prayed in Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” A heart of wisdom! That’s exactly what you need as you live the priorities you and God hold dear. So, where is your heart?

Lord, I’m so easily swayed by advertising and wanting what I want and what other people have. Every time I’m ready to spend money, remind me to stop and remember that You are my priority… and that You provide my income so I can serve You, provide for my family, and promote Your kingdom. Amen.

Make It Your Resolve

What is it about resolutions that fill us with delightful anticipation… and dread? At first we are hopeful. But unfortunately we begin to doubt our ability to keep a resolution. Embrace this list of godly resolutions so that you have the strength of the Lord leading the way:

1. Never worry about your self-worth, but instead…
2. Rejoice in your worth to God. Psalm 139:14 says you are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
3. Determine you’re going to seek a deeper relationship with God and
4. Walk by faith even when you don’t always understand God’s direction.

How much time are you spending each day in God’s Word? How much time in prayer? It’s not a matter of legalism, but of relishing what you have in Christ! Doing these things will give you the strength and hope each day to follow through with your resolve to reflect God’s glory in your life.

Lord, give me the hope and faith of godly resolutions in this new year. With Your leading and Your power and grace, I can accomplish anything—and all things! Amen.

The Divine Criteria for Success

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8

I’m not going to tell you, “Read through your Bible every week…or four times a year… or once a year… or read through a different translation of the Bible every year…or read 15 chapters a day.” And certainly my message is not that you need to go to Bible school, a Bible institute, or a seminary. No, I want you to know the foundational element of success according to Joshua 1:8 — ”this Book of the Law.” The Bible is the starting place for everything that matters, for all that really counts for success.

In this verse, God is speaking to Joshua. He’s giving him a new job assignment — to lead God’s people into unfamiliar territory, to conquer it, to divide it, and to settle it. How will Joshua know if he’s successful? And what is success? It’s not wealth. It’s not a title or a position. It’s not what you own, who you know, or a list of accomplishments. And it’s not being named in a Who’s Who book. No, success according to God and as recorded in Joshua 1:8 is:

knowing God’s Word
reading and studying God’s Word
thinking about God’s Word
obeying God’s Word
speaking God’s Word
following God’s Word with all your heart

When we follow this divine criteria, we’re succeeding in God’s eyes and useful to Him for fulfilling His purposes. We may not measure up to the world’s expectations or its definitions of success, but God is well pleased.

Christmas – The Birth of Our Savior

Are you wondering, “Why do I need a Savior?” Many people ask this question when the Christmas season approaches. This the reason Joseph was given regarding Jesus’ birth: “And [Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

Consider all that Jesus the Christ, offers you and me. He:

S-ubstitutes His sinless life for our sinful one (2 Corinthians 5:21);
A-assures us of eternal life (John 10:28-29);
V-anquishes Satan’s hold on our life (2 Timothy 2:26);
I-nitiates us into the family of God (Galatians 4:4-6);
O-verthrows the power of sin (Romans 6:1-10); and
R-econciles us to a holy God (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Are you saved? Do you enjoy in Jesus Christ all that the word “SAVIOR” represents? If not, you can name Jesus your Savior right now. Pray, “Forgive my sins! Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.” You can begin your walk with the Savior today.

Pray and thank God for these truths. Rejoice, sing, and shout, “Hallelujah, what a Savior!”

Be Generous

I vividly recall the day I began praying to be more generous. After assessing my spiritual life, I discovered I could use improvement in this area. So every day I asked God for opportunities to give. I prayed for open eyes and an open heart that would recognize the needs of others. Immediately God began to fine-tune my senses. Jim and I have been blessed to minister to many people through teaching, speaking, and writing. And we also love to privately and quietly assist when we can.

The amazing results are that people have heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, people have been helped, and some people have accepted Christ as their Savior! On top of those wonderful blessings, the Lord has honored our commitment to Him in countless ways.

I encourage you to be generous with your gifts, your time, and your faith. And watch what God does through you!
Father, You have blessed me so much. As I share with others, may the spotlight be on You so that You get the recognition and thanks. Amen.

From Jim's Heart-Developing a passion for mentoring

When I first arrived at the church where my family spent over 30 years growing as Christians, I was an immature believer. I didn’t have a clue about what God was asking of me as a husband, father, provider, church member, or witness.

So what did I do to get help? I began looking around the church for men who were mature in the areas in which I was weak. Then I asked them to meet with me, to mentor me. Some of these men were younger than me, but that didn’t matter. They were much farther along on the road to maturity than I was. They had what I needed!

As I matured in my faith and in my understanding of my roles, I began to sense the responsibility I had to pass on to others what I had been taught. As I grew, the passion to help others also grew. Today, more than 30 years later, I receive scores of e-mails, phone calls, or letters each week from men who tell me, by God’s grace, I have influenced their lives. I only wish I had awakened sooner to the opportunities I have had for being a man of influence. I also wish I could have given them more than I did.

O man of God, start growing! And as you grow, God will give you the same passion men like Jesus and Paul have displayed for mentoring other men of God.

Offer a Helping Hand

As a young child, I remember my mother reading a particular fable to me. While she read, I studied the painting in our storybook that illustrated the fable. It pictured a man who was frantically calling out for help while he was drowning in a river. On the footbridge that spanned the water, another man was casually leaning over the rail looking at the struggling man.

According to the story, the observer was lecturing the man who was drowning beneath him. He was telling him what he ought to have done and letting him know what he should do if he ever got into that situation again. Instead of reaching in with a helping hand and saving the dying man’s life, he talked on and on about what the man who had fallen into the water had done wrong and how he could avoid the same mistake in the future. Clearly the perishing man didn’t need a lecture! He needed help!

And that is what you and I have to do when it comes to praying for those who have fallen and failed. We must help them! We must set aside our disappointment, forsake the lectures, forsake the judgment, forsake the shock, and go to work helping and praying for others, taking heed lest we fall (1 Corinthians 10:12). Sure, correction, instruction, restoration, and rebuilding may come later. But when someone fails and is in trouble, pray and offer a helping hand.

If a man is overtaken in any trespass,
you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness,
considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Galatians 6:1

From Jim’s Heart—Leading by Serving

I’m sure you agree that Jesus Christ was the most influential man who ever lived. No one has or ever will match the impact He had.

What makes Him all the more remarkable is He wasn't an autocrat. He wasn’t a leader running roughshod over people or demanding respect and obedience. Rather, Jesus was a humble servant. He “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life” (Mark 10:45). After He performed the lowly task of washing the disciples’ feet, He said, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).

Whose feet could you wash today? What opportunities do you have right now to serve rather than be served?

Jesus, You are the King of kings and Lord of lords, yet You chose to live as a humble servant. May I follow in Your steps today as You give me opportunities to serve those around me. Amen.

Lesser Choices

Is your fire for the Lord burning low? You know what happened, don’t you? At some time, for some reason, lesser choices were made and that passion for knowing and following God’s plan got lost. If you want to be a person who lives out God’s will for your life, you must first have a passion for God’s Word. Be purposeful and willing to stick to God’s path.

There is so much at stake. Your own spiritual growth, the lives of those you love, your marriage, your witness to others. What you do and don’t do doesn’t only affect you, it affects everyone and everything. In God’s goodness, it’s not too late to begin to make good, better, and best choices. God is waiting patiently for you.

God, please rekindle my flame of faith. When I first met You, I was hungry for Your Word and so eager to share it. Today, I will walk forward with a renewed spark of belief and commitment. Amen.

Humility Possesses a Helpful Spirit

Humility is active cooperation, not passive resignation. Humility rolls up its sleeves and says, “Where can I help? What do you want me to do? It doesn't matter how great or small the task, I’m here to help!”

Unfortunately we also often encounter these women:

The “last word” woman—isn't willing to give encouragement or positive input, but she certainly feels free to tell you how you should have done the job.

The “know it all” woman—is the one who constantly interrupts her husband or friends with correct but unimportant information: “No, Harry, it wasn't seven years ago. It was six years ago.”

The “I can top your day” woman—quickly blurts, “You think you had a day! Let me tell you about mine.” What she’s really saying is, “Don’t expect anything from me today.”

The “question everything” woman—feels it’s her God-given task to question everything she’s asked to do. Are you sure? Do you really want me to do that? Do you really think this is important?

The “reluctant” woman—is passive. She says she’ll help or do whatever you ask, but doesn't quite get around to her duties and responsibilities.

Sadly, it’s easy to fall into these categories. But there’s hope, sweet hope! Peter says that if we — and all believers — will humble ourselves, God will give us His grace, His favor, His blessing, His power so we can do and be all He planned for us.

And this includes you! God wants you to succeed even more than you do. He saved you to serve Him, His people, and others, starting with your family, your church family, and your sphere of influence.