I read something last night that made me think. It was in a 2008 Upper Room Disciplines book, that I don't pick up often. I started reading and the author a pastor in Missouri talked about how we limit ourselves, and began to talk about this in light of Scripture. Now on a side note I recently received my SouthwesternNews magazine that speaks throughout the entire issue about text-driven preaching. This devotional I read is defiantly text driven.
I am the world’s worst critic of myself. I compare myself to others quite often, especially since life threw me a curve ball through my divorce, and many other trials God has seen me through in recent years. I still compare myself to others, much like this; I wish I was at that church, I wish I had a youth ministry like him, I wish I was a well known speaker like him, or trivial things like, I miss going to youth ministry conferences. There are many others but listing them will not allow me to get to the main point. The root of the issue here is the word ONLY. If only this wouldn't have happened, if only I was at that church, if only I had more athletic talent.....! Jesus response to this is, Brett if only you would look at me, if only you would take your eyes off yourself and others....this is where God came in loud and clear. "Only. It is a word that puts boundaries on the limitless possibility. It fences in our vision to what is practical and reasonable. It pays attention to the obvious." (Direct quote from the article.)
Look at Moses, David, the woman who washed Jesus feet. Then there were the Disciples when they were asked to feed to five thousand. "But Lord" they said, " We ONLY have 5 loaves and 2 fish. Imagine what would have happened to Jesus ministry had Jesus said, "Well OK, tell them all to go home, we obviously don't have enough."
Now I know our first inclination is to say yeah but that was Christ,He is supposed to say those things. I then ask so what is your point. Maybe if I had a more Christ like attitude about some thing’s in life, I might not have settled for the lonely Only's. I hope and pray that as I get older I challenge myself to be better, do better, and serve better. What I am saying is I don't think God asked us to settle in the land of the Only's, but to never settle. To never stop challenging ourselves, which I think a lot of people have done. In closing I would like to say, the next time you want to settle, look at Satan and tell him no. Look at God and say whatever you want, look at those looking to you for guidance and be the one that points them to Christ.
Let's take this ordinary world, and make it extraordinary. We are supposed to have heaven on earth, RIGHT!!!
P.S. Now that I have made this public, I hope that through Christ I can live it.
God Bless you<><,
Rev. B.E. Chancey


My beautiful bride,the kids, and me.