Initiative

Starting this Sunday and throughout the month of October we will be talking about the word "initiative" during children's church. As we look at this word and how important it is that is one virtue we live by, we will learn it means seeing things that need to be done and doing it.
From time to time each one of us (I know myself especially) needs to be reminded about this idea of initiative. Whether it is around our house, in our communities and even in our church's. Philippians 2:4 says, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." I think we should take this as a challenge to make sure we do all we can do to the things we see need to be done.
Let us look around, how can we make a difference in our homes? How can we make a difference in our communities? How can we make a difference in our church? How can we make a difference in our relationship with God? Imagine the movement, imagine the noise we can make for God if we all took the initiative.

Preferences or Passions?

All of us prefer things. I prefer a big glass of milk when I am eating something sweet. I prefer my burgers and pizza to have no vegetables on them. I prefer listening to sports talk on the radio. I prefer showing up too early, rather than too late. There are a lot of preferences I have, which I will not bore you with right now. I am sure each of you have some preferences, maybe a lot of them. Some of the preferences maybe a little stronger than others. No matter what those are, they are our preferences and they make us who we are.
I am passionate about somethings. Some of the passions are serious and deep, while others are not so serious. I am passionate about the sports teams I root for. I am passionate about being the man God has called me to be as a husband, father and minister. Those two passions are no where close to each other on my radar of passions, but both are passions. I am also passionate about making sure people who do not have a real relationship with Jesus, find one. If you are a believer, this should be one of your passions too, one that is also the top of your list or close to!
The definition of preferences and passions in the dictionary are completely different. One means a choice or a right to claim. The other means powerful or compelling emotion or feeling. In a book these maybe different, but are they different in our lives and even churches? We often confuse the two, because one makes us feel more comfortable, more like us. It makes us feel like we are in control. I believe that is not how we are to live. Our relationship with Christ should not be a preferred one, when we feel like it, what we like, always about us. Instead have a passion and want in that relationship. God is so passionate about you and I, He gave us the greatest gift possible. His love is unfailing, His grace is never ending and His want to be in our life is a unmistakable. Too great and too much for us to prefer God, instead of being passionate about Him.
Each day I am trying to let God be my passion and keep my preferences to the way I eat my snacks, after I have my burgers and pizza, while listening to sports talk radio!