This past Sunday I gave an illustration using my favorite stir fry recipe from the book, The Breath of a Wok. A number of people asked for the recipe and so here it is! I don’t follow the recipe exactly as it is written and I also add rice. I think you will enjoy it! If you try it let me know what you think. And if you didn’t hear the sermon you can find it on the River Oaks web site media page.

Tim

That was the title of my message today from Philippians 1:6, “…being confident of this that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” I ended with an incredibly powerful poem by Russell Kelfer. Maybe you need to read this every day this week and find joy in God’s good work in you!

You are who you are for a reason.

You’re part of an intricate plan.

You’re a precious and perfect unique design,

Called God’s special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason.

Our God made no mistake.

He knit you together within the womb,

You’re just what he wanted to make.

The parents you had were the ones he chose,

And no matter how you may feel,

They were custom-designed with God’s plan in mind,

And they bear the Master’s seal.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy.

And God wept that it hurt you so;

But it was allowed to shape your heart

So that into his likeness you’d grow.

You are who you are for a reason,

You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod.

You are who you are, beloved,

Because there is a God!

Have a joy-filled week!

Tim

Download this series graphic to use as the background on your computer or cellphone below. Scroll down for the list of “Midget Vacations” I mentioned during the message.

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Midget Vacations

Taken from Tim Hansel’s book, When I Relax I Feel Guilty

Here is a long list of tiny activities that have the potential to produce a lot of joy in your life. Over the weeks of our series in Philippians, refer to this list often for ideas on ways to produce joy in your life.

A number of people asked me for the Scripture references that I used in the Christmas Eve service, so I am providing them along with the corresponding ‘gift’ that we all have received through a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are abundantly blessed in this life and the next because of the birth and death of Jesus!

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In my morning reading today I came across a quote from Helen Keller. As I’m sure you know, Helen Keller was struck with an illness in her childhood that left her blind and deaf for the rest of her life. She enjoyed few of the blessings you and I enjoy, yet she was able to utter these words:

“For three things I thank God every day of my life: Thanks that he has graciously given me knowledge of his works; deep thanks that he has set in my darkness the lamp of faith; deep, deepest thanks that I have another life to look forward to – a life joyous with light and flowers and song.”

Take a moment and complete this sentence: “For three things I thank God every day of my life…”

Tim

I think ‘wow’ was the most often used word to describe Sunday’s baptismal and communion services. Almost 40 people were baptized in our new indoor baptismal tank during our two main services and our Latino service!

What a powerful experience to hear the stories of children, teens and adults coming to Christ. It doesn’t get any better than this! This is what it is all about. This is what we work for. This is what we give for…making disciples of Christ and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

The staff is already planning when our next baptismal service will be, and I for one can’t wait!

Tim

Recently someone e-mailed me and asked if I would post some of my favorite books, since I often reference books in my sermons. I thought that was a great idea, so here are some of the books that have influenced me the most over my ministry career:

For life: The Bible (My personal preference is the Life Application Bible in the New Living Translation)

For evangelism: Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels

For faith: In the Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson

For grace/Christian liberty: The Grace Awakening by Chuck Swindoll and What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancy

For endurance: A Resilient Life by Gordon MacDonald

For compassion: The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns and Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ronald Sider

For leadership: Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels and Visioneering by Andy Stanley

For theology and doctrine: Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem

For men’s issues: Disciplines of a Godly Man by Kent Hughes

So there’s my list. This was a great exercise for me to do and got me thinking that I should re-read some of these books. Perhaps you would read one or two and let me know how it impacted your life.

Tim

I want to wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving! I hope that no matter what your circumstances are you are able to give thanks to God for his blessing, provision, and care in your life. Sometime today or tomorrow, take a few moments to read and reflect on this Psalm of thanksgiving by King David.

Psalm 65

1 What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion.

We will fulfill our vows to you, 2 for you answer our prayers. All of us must come to you.

3 Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all.

4 What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts.

What festivities await us inside your holy Temple.

5 You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior.

You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas.

6 You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength.

7 You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations.

8 Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders.

From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.

9 You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile.

The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,

for you have ordered it so.

10 You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges.

You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops.

11 You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.

12 The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy.

13 The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain.

They all shout and sing for joy!

As I was reading in the Psalms this morning I ran across another great promise from God that I want to pass along to you. It comes from Psalm 55:22.

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.”

Maybe some of us need to pause sometime today and give our burdens and cares to God and trust in his faithfulness to take care of us on his time table and in his way.

Tim

I am currently reading the Psalms during my morning quiet time and this morning I came across a line in Psalm 50 that I want to pass along to you. The statement is in verse 14 and goes like this, “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God.” I know we are still 22 days away from Thanksgiving but maybe we should start today by thanking God for his many blessings to us. Perhaps you would take a few minutes today and list ten or more things you are thankful for and add to the list over the next three weeks. It might make this year’s Thanksgiving a more meaningful celebration!

Tim