Good Evening! Well, I promise not to make it too much of a pattern, but music is in me lately.... Christian Music... and I'm going to open with some lyrics from one of Third Day's new songs "Lift Up Your Face":
Lift up your face, lift up your face
Salvation is calling, salvation is calling
You have fallen so far now
You don’t even know how, you are going to survive
(But) Just above the horizon
A new light is shining, breaking through the darkest night
Love is coming and it’s calling out your name
Lift up your face, lift up your face
Salvation is calling, salvation is calling
Lift up your face, lift up your face
Salvation is calling, salvation is calling your name
Now for the verse tonight: John 1:12 "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God"
Anyone being bold lately for Christ? Do you believe you are FREE? Do you believe you are a Child of God? DO YOU BELIEVE SALVATION IS CALLING IF YOU ONLY LIFT UP YOUR FACE AND SEE HIM?!
My prayer tonight for each and everyone of us is that we can some how take a moment out of busy schedules to see that God not only gave his Only Son for our sins, but that Christ is a Risen Lord and in him we have Salvation. There is nothing that anyone or anything can do or say to take that away from you. Next time someone tells you how bad you are, next time they put you down, next time they try to make you feel worthless... Remember we are not perfect, we are redeemed! The price is paid... Lift up your face and see how good you are. Se how much love you bring to this world. See how much of a difference you can make if you only believe that God saved you for a purpose.
We are not meant to take this gift and keep it to ourselves. We are meant to share it, shout it, witness to it, and live it! Take some time this week to tell at least one person in your life that you are a Christian and take 5 minutes to tell them what that means to you. Yes, you can take the safe route with a spouse or a family member or maybe walk a little on the wild side and share with a stranger. Never know when that stranger might actually be Jesus looking for you. I'm choosing to lift up my face, share my faith, live it as if I've nothing to lose... hope you'll join me!
Love in Christ,
Steve
P.S. If you ever have the chance to see Third Day, Trevor Morgan, or Tenth Avenue North in Concert... Go for it! You will not be disappointed!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
You're Beautiful
Good Evening! Sometimes I start these little testimonies with a Bible verse or an experience. Tonight I want to start with a portion of the lyrics to a song by Mercy Me "Beautiful"
Days will come when you don't have the strength
And all you hear is you're not worth anything
Wondering if you ever could be loved
And if they truly saw your heart
They'd see too much
You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You are made for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His
You're beautiful
And now for the verse... Jeremiah 1:5 (The Message)
5"Before I shaped you in the womb,
I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations—
that's what I had in mind for you."
Tonight I'm going to ask a tough question of all of you. What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see the beauty God has placed inside you or do you see what the world has done to you. How many times have you told yourself I wish I was a better person, wish I did more, wish I gave more, wish I witnessed more, wish I lived my life more like Christ. Well, I think the answer is we all do that quite often, if not daily. I know that I do. Part of this is conviction and self challenge and that part is good. But, the devil has a way of altering this conviction into guilt and pain. It is then we should remember words like what are written above be that in song or scripture.
We need to remind ourselves of how God sees us. Yes, he sees as as sinners, but he also loves us with his pure and perfect love. We are his Children! When was the last time you called yourself a Child of God? There's power in those words. Just like there is power in knowing you are beautiful in God's eyes no matter how much others try to degrade you or make you feel less than you are.
I want to issue a personal challenge to each and everyone of you. The next time you look in the mirror I want you to say "I am a Child of God and I am Beautiful to him. All of me. My heart, my body, and my soul." Let it ring true. Let it carry you. Because I can tell you that each and everyone one of you is not only Beautiful to Our Living God. You are Beautiful to me! Thank you for being such amazing Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Each one of you has made a positive difference in my life and I see the Beauty inside you!
Have a Blessed Week! Love and Peace to you in Christ,
Steve
Days will come when you don't have the strength
And all you hear is you're not worth anything
Wondering if you ever could be loved
And if they truly saw your heart
They'd see too much
You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You are made for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His
You're beautiful
And now for the verse... Jeremiah 1:5 (The Message)
5"Before I shaped you in the womb,
I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations—
that's what I had in mind for you."
Tonight I'm going to ask a tough question of all of you. What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see the beauty God has placed inside you or do you see what the world has done to you. How many times have you told yourself I wish I was a better person, wish I did more, wish I gave more, wish I witnessed more, wish I lived my life more like Christ. Well, I think the answer is we all do that quite often, if not daily. I know that I do. Part of this is conviction and self challenge and that part is good. But, the devil has a way of altering this conviction into guilt and pain. It is then we should remember words like what are written above be that in song or scripture.
We need to remind ourselves of how God sees us. Yes, he sees as as sinners, but he also loves us with his pure and perfect love. We are his Children! When was the last time you called yourself a Child of God? There's power in those words. Just like there is power in knowing you are beautiful in God's eyes no matter how much others try to degrade you or make you feel less than you are.
I want to issue a personal challenge to each and everyone of you. The next time you look in the mirror I want you to say "I am a Child of God and I am Beautiful to him. All of me. My heart, my body, and my soul." Let it ring true. Let it carry you. Because I can tell you that each and everyone one of you is not only Beautiful to Our Living God. You are Beautiful to me! Thank you for being such amazing Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Each one of you has made a positive difference in my life and I see the Beauty inside you!
Have a Blessed Week! Love and Peace to you in Christ,
Steve
Sunday, March 13, 2011
The Rescue
Good Evening! Hope this Sunday finds all of you well and in good spirits. I hope you have been blessed with a weekend of refreshment, restoration, and renewal. Tonight I'm going to start with a verse that very dear friend sent to me:
Psalm 18: 16-19
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
What does this say to you? Does it mean anything? Have you ever needed rescue? For whom did you cry out?
Tonight I will admit that there are times when I can't live what I tell others to do. I can't always have the unshakable faith that I know God would want me to have. It doesn't happen often, but it scares me when it does. This is because in those kinds of times I don't cry for rescue... I tend to just want to let myself sink. Any guesses on who leads that charge? You got it... Satan. That snake loves to whisper in your ear and tell you to stop swimming, stop fighting, give up because you are not worth Grace. The good news is that God is there, all along, knowing we will turn back to him. And, if we don't he sends Angels to remind us. These Angels usually take the face of our Christian Brothers and Sisters. It are at the darkest times that God shows his face through those that love us. We carry each other on the darkest of days.
I write this tonight as a reminder that God needs us to do his good work. Sure, he could take care of it in other ways, but how awesome it is to be one of his messengers! I ask you to keep your hearts open to this. Simple request on the surface, but not a simple request. What I ask of you is to not run from those that are being shunned by everyone. Don't run from those with whom cause you to be judged in their presence. Rather, run toward them, take hold of them, and love them the way God intends you to. Help him use you to draw them from deep waters. Help him use you to be their on their day of disaster. In turn, you will delight the pure and perfect God. You will be a good and faithful servant. Thanks to a very special person for reminding me that Grace is free. God's love is endless. And, when two pray together, Christ is there as well.
Love and Peace to all of you,
Steve
Psalm 18: 16-19
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
What does this say to you? Does it mean anything? Have you ever needed rescue? For whom did you cry out?
Tonight I will admit that there are times when I can't live what I tell others to do. I can't always have the unshakable faith that I know God would want me to have. It doesn't happen often, but it scares me when it does. This is because in those kinds of times I don't cry for rescue... I tend to just want to let myself sink. Any guesses on who leads that charge? You got it... Satan. That snake loves to whisper in your ear and tell you to stop swimming, stop fighting, give up because you are not worth Grace. The good news is that God is there, all along, knowing we will turn back to him. And, if we don't he sends Angels to remind us. These Angels usually take the face of our Christian Brothers and Sisters. It are at the darkest times that God shows his face through those that love us. We carry each other on the darkest of days.
I write this tonight as a reminder that God needs us to do his good work. Sure, he could take care of it in other ways, but how awesome it is to be one of his messengers! I ask you to keep your hearts open to this. Simple request on the surface, but not a simple request. What I ask of you is to not run from those that are being shunned by everyone. Don't run from those with whom cause you to be judged in their presence. Rather, run toward them, take hold of them, and love them the way God intends you to. Help him use you to draw them from deep waters. Help him use you to be their on their day of disaster. In turn, you will delight the pure and perfect God. You will be a good and faithful servant. Thanks to a very special person for reminding me that Grace is free. God's love is endless. And, when two pray together, Christ is there as well.
Love and Peace to all of you,
Steve
Monday, March 7, 2011
Time for a Mini-Renewal?
What's your worst? Yes... I'm asking... What is the worst thing you've ever done in your life? Who did you hurt? When did it happen? Why did you do it? What did it profit you?
Some introduction tonight, huh? I write this introduction not to convict you this evening. My guess is by visiting the questions above, you've already done that to yourself sometime a long time ago. Tonight I ask those questions because I want to focus on one of the most powerful things we experience as Christians, but sadly one of the hardest for many of us to accept. Any Guesses? A couple of you probably nailed it. The gift I'm talking about tonight is the gift of GRACE! You can't buy it, can't earn it, can't fathom it, but it is freely given by our Risen Savior and the sacrifice he made for us on the cross.
Grace has been on my mind quite a bit lately. Mostly because I'm one of those beat yourself up Christians ... the kind of Christian that persecutes himself for hours, days, and weeks over his failures. How weak that is of me when all I really have to do is freely receive the Grace that comes from Christ. What about you? Do you dwell on your failures like me or are you truly faithful and allow Grace to cover you like a blanket on a cold winter's morning? If you are like me, I want you to step out with me a little in the coming weeks as we enter this Lenten Season. I want you to turn to your Concordance in your Bible and look up Grace and Forgiveness. I ask that you and I pray together about the verses that lie there and allow them to truly penetrate our hearts. Its time for a mini-Renewal if you will for me. Its time for me to elevate my game and be a better witness for Christ.
Let's make this year a year of miracles. Don't be afraid to let Christ live through you. I'm opening my heart, trying to let go of guilt and feel the Healing Waters of Christ. Will you do the same? This year as you make you Lenten pledge. Make it count. One of mine is to faithfully read my Bible every day and get on my knees and pray... everyday. Hope to see you there!
Love and Peace to All of You My Brothers and Sisters,
Steve
Some introduction tonight, huh? I write this introduction not to convict you this evening. My guess is by visiting the questions above, you've already done that to yourself sometime a long time ago. Tonight I ask those questions because I want to focus on one of the most powerful things we experience as Christians, but sadly one of the hardest for many of us to accept. Any Guesses? A couple of you probably nailed it. The gift I'm talking about tonight is the gift of GRACE! You can't buy it, can't earn it, can't fathom it, but it is freely given by our Risen Savior and the sacrifice he made for us on the cross.
Grace has been on my mind quite a bit lately. Mostly because I'm one of those beat yourself up Christians ... the kind of Christian that persecutes himself for hours, days, and weeks over his failures. How weak that is of me when all I really have to do is freely receive the Grace that comes from Christ. What about you? Do you dwell on your failures like me or are you truly faithful and allow Grace to cover you like a blanket on a cold winter's morning? If you are like me, I want you to step out with me a little in the coming weeks as we enter this Lenten Season. I want you to turn to your Concordance in your Bible and look up Grace and Forgiveness. I ask that you and I pray together about the verses that lie there and allow them to truly penetrate our hearts. Its time for a mini-Renewal if you will for me. Its time for me to elevate my game and be a better witness for Christ.
Let's make this year a year of miracles. Don't be afraid to let Christ live through you. I'm opening my heart, trying to let go of guilt and feel the Healing Waters of Christ. Will you do the same? This year as you make you Lenten pledge. Make it count. One of mine is to faithfully read my Bible every day and get on my knees and pray... everyday. Hope to see you there!
Love and Peace to All of You My Brothers and Sisters,
Steve
Monday, February 28, 2011
"I"
"For where you have envy and selfish ambition there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." James 3:16-17
And, Good Evening! I don't usually open with a verse, but this verse came to me as a result of about a week of discerning prayer and I just had to put it up front tonight. It has been a very trying week to say the least and I've had to ask for some direction from God. This time not what to do, but rather for conviction of how to go forward and recognize where I've let myself, my friends, and my family down. I was in kind of a coasting pattern for a little while, all to eager to lash out in anger and scorn those who would persecute me, when in reality what I should have been doing was taking a hard look in the mirror. I somehow fell into the foolish belief that if I did things with best intentions that they were God's intended work. The problem lies in the term "best intentions".
These "best intentions" aren't always rooted in truth. Sometimes, in fact, they can be rooted in anger, revenge, and spite. Best intentions may make someone's life far better, but at a cost to many. I don't know how often Christians fall into this trap, but I've found myself in it. Let's give you an example that might help. Have you ever watched a person near to you be wronged by someone and wanted to get even or have you ever wanted to get even for something somebody has done to someone you care about? In the end your mind has probably told you things like. They deserve to hurt for hurting my friend and "I" should do something about it! What do you notice about that sentence? Is it clear? Its a word with only one letter isn't it? Its the root of selfishness, the root of ambition, the root of envy, and in the end if you focus on only it you will inevitably find disorder and evil practice won't you? If you focus on "I" you will fall into a trap of selfishness. It doesn't matter if you think you are being selfless you aren't. You are performing one of the most selfish acts a human can do and that is REVENGE. What does it serve you Christian? What does it serve you Steve Ruckman? Yes, that is the question I was left asking in the recent past. The answer is it doesn't serve you well and it certainly doesn't serve me well.
Next time somebody hurts you or someone you love I want you to pause before action and pray over the verse above. Let it sink deeply into your heart and soul. Let it soften you so that you can live with the wisdom that comes from heaven which is all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Try this as an exercise to help you along the way. Take that "I" from you selfishness and place it into the verse as follows and see just how good it sounds:
I will be all pure; I will be peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Wow! Isn't that the heart of walking the way that the Lord Jesus would have us walk? Can you say that sentence and mean it? Right now I can't, but I pray that I will continue to strive for it. Will you walk with me? I hope so!
Love and Peace to you from our Risen Savior,
Steve
And, Good Evening! I don't usually open with a verse, but this verse came to me as a result of about a week of discerning prayer and I just had to put it up front tonight. It has been a very trying week to say the least and I've had to ask for some direction from God. This time not what to do, but rather for conviction of how to go forward and recognize where I've let myself, my friends, and my family down. I was in kind of a coasting pattern for a little while, all to eager to lash out in anger and scorn those who would persecute me, when in reality what I should have been doing was taking a hard look in the mirror. I somehow fell into the foolish belief that if I did things with best intentions that they were God's intended work. The problem lies in the term "best intentions".
These "best intentions" aren't always rooted in truth. Sometimes, in fact, they can be rooted in anger, revenge, and spite. Best intentions may make someone's life far better, but at a cost to many. I don't know how often Christians fall into this trap, but I've found myself in it. Let's give you an example that might help. Have you ever watched a person near to you be wronged by someone and wanted to get even or have you ever wanted to get even for something somebody has done to someone you care about? In the end your mind has probably told you things like. They deserve to hurt for hurting my friend and "I" should do something about it! What do you notice about that sentence? Is it clear? Its a word with only one letter isn't it? Its the root of selfishness, the root of ambition, the root of envy, and in the end if you focus on only it you will inevitably find disorder and evil practice won't you? If you focus on "I" you will fall into a trap of selfishness. It doesn't matter if you think you are being selfless you aren't. You are performing one of the most selfish acts a human can do and that is REVENGE. What does it serve you Christian? What does it serve you Steve Ruckman? Yes, that is the question I was left asking in the recent past. The answer is it doesn't serve you well and it certainly doesn't serve me well.
Next time somebody hurts you or someone you love I want you to pause before action and pray over the verse above. Let it sink deeply into your heart and soul. Let it soften you so that you can live with the wisdom that comes from heaven which is all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Try this as an exercise to help you along the way. Take that "I" from you selfishness and place it into the verse as follows and see just how good it sounds:
I will be all pure; I will be peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Wow! Isn't that the heart of walking the way that the Lord Jesus would have us walk? Can you say that sentence and mean it? Right now I can't, but I pray that I will continue to strive for it. Will you walk with me? I hope so!
Love and Peace to you from our Risen Savior,
Steve
Monday, February 21, 2011
The Fixer
Good Evening My Brothers and Sisters!
I hope this email finds you well. Tonight I have a question for you. Do you have anyone in your life or know anyone that always wants to FIX things instead of wanting to listen? Well, I do and that person is me. I've been told its typical of the male gender to want to make everything right prior to listening and hearing things out, but I don't blame it on anything other than lack of patience. Why do I want to "Fix" things you ask? Its simple. I'm uncomfortable with pain. I'm uncomfortable with heartache. I'm uncomfortable with tears. I'm uncomfortable being on the bench or the sidelines and not being an active participant at making things right for people I love. Rather than listening I want to take action. I don't think this is all bad, but I do believe there is great merit in a pause... great merit in a prayerful response... great merit in letting God take care of things.
2 Corinthians 5:7 "We live by faith and not by sight"
Answer me this... Does the "fixer" truly live by faith or sight? I believe the fixer in me lives by sight and only the patient Christian in me lives by faith. I would guess the same would ring true for all of the "fixers" in the world. If we could only allow ourselves to let Faith be an action verb in our lives we wouldn't need to jump on everything and fix it. Rather, God would direct our actions and lead us to the truth. If you know a "fixer" or if you are one take a moment to prayerfully consider the verse above. What does it say to you? Are there circumstances swelling around you right now that you could apply some Faith instead of Sight? Is there an opportunity to allow yourself to grow? I have some and I'm praying as hard as I possibly can. And, I have FAITH that God will lead me straight to where I need to be... even if that's just being a good listener.
Love and Peace Through Our Risen Savior,
Steve
I hope this email finds you well. Tonight I have a question for you. Do you have anyone in your life or know anyone that always wants to FIX things instead of wanting to listen? Well, I do and that person is me. I've been told its typical of the male gender to want to make everything right prior to listening and hearing things out, but I don't blame it on anything other than lack of patience. Why do I want to "Fix" things you ask? Its simple. I'm uncomfortable with pain. I'm uncomfortable with heartache. I'm uncomfortable with tears. I'm uncomfortable being on the bench or the sidelines and not being an active participant at making things right for people I love. Rather than listening I want to take action. I don't think this is all bad, but I do believe there is great merit in a pause... great merit in a prayerful response... great merit in letting God take care of things.
2 Corinthians 5:7 "We live by faith and not by sight"
Answer me this... Does the "fixer" truly live by faith or sight? I believe the fixer in me lives by sight and only the patient Christian in me lives by faith. I would guess the same would ring true for all of the "fixers" in the world. If we could only allow ourselves to let Faith be an action verb in our lives we wouldn't need to jump on everything and fix it. Rather, God would direct our actions and lead us to the truth. If you know a "fixer" or if you are one take a moment to prayerfully consider the verse above. What does it say to you? Are there circumstances swelling around you right now that you could apply some Faith instead of Sight? Is there an opportunity to allow yourself to grow? I have some and I'm praying as hard as I possibly can. And, I have FAITH that God will lead me straight to where I need to be... even if that's just being a good listener.
Love and Peace Through Our Risen Savior,
Steve
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Courage
What is one of the hardest things to embrace in this life? CHANGE!
Anyone good at it? Please, Please, Please let me know your secret because I am not good at it. I loath it, fear it, run from it, insulate myself from it, and otherwise try to have nothing to do with it. Why? Because I'm good at just being who I am without altering anything. I like the predictable. I like the safe. I don't like change!
Wonder why I even touch this subject? Because this year will almost certainly be a year of change for me. I know it. I have faith in it. And, this change will be positive if I only have the courage to accept it. I look at those around me that are facing extreme challenges and wonder how they ever find the courage to do it. I wonder how do they seem so calm when a storm is raging all around them. I prayed and prayed this past week for God to give me some wisdom and some courage to embrace the unknown. It was in discerning prayer this morning during my run that the Holy Spirit directed me back to one of my favorite Bible verses. One that is likely very familiar to all of you:
Isaiah 40:31 "Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary"
I guess as I read these words again I'm reminded that there is NOTHING God can't do! We have the power to do anything and overcome anything if we trust in him. We have the power to make change a positive thing. I encourage all of you to help me and yourselves to look at change coming in your life and serve as an example for those around you. They may be asking "How do they have so much courage to overcome change?" Don't keep it a secret. Be good Disciples ... share the Good News!
Pray for me my Brothers and Sisters. I'm at somewhat of a crossroad in my career and may be making a dramatic shift soon if its God's will to do so.
Love and Peace from Our Savior,
Steve
Anyone good at it? Please, Please, Please let me know your secret because I am not good at it. I loath it, fear it, run from it, insulate myself from it, and otherwise try to have nothing to do with it. Why? Because I'm good at just being who I am without altering anything. I like the predictable. I like the safe. I don't like change!
Wonder why I even touch this subject? Because this year will almost certainly be a year of change for me. I know it. I have faith in it. And, this change will be positive if I only have the courage to accept it. I look at those around me that are facing extreme challenges and wonder how they ever find the courage to do it. I wonder how do they seem so calm when a storm is raging all around them. I prayed and prayed this past week for God to give me some wisdom and some courage to embrace the unknown. It was in discerning prayer this morning during my run that the Holy Spirit directed me back to one of my favorite Bible verses. One that is likely very familiar to all of you:
Isaiah 40:31 "Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary"
I guess as I read these words again I'm reminded that there is NOTHING God can't do! We have the power to do anything and overcome anything if we trust in him. We have the power to make change a positive thing. I encourage all of you to help me and yourselves to look at change coming in your life and serve as an example for those around you. They may be asking "How do they have so much courage to overcome change?" Don't keep it a secret. Be good Disciples ... share the Good News!
Pray for me my Brothers and Sisters. I'm at somewhat of a crossroad in my career and may be making a dramatic shift soon if its God's will to do so.
Love and Peace from Our Savior,
Steve
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