Be Still and Know...

Be Still by Pete Wilson:

One of my favorite verses to go to when I’m being overtaken by worry is Psalm 46:1, 10-11

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. 10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

I think it is easy, especially as we get older, to interpret “be still” as being lazy and lethargic, like we’re just supposed to sit there while the world spins out of control around us. However, the word “still” in Hebrew actually means to cease striving. We are constantly striving to control things that we were never designed to control, so all we need to do is be still and lean into the only one who ever had any control in the first place.

Cease striving today. Not because you know that things will all work out, but because you know the God who will work it out.

Run to the Hiding Place

Do You Have A Spirit Of Fear? from Pete Wilson:

I think a lot of us have a spirit of fear that we are wrestling with every single day. You’ve got a lot of fear and anxiety and worry that may have to do with your relationships, your finances, your children – whatever it is that keeps you up at night.

If that’s you, I want you to know two things:

1. You are not alone. I wish I could grab you by the shoulders and make you believe that! God has not abandoned you; draw near to Him and He will draw near to you! He’s there, even if you don’t feel him or see him,He is with you!

2. I want you to run! Don’t run away, run to your hiding place, your true hiding place – not to the corner of the house that makes you feel safe, not under a blanket, or behind a bottle. Your true hiding place is in Him, because He is the only one who can give you the peace that you’re searching for.

I promise you, maybe not today, maybe not even tomorrow or next week, but eventually, you will walk away with a tremendous amount of courage. The kind of courage that can only come from trusting in a God that is much bigger than our fears.

What We Want, What We Need

Want vs. Need by Pete Wilson

Sometimes we believe we know more about our lives and what we need better than God does, but He is infinitely wiser than we are. We need to ask God to give us what we need, not what we think we want, because we trust that only He knows better.

“Ask and it shall be given to you.” Luke 11:9

What is one thing that you have asked God for, thinking it was exactly what you needed, only to find out He had something better in mind?

Help My Unbelief

Help My Unbelief -Pete Wilson

"If you feel like your life is marked by fear and anxiety right now on any level than I’m praying this prayer for you today."

Be With Before Do For

From Pete Wilson - There’s just one thing that matters 

Ever struggle with your priorities? Ever wonder what really counts? Stop wondering. Here’s what really matters.

Why We Don't Pray

From Pete Wilson:

Prayer is a interesting thing for us Christians. We know we should pray. We also know how to pray (you just talk to God).  But if we know we should and we know how why is it that so many of us feel as if our prayer life is lacking?

Here’s one reason…

Every Tear

He Knows Every Tear by Pete Wilson:

I continue be amazed at how God has wired us. His attention to detail and the uniqueness of each individual He’s created is just astonishing to me. In this message clip I talk about a study done called “They Typography of Tears” and why this project further reinforces not only the way God “knows” us but how God ultimately “cares” for each of us.

Don't Impress - Invest!

From Pete Wilson -Stop Impressing and Start Investing 

Think about how it would change our days if we would allow this counter-cultural challenge of Jesus to help us stop trying to impress those around us and start investing our time, money, influence, hearts in others.

The Only Opinion That Matters

Ever wonder what God thinks when He thinks about you? Ever wonder what He really sees when He looks at you? You might be surprised. (From Pete Wilson)

Qualified

Just thought you might need this reminder today.
Life is tough. Challenges come at us with amazing regularity. It’s real easy to start to think there’s no way God could ever use you to do this or that.
Not me.
Not now.
No way.
Relax. Whatever He’s called you to, He’ll equip you for.

From Pete Wilson

I’m Broken. I Need Jesus. The End.

I needed to read this. I live this. You probably do too.  The Incessant Whisper by Pete Wilson:

I think most of us begin our Christian journey with this simple truth.

I’m broken. I need Jesus. The end.

However as we launch out on this new journey it doesn’t take long before we begin to hear this growing and incessant whisper that says, “Try harder, do more.”

Sing more.Memorize more.Journal more.Preach more.Pray more.Evangelize more.Serve more.

This approach can look quite spiritual to those around us; however, it’s often rooted in a inner conviction that our worth as a Christian is dependent upon our ability to outperform those around us. Behind this spiritual facade is a fragile and insecure heart desperately attempting to get God to love us more.

The cross isn’t something we start with and then move on from. The cross isn’t just the starting line of our faith, it’s the centerpiece. Grace isn’t something we need just for salvation, it’s like air for the believer.

So today when you hear that whisper in your head that says “Try harder, do more,” go back to this.

I’m broken. I need Jesus. The end.

Longing For the Love

This Is What You Long For - The Love of God - From Pete Wilson:

Living Unashamed

""No matter how much the shame screams, “You’re not wanted,” God says, “I want you.” Regardless of what you’ve been through or done, God wants you. He has seen your hurt and has recorded your tears, and he still wants you. He’s lifting you out of the pit.

We don’t have to go back to the pit, or go back to our self- destructive ways, even though there’s a part of us that thinks that’s where we belong.

God loved us right out of that pit, no matter what put us there in the first place. God loves us so much, he wraps himself around us and draws us up.

God does not redeem us based on goodness. God does not redeem us based on our faithfulness. He knows the worst about us, but redeems us anyway.

We never have to live in the fear that we’re not worthy of love. We are loved with the senseless, seamless, and scandalous love of God. And that changes everything."

            -Pete Wilson, , Let Hope In

Moving Past Your Past

From Pete Wilson - " I love this short film RELEVANT has adapted from an article I wrote entitled “Moving Past Your Past,” published in the March 2014 issue of RELEVANT Magazine. The article was based on my latest book Let Hope In"


)


(Please excuse the included commercial - the video is worth waiting for)

Scars

Colllecting Scars Is Part of The Human Journey - By Pete Wilson

I Need Jesus- Period.

From Pete Wilson:

I think most of us begin our Christian journey with this simple truth.

I’m broken. I need Jesus. The end.

However as we launch out on this new journey it doesn’t take long before we begin to hear this growing and incessant whisper that says, “Try harder, do more.”

Sing more.
Memorize more.
Journal more.
Preach more.
Pray more.
Evangelize more.
Serve more.

This approach can look quite spiritual to those around us; however, it’s often rooted in a inner conviction that our worth as a Christian is dependent upon our ability to outperform those around us. Behind this spiritual facade is a fragile and insecure heart desperately attempting to get God to love us more. We know God loves us but we’re afraid He may still be disappointed in us.

The cross isn’t something we start with and then move on from. The cross isn’t just the starting line of our faith, it’s the centerpiece. Grace isn’t something we need just for salvation, it’s like air for the believer.

So today when you hear that whisper in your head that says “Try harder, do more,” go back to this.

I’m broken. I need Jesus. The end.

One of Those Days

If you are having "one of those days," here's good advice from Pete Wilson

Ever have one of those days?

You know those days, when everything goes wrong!

Who hasn’t had one of those days?

I had one the other day. It was the kind of day where I think I would have been better off just staying in bed. The kind of day that makes you wonder if you can do anything right.

Anyway, I was sitting there in the midst of my very bad day and jotted down a few choices I felt I had to shake this funk. So here’s my list. Hope it helps you on your very bad day.

1. Do something nice for someone else. While I’m not really sure that being selfless for selfish reasons is exactly Biblical, it sure does seem to work.

2. Tell yourself, “Well, at least I ______________.” At least, you went to the gym, or played with your kids, or walked the dog, or read your children a story, or recycled, or ended the day with a great dinner with friends, or saved the world from impending disaster. Okay, you probably didn’t do the latter but you get the point.

3. Go to bed early. I’ve said this before but sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is get some sleep. I’m always amazed how a little extra sleep helps you have a whole new perspective the next morning. Lamentations3:22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

4. Keep a proper perspective. Ask yourself: “Will this matter in a month? In a year?”

5. Be grateful. Remind yourself that a lousy day isn’t a catastrophic day. Probably, things could be worse. In fact, I believe most of it can and will be redeemed by God.

Abolishing the Pecking Order

From Pete Wilson

Want Community?

"Two Of The Biggest Barriers To Community" - Pete Wilson

Ask Yourself These Four Questions

Thought provoking questions to ask yourself - from Pete Wilson:

Years ago I did a message in a series called “Dream Job” that was entitled “Your Path to Purpose”. Walking the path of purpose  requires you to answer four very important questions. These questions were inspired from a fabulous book I read years ago by Dr. Dan Allender entitled “to be told”. I highly recommend it.

I believe to really find the deepest purposes for which you exist, you must be able to answer the following questions.

1. Who Am I To Serve?Your deepest purposes must bring good to someone who is without justice, reconciliation, or hope. It might be abused women, orphans in Africa, or business men who don’t know Christ.

2. Where Am I To Be?What is the primary context where I will serve the people I’ve been called to love?

3. What Burden Am I To Bear?This is so important!! Everyone of you reading this right now is called to battle some unique effects of the Fall.  Don’t just blow by this. Stop for a moment and think about this… there’s a problem in this world that brings you to tears or makes you downright angry. What is it?

4. How Am I To Engage?Your engagement to the problem might be to pray, administrate, teach, serve, lead, paint, sing, confront, repair or nurture. EACH of us will do what we do with a style which reveals something about God in a way that no one else can.

This is not meant to be a guilt inducing question but I’m wondering…

How far are you down the path of purpose? Can you answer these questions?