Weekly Devotions

Exodus 20:7 - The Third Point on our Spiritual Measuring Stick

2012-01-29T18:39:00.001-06:00

Exodus 20:7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.”

As we progress through this year, we are taking a deep introspective look into our lives. Every so often we must take care to measure ourselves and see where we are, not just physically and mentally, but also spiritually and to do this we have - over the last several weeks - been looking at ourselves as compared to the standards of the 10 commandments. Today we look at the third commandment and see how it affects our lives. Hopefully we have found things in our lives that were idols or close to being idols, and of course, other masters and gods. This week, we look at our speech. Now of course, most people will see this commandment and say “I keep this one since I don't use foul language” and to an extent that is true.

If we don't actually use the Lord's actual name in our anger then we think we didn't break this commandment. Yet how many of us have referred to someone and said that good old catchphrase “Lord bless their heart” or something along those line? When we speak, do we keep our word? How many times have we said we will pray for someone and then not? What about our behaviour? How do our actions speak about God? If our actions contradict God, then we are taking and using His name in vain. We may go to church, we may say all the right things, and we may even carry our Bible around with us everywhere, but if our actions to other people don't match up with what we are saying, then we are failing in keeping this third commandment.

This week, why don't we take a look and see where our actions are not matching up with what we say and profess about our Lord and Saviour. Lets think about how do we represent Christ in our speech and actions. Its all too easy to not look ourselves this hard, but it is most definitely worth it!

Rise in the strength of God,
And face life’s uphill way,
The steps which other feet have trod
You tread today.

Press onward, upward still,
To win your way at last,
With better hope and stronger will
Than in the past.

Life’s work more nobly wrought,
Life’s race more bravely run,
Life’s daily conflict faced and fought,
Life’s duty done.
^{Ada R. Greenaway, 1908.}

Exodus 20:4-6 - The Second Notch on our Spiritual Measuring Stick

2012-01-22T17:24:00.003-06:00

Exodus 20:4-6 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

Today we shall be continuing on in our review of the 10 commandments, and looking at them to see where we differ in our lives. Last week, we looked at the first commandment and perhaps found areas of our life where we had placed other things ahead of the Lord. Today we look at our lives to see if any idols have crept into them.

Have you ever come home after work and the first thing you did was sit on the couch and watch a TV show? I know that I have. After a long shift at work, I would return home, grab something to eat and relax in front of reruns of one of my favorite crime dramas. Eventually I would turn the TV off and fall asleep. Eventually I realized that I knew more about the fictional lives of the cops on the television than I did the actual lives and concerns of my neighbors. The TV, and that show was dangerously close (or perhaps it had already crossed the line) to becoming an idol in my life. For many, however the TV has become an idol. They would much rather sit there and watch their shows and interact with the world through it. If you add in video game machines and suddenly every man will have to struggle with having it turn into an idol.

In essence, an idol is something that receives adoration and devotion from someone. Typically an idol is also a made object, but it can also be a person or an idea. Anything can become an idol. I know one of my co-workers collects pictures of a certain actress, and the image of that actress is quickly becoming something he spends more time with, giving it attention – and dare I say veneration – that exceeds the attention he gives to others. To him (and he freely admits it) she is practically an object of worship.

Even good God gifted things can become idols in our lives. When the people of Israel had sinned and God sent a plague of snakes, to provide salvation for his people, God also told Moses to build a bronze snake and raise it in the sight of all the people (Numbers 21:4-9), but we learn that about 500 years later it had become an object of worship in itself, rather than pointing to God's power and it had to be destroyed (2 Kings 18:4). Could I suggest that perhaps we are turning the idea and the representations of the Cross and other symbols of the Christian Faith into idols as easily? Perhaps we attach significance to the object that was originally supposed to draw attention to God. Perhaps we see or hear about miracles performed by various evangelists or preachers, and we forget that it is not that preacher who is doing the miracles, but rather God through them. Perhaps even we might be turning our bible or version of it into an idol. You might say that I am taking this too far, but I think we need to maintain the awareness that anything, virtually everything, can in time become an idol in our lives, no matter what we think right now.

This week then, lets re-evaluate the objects of attention and devotion in our lives. Are we putting any of them above the Lord? Are we starting to adore and pay overly much attention to things other than God? What idols are starting to rear their heads in our lives? The first step is to find them, the next step is to remove them, be it cross, painting, television, or even just an article of clothing.

Let worldly minds the world pursue, it has no charms for me;
Once I admired its trifles too, but grace has set me free.
^{John Newton, 1779.}

Exodus 20:1-3 - The Fist Notch on our Spiritual Measuring Stick

2012-01-15T18:07:00.001-06:00

Exodus 20:1-3 “And God spoke all these words: 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of your slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.”

We are re-evaluating our lives this year, and to do that, one must look at their life as compared some system of measurement. We know that Christ is to be our model in everything we do (As Sheldon's Novel “In His Steps” so poignantly asks) and we know that as believers what flows out of our lives is a direct result of Christ flowing into our lives. But there is more, we also know that it is going to be the Law that was given to Moses that will be what we are compared to before the throne of God when we are judged. So then we are taking a look at the basic tenants of the Law of Moses - the 10 Commandments and how they apply in our lives and and actions.

The first commandment is that we are to have no other gods before (or instead) of God Almighty, Jehovah, the Great I AM. What exactly does that mean though? Essentially it means that there is to be nothing that is more important than Him. No aspect of our lives should have more influence, and that there is no higher authority than Him. In a nutshell, it seems pretty easy. However, when we really look at our lives are we really following this? Lip-service is easy to this. There are outwardly very few things that can prevent us from following this commandment, after all we don't worship Baal or Ashtorah or anything like that. What, though, does our time expenditures say about us? How often do we watch television as compared to read our Bible or pray? Is there any one thing (or more than one) in our lives which takes more time out of our schedule than God?

I was recently reading a book where the author makes the claim that for a healthy relationship with one's “significant other”, one must be spending at least 15 hours per week in intimate activities such as dinner, conversation and games. Things like watching movies were explicitly condemned because they gave the appearance of such activities, but substantially were not because the focus is not on the other person, but rather on the film. If then, this author is correct, that a minimum 15 hours must be spent with your spouse, then what about the time demand for a healthy relationship with our Lord, Saviour, and God? Should it too not be at least 15 hours per week (and more than we would spend with our significant other?) Our time shows whats important in our lives.

Our money also shows whats important. If you were to look at my finances and saw that I spend $200-$300 more a month on eating out than anything else, you would rightly think that I enjoy fine dining. If instead you saw that I spend that same $200-300 on video games, you would again rightly think that I love playing video games. Now if you saw that $200-$300 were donated to the church and spent on church activities, then what would you think was important in my life?

This week, then, lets re-evaluate our habits and find where we are. Lets do our best to draw closer to God. After all if a regular relationship cannot survive without time, effort, and money why should we think that a relationship with God is any different?

We have not known Thee as we ought,
Nor learned Thy wisdom, grace and power;
The things of earth have filled our thought,
And trifles of the passing hour.
Lord, give us light Thy truth to see,
And make us wise in knowing Thee.
^{Thomas B. Pollock, 1889.}

Exodus 34:27-28 His Rules for Our Lives

2012-01-08T14:57:00.000-06:00

Exodus 34:27-28 “Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.' Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.”

The times of our lives change, minute by minute, day by day, year by year. We have these mile-markers on the highway of life that let us know where we are and we as a world just past one. Its at times like these that it is good for us to know where we are and where we have come from, as well as where we are going. It is also good to re-evaluate ourselves based on a standard and unchanging unit of measurement. Spiritually, that means we must look at the Bible and evaluate ourselves and our lives based against it, and not just our own personal life, but also the “lives” of our nations and world. We must take a step back and compare ourselves and our communities with Gods word to see if we are following them or not. To do so means that we look not only at the favorable, but also the unfavorable in both our lives and the Bible. How often do we, in our reading come across something in God's word that we don't like? How often do we wonder if maybe our dislike for the passage comes from a place in our lives rather than something “not making sense” in the Bible?

When we look at the 10 Commandments, we see a unified theme that contradicts every other “spiritual” law system out there. We see that all other religious works are about appeasing god/gods and the relationship between man and God. We see instructions on what and how to act to gain the favor of the deities. But in the 10 Commandments only the first four are God related! In essence the first four commandments tell us that God is to be our only God, and we must treat Him with respect and honor. The next six are all about how we are to behave towards other people! The whole thing is all about interpersonal relationships! If the first four are God saying “honor and respect me” the next six are saying “Honor and respect everyone around you like you honor and respect me” which then leads to my point for today: How we act towards the people around us, how we treat them, how we behave around them, how we talk to them, and how we think about them are all indicators of how we really act, treat, behave, talk, and think about God.

To see how someone's relationship is with God, you merely have to see what his actions and speech towards the people around him – both those he likes and those he doesn't like – are like. Others will also look at you in the same way. So this week, lets re-evaluate our behaviour towards others. Lets see where we are acting like the Godly people we would like to be, and lets find those spots where we aren't. This week, lets take the first steps in measuring ourselves against the standard set by The Bible and Jesus Christ.

Help me, O Lord, the God of my salvation;
I have no hope, no refuge but in Thee;
Help me to make this perfect consecration,
In life or death Thine evermore to be.

Help me, O Lord, to keep my pledge unbroken;
Guard Thou my ways, my thoughts, my tongue, my heart;
Help me to trust the word which Thou hast spoken,
That from Thy paths my feet may ne’er depart.
^{Fanny Crosby, 1985}

A New Year

2012-01-02T02:27:00.001-06:00

[My apologies that today's devotional is late for everyone except for readers in, say, Hawai'i. Carter asked me to put this together a few days ago and I've been unsure what and how to write. The responsibility here is mine.]

2011 is gone and 2012 is here. It's customary to reflect on the events of the last year and hopes for the new one, as well as to make resolutions for how we will be different this year.

2011, from what I've seen and remember, was not the best of years. Across the world, the results of an economic crisis that first manifested four years ago continue to threaten to bring entire countries down. Just in the last few days, some bankers were arrested in Iceland and Europe continues to be in a precarious position. The Arab Spring has ended multiple dictatorial regimes, but at the cost of thousands of lives, many which were lost in struggles that continue inconclusively or which ended with no regime change; the course of the governments that are still forming to replace the regimes which did fall is not clear. In Egypt, a change in power that seemed assured seems increasingly less sure as the military continues to hold onto power.

Closer to where I live, in the United States, I see not only the effects of the worldwide economic problems in the poor prospects I see for when I enter the job market, but the hate, spite and flailing emotion that only increases in our political system. Those elected cannot overcome increasingly personal differences or put aside partisan politics while those who do not hold office grow increasingly unsatisfied: the Right flails for a candidate, seemingly unable to find anyone satisfactory while the Left also shows signs of splintering, following the example of the Tea Party and creating their own populist protest movement in Occupy.

The human race has certainly seen much worse years as well as better years; we will hardly bring the World to an end this year, as some predict (when it ends, it will not end because of our choices here on Earth). What most of us experienced last year, and what we will experience this year, hopefully along with Joy, is Pain.

Buddhism teaches that the constant in life is Pain; it accurately diagnoses that Pain is the result of attachment to both ourselves and to other people that we Love. Buddhism teaches that Salvation from the Pain that is life (well, life after life, in Buddhist teaching, technically) can be achieved by removing attachments. While many Buddhists would probably disagree with my interpretation, this can be roughly translated as avoiding Pain by ceasing to Love.

Christianity, in contrast, teaches that Salvation is only possible through Love and Pain. The correct understanding of the belief (pisteuo) in Christ for salvation is an emotional casting of my lot in with Him that includes Love for Him. We love Him because He first loved us. In addition, God, who is Love, accomplished our Salvation by entering into the Pain of the Cross and the Wrath of God for our sakes.

There is another element in our Salvation that includes Pain, but it is not talked about very much in Protestant circles. While Protestants are correct in their assertion that Jesus guaranteed the Salvation of those who come to Him (in technical terms, Justification has been accomplished), they do not do much talking about the fact that, while guaranteed, our Salvations have not been completed. Both Paul and John discus this in multiple places. (Two examples: 1, 2)

In traditional Protestant teaching, this process which is part of Salvation is called Sanctification; it began when I threw my lot in with Christ and will continue until I die. Even then, when I die, my Salvation will not be complete, for I will be reunited with my body at the Resurrection, which is part of my Salvation as well.

What I have been growing to learn in this last year is that God accomplishes Sanctification through Pain; in this way, then, for both God and us, our Salvation is the result of both Love and Pain. When we throw our lots in with Christ, we choose to take up our own crosses and follow Him. The results of this for others have been torture, mocking, whipping, imprisonment and execution. Often, all we will experience directly for our stand in Christ will be mocking, but being a Christian also brings Pain in sacrifices that we make, choosing what is righteous over what is easy and beneficial. All Christians do not face the same level of Pain for their walk with Christ, but Christ said that all who follow Him must take up their crosses to do so. In addition, we experience Pain just by living; this Pain, too, is from God.

How, then, should we respond to this Pain? James tells us to rejoice when we encounter various trials because the end result of these trials (Pain) is that we will be perfect and complete (Sanctification). In contrast to the avoidance of Pain advocated by Buddhism, we should rejoice in the Pain that God brings into our lives because Pain is how He Sanctifies us, perfecting and completing us. This is how we work out our Salvation and this is what Paul talks about when he speaks of knowing "Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death."

And that's ultimately why we can rejoice in the Pain that God brings into our lives; Pain is dying, dying to ourselves if not physically dying, and, as Christ Himself said, "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?"

This year will bring you Pain; whether more or less than last year, only God knows. When the Pain comes, rejoice and use it to work out your Salvation, for "the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not seek so much to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Luke 2:6-7 Imaging Christmas in Modern times Final Part

2011-12-25T19:05:00.002-06:00

Luke 2:6-7 “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Imagine a pastoral scene. The rolling hills spread out before you while the city lights behind you light up the sky. The noise from the city never reaches you while the silence of the night is only disturbed by the bleating of a lamb, themselves only indistinguishable cotton balls at the edge of your sight in the dark gloom. While shepherding has been going on for almost as long as mankind has been around, today it is done with pickup trucks and ATV's. The shepherds are gathered together grabbing warm coffee off the cooking stove balanced on the tailgate of a pickuptruck. There is always one of them armed with a rifle out with the sheep, looking for coyotes, mountain lions, feral dogs, and other predators. Suddenly the vague light from the city is dwarfed by a bright light shinning down on them and on all the other ranchers out at night. The sky is blotted by the light, and its so bright that they can't even see the wool of the sheep around them! A melodic voice cries out booming forth, but only the shepherds seem to here it for the sheep are as docile as ever. The voice tells them that something special has happened, the prophecies are being fulfilled and the Lord, the Messiah, the Son of God is born!

They raced down the dirt road onto the main road, as many of them as they could fit in each truck. They drove recklessly towards the little city following the directions the vocal, light-filled messengers had given them. They drove through the suburbs toward the tiny motel, then around the motel to the garage behind it. They rushed into the garage and then stopped at what they saw. First they saw a young woman, a teenager, lying on a cot, all exhausted and tired, messy, but contented. There was an older man kneeling next to her, holding her hand, looking down with such concern that it was almost humorous, while his bluejeans and faded power-metal band T-shirt declared “I'm one of you” to the shepherds. They saw the motel owner/manager wringing his hands nervously as he shuffled around the floor while another lady, his wife cleaned up, taking blankets, towels, and dirty clothes, plumping pillows for the exhausted girl and laying a reassuring hand on the mans shoulder. Then, the shepherds all saw Him, the child, the one the Angels told them about! There He was, such a normal looking child, sleeping, wrapped up in towels and laying in the top drawer of a tool cabinet while the tools were heaped in a pile on the floor. They looked in wonder at this little child, born in a tattered looking garage on the south side of town behind a tiny motel. This was no place for a king to be born, this was no place for the Son of God, but here they were, the most motley collection of people to herald in the birth of the Messiah: a young married couple, a motel manager and his wife, and dirty, smelly shepherds fresh from the fields.

Mary and Joseph looked up and saw the group of shepherds standing there awkwardly staring at the little child, standing in shock and amazement. They smiled at the sight of the kind motel manager rushing back in with a box of cigars, handing one to all the shepherds and coming towards Joseph himself. Mary and Joseph knew this was a special night, one that could never be repeated, and as the smiled and realized how wonderful it was, they heard the amazing chorus of Angels that the shepherds had heard earlier singing out “Christ the Saviour is born!”

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
John F. Wade, c1743.

Part 1 Part 2

Luke 2:1,3 - A Modern Day Imagining of the Christmas Journey

2011-12-18T08:01:00.002-06:00

Luke 2:1,3 “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world...And everyone went to his own town to register.”

This week, we continue this week with our imaginings into what the story of Christmas might look like in our modern world. (Last week's devotional can be found here)

The President-For-Life, Augustus, decided that he wanted to know how many people he had in the empire, so in his military outfit and with his chest-full of self-awarded medals, he declared that there was going to be a census taken of everyone, especially of those capable of supporting military operations. After all, he was thinking about implementing a draft policy where everyone had to serve 2 years in the armed forces. To further complicate things, he wanted everyone to journey to their hometown, so each town would be responsible for enforcing his draft instead of his overburdened military complex.

Joseph heard the news while building the frame of a new house. To him this meant more taxes and longer working hours on top of having to deal with his pregnant wife, Mary. They had gotten married rather quickly to try and preserve the outward dignity of the couple. No one else besides Mary and Joseph knew about the Angel's visit and what it had proclaimed to them, and no one would believe it. All they saw was a young woman who was pregnant and her 12 year older boyfriend. The townsfolk all had their idea of what happened, so Mary and Joseph had also quietly moved to another small town, Nazareth. Joseph had to look out for his wife's wellbeing – physical, mental, spiritual, and social. He also had to be careful since no other men were blessed to be the physical father of God!

When Joseph arrived home, he told Mary about the new census rules. Peevishly she snapped and asked why they couldn't stay there in Nazareth, despite Nazareth not being either Joseph's hometown nor hers. Bethlehem, was their real home and neither of them were not really excited to go home a scant 8 months later to face everyone.

Well, with some cajoling and persistence, Joseph convinced Mary to go to Bethlehem. They packed up what they think they would need and closed the house up while Joseph called his supervisor at work and told him that due to the new law, he was going to be going home to register for the taxes and census.

Joseph's old and semi-reliable pickup was not the most comfortable vehicle for Mary to ride in, but they didn't have any other options. They weren't really well-off and couldn't afford anything new. So with some pillows for cushions for Mary, they bounced off towards Bethlehem. Joseph tried to be careful, he really did. He drove slowly and tried to avoid the potholes in the road, but because everyone was traveling to get their registration taken care of and get back to work, the roads were congested, traffic was horrible, their heater had broken, and Joseph couldn't see the bumps and dips and potholes in the road. Wrapping Mary up in some more blankets, Joseph wiped the fog off the windshield and valiantly put up with Mary's complaining and the jerkiness of traffic. By nightfall they had spent nearly all day in the truck trying to get to Bethlehem. It hadn't helped that they had to stop every hour for Mary to use the restroom, but for Joseph, it was life. He couldn't do anything about it. Now, they were driving down the main road looking for hotels. Mary had gotten her cellphone out and was calling hotels, but they were all booked solid. Finally they saw a little motel on the edge of the city that had a light in the office window. Pulling in and parking, they went in to find the manager.

The owner-manager sadly looked at this strange couple infront of him. The older man was obviously tired, his long hair escaping from the ponytail it had been in all day, his jeans torn and his workboots having seen better days. The young woman by his side was a balloon and looked to be close to tears. Her arms were grabbing the man's as if she was only staying upright by holding on to him. She should have been in college instead of trying to find a place to stay. The manager hated to have to tell such a pitiful looking couple that there wasn't any place, not in the hotels, not in his motel, and not in any other motels, inns, or even hostels! The city was overflowing with people who all had to show up because of the stupid new law. He thought about what he could do to help this couple, especially since the woman looked so far along that she could be needing a hospital before too long. He thought about it. Something moved out of the corner of his eye, and he looked to find that his wife was looking at him and nodding her head from the office.

With a deep sigh he turned back to the couple and told said “Well, we are all full up, I'd love to put you in a room, but we have nothing available.” The tired couple started to turn away and the manager called out “Wait! I know I can't put you up in a room, but I also know there is no where in the city to find a place to stay now. We are all booked solid! I hate to turn away anyone, especially you two in your condition. I'll tell you what, if you don't mind I have an old car garage behind the motel. We can put out some cots and blankets and pillows for you for tonight so you can get some sleep. Its not much, but its dry and warm and clean. And I can't charge you for it neither since it ain't a room.” The look of relief on both of their eyes was warming to the manager's heart. “Come on, I'll show you there” With profuse thanks, the man and woman followed him.

In a similar situation, how would you have handled it? If you were the innkeeper, what would you do? This Christmas season, why don't we think of ways we can help people, no matter how small the help may seem!

Matthew 1:18 - Mary and Joseph in Modern Times

2011-12-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

Matthew 1:18 "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit."

One of the lessons about interpreting the Bible is to try and conceptualize what a verse, passage, or section of the Bible means in Modern times, so we can understand it. The writers were writing to people of their time who would understand all their references, but we who do not live back then need to understand what they are saying in our times. This is one of the reasons for the big increase in paraphrase type Bibles. I would like to look at the Christmas story as if it occurred right now, in our world today.

Imagine if you will a girl with long dark hair and an oval face. She is young, perhaps just out of high school. She isn't little miss popular and she isn't a cheerleader. She is active in the church, going to every service and helping where she can. She is the girl who is always at youth group, always in the middle of prayer service, leading the school devotional club, and is considered to be one of those "religious freaks" but considering her family its understandable. After all, her cousin is married to the guy who was selected to be the head of the international church conference! Mary is not beautiful, she is a homely girl, but she is active in sports and has a rather fiery temper. She is the one girl that everyone could really see as becoming a nun or a priestess, except that she is seeing an older guy and is even engaged to him.

Joseph, of course, is that older guy. In the Bible, he is referred to as a carpenter, which could also mean stone-mason. That means that in our world he would be in construction, and probably a specialist in framing and dry-walling. He is probably around 30 years old, drives an old model pickup, and is a bit scruffy around the edges. His beard could use a trim and his hair is probably tied back in a pony tail. His bluejeans are torn and paint-splattered and he never seems to button the top couple buttons of his flannel shirt. He, also, is a pillar of the church. He is the guy who comes in to change the light bulbs in the ceiling when they burn out and every Saturday when he isn't working he mows the church lawn. In fact he probably helped with the construction of the church without accepting any pay! He sings in the choir despite looking uncomfortable in those robes. He probably has a nice baritone voice which goes along with his laid back and easy going personality.

Now imagine that these two people - not so hard to imagine really - have just gotten engaged a couple weeks ago or so, but now there is a bump on Mary's stomach. She is pregnant! But Mary and Joseph aren't married, they are only engaged! How would you react to this? We don't know that an Angel of the Lord actually appeared to Mary and told her that she had found favor with God and He had made her pregnant to give birth to a son, whom she would name Jesus and He would be known as the Son of Most High. We didn't know that God had told her that Jesus would be the messiah whose Kingdom would never end. (Luke 1:30-33) All we see is that this most observant girl, the head of the youth group is pregnant outside of marriage. We also don't know that Joseph knows that He isn't the father and before an angel of God told Him what was happening he was going to separate from Mary (Matthew 1:20-21) All we see is that this odd couple is pregnant. How would the church respond? How would you respond? How have you responded in similar situations in the past?

This week, lets look at how we deal with people who we think are sinners. Lets try to be more understanding of them, and do what we can to help them do better rather than shun them or come down harshly on them. We don't know all the details behind what we see of their life. We don't know how God is working in their life, and maybe He is wanting to work through you.

Colossians 2:16-17 - Our Witness during Religious Seasons

2011-12-04T08:00:00.000-06:00

Colossians 2:16-17 “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”

We come once more to the last month of the calendar year, a time of year when the world itself preaches “peace” and “joy”, “tolerance” and “forgiveness”, and even “love” and “friendship” but those are words to be spoken, posters to be shown in shopping malls, and TV specials. The reality is of course that words, no matter what they may be, are given their value through the actions of those speaking them. This is why James writes that we may have Faith, but he will show us his Faith through the works that he does (James 2:18). When we see two ladies fighting over towels in the aisle at a megastore, or two children fighting over a toy in the aisles of a toystore, all right after Thanksgiving, we see that, despite the words being spoken, people are not following their words. This month is full of dichotomy's and hypocrisy, a month practically dedicated to caring for others tends to have the most selfishness shown. A month about loving your fellow-man seems to have more incidents of parking-lot rage than allowing the other right of-way. Everyone is afflicted, you and I as well.

As Christians, we need to be wary and alert. Its too easy in the stress of this string of close-together holidays for our worldly and human nature to come to the forefront of our behavior patterns. We become overly judgmental of everyone and how they celebrate. We throw a fit about people taking Christmas away from us Christians – but we neglect to remember that we celebrate Christ's birthday on the former Roman holiday of Saturnalia so that Christians could avoid being persecuted on special celebrations. We will wine about saying things like “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” when in actuality we don't know what holiday the other person celebrates – and Christmas falls during Hanukkah this year! We ourselves neglect the teachings of Christ during the time we celebrate His birth!

Its not about how or when we celebrate, or even if we celebrate, but rather how our hearts are. Whether we go all out and decorate festively covering every spare inch of room with decorations and lights or we just pull on a Santa Hat to make others happy, its where our hearts are that really matter; and where-ever our hearts are is what is going to influence our external actions towards others. Christ is the true reality. Christ every day, Christ in every choice, Christ, in every word, Christ in every action. If everything is about Christ for us at all times, then in reality everyday is both Christmas and Resurrection Sunday. Everyday is especially special for us, which means that there aren't any days that are less special or more special. We pick out certain days, however, to allow us to truly celebrate and emphasize the specialness, to get away from the humdrum of daily life and refocus on Him.

This year, lets make an effort to be more Christlike when dealing with people, be it at the mall, or at work. That angry lady who just cut us off in traffic is made in the image of Christ, the homeless man on the street corner is also created in the image of Christ. Our bosses and teachers represents Christ's authority at work and school and our co-workers know things (and see things) we may not. Our actions, especially around this time of year are more representative to people about what we believe than what we say. Lets be good witnesses and stay faithful to what we know, not allowing the world to gain a foothold this season, but holding strong to Christ.

This is a sight that gladdens; what peace it doth impart!
Now nothing ever saddens the joy within my heart.
No gloom shall ever shake, no foe shall ever take,
The hope which God’s own Son in love for me hath won.
Paul Gerhardt, 1648.

Colossians 2:9-10 Our Foibles and His Fullness

2011-11-27T15:58:00.001-06:00

Colossians 2:9-10 "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority,"

Have you ever had a day, or week, or month, or longer where you have trouble seeing that you are truly walking with Christ and becoming more like Him? Have you ever had trouble with the idea that we are supposed to be "little Christs" since you know your own life oh-so-very-well and it falls oh-so-very-short? Do you sometimes find that you know that there is good that you want to do, but you find that your body is intent on sin and you have trouble resisting? Have you found yourself having trouble internalizing the idea that you are a child of the Most High and an adopted co-heir with Christ?

If any of these questions seems to have described you at one point, then you are no different from any Christian who has ever lived. You are normal. All of us have these issues at least once, if not constantly, running through our minds. These doubts and thoughts don't mean that you are not a Christian and a Follower of Christ, but that you are human. We are human and fully human, the fullness of humanity runs through us and is us. Fullness, of course, is the totality of being with all the attributes, powers, qualities, foils, and faults of that being.

Jesus was the physical embodiment of the fullness of God, He had all the attributes, power, authority, qualities, and majesty of God. Because He has that authority and power, He has granted us the ability to share in His fullness, the fullness of Christ. In essence, while we as fallen and sinful people have lived in the fullness of humanity and the world, and our bodies are most definitely full of the fullness of mankind, spiritually God is filling us, slowly, surely, and certainly with His fullness. It takes time because we are human.

None of us are capable of even holding the fullness of God, but God is changing that in our lives. He is making us able and although you may not see it and you may not see how God is imbuing your life with Himself, others are. They see the changes in your life. They see the differences between what you were and what you have become, and what you are becoming. We don't see the gentle and subtle workings of God, much like clay doesn't realize that with all the pressures being placed on it while spinning around and around and around it is being formed into a pot. All the clay knows is that it can't seem to hold itself together, just like you and I. In the end, Christ's fullness will be made manifest in us, but we will most likely be the last to see it.

This week, lets take heart that we are not alone in our fears and doubts. Let us also remember that we are still being molded and formed and remade into a proper receptacle for Christ's essence and attributes - His fullness. You are indeed becoming more like Christ, you just don't see it yet. You are a co-heir of Christ, fully adopted into God's family. You are His beloved child. Take heart!

Complete in Thee! No work of mine
May take, dear Lord, the place of Thine;
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And I am now complete in Thee.
Aaron R. Wolfe, 1851

Colossians 2:6-7 - Keeping our Focus on Christ

2011-11-20T12:09:00.001-06:00

Colossians 2:6-7 “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness.”

We are surrounded by various and sundry things vying for our attention, our affection, and our time. Have you noticed this? There is that new TV show that you just wish you had time to watch, that great looking jacket at the store that you wish you had enough money for, those awesome people you want to spend more time with, and of course the home details that you wish you didn't have to do. All sorts of things suck away our time and energy. But what does that have to do with Jesus? What has that to do in our relationship to Him and our efforts to live a Christ-centered life? Everything!

There can only ever be one primary focus in our life. Just one. If you try to focus on two different focus points, then you are unable to actually do anything about either. Just like in archery where you have to aim at the target to hit the target and you have to focus on where you want the arrow to go, in life we have to have our attention on the destination if we are going to get there. If I am taking a corner or a curve on my motorcycle and I am not fully committed to the corner and focusing entirely on the curve, then I am most likely (if not certainly) going to wreck. We have to focus on our primary focus point, and for us that is Christ and nothing that the world tries to throw at us. We have to know Him intimately if we are to really live a life centered on Him. We have to understand and be willing to learn more about Him. Everything else is a distraction. Sure work is necessary to pay the bills, but what can we do at work to keep Christ at the fore-front of our minds? The Bible tells us that we are to pray constantly and without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) so that is a start. We are to work for the glory of God as well as eat, sleep, laugh, cry, whatever we are to do is to be done for His glory. (1 Corinthians 10:31) So at work we should think about how would God deal with our co-workers and bosses. At school, how would He deal with fellow students and teachers? At church, the same basic principles apply.

To live in Christ means that we can't live in the world, and I don't mean by where we live, but rather how we live. To live in Christ means that we don't let the world control our thoughts, our hearts, our spare time, etc. It means that we don't allow the television to entertain us constantly, or novels to always have our attention. To live in Christ means that we should practice our faith, and be proud of who we are in Christ: We are sinners, saved by grace, anointed by Christ and adopted as co-heirs under God. How we live and how we act should consistently be evidence to that fact.

This week then, lets remember to live out our Faith and to attempt to remove worldly focuses from our lives and focus on God alone.

’Tis so sweet to walk with Jesus,
Step by step and day by day;
Stepping in His very footprints,
Walking with Him all the way.
Albert B. Simpson, 1897

Colossians 1:28 - Public Displays of Affection for God

2011-11-13T08:44:00.001-06:00

Colossians 1:28 “We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”

Have you ever seen someone who has had something amazing happen recently? A lottery winner cannot but help to tell everyone about his big win. A newly wed couple feels the innate need to tell everyone how amazing their new spouse is. Even someone with a new job seems to have to tell everyone about it. What about people obsessed with something? A rabid baseball fan talks about baseball to everyone. The girl who is agog about design will try to teach everyone she knows about design, and how they should see it as important. The enthusiastic political party member just has to expound on their ideas, ideals, and what “facts” they know to anyone and everyone.

Every single one of these examples above is trying to share something important in their life with everyone else around them, hoping that their joy and passion can become a joy and passion to the person they are sharing with. Now all these examples are worldly and transitory things, but we can learn from it. How excited have we remained about Christ and the perfection we have received in Him? How amazed are we at the idea that we are constantly being covered in His love? How often do we find ourselves really having to try and not share our passion, Christ, with everyone?

When did we lose this aspect of our lives? When did being adopted into God's family become humdrum and routine? When did we decide that it wasn't important to try and help others find the Father? Are we that scared of ridicule that we are willing to forgo teaching and helping other people find redemption from sin and becoming perfect creations in Christ?

God is a mighty conquerer, true. He is the Creator of all Heaven and Earth, true. He loves everyone who is alive, has lived, or will ever live, and this is also true. What else is true is that He leaves the details of spreading the word about Him to people to us, because He wants us to share in His perfect joy. There is nothing better, nothing sweeter, nothing more encouraging than to see someone who once was against God turn to Him and seek Him out. Knowing that you were blessed with the chance to be part of that turn around is amazing as well and highly gratifying – of all people God used you to reach out to that person!

This week, why don't we re-establish and renew our love affair with God. Lets relearn to rejoice at our adoption into His family! Lets also relearn to not be afraid to live His word out despite ridicule. Who knows, it might be that you will be able to help those ridiculing you to turn towards Christ and find the same joy that you have!

I was there when it happened, and I ought to know;
His Spirit burning in me, set my heart aglow;
So I praise the Lord today, He has washed my sins away;
I was there when it happened, and I ought to know.
Herbert J. Lacey, 1920.

Colossians 1:19-20 - The Example of Reconciliation

2011-11-06T08:04:00.000-06:00

Colossians 1:19-20 “For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.”

Throughout the New Testament, reconciliation has been one of the key themes. The Old Testament in contrast has carried a theme of separation. In the Old Testament, we had a nation that was visibly separated from other nations in clothing, diet, holidays, and hair. That nation was separated into twelve sub groups with one subgroup being again visibly separated by restrictions, not having their own land, and being caretakers of God's holy place. Within that group there was a family line, and within that family line, there was one man separate from all the rest. In the Old Testament, there was a separation from God that was shown. There always had to be a mediator between a person or the people and God. In the New Testament there was reconciliation and inclusion. Jesus reached out to the Samaritans, the Samaritans reached out to the Jews, the Jews sent missionaries to the Gentiles, and the Gentiles co-worshiped with the Jews. That one nation instead of being set apart, stuffy and self-contained, began to reach out to the other nations and people groups. Clothing habits fell by the wayside – after all, it was custom and symbolic and in no ways real. Eating habits did the same. Hair care began being more uniform as well. Everything that once was “them” began to be “us.”

God went through a lot of trouble to reconcile this fallen away earth to Himself. He paid the price for the universe just so that there could be the opportunity of reconciliation. Not only was man separated from God, but so was all creation! Everything God had worked so hard to create had been separated from Him by Adam and Eve's sin. With Christ, however, everything was fixed. There was a bridge built between the fallen world and God, and now there is harmony again between the created and Creator, or at least the possibility of harmony. God reached out and it is up to each individual to accept that reaching out or not. God built the bridge, but we have to choose to cross it.

Reconciliation is quite important, and not just on the universal or theological level, but also on the personal. God gave us a role model to follow. Each of us has had out differences with other people and even places. There are separations in our lives that are not only painful to us and those involved, but also to God who accompanies us everywhere and loves us unconditionally. God gave us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18) so that we could be His messengers to all people as well as to make our own peace with those we have been separated from no matter if it is our actions, choices, and words, or theirs which caused the separation.

This week then, lets rejoice in the reconciliation that God has initiated, and lets follow in His footsteps and example with others.

By the cross of Jesus standing, love our straitened souls expanding,
Taste we now the peace and grace! Health from yonder tree is flowing,
Heav’nly light is on it glowing from the blessed Sufferer’s face.

All the love of God is yonder, love above all thought and wonder,
Perfect love that casts out fear! Strength, like dew, is here distilling,
Glorious life our souls is filling, life eternal, only here!
Horatius Bonar, 1808-1889.

Colossians 1:13-14 - Willing to Suffer

2011-10-30T17:24:00.001-05:00

Colossians 1:13-14 “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

This new week holds an often forgotten holiday, no, it isn't Halloween instead it is All Saints Day, which in the western church is celebrated on November 1st. It is a day to remember all those who have lived lives dedicated to God which includes you and I. It is a day to remember the trials that have been faced by believers throughout the ages, not just martyrs but others as well. It is a day to remember those who died for Faith and those who lived for Faith. It is a day to remember those who have been exiled and those who have imprisoned, a day to remember those who chose to become missionaries and face the unknown and those who are ridiculed at home for their convictions. We remind ourselves of the lives of peace and contentment that have been lived, helping every person that is in need. We think of people boldly preaching, knowing that they are being ignored by nearly all. We think of the hardships and the joys of all who believe, and we remind ourselves of why people are willing to go to these great lengths.

We screw up. We do. We make mistakes and we see something shiny and are distracted for a moment from the path of righteousness, which we are supposed to be walking. We find then that we are lost or trapped in something we didn't see before. We stepped off the narrow trail that we were walking as we tried to follow Christ's lead. We are not perfect. None of us are. If you were perfect you wouldn't be needing to read this and If I was perfect I probably wouldn't be writing this either. We are not perfect and we screw up and frequently. But despite our mistakes, our falling short of the mark, our sins, Jesus keeps finding us as we huddle there lost in the dark off that narrow way and with a smile and a warm hug, He leads us back to where we need to be and we continue our journey until the next time we lose focus or our attention is drawn away.

This is why people are willing to give up everything and to suffer anything! Our Lord is continually meeting us where we are and helping us get back on our feet and take another step, and another step. He does so much for us that we cannot but help love Him. Our love for Him is as compelling as His great love for us and it drives us to want to please Him more and more. The more we love Him, the more we find that we stay on that little narrow path because there are fewer and fewer things that can distract us and draw our attention of Him.

This week, lets remember all those places in our lives that Christ stepped in and found us after we had lost our way. Lets remember everything that Christ has done and why we love Him so much. Being a Believer, a Follower of Christ, is more than reciting words and songs. Its about His relationship with Us and Our relationship with Him, and how much it means to all of us.

He paid a debt He did not owe,
I owed a debt I could not pay,
I needed someone to wash my sin away
And now I sing that brand new song: Amazing Grace
For Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay
` Ellis J. Crum, 1956.

Colossians 1:11-12 - Glorifying God, Relying on God

2011-10-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Colossians 1:11-12 “...being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”

A life lived to the glory of God, fully to the glory of God is a hard life. It is not easy, it is not “mellow” or “chilled out” It is rough and trying. Living the life of an heir of God's, one of His adopted children in this world is not easy. Not only do we have to contend with people who think our choices and decisions are stupid and mistaken, we have to deal with people who actively try to impede us in our walk with God. We also have to contend with things in the spiritual realm, things where prayer is our only defense and only offense. We must remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Our walking in Christ's footsteps does not make us any less human, however. It means that as we go forward in our convictions and desires to serve God to the best of our abilities, we are going to fall down and screw up. It is through the endurance that God blesses us with that we are able to move forward. Trying to live such a life on our own terms and in our own strength is impossible. We cannot do it and those who try, well, we have seen the humiliating results in the church scandals that are gleefully shown on the front page of every news outlet possible. We must have endurance and patience, but not only our own endurance and patience, because ours wears out quickly. We need the Lord's blessing of His endurance and patience which never wears out.

When problems come, not only do we need to endure them, we need to give thanks and be joyful about them! “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” (James 1:2) “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12) Being joyful in such situations is not a very human thing to do, and it most certainly is not a very easy thing at all! Again, we need God's might and God's strength to accomplish this. Our joy is His Joy in the end. We have every encouragement that it is possible to accomplish this. We have every assurance that it is possible! “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

In the end, we must totally rely on God just to live the life that He wants us to live. There really is no reason then, that we should stress out about things that happen in our life. As long as we know that we can't go it alone, that He is right there with us, everything will be fine. As long as we remember that we need prayer and we need to pray for others, we will manage somehow. These big gaping chasms that appear before us in our walk will in hindsight always turn out to be small cracks in the pavement.

This week then, lets change our perspective. Its God's power and strength that allows us to continue onwards, It's all God and nothing of us. He is willing to carry us when we can't go one more step. He is there to pick us up when we fall down. Its His journey with us more than it is our journey with Him. Lets remember this.

We bear the strains of earthly care,
But bear it not alone;
Beside us walks our Brother Christ,
And makes our task His own.
Ozora S. Davis, 1909.

Colossians 1:9-10 Why We Need Prayer

2011-10-16T16:27:00.001-05:00

Colossians 1:9-10 “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,”

We all desire (hopefully) to live a life which is pleasing to the Lord, and we try so very hard to do so. We want to glorify Him with the work of our hands. We want to glorify Him with the thoughts in our heads. We want to glorify Him with our attitudes towards others. We want to glorify Him with our feelings and desires. We want to glorify God with everything that is within us. Or at least we would if we were totally surrendered to Him. For most of us – or even just me – there are places in our lives that we just have trouble letting go of and surrendering to Christ. We know that He knows best, but for some reason these special little places of ourselves we want to hold onto tightly. We say “this is good enough” and although we would like to claim that God has total control, it is a total control except this piece here and that piece there. We reserve little areas of ourselves that hold tightly to ourselves. While we doe this, we do glorify God with the rest of it, and we can even glorify God with a portion of what we are holding back but its never all the way; He isn't being glorified as much as He could and should be.

We want the Lord to look at us and say “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” but can He really say that if we are holding back from Him even if only subconsciously? I think not, and it pains me to think this because I know that I, even if all of you are perfect, have areas of my life that I have not totally relinquished to Him. Some of these places I know about and am working on, most however I have no idea about - these little hidden rebel countries of Me-zakstan or perhaps even the United States of Me. This is why it is so very important to have people praying for us and people to hold us accountable. This is why it is important for us to gather together as believers and encourage each other, uplift each other, and even (and not as much fun) correct each other. There are things about myself that I don't know and will never know until someone tells me about them. There are things about you that you don't know and won't know until I or someone else tells you about it. This is why we need each other so very much, and this is why God calls us to deal with each other in love – because each of us has our own particular issues and problems.

I want to live a life worthy of God, totally pleasing to Him, giving Him all the glory I can. To do that I need prayer and help in my daily walk. You as well, want the same and need the same. This week then, let me pray for you and you can pray for me for guidance and wisdom. This week, lets actually try and listen when other believers try and correct us instead of taking umbrage and thinking they are finding needless fault with us. Let us do the same thing for them. Think of it as a form of love. A love wanting others to glorify God to their full potential!

I need the prayers of those I love, while trav’ling o’er life’s rugged way,
That I may true and faithful be, and live for Jesus every day.

I want my friends to pray for me, to bear my tempted soul above,
And intercede with God for me; I need the prayers of those I love.

I need the prayers of those I love, to help me in each trying hour,
To bear my tempted soul to Him, that He may keep me by His pow’r.

I want my friends to pray for me, to hold me up on wings of faith,
That I may walk the narrow way, kept by our Father’s glorious grace.
James D. Vaughan 1908.

Psalm 139:14-16 - You ARE changing the World, but How?

2011-10-09T09:36:00.000-05:00

Psalm 139:14-16 “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (NLT)

This past week, the world saw the death of a man who changed it. Newspaper articles abounded describing his effects and magazines covers were filled with his face. One man who almost single-handedly changed the way the entire world works – or so the story is being told. In truth, if not for the efforts of this man, the world we know would be quite different. His leadership in his field has been marvelous for technology, but the world before him was not so radically different. People are the same and would be able to do the same things in a different fashion, if not so easily. But he himself was not the only one who should be lauded for his changes. His family who guided him and sacrificed for him, his teachers who taught him, and even the people who influenced him are also responsible for his success. Few of them will ever be acknowledged or well known but if not for them and their influence then this man would not have been the man he is today.

We do not know all the events in his life that made an impression on him. We do not know the people who put the time and energy into leading, guiding, and teaching this man as a young boy. What we do know is that by the world's standards he and therefore they were quite successful.

Is it any wonder that God has a plan for each of us? A plan to help us and not to harm us? (Jeremiah 29:11) He knows what He wants for us in our lives. Most of us will never be as worldly successful as this man, but spiritually we never know. We do not know the effects we have on people. If it was not for Elijah, there would have been no Elisha. If not for an obedient pastor, there would be no Billy Graham. If not for you then someone would not be where they are now. You are changing the world every day but you just do not know it yet. That is why it is so important to be centered in God's will for your life. I know that we all want to change it for the better and to make a positive impact on people. Today is your chance, today and everyday you have the ability to affect people and to show that you are a true child of God.

This week then, lets all remember that it isn't really us who is in charge of our lives, it is God. He is the one who guides us to every encounter we have that we may declare His glory in word and deed. Lets make every effort to exemplify God and change the world for the better. We may not have the media coverage that this dead man does, but we all have just as important an impact on people's lives even if we do not realize it!

All that I am I owe to Thee,
Thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me;
I give my Maker thankful praise,
Whose wondrous works my soul amaze.
-Puritan Hymn

Philippians 2:3 - Relating To Others

2011-10-02T16:10:00.000-05:00

Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

One of the important aspects of a believers life is not how much he or she reads the Bible, or how long they are able to pray, or even if they are volunteers for everything through their local church, but rather how they treat people and how their personality is perceived by others. This is really important! Far too many of us believers end up looking an awful lot like the pharisees when we take stock of ourselves and our attitudes.

One of my co-workers recently approached one of my fellow believers at work to talk about something. He did not select this co-worker because of how involved in Church, or how awesome his oratory skills were. No, he selected that co-worker because the coworker was open, receptive, and non-judgmental. The coworker was quiet and at ease with everyone around him. My questioning co-worker needed to talk to someone about something and he needed someone who was not going to belittle him, bash him, ridicule him, or demand much from him. Instead he needed someone who could listen to him, sympathize with him, and accept him for who and where he was rather than having to meet some sort of ideal.

The problem of course is that many of us who are believers seem to have all the same flaws as non-believers. We have our issues with self-interest and ambition, vain conceits, pride, self-aggrandizement, and many, many other issues. We even pride ourselves and are conceited in how humble we think we are! How we relate and work with others, however, shows them a far different story than it shows us. Our preconceptions tend to get in the way of reality just as much as a non-believers. I know that I am not the most approachable of guys. I am quite dogmatic when it comes to issues, and that is a good thing, but I need to learn to be more open and welcoming for people to ask questions of outside of desiring a debate. I know that I would have been the wrong person to answer my co-workers questions just because I know myself and have had to come to grips with my preconceived notions about myself, and I'm still finding out more and more about me that I never knew.

When people come asking things of believers, its important that they feel that they are not being treated all “holier than thou” and that the believer they speak with is more interested in them than in showing off their personal amazingness at being such a perfect Christian. Far too often we approach our relationships with others in a very demanding way, not in a Christ-like way but more of a Sanhedrin or Pharisaical way.

This week then, lets re-evaluate ourselves. Lets find what we need to work on so that we don't drive people away from us and our testimony, but instead be all the more Christ-like. We need to work on accepting people where they are, not where we think they should be. Its so very difficult and it runs counter to human nature, but to be more like Christ we must do it and pray for His aid in changing ourselves.

Father, make us loving, gentle, thoughtful, kind;
Fill us with Thy Spirit, make us of Thy mind.
Help us love each other, more and more each day,
Help us follow Jesus, in the narrow way.
Flora Kirkland, 1901.

1 Corinthians 2:11-12 - Looking with God's eyes

2011-09-25T17:39:00.002-05:00

1 Corinthians 2:11-12 “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.”

Fall is fast approaching. Slowly at first the leaves will start to turn and then faster and faster until the world of the tree tops are a riot of colors with no two leaves exactly the same shade of beauty. Then the leaves will fall to the ground, again starting with one or two leaves leading the way for the rest. Fall is coming with the crisp sparkle of the air, the refreshingly cool and clean air that tells us to bundle up because winter is fast on fall's heels.

We know the changes in the seasons well. We admire each season as something special and excitingly await the next seasonal change, but how often do we think of the beauty that is the dance of the seasons? How often do we look at the bigger picture? We miss out on so much because we fail to see through God's eyes. This march of seasons pales quickly in our sight when we look through the filters of the world.

Looking and viewing everything through the spirit of the world is something easy to fall back into as well. Remember that although we are no longer citizens of the world, we still live here as ambassadors for Christ. God gave us His Spirit that we could see things the way that He does. Without His Spirit we are unable to even start to know how to approach anything in a way that is most beneficial to Him. But we are human, fallen humans struggling with the world and it is so very easy to forget that it is all about God and that we are recipients of His love, His mercy, His grace, and are the delight of His eyes.

We find it so easy, a routine that we unconsciously remember from back before we were believers, to put on the world's blinders and forget that we who are children of the King of Kings are able to see without those blinders. We have been given God's Spirit. We have been cleansed of all unrighteousness and now are participants in His holiness! We aren't the same people we used to be. We can now think God's thoughts and know His feelings and emotions. We have the capability to see everything around us the same way that He does! How amazing is that? When we remember to look through God's eyes the things we see become brighter, cleaner, crisper, and more beautiful than every before. Each leaf turning color is so vivid that it can hold our attention for hours or days and when we think of that beauty being repeated all over the world, its all we can do to fall on our knees and cry out “My God! How great Thou art!”

This week, let us remember to look through God's eyes. We have His Spirit living inside us, not the world's spirit. We have His love flowing through us, not the world's lust. We have His Heart, not the world's heart, and let us never forget this! God gave us Himself, how can we do any less?

Father of omnipresent grace!
We seem agreed to seek Thy face;
But every soul assembled here
Doth naked in Thy sight appear:
Thou know’st who only bows the knee,
And who in heart approaches Thee.
Charles Wesley, 1767.

Psalm 35:27 - What It Is All About

2011-09-18T08:39:00.000-05:00

Psalm 35:27 "May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, 'The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.'"

This past week, I heard a well respected pastor say something that really struck a chord in me. He said "It is not about you or me, It is all about God." I realized that this particular phrase really explains and identifies our daily walk with God. It succinctly describes a Christian's life.

When we work for a company, every company has a slogan, a purpose phrase, a goal that they indoctrinate their workers with. This purpose statement is designed to accurately reflect the direction the company is trying to take. This statement, this mission statement is supposed to be the guiding catchphrase that everyone rallies around. We as believers have so many verses pulled out that we don't really know which one is our purpose statement. Jesus said "I have come to..." many times in the Gospel. He came to heal the sick and raise the dead, He came that we might have life and life everlasting, He came to fulfill the law, etc. He told the disciples to go into Judea and heal the sick, raise the dead, make the lame walk, and cast out demons in His name. He later told them to go and make disciples in all the world. Every single one of us can point to a specific verse and say that this was the primary job assigned to the church and have a good reason for it. The best verse that I can point to at this moment, however that really gives a good purpose statement for us is in Luke 2:49 and is in the New King James Version, where Jesus had separated from His parents and they found Him in the temple, when they questioned Him, He merely responded "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" This of course shows us the way.

We are followers of Christ and His business is our business, His desires are our desires, and His goals are our goals. Therefore not only is it our goal to be all about the Lord's business, much like Jesus was, but it is also how we need to treat each other. When we remember that it is all about God and His honor, His glory, and His love then of course nothing can really be about us. We rejoice in every little thing that shows God's glory. We appreciate every tid bit that shows His grandeur. We love seeing His honor made known, and we stand in awe at there mere suggestion of His power. It is all about God.

When we think of everything being about God, then we realize that everything that has happened to us is merely a means to an end, a stepping off point, our previous life and it is fully through God's power that we are not there again. When we realize that it is all about God then how we act towards each other reflects that. No longer do we want to be ill mannered towards anyone, but rather we want to showcase God's manners for them. If there is any aspect of our lives that does not showcase God then I have yet to think of it or find it! Even the meanest and dirtiest of jobs, tasks, and daily living is a small example of God. How wonderful! How awesome! How amazing!

This week then, lets do our best to remember that it is not about you or I but that it is instead about God, all about God and we are merely the tools He chooses to use.

Lord God, whose grace has called us to Thy service,
How good Thy thoughts toward us, how great their sum!
We work with Thee, we go where Thou wilt lead us,
Until in all the earth Thy kingdom come.
Shepherd Knapp, 1907.

Luke 21:34 - The Traps of Daily Life

2011-09-11T18:11:00.000-05:00

Luke 21:34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.”

There was a life insurance advertisement that ran several years ago showing a very handsome man as a Venetian gondolier rowing a stunning young lady through the canals of Venice. Glancing looks are taken between the two of them and the young lady's heart is all a flutter. They pass under a bridge and the handsome young man is now a decrepit old man. As the girl screams, the slogan “Life Comes At You Fast” showed up and the commercial faded out to be replaced by the next commercial in the line. Life does come at us fast. Things happen quickly and we have trouble trying to just keep our head above the seemingly rising flood waters.

In areas of Asia and Africa, monkeys are trapped because they are pests. They destroy crops and food that the farmers have painstakingly cared for. They cause damage that the villagers do not want to deal with, as well as monkeys can be eaten as food. To trap these monkeys, they will hollow out a gourd or coconut with a hole just big enough for the monkey to slip their hand in. Inside the hollowed out gourd or coconut is placed a sweet treat of some sort to bait the monkeys, then they will stake the gourd or coconut to the ground or to a tree. When the monkey finds it, they will grab the treat, but the hole is too small to allow their fist to come out. To escape the trap the monkey must let go of the treat!

Life comes at us fast. There are all sorts of things we don't want and we try to avoid them, then there are all sorts of experiences that we have that we would rather forget. We as people have emotional, physical, and mental baggage that we carry around,trapping us like the desire to maintain our youth, to prepare for the inevitable, to hold on to what we have, and because we fear the unknown.

We all go grocery shopping. And if you are anything like me, you want to get as many of your bags of grocery into the house at one time. What do we do? We figure out how we can carry all the bags, sliding the loops through our arms, grabbing the boxes and balancing whats left on top of the cradle between our arms, while we hold our house key with one or two fingers. Then struggling with the weight of all the groceries and praying that none of the bags break, we stumble our way from our car to our door, where we try to get the key into the lock, but failing that we shift bags around so that we are overburdened on one arm, just to open the door! Then rushing, we try to manage to get to the kitchen before our strength is gone and we lose an item or three (or all).

We treat life like a grocery trip, trying to carry as much at any one time of it as we can. This is not healthy for us! We have all the time in the world, we have all the time in the universe to find and appreciate life! But we burden ourselves, we trap ourselves and we don't want to let go of anything. This not-letting-go thing comes between us and God and the freedom that He offers us. Imagine carrying all those bags and trying to get anywhere? Many of us have stood in line trying to get on our plane or bus while somewhere in front of us is someone who will not let go of any of their bags and let them get checked to their destination. They have to carry their shoulder-bag/purse, duty-free bag, book bag, lunch bag, clothes bag, suit bag, etc. The problem is that we often are trying to do the same thing in life! We carry our bag of pride, our bag of people we don't like, our bag of hurt, anguish, and pain, of fun, of experiences, of hopes and dreams, of expectations from both ourselves and others, of work, stresses, and duties, as well as a backpack filled with regrets! We are overwhelmed by the bags that we are trying to tug through the door and down the aisle to our seat! We just don't want to let anything go!

God calls on us to let it go, let it all go. He will carry it for us, He will get us to our destination with everything we need. He will carry the groceries so we can stock the fridge and cupboard without worry. He offers to take every single worry, fear, hope, and dream and bear it for us so that we do not have to. He offers, but are we humble enough to accept? How many times has a neighbor offered to help carry your groceries but you just said “Nah, its okay, I can get it.”? How many times have you said that to anyone who tried to help with anything? “I can do it.” At one point do we think we have it and we grab that one last item that brings everything crashing down?

Life itself traps us with everything we must go through. We pick up baggage as quickly as we pick up stuff after college. Remember when you moved into your college dormroom with just a couple bags? Remember moving out? Then starting with almost nothing in your first apartment and then in just a couple years you were wondering where all that stuff and junk came from? Life fills us with stuff in our life just like that. We pick up these bags effortlessly and without thinking. Our burden just gets heavier and heavier with time until we wonder why things seem so rough going, even though everything looks great. Will you let things go and let the Lord carry your baggage? Will you let Him deal with it as needed and de-clutter your belongings down to the bare essentials (as He sees it, not you or I)?

God is offering, will you let Him?

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up to be more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.
Brendan Graham, 2001.

John 6:35 - The Bread, a basic necessity for Life

2011-09-04T17:37:00.000-05:00

John 6:35 “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

I enjoy eating, as I'm sure you do as well. Food just tastes good! Of course, I easily get bored eating the same things every day, and I'm guessing, so do you. I love a good Lasagna, and I can happily eat a nicely grilled steak. I could munch on peanut butter and celery sticks and be content, and humus and chips are divine! In fact I enjoy eating so much that when I watch television, often times I am tuned into the cooking channel which besides having the cleanest content on TV, also gives me ideas on things I can do to vary my own dining habits. I especially enjoy watching Iron Chef, a show about two cooks and their staffs having a cook-off against each other using a secret ingredient given to them at the beginning of the show. They have one hour to make a multi-course meal revolving around that one secret ingredient. Watching it is fantastic! The energy, the imagination, the skill! But you know, every meal shares something. Every meal I eat at home, every cooking show, every Iron Chef battle all share something made with flour and water (or milk) – bread. Bread is a staple food item in every culture, and is usually somehow involved with nearly every meal. Imagine a pizza without bread, or burgers on a tofu bun. Imagine fried chicken without the breaded crust, or cream cheese without bagels. We can't think of it, bread is that integral to our eating!

Notice that Jesus says he is the Bread of Life, not the Swiss Cheese of Holiness, or the Chocolate of Righteousness. He is not the Soup of Splendour, or the Espresso of Sacredness. He isn't even the Poultry of Purity! He is the Bread of Life, bread being a basic necessity for us to have. We can live without cheese, chocolate, soup, coffee, chicken, fish, and beef. But bread is the basic staple of our diet.

Elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus tells us that He gives the water of life, another basic necessity for us, but Jesus tells us that unlike ordinary water, which cures our thirst for the moment, the living water which He gives us cures us of our thirst entirely!

Jesus claims that He is the staple of our life, the basic necessities which we need to live. He compares himself to each of those necessities, reminding us that He is a basic necessity! If He isn't around, if we are not partaking in Him, then we are missing something pretty major from our life, and our quality of life will suffer something tremendous.

This week, why don't we re-evaluate the basics in our life and see where we have shoved Jesus off to? Is He still the first go-to guy for everything in our life? Is He our basic resource? Or have we decided that He is a special occasion thing, hidden away in a cupboard until we want some spice added? He is the Bread of Life, our Life, not the Terriyaki of Terrificness.

Become to us the living bread
by which the Christian life is fed,
renewed, and greatly comforted.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

May Christians all with one accord
unite around the sacred board
to praise your holy name, O Lord.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Miriam Drury, 1970

Hosea 10:12 - Spending Time

2011-08-28T19:38:00.000-05:00

Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.”

There are some very neat life lessons that you can learn at work from your coworkers. One of my co-workers spends his time in an interesting fashion, each day and every day despite working a 10 hour shift that night, he manages to drag himself over to the golf course and spends at least 2 hours whacking a little white ball around a perfectly manicured grass course. He is out there, rain or shine, wind or snowfall - if the course is open, he is going to play. Several other coworkers of mine go home and get on their game consoles to play an online game together. This also takes up a couple hours of their time and they do this every day.

Each of my coworkers spends their precious moments of free time in a unique way on something they enjoy. Of everything in this world, time is the most precious. Its more valuable than gold, silver, or government bonds. There are only 24 hours in the day, 168 hours in a week, 720 in a month (depending on the month) and 8,760 hours in a year. Statistically we spend 1/3 of our life sleeping - or roughly 8 hours per day - so suddenly our 24 hours drop down to 16, and our 8,760 drops to 5,840. A 40 hour work week means that we will spend 2,080 hours in a year working, leaving us with 3,760 hours left in our year. If we average about an hour per meal, our available free time drops down to 2,665 hours. Surveys state that your typical person will spend just over 2 hours in a car each day just driving. Which is 730 hours in a year. That drops us to 1,935 hours available in our year. That averages out to essentially 37 hours free each week. Sounds pretty reasonable right? Its a weekend for us. So how then is it that we have problems finding a meager 15 minutes each day to spend in our devotions?

Time is precious and the only one who knows how much of it we have is God. How we spend our time is a testament to our person, beliefs, character, families, habits, hobbies and pleasures, priorities, and God. If you know how someone spends their free time then you can usually make a decent guess as to the state of their soul. So what about your free time? What does it say about you? Where do you spend your free time? And on what?

This week, why don't we re-evaluate our time usage. We complain about never having enough time, but why is that? What do we need to do or change to spend more time with God?

Thou hidden source of calm repose,
thou all-sufficient love divine,
my help and refuge from my foes,
secure I am if thou art mine;
and lo! from sin and grief and shame
I hide me, Jesus, in thy name.
Charles Wesley, 1749.

Jeremiah 17:7 - Trusting, or Provisionally Trusting

2011-08-21T09:21:00.000-05:00

Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.”

A little while ago I was driving and following my Google map directions. I had a destination in mind and I wanted to get there. I took the twisty, swervy, winding back roads like the directions said. I went under bridges and over bridges, around corners while going up hill or down hill, all the time trusting my directions to get me to where I needed to be. Unfortunately my directions were off. It wasn't far, but my directions had me stopping a mile early and that wasn't where I was supposed to be! Later, I needed to get home, so I plugged my address into the GPS on my phone. I followed the directions and took the twisty, swervy, winding back country roads. I went under bridges and over bridges, and even around corners where I seemed to be meeting myself again! I went up hills and down hills, turning corners and watching the road signs. This time, my trip back was different, I went home a different route than I had come. I found myself on single lane roads winding about a lake at night! Oh! It would have been gorgeous if I could have only seen the view! After a couple hours of driving I found myself pulling into my parking spot. I was home, even if it was later than I had planned.

To get home while in an unfamiliar place, I had to rely on the directions. I had to trust them to get me to my destination. While it may be that it is not so bad that my directions were off by about mile, I still had trusted them to get me to – and not near – my destination. Trust is a form of faith and for most of us it seems to be a four letter word a lot of the time. We find ourselves provisionally trusting. We provisionally trust the map directions, because we know that sometimes maps are wrong. We provisionally trust car salesmen to show us the car lot, but we know that they are going to try and sell us something we don't need. We provisionally trust the grocery store as well since they always seem to be changing things up so what we want may or may not be there. We even provisionally trust our politicians. We trust them to lie to us about their campaigns yet we also expect them to follow through on their promises; we trust them to make our laws but we would not really want them for neighbors.

For some reason, we take that same provisional trust and put it towards God. We say that we trust Him, when really we are provisionally trusting Him. As long as things are going our way then we can easily say that we trust Him, but when things get bad, when trouble comes its so very easy for us to start blaming Him. That trust doesn't carry over and trust that doesn't carry over for all situations really isn't trust. That thing about tithing in our Bible? Those teachings on money? All that is is God trying to give us exercises in Trust. He does not need our money! He wants us to learn to Trust, and to practice it in a way that challenges us!

We need to Trust Him, not provisionally trust either. Trust with a capital “T”. Trust is faith that has been proven! We have the proof, we have the evidence, and that should give us the encouragement to trust Him more. He asks for much, but doesn't He also deliver much? It is each person's decision on how and where to trust God. Lets trust Him more with everything. He's already proven He is capable, its now up to us to show our trust and to stand by it. Are you ready?

May I be one who trusts You, Lord,
Dwelling each day upon Your Word.
May I be like a tree by a stream,
Bearing much fruit and always green.
May I drink from Your Word each day,
That I might stand firm, come what may.
May I e’er prosper in Your way,
And blest e’er be.
Susan H. Peterson, 1999.

1 Timothy 6:10 - Money or Evil Desires

2011-08-14T09:25:00.000-05:00

1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

The hard topic of money once again rears its head. Money is tricky, very tricky. We can't live without it since we have to pay for everything, but at the same time we know that money is the root of all evil. Wait, is that actually correct? No! It isn't. Money by itself is not the root of all evil, but rather “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Money is not the problem, it is the love of it that brings trouble. Having money is not an issue. There is no problem with earning money, having money, spending money, or saving money. Its when there is a desire for more of it, more and more and more of it that starts to cause problems.

Ecclesiastes 10:9 tells us that “money is the answer for everything.” Jesus spent more time of His ministry talking about money than He did about sex, relationships, or even salvation. Obviously it is something of an important topic. We know that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Why is that? What is it that makes it so hard for a rich man? We know that He taught that the widow who gave her two pennies gave more than everyone who gave large sums of cash and goods. We know that He rebuked Judas about the perfumed oil that cost Mary a years wages, even though Judas claimed it was for the poor! When it came to taxes, Jesus taught to give to Caesar what was Caesars and to God what was God's and not to complain. Jesus spent time and effort trying to teach about money and to not be controlled by it.

That is what the issue really is – it is a control issue. When we love something or someone, they have a source of control over us, and that love can drive us to do things we wouldn't otherwise do. We love God so we obey God's commands even when they are not convenient for us. When we love money then we take shortcuts and try to get as much of it as possible. Ecclesiastes 5:10 teaches that “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.” We really need to re-approach how we think about money, finances, and everything involved with this whole topic. In Hebrews, we are told to “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'” Since God has promised to take care of us He is our wealth and not those little pieces of paper that we stuff into our wallets.

I know we work hard for that money. We have bills to pay and food to buy. We have a tithe to offer, friends to help, and maybe even something special in a store window could be calling for us, but money is to be used, not abused or desired excessively after. God's got blessings in store for us, and those blessings are more than we could ever hope or imagine for. “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and He adds no trouble to it.” (Proverbs 10:22)

Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.
Fanny Crosby, 1905.

Malachi 3:8 - To Whom It May Belong

2011-08-07T18:57:00.000-05:00

Malachi 3:8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings.”

One of the hardest things that many pastors and churches find to address is the topic of money. Many churches err on not talking about it, making it a hidden elephant in the room, while many other churches talk about it too much, making it seem that they are more interested in money than in Christ. Its a difficult subject because to many people its one people don't wish to hear about, yet please give me the allowance of writing on it today. Since I am not asking nor am I interested in your money I should be able to write this rather painlessly for everyone.

Money is a hard subject for people. After all, we work hard for our money, we waste hours of our life at the office or on the job earning these little pieces of paper that society tells us has value. We work hard because without this money we can't pay for things like food and rent, gas for our car, and maybe even something nice for ourselves every once in a while. We never seem to have enough money for everything, and so we make choices about how we spend it. We prioritize how we use the money that we spent hours and even days of our lives to earn. We grumble about the taxes we have to pay, taxes that are taken directly out of our earnings before we ever see them. We grumble about the bills that never stop coming. We grumble about the price of milk, eggs, and bread rising. We grumble about everything when it comes to spending our money. We even grumble about tithing!

The tithe is God's way of making us rely on Him more. He gives us all we have, and all He desires is that we show our trust in Him by giving Him back the first ten percent of all He gives us. We have a mistaken idea about “our money.” It isn't “our money”, its God's money. We may have put effort and work into gaining it, but God is the one that allowed us to be in a situation where we can have access to a job to earn money. Its understandable that God wants us to work, since we don't value anything we have not struggled to attain, but our money is still God's money that He allows us to use. The tithe, or the first ten percent that we earn is His, its a tax of sorts that goes to all sorts of purposes.

The secondary purpose of the tithe is to support those who work in the Church, not for an earthly employer but for God. “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.” (Numbers 18:21) After all,it takes money for your pastor to buy food, pay rent, buy gas, and print church bulletins with snappy slogans on them! Our tithes go to help the pastor take care of his family, as well as all the other church workers.

The primary purpose is to teach us to trust God for our needs. When we give the top ten percent of our paycheck, our earnings, we start struggling a bit more to make ends meet and the decisions we make about how and where to spend our money get tougher. When we make an offering of our tithes to God however, it becomes a joyful affair since God ensures that our needs our met. He will provide. After all, a good master does not let his servants go hungry or naked.

We should not worry so much about our money. If God can make a fish carry a four drachma coin to pay the tax for Peter and Himself (Matthew 17:24-27) then I'm sure He can work something out for you and I. So this week, lets work on having an attitude check. If we give with joy, then we are much more able to receive with joy! Its not ours, its Gods!

Malachi 3:10 states “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

Matthew 25:21 - A Servants Trust

2011-07-31T18:13:00.000-05:00

Matthew 25:21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

Being a servant of God is quite prestigious. It is not something to be taken lightly or half-heartedly. In our final look at what is involved with being a servant of Christ, we look at the authority and responsibility given to us as bond servants.

A bond servants, special and dedicated entirely to the master, speaks with the full authority of his master when on his masters business. He has the ability to make and fulfill binding contracts on his master's behalf, and what the servant says in the master's name was fully and legally binding on the master. For an example we look at Joseph, a slave in the house of Potiphar. Joseph was so obedient and open to the will of Potiphar, his master, that “Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned....So he left in Joseph's care everything he had; with Joseph i charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.” (Genesis 39:4b,6a) Joseph was entrusted with the responsibility and the authority to act in Potiphar's stead. Later on, we find that after Potiphar's wife's accusations and Joseph's jail time, he took those same skills he had honed and learned running Potiphar's household and put them to further use running the entire kingdom of Egypt (Genesis 41:41-45)!

Another good example of a servant is Elisha's servant Gehazi. (2 Kings 5) Gehazi had all the responsibility and trust that Joseph had, and yet his greed was his downfall. He had the stewardship of everything Elisha had, and his job was to ensure that Elisha could spend all of his time doing God's work and studying and spending time with God. Yet when Gehazi saw that Elisha was not taking anything from Naaman, he snuck away and lied to Naaman in the name of Elisha! He exceeded the authority he had been given by stepping out of Elisha's will, and then he further compounded it by tresspassing on Elisha's authority outside of that will. The result of that was that Gehazi received Naaman's leprosy.

To be a good servant, one must always be aware of what needs to be done, and to do it as quickly and efficiently as possible; but one must be knowledgeable and have a great understanding of the master's will and desires in order to do this. One must be responsible and a good steward, ensuring the stability of the master's lifestyle; yet one must have learned the basics of stewardship and care-taking before taking such a job. One must also not be afraid of using and standing in the master's authority; but one must never abuse the trust involved with it. It is difficult, but very rewarding. A servant of such caliber is of unmentionable value to his master!

This week, lets focus on becoming the best servant of Christ we can be, allowing Him to trust us with everything. Are we ready for such a challenge? If you are like me, probably not, but we can certainly learn and grow our skills so that when the greater challenge and responsibility is ready, we are too. Right now we have been entrusted with little, but soon, very soon, much is coming!

What a work to do for Jesus! Work for you and work for me,
Work for all who trust His merit, all who would His glory see;
Though we fill a lowly station, and our talent be but small,
Though we are but young disciples, we must heed the Savior’s call.
A. Parke Burgess, 1888.

John 12:25-26 - His Bond-Servants

2011-07-24T08:52:00.000-05:00

John 12:25-26 “The Man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

Following last weeks devotional, we continue on and look at what it means to be a follower of Christ. We looked at what it means to die to self, and live for Christ. Today we look at it from a slightly different perspective.

Christ said that if we are to serve Him we must follow Him. There is no other way to serve our Lord and Savior than to walk in His footsteps. Its actually a fairly obvious statement, but one with hidden depths that no one thinks about. If Christ were not here, how could we serve Him? It was the servant's duty to pay the bills, to load the cart, even to put the master's cloak on him. A servant poured the wine for the master to drink, carried the platter and served the master's food. A servant ensured that the house was cleaned, the garden neat and tidy, and the animals were fed. It short, it was the servant's duty to ensure that everything around the master ran smoothly enough so the master would never notice anything out of order or amiss. We, as servants of Christ must be where He is so that we can serve Him. It is impossible to serve Him where He is not. That means that we need to keep ourselves in a right place with God, that we may continue in communion with our Lord.

A bond-servant was a trusted servant, a lifetime servant of the family in fact. They were known to have the master and his families best interests in mind at all time and were trusted with even the most important or delicate of things. A bond-servant would not hesitate to throw himself in front of any danger, or to take any abuse instead of the master. A bond-servant was loyal to a fault, nothing would come between his master and their well-being.

For a modern day look however, we can compare it to a bonded-courier or a bonded-employee. A bonded employee is one who is so valuable to the employer that they and everything on them are insured (usually for millions of dollars)! They are employees in whom the employer takes great pride and joy. While today we may not really understand the role of a servant or bond-servant as Jesus used it, we can make the [slightly flawed] comparison to a bonded-employee and understand it much better. That is what it means to serve Christ. Nothing can stand in our way to do His work! Not thieves nor robbers, families or children, friends nor enemies, nothing - not even death - must come between us and doing His will!

This week then, lets focus on being the perfect servants of God. If things are not right between us and Him, then let us make every effort to amend that and correct our faults. If we are hesitant, let us stride forward with boldness. If we are fearful, we must remember that He is right there with us, walking at our side! If we are boastful, lest us recollect that we cannot out-serve our Servant King. Most importantly of all, we must never forget that as we are serving Him, He is ministering to us and our needs.

Though the work of life be lowly,
Let me true and faithful be;
This the thought that makes it holy—
Christ has set the task for me.
Jessi P. Bounds, 1915.

Mark 8:34-37: Carrying your own Instrument of Death and Following Christ

2011-07-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

Mark 8:34-37 “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Last week we touched upon the actions of a Follower of Christ, a Christian. This week we look a little further at what exactly following Christ means to a person.

If you turn on the television and go through the channels, chances are you will run across a sports even quickly. We admire athletes for the skill and ability and we try to emulate them when we play that sport. The athletes themselves have coaches and trainers who work with them and teach them, the athlete will follow their directions on pretty much everything from what to eat to when to shower and in what temperature water. No detail is too small for directions about it not to be given. The coach and trainer knows just what needs to be done to get someone to the peak of their ability. The same is true for Christians. We have been given instructions on how to be a Christian, How to follow Christ, and how to be a better believer. Just like an athlete follows his coach we follow ours - and our coach is perfect – Jesus!

What we need to realize is that we are expected to daily die to the world. This is a frequently thrown about phrase which has lost much of its meaning. The imagery Jesus gives us is a man burdened to carry his own instrument of death with him to the execution place – which He then modeled for us in John 19:17 (“Carrying His own cross, He went out to the place of the Skull”).just in case we thought about forgetting. His example is the reason thousands of people risk their lives to spread God's word. Its a daily reminder that we are going to be treated the same way that Christ was. It is a reminder that we have already died to the rest of the world, that they consider us no better than walking Zombies. Our instrument of death is an instrument of torture and ridicule, a symbol that we are the worst of the worst: traitors to the state of quid-pro-quo, laissez-faire, and tolerance. We must have the desires and attitudes common to the world burned out of us, surgically removed by Christ's hand. We are no longer to be the men and women we used to be but rather new men and new women of Christ. Who we were is to be done away with and who we are now is Christ and Christ alone. Our new desires, goals, dreams should all be based on Christ and His will rather than ours. That is our call as Christians. This is what it means to die to the world.

In Luke 14:27, Jesus scares us even further “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” That is correct, we cannot be a disciple or a follower of Christ if we are not willing to lose everything that we value in this world! Everything that the world holds dear, we cannot, must not! The only thing dear to us is Christ and His will.

This week we must wonder and ponder on how we can best follow Christ and the cross we must bear to do so. We must be reminded that if something is of no great difficulty to give up and leave behind, then it is not what Christ is calling us to leave and forsake at this point in time.

Come, follow Me, the Savior spake,
All in My way abiding;
Deny yourselves, the world forsake,
Obey My call and guiding.
Oh, bear the cross, whate’er betide,
Take My example for your guide.
Johann Scheffler, 1668.

1 Peter 2:21-23, To Follow the Steps of Christ

2011-07-10T18:25:00.000-05:00

1 Peter 2:21-24 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

Many people call themselves “Christians” in the world today, but its easy to name a religion. There is Islam, Buddhism, Asatru, Zoroastrianism, Baha'i, Tao, Eckankar, Rastafarianism, Judaisim, and of course Christianity. Of course the word “Christian” literally means “Little Christ” and was a derogatory term for those who followed Christ. The word came about because people saw how believers lived, they saw how these Christ-followers acted, and they saw how believers spoke and they were amazed. How could any group do such a thing?

Pliny the Younger, an administrator in the Roman government wrote a letter to the Emperor around 112 AD, where he spoke of Christians. He wrote “They [followers of Christ]...bound themselves by a solemn oath not to do any wicked deeds, never to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, never to speak falsely nor deny a trust/promise when called to deliver it...”

When was the last time we heard such words outside the church spoken about us? Do we really follow in the steps of Christ. When insulted do we stay silent or do we retaliate? Do we speak untruth at any time (even if only to assuage someone's insecurities)? Have we ever taken advantage of a loophole or something like that? Do we use any foul language even in the most extreme of circumstances? When we find ourselves in trouble with anyone do we meekly accept or do we fight it? Have we waited until it was advantageous to ourselves to keep a promise? Do we really follow Christ? Or do we just appear to?

Do we do all the right things or not? More importantly do we do them with a right heart? Do we do them because its what Christ would do in that situation or because its what people expect us to? Do we have pride in our Saviour or do we have pride in our moral and upstanding lives? What is the impetus that drives us and motivates us? These are questions that we must ask of ourselves and no one else can answer. They are deeply personal questions and require deeply personal answers. For every single action we take we must ask anew as well since otherwise we deny that our motives can change from situation to situation. Following in the footsteps of Christ is difficult and it is so very easy to find ourselves slightly off the path and following another set of footprints.

This week therefor, lets make every effort to determine our reasons, our motives, our drives, and lets re-evaluate ourselves to ensure that we stay true and honest to our Lord. Its hard, but very worthwhile!

More like Jesus would I be, let my Savior dwell with me;
Fill my soul with peace and love—make me gentle as a dove;
More like Jesus, while I go, pilgrim in this world below;
Poor in spirit would I be; let my Savior dwell in me.
Fanny Crosby, 1868.

Psalm 62:7-8, Celebrating Dependence

2011-07-03T18:45:00.000-05:00

Psalm 62:7-8 “My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, I people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.”

We admire independent people. Our heroes are people who manage to succeed on their own without help, people who take care of themselves. We look up to people like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood's movie characters. We want to emulate them and be like them. We want to be independent, not needing anything from anyone.

For believers, followers of Christ, our strength, our desire, our lives are all based on our dependence. We depend on God and we know it well! While some may point to David and say “There was an independent man who followed God.” We look and see that David himself was totally dependent on God. When he faced Goliath David said “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37) David knew that he was not alone, that God was with him in his endeavors.

We celebrate our dependence, our reliance on God. We know that this is the only way to truly live. It changes our lives and the lives around us for the better. No longer do we think that we are alone in this world, but we perceive that we have companionship, true and honest companionship. God walks with us every step - catching each tear, sharing each laugh, steadying us when we stumble, offering advice when we are stumped – and we can count on His always being there.

Not just that we walk with God, but we realize that we walk with all those who also walk with God. We can depend on them, and they can depend on us! Believers of every race, nation, and continent are joined together constantly through Christ. When one believer is having trouble, God often works through another believer to help take care of it! All followers of Christ in the end truly are siblings! We may squabble amongst ourselves but in the end it always turns out that it is us and God for the world and beyond.

This week, lets remind ourselves about our dependence on God rather than our independence from man. God is our Joy, our Grace, our Cause, our Honor. The Lord is our provider, our reminder, our enabler, and our paramour. Everything we go through, He goes through, and there is nothing He does not share with us. This week, lets relearn to live by the grace of God through the grace of God, becoming anew a bright and shining beacon of God's mercy to the world!

How wonderful it is to walk with God
Along the road that holy men have trod;
How wonderful it is to hear Him say:
Fear not, have faith, ’tis I who lead the way!

How wonderful it is to talk with God
When cares sweep o’er my spirit like a flood;
How wonderful it is to hear His voice,
For when He speaks the desert lands rejoice!

How wonderful ’twill be to live with God
When I have crossed death’s deep and swelling flood;
How wonderful to see Him face to face
When I have fought the fight and won the race!
Theodore H. Kitching, 1915

Deutoronomy 4:29 - Do we REALLY Dwell on God's word constantly?

2011-06-26T18:32:00.000-05:00

Deuteronomy 4:29 “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Earlier this past week I caught myself wondering and pondering on the intents behind the actions of some co-workers. Now this doesn't sound like something very horrible, but it was. It was all I was thinking about. Instead of letting it go I was dwelling on it. I was not seeking God with all my heart and my soul, instead I had partitioned off my thoughts. Sure, I had portioned off this much thought for God before work and after a shower, but I wasn't looking and seeking after God and His will with everything within me. No, I was distracted and upset.

Earlier this week I caught myself wondering what was going to happen in the next chapter of my book that I kept having to put down due to training and co-workers. I was trying to think ahead to see how the past actions and revelations in the book were going to affect our protagonist in the pages ahead. It was all I was thinking about, I was dwelling on it. I was not seeking God with all my heart and my soul but rather I had partitioned my brain. Sure, I had portioned off this much thought for God before work and after a shower, but I wasn't looking and seeking after God and His will with everything within me. No, I was distracted and intrigued with something else.

Earlier this week I caught myself frustrated and agonizing over the vagaries of electronics. I wanted my laptop to work so I could surf the web, visit Facebook, listen to music, and watch TV shows. However I was unable to get the laptop to connect to the hotel's network and so I couldn't. I was upset. I didn't really appreciate the fact that there was a business center that I could use for checking email and Facebook, I wanted the convenience of my computer in my room. I was frustrated and couldn't get past it. I was thinking about constantly and instead of letting it go I was dwelling on it. I was not seeking God with all my heart and my soul but instead had partitioned off my thoughts. Sure, I had portioned off this much thought for God before work and after a shower, but I wasn't looking and seeking after God and His will with everything within me. No, I was distracted and frustrated.

It wasn't until a bit later that things came into focus for me, a real focus rather than the empty false focus that the world seems to like. I realized my attitude was wrong and my thoughts were incomplete. My day was not to be partitioned off, a bit here, a bit there, but rather to flow entirely out of a constant search and discovery of God and His word. I needed to contemplate God's words, not the words and actions of co-workers. I needed to be caught up in His will and joy and desires for the world rather than the joys and hopes of my book's characters. I needed to be content with what I had, not what I wanted and to make do and appreciate having at least some sort of web connection even if it wasn't as convenient for me.

This is something that I seem to be fighting with everyday, and I am certain you do too. While God may be the focus of our lives, He isn't the focus of the day or hour much of the time. Perhaps, just perhaps our daily frustrations and upsets stem from that rather than from the incidentals that we think they are from.

Trust in the Lord and still do well,
Within the land securely dwell,
Feed on His faithfulness;
Delight thee also in the Lord,
And to thy heart He will accord
The good it would possess.
Earnest K. Kroeger, 1901.

Luke 11:11-13 - Dr. Morrison on the Holy Spirit

2011-06-19T23:13:00.001-05:00

Devotional courtesy of the estate of George H. Morrison,

The Holy Spirit Not a Luxury

Bread .... a fish…an egg…the Holy Spirit— Luke 11:11-13

A Gift Bestowed at Salvation
There is a widespread if undefined belief that the act of coming to the Savior is something different in experience from the reception of the Holy Spirit. When anyone accepts the Savior, and closes with Him for salvation, the impelling motive for that step is the longing of the soul for pardon. But there are many who do not realize that in the very act of saving faith there is the bestowal of the Holy Spirit. One hears men called to decide for Christ, as if that were the whole of the transaction. Everything is made to hinge upon decision, as though salvation depended on the will. And many, knowing the weakness of their will, and how difficult it is to keep it steadfast, are deterred from taking the greatn step by their past experience of failure. Every resolve that they have broken weakens them in the hour of the great summons. They recall how they pledged themselves to some amendment, and their will was unequal to the strain of it. So do they very naturally fear that if they make the venture and decide for Christ, sooner or later their will-power will be sapped, and history will just repeat itself.

The Holy Spirit Is Compared with the Necessities of Life
Now it is here that the words of Jesus come with such tremendous reinforcement. To Him the Spirit can only be compared with the very necessities of life. There were many things that must have seemed desirable to the little sons of Galilean fishermen. And the Savior, who loved these little folk, must have been perfectly familiar with their covetings. But the beautiful thing is that it is never with their dream-gifts that our Lord compares the Holy Spirit: it is with the first necessities of life. These little folk saw little meat; meat was a luxury to them. The things they lived on, in their lowly cottages, were bread and fish and eggs. And one must never forget that in talking of the Spirit our Lord deliberately passes by the luxuries, and chooses out things that are essential. For Him the Spirit was not, as it were, a luxury, the choice possession of a favored circle. It was not something that would enrich the life over and above the point of sustenance. Like bread, or fish, or eggs, it was something absolutely indispensable; it was the minimum of filial existence.

The Holy Spirit Is Given at the Beginning of Salvation
In the Book of Acts there is another passage that is charged with the same spiritual significance. It occurs where Paul inquired of certain men, "Did ye receive the Holy Ghost when ye believed?" (Act_19:2). In our English version it reads, "since ye believed"; but that is not the import of the Greek. Paul wants to know if they received the Spirit in the very act and hour of their believing. And behind that question, and dictating it, lies the thought of Jesus in St. Luke, that the Holy Ghost is indispensable. If there were nothing more in deciding for the Lord than a daring action of the human will, every reasonable person would do right in hesitating before he launched into the deep. But Paul knew, just as Jesus knew, that to every true act of saving faith there is immediate response from heaven. The Holy Spirit is not kept for afterwards, any more than bread is kept from hungry children. He is never given in a second blessing, though in a second blessing He may give His fulness. In the first act and exercise of faith God bestows the Spirit that empowers, as surely as He applies the blood that pardons. That was why Paul was so eager to discover if these disciples had made a real surrender. For him the inward power to be victorious was the other side of the initial trust. The Holy Spirit was no
added gift to help the struggling saints to fuller holiness. He was like bread to the Galilean fisher-boy, the indispensable minimum of life.

At Salvation the Spirit of Christ Indwells Us
So it follows that to decide for Christ stands quite apart from other acts of will. It is entirely incommensurate with any resolutions of the past. These we made in our own strength. We "screwed our courage to the sticking point." We summoned up the resources of our will to effect some amendment in our lives. And the issues of these moral efforts, sometimes permanent but often temporary, entirely depended on ourselves. If the will was strong the victory was lasting; if weak, "the clouds returned after the rain." We were unable to maintain through days of gloom the high decisions of our shining hours. But when, in a conscious exercise of will, we surrender ourselves to the Lord Christ, we instantly open reservoirs of power which are not human but divine. It is not now our will against the world; it is the Spirit of Christ in us against the world. We work out our own salvation, because it is God who works and wills within us. The power we need to be victorious is not given as an added gift. It is conveyed, just because God is faithful, in the initial exercise of trust. Doubtless there are some among my readers who still stand "shivering on the brink." Depressed by failure in the lesser choices they hesitate to make the greatest. I want to say to them, that when they make the greatest they release energies they never dreamed of when they had no resource but the unaided will. In the very instant of believing, God makes us equal to our problem. In the very action of believing we appropriate the victories of Christ. I can do all things, says the apostle, not through the conquering power of my will, but in Christ (for the Greek is in, not through) who strengtheneth me.

John 7:39 and Acts 2:1-4 - Pentecost Happens

2011-06-12T18:38:00.000-05:00

John 7:39 “By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”

Acts 2:1-4 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

We can imagine that the day dawned bright and clear, the maroon sky fading to a blue only interrupted by fluffy, white, cotton-ball clouds. We can also only imagine the despondent feelings the disciples and their friends felt. After all, their Master, teacher, and Saviour, Jesus had told them to wait in Jerusalem until...until what? He came back? He said He'd send His spirit to guide and teach and all that, but its been 50 days since the passover, and 10 days since His ascension to Heaven, and nothing has happened! Did He mean it figuratively? Would His ghost appear? What? What was going to happen, and more importantly when would it happen! I'm certain the disciples were trying to cheer each other up as they sat and prayed, fervently, desperately for something, anything to happen. The Master had never lied, not once about things, He wasn't going to lie about this either. But still, 50 days! Nearly two months! And it was in the midst of this despair that God's third gift to fallen mankind occurred.

God gave the first gift, himself as a newborn some 33-odd years earlier. We celebrate that day now as “Christmas”. The second was His death and resurrection, about 50 days earlier which today we celebrate as Easter Weekend. This third gift was the Holy Spirit, the arrival of which would change the history of the church, taking it's practitioners from hiding in their buildings, not meeting eyes on the street, and remaining quiet to being loud, brash, unabashed, filled with excitement and joy, and unable to contain their Peace. We celebrate this gift as “Pentecost”. It marked when the disciples became apostles.

Pentecost occurred in God's time, not the disciples time, and it occurred just as the Feast of Weeks (a feast of first fruits) was starting up. Much like Passover, Jews from all over the world would show up in Jerusalem for this, and this was the crowd that the newly minted apostles spoke to, people from all over the known world gathered together to celebrate the first fruits of the year. God's got such a sense of humor! Just as the Jews were celebrating their first fruits, so God was celebrating His, and His were people coming to know Him through Jesus' Disciples and their first steps in their ministry!

Throughout our lives, from when we first become believers and followers of Christ to the end, we will be able to find one point, a point of Pentecost when we really truly changed from who we were before to being really and truly realized in the knowledge of Christ. Sure, we have that point, that beginning when we realized that we could not do it on our own. We have that moment when we prayed for forgiveness and understood Christ's sacrifice was for us, me especially. But there is a point a little later in some, a lot later in others where that magnificent work of God's that is us turns a corner from being shy and retiring, from where and who we were to being internally changed, from reticent to sharing to glad to be sharing the Gospel of Jesus! There is that point in our lives. It may not be as exciting as Pentecost was for the disciples, there may be no tongues of fire dancing on our heads, nor the tongues of all men coming out from our mouth, but it will most certainly be just as transformative, but until then, we continue in our Fathers work and in the commands He gave us – to love each other as He loved us, to care for the sick, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, aid the poor, and tell as we can those who we encounter about Him. It's His gift to us, and it comes in His time, one of many gifts that we receive just because He loves us. Its nothing we really and truly need, its nothing we deserve, its just something He wants to give us. So when it comes to you will you be ready?

Proverbs 18:10 - No Safety but the Safety of the Lord

2011-06-05T17:45:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

Since the storms and tornadoes nearly two weeks ago, there have been some small changes in the area. People are paying more attention to the weather and there are signs up in front of some shops proudly announcing that “storm shelters are sold here!” Even more than that however, people are wondering why God would allow such devastation.

Of course, we remember that Jesus addressed that issue in Luke 13:1-5 and basically said that bad stuff happens and will yo be ready? People forget that though. We hear all about the safety and security about being a Christ-follower, not realizing that Christ himself said that we will be persecuted and scourged and imprisoned because of Him! (Matthew 24:9, Mark 13:9-13, John 16:2)

God provides safety, sanctuary, and peace. However, this is not the safety, sanctuary, and peace that people want to think of. God's peace is only shown in the middle of the storms of life, His sanctuary is most visible during trouble, and His safety is only seen after the fact. We won't know all that we were protected from until we have the chance to ask the Lord at the End of Days. Most certainly God will protect us from many of the unseen dangers in our lives, but we won't really know just how close we came until we can ask.

Sometimes however, there is a confluence of events where something happens and just the sheer improbability of surviving points to God's direct intervention. One of my friends lived in Joplin and was at home with his two daughters when the tornado hit. He had them wrapped in blankets and in the bathtub with himself over top of them covering them with his body as the twister's winds started tearing at the house. The wall next to them fell down on top of them in the tub, but landed jammed onto a pile of rubble on the other side of the tub, and so between the rubble and the wall all the damage and debris flying around never hit my friend or his daughters. The probability of the wall falling when it did and landing wedged against another pile of rubble that just happened to be there and thus taking all the damage is really low. When you realize that the only thing left standing in that house was the doorway between the house and the garage then you see the destructive nature of the forces at work, and yet against all odds, these three survived. God does provide safety and in some cases we realize it.

The fact of the matter is that God loves everyone, and He allows us our own wills, motives, and desires. Those wills, motives, and desires can get us into trouble and God in His sorrow must let us bare the consequences. Though we may complain about that, we never really truly realize how much of the brunt of that burden He carried for us. We never know just how much worse it could have been. Really, the safest place in the world for anyone to be is the center of God's will for our lives. If that takes us to the middle of a war zone or to placid, quiet suburbia then so be it. That is where we will be safest. Remember that He uses everything that happens to further His glory.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
Horatio Spafford, 1873.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 - True Wisdom, Strength, and Wealth.

2011-05-29T06:11:00.000-05:00

Jeremiah 9:23-24 “This is what the LORD says: 'Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the LORD.”

It is difficult at times to think of how we really are to act, what we are to talk about. Using God-given strength, is it boasting? Is it boasting when you start claiming it as your own? When one has wealth, is it boasting to use it freely? God gives blessings and gifts and expects for them to get used. He expects that the wise man will share wisdom, the strong man will use strength, and the rich man will use his money. He expects it! The line gets drawn, however, when the gifts become internalized and become a part of the person being gifted rather than being understood as a gift. When the wise man relies on his wisdom and knowledge rather than on the giver of it, when the strong man's strength becomes his crutch rather than his gift, when the wealth of the rich man is used only for the benefit of the wealthy man himself, then they are misusing their gifts.

People have been looking at what they have as being part of what is important in their lives. Their cars, their houses, their clothes, their jobs. This is now common practice! Gifts and blessings becoming integral parts of a person's self-image! For some, though, there is a realization that has arrived and they stop singing “These are a few of my favorite things” and start singing “How Great Thou Art.” Their very lives they have discovered to be a blessing with every breath a gift. Fervent thanks are now given for every crust of bread rather than previous complaints about even a slightly burnt special dish. Gratefulness for them has become the norm rather than the exception with the real things of value being understood. They have learned it is not about things, clothes, toys, houses, and cars, but rather about people, family, friends, neighbors, and strangers.

This week then, will you relearn the same lesson that these few people have learned and paid a high price for? Its never easy, but it is always worthwhile. When God's might and majesty are shown, all else fades away. Where God's kindnesses flood, all else pales. While His righteousness is manifestly evident, all else withers. With God's justice, blessings accompany it. His delight makes everything glorious, even the debris of disaster in our lives! We can – no, we must – marvel at the works of His hands! It changes lives and all we can do is be thankful, yet it is enough. Of a certainty, it is enough, and it is a start!

Lord, the feelings are not the same,
I guess I'm older, I guess I've changed.
And how I wish it had been explained,
That as you're growing you must remember,
That nothing lasts, except the grace of God,
by which I stand, in Jesus.
I know that I would surely fall away,
Except for grace, by which I'm saved.
Keith Green, 1980.

Isaiah 58:11 - The Flowers of God's Garden

2011-05-22T09:01:00.003-05:00

Isaiah 58:11 “The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

You have seen a garden in full bloom, do you remember it? If not then perhaps imagine one. Each flower there is carefully arranged, carefully spaced, carefully pruned, and tenderly cared for. Despite the weather the garden is always tended, the gardener never taking a break from his labors. Do you see it? Smell the air, fragrant with the tantalizing odors of hundreds, thousands, billions of flowers, each one separate, each one contributing to the bouquet, the perfume at your nose. Feel the breeze, now softly kissing your skin, now blustering and blowing, changing directions and bringing new petals to lie at your feet. You see this garden? This is the garden of God. Each flower and each plant is a life, a person, a soul.

Some of the flowers bloom fully and mightily, giving their all for their short span in the garden while some sulk and refuse to blossom. Some flowers hold back their distinctive smells and glorious colors while others refuse to be dragged down to the mundane. In every case, each flower is tended by the great gardener Himeslf. Each flower, each shrub, tree, bush, and plant is pruned so that it will have the maximum growth possible and will be displayed to its fullest potential. Each plant is carefully planted and watered, from the seed to full maturity because the Gardener knows what is best for that plant. The Gardener also knows where He wants that plant and how He desires to show off and display the plant that each plant is the most beautiful to be seen. The Gardener has a plan for His garden and nothing will get in the way.

Each arrangement shows off every flower to its best potential, each skilled grouping takes every flower to its utmost. In every case the Gardener knows what is best, encouraging, cajoling, challenging, pruning, or just letting it go. Every flower is different, every plant is unique, and the Gardener knows each one by name. It is the most beautiful garden in the universe. Do you see it?

You are part of it. You are an integral part of it, not just a sideline attraction. You are the main show, the primary exhibition in God's great garden of Life. Yes, you! Don't be ashamed but rather be glad, be joyful, be glorious for that is how God, our Gardener sees you. Glorious, Filled, Given every chance to exceed! You are His prized selection! There is no pressure to perform, just be! Just by existing you make Him so proud! Don't be ashamed if you are a petunia, a daisy, or lilly. The orchids and roses display you to your best! He is pleased with you no matter what the beauty of the others may be, no matter the size of their petals or the depth of their roots. You are unique and only you can do and be where He wants your to be or to do.

In the garden, in the garden of Jesus our Savior,
We are growing, we are growing for Jesus alone.
Like the flow’rs of the morning His garden adorning,
We are growing for Jesus, His loved and His own.

Jesus loves us, Jesus loves us, the flow’rs of His garden;
He will keep us, He will keep us, nor leave us alone.
Like the flowÕrs of the morning His garden adorning,
We are growing for Jesus, His loved and His own.
Julia Johnston, 1908.

Luke 10:41-42, The Action in a Purposeful Life.

2011-05-15T08:47:00.000-05:00

Luke 10:41-42 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Last week I wrote about our purpose in life. Today lets look at how we put into practice. As all know, knowing something is merely the first step. You still have to put action to the knowledge before knowing and understanding something is of any good. Lets take a closer look at this passage. Jesus is visiting his good friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (whom we know He will later call back from the dead). Martha was being the good host. She was serving Jesus and ensuring that everything was to His liking. Not a spec of dust to be seen on those bookshelves! Not a crumb on the floor! The oven was cleaned and the pantry was arranged and in order. All the books on the bookshelves (or scrolls on the scrollshelf?) were alphabetized by author and subject. The throw pillows were fluffed and comfy and the coffeepot was on with fresh baked goodies to go with it. The carpets were vacuumed and the easy chair for the Lord was prepared. All in all, Martha was trying to be the good hostess. Look at it from her eyes. Savory stews were on the stove and a roast was in the oven, but where was Mary? Martha probably looked everywhere. The dining table needed to be set with the fine china, not the regular dishes, and the silverware needed a good polishing. She couldn't do everything herself and her sister was supposed to help her!

Finally, Martha found her, as she was passing through the clean and tidy living room where her brother Lazarus was holding a conversation with Jesus. There she was! Look! Just sitting on the floor, knees on the floor and dirt covering her new dress for this special occasion! What an outrage. At least she could be ladylike and sit demurely on a pillow, or better yet on a chair in the corner, anywhere that was not in the middle of the conversation. Just look, she has her chin in her upturned palms, elbows and knees touching like she was a scullery maid, and so close to the Master that she could probably smell his breath! Thats just going too far. And with that Martha decided to ensure that Mary would not be bothering Jesus much longer, and besides there was work to be done to ensure His total comfort and welcome. Yet when she asked respectfully that Mary stop bothering the Lord, she was rebuked! Rebuked for being polite and wanting to serve God to the best of her abilities! Then, with Jesus words in her heart she saw something that she had been missing but her sister had found. The one thing of greatest value in the world was to be there, at Jesus feet! Jesus responded to Martha's desire to serve with scripture, a reference she would have memorized as a child, Psalm 27:4 “One thing I ask of the Lord, This is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.”

This is where we find ourselves when we know our purpose in life and find our calling. This is where we end up when we discover what God really wants from us – our companionship. We can learn everything we ever need to know sitting there at His feet, able to talk with Him with no shame about who may hear or what they may think. It is a lesson that Mary knew and Martha, well Martha learned it well which we see in John 11, where Lazarus dies and Jesus calls him back to life. Martha learned and listened, and she let her faith speak instead of her desire to serve as she understood it, she was able to be so completely at peace that she was able to stop crying and weeping and calmly get her tearful sister to go spend more time with Jesus so that she too could be calmed.

O that I could for ever dwell,
Delighted, at the Savior’s feet,
Behold the form I love so well,
And all His tender words repeat.
Elizabeth H. Reed, 1842.

Genesis 1:26 - Purposed to Rule

2011-05-08T08:52:00.001-05:00

Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'”

This past weekend was a very important weekend for many young people. Over these past few weeks from many universities and colleges graduated a group of people all starting a new life, a life outside academia and outside everything they have previously known. Most of these recent graduates are trying to find their purpose in life, a purpose they have not yet found but have guessed enough to try and prepare for it with what education they could. As they try to find their vocation in life, they will most all of them make the mistake of deciding that what jobs they do will become their life's goal or purpose. Sadly, this is not true. Mankind was created with a purpose, a purpose intended for each and every one of us. It does not matter which direction our lives take, our purposes are all the same.

God created us to rule, to be stewards of all that is in and on the earth for Him, and to do it wisely. The Jackals, Hyenas, Ants, and Vultures were created to be nature's cleaners and sweepers. Bees, butterflies, and many birds were created to be the garden tenders of the world, ensuring that plants are spread and beauty is shown. Deer, Elk, and Locusts were created to keep that growth in check. Man was intended to oversee all this and to ensure the smooth operations of all the other jobs. It was not a very difficult job because all the other animals knew their jobs and did them without thought. Man was given thought, will, imagination, and soul. To man it was left to take the beauty of the flowers and arrange them into pleasing patterns and shapes. To man it was left to take the herds of grazers and ensure that no area is over grazed. To man it was left to create songs - not through mindless repetition or inherent words, but rather through personal knowledge – to glorify God. To man it was left to wisely manage this garden world of God's. For us to do this wisely, we must therefore know God and spend time with Him. Since the world pretty much ran itself at that time, Adam's sole purpose was to hang out with God and learn how to rule, how to manage, and how to arrange things to God's delight and desire. In short, Man was created to hang out and chill with God since in no way can we master everything God knows about even being a good steward! This is our purpose in life!

Yet when the world fell, we lost our sense of purpose, yet not entirely. Adam became a farmer, ruling his little section of it as best as he could. He still tried to glorify God. Likewise in this fallen world, our purpose is to be God's stewards over all that He entrusts to us. No matter where we are or what we are doing, we are stewards of God's will. Strangely enough it always turns out that the more time we spend just hanging out with God and spending time with Him, the easier it is to be a good steward. It just seems to happen naturally. Yet when we take our time back to ourselves and away from God's companionship and forgo it, then it becomes a struggle to be even a mediocre steward of our possessions, desires, and self not to mention the things around us.

So then this week let us remind ourselves of God's purpose for us and let us work hard to learn everything He has to show us about that purpose. Let us spend more and more time in fellowship with God and we will find that our duties of ruling over the little God has given us has become easier and easier.

God eternal has a purpose, formed in His eternal past,
Spreading to eternal future; 'twixt these ends all time is cast.
For with time there is the process, time for His accomplishment;
And in time we're merely travelers— for eternity we're meant.
Ned Nossaman

James 2:17-18, a Faithful and Faith-Filled life

2011-05-01T16:49:00.000-05:00

James 2:17-18 “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (NKJV)

One of the best examples of faith that I have seen comes from a film. In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the hero must walk “the path of faith” at one point over a gaping chasm. Indiana Jones must take each step across this gulf not able to see the walkway beneath him due to an optical illusion. When he makes it across he can see the bridge he just crossed. Life is like that and faith is like that. The more I look at this verse the less I think that the works and deeds that James is talking about are the good things like feeding the poor and clothing the naked. What I see James writing about is an intellectual faith that knows something, but never puts it into practice. We know that we are saved by grace through faith. We know that God has asked us to take care of the sick, the poor, the needy, the imprisoned, etc. We know all this, and for the most part it isn't really very difficult to do it. After all, Christ did so much for us that doing this isn't a hardship. Those sort of deeds flow naturally from a faithful heart to Christ.

A Faith-filled heart walks in faith constantly. The Faith-Filled heart knows that God has asked such-and-such of it and though it does not seem that it is achievable or capable, this heart knows that God would not ask us for something unless He was going to provide the means. Then one step at a time, stepping out in faith to do the work that God has set, the Faith-Filled heart finds its way across the chasm barring the way (oftentimes the chasm of “reality” or “common sense”).

One of the prime examples of a Faith-Filled heart was George Muller, who felt God calling him to take care of orphans. Obstacle after obstacle blocked the way, but by prayer George Muller continued on, It was through his works in faith that he was able to spend his life taking care of not one or two, but over two thousand orphans every year, never asking for money or donations, but instead praying for God to provide and God always did whether it was for food for the children or for workmen to repair the boiler, God provided.

What I have found is this, that faith that is acted upon, despite impossibilities or improbabilities is true and real faith, faith that is alive. That is what James means when he talks about faith by itself, with no “works” to accompany it being dead. That faith is never used, it is never acted upon, it is never lived with.

So this week, let us all take a look at our faith and see if we are living a faithful and faith-filled life. If we find we are not, lets pray and ask that we be shown how to live by faith, real faith, and that our dead faith will come alive.

I care not today what the morrow may bring,
If shadow or sunshine or rain,
The Lord I know ruleth o’er everything,
And all of my worries are vain.

Living by faith in Jesus above,
Trusting, confiding in His great love;
From all harm safe in His sheltering arm,
I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.
James Wells, 1918.

Matthew 28:5-7, The World Act II

2011-04-24T23:26:00.002-05:00

Matthew 28:5-7 ”The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.’"

His cane clattered to the ground as the older man struggled to get onto his knees, a basin of water sloshing as it was moved and a towel draped over his arm. Kneeling, this old man gently began to wash the feet of his visitors. It was a touching sight.

We were all gathered together in a cabin in Eastern Texas to celebrate the Passover. One of the things that happened was that the leaders of the Passover celebration decided to hold a footwashing service as well, to emulate Christ’s service. This Easter there was quite the emphasis on Jesus being a servant. Jesus served everyone. He served His disciples, He served the ill and infirm, He even served the religious leaders (even if they didn’t like the form of the service). Christ served even until death, and then He served some more. He died, but did not remain dead; taking the death that was due to us for our sins, all our sins. He sacrificed everything that we may have everything. He did not hold onto his position as being the Son of God, He gave up a life of perfection in Heaven to come down and serve. He sacrificed Himself as the final blood price that our sins demanded.

He served and sacrificed, all the time wanting no more than that we love God with all our hearts, minds, soul, and strength. When He died, even the depths of Hell could not hold Him because He broke the mold. He had no sin of Himself that could hold Him there. He had no reason to die for stiff-necked and traitorous people like ourselves, and yet He did. Hell still had no way to detain Him. Christ descended and then He rose again, fulfilling nearly all the prophecies about Him. The only ones so far not fulfilled are the ones pertaining to His second coming, His triumphant return to gather the redeemed – the now adopted Children of God.

He is risen and He has gone ahead to prepare for us. The Bridegroom of the Church is preparing the House for His gentle Bride and soon He will be finished with the preparations. We often think that Easter is the end of the story, with the final days with the disciples being a sort of epilogue. However it is only the beginning of act two! With Christ’s resurrection, a new world was born, a world not built around sinful actions and their consequences, but rather built around a people who understood God’s full love for them. In a way, Christ’s earthly ministry and death was the courtship with the Church and His resurrection was the Engagement. Following that train of thought the events starting at Pentecost began the engagement party, which is still going strong!

This world, Act Two, is all due to Christ’s death and resurrection! Let us not forget that. That is what we celebrate this week. That is what we must remember to build our lives around. With the thought that Christ loved us so much that He gave us His life, His blood, and made us partakers of His inheritance, there is nothing we cannot do! How can we remain as we were with this? How can we stay the same? Once we learn of this, we must change and we cannot help but Love Him all the more.

Easter is this reminder for us, a reminder of Service, of Redemption, and of Love. Our Lord did all this for us, how can we refuse to return the favor?

Happy Easter! He has Risen! That has made all the difference in the world to us!

John 12:12-13, The Entry Triumphant, The Lamb's Entry.

2011-04-17T08:54:00.000-05:00

John 12:12-13 “The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blesséd is the King of Israel!'”

For many of us, Palm Sunday dawned bright and clear, just like it most likely did nearly two thousand years ago. The original Palm Sunday was an event so unique in the history of the world that there are only a few other days that compare. On that first Palm Sunday Jesus rode into a bustling Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, to the adoration and cries of nearly everyone there. Why was this so amazing? Well first of all, in those days, a triumphal procession occurred at a great victory, with the leader riding a donkey, not in a chariot or on a horse. A simple donkey would carry the victorious honoree through the city so that all the inhabitants could see and watch and give glory and honor. Jesus' arrival and march through Jerusalem imitated the procession that the victorious Romans had held when they took the city, and before them the Greeks, and before them – way before them, the same way that Solomon and David had done! Jesus' ride through the city would have been understood to have been a declaration of victory or an intent of victory at that time. It was a hero's parade, the parade of a King.

To understand the second and more important reason we need to look back to Exodus 12:3 and the rules regarding passover. On the 10th day of the Jewish month of Nissan, the Passover month, the head of each family was to chose the passover lamb, the lamb which would represent deliverance. That lamb would then be taken care of until Passover, where it would be slaughtered. The blood of that lamb would be painted over and on the side of the entrance to the house so that God would see it and would stop the destroyer (vs 23) from entering. In John 1:29, John the Baptist cried out “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” Seeing all of this, would it surprise you to find out that Palm Sunday occurred on the 10th day of the month of Nissan? When Jesus was paraded through the city, what did the people cry? They cried out “Hosanna!” which means “Save us, we pray!”

When the passover lamb was selected, the head of the family would then parade it before the members of his family, for whom that lamb was going to die. When Jesus rode through the city, to the shouts and cries of the people, he was being paraded before them as the sacrificial lamb who would deliver them from their sins.

Today we celebrate Christ's triumphal procession through our lives. We celebrate our precious Lamb, our Saviour, and we love Him all the more for it. We remember that it was for us that He came. It was for us that He suffered. Today we celebrate the King of our lives, the King of Kings! This week, let's remember and give thanks for God's blessed gift. Lets rejoice and join the ancient multitudes in crying “Hosanna! Blesséd is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Come, faithful people, come away,
Your homage to your monarch pay;
It is the feast of palms today;
Hosanna in the highest!

Thus, Savior, to Thy passion go,
Arrayed in royalty of woe,
Assumed for sinners here below:
Hosanna in the highest!
Gerard Moultrie, 1867.

1 John 1:3b - God's Friendship

2011-04-10T18:47:00.000-05:00

1 John 1:3b “And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”

Spending time with good friends is a tremendous joy, a joy that we all share. Whether we are watching movies, playing video games, or just chatting about life, it is fun to be with our friends. This past week a friend of mine and I ran into each other at a coffee shop and we sat down to talk. This time, strangely enough, he did most of the talking while I did most of the listening. It was a good time and we both enjoyed the chance at further fellowship that we had. As I was leaving the coffee shop I was reminded that this was how our relationship to the Lord is supposed to be! We are supposed to be able to just “hang out” and be in fellowship with Him at any and all times!

Not only is God the Lord Almighty and the Creature of everything, not only is He Abba Father, He is also Friend. He wants to be included in our lives, all aspects of it! He is right there on the couch when we are enjoying our favorite television shows. He is right there laughing along with us as we tell stories and jokes at dinners. He is there saying “Hey man! What's wrong, talk to me.” when troubles show up in our lives. He has a ready shoulder to cry on, a hearty laugh when things are looking up. He has an outstretched hand when we stumble and fall, and a gentle push when we need to be redirected. He has advice for every situation in our lives, and a ready ear to listen when we need to vent. He is just merely waiting for us to realize this.

He wants to spend time with us too! He wants and pursues fellowship with us! He loves His daily special time with you and I. Some times He will listen more, Some days He will end up talking more while we listen. Some times He probably enjoys just sharing the silence with us, as we appreciate His creation. He is a friend like no other, a friend always ready and always there.

This week, lets relearn to see Jesus as a friend as well as Lord. Not only is He a majestic Monarch, He is more! Not only is he our Heavenly Father, He is more! Lets take the time to rediscover this fantastic friendship.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessèd Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
Joseph M. Scriven. 1855.

Romans 6:9-14, The Reminder of Spring

2011-04-03T08:58:00.000-05:00

Romans 6:9-14 “For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”

Small green buds and shoots are appearing slowly amidst the dead branches and rotting leaves piled up around the hedgerow bushes in front of my small apartment. My house plants as well show signs of new life as they shake off the winter drab. Outside the chipmunks are chattering, the rabbits are frolicking, and birds of all kinds swoop and pinwheel singing out joyfully. Winter is over and soon the spring showers will come. This happens every year, a ritual unbroken since Noah's flood, and has become a poignant reminder to us – all of us – of our walk with the Lord, God Almighty.

We are reminded about what it means to be dead to the world – all those trees and bushes that lost their foliage last fall, the flowers that we missed the entire winter, these are reminders of the death we lived in. In each of those plants, however, a kernel of life lived. The snows provided warmth and moisture for the plants allowing hidden life to exist. The cold forced changes in the sap and the flow of the plant juices, ensuring that there would be flowers and leaves blooming, that all the stored energy from the winter could be put to use to growing. What appeared dead now has the chance to grow and surprise us, astounding us with beauty and astonishing us with resilience. It is an encouragement just for us to see these plants and know that they show us that it can be done.

From the deadness of our former lives and those periods of waiting for God to show us the way, from the constant prayer and seeking out God's will as well as the cries and pleadings of our heart, from these God is forming and growing us, allowing us to bloom in His time. We are new creations, no longer living our old lives but rather living out of the newness and freshness of recreation. Spring reminds us of this. So when we find ourselves becoming discouraged with our apparent lack of growth, or find ourselves falling back into the same bad habits and failures of our previous life, lets remember spring, God's spring in our lives. Lets take a lesson from the plants and look forward to the blooming and the flowering rather than look back at the deadness that once was.

The glory of the spring how sweet!
The new-born life how glad!
What joy the happy earth to greet
In new, bright raiment clad!

Divine Redeemer, Thee I bless;
I greet Thy going forth;
I love Thee in the loveliness
Of Thy renewèd earth.

Creator Spirit, work in me
These wonders sweet of Thine;
Divine Redeemer, graciously
Renew this heart of mine.
Thomas H. Gill, 1867

Proverbs 4:25-27; Eyes on the Goal

2011-03-27T19:19:00.001-05:00

Proverbs 4:25-27 "Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil." (NASB)

I used to take swimming lessons and I remember how much I struggled with them. My teacher would never be satisfied with my progress - there was always something more, some greater achievement which I was suddenly expected to achieve. Just because I knew the front stroke, the side stroke, the breast stroke, the back stroke did not mean that I was a swimmer. Swimming was much more than that! I had to know where I was going, I had to know my goal.

I ran track for a year back during highschool. Just because I could run and run fast did not necessitate me winning (or gathering any other awards for that matter). I had to also be able to follow directions. I had to understand my field, my terrain, the surface that I was running on. Was it dirt, grass, cement, or ground-up rubber? What was the bend of the track? How did I maintain balance? How far could I turn on my ankle? How much of a stride should I take?

I remember hiking one night during a fog. I could not see the way ahead of me and all that I had was a flashlight and a woodland path. I was unable to see more than a few mere feet in front of me. The sides of this woodland path were so filled with grass and bushes that I had to stay in the middle of the path - If I moved to the side of the path, I might tear my clothes, yet if I remained in the center, I could trip over a rock, a can, a ditch.

During college, I was a student janitor. One of my tasks was to clean and vacuum the hallways. I ran a large vacuum cleaner which was much more akin to a lawnmower than a vacuum. I had to walk in a straight line and move the vacuum the correct way with the grain of the carpet. If I did not, then the carpet itself stopped the vacuum. The carpet grain blocked the passage of the vacuum brushes and then everything needed to be smoothed out and time taken to "repair the damage". Sometimes I had to pull the vacuum as well. I also had to pull it in a straight line. If I looked behind me as I pulled I would get off course, but if I did not look behind me I could have run into something or someone.

All of these are similar, they all require something in common. Swimming, track, hiking, and cleaning hallways all required that I maintain my eyes on the goal. When you are swimming, you look forward and you see the precise spot you are aiming for, you see the point your hand will touch and you will turn to return to the starting line. When running, your goal is the clock. You must try to beat your last time, try to run faster than the guy next to you. To accomplish this you need to understand the conditions that surround you. You need to study and learn the best ways to maneuver through whatever obstacles might be placed in your path such as "are the hurdles 1” taller than the ones you practiced on? Are they 1” shorter? How will this affect your speed." When hiking, you need to remember the goal at the end, and you need to trust that the person ahead of you will warn you when something is coming, when there is an obstacle. All you can see is the path in front of you while the rest of the trail is closed to your sight. You must trust that the forestry service maintains it and keeps it clear of all obstacles. When cleaning you learned the hallways. You find out how many steps it takes to get from one end to the other and where the obstacles are such as the doors that swing out, the trashcans, or the people. You have to hear and listen to things and then react accordingly. You have to know the path well (either you do, or someone else does). Most importantly you must focus on one point - choose a point on the wall such as a leaf on a plant or a painting. Focus there and walk backwards pulling the vacuum. As long as your eyes stay on your point, on your goal, you will be moving in a straight line.

The way to eternal life is straight and narrow. You cannot turn to the left or the right, but must stay looking towards God, towards Heaven. Focus on your goal, to be Righteous, to be Godly, to be Holy, to Serve God, and trust that He is there. Although you cannot see up the path, although you do not know the way. You have a map, you have a leader, a teacher, a mentor, a signpost. Remember to focus on your goal. Set your eyes on Christ and you will stay on track. If you remove your eyes from your point, then you will get off track. I had to restart vacuuming several times because I shifted my focus off point and ended up stalling the vacuum against the grain. Sometimes what would remove my focus was a friend who walks by, my boss who called on the radio, or a classmate needing help. All those things are good things, but if I remove my eyes from the goal then I loose my track and I need to regain my position and retrain my eyes upon my goal. If I removed my eyes from my goal then I didn't really know what is going on. If I stop listening then I would not hear the door behind me open, the person walking from the racquetball court who stepped into my path, or the tour guide showing a group of preview students around who also walked backwards.

I must focus on the goal. I must know my surroundings and what I might go through. I must learn and be able to relearn. I must know that I can get off track and what I should do to get back on track. I must focus on Christ. Do we focus on Christ or do we focus on what we are told is right? Do we focus on God’s word, or do we instead move our focus to something else. If all we ever read are the views of others on God, and do not read God’s word for ourselves, do we truly know God? Do we truly know Christ? Is Christ our Goal?

Matthew 9:5-7, Walking and Talking, Putting Feet to your Faith

2011-03-20T09:09:00.000-05:00

Matthew 9:5-7 “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man got up and went home.”

“Talk is cheap” is one phrase I hear a lot and so is “the proof is in the pudding.” One phrase I heard puts things succinctly “put some walkin' in your talkin'” Thats what Jesus faced, and what we face as believers today. Our Lord was tremendously impressed with the faith, perseverance, and sheer chutzpah of the friends of this paralyzed man. Their friend was sick, but they knew Jesus was the cure. He couldn't move, so they put him on a mat and carried him like he was on a stretcher. The lines to see Jesus were long and the house Jesus was in was small, so they went around the side. The crowds spilled out through the door and covered the windows, so these brave men climbed the roof and took it apart to get their friend to Jesus. Jesus could make everything right! There was no distance, nor obstacle too great for the wellbeing of their friend. Jesus was mightily impressed and He decided to show the proof of those friends' faith. He gave the man what he needed most – forgiveness.

To make a point with everyone else, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4b) Christ turned and spoke exactly what was in their minds. “Which is easier?” Jesus put everything on that poor, paralyzed man's shoulders. It was left up to that man to accept the faith of his friends, prove the claims of Christ, and to show his own faith. Jesus told him to get up and walk. This man had been paralyzed and could not walk! But here he had to accept Christ's vocal command to get up, get up, get up and then step, step, and another step. Certainly Jesus could have cured him instantaneously but I think that He worked more gradually by providing just enough strength and healing for the next movement, the next step. This man had to first move his arms. We don't know how bad his quadriplegia was, but depending on where and why, this was an effort. He had to pull himself to an upright position. “Wow! What improvement! Thank you Lord, this makes my life much easier!” and He could have been content with that, but Jesus had more for him. “Get up and walk.” So the man continued to pull himself. Grasping at the hand of a friend, or a disciple, or even one of the pharisees nearby, he laboriously and painfully could have pulled himself to his feet. Time passed by, the tension of the people growing as they watched as this man slowly put some feet to his faith.

The first tottering step would have been nearly pure agony as muscles that had not done anything for years were healed and put to the test at the same time. The second step would be firmer, but required our paralytic friend to say “Yes Lord, I want more of this, I want total healing!” The excruciating pain could have forced him to stop, but he persevered another much firmer step showing his muscles miraculously relearning their co-ordination. Then another and another step, faster and faster as he realized the pain was lessening, the strain was going, and the movements surer with each pace! He wouldn't quit now! Christ made him well and he wouldn't take anything less than complete and total wholeness! Running and leaping and praising God, this man's faith was put to the test and came out victorious as the multitudes saw his healing. It took effort! It took pain! It took struggle! It took faith! It wasn't easy or sudden either.

Let's learn from this, that faith requires action to follow up. We can say we have faith, but until we start “walkin' our talkin'” then it isn't proven, and we can lose out on what God has in store for us. That first step is always going to be the hardest, but once we have that done, its easier to take the next.

We walk by faith, and oh, how sweet
The flow’rs that grow beneath our feet
And fragrance breathe along the way
That leads the soul to endless day.
Fanny Crosby, 1885.

John8:1-11 - Ministering the Gospel...Jesus Style

2011-03-13T09:36:00.000-05:00

John 8:7 "When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
John 8:10-11 "Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Women, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now, and leave your life of sin."

I believe that one of the greatest examples of the ministry of the gospel that we have been given was Jesus' interaction with the woman caught in adultery. The very first thing we notice from the entire encounter was that the instead of bringing forward both the adulterers, one was selectively ignored. The second thing we can see is that the "religious" people subtly changed the wording of scripture - just like the serpent in the Garden of Eden did - to say what they wanted it to say rather than what was actually stated. Finally, the Pharisees and teachers of the law intended a loose/loose answer. Either way that Jesus could have answered, He would be either breaking Roman law or Jewish law. Yet despite all this Jesus did not worry about the politics of the situation, He didn't draw attention to the misquoting of Scripture, and He did not point out the improper procedures of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law.

No, Jesus instead focused on the heart of the issue, ministering to the immediate and not so immediate needs of the woman and the hearts and minds of the religious people.

To the religious people He challenged their fervor for blaming, condemning, and otherwise judging people. He asked them to look into their own hearts, minds, and lives and see if they were any different than the adulterous woman. Her life decisions were no different than theirs, showing that all of them had broken the Law, that they had all fallen short, and could any of them really take a position of judgment, as fallen as they were?

To the woman, caught in the act of adultery, He showed a better way - a way of acceptance. He did not chose to condemn her yet He did not chose to accept her past actions as being alright either. She was given an unspoken choice. To continue to live as she had been and eventually find herself in the presence of the holy, sinless, and righteous Judge, or change her life, her standards, and her activities and find herself once again given life - Eternal life - by the same Judge.

What can we learn from this? When people are living sinful lives, we have no right to force them to change. We cannot condemn them, yet we cannot condone them either. We are no better than them. In fact, we may be worse - we know that what we have done is wrong. We can encourage them in gentleness and love to live a better life, but we must pray for them, that they will encounter Christ in as awesome a manner as this woman did. We can also lead by example. We, just like the woman, are told to go forth and sin no more. What sin there may be in our lives we need to assiduously pluck out, that there be no sin, no earthly leaven in our lives. In the end, we are responsible to God for what happened in our lives, not the lives of anyone else around us.

This week then, lets look to God in prayer that He may show us where sin has ensconced itself in our lives. Also lets pray for those whom we know have still not found the Joy that is Christ Jesus. Let's love them rather than hate them, pray for them rather than persecute them, and encourage them rather than belittle them. How we go about ministering the Gospel into people's lives is just as important as whether or not we are doing it at all! I would rather it not be done at all than be done badly and so drive someone further from God. I just thank God that we are saved by Grace through Faith, not by our works, but instead freely given to us by our Lord! (Ephesians 2:8-9 paraphrased)

Romans 12:2 - Nonconformity to the World's Templates

2011-03-06T18:27:00.000-06:00

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Templates and patterns are everywhere. In sowing, you use a pattern to show you how to cut out the fabric so it makes what you want to make, with the right dimensions. A Template in manufacturing is the same basic thing, but with sheet metal, molds, and die. Even in drawing a stencil is used to ensure that things are the same. This world has a pattern, a template, that people are encouraged to adhere to, much like a racing car is required to prove adherence to a design template prior to racing, proving that all those cars are aerodynamically equal. The world compartmentalizes everything and if you don't fit into those boxes, those templates, those molds, then you are out of luck.

Earlier this week, my apartment building had a grill-out. It was fantastic, everyone in the building pitched in and spent time hanging out. During this time I learned a lot more about my neighbors and how they live and think. I hope that they learned something about me too, about what drives me and what my priorities are. How does this relate to being conformed to the pattern of this world? Simply put all my neighbors, most of my co-workers, and most of the people I know are driven by the same desires and wants. Money is the biggest thing. Everyone is supposed to want money so they can have nicer stuff. My neighbors were absolutely astounded when they found that I don't have a flat screen television or cable TV. They were floored when I had no interest in getting drunk with them. They were dumbstruck when I explained that I had no intentions or desire for pre or extra-marital “relationships.” They just could not believe it! Excepting myself the entire building had the same ideas about everything. I was able to explain my point of view, but they were still all stuck on the idea that I didn't care for the same things they cared for, that I didn't match their template of wants, actions, desires, behaviors, and thoughts.

We need to check ourselves against God's template all the time. It is so very easy for us to get out of line with it, to get warped by always being in contact with people, ideas, and advertisements portraying a totally different point of view. It is only when we are totally in line with God's template for our lives that we are truly able to discern what He desires for us. God's blueprints for our lives are tailored individually to each of us, to our strengths and weaknesses. In all cases however, they all match up to the specs set forth by Jesus. As long as we meet those specs everything will be fine. This week, then, let us make every effort to ensure that we are meeting up with God's pattern for our lives rather than the world's one-size-fits-all patterns. God's a much better planner than we are.

Thou sweet, belovèd will of God, my anchor ground, my fortress hill,
My spirit’s silent, fair abode, in thee I hide me and am still.

Within this place of certain good, Love evermore expands her wings,
Or, nestling in thy perfect choice, abides content with what it brings.

Thy wonderful grand will, my God, with triumph now I make it mine;
And faith shall cry a joyous Yes! to every dear command of thine.
Gerhard Tersteegen, 1729.

Matthew 5:16 and John 12:27-28 - Glorifying God through tragedy

2011-02-27T08:30:00.012-06:00

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (NASB)

John 12:27-28 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”" (NIV)

Some few months ago, a tornado ripped through the small town of Cincinnati Arkansas. It was devastating! Almost the entire town was demolished. One of the few buildings not damaged, however, was the town’s church. Quickly that small Methodist church building became the seat of all the recovery, rescue, and clean-up efforts. All the teams that came through made it their headquarters - the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, FEMA, and all the other crisis response groups.. For these two and a half weeks, the church members made breakfast and dinner for everyone in those groups as well as all those who needed it. No matter what the weather outside was, these brave people were out grilling and cooking for everyone. During that time, every vehicle that drove down Highway 59 past that small church saw those church members out there everyday. Truckers would stop in and see everything, and then they would talk about it amongst themselves, passing it from truck-stop to truck-stop on down the road. Slowly word got out: from those truckers to their families, from families to friends, from friends to news crews, and from those news crews to people all over the United States. These people who had lost everything were still serving. Ther served the rescue crews, they served the recovery groups, they served the insurance claims people, the television crews, the clean-up guys, and the now homeless and destitute. Tirelessly they served anyone and everyone who came but, no matter who or why. This small town church only had 16 members total. Yet these same 16 people day after day fed hundreds, starting early in the morning to late at night through rain, snow, frost, ice, and wind. They fed hundreds everyday from their own finances and supplies and there was enough for everyone every day with leftovers! Without telling or teaching the gospel, they lived and showed it to everyone, preaching it in actions rather than words. They witnessed to thousands of people just by serving despite (or inspite) of their own need. Letters to this small congregation have come from as fas away as Wisconsin from people telling of how learning what this small church did has changed their lives!

You see, God provided several major miracles during this time. First only a few people died in the tornado. Secondly the church was spared. Thirdly everyone affected had their needs provided for. Finally God provided the money and provisions for the 16 people to make enough food, enough meals for everyone in the area for over two weeks until everything involved with the major cleanup was completed. God was glorified, truly and magnificently glorified by the behavior and events in the aftermath of this tragedy.

Every tragedy, everything that troubles our souls is an opportunity to see God glorified. God shows brightest when we are at our lowest. God’s supremacy shows clearest when our inability is most obvious. Yes, our own dear Lord prefers to work through the behavior and actions of His followers and when we act as Jesus would, it changes lives - our own included.

Now this week, lets remember that our actions, our behaviors, and the events in our lives are glorifying to God. We ought to trust Him to use us to bring Him glory no matter what happens!

Psalm 68:19 - God's answer to Stress

2011-02-20T08:38:00.000-06:00

Psalm 68:19 “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.”

Stress gets to all of us. The best example of the stresses and whatnot in our lives seems to be the Super-Bowl which occurred a couple weeks ago. Imagine you are that one man whom the entire opposing side is waiting to tackle, and tackle hard. Things tend to come at us from all directions, each one requiring all our thought and ability to try and avoid which makes it difficult for us to see a path through.

Stress is everywhere. We stress about our finances, we stress over our jobs or potential jobs, we stress over unaccomplished tasks on our to-do lists, we even stress over the little things like our internet connection and speeds. There are all sorts of things that weigh our thoughts down, burdening us down and making us struggle for each task. When you think about all of those items which you absolutely need to take care of it can make you just drop down in shock!

The thing about stress is that we never react as well to it as we would like. It affects our emotions, our physical health, our pride, our self-possession, and even our self image. Stress attacks our body, mind, and even our soul! Of all the detrimental things that stress does in our lives, the worst is how it affects our relationship to God.

Stress drives a wedge into our walk with God, first by eating our time that we spend with Him. It takes more of our thought and concentration to deal with stress and we suddenly have less time to spend in prayer and study. Secondly it throws doubt into our minds. “Does God really have everything under control? I don't see anything getting better”. Finally stress tends to drive us to more self-concentration and preservation. We just have to take care of this one issue. We take control back into our own hands and away from God who can see the big picture. Once we have that control back it is even more difficult to give it back to God again.

Stress is dangerous, very dangerous. Though I could go on into detail on how stress and pride seem to go hand in hand, I would rather focus on God's answer. God tells us to give Him all our burdens, all our worries, all our cares. He asks us to hand over each stressor as it comes. He asks us to lay our problems and our issues in His hands. He wants us to treat Him as Father, with us as children.

We all remember what it was like when we were children, how our parents could fix anything. If we had a scraped knee or a boo-boo mom would kiss it and dad would put a bandage on it and it would be “all better”. If we had trouble with our homework, our parents would patiently help us with it. We never really had to plan anything while the hardest thing we had to do was try and keep our room clean. God asks us to take that same attitude with Him. Let Him deal with everything. He is more than capable, and more than prepared to deal with anything that can stress us. And though sometimes it seems that He is taking His time or not dealing with it, when we look back we can always see His guiding hands working through the problem, and always differently than we would expect Him to.
This week then, lets hand over each burden and stress – no matter what it is – as it comes and let God be God in our lives!

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.
Elisha A. Hoffman, 1893.

Matthew 22:37-40 - Love and Action

2011-02-13T09:16:00.000-06:00

Matthew 22:37-40 “Jesus replied: “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.””

Valentine's day has arrived upon us once again, a holiday not normally associated with the Church calendar. However, over many years it has become a day that the Church uses to focus on relationships, specifically marriage relationships. Over the week preceding and proceeding February 14th many churches host marriage seminars, “date night” (where the youth of the church watch the younger youth so the parents can go have a special, romantic dinner and night), and even father/daughter and mother/son dances. The rest of the world looks at Valentine's Day as a day to celebrate the idea of love by giving flowers, jewelry, and chocolates. But with this focus on romance, we all miss out on what we should really be reminded of on Valentine's Day: Love – pure, unaltered, eternal, agape Love.

We can go on all day speaking and talking about what love is. 1 Corinthians 13 is an entire Bible chapter dedicated to love, yet real and true Love originates only with God, the Creator of everything. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment [of all time] was He replied with Love. He summarized the entire mosaic law and the content of the messages of all the prophets with Love.

We give roses to the ones we love, but we ourselves received the grandest and greatest rose of all, the Rose of Sharon. We give jewelry, but we ourselves have received a royal diadem, made specially for us. We give chocolates and other sweet tasting gifts, but we received the Bread of Life. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) God loved us – that is a given – yet we must make the choice to return that love. He wants and desires it! How astounding is that, God wants our love, freely given and of our own choice! It is the one thing in all creation that He does not own, even though He deserves it. In His great love for us, He gave us the ability to deny Him the very thing He desires above all else in the universe. Love freely given without reserve is better than demanded respect.

We speak about showing our love and about acting on it, but that is really false. Love is action, it is not shown through action. Love is not an emotion, but rather a lifestyle choice. We chose to love. When we help our neighbor we are really saying “I love you.” When we feed the poor, clothe the naked, and sit with the sick, we are really saying “I love you.” When we witness to the non-believer, we are really telling them “God Loves you and I love God therefore I love you.” When we tell someone “I love you” and don't assist them with their needs, desires, or wants we really tell them “I really couldn't care less about you.”

This week then, let us make an effort to put action back into our understanding of Love, and loving in our actions rather than “showing” or “proving” our love. Let's concentrate on what God sees and feels for us and for each other instead of what we feel. Indeed, let us have Love rather than love.

Belovèd, let us love: love is of God; in God alone hath love its true abode.
Belovèd, let us love: for they who love, they only, are His sons, born from above.
Belovèd, let us love: for love is rest, and he who loveth not abides unblest.
Belovèd, let us love: for love is light, and he who loveth not dwelleth in night.
Belovèd, let us love: for only thus shall we behold that God who loveth us.

Horatius Bonar, 1880.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Actions Prove Trust

2011-02-06T18:26:00.000-06:00

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Trust, it is such a small word but it means so much. We want to be trustworthy and we want people to trust us. We have our dear friends whom we have deemed “trustworthy” and we show that trust by telling secrets and other tidbits that we don't want spread around or gossiped about. We trust them not to tell others, or do anything that would intentionally injure us either physically, mentally, or emotionally. When we go to the grocery store and purchase food, we are trusting that the company that packaged that food did it correctly and that we won't get sick from it and we trust that the grocery store put the right price on it too. When we get car insurance, we trust that the insurance company is giving us the best rate possible. When we go to the doctor's office we trust him to figure out what is wrong with us and to fix it. In all these cases we trust. We then put our trust to the test by purchasing food, buying insurance, going to the doctor, even voting is an act of faith and trust!

Why then is it so hard to trust, and I mean really Trust God? We trust man-made things and worldly object so easily, but when God tells us to “come to Him for all our needs” we hem and haw and act all bashful about it, and then we worry about it anyways and figure out a way that we could take care of it. When God says that He will provide for us, we say “Yes Lord, we trust you, just let me take care of my needs first.” That is not trust! We mouth the words but we don't but any action behind it. When God tells us to tithe out of the first fruits and not worry about how we will pay for everything, He means it! Yet how many people worry about paying their bills if they were to tithe? We say that God is trustworthy and that we trust Him, but do we? Do we really Trust God?

Trusting God is so much more involved than trusting our greengrocer. If we truly Trust God then when He tells us to do something, we do it believing that He knows how it is going to work out and that He will take care of everything. Trust requires action before it really is “trust”. This week then, let us try and show our Trust in God a bit better. Let us all make more of an effort to really trust, rather than just mouth words.

Jesus, I will trust Thee, trust Thee with my soul;
Guilty, lost, and helpless, Thou canst make me whole.
There is none in Heaven or on earth like Thee:
Thou hast died for sinners—therefore Lord for me.
In Thy love confiding I will seek Thy face,
Worship and adore Thee, for Thy wondrous grace.
Jesus, I will trust Thee, trust Thee with my soul;
Guilty, lost and helpless, Thou canst make me whole.
Mary J. Walker, 1855.

Stepping back to see more

2011-01-30T18:45:00.002-06:00

Not too long ago, I was examining a painting. The skill was incredible, the brush strokes telling a tale all their own - at some points excitement, and at other points despair and despondency. There were featherlight strokes and even colouring, slightly streaking and mingling the canvas below with the various paints involved and then there were hard strokes, with uneven colours as if the artist was trying to push the paint to the other side of the canvas.

As I was examining this piece of artwork, I had to step back and see the whole painting. I was becoming too focused on the technical side of things and was not seeing the beauty of the whole thing. I made another gaff. I stepped back too far and though I was able to see the entire painting, I was not able to see any of the details that made it so spectacular. It looked like just another picture from a distance, nothing there that seemed out of the ordinary. It became generic and stale. I moved closer and eventually through trial and error I found the right place I needed to stand to appreciate both the whole work and the skill and heart that went into this painting.

We sometimes, no, oftentimes need to do the same thing in our lives – especially in our relationship to God. We become so enamored with the details we neglect the bigger picture. Recently I think that perhaps I have been focusing too much on the responsibilities and things we need to do during our walk with God and I have neglected a few very important things.

First off, in our walk with God, God Himself is walking with us. We take that for granted so much that we don't even see how amazing that is! God, the Creator of the Universe, is with us and wants to be closer to us at every moment of the day! How amazing is that?! The one who commands the Angels in their work, the one who speaks and the waves and winds obey him, the one who orders the planets and stars in their joyful dance wants and desires to be with you and with me!

Secondly we do not appreciate His grace as much as we should. We see only parts of it. We see some of the grace that God has in our lives, but we miss much much more of it in action. We focus on the suffering experienced in the world, but neglect that God's grace has provided for it....through us! We ask God why He allows there to be pain and suffering and merely He looks at us and asks why do we allow it? He provides encouragement for us when we are down through many avenues of our daily life, and we don't even recognize it as having God's hand involved with those details. God's grace has many, many forms that we will never recognize compared to the few forms that we are able to see clearly. Primarily we know that God's grace in our lives was that “while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” yet we do not remember that wisdom and understanding are gifts of grace as well. We do not even normally recognize that our Lord has graced us with the gift of being able to give to Him! That is right, despite the fact that God has given us everything we have, and made us stewards of His stuff, He won't just take what He wants from us but rather asks us to give it to him freely out of our own will! He wants our freely given adoration, He wants our hearts, minds, strengths, and souls, but He is not willing to just come in and take it, because that would render useless His gift of free-will to us. We wants our tithe too, but he won't just take it. It must be freely offered from us to Him with no strings attached. I once heard a traveling evangelist say “There is one thing God cannot do and that is what we do not let Him do.” We can say “no” to God and He obeys (although that is a foolish thing for us to do). God's grace is so encompassing in our lives that we do not, and cannot see it all.

This week then, try and take a step back from our detail oriented lives and see where you have been focusing and what you have been missing. I'm certain that the answers and discoveries you make will surprise you. Sometimes taking a step back is a bigger blessing than we could ever think! So, in closing, remember that God is with you out of His desire too!

Hebrews 10:36 - Slowing down to get ahead

2011-01-23T18:17:00.000-06:00

Hebrews 10:36 "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."

Winter weather surrounds us here in the northern hemisphere, ice and snow are everywhere. The gray skies and the short days makes everyone a little gloomy. Despite all that there is still work to be done. During this past week driving between work and my apartment, often as not it felt like there were as many cars in the ditches as there were on the road. Tow-trucks and big 4x4's were everywhere pulling people out, people who had gotten into a tad bit too much of a hurry or had made the mistake of hitting their brakes while on ice. It is a good example for our lives, those cars in ditches. It is all to easy for us to try and speed things up because we are impatient. We think we know God's plan and we get in a rush. Then the next thing we know is that we are spinning and out of control, ending up in a ditch and needing to be pulled out. When God gets around to drawing us out of our predicament and we are back in the path of His will for our lives we find that we are right where we would have been if we had not hurried along and gotten ahead of God, but now we have to also deal with the consequences, issues, and problems from our little adventure in the gully. Our car is more battered and bruised than it was, the engine running slightly rougher. Perhaps there is a ding or two more and a crushed bumper to repair later on. All this because we found ourselves impatient and in a hurry to reach the end of that trip.

We can only really go as fast as God wants us to go, no faster. There is an old saying that God is never early or late, He is always right on time. It is a true and faithful saying and we should really remember it. God's will always happens at the right time, at the time God wants it to happen. We as humans tend to either want to get ahead of God or lag behind Him when we should be right there with Him. Really the only safe place for us to be is in the centre of God's will for our lives.

The other mistake people often make, besides trying to adjust the Lord's time-table, is to try and adjust their perception of perserverance. To perservere does not mean getting there by any means, but rather to get there at all. "Persevere" is defined by the American Heritage dictionary as "To persist in or remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles or discouragement." When we are seeking after performing God's will, we are to persevere and remain constant, not push onwards and through whatever obstacles there might be, but instead take our time and allow God to move the obstacles away. Our own strength is limited, God's is limitless.

Finally, our english word "persevere" comes from the Latin "persevērus" which means "with all seriousness" or "very strictly". So let us this week approach God and following His desire for our lives, and submitting our will to His with all seriousness, Strictly obeying His commands and precepts and pacing ourselves to Him rather than to our own desires. Let's not allow this world another foothold in our lives! We don't need the humiliation of having to get God to tow us out of one more mess which we made again either. Lets have a great week, secure and safe in His arms, centered totally on Him.

Lord, for tomorrow and its needs I do not pray;
Keep me, my God, from stain of sin just for today.
Help me to labor earnestly and duly pray;
Let me be kind in word and deed, Father, today.

Let me no wrong or idle word unthinking say;
Set Thou a seal upon my lips through all today.
Let me in season, Lord, be grave, in season gay;
Let me be faithful to Thy grace, dear Lord, today.
Sybil F. Partridge, 1877.

Luke 24:38 - The Valleys of Life

2011-01-16T16:55:00.000-06:00

Luke 24:38 “He said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?'”

The third week of this new year begins as it usually does – chilly, cold, and unremarkable. Our many fine New Year's resolutions are starting to weigh heavy on us as we struggle to keep them as time progresses and the memory and excitement of the newness of 2011 wears off. As each day passes, it becomes more of a struggle to wake up and go running, to avoid purchasing that extra little something, to have that bite of cake, to _________ [insert resolution here]. We start to doubt that we can do it, that we will succeed this year despite our failures of past years.

The freshness and newness of our walk with Christ also wears off. Those magnificent “mountain top” experiences where we felt Christ so close to us gradually fades into the distance as we begin to plod again in the valley. Slowly the fog of daily, earthly life closes in on us and shrouds the sight of those beautiful hills that we march onwards towards. We begin to doubt and worry again because it feels like it will take forever to get out of where we are now. If I may make reference to Tolkien's The Hobbit, we begin to feel a smidgen like that party of dwarves and hobbit as they plod through Murkwood Forest. They gave up and left the path with no more than a day's journey ahead of them to get out of the forest, and because of that they suffered and endured hardships which they could otherwise have ignored.

We too find ourselves frequently coming near to the point of giving up, and then if we push on just a bit further we encounter something that re-energizes us and gives us hope again. We encounter some tangible piece of God's plan for our lives. It doesn't matter how low our self esteem may be at that point, we find ourselves reminded once again that God does not redeem junk or waste His time with things that don't matter. At our lowest points we find some expression of this, that we are not junk and everything matters to Him!

I was speaking this past week with one of God's dearly beloved, a man with the thinning and graying hair of wisdom, completed and whole despite his infirmities, full of joy despite all that has gone on in His life. He said something I found to be rather profound about our daily walk with God. He said: “God has a plan for your life, a good plan, a perfect plan for your life. No matter if it leads to the gas chambers or to limousines and lights, it is still the best possible way that your life could be lived, and the most fulfilling way to live.” I could not even begin to imagine the ups and downs that this man has been through to make a statement like that in total peace. But it is very true! Despite the slow, doubting, painful walk in the valleys of the shadow of death; despite the exuberance and exhilaration of being at the peak and seeing the world spread out below, all growth really happens in the valleys and nothing grows on the mountain peaks – which seem to only be there to give us a better vision of what we are making our way towards.

This week, lets remind ourselves to persevere! It matters not what situations we find ourselves in in our life, God's using it for His glory and for our betterment. When doubts arise and troubles afflict us God is right there with us, reminding us with gentle words that He is still with us and encouraging us to put aside our doubt and troubled minds since He cares much more for us than for those little sparrows – flying freely and happily without cares or worries – which He also cares for! God is bigger than our fears, and His plan, wherever it leads, is perfect and made just for us!

John 3:12 A New Perspective

2011-01-09T09:14:00.000-06:00

John 3:12 “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?” (NIV)

I was working on a sudoku puzzle earlier this week. It was about a medium-to-hard difficulty, so I was having a rougher time trying to solve it. As I worked at it I realized that I was thinking linearly and to solve this one I need to think more circuitously. After a while, towards the end of the puzzle, I again realized that I needed to change my approach. I needed to go back to the more linear thought process to complete the puzzle. I was struck by inspiration! We need to approach more than just puzzles with various thought processes! We should also approach our relationship with God with malleable thought processes!

God never acts as we could predict. When Christ approached John the Baptist, it was not to call “Follow me” as He did to the other disciples, rather it was to ask to be baptized by John. When we look back at that even, we realize that Jesus knew that John had already been following Him all his life! When Jesus went to the wedding in Cana, it was not to show His power over nature, but rather to celebrate with His earthly parents and disciples. The wine ran out however, and Jesus mother, Mary, asked Him to do something about it. Jesus refused but Mary commanded the servants to obey Him anyways. When we look back at it, we learn that for Mary to have authority over the servants of the house, indeed for Mary to even know that the wine was all gone, she must have been on very good terms with the bridegroom's family, so it must be someone that Jesus knew very well, a cousin perhaps, or maybe a relation of Mary's, or even a half-brother! Secondly we see that He showed His love for His family, Mother, and whomever was getting married. Thirdly we see that He had compassion on all at the party. This miracle was to be kept quiet and not announced to the world like many of Jesus later miracles which were hard to keep quiet (such as the blind seeing, the lame walking, the lepers healed, and demons driven out). No one would notice the wine still flowed, except that it was perfect wine! Thirdly, the stories and parables that Jesus taught with seemed at first to be very basic and straightforward, but as you study them they become deeper and more fraught with meaning every time.

When we study God's word and our approach to learning more about Him, we need to be willing to change our thought process as we discover new things, rather than trying to force the new ideas into the firm structures our mind has created. If we are so very strict with our mind and how we look at scripture we can never learn very much or progress very far in our walk with Christ, because we restrict what He has to teach and show us. In essence we box our understanding of God up and do not accept anything that doesn't fit into that box.

In short, we should approach with the same approach that Sherlock Holmes used in his investigations. “...I never theorize before I obtain all the facts. I have said so over and over again, that solving cases is a matter of eliminating the impossible – and then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” We should be willing to change how we relate to God, how we approach God, how we learn from God, and how we are to serve God depending on the facts, no matter how improbable they may be. I do offer this caution though, be careful in taking this idea to far. It is merely an attempt at aiding the mind in learning about God.

So this week, lets try bringing a fresh approach at our walk with God. If we normally start our day with a bit of prayer then reading, try singing a hymn first before reading. Or perhaps pray and read instead of singing a hymn if that is what you do. If you normally learn about God by reading a devotional, try leaving the devotional behind and read a chapter from a theologian instead. In all cases read the Bible. I would love to hear what you learn!

Romans 6:4 - A new year in our new life

2011-01-02T18:33:00.000-06:00

Romans 6:4 “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (NIV)

The New Year has come quickly upon us, leaving the old year a recent memory. The events of this past year have not gotten so dim in our minds that we neglect nostalgia for hope. With all that happened this past year, we hope and desire newness and freshness this year, a change from last year for the better. In a way this change of year is almost an identical example of the change of life we experience when we commit ourselves to Christ. Our old life ends, but we remember it well. Our old life is over and our new life has begun. Slowly and surely our new life creeps forward as we embark on it. It starts off where the old life left off – just as the new year starts where the old year left. We have all the baggage and problems that are leftover from the old life and the old year and nothing yet to show for the new life and the new year.

Our embarkation on this new life is not a trouble free road. After all the excitement wears off – usually at about the same speed as the excitement from the change of year – we start to realize that nothing really has changed around us. Perhaps we are different, but everything else is the same. We have all the same responsibilities, all the same problems, all the same pleasures, and everything seems so much the same. What really is different?

In our new life - just like the new year – the difference comes from the addition of walking with God. We slowly change our habits as we learn more about what pleases God. As we learn to spend more time in His word and in private prayer with Him, we begin to see our attitude towards things change. What used to be important is no longer that important to us. Our sense of self-pride fades away as does our former sense of accomplishment. The tropes and ideals we had our former life set on wither away and are replaced by scripture and fellowship. In our new life we find that happiness has been changed to become joy, and our joy comes from seeing the world as God sees it.

After some time passes, the new year isn't quite so new and the old year becomes more nostalgic as we remember the nice things that happened then, the memorable things. In our new life, it doesn't seem so new and some of the practices and habits we cultivates at the beginning so seriously start to be forgotten and some of the indolences from the prior life start to make headway burrowing into our lives. Much like a gym membership in the new year, we find that we are sleeping in more or watching TV instead of going to the gym to work out and keep our New Year's resolutions. Every so often then, we need to refresh ourselves and remember the big change in our lives. We need to remind ourselves of the passion we discovered, the joy we have, and the love we have learned to live constantly with. We need to see that yes, indeed, the old life has passed away and we are in the new life and therefore we need to make an effort to return to living in this newness of life.

So this new year, let us make an effort to constantly remind ourselves of our new life, of our new home, and of all the benefits we have now. Its too easy to let the world drag us down and grind us up, we need to make every effort to maintain our quiet times with God and focus on refreshing ourselves daily, so God's work through our lives is ever more clear.

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Francis R. Havergal, 1874.

Luke 2:11- Christ Rebirthed in Our Lives

2010-12-26T09:28:00.000-06:00

Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Yesterday was Christmas, a day that most of think of with fond memories. The perfect Christmas is snow on the ground, a hearth fire glowing while we all sit around a fine, fully formed, nicely decorated Douglas Fir. We are supposed to be laughing and joking as the younger children play with new toys while wrapping paper covers the floor and the older people enjoy puddings and snacks with hot cocoa or coffee. From the kitchen wafts smells of Turkey or spiced Ham cooking, with overtones of cranberry sauce and gingerbread cookies. Over the stereo softly comes the sweet strains of cherubic voices singing Christmas carols. At a communal favorite everyone joins in and afterwards there is comradely joking over each other's poor singing. On a shelf over the fireplace sits a Christmas crèche or Nativity scene. Scattered around the house are decorations of angels, shepherds, Eastern/Oriental looking wise-guys, reindeer, candles, and the ubiquitous Santa figures. Perhaps the night before we all attended a Christmas eve service or vigil with candles, skits, and the reading from Luke chapter 2:1-20. After the vigil everyone went caroling to houses full of smiling happy people who happily hand out warm beverages and freshly baked cookies in appreciation. Over the course of this perfect Christmas several Christmas miracles occur, most notably that no one gets heartburn or gains any weight despite the prevalent and socially accepted gluttony.

What is Christmas really about? Christmas is the celebration of Christ and His miraculous birth some 2014 odd years ago. It is a day supposed to point and focus to Him, to show appreciation for His sacrificing Heaven for Earth, “who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Phil 2:6-7) Christmas is the prequel to Easter – better yet its a two-part holy-day/holiday. Christmas and Easter are flip sides of each other. Christmas is Christ's arrival, Easter is His leaving. Christmas is Jesus' becoming one of us, Easter is our redemption to becoming like Christ. Christmas is the Hope of the World arriving, Easter is that Hope made fact.

Often in our modern perfect Christmas we make a perfunctory and obligatory homage and genuflection towards Christ and His birth, but then its back to the food, the presents, family and the atmosphere. Do not misunderstand, those are good things, but our focus first and foremost should be Christ – as much or more so than the rest of the year. Lets make every effort to re-seat Christ in the place of Honor in our lives. Lets renew our emphasis on Him being the basis of everything for us. In our daily walk, lets have Christ first again, foremost in our thoughts, actions, and prayers with everything else a far, far, far second.

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

(Final Verse of “The First Noel” published 1833 based of a 16th century tune)

Luke 2:1-5 - God moves in our Lives

2010-12-19T13:41:00.000-06:00

Luke 2:1-5 “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.” HCSB

I was blessed to spend this past week with family, something I was worried might not happen. Between work and everything else that has been going on in my life, it seemed almost impossible for me to get any time with my family this Christmas. That was rather depressing because for the first time in several years, my family was all on the same continent at the same time. God rolled back His sleeves, and one thing after another, everything fell into place so that this young man could get some time off work and travel up to Indiana to spend time with family, the whole family. My sister flew in from New York and my brothers flew up from Texas and Flordia, all within a couple days. We had everyone together at last! My parents, my grandparents, and my siblings all manged to celebrate an early Christmas! The house was filled with the sounds of laughter and teasing as we all found ourselves merging our lives seamlessly together again for one week as if no time had passed while we were apart.

God rolled up His sleeves and prepared for a mighty change in the world.

The shepherds were preparing to head out with their sheep to the few green valleys and hills in the area, shivering in the cold and huddling around small fires for warmth and wishing that they had a winter coat of wool like the stupid herbivores they were watching.

Joseph was working hard in his shop, carefully measuring and cutting, planing and joining as he tried to do what needed to be done so he could start his own family. He wanted to have everything ready before Mary, his pregnant fiancé, would give birth to the Messiah.

Augustus, Caesar of the mighty Roman empire was disturbed. He had all these citizens to take care of and taxes to raise. How could he tax appropriately if he did not know just how many people were in his empire? How would he know how to set the levees for his legions? In a spark of inspiration, he announced that he would have everyone registered in a world-spanning census – but not only would they hold a census but they would have everyone be registered in their family home!

A bright light shone in the sky, something new and never seen before. Astronomers and wise men of several eastern nations were puzzled as they wondered what this sign portrayed. Messengers ran too and fro as these magi thought about it (remember this is in pre-internet, pre-telephone, pre-telegraph, and pre-pony-express days). They came to the conclusion that this was the sign spoken of in the Babylonian archives about a king and redeemer of the Jewish nation. Packing up gifts and their households they determined to make a long and dangerous journey to see this new king and meet the prophesied “Prince of Peace”

Joseph had to pack up his shop due to the census. He had to move to Bethlehem, his ancestral city. He took his soon-to-be wife with him. The shepherds had established their base camps for the season's herding. The wise men crossed deserts following the giant star in the sky. Caesar chuckled in glee at his brilliant idea – he would finally know how many taxable people were in his empire!

One thing followed another as God, the creator of Heaven and Earth, managed events to answer the prophesies of prophets long turned to dust. The world would never be the same again and neither would we.

God is capable of doing anything! With a thought He created the universe. With a word His prophets spoke of a future redemption of the world from Sin. With a wink He arranged events that would meet all his prophesies. With a smile He changed the world and offered an answer to the problem of sin. He moves still today and in each of our lives. There is nothing impossible to Him, no problem too big or too small that He doesn't have an answer to. When issues and problems raise their heads much like a hydra from Greek mythology, God has a response and a way to solve each one. He has done so in my life and He has done so in yours too. He won't stop either. He loves helping His beloved children!

Next time something happens that seems to block the way forward for you, stopping you from following God in your life, just remember that God will help take care of it. Just pray over it! Just let Him take care of it! He will answer and He always succeeds!

Away with our fears! The Godhead appears
In Christ reconciled, the Father of mercies in Jesus the Child.

He comes from above, In manifest love,
Desire of our eyes, the meek Lamb of God, in a manger He lies.

Immanuel’s birth - what triumph on earth!
Yet could it afford no better a place for its heavenly Lord?

The Ancient of Days redeems a lost race:
His glory comes down, self-humbled to carry us up to a crown.

Made flesh for our sake, that we might partake
The nature divine, again in His image, His holiness shine.

A heavenly birth, Experience on earth,
And rise to His throne, and life with our Jesus eternally one.

Then let us believe, and gladly receive
The tidings they bring who publish to sinners their Savior and King.

And while we are here, our King shall appear,
His Spirit impart, and form His full image of love in our heart.

-Charles Wesley, 1745

Luke 1:14 - Beauty out of Inconvenience

2010-12-12T08:50:00.000-06:00

Luke 1:14 “And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth”

Swirling snow, pushed by a cold, brisk wind, crossed my vision at work. Occasionally the wind would form snow cyclones (snownados?) which would grab up all the snow for twenty or so feet around it and travel about the same amount of space before dying out. It was gorgeous. Really, it was. The only problem was that I was working. From when I first realized that the snow was falling I was complaining about it. Finally, with the doors to the hanger wide open and while I was waiting for an airplane to get pushed out I found myself staring out the hanger doors into the cold wind and dancing snow flurries. I had nothing else to do and with my scarf around my face I was starting to feel my nose again, so I watched the snow and wind dance around. I was captivated. I realized that I had been complaining about the snow without having taken the time to appreciate it. The less I complained and the more I observed and watched the snow, the better I felt and the less upset at the weather I became. I had been missing all the beauty and delight, this joyful salsa of south bound snowflakes, because I saw only the inconvenience to me.

This is the season of advent. Stores are full, merchandise is overpriced and sales seem to actually have higher price tags than the products had a couple months ago. Everywhere you go you will see frozen smiles on people who are too much in a hurry and too inconvenienced by everyone else to truly appreciate the beauty of Christmas and the delight in this season. To most of us, Christmas has become synonymous with commercialism and greed while hypocritically preaching peace, joy, and satisfaction. Perhaps we have been looking at it all wrong. If we sat back, removed ourselves from the immediate bustle of the crowds and looked to actually watch and observe this season we would rekindle our love and appreciation for it. Our stress would fade away as we watch the intricate dance of Love being played out across the whole world and across the years.

So this next week, lets focus more on why Christmas is celebrated and renown rather than how. Lets relearn our appreciation and slowly we will relearn and regain our joy and gladness. Lets see the beauty rather than the inconveniences.

Job 5:9 - Remembering His Miracles in our Lives

2010-12-05T18:51:00.000-06:00

Job 5:9 “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” (NIV)

The men crept slowly and carefully through the undergrowth, up the slopes of the forested valley escarpment. The lights of their destination showed them the way. The children of the white oppressors would shock the colonial government into hearing the demands of freedom! Wait! Where did all those guards come from? There are too many guards!

The families and children of the minority tribes and the missionaries huddled in the room, praying, while outside drunken voices called out, while farm implements banged on the simple wooden door. The door did not, would not budge, despite the axes and hoes chopping at it!

The little boy cried and writhed in pain as his family tried to decide what to do. A kind local woman had told the missionaries that she could bring a man who could find who put the curse on the boy, but the family decided to pray instead. Then, they got into their vehicle and drove to another mission hospital that had the facilities to take care of the boy with the prolapsed bowel. When they arrived at the hospital and prepared to wheel the boy, everything was fine and normal!

It was still a week until payday and the bank account was empty. There was plenty of food in the cupboard, the clothes were all washed and dried, all the bills were paid. If the young man had not paid his tithe that last weekend at church he would be able to fill up his car, which was driving on a quarter tank of gas. That wouldn't last an entire week! With nothing else to do, the young man prayed that God would provide as He had promised. Driving to and from work for the rest of the week the empty tank light never came on despite the gas gauge hovering right above the red line all week!

He had to decide, he either had to move to someplace he could afford, or sign another contract to stay in his current apartment, but who's price had been increased passed what he could afford. He had to make his decision and alert the apartment manager by the next morning. Praying about it, he went to church that night. A lady from church came up and offered him her family's garage apartment out of the blue!

The first story was of my high school, Rift Valley Academy, and was a favorite story we would hear again and again. The Mau Mau rebels for some reason decided to come attack RVA during the conflict. The school did not have any idea what was happening and so didn't prepare for it. After all, who would attack a school for missionary children? Later one of the rebels supposedly asked where all the guards at the school came from, and no one knew what he was talking about. Now, no one knows for sure if the story is true or not since there is no way to verify if it happened or who was involved. We would often hike down into the forest to some caves that the Mau Mau supposedly hid in to make chai and tell stories though. God has worked that way before.

The second story is about Tenwek hospital in Kenya, where my sister was born. During a troubled period in Kenya, some rabble-rousers got the majority tribe mobbed up to “cleanse” the minority tribes and people out of the area. God protected everyone at the hospital. There is no physical or earthly explanation as to why a simple wooden door on cheap hinges did not break or get cut through despite hours worth of axes, hoes, and batterings.

The third story is of my younger brother. The fourth and fifth stories are of me - both things which happened in the last three years. It is amazing how God's mighty hand provides everything we need, from protection, to healing, to provision! Those are some of my stories, but each of you has some to tell as well no matter if you know it or not.

During this time of year, it is good for us to look back and see all the miracles that God has done in our lives. It is important that we remind ourselves of all that God has shown us, taught us, and provided for us. Our Lord has promised to care for us and this is one of the ways He keeps His promises. Other times it may involve people. I can guarantee you that Rocco and Eleanor did not know what was going on in my life when they offered their garage apartment to me. We need to remember and remind ourselves of what has gone on in our lives because it becomes all too easy to take it for granted and lose perspective. God's miracles in our lives are there for us, not for Him. They remind us and draw us closer to Him. When we but think of all that He has done in our lives, it is staggering! It goes so far beyond “more than enough” that we can't really and truly begin to describe just how far beyond “enough” it is!

So this week, lets think about His miracles and wonders that have popped up in our lives. Lets give Him thanks again for all that He has done in our lives and in our family's lives.

He holds the winds in his hand
and he is the great I Am
He is the bright and morning star
and without him I would fall

What a mighty God we serve
what a mighty god we serve
Angels bow before Him
Heaven and earth adore Him
What a mighty God we serve.

Galatians 6:9: When Weariness Drags Us Down

2010-11-28T18:10:00.000-06:00

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Have you ever tried to do something that seems to be of tremendous worth and great benefit to people? Have you ever put your efforts into achieving a goal and accomplishing a task? Have you failed time and time again at those efforts? I thought so. So have I. It seems that some tasks are Herculean in size and here we are: such small and insignificant people. It may feel that there is only one of us doing this, that you, or I, is the only person in the whole world still striving for that goal. Attempt after attempt, failure after failure, we start to get discouraged. Occasionally we see the failure as coming from our efforts – we were not good enough, prepared enough, strong enough, encouraging enough, loving enough, etc. Occasionally we see the failure as coming from outside interference – events transpire to block our efforts, others do things that nullify our efforts, paperwork gets lost in the mail, etc. All of this becomes disheartening after awhile and our enthusiasm flags. Our energy seems to go away and we look once more at this seemingly insurmountable task and are reminded how fragile we are. Our goals and dreams start to crack, shatter, and then break as we seem to continuously have to start over again. We become weary and start to give up.

Yes, we can give up. It is all too easy. We raise our hands up and say “This is impossible!” and walk away. I have done it before and so have you. The sad thing is we never know just how close we came to actually completing the task or accomplishing that goal. We gave up because it seemed that everything was against us. At this point I am reminded of that Star Wars scene when Luke Skywalker tries to levitate his starfighter out of the muck of the swamp and fails. In disgust he says that it is impossible. Yoda looks on, shakes his head sadly and while Luke turns away Yoda levitates the spacecraft out of the swamp and over to dry land, passing over Luke's head. Luke sees this and exclaims “I don't believe it!” In his wisdom, Yoda, the mentor gently points out that Luke's disbelief is why he failed.

Yes, we lose our faith and belief in the accomplishment of our efforts and the completion of our goal. We never know how our failure may lead to finishing the goal. Like Thomas Edison, we need to see our failures as discovering yet another way that doesn't work, thus bringing us closer to finding what does! We can not ever accomplish anything for God without God's help. We can't do anything for Him without His empowerment. We can give up but we need His encouragement, and here in our focus verse we are reminded just how easy it is to give up. Not only that though, we are also shown that yes, we can accomplish the goal! It will happen! Though the gates of hell stand against us, we cannot help but overcome because God is there with us, helping us, empowering us, and teaching us! I can only ask you, before you give up again, to look to God and get His aid. Don't be weary in prayer because that's where things are actually done. When you are ready to give up, push on! When you become weary call a friend, your pastor, myself and pray over it. I promise I will do the same. We are not alone in doing good. There is you and I and the Lord, and that is enough!

To the one who's dreams are falling all apart
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
but you're not all alone

Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong he'll never let you go
oh you're not alone
- “Safe” by Phil Wickham c2009

1 Chronicles 16:34; He Deserves Our Thanks

2010-11-21T13:13:00.000-06:00

1 Chronicles 16:34 “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”

We have a lot of trouble really and honestly giving thanks for things. For the most part I think it is because we feel that we are owed it, that we deserve it and nothing could be farther from the truth. We are owed nothing, and we deserve nothing. All of us are fallen sinners, all of us have our own personal foibles and faults. We know that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23) and that we really do not deserve the mercies and graces that God gives to us each day. We quote Romans 3:23 a lot, but how often do we continue on with the next verse? “and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” It was an undeserved gift, grace and mercy showered down on us event though we deserve the wages of sin, death. The world owes us nothing but pain and misery. Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha and founder of Buddhism taught that all life is transient and suffering. Christ taught that life has permanence and can be lived in joy despite the trials and suffering we may receive at the hands of men. “Every good gift and every perfect ([a]free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].” (James 1:17 AMP)

We can look about us, at every aspect of our lives and see those good and perfect gifts that God has given us. We have a roof over our heads despite not building it, we have food to eat despite not growing it. We have jobs and employment, a source of income. We have health and maybe the worst we have to deal with right now is a winter cold while others in the world are dealing with Cholera, polio, and whooping cough. We have cars and bikes available to us for transportation while the majority of the world must walk. We had the chance for higher education, we have machines that wash our clothes and our dishes without us having to spend time. We have computers, cell phones, cd players, and game machines! We have a postal service that delivers mail in a timely manner, and does not open or steal from the packages,. We have public servants who are not blatantly corrupt. We have so very much in our lives to be thankful for. We are blessed! We are very blessed indeed!

As we approach Thanksgiving this year, lets start to think about things we can be thankful for. There is so much that we can be thankful for too, everything around is can be a reminder. We are not owed anything, we do not deserve anything, but we have it none the less. In actuality, We owe Him and He deserves our thanks! His grace, His mercy, His love flows out over us- not just in our salvation, but in every aspect our lives! This week, lets think about all those blessings in our lives that God has given us, and lets give thanks for even the most basic of them!

Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and stormy fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!

Matthew 28:20b: Never Alone!

2010-11-14T13:17:00.000-06:00

Mathew 28:20b “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Have you ever been alone? Have you felt so totally by yourself despite whoever may be around? That horrible feeling of complete solitude and separation from everyone else is one of the things we find in ourselves frequently. Each person feels it differently and though while some may enjoy the solitude and others may enjoy the separation from the world, no one likes the feeling of enforced aloneness (despite the fact that most of the time it is only in our head). How we deal with these feelings are as different as we are as well. However, sometimes that separation and solitude is good for us. Sometimes that enforced aloneness is beneficial. Occasionally that utter isolation is constructive and profitable for us. You might be saying to yourself ,“Okay, okay! We get the point, now are you going to tell us why?” and so here is the reason. It is when we as believes find ourselves feeling forgotten and most lonesome that we find that we are not forgotten, we are not alone, and we are not by ourselves. This is not some Zen Buddhist riddle!

I have felt alone and as if I am in the desert - alone in the sea of humanity, just like you have. I was so down in the dumps that as the psalmist wrote “for I eat ashes...and drink tears” (Psalm 102:9 paraphrased). It was in one of these periods of time that as I was crying out to God complaining about the situation when He answered and reminded me that He was there, and had always been there. I just had come to a point in my life that everyone and everything else was distracting my attention and drowning out His presence in my life. I needed to be reminded and to rediscover His constant companionship. After I thought about this I was able to look back and see that He was right. Just like in that famous poem, “Footprints in the Sand”, those places where I seemed most alone, He was carrying me.

No matter where you are in life, you are not alone. If you are surrounded by friends, family, neighbors, and a good job remember that God is there with you, walking with you in your life. When you are by yourself and facing seemingly insurmountable problems and everyone seems to have left you remember that God is still there and is most likely the only reason that you are doing as well as you are. He is carrying you through those tough times and you won't even know it. You will always have those times where you will feel rejected, alone, forgotten, and isolated, but God is still there. In times like that you will find when you get to the point that there is absolutely no one around and you are absolutely alone, God will be most near to you.

There’s a peace in my heart that the world never gave,
A peace it cannot take away;
Though the trials of life may surround like a cloud,
I’ve a peace that has come here to stay!

Constantly abiding, Jesus is mine;
Constantly abiding, rapture divine;
He never leaves me lonely, whispers, O so kind:
“I will never leave thee,” Jesus is mine.

Hebrews 13:5b: Our Father is a Constant and Faithful Companion

2010-11-07T18:51:00.000-06:00

Hebrews 13:5b “for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”

Joshua 1:5b “Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you”

The thin spider veins of ice and frost remind me more than the change in the weather that the seasons are changing. Just like the seasons and patterns of weather on earth change though, so too do the seasons of our lives. Sometimes our lives flow from one season to the next seamlessly, melding nearly perfectly to the point that we cannot tell and do not notice that the seasons have changed. Sometimes, however, there are signposts that show the changing times and the changing of our lives: there are graduations, weddings, funerals, getting one's first car, having one's first broken heart, buying a house, losing a house, and these are just the giant sign posts that everyone can agree on. Often times though, these signs are little ones that sometimes we recognize and sometimes we don't – like the thin strands of ice on my windshield. It could be as simple as being encouraged by someone at a low point in your life, or a harsh word of correction that strikes to your core. It could be waking up one morning to find that your water heater had gone out and the only thing you could do is pray and boil water on the stove. It could be taking a walk outside and seeing the stars clearly. It could be any number of things and for each person those little signs are different.

No matter where you are in life, though, there is one constant. Despite the change surrounding us constantly, there is one thing that does not change and that is Our Lord, our Creator, our Saviour, our God. Just as He promised Joshua to never leave him nor forsake him so to God promised that same promise to us. God offered us a place in His family, and when we accepted His offer, we were adopted into that family. No matter what we do after that, we are still His beloved children. Just because we are stupid at times, just because we make mistakes, just because we are occasionally angry with Him does not change anything. He is our Father and He loves us with an everlasting love that never ends. He won't let us drive Him away in a fit of rage, He won't leave because we disappoint Him.

Lamentations reminds us, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Just like His love, His mercies are unending. Every morning they are renewed and in a sense so are we. In the history of the universe, He has never broken a promise. Every morning is a new day, a new chance, a new life to live. Every day, our heavenly Daddy wants to show us something awesome and cool. Every day He is there to meet us at breakfast, on the drive to school, while we prep nervously for an interview or a presentation. He gives us soft, over the shoulder advice on everything we are involved in. He has never missed a ballgame or a dance recital. He has been there for each of our class plays and theatre performances, no matter how small our role. He was there for the big accident holding our hand in our shaken state. He was there while we cried in the agony of loss. He was there in the excitement of getting that new job or promotion. He has been with us every step of our lives through every season because He Is. He never leaves us or forsakes us. His love continues even when we don't. His mercies overwhelm us. His grace bolsters us in the bad times. He will never leave us. He will never leave you. Promise.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Hosea 10:12: Seeking the Lord, Clearing your Vision

2010-10-31T16:58:00.000-05:00

Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.”

Driving to Wednesday night prayers a few weeks back I found myself in a brilliant real-life analogy about sowing righteousness and seeking the Lord. As I got into my car, it began to rain, a gentle and easy rain. I paid it no mind since it had been raining rather frequently like that and I thought that it would sputter out in a few minutes. Nope. It started to rain harder, and harder. It finally got to that point where it is raining as hard as it can without truly storming and there it decided to stay. My windshield wipers were swishing back and forth, back and forth at a steady rate, clearing my field of vision for a short while until the rain accumulated enough that the next swish cleared it again. Then I was on the freeway. Sharing lanes with semi trucks and other vehicles changed how I had my windshield wiper settings set. I had to change the frequency of the swipes of the blade. The rain was not coming down any harder but the traffic was spewing the downfall everywhere. Tires from trucks, semis, and even small cars would shoot water that had finally come to rest on the asphalt directly into my vision. My wipers had to swipe faster to keep my vision clear and I had to slow down because of the increase in traffic.

Now what does that have to do with this brilliant analogy? Simple! Think of the windshield wipers. The more obstruction I got in my vision, the more frequent I had to clear it. When we seek God, do our devotions, pray, we are effectively clearing our lives, paths, and vision of obstructions. We clear things up and refocus ourselves. In times where life isn't coming at us too very hard, well we are able to get away with praying a little less, having shorter devotions, and not spend as much time with God. (Admittedly this is not recommended - but thats where the analogy breaks down.) Its when life starts hitting us with more and more and more that we should, we need to spend more time with God. We may wonder where that time is going to come from, but we absolutely have to do it. Its in those times when we need to see the clearest, to have as little obstruction in our lives as possible and it is in seeking God, His direction, and His righteousness that we clear all obstructions out of our way. If I get into an accident on the freeway because I can't see clearly, it will be my fault but insurance will help take care of the car. If I can't see clearly in life, the consequences are much more dire and there is much less that will “fix” or “repair” the results.

This week lets spend the time while we have it learning how to clear and de-obstruct our vision, our lives, and our walk with God. Soon there will be a time where the practice we have spent in these practices of seeking God and desiring His righteousness will no longer be practice, but necessity. May it become an unthinking habit in your lives and in mine.

Here from the world we turn, Jesus to seek;
Here may His loving voice tenderly speak!
Jesus, our dearest Friend, while at Thy feet we bend,
O let Thy smile descend! ’Tis Thee we seek.

Guest Devotional on Colossians 3:23-25

2010-10-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Colossians 3:23-25 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” (KJV)
God is not a respecter of persons
by Rebecca Friedlander

Hmmm… this passage caught my eye today, and I thought I would ponder out loud in cyberworld to share my musings. Carter has asked me to do a devotional, and so I will share some of my journey.
I film and produce a TV show, and it leads me to some interesting places… the most recent of which was Scotland, from which I just returned a few days ago. God totally opened up the door, provided the finances and prayer support to go, and I was able to go with my brother Peter and capture a huge amount of footage over 2 weeks time. One of the lessons I learned along the way I will share today.
When we pray, God hears. We know this from His Word and from our own experiences. But am I the only one who sometimes gets a bit jealous when He seems to answer the prayers of others first? Our Father is GOOD, and gives wonderful gifts to His children! He is abounding with love and mercy and totally loves to bless us. Sometimes, however, I wrestle with the mundane stuff of life and Apollyon seems to be breathing down my neck, so when someone else has a huge opportunity or breakthrough in their lives I sometimes feel just a twinge of, “God, why are you with them more than me?” Sometimes the “valleys” in life can seem a bit overwhelming.

I write this today after seeing God move mightily in Scotland and after being with saints who have miracles in their lives all the time just to provide their daily bread. They have visions and dreams on a regular basis and they are pressing in for revival in Scotland, so my faith has been encouraged mightily. Coming back, I realize how important the passages are about how God does not respect persons. He uses the “normal” fishermen to change the world. He uses anyone who wants to love Him radically and avail themselves to His purposes.
One of my special times in Scotland was with a girl named Jasmine who had lost her boyfriend of 4 years to a train accident about a year ago. She was a beautiful young woman who was still wrestling with grief, but decided that she wanted to share her story of my TV show. So, we spent some time filming it one day. Outside the YWAM building where we all staying was a mountain and one day we climbed it together. We started out at the bottom and began the ascent. Cows and sheep grazed the hillside and looked at us with disdain as we encroached on their pastures of lush, green grass. The sun was shining and it was warm and still – quite a rare day in Scotland! As we started to get higher, we kept stopping to look back on the view that was beginning to emerge behind us. It was beautiful! I called to Jasmine, “Don’t you think that this is what life is like? We walk through the hard places and the valleys and cling to God in faith, until He leads us higher into a beautiful perspective and we can see that He’s been there all the time!”
She pondered this as we trekked higher up the mountain and reached the top. Breathtaking scenery lay below us, not only could we see the valley where we came from but up into the sea and the islands, further than we’d ever been or seen before. We truly had a moment with God as we sat on the top of the mountain.
So I end with my first thought: God is not a respecter of persons: what He does for one, He will do for anyone who takes Him seriously! He loves to answer prayer, do miracles, and provide for His own in creative ways! But! He is also with us through the low times and high times. He is there when things seem to be all a “valley” of mundane or struggles. These seasons of faithfulness are there to ground us for the seasons of blessings. So be encouraged! Press in to hear the heart of your Father who loves to give good gifts to those who seek Him!

Psalm 42:11: A Storm of Hope

2010-10-17T19:11:00.000-05:00

Psalm 42:11 “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

The night is dark and the wind howls carrying with it the sounds of stray cats fighting over the garbage. The sky is frequently split with the forked tines of lightening and the rolls of thunder give a short and merciful reprieve from the anguished and outraged yowls of the cats. The only thing that will drive the strays away is the oncoming storm which will hit with all the rage that a mid-western summer storm can muster. Sitting on my chair it seems that the night will never end and the storm is consuming the whole world.

Many of you have experienced storms like this which happened this last summer. These heavy storms are always such an appropriate metaphor for life too. We describe these storms with words such as rage, fury, anger, desperate, dismay, crashing, sudden, destructive, cataclysmic, and hopeless. How often do we change our perspective and think of the storm as an object of hope? A flash flood washes away all the temporary and unfixed objects in its path. A tornado destroys homes and towns, a monsoon floods villages and carries away livestock, all destructive acts, but it allows for a chance to rebuild better. When a flood comes after you have rebuilt, you are prepared for it and the strength is there to withstand the destructive forces. The storms clean the air, giving it that wonderful fresh smell, the storms blow away the garbage that has accumulated on the side of the road or been blown into the trees. The storm's aftermath is full of feelings of renewal and freshness. When we go through a storm we have that confidence, that pure hope that it will end and the world will seem new made.

The word hope is a funny word. When you look it up, the dictionary will say something about it being a desire for something, a yearning, a wish, and a feeling of expectancy. If you look at an old dictionary or the usage of the word in older, more archaic writings however, it's used in place of the words confidence and trust. You know and have experienced your soul being downcast. The storms that buffet your life seem unending and far to intense for such frail people as you and I. Everything seems to go wrong all at once. You may have lost your job, failed some good friends, lost a loved one, lost your home, misplaced something important, failed a test, find yourself left and surpassed by others, etc. Anything and everything that could go wrong has gone wrong and both Mr. Murphy and his law are having a terribly good time at your expense.

I know you have experienced such a storm as that just as you know that I have. We all have! Our souls seem so very downcast in those times, but (and this cannot be emphasized enough – BUT!) our hope - the totality of our confidence, trust, and faith - is founded upon the very Lord God Almighty. We may founder in the onslaught of the storm, but we are buttressed and sheltered by our Creator, and we know that there is an end to the storm, to the problems, to the trials and tribulations. At the end of the storm, when the sun peaks out of the clouds and it's rays warm the earth we will find everything is clean, crisp, fresh, and renewed in our lives. The storm - that metaphor for life - shows us and reminds us more about our true hope than anything else, no matter how bad it seemed at the time. Whatever storms you face shall pass in time and all will be new made.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

Acts 17:11: The importance of spending time daily in the Word

2010-10-10T19:46:00.000-05:00

Acts 17:11 “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

Have you felt like you are being dragged in the rip current that is your life? That you never have time for anything anymore? That even when you do try to get some time to yourself that interruptions and responsibilities plague you? Have you noticed that perhaps Christ does not seem as effective in your life as He once was? That going to church is less filling? That your faith is seemingly more tired and yet tried as never before? If so I am certain that I can make an accurate guess as to the reason for all this: you have not been spending time in the Word like you should be. You have been neglecting your daily personal time with the Lord of All.

I know this because I have gone through this as well, and these all seem to be consistent symptoms in my own life of when I start to slack off on really spending quality time with God. Most of the time I don't even notice it happening. I seem to be a tad bit busier and a little more harried, I can't seem to get up early enough to have my devotions without having to deal with something else at the same time, and so my devotions get shorter and shorter and shorter until I just don't seem to have the time to do them - “after all, God knows my heart” and all that. Oh I try to make up for it, but trying to do my devotions when I get home and am tired from work, I am more likely to fall asleep in my chair than actually get anything done. Of course I can make all the excuses that I want for why I am not having my personal, private time with the Lord but in the end thats all they are – excuses.

After going through a period of time where I havn't been doing my daily devotions, I find it really hard to get back into them. It takes a while before I start having the really quality time, the enjoyable time that I did X number of weeks ago. I know that for me starting up again and getting back into the habit of having a good, unrushed, pleasant, daily one-on-one with the Creator seems to always take more time than I spend not having them. But as I try 5 minutes turns into 10, 10 turns to 15, 15 turns to half and hour, and so forth. Those little daily nuggets of wisdom, that refreshing retreat into the Father's hands always seems to do me good. Despite nothing else changing in my life, just having these devotions makes things less rushed and harried throughout the day, interruptions don't seem as important, church is more filling, I seem to have all sorts of time to get what I need to done and then enough time to do other things as well, my Faith seems to awaken and the daily trials don't seem as large as they used to. And I no longer feel like I am being dragged but rather that I am in partnership with Life. Instead of the currents taking me hither, thither, and yon, instead I feel like a surfer on his board, making my way joyfully, relying on the currents to aid me, but not dependent on them to direct me.

So if you are having trouble right now seeing the point of that time, I assure you that it is helpful and will aid your daily life, as well as being necessary to your spiritual walk and your goal of walking with and following Christ. I have written this before and you have probably heard me say it as well, but Martin Luther wrote that the only way he managed to have time to do everything he had to do in his day was by spending the first three hours in prayer and reading the Bible. If you have been slack with yours daily time I heartily encourage you to get back into it. One young man I know has committed himself to reading one page a day and another reads one chapter a day. Whatever way you decide to apportion your bible reading, do it! It will soon become the best part of your day!

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Matthew 26:38 and Luke 24:38: When God Seems Absent

2010-10-03T09:33:00.000-05:00

Matthew 26:38 “Then He [Jesus] said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.'”

Luke 24:38 “And He [Jesus} said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?'”

Have you ever gone through a time when it seemed that God's presence was absent from your life? Money was tight, school projects seemed impossible, deadlines were not met, friends were leaving you, and everything was going wrong? Perhaps even the very core of your faith seemed shaken. If this has not yet happened to you, just wait and it will. Everyone goes through periods of time like this. I have, my dad has, my grandfather has, and I know that several of you have.

There are times in our lives that we go through this. Some of us only once, some of us go through multiple times, and it is always hard. Things start slipping - our devotional times get shorter and we watch a little more television, we may eat more, we skip church just once and then just once more, and then before we know it we have missed a year of services. During these periods of time we hear people joyfully exclaim how God is answering their prayers - every single one of them, and we think to ourselves “Huh! I wish God would answer my prayers – even just one.” Often it seems that everyone but us has had these large glowing neon-light billboard answers to prayer and we get more discourage.

When we talk about it with others, they quote verses to us like “Do not be discouraged” (Joshua 1:9) or more likely Romans 8:35, 38-39 “Who shall separate us from the Love of God?...” Those are good verses but they really don't help us. Instead look at Daniel, who prayed and fasted for 3 weeks while waiting for God to answer. Surely he was discouraged! Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, surely he was discouraged. David was on the run from his King, Saul and his wife had gone to another man. Certainly he was discouraged! God promised Abraham that his descendants would be more numerous than the stars in the sky, but even at 90 Abraham still had no children. Jacob was on the run from his brother, Elijah was on the run from King Ahab and his wife Jezebel and there were no other prophets around, Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern and sank in the mud for speaking God's word, John Bunyan was excommunicated for writing Pilgrim's Progress, and even after obeying God to move to India and work there with the untouchables, Mother Theresa never felt God's purpose for her life again. So, no, you are not alone. Even giants of our Faith such as these went through these times of blackest despair. However because of those times, they learned more of God. God uses these times, these valleys of the shadow of death, to teach us and mold us, to strengthen us and to assure us for future visits to this dark place.

In my life, when I have come out of this place of despair, this slough of despond, I have found that God was closer to me there than when I felt that I was able to feel His presence. Daniel was answered by a messenger from God, who was delayed by spiritual warfare, Joseph realized that his being sold into slavery saved his family, David grew to rely solely on God and wrote the beautiful psalms we turn to when we are troubled, Abraham had two children, both of whom have their own nations after them (Isaac and the Hebrews, and Ishmael and the Arabs), Jacob was blessed by the Lord and reunited with his brother, Elijah was assured that God had other prophets and then he went on to raise a dead child, Jeremiah was released by the pleadings of a converted Ethiopian nobleman, John Bunyan's book has become a staple of Christian Literature, becoming a perfect analogy for each of our walks with God, and Mother Theresa felt that she had stayed true to God's calling for her life. In his dark hour, Jesus wanted to be with you vicariously through His disciples, and then in their dark hour (and ours) He reassures us. He reminds us of his words in Matthew 24: 35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” He promised to be there for us forever, that nothing changes His deep love for us. When the storms rage and our faith fails and flags, He is still there waiting for us to recover, sheltering us in His shadow, and taking the worst of everything. Remember Solomon's fabled golden ring, inscribed with the words “This too shall pass.”

This week I pray that when the storm breaks, and life turns normal for you, you will be able to look back and see the progress that God has made in your life, and realize just how far He carried you through that sinister slough of despond.

Art thou in misery, brother? Then I pray
Be comforted. Thy grief shall pass away.
Art thou elated? Ah, be not too gay;
Temper thy joy: this, too, shall pass away.
Art thou in danger? Still let reason sway,
And cling to hope: this, too, shall pass away.
Tempted art thou? In all thine anguish lay
One truth to heart: this, too, shall pass away.
Do rays of loftier glory round thee play?
Kinglike art thou? This, too, shall pass away!
Whate’er thou art, wher’er thy footsteps stray,
Heed these wise words: This, too, shall pass away.”

Hebrews 4:12: The Living, Piercing, Discerning Words of God

2010-09-26T19:56:00.000-05:00

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

How often have we heard that God's word is a sword? I know I hear it frequently, and so do you. But when you look at the verse, I see more than just a comparison between God's word and a sword. I see an attempt to explain why God's word is so very feared by so many people. We see that God's word is living and active- its so powerful that it takes on a life of it's own, seeking out the hearts of men and women. God's word is a living word, it never contradicts itself but there is something for everyone in any situation. God's word is active in the lives of those who hear it as well. It pops up in our minds frequently, affirming us when we are down yet correcting us when we are wrong. A verse or a passage or even maybe just a couple words from a hymn will come to mind in whatever situation we may be facing and somehow it will be just what we need to hear, no matter if we like it or not.

God's word is sharper, piercing, going straight through whatever may be in the way of it's passage, cutting us to the quick. Like a surgeons scalpel it cuts away the dead tissue in our lives, removing the cysts and tumors of sin and allowing healing to begin. It finds the smallest nooks and crannies wherever anything other than God may be hiding and it does it's delicate work. It lances the boils of oppression and the pimples of perfidy. It sunders the sores of temptation and it even removes the bunions of bereavement. There is nothing so sharp, so piercing, so unstoppable in our lives as God's word.

His word is also discerning. It looks deep inside our heads and our hearts and finds what resides there, and it lets us know what it finds. Like a black speck on a white surface, it brings light to it and condemns us for our failure in house cleaning. It reminds us of how despite our own best efforts we are not, cannot, and will never be good enough or perfect enough. It shows our constant falling short of the mark, and in our disgrace it shows us a better way. It whispers to us “You may miss the mark, but there is one who always hits the target and He is willing to help you” It tears us down inside, removing our best prepared self-delusions, showing our base and fallen nature. Then it builds us up. It affirms our love of God, our perseverance in the face of adversity, our tenacity in seeking after God, and then it asks us to do more, work harder, persevere longer, love deeper, and hold on tighter. And despite our frequent mistakes, it tells us that we are doing better today than we did yesterday, we did better yesterday than we did last week, and so forth. God's word plumbs the very depths of our being and despite finding us wanting, it provides the answers and works constantly to repair and make us whole.

The word of God surrounds us, and the more time we spend thinking about it and learning it, the more it can do in and through our lives. It longs to cure us of our fallen nature and instead bring us to full and total communion with God. Will you let it or will you ignore it yet again? Its your choice, but its constantly going to be there with you. I encourage you to let God's love and grace reign in your life, listen to His soft word which resounds deep in your soul, and let it build you up whole and perfected in His righteousness. It is so very worth it.

James 1:2-4: Faith in Duress (and out of it too)

2010-09-19T10:45:00.000-05:00

James 1:2-4 “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing” (HCSB)

How often do we think about the completeness of our faith? “Completeness?” you ask “Do you mean the totality of our doctrine?” No, not really. What I mean is “What all has your faith been through.” Has your faith been through great joy and great sorrow, mediocre happiness and mediocre complaints, lesser gladness and lesser melancholies. Has our faith grown in the hard times and in the easy times?

Have you ever seen a tree, growing there on the edge of a cliff? The wind blows hard against it and the soil is of little nourishment, but the hardships and the problems that tree faces gives it the beauty and strength we appreciate. For that tree to even sprout and survive the first few years however, there must have been some shelter, some dirt, some shade, some rain. The good times, the easy times allowed that tree the time to build its internal structure that kept it standing in the harsh winds of winters and summers. The tree had to endure through a lot for it to grow to where it was. Our faith is the same way. All the trials we face help prepare us and grow us to be a better and more mature Christian. All the times of plenty allow us the opportunity to put what we learned in the trials to use.

Lets think about the people of Israel in bondage under Pharaoh. If they had not built up their endurance by working all day as slaves in the sun, on their feet the whole time with little nourishing food, how well do you think they would have survived living forty years in the Sinai wilderness on nothing but manna? Sure their clothes and shoes never wore out, but they had it tougher in the Sinai than they did in Egypt! They wanted to go back to Egypt! And then when they had to fight the people in the promised land, they wished that they had died in the wilderness! (Numbers 14:2-3)

So think about the completeness of your faith. Has it endured? Has it learned to endure? What about you? Have you absorbed the lessons you have had to experience or perhaps shrugged them off, not realizing what you can learn from them? How have you been changed by your life experiences so far? Have you even noticed yourself changing? The wholeness of our lives, the very fabric of our being is formed by the very problems we complain about. Instead of complaining lets learn to appreciate these tests, these ordeals because God uses them to form us and teach us, increasing our faith and our understanding of Him.

Count it joy, and never be discouraged,
When by trials your life is sorely pressed.
For you know that when your faith is tested,
Your endurance then develops best.
Perseverance must complete its working;
You will need to let it have its way.
When it’s done, you’ll be complete and perfect,
Having all you need to meet each day.

Living Through Tragedy

2010-09-12T09:14:00.001-05:00

Yesterday we remembered a tragedy that occurred several years ago. Nine years ago yesterday a group of people hijacked four airplanes and then crashed the planes. We all know the story, two crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, one was crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, while on the fourth, the passengers managed to divert the airplane into crashing in a field in Pennsylvania instead of its (perceived) intended target of Washington D.C. This was the first international terrorist incident in the history of the United States of America, and it changed the daily life of the world forever.

Now why do I bring this up in a devotional? I spent some time yesterday praying for the USA, for the survivors of the Twin Towers, and for the families of all the victims and rescue personnel who have died. While I was in prayer, I recalled Genesis 50:20, where Joseph is reassuring his brothers that he bears them no malice “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” I wondered at this verse, because it could be callously interpreted that God intended for that to happen, to bring death to nearly 3000 people in one day because it was for the greater good of all; yet this does not correlate or harmonize with how the rest of the Bible portrays God. God is consistently shown to care about each person individually and communally (for example: the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7) shows this). So then how exactly is this verse to be applied and interpreted in conjunction with the events of such a tragedy as 9/11? Paul takes this idea of God meaning evil things for good in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God...” (KJV) We know that tragedy is inevitable. Jesus even told us as much in Luke 13:1-5! He also told us to not worry about what may or may not happen (Matthew 6:34) because “Sufficient for the day is it's own trouble.”

Trouble happens. Some of it is Satan trying to get us, but I think that a lot of it is just us. A person was forgetful in doing something. Maybe someone felt denied something and wanted to make things “even.” Perhaps someone was selfish and did something. In all these cases a chain of events can occur that lead to tragedies, both personal and widespread. It happens, and not all of it is the devil's fault. We lay far to much credit to Satan for all the problems in this world. Trouble happens, and for whatever reason it happened, it still happened. God gives us this assurance though, that Jesus Christ, “He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:4 HCSB). In John 14:27, Jesus tells us “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Over and over and over again we see this theme of “Certainly, there are going to be problems, troubles, disasters, and terrible events that will happen” but we also see reassurance that God will most certainly take whatever evil has befallen us, whatever tragedy has raised it's ugly head, and whatever problem assaults us and He will turn it to bring Him glory and benefit. When disaster strikes us, how do we react? With terror, frenzied and anxiously? Or do we step out in prayer and faith that God will use it? After 9/11 thousands came to know Jesus as their personal Savior. Because of 9/11 people have donated more to missions and to service outreach projects. Because of 9/11 there has been a renewed effort to reach out to people because we have learned yet again that life can go at any moment and maybe, just maybe God wants to use us in some small way to help someone else. Perhaps its as simple as giving them a ride to the gas station, or buying them some groceries. Maybe its as important as leading them to Christ. Maybe God just wants to bless us and allow us to watch Him work in our lives. In any case, when we face affliction or misfortune, let us listen and remember our Savior's words in Matthew 11:28-31 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Galatians 5:17: Failures of our Flesh, Victory in our Spirit

2010-09-05T13:35:00.000-05:00

Galatians 5:17 “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

How many of us, like Paul, have cried out “I want to do right, I cannot. Instead of doing what I know is right, I do wrong.” (Rom 7:18b-19 CEV) I know that I have. We all have to face ourselves and see what we are really like. It always seems that the more we know of Christ the worse we truly are. Certainly a non-believer would have trouble seeing our point of view on this, but what others would see as being venial sins – small, unimportant, and having little consequence in the grand scheme of things – we find ourselves seeing as being the entirety of sin. No longer is that little white lie unimportant, no more is that gossip shared over a cup of coffee or at the water cooler something to be ignored. We know that all sin is the same in the eyes of God, that breaking one is like breaking them all (James 2:10) and that Jesus equated the thought with the action as being of equal value (Matthew 5).

Our flesh, our worldly self full of selfish desires and wants is continuously bothering us, whispering in our heart trying to convince us to ignore the desires of the Spirit. Our spiritual man is locked in mortal combat with our physical, fleshly, worldly man. Often times we find ourselves giving in to our worldly self and ignoring our spiritual self. We are the same as Paul! Despite our faults though, we still walk in the newness of life! (Romans 6:4) This is why we are told to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11) This is why we are told to be constantly in the Word (John 8:31-32). When we are fully walking in the word of God, when we walk according to God's Holy Spirit, listening, learning, experiencing and practicing the very presence of God, then and only then does our flesh retreat and we no longer gratify the flesh. (Galatians 5:16) In fact, Paul writes that we must put to death whatever is earthly, fleshly, and worldly in ourselves. (Colossians 3:5)

But despite our propensity for walking in the flesh, we are set free in Christ, who's blood covers the multitude of our sins, thus we are cleansed of all unrighteousness (Romans 3:25, 1 John 1:7-9,1 John 2:2). Despite our failures, we have Christ as our intercessor, constantly representing us before God at all times, despite ourselves. (Hebrews 7:25). So take heart! Just because we make a mistake, just because we have problems controlling ourselves and putting to death our fleshly self, just because we are unable to do the good we want to do, instead we do the evil we do not wish to do, we are still His precious children, learning mistake by mistake, failure by failure, and we love Him all the more for it. Just because we fall does not mean we stay down, we get up and try again. Eventually we will get there. Proverbs 24:16 reminds us of this as well. Again, take heart. Christ has the victory! Christ has overcome the world and that includes that worldly self of ours that tries to stand against the Spirit!

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Isaiah 43:10: God's precious Glory

2010-08-29T18:24:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 43:10 “You are My witnesses, says the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know Me, believe Me and remain steadfast to Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me.” (AMP)

Did you know that you are God's chosen witness? His special servant chosen for a special task? Yes! You are! I am! We are! I know that often there are things going on in our lives – baggage from our old life if you will – that seem to never go away. We spend our time fighting ourselves and trying to crucify our flesh (Gal 5:24) and we never get anywhere. We even start wondering if this is our “thorn in the flesh” that Paul talks about. Then we begin to accept this baggage as part of us, irremovable and irreconcilable to our new life. This pressure begins to pull us apart and we don't even know why! The reason for it is that God is giving us a witness, a testimony. He is offering to deliver us from even our baggage in a unique and special way, not just saving our soul but healing us of past hurts or curing continuing sins such as filthy mouths, lustful eyes, gossiping ears, covetous hearts, and greedy hands. He is offering to deliver us that we may know, believe, and remain steadfast to Him! God told Paul “My Grace is sufficient for You” (2 Cor 12:19) and yes, sometimes it is only by the grace of God we learn to live and lose our fault, our baggage. Other times – and I do think that this applies more often to us as believers – we seem to forget that despite our own efforts, we can't crucify ourselves and our own flesh!

God is eternal, our faults are not, our sins are not, our baggage is not. God is eternal and He wants to help you and I by delivering us and assisting us to get over our carry-overs from before we knew Him. God does this because He has a plan for us, a life changing play to present us before the world as representatives as His glory! “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” (Isa 43:7) That's right, you were created for God's glory, and you are His glory, His child, His beloved. Did you know that in the Bible Children are considered the glory of their parents? Yes! You aren't just a special work to be shown off, a show piece for the masses at God's Gallery debut, but rather you are His glorious child, His beloved whom he wants to show off like a proud parent! You are the Righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21) and there is absolutely nothing that can change that! (Rom 8:38-39)

This next week, lets remember this. Lets live our lives committed to being His glory, His delight, and His beloved. Lets find those small bits and pieces that we have carried with us and turn them completely over to Him, thanking Him for deliverance from them even before He does anything with them because He surely will. Remember, you are His special one!

Lamentations 3:24: The Largeness of our Inheritance

2010-08-23T08:51:00.005-05:00

Lamentations 3:24 "'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I will hope in Him.'"

Have you ever been out to eat and after ordering your food, you see someone else's and wish that you had ordered that? I know I have. It seems to occur frequently when you go out. Sure mine looks decent, but yours looks great! Maybe you are thinking the same thing, but this plate is my portion and that plate is your portion.

I know that we all have problems with wanting what we don't have - that whole "the grass is greener on the other side" idea. When the Lord is my portion, I have a massive banquet set before me, a veritable feast with steaks piled high, potatoes boiled, sauteed, and baked. There are delectable greens of every shade and form and sweet breads to make the mouth water. Afterwards there is ice cream, cobbler, pie, puddings and cake. So why, if I have this set before me does the greasy burger with the wilted lettuce and drooping cheese look good? Why if I have a kings dinner waiting for me do I find myself desiring fast food? Its not right! The Lord is our portion assures me that I have more waiting for me than what is available right now and right here.

Another way of looking at it is this: The Lord is our inheritance. In Psalm 16:5 David writes "O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup..." (KJV) Sure the Lord my have infinite children, but he also has infinite resources. He owns the cattle on the thousand hills, and that is merely the tip of it all! Solomon in all his wisdom never accumulated such wealth. JD Rockefeller did not have even a small portion of God's goods. Even if Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Croesus, the Sultan of Bahrain, the Rothschild family, and even the Queen of England (and for good measure lets just throw in the entire Forbes 500 list of wealthiest people in the world) combined all their wealth and goods they are still poor compared to God, and God promises us an inheritance in Him.

God has made us his children, adopted us into his family and set us up in His business, and He provides our paycheck, our living arrangements, our food. etc. With all this, we still seem to forget just how tremendous He is and His assets are and we start to worry about ourselves. We want what the world has. We want the cars, the houses, the apparent sustainability of lifestyle, the grades, the fame, the honor, etc. In short we forget that Jesus, our supposed inspiration, ever present help in trouble, saviour, redeemer, deliverer, and big brother was by earthly standards poor. He was homeless, He walked everywhere, He ate what He could glean on the side of the road or what people gave Him. He did not even have an umbrella for when it rained! Yet He sits today at the right hand of Father God and beckons us to walk and live as He did. Our portion, or our reward is tremendous.

The cup of blessings is ours for the asking! So really, whatever slight issues we have here on earth are nothing in the long run. The real issue is are we truly walking in Jesus' footsteps, doing the work that Father God has asked us to do?
When the day is over and our time of tending the sheep or gardening in the vineyard (or any of the other examples Jesus used) is done, we have a massive feast waiting for us in our honor because God's hand selected our portion because He loves us so very much.

This week, lets focus on the right things, the things before us rather than the things we want. Lets just remember that God's promises are eternal and are always kept.

Psalm 119:169-176: God's word shows us the Mark to aim for

2010-08-15T09:31:00.000-05:00

Psalm 119:169 “Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word!”
Psalm 119:176 “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.”

It is always sad to come to an end. Today we come to the end of our study into Psalms 119 with this, the last section, the last octonary. Whenever something comes to an end, we as people tend to look back and restate or summarize events. We do this at funerals and weddings, graduations and promotions, whenever an aspect of our life comes to an end we look back for a time of reflection. David does the same thing in this last section. He starts off praying to God that all the preceding psalm is heard be accepted in Heaven above, before the throne of God. He starts praising God, then giving thanks, then he gives his restated and summarized request for mercy, comprehension of God's laws, and the ability to obey God in totality. Finally he summarizes up this last section with what has now become a famous image in our Christian heritage – that of a lost sheep needing deliverance.

As we have gone through this psalm, it seems to me that David becomes more and more fervent in his prayer. The deeper he goes in prayer, the more he cries out for more. He wants to desire God, he desires God, and he only desires God. If something does not pertain to God, is not involved with God's will and God's word, then David does not want anything to do with it.

I notice that in my life I have had a serious lack of really desiring only God. Sure, I am somewhat of a hyperactive guy, but that doesn't excuse me. I have wanted all sorts of things besides God – a better paycheck, a nicer car, a bigger TV, a faster computer, more books, etc. I really don't need any of those things and my desire for them stems from me, from my selfishness, from my flesh. Its greed and its not a total desire for God and His will to be done rather than mine. I know I need to learn from David how to subjugate my will and instead learn to want what God's will is, and that is something that is very difficult for me.

The Hebrew letter “Tav” means “mark” or “cross”, with connotations of a covenant or sacrifice. Tav comes at the end, the mark that we aim for, the cross we are saved by which is the end of our old life, the new covenant we are now under with a constant realizing of the sacrifice that was paid for us. We are constantly reminded about how much God loves us, how great is His grace, a sign of how much He wants to abide with us. In fact the old hHbrew word for “sign” is spelled Aleph, Vav, Tav, or literally “the first, the leader, the strong man nailed to the cross” The word sign is used all over the Old Testament, wherever prophecies are, everything from the signs God used to encourage the Hebrew nation in Slavery in Egypt to Hezekiah and the sun going up the stairs backwards. Every sign was a reference to Christ, every sign is a reminder of Christ, every sign should lead us to Christ. God wants us to draw near to Him. He loves it when we come running to Him for anything. My selfishness and pride hold me back from being totally able to run to Him and jump into the King of all Creation's arms like the little child I am supposed to be, and I want so very much to be able to do that! I want to have David's heart for God, and I know you do too.

How then do we get David's heart for God? Well we need to study and seek after God like David did: with all fervor and desperation, like its the most important thing we could ever do, like its our last chance – which it really is. We need to spend the hours in prayer that David did. We need to focus everything on God and His desires, wants, will, and greatness. I say we, but I am speaking as much to myself as to you. Join me so it truly is “we” rather than “I.”

Psalm119:161-168 God's Word is True Personal Gain

2010-08-08T17:52:00.001-05:00

Psalm 119:162 “I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.”
Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.”

Have you ever read a passage of scripture and then realized that you just grew a little more, that you had just became a tad better and more Christlike? Yeah, me neither. What I have noticed instead is a gradual change. The more time I spend in the Bible the better my days go, the more levelheaded I seem, and the less often I get distracted by “worldly” things. I'm not saying that I am not distractable because I am. I really am. It still seems so easy to watch a movie instead of reading my Bible. Its still easy to go read a sci-fi novel instead of taking time for prayer and adoration of the Most High. Its still easy – you get the idea. But change has come, slowly, as I internalize the Word of God. Slowly but surely things in my life have changed, just like they have in yours. I can look back at who I was and who I am and I can rejoice because I know that I will continue to grow more towards Christ in the years to come and that I will never stop growing. This pittance of a change is nothing compared to the tremendous advances that will be made in my life in my endeavor for Christlikeness.

The Bible contains everything we need to know. It really does. It is a treasure beyond compare and David knew that. He adored God and he wrote about how great a treasure it was for him. Gods word was that pearl of great price for him. God's word was that reassurance that despite the circumstances God was in charge. God's word was the reminder of what David had to look forward to and what he had done. God's word taught him how to avoid sin. The Bible, God's Word was everything that David needed, and it is everything that we need.

Often times we look out at our neighbors or the world around us and say “You know, we need this to be happy” or “This would make my life easier” and maybe it could, but we don't really need it. Its no real treasure. We can surround ourselves with things here on earth and it really won't make us happy, make us better people, lift our hearts when we are sad, encourage us, or aid our walk with Christ. We view these things as treasure and great spoil but in reality they aren't. Its all dross. In Mark 8:36, Jesus says “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” I know that I would rather gain Heaven than the world, save my soul and lose the world, save a soul and lose my life than anything else. God's word is that valuable and that life changing. How can we who claim His name and His blood not know His word? If we know His word it truly does change our lives. Not always in an instant, but slowly and surely over time we find that we are changed from who we were to who He wants us to be.

This week, are you spending the time in the Word like you should be? Am I? As you read your devotions think about how God is working in your life and what treasures you have found by serving Him.

Come, ye thankful people, come,
raise the song of harvest home;
all is safely gathered in,
ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide
for our wants to be supplied;
come to God's own temple, come,
raise the song of harvest home.

Psalm 119:153-160: God's Word requires a heavy choice

2010-08-01T09:01:00.001-05:00

Psalm 119:153 “Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.”
Psalm 119:160 “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”

I just love how the Bible has so many interesting things in it. Did you know that there is foreshadowing of Jesus' statement in Matthew 19:30, about the last being first and the first being last? Yes! The Hebrew alphabet contains twenty two letters, the 19th and 20th are Qoph and Resh. Last week we discussed Qoph, which is the idea of Holiness, but is formed in the idealized pictograph of the back of a head (Moses was allowed to see God's back, remember? Exodus 33:19-22) Its also denotes “Last” as well as Holiness. Resh means “First” and can also denote the head of something or leader. Resh has one other very interesting connotation. It connotates the point of choice, the point at which no matter what is decided everything else will change or must change - there is no middle ground or continuing on as before.

Now why this tepid, boring lecture on the intricacies of the Hebrew alphabet? First of all, “First” follows “Last” in the alphabet, rather than the normal and standard approach of “First” being first. Jesus used this idea when He gave His parable about the field workers and their wages. Secondly, the Psalmist's writing in this section (v.153-160) actually precedes the preceding section (v.145-152). The earlier section was about Davids earnest seeking after holiness and deliverance while this section is David crying out initially for help. In a way this section is about David's choices that led to the rest of this Psalm. Extrapolating further, it was David's choice stepping out on this road of relying totally on God rather than himself for deliverance, uprightness, loyalty, perseverance, etc. that leads to all the other psalms that he wrote. He wrote that at the beginning of this adventure in serving God Most High, he understood that all of God's words were true, and all of God's commands and precepts were immutable. He wrote that he chose to willingly and eagerly follow God's way without recourse to his own. He wrote that he was totally surrendered and committed to God to the point that he was unable to stand anyone who would willfully chose against God's ways. He was happy with his choice no matter what, despite the results of alienation from his family, being hunted down by his King, hunted by the enemies of his people (who also had rejected him despite his endeavors on their behalf),having his wife leave him while he was on the run, and even having one of his son's lead a coup against him. He was content with his choice to absolutely without reservations follow God's word. He considered it the best way a person could live – the best choice that could be made.

That is a challenge to us. Do we live out our choice like David did? Do we see things in the same light? Sure we have our problems, but do they compare to David's? Do they compare to Job's? No, not really. We are not fugitives in our own land with a price on our head. We have not lost our family and friends because of following God. We have not lost everything because we chose God. We have not faced the issues Job faced, let alone David. That in itself should encourage us. The sum of God's word is truth, and thus worth observing. Lets make a renewed effort to seek after God's ways and not our own despite the headaches and heartaches we will face.

Faith is a living power from Heaven
That grasps the promise God hath given,
A trust that cannot be o’erthrown,
Fixed heartily on Christ alone.

Psalm 119:145-152: Desperate for Holiness

2010-07-25T08:42:00.001-05:00

Psalm 119:145 “With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep your statutes”
Psalm 119:152 “Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.”

Have you ever cried out to God for something? Something important? I recall one time when I cried out and He answered. At the time I was desperately looking for my gerbil who had escaped his cage. My family and I were living in this large single story ranch house which meant that there were all sorts of little nooks and crannies for the gerbil to get into. Also there were mice around who would get into the gerbil food at night. Finally there was an old blacksnake which lived underneath the house as further danger for the gerbil. I really wanted to find our little pet and I was distraught. I cried out to God, praying as hard as I could, begging Him to help us find the gerbil. Not more than a couple minutes later we found him in the clean towels in the closet. Now admittedly what I cried out for as a child and what David cried out for in this Psalm are two different things. David cried out for holiness, For God to totally free him from his enemies – not enemies who were people, but enemies who were thoughts, deeds, actions, memories! David was beset with reminders of how fallen he was and he was scared of falling short and failing the trust God had placed in him!

David's enemies are our enemies too. We don't have the exact same recriminatory memories, but we do share the same deeds, the same basic thoughts, the same fleshly actions, and a memory that constantly bombards us with each and every failing. We too need to seek after God's holiness with all desperation. While most assuredly our enemies are far from God's law - enemies also not of flesh and blood, but of powers and principalities of darkness – David's beautiful statement is also equally true, “But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true.” (v 151) Every single one of God's commands are true, and every promise of His endures for ever (Isaiah 40:8). He promises to draw near to us if we draw near to Him. Unlike Yoda from Star Wars, God doesn't believe in “there is no try”. He wants us to do our best, to make the attempt, try for it and He will meet us because He knows that it is only through His strength and power, might and grace that we could ever succeed. We need to pursue with a single-minded determination after His holiness and serving Him to the best of our abilities. He will make things right. So lets be as desperate as David in seeking after and trying to draw near to God.

Help me to be holy, O Father of light;
Guilt-burdened and lowly, I bow in Thy sight;
How shall a stained conscience dare gaze on Thy face,
E’en though in Thy presence Thou grant me a place?

Help me to be holy, O Savior divine;
Why conquer so lowly this nature of mine?
Stamp deeply Thy likeness where Satan’s has been;
Expel with Thy brightness my darkness and sin!

Help me to be holy, O Spirit divine;
Come, sanctify wholly this temple of Thine;
Now cast out each idol, here set up Thy throne.
Reign, reign without rival, supreme and alone!

He is Sufficient!

2010-07-18T09:21:00.002-05:00

This week I am going to take a break from our series on Psalm 119 and instead focus on something a little different. Today lets instead look at sufficiency. I have had 2 Corinthians 12:9 running through my head, especially the part where God tells Paul “My grace is sufficient for you.” Now most of you know that I am not a big fan of The Message, but I think it really captures what I have been thinking of. It reads “My grace is enough; it's all you need.” Earlier, in 2 Corinthians 3:5, Paul wrote “...but our sufficiency is from God,” and that brings us back to Matthew 6:25-34, where Jesus tells us, promises us really that God is sufficient for everything!

What is sufficient? Merriam Webster defines “Sufficient” as “ enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end” and Dictionary.com defines it as “adequate for the purpose; enough:” God said that He is sufficient for ALL our needs, In fact we are promised that “...God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8 HCSB). God is sufficient! He is enough, and He will provide enough for us. There is a caveat to that though, notice towards the end of 2 Corinthians 9:8 it says that we “may excel in every good work.” We are expected to use what we have to glorify God and to do His mighty, good works. We are expected to help build and maintain His kingdom, to take care of what we have and to take care of that which is precious in His sight. His sufficiency extends to everyone and that means that often time we are the conduit of His sufficiency for someone else.

Now why have I been thinking about His sufficiency? What does it really mean? His sufficiency has been beaten again and again into my rather thick skull. Its a lesson that I keep having to relearn. Sufficiency means that God provides enough for me. I don't really need a nicer car, the one I have is sufficient. I don't really need a nice stereo, the one I have is sufficient. My vacuum cleaner is sufficient to my needs, so I don't need another one...or more. My time is sufficient for all that I need to do. I even have more free time than I should if I look at my schedule! God meets my needs and its been amazing! There is nothing I can think of that I need that God has not provided for and there is nothing I can want that I find that He has not already and truly met that need in the best way possible. So there is something you can think about, just like I have been. Think about His sufficiency in your life, your needs, your wants – really think about them – and compare your needs and wants to what you have and how God is providing. You will be just as amazed as I have been.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God, My Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Psalm 119:137-144: His word leads us towards true Righteousness

2010-07-11T08:35:00.001-05:00

Psalm 119:137 “Righteous are you, O LORD, and right are your rules.”
Psalm 119:144 “Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.”

I enjoy hiking - the great big, beautiful outdoors untainted by construction projects is a lovely experience. I find myself going back to these trails to get away from civilization for a time. There is something special about following a map, a compass, a chart, and not really having any real time commitments during the trip. You can go as fast or as slow as you need. Its delightful! What does hiking, camping, and the great outdoors seem to have to do with this section of scripture though? Well, its all about the journey. Okay, that sounds a little cliché and overused, but it really is. This entire section is based around the idea of a journey, a hunt, a chase, and most importantly finding the right trail. When I am out hiking, there are a multitude of trails in the woods. Some are real, some are not. I can find myself following what I think is the right path only to find that it ends in a thicket or a river. Other trails are firm and solid, but go the wrong direction. I need to know which trail I want to follow to get to my destination, whether it is my campsite, my car, or some other goal. Thats why I have a map to follow. With the map hopefully I can find the right trail.

We have been given a wonderful map to life, and it has an inbuilt compass in it! The Bible shows us the trails to follow. It helps us to chose the right passage way. The Bible is our roadmap to righteousness. Despite our handicap of being born in total sin and our selfish, self centered lives, we are made pure by the blood of Christ, by His death and resurrection. He sanctified us and we have now found ourselves in the curious position of being righteous because He is righteous, not because we earned it or merited it, not because we are somehow worthy or perfect, but because He is. This is the testimony of God, this is our testimony now too. We need this map that God gives us so that we can follow Him more because He is worth it. There is nothing we could do to deserve what He has done for us and because we want to follow Him, obey Him, please Him, and love Him more we want to know His Word. The Bible is there for that reason. It is when we learn it, study it, and discuss it with God during our devotions that we begin to understand it. When we start to understand it then we start to internalize it and apply it to our lives, we start to act it out and we begin to realize that we are truly alive. No longer do we seem to stumble through the half shadows that was our life, but now we can see clearly, the path is before us and it's obstacles are clear. The bright light of Christ revives us and encourages us. This, then, is what the Word of God offers us.

How often do we neglect our study and meditation of Scripture? What about actually talking about it with the author? We have that ability! Why not take advantage of it? This week, lets make that our goal!

I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green;
they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.

Psalm 119:129-136: His Word is Wonderful

2010-07-04T18:10:00.001-05:00

Psalm 119:129 “Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.”
Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”

Have you ever found yourself wanting something so badly that you could not stay away? Perhaps it was a job, or maybe a car. It might have been a relationship, or it could have been an experience, a toy, a computer, some music, a concert, basically anything! Did you ever stop and think that perhaps that is an example of how much God wants to be with you? Did you ever stop and wonder that maybe – just maybe – that is how God wanted you to want Him?

The Psalmist cries out how wonderful and amazing God's word is to him as well as how valuable and desirous of knowing it he is. Last week we covered David's prayer for steadfastness of heart and this week we see him being reassured with the comfort that God's word brings. The previous section of the 119th Psalm was based around the idea of “Ayin” or the eye while this section is based around “Pe” the mouth. Then at the end of this octonary David references back to the prior section again, completing an idea circle according to the rabbis and teachers who specialize in this section of scripture. In Ayin, David wrote about what he has seen and what he wants to see. In Pe David writes about what he has experienced and what he has absorbed and knows and desires more of. He is able to speak of what he previously was crying out to see. Then to complete the circle, in verse 136, he writes “My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.” Where he cries out and desires what he has experienced to occur to other people. He has compassion for those who despise God's Law and wants nothing more than for them to see the joy and experience the same wonder that He does. In an indirect way, this passage could be seen as the precursor to the great commandment that Jesus gave, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15)

If God's Word, His Law, His Promises are so very wonderful why are we not out sharing them? Why do we hide them under a basket and try to keep them to ourselves rather than letting everyone we come into contact with know? Sure, we may find ourselves oppressed, but God will protect us so that we may continue to glorify Him (vs 134). We will assuredly find ourselves staggering in our walk, and we will need God to steady us and keep us on the straight and narrow way (vs 133). When we Love His Name, we will share Him because we can't but help sharing Him. Just like we couldn't help but talk about that thing we desired back up in the first paragraph today!

Because we have found the wonder, the joy, the understanding, the wisdom, the daily illumination of His Word in our lives, we are able to overcome our natural, fleshly person and start discovering and walking in our spiritual, redeemed person! We need to share that! We need to speak out, regardless of the results! We want others to discover God's amazing grace too! We saw, we learned, and now we need to show it to others!

It's because I'm forgiven
It's because I'm free
It's because You've shown my mercy and You believed in me
It's because You're my Savior
It's because You're my friend
And Your love it lifts me higher than I've ever been.
(Philips, Craig, and Dean “Because I'm Forgiven” c.2004)