How to Be Better at Everything

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Becoming better is our aim. In one way or another, in one area or another, we all want to be better. Personally, professionally, and spiritually, we want to improve and become more fruitful.

This is also the will of God for us. So how do we become better?

Here are two simple, but profound keys:

1. Let your light shine: Your light is your God-given abilities and purpose. Your light is your witness to the world around you. When you shine your light, somebody sees clearer. Something gets done. Darkness is removed. By making people and circumstances better, you become better!

2. Hear well. Hearing is the basis of your increase. Jesus said, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given." (Mark 4:24) Within the domains of knowledge, effort, skill, and responsibility, hearing makes you better. Jesus also said, "For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” (Mark 4:25)

When you choose to read the Bible and other useful books and information, you learn something new. When you don’t read, something will go missing or lacking, and will lead to something being “taken away.”

An expensive example: Many years ago, I owned a high performance car and developed the bad habit of not reading (hearing) the oil change sticker. I routinely let thousands of miles beyond the recommended miles pass before changing the oil. One day, I heard a strange noise and saw oil running out under the engine bay. I discovered, to my dismay, that I had damaged the engine for a lack of regular maintenance.

By letting our light shine and "having ears to hear,” we become better at EVERYTHING by avoiding decrease and experiencing increase.

February 9 Message by Pastor Bryan Hudson | How to Get Unstuck & Go Forward

Saturday, February 08, 2014 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Live "Inside Out," Not "Outside In."

Thursday, February 06, 2014 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

"Lighthouse" by Bryan Hudson

Matthew 23:1 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 

Jesus showed great compassion on people in trouble and people needing deliverance from sin, like the woman who was accused of committing adultery (John 8:1-11). On the other hand, Jesus was very hard on religious leaders who pretended to know God and represented themselves as holier than everyone else.

On several occasions in this text, Jesus points out how the outward appearance and behavior of the religious leaders betrayed their true inner motivations.

• You pay tithes > BUT > neglect more important actions
• Find fault in small things (“Strain out gnats”) > BUT > Fail on great matters (“Swallow a camel”)
• Clean the outside for people to see > BUT > allow filth such as extortion and self-indulgence
• Whitewash dead things > BUT > still full of deadness
• Outwardly appear righteous > BUT > full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 

As Christian leaders, this real life example from Jesus’ earthly ministry reminds to us to continue to draw upon the grace of God and the “Greater One” within us. Our outward actions are important, but ONLY to the degree that we are living “inside out.”

1 John 4:4, You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.