Showing posts with label charisma Magazine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label charisma Magazine. Show all posts

Thursday, January 10, 2019

10 Powerful Questions to Ask as You Start 2019 - J. LEE GRADY CHARISMA MAGAZINE

10 Powerful Questions to Ask as You Start 2019

(iStock/Getty Images Plus/tomertu)
When a year ends, I always take time to evaluate what God did in my life. I celebrate the highlights by looking at photos, savoring memories and writing down the best moments. Then I mourn my losses. I also carefully consider any mistakes I made and how I can grow spiritually in the coming year.
I see this principle of self-evaluation in Psalm 119:59, which says: "I consider my ways, and I turn my feet to Your testimonies." Lamentations 3:40 adds: "Let us search and try our ways, and return to the Lord!" And the apostle Paul told the Corinthians: "Examine yourselves, seeing whether you are in the faith; test yourselves" (2 Cor. 13:5a).
Yet I hear few preachers today urging people to make serious self-examinations. Today, we are the armchair critics of everything else, but we rarely look inward.
British preacher Charles Spurgeon told his congregation in the 1800s: "Most people have seen themselves in a looking-glass, but there is another looking-glass, which gives true reflections, into which few men look. To study oneself in the light of God's Word, and carefully go over one's condition ... would be a very healthy exercise."
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As you begin this new year, conduct your own self-examination by asking yourself these tough questions:
1. Have I made time alone with God a priority? Fires don't last long if you don't regularly pile wood on the flames. You can't survive spiritually without regular communion with the Lord. If you neglected prayer or reading God's Word in 2018, make a decision today to rekindle your devotional life.
2. Did I develop bad habits that need to be broken? Paul told the Thessalonians, "Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thess. 5:19). Are you doing anything that is extinguishing the Spirit's flames in your life?
3. In what areas do I need to grow spiritually? 2 Corinthians 3:18 says you "are being transformed ... from glory to glory." God wants to take you to a new level. Have you been struggling with anger, anxiety, fear, doubt or resentment? Are certain attitudes dragging you down? Identify the spiritual strongholds in your life and ask Jesus to replace them with the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
4. What are my spiritual gifts, and am I using them? Every Christian has spiritual gifts—and you are no exception. Don't bury your talents. You must face your fears and stretch your faith as you begin to step out, but soon you will find there is no greater joy than being an instrument of the Holy Spirit to bless people.
5. Do I need a mentor to help me? You cannot get where you need to be all by yourself. We all need role models, teachers and encouragers. I love to hang around zealous, passionate Christians whose spiritual heat is contagious. Sometimes I make appointments with them so I can glean from their wisdom and experience. Get as close as possible to those who can help you grow.
6. How did I influence others for Christ in the past year? My greatest joy in life is investing in others—especially as I grow older and realize that life is "not about me." Jesus said our mission is to "make disciples" (Matt. 28:19), yet most Christians never really make a mark on anyone. If you aren't currently making disciples, look around and ask God to show you your harvest field.
7. How can I avoid the mistakes of the past? You don't have to stay stuck in the ruts of 2018. Repent for your moments of weakness. Turn away from your willful sins and then run back into the Father's arms. God has forgiven you, and you can move forward! Your new year can truly be a new beginning.
8. Am I aligned with the right people? God called us to be in community. Don't live in isolation. But make sure you are in a church that is on fire for God. If your church compromises God's Word or ignores the Great Commission, you should find a new church home.
9. What is God saying to me as I enter this New Year? God knows you, and He knows your future. He also knows the challenges you face and the storms that may come this year. Jeremiah 29:11 says: "For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." God loves you. If you seek Him, He will speak a word to your heart—and that word will propel you into a new season.
10. What goals do I need to make? People with goals have a sense of purpose. But those with no ambitions wander aimlessly. Setting a goal is the first step toward success. But make sure to write your goals down. State them clearly, and then aim at them. The prophet said in Habakkuk 2:2b: "Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who reads it may run."
I pray God will give you fresh strength to run the race of faith in 2019.
J. Lee Grady was editor of Charisma for 11 years before he launched into full-time ministry in 2010. Today he directs The Mordecai Project, a Christian charitable organization that is taking the healing of Jesus to women and girls who suffer abuse and cultural oppression. Author of several books including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, he has just released his newest book, Set My Heart on Fire, from Charisma House. You can follow him on Twitter at @LeeGrady or go to his website, themordecaiproject.org.
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Great Resources to help you excel in 2019! #1 John Eckhardt's "Prayers That..." 6-Book Bundle. Prayer helps you overcome anything life throws at you. Get a FREE Bonus with this bundle. #2 Learn to walk in the fullness of your purpose and destiny by living each day with Holy Spirit. Buy a set of Life in the Spirit, get a second set FREE.

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Warning: Upcoming Turbulence in 2019 - J. LEE GRADY CHARISMA MAGAZINE




Warning: Upcoming Turbulence in 2019


(Getty Images Plus/iStock/aapsky)
I despise airplane turbulence. Even though I enjoy high-speed roller coasters, there is something about hurling through stormy skies in a commercial jetliner at 37,000 feet that turns my knuckles white. This is why I always ask for a window seat. Whenever we hit rough air and the seat belt sign flashes on, I feel safer if I can look outside.
But that didn't help me on a recent overseas flight. I was not aware that rough weather was raging below. All I knew was that our journey through the dark vacuum of space reminded me of Doctor Doom's Fearfall—a theme park ride I have enjoyed many times in Orlando. (That ride lasts only a few seconds, and it is firmly bolted to the ground. The stomach-churning turbulence over the Atlantic Ocean lasted half an hour.)
It was 11 p.m., and I couldn't see anything outside my window except horizontal rain. I kept reminding myself that the pilot was using radar and other high-tech instruments to avoid crashing into the sea. I recalled a conversation with my brother-in-law, a Delta pilot. He assured me that no one dies in turbulence.
But my knuckles did not believe this. I clutched the armrest, prayed and—for a few seconds—wondered how my wife would plan my funeral.
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Of course the plane did not break apart in midair. When we descended below the cloud cover, and the lights of civilization became visible, all my color returned. I breathed a prayer of thanksgiving when I heard the familiar sound of wheels touching the runway.
You may not share my fear of turbulence, but all of us have walked through scary times in life when we couldn't see the path in front of us. Many people I know are going through such times right now. Some are facing job loss, financial hardships, health problems or unusual spiritual challenges.
Meanwhile, many churches today are finding it hard to navigate change. More people than ever are in a season of transition because old business models don't work and ministry paradigms are shifting. On top of that, the world is going though unprecedented political and economic shaking. You can expect more of that in this new year.
It's not going to be easy. There are going to be some roller-coaster moments in this season. My best advice is to put on your seat belts now.
Some of us find ourselves digging our fingernails into the armrest while the plane bounces all over the stormy sky. And when we look out the window, we see nothing but darkness.
I have found my comfort in the words David penned after he escaped from Saul's pursuits. He wrote in Psalm 18:4,6: "The cords of death encircled me, and the torrents of destruction terrified me ... In my distress I called on the Lord, and cried for help to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry for help came to His ears."
In describing God's just-in-the-nick-of-time rescue, David borrowed imagery from the day when God opened the Red Sea. "The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High gave His voice ... Then the channels of water appeared, and the foundations of the world were discovered ... He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters ... He also brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me because He delighted in me" (v. 13,15,16,19).
David's transition wasn't easy. In his most difficult moment, he realized God had "made darkness His hiding place" (v. 11, NASB). We must remember that darkness is not a sign that God is not with us. It became stormy just before the Red Sea split open. Yet God was working behind the scenes, even when the clouds were black and the wind was violent.
As we enter this turbulent time of transition, hold tightly to this promise. You can trust Him. In yet a little while, He will intervene. Don't focus on your job crisis, the bad economic news, your lack of options or the bumpiness of the ride. When His lightning flashes, He will split the obstacles in front of you and make a dry roadbed in the middle of the sea. He can make a way where there is no way.
Don't try to handle the anxiety yourself. Ask the Lord to carry you. Turbulence never lasts forever. Eventually you will hear the sound of wheels touching down on the wet runway. Although you are helpless to make this transition on your own, your Deliverer will safely carry you from your present crisis into a broad place of future blessing.
J. Lee Grady was editor of Charisma for 11 years before he launched into full-time ministry in 2010. Today he directs The Mordecai Project, a Christian charitable organization that is taking the healing of Jesus to women and girls who suffer abuse and cultural oppression. Author of several books including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, he has just released his newest book, Set My Heart on Fire, from Charisma House. You can follow him on Twitter at @LeeGrady or go to his website, themordecaiproject.org.
Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Great Resources to help you excel in 2019! #1 John Eckhardt's "Prayers That..." 6-Book Bundle. Prayer helps you overcome anything life throws at you. Get a FREE Bonus with this bundle. #2 Learn to walk in the fullness of your purpose and destiny by living each day with Holy Spirit. Buy a set of Life in the Spirit, get a second set FREE.

Friday, December 21, 2018

Give Christmas More Meaning—With Music - J. LEE GRADY CHARISMA MAGAZINE


(iStock/Getty Images Plus/LightFieldStudios)
I love Christmas music. I love it so much that I start listening to my playlist the last week of October—because 1) I'm not a fan of Halloween, and 2) I want to spread holiday cheer for as long as possible. I have almost every genre of music in my collection—including 1940s Big Band, 1950s rock, Bing Crosby, country and Kirk Franklin, along with more contemporary tracks.
Radio stations play "holiday" music 24 hours a day, but many of these songs don't even mention the reason for the season. We hear lyrics about snow, icicles and winter weather (even though Christmas is hot in most parts of the world), overcoats, shopping, sleighs, Santa Claus, reindeer, toys, holly, elves, bells, chipmunks and pumpkin pie.
I don't mind the secular songs. One of my favorite Christmas albums is Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song from 1963. But while it features classics like "Jingle Bells," "Deck the Halls" and the famous title track about chestnuts roasting on an open fire, it also offers 10 carols that are unapologetically Christian. (Nat King Cole's father was a Baptist minister, and the singer's faith obviously affected his career.)
There was a time in our history when Christmas music was mostly spiritual. People actually sat around fireplaces, gathered on street corners or met in churches to sing carols that made overt references to the birth of Jesus. I love those songs the most, and I encourage you to enrich your Christmas with the classic music that has been passed down for many years. Here are some of the "greatest hits" that capture the essence of the season:
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"O Holy Night." This stirring anthem isn't easy to sing unless you're a professionally trained tenor—and that's why I prefer listening to this version by Josh Groban. It gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. Composed in 1847, it glorifies the incarnation of Christ and contains a powerful, prophetic denouncement of slavery: "Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother/ and in His name all oppression shall cease." A 1906 version of this carol was the first song ever played on the radio.
"O Come, O Come Emmanuel." Originally written in Latin in the 12th century, this majestic carol reminds us how the Jews yearned for the coming of the Messiah: "O come, Thou Rod of Jesse free/ Thine own from Satan's tyranny/ from depths of hell Thy people save/ and give them victory o'er the grave." Few hymns are as rich in biblical imagery. Irish singer Enya's version is one of the best because it maintains the medieval style.
"The First Noel." Christmas carols were originally used as lessons to narrate the story of Christ's birth. This song describes the shepherds, angels, wise men and the Christ child in masterful poetry—and reminds us that the Savior "hath made heaven and earth of nought/ and with His blood mankind hath bought." (The word Noel, or "Nowell" in 18th-century English, means Christmas.) Here is Ella Fitzgerald's take on this classic.
"It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." Penned in 1849, this carol had deep meaning in the United States at a time when tensions were mounting between North and South. It emphasizes that the message of the angels at Christ's birth was about peace and reconciliation: "And man, at war with man, hears not/ the love-song which they bring/ O hush the noise, ye men of strife/ and hear the angels sing." Johnny Mathis' 1958 version is amazing.
"O Little Town of Bethlehem." An Episcopal priest from Philadelphia wrote this carol after a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1865. It reminds us of how God used such an insignificant place to stage the miracle of redemption. ("How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given!") Nat King Cole recorded one of the best renditions of this song.
"Joy to the World": Penned by Isaac Watts in 1719, it was not intended to be a Christmas carol. Yet today it is the most widely published Christmas hymn. It is based on Psalm 98 and celebrates Christ's victory through His Second Coming with powerful words like this: "He rules the world with truth and grace/ and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness." There have been many pop recordings of this carol (I love Whitney Houston's gospel rendition), but the one by Andy Williams is a personal favorite.
"Hark the Herald Angels Sing!" Charles Wesley, founder of Methodism, wrote this song in 1739, but it had a somber melody. The livelier version we sing was composed in 1840. This hymn packs a theological punch in every line, with references to the incarnation, the Trinity and regeneration: "Christ by highest heav'n adored/ Christ the everlasting Lord!/ Late in time behold Him come; offspring of a virgin's womb." Amy Grant released a perfect version of this carol way back in 1983.
"Sweet Little Jesus Boy." Written in the style of old Negro spirituals, this song captures the essence of Christmas from the perspective of distant observers—and reminds us that Christmas is not about white European culture. Mahalia Jackson's soulful rendition is one of the most authentic.
"What Child Is This?" William Chatterton Dix wrote this song in 1865 after a bout with depression. It was later set to the famous 16th-century English melody, "Greensleeves." Rather than retelling the Christmas story, it calls us to participate in it: "So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh/ Come, peasant, king, to own Him/ the King of kings salvation brings/ Let loving hearts enthrone Him." Michael W. Smith did a moving rendition of this song with Martina McBride.
"Angels We Have Heard on High." This hymn was translated into English in 1862 from a French carol, and is best known for its Latin refrain, "Gloria in excelsis Deo" ("Glory to God in the highest"). My favorite version of this carol is a rousing black gospel rendition by Sandra Crouch, sister of Andrae Crouch.
I encourage you not to rush through the holidays without listening to the songs that give Christmas its true meaning.
J. Lee Grady was editor of Charisma for 11 years before he launched into full-time ministry in 2010. Today he directs The Mordecai Project, a Christian charitable organization that is taking the healing of Jesus to women and girls who suffer abuse and cultural oppression. Author of several books including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, he has just released his newest book, Set My Heart on Fire, from Charisma House. You can follow him on Twitter at @LeeGrady or go to his website, themordecaiproject.org.
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Monday, November 26, 2018

How a Trip to the Holy Land Changed My Life - J. LEE GRADY CHARISMA MAGAZINE




How a Trip to the Holy Land Changed My Life


(iStock/Getty Images Plus/FredFroese)
I traveled to Israel more than 20 years ago. But this month, my wife and I took a 13-day trip there with a group of American friends. I'd already seen the typical tourist sites in Jerusalem, and honestly, I was not looking forward to standing in long lines to see Jesus' tomb. (Sometimes the Holy Land can feel like a religious version of Disney World—especially on crowded days.)
A friend of mine from Puerto Rico says that once you visit the Holy Land, the Bible "goes from black and white to color." That is exactly what happened to me—from the moment I watched a group of fishermen clean their nets on their boat on the Sea of Galilee. It feels like I got a new pair of glasses. When I read the Bible now, certain words jump off the page that I never noticed.
Our trip took us from Haifa in the northwest to the Dead Sea in the east. Not only did we tour some of the more popular destinations like Capernaum, Nazareth and the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem, but we also stopped at Elijah's Cave in Haifa, Mount Gerizim in Samaria and Elisha's Spring in Jericho—the place where the prophet healed the poisonous waters. We even explored the ruins of Magdala, believed to be the birthplace of Mary Magdalene.
I came back from this trip wishing I could return—and hoping that my friends can make a similar pilgrimage. I guarantee a visit to the Holy Land is worth the investment, but I would recommend the following:
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1. Make sure you have a skilled guide. Tourism is a huge industry in Israel. In October of this year, Israel reported its largest number of tourists ever. That means there are some people giving tours who may be doing it for the wrong reasons. I strongly recommend you arrange for a guide who is a committed Christian. Our guide grew up in the land and is a Spirit-filled believer. He knows the Bible, history and geography.
2. Read the gospels while you are there. Many scholars say the Holy Land is "the fifth gospel"—which means the land itself is a witness of Christ. I decided to read the Gospel of Matthew while I was there. Even though I have always believed the words of Scripture are true, they became even more inspired for me when I saw the hillside where Jesus fed the multitude, and I visited the ruins of the house where Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law.
3. Connect with the "living stones," not just the old ruins. My trip to Israel was actually not just for tourism. We were able to connect with Christians in the land—on both sides of the current political conflict. One of my favorite moments was worshipping with both Israeli and Arab believers who have found common ground in their love for Jesus. Even though the church is small in the Holy Land, and struggling, God is moving powerfully among His people. If you go, do everything you can to encourage and strengthen the body of Christ while you are there.
4. Try to avoid the crowds. Our tour guide did a masterful job of taking us to places that are off the beaten path. We hiked near the Sea of Galilee and sat on rocks near where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. When we went to Bethlehem, we spent most of our time in Beit Sahour, "the place of the sleepless," where the shepherds learned that Jesus had been born. Everyone visits the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, but when we went to Caesarea, on the Mediterranean coast, we almost had the place to ourselves. That's the site where Peter prayed for a group of Gentiles to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
5. Don't avoid the Palestinian areas. My favorite part of this trip was visiting places that are considered off-limits by many tourists. Christian pilgrims often avoid the Palestinian areas because of fear or prejudice. But what they don't realize is that Arab Christians actually are a key to the spiritual awakening in this land.
For centuries, Palestinian believers have preserved the Christian sites in modern Israel—and many biblical sites are located in the Palestinian territories. These include Bethlehem; the ruins of Jericho; the Judean wilderness where Jesus was tempted; the site of Jesus' baptism; and the ancient city of Sychar, in modern Nablus—where the Samaritan woman talked with Jesus at Jacob's well. That place alone was worth the price of my trip!
I met some wonderful Palestinian believers during my visit. They love Jesus but they feel forgotten by American Christians. They also speak Arabic, which means they have a greater chance of sharing the gospel with Muslims than anyone else in Israel. They need our prayers, our love and our support. Don't ignore them when you visit their homeland.
J. Lee Grady was editor of Charisma for 11 years before he launched into full-time ministry in 2010. Today he directs The Mordecai Project, a Christian charitable organization that is taking the healing of Jesus to women and girls who suffer abuse and cultural oppression. Author of several books including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, he has just released his newest book, Set My Heart on Fire, from Charisma House. You can follow him on Twitter at @LeeGrady or go to his website, themordecaiproject.org.
Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Help Charisma stay strong for years to come as we report on life in the Spirit. Become an integral part of Charisma’s work by joining Charisma Media Partners. Click here to keep us strong!