Help Me Up

Help me up

Are you steady, dependable?  I want to be a man who does what he does excellently,  ‘in season and out of season.’   No one should have to question, ‘can we rely on Jerry?’ The Bible calls this faithfulness and God desires it in us. He entrusts us with the treasure of Christ and says " it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2, NIV) Few things bring more disgrace to Christ than those who claim to be passionately committed to Him one day and apathetic towards Him the next! "Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can’t go on. A spring doesn’t gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it?” (James 3:10-11, The Message)

Faithfulness grows out of making the choice, to do the right thing- not the easy thing, not the convenient thing, not the fun thing – but the right thing. One does not live recklessly for years and suddenly become the model of steadiness! A child who is taught to do the little things on time and with quality will most likely grow into an adult who is capable of getting to work, working through conflict, making commitments! Jesus told a story about three men given a trust, each according to his abilities. The master inspected their work and commended two who were faithful by saying, “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!" (Matthew 25:20-21, NIV) However, faithfulness is not just a matter of discipline.

We cannot underestimate the value of companions who keep us steady when Life gets rough. Even a great leader like Moses, needed men to steady him when things were going wrong.  Here’s a story. "While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset." (Exodus 17:8-12, NLT) How did Moses keep steady hands? Only with the help of two great friends!

Days will come when you want to turn from the hard stuff and run away!  It can stretch into months when every morning dawns demanding that you get up and do the right thing when all you want to do is pull the covers over your head. Are you dealing with chronic pain?  Are you trying to love a difficult person?  Are you stuck working for a boss who is an idiot? Are you wrestling with temptation that keeps coming back? Stay steady. If you think you’re on the edge of collapse, call for support.

Then, too, watch out for pride when you’re doing well.  Blindness to our weakness can overtake us when we’re on a long run of success. Here’s a warning and promise. May the wisdom of these words keep us faithful. “Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence. No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it " (1 Corinthians 10:12-13, The Message)

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We Will Stand

Sometimes it's hard for me to understand

Why we pull away from each other so easily

Even though we're all walking the same road

Yet we build dividing walls

Between our brothers and ourselves

You're my brother you're my sister

So take me by the hand

Together we will work until He comes

There's no foe that can defeat us

When we're walking side by side

As long as there is love

We will stand

But I I don't care what label you may wear

If you believe in Jesus you belong with me

The bond we share is all I care to see

And we'll change the world forever

If you will join with me

Join and sing

The day will come when we will be as one

And with a mighty voice

Together we will proclaim that Jesus

Jesus is King

It will echo through the earth

It will shake the nations

And the world will see

See that

Take me by the hand

Join with me

Join and see yeah

James Hollihan | Russ Taff | Tori Taff

© 1983 Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)

CCLI License # 810055

When Abba Soothes

Mom’s cancer was gradually taking her strength, but her faith did not waver!  One of my sweetest memories was going to check on her and seeing her hands extended heaven-ward as she prayed. But, sometimes the pain and the fear of the unknown made even that strong lady cry. The tears slid down her face and mine, too, when I lay down next to her to hug her in comfort. On Monday, as the news streamed out of Boston about the bombs that killed and maimed people gathered for the Marathon, I know I was not the only one with tears in his eyes.  A 60 Minutes story about a despot in Africa named Kony who steals children from their beds to become his soldiers and who tortures those who dare to resist him, made tears well up in my eyes. Tears are a frequent visitor these days, not because I have a terrible life, but because there are so many who suffer.

Satan rains terrible suffering and pain on this planet that Adam sub-let to him with his disobedience in the Garden. Oh, yes, I know that each one of us contributes to the pain with words we say in anger and/or selfish choices that bring unforeseen and/or unintended consequences. Tears of remorse are sometimes the most plentiful! Amid all those tears, I do find comfort, and so can all those who weep. At the end myself, He comes by His Spirit, or through the tender compassion of a friend, or in a serendipitous display of beauty and reminds me that He is still God and that He is good. He is the “source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NLT)

The most wonderful promise for those who know the Savior is this: when the struggle’s over, God will draw us close. Abba will sooth us and He will dry our tears!  "I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:3-5, NIV)

Yes, on this broken planet, there are days when life hurts too deeply for words. If our aim is to avoid pain, we can amuse ourselves, we can medicate ourselves, we can become self-absorbed.  But, this is not the way of Christ. Our Lord’s heart was broken by the suffering of those with whom He walked. And, if we share His compassion, ours will be, too.  As we weep, we must pray for protection from bitterness that turns us into ugly, mean people. There is a difference between tears of bitterness and tears of brokenness.  Bitter people grow brittle and break!  Broken people open their heart to the restorative Presence of Jesus and find comfort which they, in turn, share with others. Gordon Jensen wrote a song with this memorable line, “God weeps along with man and takes him by the hand, tears are a language God understands.”

Are the tears ready to fall today? Has the disappointment, the pain, the unrelenting struggle with the curse of sin nearly broken you in two?  Go ahead and cry. Find a place alone with Abba and let the tears that fall become a wordless prayer for renewal of hope, for healing, for forgiveness. Then, give thanks for the grace to stand and the promise that He someday will wipe away every tear, and even the memory of those things which make you cry, from your eyes forever.
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I Will Rise

There's a peace I've come to know,

Though my heart and flesh may fail,

There's an anchor for my soul,

I can say, “it is well.”

Jesus has overcome,

And the grave is overwhelmed.

The victory is won,

He is risen from the dead.

 (And) I will rise when He calls my name,

No more sorrow, no more pain!

I will rise on eagle's wings,

Before my God, fall on my knees, and rise,

I will rise.

There's a day that's drawing near,

When this darkness breaks to light.

And the shadows disappear,

And my faith shall be my eyes.

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,

“Worthy is the Lamb!”

And I hear the cry of ev'ry longing heart,

“Worthy is the Lamb!”

(And) I will rise when He calls my name,

No more sorrow, no more pain!

I will rise on eagle's wings,

Before my God, fall on my knees, and rise,

I will rise.

Chris Tomlin | Jesse Reeves | Louie Giglio | Matt Maher

© 2008 Vamos Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Spring Cleaning

About a decade ago, we had a day of Spring cleaning at our church.  The assembled team went through every closet and room carrying out anything that was ready to be discarded.  Between the two building on the site, we filled a large dumpster with old furniture, boxes, play props, and nameless junk that had accumulated over the years.  Watching the stuff pile up, the thought struck me that each piece had once been valued for some purpose, but now was destined for the dump!   More than once during the process somebody raised their voice, “Don’t throw that away, I remember when . . .”   A lot of the stuff was stored for reasons of sentiment, not usefulness, so out it went.  The reclaimed space was re-decorated and readied for good purposes.

I’ve been doing some Spring cleaning.  I am digging through the rooms of my mind, evaluating and sorting the memories, attitudes, and ‘truths’ that I stored away.  It’s not a pleasant task.   Some memories that bring a smile to my face as I remember an old friend or some moment of accomplishment.  There are other memories that bring on the tears – some flowing from sorrow, others from remorse.  There are things that need to be discarded and some that need to be re-cataloged, stored with the perspective that only time’s passage can provide.  There are conversations that need to be had – offering forgiveness, seeking it, too.  My prayer through it all is -  "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24, NIV)

Self-examination is connected to one of the core rituals of Christianity.  In the explanation of the celebration of the Holy Meal, the Word invites to the Lord’s Table to share the cup and the bread, but first we are told to wash up for dinner! "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup." (1 Corinthians 11:26-28, NIV)   This need not be a painful exercise in shame or guilt.  It’s an opportunity to keep the junk from piling up.  The Lord says that this time of examination allows us to live in a way that invites His blessings rather than His discipline.  We can deal with sins in their infancy with much less pain than if we let them take root and grow.

Sometimes we need a trusted friend to walk us through our examination.  When we get sentiment tangled up with reason, that friend can lovingly offer clarity. If we find something too heavy to lift, something we want to leave in the dark, he can help us carry it into the Light.  Confession is too often tragically associated with pain, shame, or guilt, connected with some kind of suffering and/or penance.  In fact, that is not what God seeks from us! Sure, we sometimes find things for which we owe others apologies, restitution, or forgiveness. 

Best of all, with God we find forgiveness and freedom! The Word says, "If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who pleases God completely. He is the sacrifice for our sins. He takes away not only our sins but the sins of all the world." (1 John 1:8-2:2, NLT)

That is why the Lord puts self-examination right alongside of Communion.  We will find failures, big and small, when the Light of the Spirit shines into the corners of our lives.  We need have no fear because we carry them to the Cross and Jesus, in amazing love and tender grace, picks them up and carries them away.  

Here’s a word to remember if you choose to do some spring cleaning in your life.  "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-4, NLT)

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Refiner's Fire

Purify my heart,

Cleanse me from within

And make me holy.

Purify my heart

Cleanse me from my sin,

Deep within.

Refiner's fire,

My heart's one desire,

Is to be holy,

Set apart for You, Lord!

I choose to be holy,

Set apart for You, my Master;

Ready to do Your will.

Brian Doerksen

© 1990 Vineyard Songs Canada (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)

Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)

CCLI License # 810055

The Elder Brother Syndrome

Brennan Manning, best known for his book Ragamuffin Gospel, died last week. His life was marked by many successes and repeated failures. He spent years as a Franciscan priest, became an alcoholic, and had a turbulent marriage that finally ended in divorce in 2000. He wrote eloquently of the love of God, whom he referred to as Abba (Biblical - Dad). An experience of Jesus' love changed him. An article in Christianity Today tells it like this: At 3 a.m. on December 13, 1968, he reports, Jesus spoke to him with these words, "For love of you I left my Father's side. I came to you who ran from me, who fled me, who did not want to hear my name. For love of you I was covered with spit, punched and beaten, and fixed to the wood of the cross."

Manning never wanted to be known for loving Jesus, but he wanted everyone to know that Jesus loved him! He was not unaware of his multiple failings, but he refused to live in shameful guilt. The goodness of God and the love of the Father he knew so personally leaked out of the cracks of his life helping others to know that God loved them; not just in spite of their failings, but in them. I must confess that when I read about Manning's death a side of me that I do not like emerged-  spiritual pride. I judged him, wondering why he couldn't 'get it together.'  I realized that too often I slip into the mistake of trying to prove to God that I'm worthy of His love.  

Jesus' famous story of a wayward son who wastes life and then goes home to find that his father has been waiting in love for his return is one of my favorites. The young man failure to understand the depth and nature of his father's love is revealed in his plan to simply ask for employment and his words, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son." (Luke 15:18) What did he find? An embrace, forgiveness, restoration, and a party!  The father rejoiced, "for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began." (Luke 15:24, NLT) Good stuff, isn't it?

But that story doesn't end with the sinful son's party. It ends with another character that I understand too well. "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours." (Luke 15:25-31, NIV) Reading Manning's stories has always provoked something of the elder brother syndrome in me!

Pride is a subtle sin. Even after experiencing God's love and grace; accepting that we are made right, not by our own goodness, but by a gift provided fully at Christ's expense, we can slip back to thinking that we now need to prove that we love Him. The focus shifts from "God loves me," to "I love God" and when it does, guilt creeps back into our lives, pushing the joy of the Lord to the side. The open smile of delight in Abba's love is replaced with a grim determination to be 'good enough.'  

This shift is as old as Christianity! It plagued the early church so much so that one of St. Paul's letters, Galatians, is centered on it. The Spirit pleads with us to remain 'in Christ.' "Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it?" (Galatians 3:2-3, The Message)

Christian, are you ready to judge those you feel don't meet God's standard?
Are you living in guilt, driven by a sense that you must prove your worthiness of His love?  I confess to both of those. May the Lord deliver me. Pray with me to grasp the truth that is revealed in this word from the Word and to live in the freedom found in grace. 

"If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, (keeping religious rules) Christ died for nothing!" (Galatians 2:18-21, NIV)

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Oh Lord You're Beautiful

Oh Lord, You're beautiful,

Your face is all I seek.

And when Your eyes are on this child,

Your grace abounds to me.

Oh Lord, please light the fire,

That once burned bright and clear.

Replace the lamp of my first love,

That burns with holy fear.

I want to take Your Word,

And shine it all around.

First, help me just to live it, Lord.

And when I'm doing well

Help me to never seek a crown,

For my reward is giving glory to You.

Keith Green

© 1980 Birdwing Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) (Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055