Coffeebreak with the Word

Salty Talk

2012-01-30T07:37:00.003-05:00

Do you find having a civil conversation somewhat more difficult these days? The high pressure, fast moving way that we live has seriously diminished our ability to discuss things on which we disagree without soon coming to sharp disagreement. We trust others less having seen many people profess one set of beliefs publicly while failing to allow those convictions to guide their own choices. And, then too, we sometimes are guilty of hanging onto ideas without the benefit of reason or careful reflection. Nowhere is this more in evidence than in our political conversation. The political culture in America is poisonous from the top down. Name-calling is rampant, cooperation nonexistent.

About twenty years ago I learned a real lesson about expressing sharp opinions. I made a point in a meeting about an issue on which I felt there was no gray only black and white! I was forceful, as I look back, even offensive. A thoughtful woman attending that meeting took exception to my words with an invitation to explore the issue in depth. She became a good friend and when I learned the circumstances of her life, I was mortified knowing that my words sliced at the emotional wounds that gave her such pain. Paul’s exhortation to “speak the truth in love” gained new importance for me. It’s not just what we say that matters. It’s how we are heard.

I still manage to get myself in trouble with my words from time to time. James points out that our speech is tough to bring to maturity! "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." (James 3:2, NIV) Jesus’ counsel is that we learn to talk less. “Let your ‘yes,’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’” He said. Too often we go on and on and in our flood of speech, we offend others and sin against God.

The Scripture directs us with this: "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (Colossians 4:6, NIV) Gracious words are considerate of others and contextualized in the circumstances. The gracious speaker does his best to know how he will be heard. That is much easier for me to write about than it is for me to practice, I candidly acknowledge! Then, too, the Lord tells us to practice salty speech. In our culture that little phrase is usually about words that are sprinkled liberally with profanity. Obviously, we are not called to curse. In Biblical times, salt was a very expensive item that was widely used to retard spoilage of food in the absence of refrigeration. In this passage, we are called to use words that add flavor and that control the rot that grows out of filthy, selfish, hateful words.

What’s the only way to learn to salty and gracious words? It is clear from Jesus’ teaching. May He change the fountain from which our words flow.

“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart." (Luke 6:43-45, NLT)

Change my heart, O God. Amen!

Are you cleaning the corners?

2012-01-27T07:31:00.002-05:00

Dr. George O. Wood, head of the national church in which I serve, a man who is head of 30,000 ministers and 11,000 churches, offered this homely observation. “If a church’s restroom is clean, it says that the leadership is taking care of the small things and everything else is probably going well, too.” (Road Trip Leadership, GPH 2011) He ought to know, he visits a lot of churches! More than once when visiting a restaurant after making a trip to neglected, dirty restroom I have had some reservations about eating the food, wondering how well the kitchen is cleaned, too.

A well-ordered life that reflects beauty never ‘just happens.’ Order must be created by choice and sustained by effort. That applies equally to clean restrooms and holy hearts. Neglect of the hidden, the small, the detail of life reveals a problem. It might be lack of time because a person is carrying too many responsibilities. It could be distraction by crisis. It could be lack of self-discipline. Most often, it is because of an immaturity that says, “If nobody says anything, I don’t have to perform to a high standard.” Part of maturity is the ability to self-regulate, to set and reach goals without being monitored. Grownups do what they ought to do without being told.

The foundational truth of the Gospel of Christ is grace, a gift of God. We cannot save ourselves from sin, nor can we earn the favor of God. Believing that, some mistakenly conclude that they have no responsibility for the development of their soul. Habits that are inconsistent with a Spirit-filled life remain in place. Dirt remains in the corners of the soul. Deep disciplines that provide the freedom to say “yes” to the leading of the Spirit are never learned. Paul upbraided the Christians in Corinth for their failure to mature. His words need to challenge us to tend the details of our discipleship. "When I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger." (1 Corinthians 3:1-3, NLT)

Chronologically, they should have been all grown up, but they were still babies, still making messes! It was not a faulty foundation or an incomplete Gospel that caused their prolonged infancy. It was their failure to step up and accept the responsibility to grow. This is more than tragic. It has eternal consequences. Paul reminds them and us that God’s inspection is rigorous. He will take note if we have ‘cleaned the corners.’ "By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward." (1 Corinthians 3:10-14, NIV) If we spend our days building a life with inferior material, the fiery glance of our Lord will burn it all away that there we will stand naked before Him.

Disciple, are you drifting along through day after day? Is the dirt of sin accumulating in the corners of the back rooms of your soul? Are you refusing the correction of the Spirit, ignoring His invitation to go deeper, or are you saying yes to the Spirit on a daily basis? Maturity is not reached in a single leap. It is gained by the choices made one day at a time. Pay attention to the dirt in the corners. Deal with it through confession where we find forgiveness. Bring those habits to the Lord and, with the Spirit’s strength, wrestle them into submission. Choose to worship, to trust, to obey.

The word from the Word is a call to beauty. Let’s do it!

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness … (so that) you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:3-11, NIV)

“The truth that heals”

2012-01-26T07:39:00.002-05:00

From where I sit, it appears that ‘criticizing the leader’ is our new national sport! President Obama is regularly subjected not just to observations about his policies, but harsh criticism about everything he’s done by the panels on FOX. If you listen to the critics on MSNBC, the current crop of Republican candidates cannot do a thing right either. Mitt’s too rich to serve. Newt’s had too many wives. Santorum’s a wanna-be. Uncle Ron’s suits don’t fit. A nasty streak runs wide and deep in America at this time. It has infected many of us, robbing us of perspective. Critical, demanding, cynical people abound. While I can find much about which I disagree in our politicians, I am both respectful and admiring for anyone would step up and go into public life.

So, who is your biggest critic? Are you trying to live around their cutting words, but finding that a thousand tiny slices are killing you? Criticism has a place, really, it does! None of lives wholly. There are blind spots, failures, and little hypocrisies that only can be seen if shown to us by someone unafraid of the truth. Proverbs reminds us that "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." (Proverbs 27:6, NIV) Yet, it seems to me that criticism is far overdone in our culture. Just as a steady drip of water can erode even a stone; a constant drip of criticism can rob us of confidence and hope for the future.

The book of Acts tells us about one Joseph of Cyprus who became known by his nickname – Barnabas - "which means Son of Encouragement." (Acts 4:36, NIV) He invested himself in the people of the fellowship, giving time and money to the cause. He looked out for the rejected, lifted up the broken. His was a service of encouragement, not the hollow flattery that is too often passes for encouragement, but the soul-deep love that changed a whole culture! Barnabas was no ‘Sam Sunshine’ who lived in a laa-laa land of nice. Yet, he was a man who stood with those he regarded as his brothers and poured himself and the Spirit into their hearts.

In Romans 12:8, we learn that encouragement is one of God’s gifts to His church. While all are responsible to urge others to finish well, to stand in the faith; some of us have the gift of encouragement. We can, with eyes of the Spirit, see potential in others and call it into existence. More than “I believe in you,” this gift actually speaks the truth into the heart of another. It’s an infusion of vision and faith. Have you mistakenly concluded that the only ‘truth that heals’ is that of criticism? The honest, Spirit-inspired, hope-filled words of a Barnabas can be life-transforming!

Here’s a word from the Word. My prayer is that I will respond to it with obedience and become a real encourager. Will you join me in this ministry? "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." (Romans 15:5-7, NIV)

“This hurts me more than it hurts you.”

2012-01-25T07:43:00.002-05:00

When our parents took away our privileges because we were irresponsible, we promised ourselves we would never say what they said at that moment, “This hurts me more than it hurts you.” Fifteen years later we are looking at our crying son, who’s just lost his video game privileges for a week, and we hear – gasp! – those same words coming out of our mouth! Only when we are a parent can we start to understand that discipline does hurt a loving father even more than the son. A father who enjoys the discipline of his children, who lacks empathy for their struggle, is very likely to become abusive. He will lose sight of the fact that discipline must reshape behavior. He will let his frustration fuel harsh measures and cruel words. But, a wise and loving father will risk anger and tears because he sees past the moment to the goal of gaining a mature, wise son.

God, our Father, is never abusive, but He will discipline us. He is unafraid of our tears and sees beyond the unpleasantness of our complaints and protests. And, He cries while He lets us feel the heavy hand of His correction. The Spirit whispered into the heart of Isaiah about the Father’s desire to bring the errant sons of Judah back to Himself.
"Who allowed Israel to be robbed and hurt? It was the Lord, against whom we sinned, for the people would not walk in his path, nor would they obey his law. Therefore, he poured out his fury on them and destroyed them in battle. They were enveloped in flames, but they still refused to understand. They were consumed by fire, but they did not learn their lesson. But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. … you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you. .. Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’ …

“You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. …

First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the Lord." (Isaiah 42:24-43:12, NLT)

On the other side of loving discipline, there is a sweet reward. When my children matured, when their lives gained wisdom, our relationship deepened. Nothing except Jesus’ love and my wife’s affection is sweeter to me than observing my now adult children using the lessons of their childhood as foundation stones for their marriages, careers, and spirituality. They know now that there was nothing to fear from their Dad who once loomed so large, even threatening, in their lives. Now they know that often I stood outside of their rooms all those years ago listening to their tears and wept along with them.

Disciple, bend to the will of God. Give yourself quickly to Him. Why break His heart with your rage and resistance? You will not drive Him away. He has invested Himself in you, giving you His Name. Even as He lets troubles and fiery trials come your way, He reminds you that He is not bent on your destruction, but on your redemption. “You are precious to me. You are honored and I love you” He says through His own sorrow at your self-inflicted pain.

Here’s a word from the Word. May it encourage you, even if you are in the middle of a temper tantrum before your Abba.
"So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training." (Hebrews 12:5-7, The Message)

_________________

How deep the Father's love for us.

How vast beyond all measure!

That He should give His only Son,

To make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss;

The Father turns His face away,

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory.

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

Stuart Townend

CCLI License No. 810055

Bruised Reeds and Smoky Wicks

2012-01-24T07:49:00.001-05:00

God is All-Powerful! Majesty belongs to Him, and rightly so. He is named, “Lord of Hosts” or as we might better understand it, “General, head of Heaven’s Armies” in the Old Testament. Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, the Righteous Judge are titles belonging to Him. So we loudly lift our voices in song, “How great is our God, sing with me, how great is our God… all will see, how great, how great is our God.” (Chris Tomlin) It’s a great song and helps us to worship the King.

And yet … there is another side to Him, a way to know and understand Him that is equally compelling in some seasons of life. He is the Gentle God, the Savior.

Isaiah, who preached to the people of the Lord as they were being overtaken by their enemies, handed over for judgment; reminds them that their God is a gentle God. He would send them a Savior who would change the world, but not with common power tactics. “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.”

There are no noisy trumpet fanfares or victory marches down Main Street for this Savior. There would be no motorcades with flags flying and sirens sounding to announce His importance! Quietly, He would come. Gently He would work, preserving the least and lowly. “Bruised reed and smoldering wick” are not readily accessible metaphors for us. The bruised reed was a weak thing, useless for household chores, and therefore tossed out with the garbage. The smoldering wick was the smoky piece of flax that gave little light as the oil in the lamp ran low. The smoke annoyed the household, so it was pinched off and extinguished! Isaiah is reminding us that the Savior finds those who are weak, those who are near exhaustion, but not to toss them on life’s junk heap! He restores, heals, and gives strength! Who are worthless to most, He gently loves and heals.

The Scripture goes on with this assurance for those who concluded that their glory was past tense: “This is what God the Lord says— he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." (Isaiah 42:1-7, NIV)

When you’re broken, bruised, and feeling like a reject you may find it hard to reach out to the “Lord of Hosts!” The King of Glory motif may well be beyond your reach at that moment. So remember, He is also the Gentle God who preserves the junk others are ready to toss out.

Centuries after Isaiah heard the Promise, we know the Identity of this Gentle God. In our word from the Word, we learn His Name and have this invitation. If you’re feeling like a bruised reed or smoking wick today, hold onto the One who is holding onto you. "Since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." (Hebrews 4:14-16, NLT)

_______________

Often you wonder why
tears come into your eyes

And burdens seem to be
much more than you can bear

But God is standing near,
He sees your falling tears

And tears are a language
God understands.

God sees the tears
of a brokenhearted soul

He sees your tears
and hears them when they fall

God weeps along with man
and He takes him by the hand

Tears are a language
God understands.

- Copyright, Gordon Jensen

When Your Heart Breaks

2012-01-23T07:44:00.001-05:00

“Comfort zone” is a phrase that has entered our vocabulary to describe situations we find acceptable. Getting dragged or pushed out of that zone can make us miserable inside and out! When we’re stressed, some of us look for “comfort food” that remind us of happy times and places; usually it is simple fare like a hotdog or a big slice of chocolate cake. Men, especially, have clothes that are comforting, that ragged sweatshirt or pair of jeans they have worn for a decade. Then, too, there is solace to be found in music. Depending on preference, it might be a sad country song about a lost love. an old hymn about heaven, or a concerto from Mozart that touches our soul.

Early this morning, I awakened to crushing sadness. I felt the wetness of tears on my face, though I was not aware that I was crying. The sweetness of prayer allowed me to find the “God of all comfort.” I simply told my Abba that I was broken, that disappointment was great, and He whispered back into my darkness – “I will never leave you, never forsake you. I am the God of all comfort.” Profound peace settled over me and, in a few moments, sleep returned. Such is the blessing for those who know Him as the “Comforter.”

Many people in this world are crushed and destroyed by their sorrow, because they turn to the wrong places for solace. Addictions may result from seeking comfort in a wine glass or prescription pill. Neurosis may take over when disappointment is allowed to morph into continuous rage. Our bodies will break under the pressures of stress, if we fail to find soul solace.

God’s comfort does not just ‘get us through’ the tough times. He lifts us, strengthens us, and causes us to stand up under the burden of sorrow. Disappointment, missed expectations, tragedy, and even death are unavoidable parts of the human experience. We can just try to survive and get back into our comfort zone, or we can live in those moments, feeling, knowing, learning, growing! How? By trusting God deeply and accepting the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Our "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, … comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV)

God, the Holy Spirit, is called “the Comforter” in the Word. In the first language of the Bible the word is Parakletos, describing someone who becomes our advocate when life becomes too much to manage on our own. Literally the word means “to come alongside.” When we turn to Him in prayer, God comes to our side, stands with us, leads us through, gives comfort. Is your heart heavy today? Do other comforts call to you, things that are no real comfort at all? With the simplest of faith, with a child-like expectation, turn to the Lord.

Here’s the word from the Word.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV)

______________

Is your burden heavy

As you bear it all alone?

Does the road you travel

Harbor danger yet unknown?

Are you growing weary

In the struggle of it all?

Jesus will help you

When on His name you call.

He is always there.

Hearing ev'ry prayer,

Faithful and true.

Walking by our side,

In His love we hide,

All the day through.

When you get discouraged

Just remember what to do-

Reach out to Jesus,

He's reaching out to you.

Reach Out To Jesus

Ralph Carmichael

CCLI License No. 810055

Gone with the Wind

2012-01-20T07:23:00.002-05:00

I am reading the autobiography of one of our better known politicians, a man of stature and accomplishment. The book reveals a prideful, opportunistic person, ready to catch whatever wind is blowing at the moment in order to advance himself. If the pronoun “I” were taken out of the book, it would be shorter by half! He seems to think he is the smartest guy to come to Washington in the last quarter century. Full of himself and ready to ignore the counsel of others, he has created some disastrous policies that future generations will most likely judge quite harshly. He is intelligent, but is he wise? In my opinion, that answer is no.

Are you wise? Don’t answer with test scores or certificates of achievement! Look at your character, the fruit of your life.
Ask this: is the world a better place for my passing through it? Are people’s lives enhanced, is beauty created, and is God given His due honor?

The Psalm describes the wise this way. I have used a contemporary translation to deepen the impact. It lacks the poetic beauty of the authorized version, but drives home the point.

"How well God must like you—
you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon,
you don’t slink along Dead-End Road,
you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College.

Instead you thrill to God’s Word,
you chew on Scripture day and night.
You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.

You’re not at all like the wicked,
who are mere wind-blown dust—
Without defense in court,
unfit company for innocent people.
God charts the road you take.
The road they take is Skid Row." (Psalm 1, The Message)

The wise person meditate on the Truths of God, letting the Word and Spirit go to the core of their being. From the inside out, they are shaped into a mature, wholesome person. When the droughts and famines of life come (and they will to each of us) wise and well-planted people continue to draw from the living water that springs from Heaven’s artesian well. They do not fail or fall, retreat or shed tears of regret. This Psalm compares them to an oasis in the desert, a place to which others are drawn to be refreshed! Those who are merely smart enough to build a little empire for themselves will be blown away, gone with the wind!

Choosing the way of wisdom is not simple, easy, or even always quickly apparent to our natural vision. But, if we are responsive to God, persistent in knowing His way and obeying it, wisdom will grow in us.

Take this word from the Word today. Read it prayerfully several times before you move on to other thoughts. “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless." (Proverbs 2:1-7, NIV)

Would you pray with me today?

Father, Your counsel is my wisdom.

help me to humbly bow my mind to it,

to submit my thoughts, words, and actions

to the ways of holiness.

In an age of smart fools,

make me wise in the ways of eternity.

Protect me from the arrogance of the age.
Spirit of God, may your wisdom
give my life lasting and beautiful fruit

so that my work will not ultimately be

blown away like chaff in the wind.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The dancer I want to be

2012-01-19T07:17:00.002-05:00

Somewhere I found suggestion for forming a new bond with my wife. “Take dance lessons. She will love it.” So, I enrolled us for swing dance class at the local fitness center. Really, I did! Our instructors opened the first session by putting on a song and showing us the end result they hoped to teach us to achieve.; two people, moving as one, gracefully across the floor. I loved the beauty of it.

But, more than 15 years later, I still don't know how to dance with my wife! After two frustrating sessions, I gave up and became a swing dance class drop-out. I did not think much about dancing with Bev until one night at a festival where we were sitting in the plaza listening to one of the big bands. Terry and Lisa started to dance together... and could they dance! They were beautiful to watch. I felt genuine envy that night.

There are two primary reasons I still can't dance.

First, I am self-conscious and won't just 'let myself go.’

Second, I am over thinking the dance; trying to break down each movement into tiny parts rather than just moving into the music. To become a dancer, I have to give up control and come under the influence of the music as well as becoming more responsive to the movement of my partner. It isn't happening, yet!

Living as a Spirit-filled Christian has real parallels to a couple in a beautiful dance!

The Bible says, (Galatians 5:25) “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” He invites us to a dance of life. Some of just will not let go and let Him lead. We wrestle with the music, finding the rhythm for a while, then reasserting our control. Others surrender to Him and move gracefully through life, dancing beautifully through disappointment, financial challenges, ill health, hurricanes, snow storms, traffic jams, and temptation. Yes, those who dance with the Spirit live “grace-fully.”

Simon Peter was called by Jesus to become a disciple. For three years, he didn't get it right. Talk about bad timing. Oh, he tried mightily but, most of the time, things turned out badly. The low point was the night of Jesus' arrest and trial. When warned of impending failure by the Lord, Peter insisted that even if the other disciples failed, "I never will!"
"Ah," Jesus said sadly, "but you will, Peter. Before the rooster announces the dawn, you will deny me three times."

A few hours later as Jesus was being arrested, Peter pulled out his sword and made an attempt at defending his Friend, succeeding only in cutting off a man's ear, which Jesus promptly healed, as He told Peter, "Put that thing away!" And, later that same night, in the grip of panic in the courtyard of the high priest’s house, Peter was cursing and swearing while emphatically declaring, "I tell you, I never knew him!"

Fifty days later, at Pentecost, we meet a transformed man in Acts, a man dancing with the Spirit! He gives leadership to the emerging group of followers of Jesus, explains the Scripture, preaches on the street, and courageously faces the enemies of the Jesus movement. With grace and beauty he moves through those chapters. How does the Bible account for the difference? Acts 4:8 sums it up, saying "Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, ... "

The life and music of the Spirit filled him up and he began to dance gracefully under the Spirit's influence, moving to the rhythms of Heaven. When he came to the end of himself, when he was crushed beyond hope by his failure, God came with the outpouring of His Spirit. From that day, Peter danced. Yes, he made mistakes now and again, but he was a man of grace and power, who spread the message of Jesus and life across the world!

Are you 'keeping step with the Spirit,' or are you stumbling and bumbling, from fall to failure?
Listen to the music of the Spirit. Give yourself over to His lead. Be filled! And, start to dance!
________________________

I danced in the morning

When the world was begun

And I danced in the moon

And the stars and the sun

And I came down from heaven

And I danced on the earth

At Bethlehem I had My birth

Dance, then, wherever you may be

I am the Lord of the Dance said He

And I'll lead you all

Wherever you may be

And I'll lead you all

In the Dance said He

I danced for the scribe

And the Pharisee

But they would not dance

And they wouldn't follow Me

I danced for the fishermen

For James and John

They came with Me

And the dance went on

I danced on a Friday

When the sky turned black

It's hard to dance

With the devil on your back

They buried My body

And they thought I'd gone

But I am the dance

And I still go on

They cut Me down

And I leapt up high

I am the life

That'll never never die

I'll live in you

If you'll live in Me

I am the Lord

Of the Dance said He

Dance, then, wherever you may be

I am the Lord of the Dance said He

And I'll lead you all

Wherever you may be

And I'll lead you all

In the Dance said He

Lord of the Dance

Sydney Bertram Carter

CCLI License No. 810055

I'm going to Disney World (not really)

2012-01-18T07:44:00.002-05:00

I struggle to reconcile two ideas that seem to compete: work and rest. Either I am resting or I am working, but I cannot do both at the same time, can I? Yes, I can and I should. Jesus Christ teaches that work and rest are complementary in our lives: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT) He invites me to put on His yoke, which is an object for doing hard work, but then immediately says that in that yoke I will find rest. How can this be?

Part of my confusion grows out of a misunderstanding of work itself.

· If my work is the means of proving my worth to myself or my friends, I am driven by competition and thus I can never rest for another may become better than I am at what I do, an intolerable outcome for a competitor.

· If I believe that my work is how I gain God’s approval, I will never relax for He is always present, knowing what I do; and I can never do enough.

· If I misuse work as a way to create my own world where I can be a little god, obviously there is a problem that needs no further explanation!

The deepest fulfillment in life is found in working effectively within the will and purpose of God! We were not created for leisure. We were made to be stewards of the earth, to work with Him. The Genesis story is often told in a way that makes us think that Adam spent his time lying under a shade tree, eating fruit that fell into his hands. A more careful reading reveals that Adam joined God in the work of the Garden. "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." (Genesis 2:15, NIV) That paradise included work. Yet, it did not include exhaustion or burn-out. So, how do we work the Garden and keep our spirit whole?

Jesus’ words quoted earlier show us the way. Work done with God is renewing. If we submit to His yoke, He will pace us so that we do not run too hard, too far, or too fast in our efforts. In that shared yoke, when the load increases, He leans into it alongside of us. If we do what we do, in the way He teaches us to do it, there is rest for our souls. It sounds so simple and it is, yet we miss that Truth as we focus on deadlines, bottom lines, and productivity. How we work is much more important to God than what we produce. That is why Jesus asks to go to work with us. He wants to save us from empty effort, from exhaustion that comes from trying to make work what it can never be- the means of our salvation and right relationship with our Father.

The ancient song of ascents, sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem, reminds us of the proper order of our work.
"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves." (Psalm 127:1-3, NIV)

Are you exhausted? Has life become more than you can manage?
Before you conclude that you must abandon your work or that you need to head to Disney World for a rest, consider changing the way you work!

“Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message)

Soul-soothing Moments, Songs in the Night

2012-01-17T07:25:00.002-05:00

Some days bring circumstances that smother us, exhaust us, and break us. With the growing darkness, as the funk deepens, so does the likelihood of destructive behavior. Rational thought retreats, leaving a person at the mercy of his emotions. Despair is fertile soil for weeds like rage, stupidity, and short-sighted decisions! Temper flares, craving for food, or drink, or sex may arise. But, there is another way, one we learn from a man who hit the bottom of life but did not destroy himself in that moment.

David, who became the beloved poet-king of ancient Israel, lived as a fugitive from the jealous rage of King Saul for many years. He existed on the fringe of society, attracting men of dubious distinction to follow him. They formed a quasi-military force serving as private security at the frontiers. For a time, David and his men moved to the neighboring region of Philistia and served in the employ of the king of the region. They were sent out as raiders and kept a portion of what they found as their pay. During one of their campaigns, the Amalekites raided the village of Ziglag, where the wives and children of David and his men were living. David came home to a tragic sight! Let’s pick up the story from the Bible. "When (they) saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, they wept until they could weep no more. David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured. David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him.” (1 Samuel 30:3-7, NLT)

David was an outcast for no good reason, a man with a claim to the crown but the hope of ever owning it slim to none, living with riff-raff, earning a living by waging war – it was not a good life but somehow he managed to keep it together until this tragic day. There with the smoking ruins of Ziglag in front of him and the accusatory shouts of his men raining down on him, it all came crashing down. Where was God? Why was all this happening? There is a phrase next up in that story which is worth remembering: “But David found strength in the Lord his God.” He did not get drunk! He did not run off to Vegas! He went to prayer, pulling away from the noisy shouts of his enraged men. It is not hard to imagine him taking his harp and finding a place alone outside of town, where he sang to God and asked for both help and wisdom. (David and his men did recover their families and their treasure several days later!)

Do you know how to comfort yourself in God?

When tragedy or trouble comes are you able to find solace in worship, peace from His Presence?

One of David’s songs reflects his faith, his hope.

“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." (Psalm 34:1-5, NIV)

Knowing when and how to call a personal spiritual retreat reveals both faith and wisdom. Job, whose story of brokenness leaves us horrified, came to the end of himself and looked up to God in worship. Jesus was led to the wilderness and there found himself subjected to intense temptation. His choice? To speak the wisdom of God, the truth of the Psalms. Paul, in spite great sacrifice, was rejected and criticized. He turned to God in worship, singing songs in the night, and God rocked his world. (see Acts 16) May God, the Spirit of Peace, teach how to walk David’s way and “find strength in the Lord!”

______________

Precious Lord, take my hand,

Lead me on, let me stand,

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

Through the storm, through the night,

Lead me on to the light:

Take my hand, precious Lord,

Lead me home.

When the darkness appears

And the night draws near,

And the day is past and gone,

At the river I stand,

Guide my feet, hold my hand:

Take my hand, precious Lord,

Lead me home.

- Tommy Dorsey, 1932
written after his wife died in childbirth

Support Your Local Pastor (from the archive)

2012-01-16T08:31:00.000-05:00

Despite an appearance of being a relaxed lifestyle, serving as a local church as a Pastor is not for the faint of heart. It not a ‘job,’ it is a calling, a way of life. Who is he is intrinsically woven into what he does. He deals with life and death on a daily basis, right alongside of balancing church budgets and keeping volunteers on board. He moves rapidly from emotional highs to lows as he shares life with his flock. Sorrow makes its way to his door constantly as he's usually the first person called at death, marriage difficulty, tragedy, or times of serious illness. He studies constantly so that when he stands before the congregation to preach he is not only ‘interesting,’ but able to speak into their souls. And, he must deliver this message every Sunday -regardless of his personal circumstances. And, he loves every minute of this life to which God has called him!

Until... he's attacked often at a moment when he's struggling to cope with some need in his own life. It's at that moment that some pastors, tragically, give up their service. Tony Campolo describes one of those 'hits' that can knock a pastor off his feet. "Only a pastor truly knows what it feels like to have yet another person call to tell you they're leaving the church- a person you love, a person you helped and served, a person who needed you, a person you now feel you need, and yet another person is going, leaving, abandoning, rejecting. . . People go, and they take a chunk of your heart with them. And of your morale." -Adventures in Missing the Point

So, how can you maximize your Pastor's effectiveness in your church and in your life?

1. Pray for him, everyday.
Spiritual leaders are front-line targets in the battle that the Devil wages in this world against the work of God. We all know the devastation left behind when there is a moral failure in ministry. Even where there is no moral compromise, like all people, pastors become discouraged or disillusioned. Pray for your Pastor - that God will keep and protect him, that he will be disciplined and courageous, and that he will finish the race well.

2. Accept him and the spiritual gifts God has given to him.
Pastors are not all equally adept at all kinds of ministry service. Appreciate the unique strengths of your Pastor and encourage him in those areas where he is not as proficient. He probably knows the gaps in his skills and gifts better than you do, but it will squander his strengths if those in the Body constantly press him to 'fix' those areas rather than focusing on what he can do best in God's service.

3. If you must criticize him, (and no pastor is above correction or criticism) do it honestly and directly.
He cannot respond to anonymous criticism because he has no context for it. He wonders, "Does it mean that a majority feels this way, or is this just the opinion of the same two people who are never satisfied with anything I do?" If you have an issue with your pastor, make a time to sit with him and tell him what you want, where you think he's missed the mark. He may not share your perception. He may have an explanation for the decision with which you disagree. Realize, too, that many get angry with their Pastor because they are angry with God! He can help you with your doubt or confusion when you don't understand why life is turning out a certain way, but it will be doubly difficult if you're attacking him.

4. Don't idolize or idealize him.
You should expect him to live what he teaches, but not perfectly. He is a sinner, too; and, like you, he is working out his salvation each day. If you make him into idol, you sin because only God is worthy of your worship and devotion. If you idealize him, thinking he's more or better than he is really is, you will be disappointed. When you put him on a pedestal, remember that you make his ability to minister to you all the more difficult. He teaches you best, not from some lofty place far removed, but as you watch him live a real life that demonstrates a living faith in a loving Lord.

Here is a word from the Word. "Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all.... Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?" (Hebrews 13:7, 17 The Message)

"Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” Do not listen to complaints against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him." (1 Timothy 5:17-19, NLT)

Sophomoric Christians

2012-01-13T07:34:00.002-05:00

Second year students are called ‘sophomores.’ The word is a made-up combination from two Greek root words: sophos which means to be wise; and moros which means to be dull or a fool. The student with a little bit of learning can become over-confident and intellectually pretentious. His knowledge is not matched with wisdom that would reveal how much more there is to know. He doesn’t know what he has yet to learn. I remember a family friend who used to rib me when I was a student calling me a ‘smart college kid.’ It wasn’t a compliment. He saw my pseudo-maturity for what it was, sophomoric!

The Bible says "if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. … wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." (Proverbs 2:3-11, NIV)

I find sophomores more amusing than anything else. When they put their newly acquired knowledge on display, I listen and smile. A person who ought to have matured into real wisdom who is still being sophomoric is about as irritating as anyone or anything I can think of. Knowledge is a great accomplishment. I do not admire ‘know nothings.’ To study and own a body of information is admirable. But, without wisdom, knowledge only creates pride. That is why the Lord tells us that insight and understanding are a treasure. James warns of being one who is only a ‘hearer’ of the Word. Be a doer of the Word, he says. Otherwise you will be a sophomoric Christian, full of head knowledge, lacking heart conviction.

Want to grow wise? In addition to praying for wisdom, receive the counsel of this word from the Word. "Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces." (Proverbs 13:20, The Message)

Living Ghosts!

2012-01-12T07:11:00.002-05:00

“Lost Larry” visited me again this week. He comes by for a handout, always with a story about his bad luck. This week he said he had just got out of jail after the cops caught up with him for some old outstanding warrants. “Man, I’m all done with them now. I sat out all my fines, but my boss is made and gave me the week off. I don’t have any food.” I provided a bag of groceries for him from the food pantry. He’s like a living ghost, one of those invisible people who walk the streets without being seen. Those who do see him, see a problem not a person. On reflection, I realize even I, too, have let him be invisible. I have not made a real effort to connect him. Sure, I feed him, even give him a ride to his room, but I don’t even know his name!

Develop a chronic or disabling illness and see how many people steer clear of you. Start to struggle with mental illness or delusions it will not take long for friends and family to stop calling. Lose your money or your job and, in the eyes of many, you will quickly become a number, a case, not a person. Young mothers who are home all day, every week, month after month, caring for babies tell me that they sometimes feel invisible. Those who have a disability that confines them to a wheelchair or mars their speech tell me how people will ignore them though they are in plain sight! Many who are old tell me how they feel like living ghosts, unseen by the world.

Hagar was an Egyptian slave girl. Sarah presented her to Abraham to be a surrogate mother. It was not unusual for barren women to do this in that time. After becoming pregnant with Abraham's child, Hagar somehow offended Sarah, most likely forgetting her social position and deference, mistakenly thinking that since she was carrying the baby of the head of the household, she was secure. But, she overplayed her hand and Abraham did not come to her rescue. He abandoned her emotionally and left her in the hands of Sarah, now jealous and angry. In time, she choose to run away, a choice of sheer desperation, knowing that she would almost certainly be enslaved yet again. Sitting alone and afraid by a spring, she met God who spoke to her heart with promise! Amazed that the Lord would take note of a slave girl, Hagar gave God a Name - El Roi- meaning, "The God who sees me." (Genesis 16)

You are not invisible to God! A slave girl, a person who was invisible in her society, discovered that God is El Roi - the One who see me! She found courage in that to return to her situation and work through it, hard as it was. When we know that God cares, it may not change our situation, but it changes us. In Him we are given worth, dignity, and resources that allow us to press ahead. Feeling invisible? Pour out your heart to Him today. He won't turn away in disgust. He won't offer you some empty platitude or a pat on the head. He will see all the way into your heart!

Our word from the Word is taken from Jesus’ peculiar illustration of our worth in the eyes of God. "Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-32, NLT)

Little sparrow, look up and wait for El Roi - the God who sees!

_____________________________

Why should I feel discouraged?

Why should the shadows come?

Why should my heart be lonely,

And long for heaven and home?

When Jesus is my portion?

My constant friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me!

I sing because I'm happy,

I sing because I'm free.

For His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

"Let not your heart be troubled,"

His tender word I hear,

And resting on His goodness,

I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth,

But one step I may see:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me!

©Civilia D. Martin
Public Domain

Hospitable Heart?

2012-01-11T07:31:00.000-05:00

As soon as I stepped through the door, I wanted to leave. The tension in the atmosphere was thick as a heavy morning fog. Perhaps they had just had a big fight or had just received some disappointing news. I never knew what made the issue was, but I was certain of this: it was not a great time to be visiting that household! In spite of the strained efforts to express a welcome, it was not a hospitable place. My son, then an early teen, felt it too. Later he remarked, “Where’s the love, Dad?” I still smile at the memory of his perception.

Did you welcome the Presence of the Holy Spirit into your life today?
Did He find a heart that was warm and inviting, or just a strained attempt at being polite?
Throughout the day, will you continue to be open and hospitable to Him?

An ancient story from the Bible illustrates this. Samson was a man dedicated to God from his childhood days. His parents trained him in godly ways and he grew to become a man full of the Spirit. The Lord gave him great strength and influence among the people. When Samson lived in obedience, God worked through him. But, he came to take God’s Presence for granted. He became willful and indulged his appetite for women! The women of Israel were not enough for him, so he ended up in Philistia, lying in the arms of a woman who treacherously manipulated him. As she played on his pride, she learned the secret of his great strength, his unique relationship with God. She conveyed that to his enemies and then coaxed him into sleep in her arms. Then, “she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him." (Judges 16:20, KJV) That last phrase is a quaint one that I hope we will not forget. “He wist not that the LORD had departed from him.” He was unaware that he had offended the Spirit and no longer enjoyed the power that came from deep intimacy with Him!

One of the great treasures of the Christian disciple is the promise of the Spirit living in us, counseling and comforting, guiding and directing, giving peace. We don’t have to go to a holy place, travel to a shrine, or wait for some special day to meet with Him. Wherever we are, God, the Holy Spirit, is there. But, we can offend the Spirit! We can ‘break fellowship’ with Him, becoming inhospitable. How?

When we are willfully disobedient to the Lord, when we give ourselves to the pollution of sin, in effect we are saying, “Go away. You are not welcome here.” The Scripture says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:29-32, NIV) In The Message part of that passage reads this way: "Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted." (Ephesians 4:30, The Message)

Clean up your heart house. Offer forgiveness to those whose sins against you still clutter the closets of your mind. Deal with guilt by making a full confession and receiving God’s pardon. Throw out the old sins. Invite the Spirit to move in! From His Presence your life will become a thing of beauty, your heart a place of full of the wholeness, the peacefulness that only God can give to us.

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me;

All His wonderful passion and purity.

Oh, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,

Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

- Public domain

About Jane or Jesus?

2012-01-10T07:29:00.002-05:00

Presidential primary season is upon us. A person who puts himself in that race must have an amazing sense of self-confidence to say, “Hand me the responsibility of being the Chief Executive of the country.” A couple of the candidates display a real sense of duty, something like a calling. You don’t get a sense that they are out to prove themselves, or even that they have to win. Then, there are those in whom you can sense a titanic ego. It comes across to me like this: “I am Mr. Wonderful. I deserve your vote because I am so very special.” (Don’t ask me which ones. I’m not going there publicly.)

In a discussion about ministry with my wife I made an observation about a person who serves faithfully and effectively. This woman builds teams, plans strategically, and consistently produces positive results. There is a remarkable characteristic about her service, one thing that sets her apart; it’s never about her! She not using her position to make herself important. She does not need to create a name for herself. It’s not about Jane (not her real name), it’s about Jesus. If even the smallest bit of ego slips into our Christian service, what we do ‘for Christ’ is quickly corrupt, tainted by Self. The focus shifts from pleasing Him to being recognized. The goal moves from doing the work of the Kingdom to making sure of our place or solidifying our influence.

Here’s how Jesus speaks to this issue.

"When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice:
“When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!

“Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”" (Luke 14:7-11, NLT)

Humility grows in us as we choose to serve for the sake of love alone. We cannot try to be humble, it just doesn’t work that way. The moment we become self-conscious, humility is lost. So, we pursue Christ-consciousness. We pray that He will fill our vision, satisfy our desire for love and esteem, and give Self the boot. When ego comes knocking, when it whines about being ignored or overlooked, we silence it with confession of our need for His love.

Is your life about __________________ (fill in your name) or Jesus?

Here’s the word from the Word. Spirit of God, plant it deep in my heart. Amen.

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8, NIV)

_________________

Prospering under the blessing of God

2012-01-09T07:15:00.003-05:00

“Entry level position” is not a description that many want attached to a job offer! A common misconception, especially among the young, is that some training or a college degree will qualify them to begin a career making great money and carrying significant responsibility. In the real world, a person gains experience and proves his ability starting at the bottom of the ladder. I remember well my first church position. Though I was officially the ‘youth minister,’ the senior pastor regarded me mostly as a ‘go-fer’ and janitor! There was not a whole lot of fulfillment to be found in mopping the church’s bathrooms or picking up his mail from the post office, but it was my ‘entry level position.’ As I was faithful, the Lord saw fit to give me greater responsibility and with that came greater fulfillment.

Jesus told a teaching story about a king who prepared to journey to a far country. Prior to leaving, he distributed money to his servants for their management on his behalf. When he returned he called each one in for accounting. The first reported, "Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!’ “ ‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward." (Luke 19:16-17, NLT) The next servant to come in likewise reported a five times gain. He was commended and rewarded for his diligence.

The story takes a turn with the next servant. “The third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe. I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’ This man foolishly blames his failure to act on the king! His excuses earned him this rebuke. “You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ Jesus is not teaching us that God is mean or unjust! We need to know that God seeks a return from our lives. If we waste time, refuse to use the spiritual gifts He invests in us, or ignore today’s opportunities supposedly as we wait for our big break in life, we will be held accountable. No excuse will stand before His scrutiny.

The final principle is most shocking to those of us who grew up in an entitlement society. God asks no more of us than we can produce, but He expects no less than our personal best. Failing that, we will lose even our entry level position. Take a look. “Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ “ ‘But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’ “ ‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away." (Luke 19:20-26, NLT)

Do you want to prosper under the blessings of God? Be faithful, right where you are today.

Here’s a word from the Word. Live it and enjoy the blessings of our Father, who is good, gracious, and just. "The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. … From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:42-44; 48, NIV)

Keep me true, Lord Jesus,
keep me true.

There's a race that I must run,

There are victories to be won,

Ev'ry hour, by Your pow'r
Keep me true.

- Public Domain

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall

2012-01-06T07:15:00.002-05:00

The young man boasted of his prowess on the basketball court.I smiled. He was not as good as he claimed. How did I know? The week before hewas cut from the team! But, somehow he had forgotten that, preferring tobelieve in his own reality. This refusal of the facts is a common malady amongus, so common that Jesus talked about the foolishness of trying to take the splinterout of another’s eye with a post in our own!

A common criticism of Christians is that we are hypocrites,ready to point out the sins and failures of others, but unable to see the holesin our own robes of righteousness. Spiritual pride is a terrible disease of thesoul, isn’t it? I know it grips me from time to time. I hear myself rantingabout ‘those people who do those things,’ and feel the rebuke of the HolySpirit. We need not apologize for holiness. But, Christians cannot point othersin the right direction, they must lead them! Paul invited those to whom hepreached to follow in his footsteps. “Follow me as I follow Christ,” he said. Iwant to say that and I know that such a statement in the absence of humilityand authenticity is the height of arrogance.

But, when we are obediently walking with Christ, when we arebroken before Him, yielded to His will, and responsive to the Spirit; a beautifulwholeness of life emerges in us and from us. It is not born of our own religiosity,but created by the Spirit who lives in us, by faith. This undeniable reality willdraw others to Him. Last year, I attended a talk given by Timothy Keller,pastor of a flourishing church in Manhattan. He used a phrase that has stayedwith me. True Christians have a “contextualizedBiblical Gospel” that shapes their daily lives. They will not allow the Gospelof Christ to exist only on Sundays, or in their private quiet times of prayer. Theydrag it out from behind the pulpit into to the street where it confronts theevil that enslaves. This Gospel lives in our checkbook, speaks to ourrelationships, and shapes our political view.

This kind of Gospel will not allow us to be hypocritical! Itis, by the power of the Spirit, a transformational experience, working powerfullyfrom the inside out. Jesus said it is like a seed that germinates and pushed tothe surface, growing until it bears fruit.

Here is the word from the Word. It challenges us to liveauthentically, starting with knowing ourselves.

"Don’tjust listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are onlyfooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is likeglancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget whatyou look like." (James 1:22-24, NLT)

"But whoevercatches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of thecorner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a manor woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in theaction. Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game isself-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Realreligion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach outto the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption fromthe godless world." (James 1:24-27, The Message)

________________

Be Thou my vision

O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me

Save that Thou art

Thou my best thought

By day or by night

Waking or sleeping

Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom

Be Thou my true Word

I ever with Thee

And Thou with me Lord

Thou my great Father

I Thy true son

Thou in me dwelling

And I with Thee one

Riches I heed not

Nor man's empty praise

Thou mine inheritance

Now and always

Thou and Thou only

Be first in my heart

High King of heaven

My treasure Thou art

High King of heaven

When vict'ry is won

May I reach heaven's joys

O bright heaven's Sun

Heart of my own heart

Whatever befall

Still be my vision

O Ruler of all

Eleanor Henrietta Hull | MaryElizabeth Byrne

What do you want?

2012-01-05T07:27:00.001-05:00

“Look at that car! I want it!” The Lexus commercial did what it was made for– created a desire in my heart. Throughout the day there will be dozens of ‘wants’that come into my mind. Some will pass quickly, others will linger. Some willdescend into temptation that I will resist. Others will go beyond just beingdesire and I will start to act to satisfy the need. Each one will require somelevel of evaluation: is this a real need, something I should seek?

Luke tells the story of ablind beggar who heard the noise of a crowd coming up the road. Inquiring aboutthe stir, he learned that Jesus was passing by. The man started a commotion,shouting out the name of Jesus. The people in the crowd tried to shut him up,but he yelled even louder, until Jesus heard him and asked that the man bebrought to him. He asked, “What do youwant me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him,“Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received hissight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they alsopraised God." (Luke 18:41-43, NIV) This man knew his greatest need and boldlyasked. Imagine if he had said, “Lord, I want two coins so I can buy suppertonight.” Or, “Lord, I want a better spot along this road where more peoplewill give me money.” But, he did not askfor those things. There was no waiting, no waffling, no wondering. He wanted his sight: “I want to see!”

Do you know your greatestneed?
Is your life a prayer shaped by faith and pursuing a deep relationship withyour Father?
Or are you spending all your time praying for stuff, asking for temporaryrelief from problems, or mumbling unfocused prayers unrelated to what is mostimportant in your life?

Oh, that our prayers wouldhave the same focus, the same intensity that we see in the prayer of that blindbeggar! “Lord, I want to see!” Jesuswarned about letting our communication with Him slip into ‘babbling like the pagans.’ “Theythink they will be heard,” He said, “because of their many words.” He follows thatby reminding us that God knows our needs before we even ask. What a revelation!What power we release in this world and in us when we use prayer to align ouremotions, will, and actions with the will of God. Yes, we can and we shouldpray about our daily bread. But, even more, we should ask boldly to be used ofGod, to be filled with the Spirit, to see with Heaven’s eyes.

Don’t be a whiney child ofGod, wasting vast amounts of prayer time complaining about aches and pains,fighting with the Lord about your disappointments, or asking Him for trinkets.Pray big! Ask Him for the nations. Ask Him for courage to give your life away.Ask Him to make you a partner in the Kingdom work; saving the world from sin!

Here’s a word from the Word.May it create faith in us.
"You’re cheating on God. If all youwant is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end upenemies of God and his way.

… So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to theDevil and watch him scamper.

Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quitdabbling in sin. Purify your inner life." (James 4:4-8, The Message)

______________________________

My hope is built on nothingless,

Than Jesus' blood andrighteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetestframe,

but wholly lean on Jesus'Name.

On Christ, the Solid Rock, Istand,

all other ground is sinkingsand!

- public domain

"License, registration, please."

2012-01-04T07:41:00.001-05:00

Driving on a wide open countryroad, at mid-day, in bright sunshine, while mentally working through churchstuff, I became unaware of just how fast I was traveling. Then, too late I saw thepolice cruiser parked on the side of the road. Glancing down, I knew that I wasabout to hear those dreaded words, “Sir, may I see your license andregistration.” As I passed him, he swungaround behind me. About a mile down theroad, on came the lights signaling me to pull over. Ten minutes later, after apleasant conversation, I drove away relieved. Strictly speaking, I deserved a ticket, but thepolice officer chose to show mercy.

This is the story of my life. Theevidence was stacked against me. There was no case to plead. I was guilty! Toomany times to recount, I have become aware of my sin and failure too late, onlyafter my conscience is bruised and my fellowship with the Father elusive. But,He is merciful. The Bible says "becauseof his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christeven when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have beensaved." (Ephesians 2:4-5, NIV) What relief, what joy floods my mindwhen I go to my Savior and make my confession. I regret my failures, despise thefact that too many times my words and/or actions create a dark stain on the familyname of my Father. I do not minimize nor excuse my refusal of His guidancearound sin. But, I will not run from His gaze, I will not try to conceal my guilt.Instead, I pray David’s prayer: "Don’tkeep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a cleanheart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from yourpresence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy ofyour salvation, and make me willing to obey you." (Psalm 51:9-12, NLT)

Some say that accepting God’smercy encourages more sin. “Cheap grace,” they call it. That is not myexperience! My merciful Father pulls me closer to His side. His love makes meeven more desirous of doing His will, of living in a way that causes others toseek Him. Are you pushing the limits, living disobediently, carelesslydisregarding the Spirit’s call? There will come a moment of realization of yoursin. What then? Will you accept His mercy and grace and make a full confession? You will find grace and forgiveness. Or will you excuse, justify yourself, or hidefrom His gaze? If so, guilt will increase, making you a slave to sin.

Here’s a word from the Word.Learn it, love it, live it.

"He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his angerforever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to ouriniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for thosewho fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressionsfrom us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on thosewho fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we aredust."
(Psalm 103:9-14, NIV)

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How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts no power no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

Stuart Townend

CCLI License No. 810055