Today in my class my students were playing a modified game of tag in the gym. I decided to have some music playing to make it more entertaining for them. As they were taking their water break I just started dancing to the song that was playing. I make a habit of often being a little goofy to let my students see that yes I am stern, tough, and demand respect, but I also have a fun side and am human. Being goofy and opening up often leads to opportunities to find out more about who they are and to share more of who I am... a Christian.
As I started dancing the girls just laughed and laughed and one said “Coach Tate, you’re always just so FULL OF LIFE”. I thought to myself praise God, she’s noticing!!! As we were going into the locker room she said “Coach why are you always so happy?”. Of course you know me I’m waiting for any opportunity for a door to open. So I said well, I’m happy and full of life because I am a Christian and FULL OF JESUS! She just sort of looked at me weird and went on in to the locker room.
I firmly believe that every time I’m in similar situations and I’m given opportunities to explain why I am joyful, why I don’t listen to that type of music, why I don’t watch that show, why I act the way I do, every time I’m planting a seed for them to remember that Coach Tate was different, and different because she had Jesus.
Everyday we make decisions. We make decisions on what our attitude will be like, how we choose to react to various situations (positive and negative), we choose to be joyful or not, we choose to see everywhere we go as a mission field or not, life is full of choices and someone is always watching those choices.
Joy is something that every Christian should have. The bible says that in the presence of God is fullness of joy, it says that a fruit of the spirit is JOY (and the Spirit resides in me), we have a Savior that died for us. We have no reason not to be joyful!!
I remember while teaching in Botswana one of the young ladies on staff for LBOM told me one day that she was giving me the African name of “Bufelo”. Bufelo meant “life” and she said Jessika, You’re just so full of life!!!
I know what I’m full of and it is life, it is THE life of Jesus Christ. He fills me up and He flows out of me. I pray that in the hard days and the easy days I’ll remember what I’m full of and make the choice to let Jesus flow out of me. To let His joy, love, mercy, compassion, humor, and care flow out of me to everyone I’m around, so that they will see that Jesus brings life.
The blog I wrote in Africa when I got my nickname:
http://jessinbotswana.blogspot.com/2010/02/bufelo-quick-update.html
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Steering Wheel or Spare Tire?
Well I'm sure you all know of my respect for Corrie Ten Boom and it just so happens that a friend of mine recently gave me a greater incentive to dig into more Corrie Ten Boom quotes. He said that on facebook every time I post a Corrie quote he'll post a quote from a man that he looks up to. So, this morning as I was trying to decide what I wanted to post that Corrie has said I thought of this quote.
"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"
You see a steering wheel determines the course for the car. If the steering wheel turns right, the car will go right, if left, then left. The steering wheel causes the car to get to it's destination. The steering wheel is a necessity if the driver wants the car to follow a path.
A spare tire is placed in the trunk. What is interesting about the spare tire, is that it is never used until a dilemma presents itself. When a problem arises then we grab the spare tire. We can drive for miles and miles and miles before ever using the spare tire.
Which is your prayer life? Do you pray as if it is a necessity? Do you pray and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your life or is prayer something you turn to in desperation when things have gotten so bad that you see no other option?
I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship REQUIRES communication. I have to fellowship and spend time with Him in prayer and in His word so that I can know which directions to take in my life.
The fun thing about this relationship is that prayer is not something I HAVE to do, it's something I GET to do. Jesus tore the veil. He paid with His blood so that I could have open access to the Father. Prayer is a gift. The ability to enter into the throne room of God and speak to the Creator of the Universe is a privilege that was paid for with blood. The blood of the Holy One, Jesus Christ.
Prayer is something that is all too much neglected by Christians. We have so many promises for our prayers. Ask and you will receive, you have not because you ask not, etc. I am promised an answer to my prayers. As I come before the Father, He will answer. I'm not saying you'll always love His answer, but you will be answered.
God waits for us to come in to His throne room and make our requests known to Him. To ask Him the direction we should take, to ask for things we desire, to intercede on behalf of others, to simply be with Him, to spend time with God learning who He is and asking of our Daddy God.
Prayer must be a priority, it is a necessity, it is a privilege. Jesus paid with His life for your ability to have open communication anytime anywhere with our Father God, and He deserves what He paid for.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
An old blog I wrote from an excerpt of Corrie Ten Boom's book "The Hiding Place"
http://jatate.blogspot.com/2009/12/necessity.html
"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"
You see a steering wheel determines the course for the car. If the steering wheel turns right, the car will go right, if left, then left. The steering wheel causes the car to get to it's destination. The steering wheel is a necessity if the driver wants the car to follow a path.
A spare tire is placed in the trunk. What is interesting about the spare tire, is that it is never used until a dilemma presents itself. When a problem arises then we grab the spare tire. We can drive for miles and miles and miles before ever using the spare tire.
Which is your prayer life? Do you pray as if it is a necessity? Do you pray and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your life or is prayer something you turn to in desperation when things have gotten so bad that you see no other option?
I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship REQUIRES communication. I have to fellowship and spend time with Him in prayer and in His word so that I can know which directions to take in my life.
The fun thing about this relationship is that prayer is not something I HAVE to do, it's something I GET to do. Jesus tore the veil. He paid with His blood so that I could have open access to the Father. Prayer is a gift. The ability to enter into the throne room of God and speak to the Creator of the Universe is a privilege that was paid for with blood. The blood of the Holy One, Jesus Christ.
Prayer is something that is all too much neglected by Christians. We have so many promises for our prayers. Ask and you will receive, you have not because you ask not, etc. I am promised an answer to my prayers. As I come before the Father, He will answer. I'm not saying you'll always love His answer, but you will be answered.
God waits for us to come in to His throne room and make our requests known to Him. To ask Him the direction we should take, to ask for things we desire, to intercede on behalf of others, to simply be with Him, to spend time with God learning who He is and asking of our Daddy God.
Prayer must be a priority, it is a necessity, it is a privilege. Jesus paid with His life for your ability to have open communication anytime anywhere with our Father God, and He deserves what He paid for.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
An old blog I wrote from an excerpt of Corrie Ten Boom's book "The Hiding Place"
http://jatate.blogspot.com/2009/12/necessity.html
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Don't Lose Heart
The first week of school is OVER! Whew.
As a teacher/coach I was greatly looking forward to this week, because in all honestly I love the opportunity to educate kids, to motivate kids, and to try and be a positive role model for their lives. Everyday my life will be on center stage for over 300 kids.
Ad much as I was looking forward to this week, I'm going to be honest, it was ROUGH. A lot of things went wrong or were difficult and all of it began to take a toll on me as the week went on. No matter what goes on day to day I've learned that the Word says to HAVE JOY, take joy when you fall into various trials, in the presence of God is fullness of JOY, the fruits of the Spirit are love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control... and as much as I need to remember these things for myself, I need to remember them because I have tons of little eyes watching me, evaluating me, trying to figure out who I am.
Tired and frustrated I know my attitude began to decline toward the end of the week. Then the Holy Spirit began to get a hold of me!
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:3)
As I read this scripture, it was like the breath was taken out of me. Jesus Christ, my best friend, and Savior... suffered for me. He endured hostility when He didn't deserve it. He took a beating He didn't deserve, He took mocking He didn't deserve, He died at the hands of mere men when He is a King... All Jesus would have had to do was speak a Word and He could have stopped the beatings, proved to them His deity, climbed off the cross, and gone on back to heaven in His perfection, BUT He stayed, He endured, for me.
He is the ultimate picture of self-sacrifice, obedience, endurance, and love. If He was able to do all that for me, I must not grow weary or lose heart in the journey that is supposed to be for Him. This life that I live is not for me, but for Him. We have a purpose, we have assignments, and we are supposed to be advancing His kingdom so that His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
When I truly consider what Christ did there is no room for me to be weary or to lose heart. He endured much more than I will ever imagine. So rather than sulk in the exhaustion and frustration, I went to the Word for some encouragement. (I needed some encouragement after the slap from the Holy Spirit LOL) So if you're there and just needing some strength, read through these scriptures, print them, post them, say them, heed them....
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. (Gal. 6:9)
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary,and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. (Ps. 28:7)
The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. (Ps. 29:11)
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Ps. 73:26)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
The name of the LORD is a strong tower ; The righteous runs into it and is safe. (Prov. 18:10)
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27)
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (Ps. 55:22)
As a teacher/coach I was greatly looking forward to this week, because in all honestly I love the opportunity to educate kids, to motivate kids, and to try and be a positive role model for their lives. Everyday my life will be on center stage for over 300 kids.
Ad much as I was looking forward to this week, I'm going to be honest, it was ROUGH. A lot of things went wrong or were difficult and all of it began to take a toll on me as the week went on. No matter what goes on day to day I've learned that the Word says to HAVE JOY, take joy when you fall into various trials, in the presence of God is fullness of JOY, the fruits of the Spirit are love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control... and as much as I need to remember these things for myself, I need to remember them because I have tons of little eyes watching me, evaluating me, trying to figure out who I am.
Tired and frustrated I know my attitude began to decline toward the end of the week. Then the Holy Spirit began to get a hold of me!
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:3)
As I read this scripture, it was like the breath was taken out of me. Jesus Christ, my best friend, and Savior... suffered for me. He endured hostility when He didn't deserve it. He took a beating He didn't deserve, He took mocking He didn't deserve, He died at the hands of mere men when He is a King... All Jesus would have had to do was speak a Word and He could have stopped the beatings, proved to them His deity, climbed off the cross, and gone on back to heaven in His perfection, BUT He stayed, He endured, for me.
He is the ultimate picture of self-sacrifice, obedience, endurance, and love. If He was able to do all that for me, I must not grow weary or lose heart in the journey that is supposed to be for Him. This life that I live is not for me, but for Him. We have a purpose, we have assignments, and we are supposed to be advancing His kingdom so that His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
When I truly consider what Christ did there is no room for me to be weary or to lose heart. He endured much more than I will ever imagine. So rather than sulk in the exhaustion and frustration, I went to the Word for some encouragement. (I needed some encouragement after the slap from the Holy Spirit LOL) So if you're there and just needing some strength, read through these scriptures, print them, post them, say them, heed them....
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. (Gal. 6:9)
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary,and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. (Ps. 28:7)
The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. (Ps. 29:11)
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Ps. 73:26)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
The name of the LORD is a strong tower ; The righteous runs into it and is safe. (Prov. 18:10)
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27)
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (Ps. 55:22)
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Pride, Condemnation, and Examination
Many Christians struggle with the issue of pride. Whether you struggle with pride because you walk around thinking you've got this thing figured out or you struggle with pride because you're walking around in condemnation. Living in condemnation is still a derivative of pride because in order to be condemned you much think that grace is based off of your actions rather than who God is and what Christ did.
Let's look at a few scriptures.
To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. (Prov. 8:13)
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. (Prov. 3:7)
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15,16)
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. (Romans 5:18)
God absolutely hates pride, but at the same time Christ's blood paid for us to not live in condemnation of our sin. Is there a balance?
The answer is found in this passage. Romans 5:
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
While I was still a sinner, Christ died for me, and justified me through His blood... and now we exult God for sending His son that paid for our reconciliation.
In other words there is no room for pride because CHRIST DIED FOR ME KNOWING THAT I WAS A SINNER... I didn't achieve some "Holy" status that made it possible for me to earn forgiveness. Where I was, where I am, and where I will be Christ died for me. He shed His blood which purchased redemption, salvation, reconciliation, and so much more for me.
Also, BECAUSE CHRIST'S BLOOD bought redemption, salvation, and reconciliation for me I don't have a right to live in condemnation. As Romans 8:1 says there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and you have been transformed from a slave into a child of God then your sin has been paid for. Living in self condemnation is a lack of faith in what Christ has already accomplished for you.
I cannot be in pride because I didn't earn my justification, but I can't live in condemnation because I HAVE BEEN justified.
The final step is examination.
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Cor. 13:5)
We need to examine ourselves to see if we are in faith. Do we not know that Christ is inside of us???
Faith in the fact that Christ is on the inside of me does not allow pride or condemnation!
We are challenged to examine ourselves to see if we are in faith... not so that we can have pride and not so that we'll be condemned, but rather so that we will continue to grow in faith in who God is, what Christ has done, and who we are to be, with the Holy Spirit's help.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
Let's look at a few scriptures.
To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. (Prov. 8:13)
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. (Prov. 3:7)
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15,16)
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. (Romans 5:18)
God absolutely hates pride, but at the same time Christ's blood paid for us to not live in condemnation of our sin. Is there a balance?
The answer is found in this passage. Romans 5:
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
While I was still a sinner, Christ died for me, and justified me through His blood... and now we exult God for sending His son that paid for our reconciliation.
In other words there is no room for pride because CHRIST DIED FOR ME KNOWING THAT I WAS A SINNER... I didn't achieve some "Holy" status that made it possible for me to earn forgiveness. Where I was, where I am, and where I will be Christ died for me. He shed His blood which purchased redemption, salvation, reconciliation, and so much more for me.
Also, BECAUSE CHRIST'S BLOOD bought redemption, salvation, and reconciliation for me I don't have a right to live in condemnation. As Romans 8:1 says there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and you have been transformed from a slave into a child of God then your sin has been paid for. Living in self condemnation is a lack of faith in what Christ has already accomplished for you.
I cannot be in pride because I didn't earn my justification, but I can't live in condemnation because I HAVE BEEN justified.
The final step is examination.
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Cor. 13:5)
We need to examine ourselves to see if we are in faith. Do we not know that Christ is inside of us???
Faith in the fact that Christ is on the inside of me does not allow pride or condemnation!
We are challenged to examine ourselves to see if we are in faith... not so that we can have pride and not so that we'll be condemned, but rather so that we will continue to grow in faith in who God is, what Christ has done, and who we are to be, with the Holy Spirit's help.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)