God's rest or earth's temporary diversion - you choose!

Life is not always what I think it should be. Sometimes the sun shines brightly and troubles seem far away. Then, there are those days when the Curse of the earth seems like it is focused exclusively on me - when nothing goes right! On those days, temptation rises in me. A little voice whispers - "Seek relief! Buy this! Go there! Do this or that!" Instead of going to a quiet place and waiting for the Spirit to bring the true rest that God alone provides, I want a quick fix for my aching heart. Temptation is especially seductive when we are tired or under pressure, isn't it? What are you chasing today? What's always in the back of your mind- getting a new car, finding a different job, taking a vacation? Why is that thought 'stuck' there? Do you want relief from something that is weighing heavily on you?

In those moments, we need to bring to mind the experience of God's people as written in the Word. "Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled." (Romans 15:4, NLT) Consider the Israelite people and their temptation in the desert. With miraculous power God brought them out of Egypt. The trip through the wilderness, however, was hard! They were under pressure, dealing with a completely different life than they had known back in Egypt. And, they craved relief! Despite the fact that God, in great love provided all they NEEDED including daily rations which they only had to go out and pick up from the ground, a perfect food called manna, they yearned for something else. The Bible tells us that "the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes." (Numbers 11:4-6 KJV)

What a terrible state of deception. "We ate freely..." was how they remembered when actually their food was purchased with their LIVES as slaves of the Pharaoh! "Nothing but manna..." they despised the special creation of food from Heaven's kitchen! In Psalm 106:13-15 KJV we read this commentary on those actions: "They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul." God allowed Israel to be 'satisfied' with stuff other than His manna, but their choice led them to spiritual poverty! Giving in to the temptation to seek diversion rather than receive rest came at high cost to their souls.

The same spirit that led them to obsess on the gourmet delights of Egypt led them to crave the gods of Egypt and to demand the creation of the golden calf idol which caused the death and destruction of many. The same spirit also caused them to miss the promise of the Lord God and to spend years wandering, literally in circles, in the remote areas of the Sinai waiting to die!

It can be difficult to stay contented with God's Presence and provisions while we live in a world that batters us with messages of selfish pleasure and false heavens! If we are not renewed in worship that is infused with Word and Spirit, we will quickly find the ersatz 'heaven' offered in the ad for a Caribbean cruise drawing us away from the true Heaven of His Presence. Paul reminds us of the seduction of worldly wealth and pleasure and then points the way to LIFE -- "Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:5-7 KJV)

There is rest for your soul!
Let God meet the need you have today.

When temptation offers you a temporary diversion, a quick fix for your aching soul, turn quickly to the Spirit of God, and pray for wisdom and strength to wait for His answer.

__________________

Only in God, is my soul at rest.
In Him comes my salvation.
Only in God, is my soul at rest.
In Him comes my salvation.
He only is my Rock,
My strength and my salvation.

My stronghold, my Savior,
I shall not be afraid at all.
My stronghold, my Savior,
I shall not be moved.

Only in God is found safety,
When my enemy pursues me.
Only in God is found glory,
When I am found meek and found lowly.

Only in God,
John Michael Talbot © 1980 Birdwing Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) / BMG Songs, Inc. (Mech) (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055

Be careful - it's powerful!

I love the Truth. When I hear someone being something other than truthful - either through ignorance or willful dishonesty - it stirs up strong emotions in me. Why? Because terrible things are done under the cover of deception by those who choose to live a lie. For example, I remember the whole Watergate mess which someone has said was a 'third rate burglary turned into a first class conspiracy.' What brought down President Nixon was not just the work of a few men who broke into political offices under the cover of night. It was culture of manipulation and dishonesty that rotted his administration from the inside out. Eventually when the lies caught up to him, Nixon was forced to resign. A generation later, President Clinton nearly met the same fate. Why? Because he refused to tell the truth! Caught in a sordid infidelity, he tried to weasel his way out and forever more will be known as the President who wondered what 'is' is!

Truth is important in another sense, too; what we believe is true and thus, becomes the foundation upon which we build our lives. I know a person who is totally convinced that no one should be trusted, that everyone is a adversary against whom she must defend herself. Her whole life has a fortress mentality, is lived defensively and from behind locked doors. Her 'truth' shapes her life. By contrast I know another person who knows that God loves him, that God actively cares and provides for him. He lives joyfully, despite many difficult experiences. He loves and cares for others with a child-like openness supported by his trust in his heavenly Father.

For the Believer, there is a primary source of truth. It is the Holy Scripture that teaches Who God is, What He has done, and How we can please Him. It is powerful! That is why we are cautioned - "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly." (2 Timothy 2:15-16, NIV) Correctly handle the Word of Truth! Do you study, know, understand, and apply the truth of the Scripture to your life, Believer? God gave us the Scripture to bring us to life, godliness, and wholeness. The Psalmist says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105, NIV)

I am deeply concerned that many Believers have a superficial knowledge of the Bible - a few verses plucked from favorite passages, but no real grasp of the magnificent wisdom for life found in it. In part this is due to shallow teaching from preachers who are more concerned with drawing a crowd than creating disciples! It is also the result of poor interpretative skill regarding the Bible. John MacArthur, pastor and author, recently published a book called The Truth War. In it he creates a case (overly harsh in my opinion) for adopting a militant stand for the Truth of the Word. In one telling passage, he relates the story of a preacher who mangled the meaning and intent of the Bible to create a sermon that had no basis in Biblical truth. "A preacher preached a sermon from Mark 2, which tells about some men who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus, lowering him through the roof so he could be healed. Mark 2.4 says, "They could not come nigh unto him for the press." (KJV) This man took that phrase as his text and ... sermonized for more than half an hour about how the press - the news media - are still keeping people from Jesus even to this day! But that verse has nothing to do with the news media. "The press" in that context is talking about the dense crowd." - The Truth War, MacArthur, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2007

It is easy (I hope!) to laugh at such an egregious mis-use of the holy text, but it is really no laughing matter. Some Believers who heard that sermon were convinced to become adversaries of the media because of a wholly dishonest presentation masquerading as the Truth! The Truth of the Bible is powerful, life-changing, pointing us to God and eternal life with Him. Let's respect it, learn it, and study it skillfully and with inspiration; for Jesus promised, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!"
___________________________

O Lord our Lord,
How majestic is Your name.
Your words are true,
Your mercy does not change.
All Your promises are precious,
Reviving our faith.
Every one of themWill be fulfilled one day.

Oh, all Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen" in Jesus.
Your promises are true.
All Your promises
Are "Yes" and "Amen"
Lord Jesus,
We'll keep running after You.

All Your Promises
© 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing
(Admin. by Music Services) CCLI License No. 810055

Does faithfulness matter?

Americans love BIG, RICH, and IMPORTANT, don't we? If we are not doing what we do for many people or on a world stage, the temptation is to begin to believe that it is unimportant and/or that we can slack off on from a high level of performance. Think again! George O. Wood, who serves our national church as her General Secretary, wrote an essay that helped me to think again about faithfulness. What follows is derived from a letter he sent to pastors last week.

Name the 5 wealthiest people in the world.
Name the last 5 winners of the Heisman trophy.
Name the last 5 women to hold the title - "Miss America."
Name any 10 people who have won either a Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
Name the last 10 teams to win the World Series.

I totally struck out. I can only recall a couple of those names! None of us can remember the headlines even from yesterday. These were the best in their field, but the applause soon dies, the awards tarnish, the achievements are forgotten. Certificates get buried with their owners.

Now, take a different approach.

List several teachers that helped you in your education.
Name 3 friends who were there for you in time of crisis or need.
Name 5 people from whom you learned something worthwhile.
List a few people that have made you feel special and/or appreciated.
Think of 5 people with whom you want to spend more time.

Not so hard, is it? We can rattle off those names fairly quickly. The people who make a real difference in our lives are not always those with credentials, money, or awards. They are the people who care, who show us that they love us.


From time to time, I'll admit that pride tiptoes up on me and whispers, "Who cares what you do? Who cares if you show up, do your best?" Truth is, outside of a small circle of friends and family, I am unknown! When God calls me home, I fairly certain that no flags will be lowered to half-staff. So what? Does that mean my life does not count? Not at all. God has given me a place to fill, people to love, lives to touch. He knows exactly how much I am capable of doing, and He has given me gifts of the Spirit that perfectly equip me to fulfill His will perfectly. Will I? That answer is up to me and depends, not so much on numbers, but on faithfulness.

Be faithful, friend, wherever God puts you. Grow where you're planted!

"As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do." (Ephesians 6:6-8, NLT)

Our Blessed Hope

No matter how relentlessly optimistic a person may try to be, there are days when the skies are dark! When the forecast is gloomy and the news headlines are all bad, it can hard to hold onto hope. Ever have those days? Sure you have, because we all do at one time or another!

Sometimes it is the state of the world that makes us think that there is no reason for hope in the future. Some scientists point to the rise in the globe's temperature as evidence that the existence of humanity is at stake. Wars continue, fed by religious hatred, political feuds, and economic issues. Sometimes the source of discouragement is much closer to home. We experience sorrow when a family member contracts a debilitating disease, or when divorce tears up a home, or when a once secure job evaporates when the company folds. Sometimes the darkness is inside of us - a recurring depression, a sinful habit that threatens to overwhelm us, or fear of some undefined nature.

A dark mood often yields to encouragement from a friend who helps us to set it all in a better perspective. Taking a break and giving ourselves a few days to rest can be amazingly restorative for our emotions. Learning to master our emotions, using them to make our life rich but refusing to allow them to govern us, is important, too. There is a source of hope that is more effective in dealing with despair than a cheerful song, a couple days at the beach, or self-talk. What is it? God's truth!

Those who belong to Christ will be concerned about the suffering and difficulties of life. They will go through the disappointments that all people endure - war, disease, temptation - included. However, they can rise above the despair that such things bring, because they know, by faith, that they are God's own, held in His hand. John reminds us "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:4, NIV)

This week I've been reading through 1 Thessalonians, the inspired letter that Paul wrote to a young church. It is short, just 5 chapters, but it is upbeat! What is the reason for the hopeful tone of the letter? Each chapter closes with a reference to the promise of Christ's return. The apostle tells us to stay hopeful because our Lord has not left us to fate. He is working out His will in us, building His kingdom through us, and will come for us in the moment chosen in the will of God, the Father. Paul does not see the return of Christ as a reason for fear or dread at all! He takes great hope from that promise. "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, NLT)

Unlike some Believers who choose to use the promise of the return of Jesus as a reason to escape life's troubles, Paul urges us to take hope from the promise and then to dig in to make a difference here on earth for God's sake! The Blessed Hope infuses us with courage, keeps us steady, and gives us reason to serve and love in Christ's name. Why? Because we know that even death itself cannot steal our reward. Our destiny is not a grave. Though our voice may fall silent here on this earth in death, we will shout with the saints when we are gathered 'round the Throne of God!

So, take hold of your hope - a hope based not on wealth, health, or sunshine - but rather on the Promise of the Lord. Pray for wisdom in dealing with the challenges, for restored perspective on current events, for the power of the Spirit to overcome the Enemy, and for faith to remain faithful! And may what Paul wrote of the Believers in the letter also be said of us: "The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore—you’re the message! People come up and tell us how you received us with open arms, how you deserted the dead idols of your old life so you could embrace and serve God, the true God. They marvel at how expectantly you await the arrival of his Son, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescued us from certain doom." (1 Thessalonians 1:7-10, The Message)
____________________________

A parade began at Calvary,
And the saints of all the ages fill its ranks.
O'er the sands of time they're marching
To their King's great coronation.
And this could be the dawning of that day.

O this could be the dawning
Of that grand and glorious day,
When the face of Jesus we behold.
Dreams and hopes of all the ages,
Are awaiting His returning.
And this could be the dawning of that day.

All the saints are getting restless,
O, what glorious expectation fills each face.
Dreams and hopes of all the ages
Are awaiting His returning.
And this could be the dawning of that day.

This Could Be the Dawning© 1971 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright ManagementCCLI License No. 810055

Saved and Sanctified

My mom tells an old story about a pastor's wife she knew years ago whose son was always in trouble. When challenged by church members about her son's seeming lack of Christian fruit, the dear lady sighed - "The boy is saved, but he's not sanctified yet." In case that's just a little too much 'church talk' for you, let me explain. When a person turns to Jesus Christ and, in faith, accepts His offering of grace through the Cross, that one is 'saved,' yes, rescued from the judgment of God! On the other side of that experience, there should be an ongoing transformation of character, a change of behavior, which is called 'sanctification,' becoming useful to God with a life worthy of His high calling. A theologian of a century ago, A.H. Strong, illustrates it like this: "The steamship whose machinery is broken may be brought into port and made fast to the dock. She is then safe, but not sound. Repairs may last a long time. Christ designs to make us both safe and sound. Justification gives us the first- safety; and sanctification gives us the second - soundness." -
as quoted in Revolution of Character, Navpress, 2005

Of concern to me is the apparent desire of many Believers to enjoy the benefit of God's grace through Christ without the transformation of heart and life! Some, it seems, want to be 'saved' and have the hope of Heaven on the horizon of life, but at the same time, wish to reserve the right to live their lives without constraint of the will of God. How wonderful it is to know Jesus as Savior - to find the relief of guilt through His forgiveness! Equally wonderful is the joy of letting the Spirit transform us, as we cooperate with Him, into people whose lives are marked by the 'beauty of holiness!' But many are duped by a diabolical lie believing that a holy life must be a dull, joyless, colorless life of religious acts and constant suffering. The sentiment printed on a T-shirt I saw last week reflects that deception. It read - "See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil. - Have no fun!" This is nothing new! It is a repeat of the ancient deception of Eden where Eve became convinced that she could only know happiness if she discarded the Word of God. "You will be like God, knowing good and evil," the serpent whispered to her, goading her to throw away her perfect relationship with her Father Creator.

Believer, there is joy in sanctification! That disciple of Jesus, who follows Him closely, who chooses to respond quickly with obedience; lives with serenity, enjoys tremendous authority over sin and evil, and is spared the fruit of disobedience which is always bitter after the initial illusion of sweet satisfaction.
He is transparent, knowing no need to hide any part of his life from the scrutiny of others.
His worship is genuine, not needing to be forced past the guilt of his hidden deeds.
He experiences daily guidance for he hears the voice of the Spirit more clearly, and thus, lives purposefully.
His life lends light to the world where he walks, helping others to see their way out of confusion.
His integrity grows for he is not 'this way today, and that way tomorrow,' for he is consistently God's man wherever he goes.
He is trusted by the weak, sought out by the strong, and is a 'friend of sinners' without becoming a participant in their ways.

You may be thinking, "That's not me, for that person seems perfect." No, even the sanctified experience an ongoing insurgency of the sinful nature. There are moments of lapse when unholy thoughts, words, or actions break through. What then? The person who knows he belongs to God, repents, finds forgiveness, and makes no excuse for his sin. He accepts responsibility, makes restitution, and moves into a new day!

We cannot save ourselves. Becoming right with God is solely the work of Christ Jesus and we are recipients of undeserved favor. Sanctification is both God's work and ours! We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit on a daily basis in order to live a holy life. There are choices to be made - sometimes painful, sometimes difficult, sometimes provoking scorn from others - that allow the transformation to continue in us. True holiness (not its imitation - self-imposed piety!) is a thing of beauty. Invite the Lord to make you both safe and sound, won't you?

Here's a word from the Word. Think deeply and prayerfully about the application to your life today.
"But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8, The Message)
Amen!

The rush to judgment

Mike Nifong, the North Carolina prosecutor who was relieved of his law license last week, made a mockery of the notion of justice. A woman accused some young athletes of the crime of rape. As he rightly should have done, he began an investigation. Very soon investigators attached to the case realized that the evidence was not supporting the woman's allegations, but Mr. Nifong had already gone on the public record with harshly accusatory statements and he stubbornly chose to stick with his initial assumptions through the legal process. He made choices to withhold exculpatory evidence from the courts. Finally, justice caught up to this man who lacked the integrity to be a custodian of the law and he was officially disgraced! He failed in his role as a prosecutor because he made a premature decision about the guilt of the accused, instead of seeking the truth that the case would develop, and waiting for the judge and jury to form the judgment.

Some of the regrets in my life are centered around a tendency shared by a majority of human beings - to form a pre-mature judgment about the actions of another. More times than I want to remember, I have jumped to conclusions about what really happened or just assumed that I knew why someone was acting in a way that I thought wrong though I had no actual knowledge of their thought process. I did it with my kids when they were young! Sometimes I handed out discipline before I knew enough of the facts. Even today, I too often decide that I know the real problem, only to later I find out that my assumptions were faulty. One of the deacons who serves in the church of which I serve as pastor has warned me - "Keep your hands off the keyboard for at least 24 hours!" He knows the problems that can be created with a too-quick email response from a person who only thinks he has the facts straight. Often I find that where I thought I "knew" that the other person had some evil intent; in reality, they were afraid, or did not know of alternatives, or they were overcome by their situation. A person who is not making the right choices needs someone who will take time to listen, who will work with them, who is patient while they work their way to a place of wholeness. A rush to judgment precludes justice, shuts down dialogue, and potentially destroys relationships.

Why do we do it? Prejudice, ignorance, stupidity, arrogance; even my own fear, are several reasons I've done it. How about you?

Jesus instructs us with this warning -
"Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. "
And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?
How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?
Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye." (Matthew 7:1-5, NLT)

Jesus is not telling us to suspend good sense, to drop all standards of right and wrong in favor of some fluffy notion of love and acceptance. We need discretion! Yes, there is a time to say to another, "We need to talk, because the choices you are making are not right. They do not please God. They are harmful to others and to yourself." However, we must be exceedingly cautious about climbing into God's seat of judgment from which we hand down our conclusions in the assumption that we have all knowledge about the motives and actions of others. And we need the heart of mercy and grace that moved God when He saw us in our need to come and save us from our sins! While He can choose destruction, He graciously offers us forgiveness and reconciliation; patiently works with us to make us like Jesus, and gives us His Spirit to live in us to work the new nature into maturity. "God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost." (2 Peter 3:9, CEV)

May the Lord help us to be patient, too. If we must speak of judgment, let us do so, not with any sense of gloating or joy at the destruction of another, but with genuine sorrow that they refused the grace of God to their own loss. When you start to form an opinion, or voice a conclusion about another today - I pray that the Spirit will restrain you saying, "Are you sure about that? Do you have all the facts?" And I pray that we will understand the word from the Word that says, "...continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, NLT)

Grand Poo-Bah or Life Coach?

On Sunday Americans will celebrate Dads. I am blessed with a good father, so Father's Day's is a happy one for me, a day of pleasant memories and ready tributes to the man whose influence shaped and molded my life. That is not the case for a good many people whose fathers were less than admirable in their character or so remote emotionally that they grew up virtual orphans. I hope you will honor your Dad, be he great or not so wonderful, for God's sake, this Sunday. After all, God saw fit to make this commandment part of the basic ten - "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12, NLT)

Now fathers, let me address you for a moment. (The rest of you can skip this TFTD! See you on Monday.)

Filling the role of Dad is not a job for cowards, is it? It's tough to know when to be a disciplinarian and when to be tender, when to wrap your arms around your kid and when to kick his butt. It's hard to know when to tell him how and when to step back and let him try it on his own.

• We start out the fathering trip staring at our wife's expanding stomach wondering what in the world we've done to her and how that 'thing' inside of her body is going to change our life.
• Then they put that 7 lb. baby in our arms and we feel sheer terror, "I might break it." is our only thought in that moment.
• When he is a toddler, we start to realize that the 'baby' is really 'human,' and part of us.
• When they get on the school bus for the first time, we want to throw up because it hits us for the first time- "this child I love is going to leave me behind someday." Sometime around 7th grade, we start to wish they would leave tomorrow!
• The teenage years are amazing for fathers who stay engaged. The old line about 'herding cats' comes to mind. Despite our best efforts to provide guidance, they manage to do what they want, often rebelling just because they can. Dads spend most of those years feeling like a failure wondering where we went wrong.
• When they grow up and make the really big life choices - career, college, marriage, buying their first car - we feel pride and fear because we know that disappointment is inevitable and we don't want that adult person we still think of as 'our kid,' to have to be broken by life in the same ways we were.

Here's one thing I have learned about being a Dad that you can take for what it's worth - your kid, whether 4, 14, or 24 years of age - doesn't want a Grand Poo-Bah for a Dad; someone who is handing down edicts from some lofty height of imagined authority. They want a Life Coach, somebody who is showing them the way; modeling character, faith, and wisdom. Grand Poo-Bah Dads are kings; men who become melded with their recliners, TV remote in hand, barking out orders and sending their kids our to do the right things that they, themselves, don't do. They say really dumb things like - "You little *&%$! Who taught you to talk like that?" As they head off to their hunting camp for yet another weekend, Grand Poo-Bah Dads tell their son, "Go to church with your mother. It's important." GPB Dads lose touch with their kids, "their mother takes care of them," then cries in self-pity wondering "why doesn't he respect me?"

Life Coach Dads say, like Paul, "Follow me as I follow Christ." Watch how it's done, imitate my life. So, you're thinking, that's hard. Yep, it is. Life Coach Dads realize that values are caught, not taught. They don't have a private porn stash, or go to clubs where they can't take their son, or have a life apart from their family. Dad, live as an open book, letting your kids learn as much from your failures as they do from your successes. Let them know that Dads sometimes do not have the answer and that you need life coaches and God, too! Show them that making the God-honoring choice is costly, but right. Teach them to repent when you sin by admitting your error - to God and to them. Demonstrate that life is more than things, by making the choice to give yourself and your time to others, to the Lord.

Anybody can plant sperm and become a father in that sense. It takes guts, endurance, wisdom, and the daily help of the Spirit to be a real Dad. Few things in the world compare to the joy that a Life Coach Dad feels when he sees his son or daughter doing the right things and realizing with amazed wonder and some fear, too- "They becoming just like me!"

"Fathers, don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master. " (Ephesians 6:4, The Message)

Happy Father's Day.

Dressed for success

I would not go so far as to say that 'clothes make the man,' as some suggest. With the right help and budget, anybody can put together a suit of clothes that looks great! But, as shallow as we might think it is, there is some truth about being dressed for success. If you've seen the recent movie hit, "Pursuit of Happyness" (sp. in context) you may remember the scene where Chris Gardiner, the man struggling to make a living, goes directly from an overnight stay in jail to an interview for a job as a stock broker. He is dressed in old work clothes, disheveled, and covered with paint. When the brokerage manager asks him, "What would you say if a man walked in here with no shirt and I hired him?" Chris replies, "He must have had on some really nice pants!" Chris' courage and determination overcame his appearance and he got the job. We react to that scene because we know how extraordinary it is that his appearance did not quickly disqualify him from consideration.

God, through Christ Jesus, has purchased a suit for your soul, clothes you can put on that will dress you for real success. Paul writes about this in his letter to the church in Colosse. Take a look. "You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. . . . From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ. So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it." (Colossians 3:9-14, The Message)

When I get out of the shower in the morning, I look into my closet and dress myself according to the tasks of the day.
Day off, needing to do yardwork? Old polo shirt, work jeans, and sneakers are the uniform of the day.
Meeting at District office? Dress shirt, tie, jacket are the choice.
Conducting a funeral? Black suit, conservative tie.
Of course, inside those clothes it is the same Jerry, but each outfit prepares me to meet the obligations of the day. So it is with life. God knows that each day brings us differing challenges and tasks. So, He's prepared a whole wardrobe for us to wear that will help us do the work in a way that honors Him and displays His honor. Pull on compassion! Wear humility! Buckle on the belt of self-discipline! But never go out without putting on love! Paul reminds us that this is God's basic all-purpose, never out of style, coat.

This idea of being clothed by God, dressed for spiritual success, did not originate with Paul. Isaiah exults in God's provision for him, saying - "I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10, NLT)

Strip off the old filthy clothing of the flesh, stained with sin. Throw it aside. Accept God's new suit - the righteousness of Christ. Enter the throne room of the King of Glory, confidently, dressed for the occasion, in the suit for the soul you could not afford, but which Jesus bought and paid for with His life. And, each day, suit up for His honor, wearing the wardrobe that marks you as a child of the King - love, compassion, kindness, humility, discipline, forgiveness.

"Yeah, I know, but..."

Each one of us could add to that list, in our own way, where we know we should live differently, but don't because we think that our situation gives us special privileges or because we think that the consequences that others suffer just will not happen to us. People that seek my counsel are often 'amazed' at what is happening to them as their health deteriorates, their marriage falls apart, or their kids go wild. Even as they acknowledge the decisions that got them where they are today, they excuse themselves with the old line, "Yeah, I know, but...."

Thinking that the rules apply to everyone except ourselves is a human trait that has a long heritage!
"Yeah, I know I was speeding, but...."
"Yeah, I know I oughta quit smoking, but...."
"Yeah, I know I'm flirting with disaster, but..."
"Yeah, I know I should get my spiritual life together, but..."

Some of you will remember the country song by Tom T. Hall that said, "Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin'. Me and Jesus, got it all worked out. Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin'. We don't need anybody to tell us what it's all about." The song talks about a man who worked out the sins in his life without a preacher or a church involved. It plays right into our cultural sense of 'me-ism,' in which we learn to think that everything is about ourselves, even knowing and serving God. In that upside-down view of life, our personal comfort, our happiness, our sense of well-being trumps everything else. Loving our Lord, giving up ourselves for our family, giving time and resources back to our town and/or church are not as important as making sure we are doing what we want to do. After all, what a Friend we have in Jesus with Whom we have it all worked out.

Here's what the Lord says. "You must not have any other god but me." (Exodus 20:3, NLT) That includes self! I look into the mirror often and tell myself, "There is one God, and you are not Him!" I do not get to write the guidelines for myself, God already did that. James writes about people who brag and boast about their plans, who mistakenly believe that they are a god. He says, "Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (James 4:13-17, NLT)

Jesus made this statement, which to our way of understanding appears a paradox: "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." (Matthew 10:39, NLT) Without faith, without eyes that are open to the things of the Spirit, that statement makes no sense at all. "Give up your life?" You mean, don't make choices based on what's best in this moment, what feels good, what leads to making the most money, what feeds myself? That's exactly what He means! Our obedience allows us to find life to the full, to enjoy God's affirmation, and day to day intimacy with Him. It takes real faith to accept that and do what He says rather than what Self demands.

So you can read this and say, "Yeah, I know, but...." and give yourself an exemption. People do it all the time - and, they pay the price for their choices. "So, Jerry, you're saying I'll go to Hell if I do this?" Not at all, for I am not the judge. And, besides, the purpose of the Cross is to pay the price of saving us - completely! Making everything about Eternity is entirely the wrong line of thinking for a Christian anyway! Why are we so quick to think that what we do is all about 'going to Heaven or Hell?' It's about living a life that honors Christ Jesus, that builds the Kingdom, that lets other see His beauty, the majesty of His grace.

Here's a passage that merits meditation. It talks about the Believer on the Day when he stands before Christ to give an account. I don't think that "Yeah, I know, but..." will mean all that much before His fiery gaze, do you?

"Anyone who builds on that foundation (the salvation provided by Christ Jesus) may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.

If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. . . .

Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. . . . Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God." (1 Corinthians 3:12-23, NLT)

_______________________________________________

Oh that with yonder sacred throng,
we at His feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song,
and crown Him, Lord of all!

-public domain

I'm fed up with him!

One of my old, tired jokes goes like this.
"How are you, Jerry?"
"Oh, I am wonderful," I reply.
When the inquirer responds with surprise, which most do,
I go on to say, "Yes, some think I am wonderful; others despise me!"

But, it's not just a joke. For reasons too numerous to explore here, everyone of us deals with people we like and those we find offensive. With some we have an instant sense of connection. With others an equally strong sense of rejection. I am glad for this fact: we are able to overcome our emotional feelings about others for love is a choice. I was talking to a person recently that has become a good friend, whose company I now genuinely enjoy. As we talked, I remembered a time in the past when we did not care for each other - not even a little bit! With patience, we overcame our initial feelings about each other and learned to be brothers in Christ who are on the same team.

Are you one of those people who thinks that love is primarily an emotion, something over which you have little control? Consider what the Word says - "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony." (Colossians 3:12-14, NLT) What a radical command, so different from the way that people normally act toward those who disappoint them. How easily we work ourselves up to an angry pitch when discussing someone's failures and/or faults. "Can you believe the way she acted in that meeting today? She was so irritating. She is always doing stupid, selfish things like that! I can't believe she claims to be a Christian... " and so it goes. Our mouths are off and running and somebody's reputation gets beat up badly by the time we are finished!

What if we took the Scripture to heart and the moment that kind of conversation started, we intervened with a statement like - "We ought to take a moment to consider the kind of pressure that she is experiencing that causes her to act in that kind of way. Do you think there is something we could do to help her through this?" Or, "I remember when I was less than godly and I am sure glad that someone was patient enough to help me get through it, even when I was acting like selfish child." Or, "Let's make a different choice, and just let it slide for the sake of the Lord." Foolish, you say? In fact it is what it means to show gentleness, to make allowance for the failures of another.

The wisdom of Proverbs reminds us that "He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends." (Proverbs 17:9, NIV) Peter amplifies that by telling us that "you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins." (1 Peter 4:8, CEV)

Dr. Dan Allender wrote a book titled, Bold Love, in which he calls on Believers to become 'warriors of love.' Sounds like a contradiction in terms, doesn't it? Love and warrior just do not mix - in natural terms. But the truth is that love is an unbelievably powerful weapon in the hands of a Holy Spirit-filled individual. Our model is Christ Himself - who changed the world, who saved me, with love alone. It is not a syrupy love of romantic expectations. It is an active love that requires great wisdom, that advances - at great cost to itself - against evil.

The words of Jesus, recorded in Luke 6, tell us to "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that."

In our war of love, we cannot become predictable or simple-minded. Instead, we must be full of the wise ways of the Spirit, constantly studying those who are in need of love, seeking ways to overcome their defenses. Remember, you can only love to the extent that you are loved! God loves you and He loves me with a deep, unwavering, healing love. "Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other." (1 John 4:11, NLT) Go, warrior, and engage in the battle of love - dying to self and choosing to be a healer of the unlovely - for God's sake.
_______________________

Lord, I come to You,
Let my heart be changed, renewed;
Flowing from the grace
That I've found in You;
And Lord, I've come to know,
The weaknesses I see in me,
Will be stripped away
By the pow'r of Your love.

Hold me close,
Let Your love surround me;
Bring me near
Draw me to Your side;
And as I wait,
I'll rise up like the eagle,
And I will soar with You,
Your Spirit leads me on
In the pow'r of Your love.

The Power Of Your Love -
Bullock, Geoff
© 1992 Word Music, Inc. (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) / Maranatha! Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) CCLI License No. 810055

At peace in His Presence

Sometimes we find ourselves in the middle of situations we want to change, don't we? It can be hard to know if we should accept what is or work for change. Recently, I found myself in the middle of one of those dilemmas. I struggled, complained (inwardly), and tried to forget my inner conflict. The fight drew down my strength. Finally, in prayer, I handed it over to the Lord. "Lead me through this time. Keep my heart at peace even as You lead me to contentment with what You provide for me, and teach me what my part in change should be." I was praying a version of a prayer that ends most 12 step group meetings, commonly known as the Serenity Prayer. This prayer, authorship unknown, says,

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen."

The counsel of the Scripture teaches us to be content, while encouraging us to be activists! We are never to be fatalists, detaching ourselves from this painful world while just waiting for Divine Deliverance. Jesus gives us the Spirit and tells us to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV)
What a commission! Our field is the world. Our work in not finished until every man and woman has heard the Good News about Jesus Christ. If I read them and reflect on my limited abilities, even factoring in my network of fellow Believers, the task is overwhelming - creating a unsettled heart in me. That is why Jesus concluded as He did reminding us that we are not in this alone! "I am with you!" His Presence in our lives is the KEY to serenity! Whatever the challenge, whatever our need - if we are 'in Christ,' we do not face it alone.

There is a short story that Mark tells us. Most likely his source was Peter who mentored Mark in the work of Christ. My imagination has the two of them sharing a meal when the older man leans back on his elbows, getting ready to tell a story that makes him laugh at his lack of faith at that time. "Let me tell about a time when I thought I was going to die. And then Jesus did the most amazing thing that left me shaking in my shoes!" Peter then told about this night on the lake.
"As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let’s cross to the other side of the lake." So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion.
The disciples woke him up, shouting, "Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?"
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!"
Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
Then he asked them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
The disciples were absolutely terrified. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "Even the wind and waves obey him!" (Mark 4:35-42, NLT)

Is there a storm brewing around you? Are you faced with a situation that makes you want to run for the hills? Are you unsure of your response to a challenge- to work harder, to wait it out, to stand back and see what develops, or to dig in and work for change?

God will guide you. But, His guidance is best known when we are at peace, even in the middle of the storm. When we are frantic with fear, thrashing about like a fly caught in a spider's web, our spiritual discernment becomes next to nil! Pray early, pray always, pray with faith! Keep Jesus in your boat. His Presence brings serenity; serenity makes us effective in accomplishing the work He has called us to do in His Name.
____________________________

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
The Lord of hosts (General of the Angel Armies) is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge."

(Psalm 46:10-11, NKJV)

A 'psychologized' Jesus?

In the mid-1990's I was captivated by something secondary to the Gospel of Christ. In a search for ways to help hurting people, I began to explore psychology. The information was good for what it could do, which was to help to explain why people behave in the ways that we do. I learned from authors who detailed the various complexes, phobias, and relational problems that we experience. Those discoveries are extremely valuable in my work as a Pastor , but I have come 'round to the renewed realization that there is no power for change like the power of salvation through Jesus Christ. Psychology may explain why people drink too much, or fail to form intimate relationships, or distrust authority, or live rebelliously... name your problem, and someone will offer a theory about its origins and causes! But, explanations do not always produce transformation.

Counseling, which helps a person understand the patterns of behavior in their lives, is very valuable. A good counselor can help us to reach for emotional maturity. He can aid us in discovering tools that help us to break out of self-destructive ways and addictions. Effective counselors will point the way towards some significant steps in modifying the ways we act. But, only the power of God can bring about a transformation of character and create a new heart in us! As a result of influences around me, a decade or so ago, I was distracted from the true Gospel and began presenting Jesus to people as the Great Therapist. As true as that might be, what sinners need is something more than a Therapist who understands! We need a Savior who can pull us from the muck into which we have fallen under the deception of the father of lies. We need a Light to show us the Way, to life and back home to the love of our Father.

Please do not mis-read this thought. I am not attacking the science of psychology, nor am I dismissing its value as a tool for dealing with dysfunctional human behaviors! What I want us to know is that it has its limits and that at the end of the road of counseling, there is a lesser traveled Way to the Cross, where "anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!" (2 Corinthians 5:17, The Message)

The Therapeutic Jesus is a Friend that we talk to, sharing our burdens, finding love and understanding. So what's wrong with that? Nothing except that He is more than a Friend. He is the Lord, the Savior, the Mediator who bridges the wide gap between us and our Creator! He not only listens with empathy, He is able to change us and heal us by giving us the Spirit to live in us! The Word says, "He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him." (Hebrews 7:25, NKJV) Another version states the wonderful promise like this - "Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God. ... Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. ... he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins." (Hebrews 7:22-27, NLT)

Believer, have you 'psychologized' Jesus? Have you made Him a kind of super "Dr. Phil" without really realizing it? Do you talk over your fears, problems, failures, and sins with Him but without the expectation that He can do more than just listen and advise? He is the Lord of Glory who came to 'save us from our sins.'

Join Paul in declaring - "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. .... I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!" (Philippians 3:10-11, NLT)

Receive Him with new faith. Follow Him to the Cross, into suffering and death, and into a new life marked by the Eternal Life of the Spirit.
__________________

"Ye chosen seed of Israel's race,
Ye ransomed from the Fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
and crown Him, Lord of All.

All Hail the pow'r of Jesus' Name,
let angels prostrate fall,
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown Him, Lord of All!"

Imposing Order

Things left untended fall into disarray and/or to disintegrate. My lawn is a simple example. If I want it to be attractive, I must give attention to the weeds and grass on a weekly basis! Your home quickly becomes a mess unless there is constant daily attention given to keeping things picked up, put away, and cleaned up! That is especially true if you have several children. Your car will run without maintenance for a while, but if you fail to do regular oil changes and other routine repairs, it will eventually break down, leaving you stranded along a road - probably at the most inconvenient time. Each of those illustrations is easily understood, right? We know the necessity of being attentive to the details if we want to impose order on the natural chaos of life.

Now, let's turn our attention to more important issues of life! Do you have an orderly mind, a disciplined heart? Does life just happen to you or do you set an agenda and live with purpose? Yes, I know - we cannot control everything! There are unexpected events that come from nowhere to disrupt our plans. But if we have imposed order on our lives through daily discipline, we will be more prepared to deal with the surprises visited on us. The Psalmist prays, "Teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, NKJV) What's his request? For a sense of the brevity of life, that will press us on the need to do what we need to do now.

Believers truly do want to become mature persons of faith. That will not just happen. Great faith emerges from study of Scripture that lays a foundation that will support our choice to trust God. Great faith develops in the decision to obey God in the small things so that we will learn to obey Him in the crisis moment!

Believers want to pass along their faith in Christ to the next generation, but it won't just happen. Deuteronomy tells us to "Repeat (God's commands) again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders." (Deuteronomy 6:6-8, NLT) Be intentional about applying God's truth to life, all the time, everywhere, so that your children learn the Way. Some seem to think that 2 hours on Sunday morning is the 'end-all' and 'be-all' of passing the faith along, only to be terribly distressed when their teen-age son decides to toss the "hobby of Christianity" (that's how he sees an unapplied faith) on the junk heap so he can pursue a passion for sports or cars. They failed to plan for the result they desired.

Most Believers want to overcome sin in their lives, but if they are not intent on pursuing God, that goal will just be a fantasy! Jesus urges us to "deny yourself and take up your cross." (Mark 8.34) A holy life, that pleases God, grows out of daily worship and saying "No," to the desires of our sinful nature in the small, seemingly inconsequential things, which allows the Spirit to grow strong character and genuine spiritual fruit in our lives.

Christian, two extremes tend to attract us. At one extreme, we assume all the responsibility for living a life that is pleasing to God, creating crushing burdens of perfectionism for ourselves. Such persons become obsessed with the rules and religion to an extent that they become slaves to the Law, living without joy, and often in the grip of hypocrisy. At the other extreme, we become irresponsible, claiming that the Spirit will do all the work for us. Those Believers accomplish little for God because their lives are marked by chaos, by chasing one spiritual high after another. They lack sustained discipline that allows for growth and greatness.

God, through Christ Jesus, has set us free from sin. He gives us life in the Spirit. And He tells us to "Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear." (Philippians 2:12, NLT) We must cooperate with the Spirit to impose order on our minds and hearts, making the daily decisions that keeps the chaos of sin from creating so much clutter that we cannot experience the flow of the Spirit's grace and gifts.

Here's a practical word from the Word. Prayerfully read it, understanding that it is not a suggestion, but a Divine Imperative.

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.
Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing.
Then the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9, NLT)
____________________

Lord God, I desire that my life will be a beautiful garden-
filled with the fruit of the Spirit-
holy and pleasing in Your sight;
that reflects the Order of Your Holy Nature.

Help me to make the choice, today;
to follow You, to say "yes" to the Spirit.
Renew the passion for godliness in me.
Help me to choose wisely the places
where my thoughts linger,
to discipline my mind and heart to remain in the Light,
so that Your will becomes my delight.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

Simplistic solutions?

The Presidential political campaign is started in earnest. From all sides we have candidates claiming they have the solutions for complex issues like poverty, caring for the Creation, reducing crime, and making health care affordable for all people. What I find frustrating is the implication these challenges can be met if just one program is put into place, if just one thread is pulled the whole knot will unravel.

Want to reduce crime? Get tough on criminals and hand down longer prison sentences.
Want to reduce poverty? Create an government program to collect more taxes and re-distribute wealth to more people. Etc, etc.

I cannot think of any social problems that has a single cause, nor can do I believe that any will be be solved with simplistic solutions outlined in campaign speeches. Complex issues require thoughtful solutions. Addressing the issues of the nation will demand leader who are willing to ignore polls, men and women who tell people the hard stuff, the truth that few want to hear. And that is the tough part of democracy, for how does one get elected unless he wins votes; and how does he win votes unless he tells the voters what they want to hear?

The same impulse to 'solve' problems with simplistic solutions makes it's way into Christianity, too.

- Guilt got you down? Just say the 'sinner's prayer' and you can instantly change!
- Struggling with a chronic sickness? Find a healer and say a faithful prayer and claim your healing.
- Has spiritual apathy kept you from becoming involved in hands-on ministry? Have you confused a life full of stuff with having real and eternal life? Buy the newest program from the popular Christian author and borrow inspiration from his grand stories.

Now that's I have offended most of you in one way or another, let me hasten to add - I do believe in conversion, healing, and think that there are some great resources out there that really do help mobilize Christians. But, simply getting someone to say a prayer, even an orthodox one, does not guarantee real transformation of character unless that person subsequently becomes a disciple of Jesus: a life-long, day to day, and very costly choice! Healing is sometimes a miraculous relief of symptoms, but more often healing comes through multiple adjustments in the way we live- forgiveness, better work habits, more exercise, improved diet, and learning to live within Biblical guidelines. Books and programs can inspire, but real servants emerge when people get passionate about One Person, Jesus. That kind of passion truly 'consumes' us and makes all other interests secondary to Loving God, and showing that love by serving others in His Name without careful calculation of cost vs.benefit. No program, no set of pictures in PowerPoint, no stories that tug on emotions, can replace the conviction of the Holy Spirit which brings about a genuine and complete devotion to the Person and Work of our Lord.

If that all sounds complex, it should; because it is. Life is complex! While we might like the attractiveness of simple slogans, most of us know they are not enough to change the world. While we might like to sing songs that make it all look simple and easy, and hang on sermons that promise quick relief from the troubles of life, the real answers involve careful thought, lots of sacrificial work, and ongoing prayer which allows the Master to guide us to the Abundant Life He promises to those who love Him, not just in slogan, but in fact.

The most profound path for developing a life of wholeness, that is marked by spiritual maturity, was laid out by God and delivered to us by Moses. It is neither simple nor easy, but it is comprehensive and yet succinct. Jesus said that if we love God and love others, we will be moved and empowered by the Holy Spirit to conform our lives to these holy directives. Here they are.

"Then God gave the people all these instructions:
"I am the Lord your God, .... You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind ... I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. ...
Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. ....
Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
You must not murder.
You must not commit adultery.
You must not steal.
You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
You must not covet your neighbor’s house,...wife,...servant, ...or anything else that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:1-17, NLT)

Please do not misunderstand. You cannot save yourself by any amount of self-righteousness or hard work. The weakness of the Law is our broken, sinful nature that confounds our best intentions to keep it. But, in Christ, the power of that nature over us is replaced with the power of the Holy Spirit working within us. Christ did not erase the righteous requirements of God for holy living. He made holiness truly possible! Enjoying the full benefit of the salvation given to us through the grace of God will require ongoing application of the Truth, and daily discipline.

Here's a word from the Word for your thoughts today....

"Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people." (Philippians 2:12-15, NLT)

Not so clearly defined?

There are times when I think that God should bring back the Urim and the Thummin! The what? The Pentateuch makes references to two sacred objects that were carried on the chest of the high priest of Israel which he used to determine the will of God for the people. If you doubt me, you can look it up! (Exodus 28:30) Nobody knows exactly how they were used, but they did exist. OK, I am kidding about bringing them back. I'm not expressing literal longing. It is our privilege to live in the age of the Spirit and to know the Lord's leading by the treasured wisdom found in His Word. But, there are occasional moments when I think I'd like to have a concrete way to discern God's will, so I could say, "This is what the Lord wants us to do. So let's not debate it any longer!" Sometimes, I just do not know how the Word speaks to the situation and there are moments when the voice of the Spirit is inaudible - due to my small faith or spiritual deafness, not God's failure.

A case in point is the funding of church ministries. Those of us who are charged with being fiscally responsible look at various programs and and we must make decisions that have an impact on God's work. "What is mission critical, what should we prioritize? If necessary, where should we reduce expenses? What is God's will?" These are not questions of right or wrong, but of better and best. Almost always someone has a differing sense of what is important than someone else. Of course, we pray. Over my years of experience, I have seen the Lord provide many times in ways unforeseen, so there are reasons to trust Him. But, He often makes us wait and wonder. It would be amazing (truly wonderful) to have so much funding available that the church could all do all of the things that seem good and right to do; but apparently, God thinks we are better stewards when He provides just what He knows we need, and right at the moment we need it.

Here is the wisdom of the Word for those situations when we are facing multiple options and lack clear direction. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) There are three pre-conditions to being led by the Spirit taught to us in that passage.

First, trust God completely. Make Him the center of your life. That can be easier said than done! When challenges arise, the road ahead is obscured by darkness, or situations come that shake us to the core of our being, we are tempted to take back control of our lives. Abraham, the 'father of the faithful,' did it. God promised him an heir, but his wife was well past child-bearing years and Abraham still did not have a son. He wavered in his trust and started to make choices that were expedient, but not God-honoring.

That is why the second principle is clearly stated. "Don't try to figure everything out on your own!" Abraham concluded that since Sarah was old, he needed to follow the ancient custom of fathering an heir with her servant, Hagar. His intellect provided him an answer to his dilemma but it wasn't the plan of God. What chaos resulted from his choice to figure out his own way to fulfill God's promise! The Lord has given us amazing creative abilities. He has created us with wonderful faculties of reason. But the wisest of the wise, is limited because he can only make decisions with the information available to him. God cautions us about becoming 'wise in our own eyes,' thinking that we have all the information required. That is why we cannot exclusively trust in our intellect if we hope to live in a way that pleases Him. In a time of great challenge, the Lord spoke to the prophet Isaiah reminding him - "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9, NLT) We must humbly confess our dependence on His revelation.

Third, God's direction emerges when we consistently make the choice to keep Him first in every situation. "Seek His will in all you do." If we hold onto our way, our will, in select areas of our lives while professing to seek God's will in another, our lack of integrity will bring about confusion and an inability to live at peace in His provisions. If we are refusing to follow the Lord's lead in those areas where He has already made His will plain, we should not think we will be able to clearly discern His way for our lives. Simple obedience is the most basic evidence of deep faith!

Need guidance today? Me, too! But we don't have to return to the Law or the Urim and the Thummin. Instead, we turn to the Spirit who lives in us.

Take this word to heart today. May the Lord use His Word to inspire you.

"So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What’s next, Papa?"

God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance!

We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!" (Romans 8:12-17, The Message)
_______________________________

Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven,
feed me 'til I want no more,
feed me 'til I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar,
guide me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, Strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield,
Be Thou still my strength and shield. - public domain

Amen.

What's your 'vision?'

Do you ever feel like this: "Another day, slogging through the 'stuff' of life, what's the use of it all?" Or when your dreams seem more like mirages, out there, just beyond your reach; are you tempted to just quit trying and settle for what it, rather than attempting what could be? Vision can be a hard taskmaster, pushing us through the days when we just want to exist, not to achieve!

Our sense of the vanity of life becomes overwhelming if we are caught up only in "just making a living." A real vision gives 'big picture context' to the work of the day. Let me illustrate from my life. On Friday my primary task is to complete the sermon that I will deliver to the congregation on Sunday morning. I can choose to view that task in two very different lights. I can see it as 'just getting something to say because that's what is expected of me.' If I take that view, I'll feel that what I'm doing is meaningless! However when I remember the work of preparing a message for the people I serve is a God-given opportunity to nudge the flock in this church a little way along the road to eternal life, I regain 'vision' that makes the work worthy of the effort required.

A person who plants tree seedlings has to have vision! Trees do not grow quickly. That little sapling that a person plants in the back yard, won't be a shade tree to sit under for years and years! By contrast, a person who plants annual flowers need little vision. The tiny plants will grow quickly, in a matter of a couple of weeks, into flowering gardens. But, they will die in a matter of months, too!

Our God calls us to active pursuit of the good He has purposed to do through us -- patiently and persistently. James uses the work of a farmer to illustrate the way to resist the deception of the day. "Wait patiently for the Master's Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time." (James 5:7-8, The Message) Regain your vision. Remind yourself why you started down this road. Pray that God will set this day into the context of the larger picture of life for you, then - push ahead, steadily.

Andy Stanley writes, "The daily grind of life is hard on visions. Life is now. Bills are now. Crisis is now. Vision is later. It is easy, therefore, to lose sight of the main thing, to sacrifice the best for the good. All of us run the risk of allowing secondary issues to rob us of the joy of seeing our visions come to completion. Distractions slowly kill the vision." (Visioneering, Multnomah, 1999)

Take a few moments right now to re-focus and to set the tasks that await you into a larger context of vision.

____________________

Sometimes in the heat of day
when I close my eyes to pray,
it seems like you are far from me.
My prayers are all in vain,
In my hour of hopelessness,
in my deep despair,
the noonday devil whispers in my ear!

I know that you are with me,
But I can't feel a thing,
the noonday devil has come around again.

Father, you have called me
to live a life that's true,
that all my labors and my works would
speak my love for you,
but walking through this desert,
life is empty and mundane,
the noonday devil has come around again.

Oh Lord, make me angry!
Oh Lord, make me cry!
Oh Lord, please don't leave me here
to fall into the devil's lies!

Fernando Ortega - "Noonday Devil."
________________________

A day of contrasts

All day it felt like I was caught in a spiritual tug o' war. In the early morning, waves of depression swept over me, bringing a temptation to despair! As I drove to meet a friend, I prayed earnestly, "Lord, pull me from this pit today." The next hour was one of encouraging conversation with a friend who shares my passion for God and His work. Later in the day I learned of silly criticism leveled against an associate in ministry for whom I care deeply. It made me angry, but I forced a smile! Another situation required restraint as I was confronted with selfishness in a situation that made me want to scream - "what is the matter with you? Can't you forget yourself for even one moment?"

In between those frustrations, I experienced the exact opposite. There was the moment when a generous donor offered to provide a sizeable financial gift to meet a need for a family under my pastoral care. This demonstration of selflessness caused tears of joy and gratitude. As I prayed for the criticized friend, the Holy Spirit ministered to my heart with gentle grace so that my forced smile transformed into genuine joy. In the afternoon, another man called "just to let you know how much you mean to me and to tell you that God uses you to touch my life." When the call ended, once again tears filled my eyes. His heart-felt words were heaven sent, another reminder that God cares for the little things, too. In the evening, I watched an ABC News feature story on the new Billy Graham Library. As they lauded Graham's integrity and influence, it was like God was sending me a message - "Just do the right things moment to moment and leave life up to me! Finish well." As I rolled into bed, I thought to myself- "The Evil One gave it a good shot today, but God won - by a long stretch!"

If you think I'm over-spiritualizing my experiences through that day, consider this passage from the Bible - "Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8, NKJV) How do you think he tries to destroy us? He'll use critics, depression, people who are self-absorbed. These tactics, if not met with prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, will make us ineffective, or fill us with rage, or cause us to run from responsibilities! The full passage, in the contemporary translation, The Message, reads: "God’s strong hand is on you. . . Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith." (1 Peter 5:6-9, The Message)

Believer, do not let yourself think that the Devil only works in gross sins or major moral failures. His desire is to hinder God's work and often he enjoys greater success in the many little frustrations of our lives. We are aware that evil is afoot when we feel great temptations of lust, greed, hatred, and things of that nature. We resist him in those moments equipped with the Sword of the Spirit and the battle shield of Faith. But, he does often catch us napping when he sneaks up on us when we read a critical note and we are tempted to think, "They are right, I am incompetent." He tiptoes into our life when we are fatigued from doing what needs to be done. In those moments, he whispers - "Why are you doing this? Who cares? Life is short, shouldn't you be having more fun?" The temptation is so ordinary often we don't even recognize the hiss of the Snake!

The word from the Word - "So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you." (James 4:7-8, NLT) "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up." (Hebrews 12:2-3, NLT)
________________

God is great,
But sometimes life ain't good,
when I pray,it doesn't always turn out like I think it should!
But I do it, anyway.
Yeah, I do it anyway, yeah.

You can pour your soul out singin'a song
you believe in,
that tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang,
Sing it anyway!
Yeah, sing it anyway.

Yeah, yeah.I sing,
I dream, I love - Anyway.
Yeah.

-- Martina McBride

Hear her sing it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2kJr0VFRyc

All grown up!

Each time we see our kids these days, it becomes more real that they are all grown up! The youngest is 25, and they have all been out of our house for 5 years or more, so perhaps I'm just slow to recognize the obvious. What I mean is that they are fully into their own lives, with their own circle of friends, financially independent of their parents, pursuing their dreams, with their own opinions and ideas about the world. And here's the best part - I am thrilled for them! Sure, I miss the days when they came home from school and filled the house with noise. Sometimes I get lonely and wish they were closer to home. I worry about some of their choices, too. What parent doesn't? But, they are all grown up just as we wanted them to be. We worked to get them to maturity, to help them become independent adults, because we knew that is how they would make their own contribution to the world and the kingdom of God. Jay, Sean, Chrissie, and Maribel will always be our kids, but they are no longer our dependent children - and that is as it should be.

Some parents 'hover.' They are so afraid to let their offspring experience disappointment or pain, so worried about a 'wrong choice' that they stay inappropriately involved in their kids' lives. They keep on making decisions for their child, long after the time when that growing person should be choosing his own road. They provide too much support which perpetuates unhealthy dependence and stunts both emotional and spiritual growth. They remain in full parental roles long after their child should have become self-sufficient.

Did you know that our Heavenly Father wants us to grow up? Several passages in the Word refer to the importance of spiritual maturity.

Ephesians tells us that we should grow up in Christ so we are not subject to being misled by frauds who claim to be spiritual, but who are just out to take advantage of us. "We will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." (Ephesians 4:14-15, NIV) Tragically, some Believers won't grow up. They remain totally dependent on spiritual leaders to tell what to do, how to live, where to go, how to serve. This place of perpetual spiritual infancy is sometimes created by pastors and teachers who want to stay in control. Sometimes is the result of Believers refusing the responsibility that come with maturity. God says, "grow up in Christ and learn to discern!" Interestingly, that same passage in Ephesians says that maturity has a most desirable by-product: unity in the Body. People who are mature know how to get along, how to blend their gifts and abilities into the Church, for the benefit of all. Dependence becomes independence which matures into inter-dependence.

Hebrews urges maturity in our spiritual experience that moves us beyond the basics. "For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God." (Hebrews 5:13-6:1, NLT) Believers need to move into a Kingdom life. Some just come to Christ as Savior, and think that is it, the whole experience. They never deal with their sinful nature, never do the work of applying spiritual principles to their lives which allow them to become holy adults. Instead, they fall into a 'sin, repent' cycle; for they are unwilling to really deal with the sinful habits that cripple them. They do not want to mature with the help of the Spirit bringing about the end of childish ways. Mature Believers are not sinless, but they are increasingly spiritual! They grow 'from glory to glory,' learning to live in the Spirit, learning to use the gifts of the Spirit, and becoming productive in God's work.


James observes that maturity brings 'completeness.' "You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (James 1:3-4, The Message) That is so practical, isn't it? There is no easy road to being an 'all grown up' Christian! We walk out our faith and step into places where we experience pressure, disappointment, and even confusion. But, there in that kind of stress, we also discover what real faith is. As we work with God, pray and persevere, a completeness of character and faith emerges. We are ready to serve Him in an effective and productive way.

Are you a mature Believer, or are you still a spiritual infant?
Part of that answer will be determined by when you came to Christ. If you become a Believer last week, we stand ready to encourage you, to help you, to care for you as you grow. If you came to faith a decade ago, you should be well on your way - growing in Christ - and making a Kingdom difference.

Here's a word from the Psalms about the quality of life that the spiritually mature enjoy. Let it speak to your life today.
" Blessed is the man (mature person)
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper." (Psalm 1:1-3, NKJV)

Amen

The best you can be

Over the years I've read dozens of self-help books- how to be visionary, how to be a good parent, how to lead a church, how to be a better spouse, etc. Many rehash the obvious. Others are one person's experience re-packaged. A few are truly helpful. Covey's book, 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, is one that comes to mind. His simple principles, things like "Think Win-Win," or "Seek first to Understand, then to be Understood," have stayed with me. What I've known for a long time is that being the best person I can be will never be the result of 'self-help' alone! In fact, the brokenness of my human nature goes so deep that despite my best and highest intentions, I fail to reach the lofty goals to which I aspire. I needed an intervention and God stepped in!

There is a passage that describes what happened to me (and to millions more!) by the grace of God. Here are excerpts. "You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. ... By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that ... he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) ... So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. ... For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:1-10, NLT)

We can be the best person possible only when we are loved by God and love Him in return. Do not confuse that with being religious or church-going. Plenty of miserable people, who are living far below their God-given potential, sit through church services week after week, year after year - untouched by the majesty of the message of Christ! Do not mistakenly think that loving God equates with becoming a religious fanatic who spouts Bible verses endlessly, either. We love God by surrendering ourselves to Him and accepting Christ's love and mercy by faith, by pondering His mighty works worshipfully, and by allowing the Spirit to move deeply in us, transforming us - over time- from sinners to saints.

There is nothing in this world that brings out the best in us like the love of God. Being spiritual healthy as a result of receiving God's grace work and practicing the disciplines of the Spirit as taught in the Scripture opens the door to maximum living, the best you can be! Because of Christ, you can be a forgiving, gentle, loving parent and spouse. In Christ, you will find hope to overcome the sense of futility that often turns others into cynics. In Christ, you are connected to the Creator of the Universe, inspired to come up with creative solutions to the challenges of life that abound on this broken planet. In Christ, you have the ability to say "no," to a life of endless consumption to satisfy sensual appetites and "yes" to the Spirit's way of giving more than you take.

In the Word, there is this prayer that Pastor Paul offered up for those he loved in the church in Ephesus. Receive this prayer for yourself today-

"I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength— that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in.
And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19, The Message)

Begin to thank God for the potential He's given you. Ask Him to inspire you to be the best you can be in His grace. Never just settle for what is easy, or natural! Let God create a masterpiece of humanity in you. Then others will say, "Thank God!" and the world will be improved by your existence. Is there anything truly better than that?

"Why bother? Who will even notice?"

Philip Yancey's use of words on the printed page is a thing of wonder. Bill Hybels' creativity in leadership is enviable. Dallas Willard's insights on Christian discipleship are so deep! Billy Graham's influence for Christ is amazing. Were I to focus on the gifts these men bring to the work of Jesus in the world, comparing myself to them, I would be unable to continue in my own work. Why? Because, in terms of results, what I do for God is inconsequential by comparison to what they accomplish. But God has not called me to fill their place; He has given me a place of my own. Someday when I stand before Jesus for the great and final performance review, He will not measure me against anyone else- great or small. He will evaluate my faithfulness to use the gifts and abilities He invested in me in the place to which He called me.

Why am telling you that? Because, I know that there are Believers who are doing little or nothing for God because they are convinced they have to be a super-saint in order to be of value to the Lord. They do not contribute anything, thinking that what they could do is meaningless. They are sidelined by a lie. Those who are not doing what they could do, are leaving gaps in the work of the Kingdom! In addition, they never realize their full potential because they will not start a small work!

When Judah was destroyed by invaders, the city of Jerusalem, along with the Temple of God, was reduced to rubble. Many said it would not, indeed, it could not, be rebuilt! A man named Zerubbabel committed himself to the task and many mocked his starting efforts, small as they were. But God's spokesman told them, "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand." (Zechariah 4:10, NLT) The Lord promised Zerubbabel that the work would be finished, but not because he was strong or smart! Rather, his true strength came from the Lord. "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6, NIV)

Believer, God has a place in which you can serve. Look around you. See the opportunities to do what you can do, then do just do it. (apologies to Nike!) Forget about the size of the crowd. Forget about how many will notice or even if anyone notices. Just ask God, "what do you want me to do?" If you sense that He is commissioning you to the work, then do for Him. His approval makes the most obscure act of service into something of worth.

Mark tells us about a woman found Jesus at dinner in the home of Simon. As the men ate, she approached Jesus and broke open an expensive alabaster jar of perfume, which she poured on his head. The men at the gathering were annoyed and criticized her for her 'foolish waste' of a thing of so great a cost. "Why," they said, "she could have sold it and fed a lot of hungry people." But Jesus saw it differently! He commended her act of love and reminded the men that as foolish as it seemed to them, "She did what she could. .... I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." (Mark 14:8-9, NIV)

If you want to please God, serve! Don't wait for the BIG moment, for the opportunities to change the world. You will die waiting. See the need that exists, right where you are. Present yourself to the Lord, as a servant, and prepare to let Him use you. Be faithful, even when few notice, fewer still express thanks, and even fewer results are measurable. Ignore the critics. Pray for the strength of the Spirit. Receive God's gifts and do everything you are able to do to become as skillful as you are equipped to be. And, God will reward your faithful work. That's guaranteed by His promise!
_________________________

Does the place you're called to labor
Seem so small and little known?
It is great if God is in it
And He'll not forget His own.

Little is much when God is in it,
Labor not for wealth or fame;
There's a crown and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus' name.

When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run;
He will say if we are faithful,
Welcome home, My child, well done!

Little Is Much When God Is In It
© 1969 Stamps - Baxter Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)CCLI License No. 810055

Oxygen for my soul

Without oxygen our bodies begin to die in minutes. If our air supply is cut off, within seconds, our brain notifies us to remedy the situation for, in a very short time, unconsciousness and death will follow. Remember when you went swimming as a kid and each kid attempted to be the one who could stay underwater the longest? That was a game I always lost! The need to breathe was far more important to me than the need to win. After 20 or 30 seconds, I was headed to the surface, gasping for air. In the Summer of 2005, when we vacationed in Colorado, we drove to the summit of Pike's Peak. There, at 14000 feet above sea level, the air is crisp, clean, and thin! I felt light-headed. If I had attempted to run a distance in that atmosphere, I would have probably fainted. Just walking made me aware that my body was having a problem getting the oxygen it needed.

My soul needs the Spirit, like my body needs oxygen. Serving God with strength, living fruitfully, wholly, and holy demands a fresh, recurring supply of the air of the Spirit in my life. In the Bible, one of the descriptive words used for the Holy Spirit is "pneuma," a Greek word which means "air" or "breath." The Breath of God makes us spiritually alive! But, we can cut off the Supply!

A tragic figure in the Scripture is a flawed leader named Samson. He was called by God at an early age, but did not treasure the call or the gifts of God that came with that call. He mixed great service with low living, winning victories for the people of God while living with prostitutes from their enemies! God was patient with him for a long time, but then Samson went too far. His final love from the Philistines was a beauty named Delilah. Night after night, he lay his head in her lap, knowing that he was breaking the law of God. She pressed him for the secret of his strength, why he could defeat her people in battle time and time again. After playing games with her, he finally told her that his strength came from the Lord, that he was a man called and gifted by God, and that his hair was a symbol of that calling. After he had fallen asleep, she cut off his hair and God, seeing Samson's willingness to profane the holy calling, withdrew His Spirit from him, leaving him just an ordinary man. The King James Version of the Bible uses a quaint phrase -- "And 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) The breathe of the Spirit was taken from Samson and he was then weak, subject to the enemies of Israel, made a slave to the Philistines for years. Until he got up to fight them off, like he had always done in the past, he did not realize that his Supply of Breath had been cut off by his disobedience.

Believer, we can become weak, gasping for the Breath of Life, if we cut off the flow of the Spirit with our disobedience, too. It need not be some flagrant act of moral failure. Just ignoring Him, covering His voice with the loud music of daily life is enough to cause Him to withdraw His fellowship from us. When He lifts from us, we are weakened - and we suffer. The Word says, "do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30, NIV) Do not cause the Spirit to lift from your by treating Him with casual contempt! When He speaks to you about some behavior that needs to change, when He calls on you to give yourself in some specific service, when He says "don't" or "do," respond with obedience. "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)

Breathe deeply of the Breath of God.
Be strengthened.
Let the Pneuma fill you with vitality today, as you live closely, intimately with Him.
______________________

This is the air I breathe,
This is the air I breathe,
Your holy presence living in me.
This is my daily bread,
This is my daily bread,
Your very word spoken to me.
And I, I'm desp'rate for You.
And I, I'm lost without You.

Breathe © 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055