How Hungry Are You?

There’s nothing like being a new parent! The bundle of joy, known as your child, brings immense joy to the heart. The innocence of their face, cries, and hands is unexplainable.

Let us not forget…the sleepless nights, deafening cries, and constant diaper changes. What would parenting be without these?!

Though it is fairly early in 2010 and in my parenting role, I am already feeling a great stirring in my heart and life. At a time when the newness of a year and the freshness of life is so tangible, I guess I anticipated more changes in my life and the lives of God’s people. Maybe it’s just me and my heightened sense of the brevity of life at the moment, but I wonder when will we, as God’s people, begin to take our walk with Him seriously.

Granted, Addison has only been with us for a few weeks, but we’ve already made some profound observations about babies:

1. They cry when they’re hungry, dirty, or neither of the two.
2. Milk is important!!!
3. Sleep is a priority!!!
4. They make a mess, both of themselves and our hearts!

As eager parents, Julie and I have unsuccessfully tried to interrupt sleep in order to get Addison to eat. (Note the word “unsuccessfully”) Despite our desire to feed her for growth, Addison feels her sleep is more important than her milk, which is opposite of our desires. However, when the pain of her personal hunger has exceeded her need for sleep, she successfully feeds her growth.

Personal hunger is the greatest catalyst for spirituality. Despite the numerous attempts of those who desire your personal spiritual growth, nothing fuels your spiritual growth like your hunger for God. I can want it for you. I can attempt to awaken you for it. But it is obtained when you awaken hungry for it yourself.

Jesus has said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matt. 5:6)

Response
How hungry are you? Is your hunger great enough to wake you from your sleep to pursue spiritual growth?

Growing Out of Our Difficulties

I said I wasn’t going to be cheesy and write about 9/11, but I just couldn’t help but recall our nation’s difficulties 8 years ago today. Today’s devo seeks to take some of the lessons we’ve learned this week, combine them with lessons we learned from 9/11, and offer a challenge for each of us to take difficulties and leverage them for growth. We can learn from our struggles (individually and corporately; spiritually and physically).

My we remember and restructure for growth.

Aloha,
allen

Thoughts
Few Americans have gone through this day without recalling the horrific events of 9/11. My Facebook friends and fellow Twitter-ers have dotted their updates with recollections of where they were, how they felt, and their commitment to remember 9/11. Having recently moved to the Big Island, I’ll never forget the silence in the air in the days that followed. Positioned in an area above the airport, I was beginning to acclimate to the sounds of jets taking off and landing at all hours of the day and night. The silence of parked air carriers and sights of armed guards at our small airport was a constant reminder that life had changed.

A few years later, we now grumble about the amount of security at our airports. The TSA lines and 3 ounce bottles packed in a plastic bag seem to serve only as time penalties for arriving at the airport a little too close to your departing flight. Worse yet, there will be no running to the gate because you must retie your shoes that you have just reapplied after the screening process. Yes, I am guilty of thinking bad thoughts and mumbling disrespectful statements about the men and women who are seeking to keep our airways safe, even if the greater population of the world has never even heard of Hilo, HI.

As a nation, we learned a lot on September 11. We were awakened to the reality that we have real enemies who are willing to invade our soil in order to destroy us; a reality we had forgotten in our pride-induced comma. But it’s a lesson that’s not just worthy of a nation’s attention. It is a reminder that we too should recall as believers. The safety we enjoy within the walls of the church is still territory for the enemy. The victories and peace we enjoyed yesterday is being targeted by our enemy today. He is persistent and success can be his tool for our demise as a disciple, husband/wife, church, nation, etc.

Warning of complacency and resting guards, Warren Wiersbe writes, “In times of success, it is easy for us to maintain the status quo, but this is dangerous…Any ministry or organization that thinks its success will go on automatically is heading for failure. We must regularly examine our lives and our ministries lest we start taking things for granted.”

The early Church had experienced rapid growth. More than 5,000 had been added to the Church in a short amount of time. They were riding an unparalleled wave of the Holy Spirit’s success. However, there was a restructuring that had to be made in order for the continued growth of the Church. Without it the enemy would have performed a horrific act within the confines of such a beautiful community. The apostles had to clarify and devote themselves to their calling: prayer and preaching the Word (Acts 6:4). Meanwhile, the congregation had to assume responsibilities for which the Holy Spirit had equipped and prepared them (Acts 6:3). With this formula of realization + realignment = growth, discovered through their difficulties, the Church made the necessary changes that have sustained it throughout the generations.

If America was to remain an open and free country following 9/11, changes had to be made in order to secure its safety and growth. Likewise, the Church, if it desired growth, had to make changes. The apostles could not fulfill their tasks and minister to the daily needs of the widows. A new system was developed. It was a system that allowed numerical growth and inward spiritual growth.

“…problems give us the opportunity to examine our ministry [and lives] and discover what changes must be made.”

Warren Wiersbe (inclusions mine)

Application
What difficult situations have caused you to experience growth? Did you experience growth without realization and realignment?

What difficulties in your life today might be signals for an opportunity to grow?

Are you willing to pay the price for growth? (dedication, discipline, commitment, etc.)

Prayer
Father,

It was difficulties in life that led me to You. Realizing my need for change and a Savior, I turned to You and sought to align myself with You. Like our nation, along the way I have been lulled to believe that I am safe. Yet, my current difficulties are a continual reminder that I am more in need of You today than I was in the beginning. Help me to realign myself to Your Word and will today. I desire growth personally and corporately. Lead me in this endeavor I pray.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Realization

Welcome back from a long weekend. I pray yours was as enjoyable as mine. It is always great to be with friends and family.

I’m uber excited about this week’s devo theme. I have been so challenged by what I’m learning from Acts 6. It is truly revolutionary if we will grasp it. It provides us with a process that brings change. I pray you’re challenged by it as much as I have been.

Aloha,
Allen

Thoughts
On Sunday we looked at a formula for growth that is outlined in Acts 6. According to the things that transpire in the first seven verses, the following resolution emerges:

Realization + Realignment = Growth

It simply states, “If growth is going to take place, one must realize the need for change and make the necessary changes.”

The principle looks so innocent and palpable. In fact, it even rolled off my tongue with ease on Sunday. The congregation seemed to accept the statement with little or no resistance. But I must tell you, accepting the reality that things must change is difficult. It takes maturity, humility, and vulnerability. Realization requires brutal and open honesty with one’s self.

If you’ve ever watched an intervention attempt, you understand that if an intervention is going to be successful the individual with the problem must recognize they have a problem. Until a drug user realizes the demise of his addiction, external attempts are met with resistance. Ultimately, no change will occur until an awareness for change is created.

In Acts 6 the apostles and Hellenistic Jews had to come to a realization that changes must be made to their current leadership structure. Whether real or perceived, the Hellenistic Jews felt their widows were being left out in the daily serving of food. Across the aisle, the apostles had to recognize the validity of their complaint. Defense mechanisms by both sides could have been deployed, but the apostles chose to openness and honesty in order for change to take place.

Realizing the need for change is key to growth. Ignoring the problem, denying the validity—the actual truth—of the claims being made, and shunning all critical comments would have caused the apostles to miss one of the greatest moves of the New Testament church. What growth are you avoiding with your head in the sand?

Application
Why is it so hard to realize the need for changes in our life?

Are claims being made against you that have truth in them, but you are avoiding the truth because of the one making the claims?

Have multiple remarked about similar issues in your life that need to change? Are you willing to admit that things need to change in your life?

Prayer
Father,

How difficult it is to admit my need for change. It’s not that I believe I’m perfect, it’s just that I am often blind to the things others see so clearly about me. Maturity, humility, and honesty could position me for powerful transformation. I ask for an awareness like the apostles. They recognized the needed changes, made them, and the Church grew. I desire that in my life today. Cultivate it in me.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.