THE CROSS

"The second command Jesus gives in Mark 8:34 is not so easy to define. In Jesus' time, no one ever took up a cross unless they were going to die on it. How do we "take up our cross?" The idea has such a mystical, super-spiritual sound to it. Some have even gone so far as to allow themselves to be crucified in a modified way to show identification with Christ. But your "cross" is not literal; it is instead an attitude of radical obedience to God in which you willingly accept any consequence for Jesus' sake. If denying yourself is all about saying no, then taking up the cross is all about saying yes. "Yes, God, I will do whatever you ask of me -- whatever, whenever."
~Kay Warren, Dangerous Surrender: What Happens When You Say Yes to God

VALUE TIME

VALUE TIME
Every day, every second, carries with it its own finality. Time is our one indisputably nonrenewable resource. 'Where did the time go?' we ask when we sense we have spent the years wrongly or have taken some great gift for granted. And the answer, of course, is that it went to the same place it always has. At the end of every day, one more box in the calendar has been shifted from the future column to the past column, from possibility to history. And all of its moments can be remembered, can be celebrated or regretted, but can never be retrieved. The philosopher Simone Weil wrote, 'All the tragedies that we can imagine can be reduced to just one: the passage of time.' Life is one of those games in which you can only move forward. Life does not have a rewind button, so we must seek to get it right the first time."
~John Ortberg, When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box

Grace Magnet

Greetings lover of God!

As you probably know, the undimming vision of this ministry is to possess the nature of Christ. Yet, even as we've sought to provide training resources as inexpensively as possible, we still felt that there were some to whom the Lord was reaching out to, but were currently low on finances. Yet, the Holy Spirit has burdened my heart that Christ has many whom He desires to train and empower, and that the calling of God should not be limited to only those who can afford it.

As I sought the Lord, it occurred to me that we could offer the complete text of In Christ's Image Training for free. While this opportunity will not include audios, testing or certification, it will put the powerful core training of ICIT right there into your hands.

Let me say something about the training itself. Over the years, many have asked at different times if I would be able to mentor or personally train them. In response, I felt the Lord underscored four realities I personally experienced that were fundamental to my ongoing spiritual development. I'll call these "grace magnets." What I mean is that walking in these four truths actually attract the grace of God to my life. Remember also that grace is not just unmerited favor, it is the workmanship of God in our lives (see Eph. 2:8-10). We are saved by grace and also changed by grace.

So, what things attract grace (that is, the workmanship of God) to our lives? I narrowed my grace magnets to four principle realities:

1). Passion to be like Christ. Rom 8:28-29. God works all things for the good of our conformity to Jesus Christ. If we expect grace to change us, we must have a vision for the goal God has for us. That goal is Christlikeness.

2). Humility. The Bible says repeatedly that God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud. If we want to change, we must desire humility.

3). Prayer. It is one thing to humble ourselves and become dependent upon God, but prayer liberates us to obtain the promises and provisions of God to meet our needs.

4). Unity. Oneness with other Christians is the first expression of spiritual maturity. We must know the power of Christ in us as individuals, but also the corporate manifestation of Christ, which is actually the substructure of revival. We are to be perfected "into a unit" (John 17). Without the revelation of Christ-centered unity, we have no hope of seeing citywide revival.

It is my heartfelt prayer that you will consider taking the In Christ's Image Training course. Please consider the full training as it comes with 39 audio messages and will lead to certification and eligibility for Level II training . Yet, the free course will bring all four of the above themes into focus, attracting the workmanship of God into your life on a new level.

See below for more information.

Sincerely yours

Francis Frangipane

Serve the Lord with gladness and be grateful for all things

Serve the Lord with gladness and be grateful for all things

Submitted by Howard Barnes on Mon, 06/06/2011 - 19:18

"Whenever I'm disappointed with what is happening around me, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott.
Jamie was trying out for a part in his school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen. He was so anxious and being 'chosen' meant so much to him.
On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. 'Guess what, Mom,' he shouted, and then said those words that remain a lesson to me: "I've been chosen to clap and cheer."
Whatever God has called you to do this week - even if it's just to "clap and cheer" - do it with all your heart, as unto the Lord.....and to the glory of God.
"Whatever you are called to do, do it with all your heart." Colossians 3:23
God bless
Have a great week!
Howard Barnes

PLAYING YOUR ROLE

John 4:37-38 (NKJV)
For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

Playing Your Role

Your unique characteristics, capabilities, gifts and resources were provided to you with the intent that they be used. More than that, if you are to please God, you must use them in His service. By reading the parable of the talents in light of Luke 12:47-48 we can see that He takes this charge very seriously. Remember, though, that the use of what God has given us, in His service, will fit us well and not feel burdensome. We each fit uniquely into His plan and have a role to play in the spiritual battle that is raging.

All He asks of you is your obedience, using what you have been provided to achieve His goals. Others depend on you, perhaps for their eternal destiny.

Pray
Praise God that He cares about you so much that He created a unique plan for you that relies upon your use of your talents. Ask God to continue to refine you and direct you as you walk in His service.

Ask Yourself
Are you using ALL your talents and resources to His glory? Are there any that you hold back from His service in order to serve only you?

Take Action
Identify one area where you could more fully use your talents or resources in His service. Come up with a plan to use them THIS WEEK in a way that will bring glory to Him. Make sure you pray over their use and ask Him to guide these decisions.

Christ Related To God

Mark 14:32 (NKJV)
Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

Christ Related To God
During His life on earth, Jesus modeled a proper relationship to God the Father. He never usurps His authority or embarks on tasks independently. We also see that He keeps a consistent prayerful communication with God, no matter the circumstances.

This relationship is central to everything Jesus does, which only makes logical sense.

As we previously discussed, our capabilities are finite so for us it doesn’t only make sense to keep our communication with God open and constant, it is absolutely essential. When a soldier is in the field, he needs to communicate with his superior in order to receive any change in his orders. Likewise we need to communicate consistently with our Superior to know what His desires are for us. If we cease this communication with God, we cut off our source of power as well as our source of direction.

Pray
Ask the Lord to refill and recharge your spirit. Praise Him for His goodness and thank Him for the ways your life has been blessed. Ask for Him to guide you daily.

Ask Yourself
Are you consistent in your prayer life? Do you ask God for guidance as you make decisions throughout the day or do you tend to act independently?

Take Action
As you wake up, before you start your day, take a few minutes to talk with God. Thank Him for life and for blessing you with salvation prior to making any requests. Ask Him to guide you throughout the day. As you take on the day, say quick prayers to God for guidance whenever you are faced with important decisions.

Christ Was Focused

Matthew 16:22-23 (NKJV)
Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Christ Was Focused
During His entire ministry, Jesus was never sidetracked. Whether the distraction came from satan or one of Jesus’ closest friends, Christ would not turn His focus away from what He had to accomplish for the Father.

Think for a moment about Jesus’ refusal to be distracted. Here was a man who had unlimited power at His fingertips and He refused to give up even a little of that power in other pursuits. How much more so should we, who are very limited in our power, be focused on what God would have us accomplish?

It is key for us to understand that once we have identified our God-directed purpose, we can expect the enemy to zero in on us and attempt to distract us. These distractions can take many forms and in some cases they will seem very innocent. In fact, service itself can become a distraction!

How can that be? Some men find it very difficult to turn down opportunities to serve even when it interferes with the ministries they are called to be involved in. We should never assume that every opportunity to serve has to be pursued. Unlike Jesus, we are very finite and have real limitations on how much we can achieve. In order to be as effective as possible for Him, we must be focused sharply on what God would have us accomplish for Him.

If you reflect on people who have done great things for the kingdom, this sharp focus will stick out as a common quality. They followed Christ’s example and stayed focused on their mission despite all distractions, including opportunities that seemed to be Christ-centered.

Why?
Because to a man that is focused on his mission from God, it is unacceptable to allow distractions to creep in.

Pray
Request wisdom and discernment from God. Ask Him to help clear aside those things which distract you from pursuing His desires.

Ask Yourself
Are you easily sidetracked or discouraged? Do those who mean well sometimes pull you in other directions? Are there things in your life that take your focus off of God?

Take Action
Last week you created a list of items that you occupy your time with and prayed over this list asking God to guide where you should spend your time. Any item that you had listed as a “distraction” that you felt led to remove, take practical steps to eliminate it this week.

Jesus: A Man On A Mission

Acts 1:7-8 (NKJV)
And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”


If we are to be followers of Christ, then we must emulate His characteristics, actions and methods. While on earth, Jesus’ actions were coordinated, they were thought out and they carried with them a purpose, God’s purpose. There is no doubt that Jesus Christ was a man on a mission from God.

His mission is seen in every facet of His journey on earth. From being baptized by John at the beginning of His ministry to the final words spoken to His disciples in Acts 1:7-8, Jesus was clearly carrying out His life’s purpose and nothing distracted Him from accomplishing it.

Christ came for one purpose, to provide a means for man to achieve salvation and to spread that knowledge to the ends of the earth. Every action He took and word that He spoke supported this purpose.

Our own lives should be led in a similar single-minded manner, with everything pointing towards Him. Paul put it best in Colossians 3:17 when he wrote, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Pray
Ask God to instill a strong sense of purpose in your life. Pray that your heart softens towards things from Him and that your walk catches fire.

Ask Yourself
Do you live your life with a single-minded purpose? When observed by others in your daily life, do they see Christ?

Take Action
Pick one of the Gospels and read it completely this week. Make note of all of Christ’s actions and see how they related to His overall purpose. Then take a look at your own life. Make note of all these things that you do which support your walk with Christ and those that distract you. Pray over this list and ask God what He would have you do with those things that distract you.

On A Mission From God

Ecclesiastes 1:2 (NKJV)
The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless."


How many men have you known who have gone from “on fire” new believers to lukewarm Christians? I have known plenty and have been one myself. When I first came to Christ, I joined a church, became a regular attendee of a Bible fellowship and joined a weekly Bible study. I was a sponge, soaking up spiritual knowledge after years of searching for truth. After a short time, I involved myself in an evangelism ministry and was discipled by some mature Christian men in my Bible fellowship class.

Over that first year I grew tremendously in Christ and my enthusiasm grew in tandem. That growth and enthusiasm peaked by the second year of my walk and by the fourth year I was in spiritual decline. Was I backsliding? If I had not firmly established my Christian roots by this point, I could have been. In practice though, my friends came to know me as a “good” Christian man who served faithfully in and outside the church. The problem is that the excitement had been lost in my life as a follower of Christ. I was no longer on fire; simply in a slow, long decline; becoming one of the lukewarm Christians Christ abhors.

Doing neither powerful things for His name’s sake, nor horrible things that would cause shame, I did small things that only served to make me look good in the eyes of my family and friends but provided no deeper fulfillment. There was good intent, but I was simply going through the motions. Deep inside, I really wanted something more. I wanted joy in my service.

So what causes a man to weaken in his walk and slip into a state of spiritual mediocrity? It happens when his walk seems meaningless, utterly meaningless. Why do something if you don’t feel there is a purpose to it? We get to this state because our Christian walk does not seem to match up to any higher purpose, even when we are doing things ”for God.”

Pray
Ask God to reveal Himself to you in the coming weeks as we explore your unique purpose in life. Pray that He will prepare you and use you in His service.

Ask Yourself
Do you serve without excitement? Is there currently an area of service that “fires you up”? Do you believe that God desires to use you in a way that you have not yet pursued? If so, what is holding you back?

Take Action
Explore the opportunities that your church has for service. Talk to a pastor to find out about those needs that may not be advertised in the church bulletin.

The Life of Christ

1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."


The Life of Christ
Just as Christ’s qualities serve to point us in the right direction for our character, Christ’s life provides the major themes that we need to examine in order to properly live our lives. Through a careful review of His life on earth, we can see in action three principles consistently guiding His actions.

First, Christ is mission-driven. From the very start of the New Testament, there is a purpose and focus to His life. Throughout the gospels, everything He does serves a greater purpose. Knowing the time He had was limited, we don’t see any of it wasted.

Jesus was also not interested in achieving personal glory and praise, directing all credit directly to God every time. He was always most concerned with the Kingdom impact of His missions. He was God-focused.

Finally, despite being the Son of God, He does not try to go it alone. Christ consistently calls others to follow Him. Why? Since He had sufficient personal power to accomplish all the tasks before Him, why did He call others? Because He knows that according to the way He created us, it is not good for us to be alone, and Christ, being fully God and fully man, was now playing by the rules He set for us. He knew that in order to accomplish His tasks He would need to be fellowship supported.

Pray
Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you to change those areas of your life that are not conforming to Christ’s example.

Ask Yourself
Are you mission-driven? Do you have a purpose that is God-inspired? Are you focused on His desires for your life? Are you a lone ranger Christian or do you have strong support from your brothers and sisters in Christ?

Take Action
Be consistent in prayer this week as you seek God’s will. Pray over the ways that you currently serve and ask Him to reveal how He would have you serve in the future.