Conceit or Centered on Jesus?

I spent the better of yesterday under the gun of meetings, phone calls, and deadlines! There was no question that it was day of pressure. At the end of the day, I could not gladly ask a benediction of the Spirit on what had been done. Wondering why my soul felt such lack of peace, I reflected on my words and thoughts. It was then the conceit of Self that had subtly wormed into my heart became obvious. Instead of accepting each responsibility along with the grace promised by my Father, I took the work into my own hands, which eventually led a sense of being ‘burdened.’  Where I was invited to participate in His work I saw only how “I” was being pressed. Isn’t that ugly? Even when presented the opportunity to show Christ Jesus’ love to a homeless woman when she called looking for housing at 8 PM, I responded only out of duty, not with real grace. Selfish conceit (“Couldn’t you have called me at 5 instead of 8?”) took away my ability to find and know the Spirit’s strength in that moment.

God promises to renew our strength, to provide grace for every moment. One of my mottos says “Where God guides, He provides.” That is not mere sentiment. He is our Provider. In his greatest hour of trial, Abraham choose to trust God totally and with the appearance of the ram in the thicket that was to replace his son on the altar, he worshipped “Yahweh Yireh” – the Lord, My Provider! We cannot know what He has provided if we are full of ourselves, if we resent others for asking much of us, or if we complain when we feel the pressures of life. Remember the ancient Israelites. God fed them and led them each day. They had all that they needed, yet they grew conceited and expressed only contempt for that which He freely gave to them. Because they were not humble before Him to receive each day’s manna, when it came time to enter the Promised Land, their conceit concealed His power from them. Lacking the boldness of a God-centered faith, they saw only the walled cities and inhabitants that became ‘giants’ in their twisted perspective.

Pressure will come. For those of us who are His disciples, this world is not a resting place. It is a battleground. We cannot stand in our own strength. Our own resources are insufficient to overcome the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Luther’s hymn richly reminds us that “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing!” So, when weariness comes, I hope that I will dethrone Self and bow my head and heart before the One who leads me from strength to strength.

Here’s a word from the Word. May the truth inspire us to be centered on Jesus and defeat conceit.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:7-9, NIV)  "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NIV)

_________________

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;

Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;

Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;

Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,

And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:

The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;

His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,

One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:

Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;

The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,

His kingdom is forever.

A Mighty Fortress

Martin Luther

Dad, what do you think?

I miss my Dad today. I would love to be able to have a cup of coffee and talk over life with him. Chrissie was here this weekend. More than once she said, "Dad, what do you think?" as she talked about some decisions Peter and she are making about the future. She's an independent adult and I have the highest confidence that she will choose wisely. Nothing I shared with her was earth-shaking. She just wanted the blessing of Dad's experience and wisdom. And, I'd sure like some of that right now, too.


I am one big question this morning. "What should I do? Where can I go for advice? Is there anyone who can point me in the right direction?" I am not questioning God's existence. I am not dealing with doubt as to His goodness. I am not seeking a new career or calling. I feel an acute need to be 'fathered' by Him today, to benefit from His wisdom to know His correction and/or affirmation. Yesterday our worship team sang, "Oh, Lead Me" in church. It was a personal prayer for me. "Draw me to my knees, so we can talk... let me know You're here with me."

When we are unsettled, when multiple challenges face us, it is a time of vulnerability to temptation. Under that pressure, we are much more likely to seek comfort in the wrong places or to make a choice that gives a quick result but that sabotages future success. The more desperation we feel, the more likely we are to grab for something, anything, that soothes the soul. Time and experience confirms the wisdom of the Scripture that urges me to lay aside the questions and to 'be still!' The full passage counsels the saint torn by indecision to pause and look up. "Come, see the glorious works of the Lord: See how he brings destruction upon the world. He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world." The Lord of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress." (Psalm 46:8-11, NLT)

It is important, too, to pray honest prayers. James reminds us to ask! "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5, NIV) That wisdom may arrive as an inspired thought, a flash of insight. It may be an article you just 'happen' to read. It may be a passage from the Word that takes new light. Perhaps a friend will sense your need and be moved by the Spirit to come alongside and help.

When we ask, we must listen. Listening prayer can be the most difficult kind. But, we must discipline our minds to stop talking, to stop rehearsing our fear or uncertainty so can we can hear the 'still, small voice' that whispers God's assurance to us.

And, then, we must choose patience. Jesus spoke of turbulent times that would come upon the earth and gave this counsel to His disciples. "In your patience possess ye your souls." (Luke 21:19, KJV) Memorize those 7 words and when you're filled with questions, repeat them. What do they mean? "Patience" is a translation of the NT Greek word - 'hupomone' (hoop-om-on-ay) - and it means 'standing firm.' A literal translation would be to 'stand up under pressure.' So, the counsel here is that we renew resolve. Square your shoulders. Show some grit!

Dad is gone. But, the echoes of his counsel, offered to me many times in the past are drawn from one of his favorite Psalms. Let it be your word from the Word for this day.

"Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.




Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act."
(Psalm 37:2-7, NLT)

Missing Out on the Best?

John Lennon’s “Imagine” doesn’t really require much imagination. It’s the way many of us live. He wrote:


Imagine there's no Heaven, it's easy if you try;
No hell below us, above us only sky.
Imagine all the people, living for today.

I will be busy today and so will you. There are weeds in the garden, problems to be solved, expectations to be met. All of this conspires to keep us from thinking about ‘why’ and ‘what’ of our existence. Then, every now and again, we are summoned to a funeral where the lifeless corpse reminds us that the music stops sooner or later for us all. We determine to do better, to give more of ourselves to God and good. Our intentions are good, but almost before the grave is closed, our cell phones are ringing and we’re back at ‘living for today.’

A consistent thread of truth in the Scripture is about the brevity of life here and our appointment with God who will look past our bank accounts and awards. His concern will be if we have faithfully fulfilled His purposes, living in faith, building his Kingdom. A rich king who knew much about accomplishment lamented the way he lived with the famous words, “Vanity of vanities. All is vanity.” Solomon did much for Israel. He even seemed to do much for God, building a spectacular place of worship in Jerusalem. But, when he reflected on the days of his life, he offered this counsel: "Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1, NLT) "That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, NLT)

Moses’ Psalm includes this prayerful line: "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, NLT) I am going to breathe that prayer all day. I hope you will, too. “Ah, come on, Jerry!” you say, “Who wants to be so gloomy? Who wants to ponder their mortality?” None of us may find that a desirable thing, but remembering that we are dying brings amazing clarity to our choices or, at least it should. Is that diversion you spend so much time and money on really accomplishing the work of God in your life? Does getting more stuff and piling possessions higher really justify all those hours spent away from family? Will you be glad to look on Jesus’ face as He points to the treasure you have invested in Heaven’s storehouse? (and I’m not just talking about church offerings here!)

Ray Boltz penned another set of lyrics about the way to live with Heaven’s promise guiding this day’s decisions. It’s not as lyrical as Lennon’s lines, but it is much more compelling.

One by one they came,
far as your eyes could see.
Each life somehow
touched by your generosity.
Little things that you had done,
sacrifices that you made,
They were unnoticed on this earth
In Heaven now proclaimed.


Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am so glad you gave.

Let’s not miss out on the best life now.
Here’s the word from the Word.
“Then the King will say …
‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.’

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’


Then the King will say,
‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ " (Matthew 25:34-40, The Message)

Paradox of Prayerlessness

In a book provocatively titled, Christian Atheists, Pastor Craig Groeschel writes about meeting a young woman, Michelle, who claimed Christ as her Savior, but who lived her own life in her own way. Here’s an exerpt: “As if in a confessional, Michelle continued pouring out her life’s darker details. She looked down as she admitted that she was doing things with her live-in boyfriend that she knew she shouldn’t. She told me she wanted to go to church but was simply too busy working and studying. She did pray many nights — mostly that her boyfriend would become a Christian like she was. “If only he believed in Jesus, then he might want to marry me,” she said, wiping her tears. At last, Michelle expressed one final confession: “I know my life doesn’t look like a Christian’s life should look, but I do believe in God.” Welcome to Christian Atheism, where people believe in God but live as if he doesn’t exist.”


In the average church concert will fill the sanctuary. Announce a prayer meeting and those that gather will be few. Why? Because conviction does not match profession. Most people desperately want to believe that there is a God who will keep them safe and whole, but few are willing to throw themselves on Him completely. God, even in the lives of many Christians is more like a lucky rabbit’s foot than a close Friend! Because these ‘Christian Atheists’ do not really know Him, they feel self-conscious, even silly, trying to converse with Him.
I challenge you to think about your life if suddenly church, pastor, songs, and Bible disappeared. Other than gaining a couple of hours on Sunday and missing a few friends, would anything really change for you? Is Jesus Christ the true center of your life? Are all decisions made with His approval, all fears taken to Him as your best Friend, all hopes centered on Him as your truest Love? Jesus, Himself, lamented the remote role assigned to Him by those claiming to be disciples. He cries, “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?" (Luke 6:46, NLT)

Groeschel observes that “a recent Gallup poll reported that 94 percent of Americans claim to believe in God or a universal spirit. However, a quick glance at Scripture and our culture makes it plainly obvious that nowhere near 94 percent actually know God. I mean, really know him — intimately. Belief isn’t the same as personal knowledge.” When we do spend time with someone who has gone beyond belief to truly knowing God, we quickly sense that there is a quality to their life that is beautiful and frightening at the same time. They live on a higher plane, not one of forced piety or devoid of human trials, but one of love, of purpose and of ‘wholiness’ that is enviable!

There is a cost to knowing God deeply. He is a jealous Lover. He will not share you and me with other loves. If we treat Him casually, ignore Him, or refuse His direction, His Holy Spirit will be grieve and He will remove the fellowship of His Presence from us. Tragically, many ‘Christians’ do not miss what they have never known. Once a person has walked with Him, feeling that alienation is heart-breaking, even terrifying. His love is so sweet that it is the most powerful deterrent to sinful behavior.

Disciple, let’s not live in the paradox of prayerlessness; as if we are orphans, when we might know a Father of richest resource. He invites us to come boldly, to ask for anything, to live in step with Him.

Here's a word from the Word, a prayer for this day.
"God—you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts.


So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory.
In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains.


I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you. " (Psalm 63:1-4, The Message)

Consumed with petty things?

Look at the ground, you see rocks. Lift your eyes, you see mountains!
Are you a person of vision? How you live, who you become, what you leave as a legacy will be determined less by ‘chance’ than by your vision. Let me illustrate this in the ordinary stuff of life.
• A married man sees a very attractive young woman who is available and knows he could have her if he wanted her. He lifts his eyes and sees his children’s future, his integrity with his wife, his relationship with God and lets the vision lead him past the temptation for a few moments of pleasure.

• An employee struggling to pay her bills sees that sloppy accounting procedures would allow her to take company funds. She lifts her eyes and sees the opportunities for promotion, the ability to sleep peacefully at night, and chooses to trust God’s promise for provision.

• A student sees that a website that offers to do the work of preparing that end of term project that he has not yet completed. He lifts his eyes and sees the character that comes from diligence, that he is learning to push through long hours of tedium to accomplish his goal and does his own work, feeling good about the choice.

What kind of person do you want to be? God, the Holy Spirit, promises to work deeply in each one of us, inspiring us with greater vision so that the petty temptations and problems of our lives do not consume us. Look at the Word. We pray for you "asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." (Colossians 1:9-13, NIV)
The way that passage unfolds excites me. A life worthy of the Lord, full of spiritual fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control- Gal. 5:22-23) flows from knowing what God wants. That’s vision! Further, we are promised His strength so we can stand against the winds of trial. That’s provision!
Disciple, don’t let your heritage in Christ become about just getting through the day. Pray for the ability to see all the way to Heaven! If you turn your walk with Christ into a religion of petty obligations, the glory is lost. Of course we have choices to make today that are sometimes difficult. We must deal with sin and temptation, but the heart of the Kingdom is about much more than just trying not to lose your temper, trying to be nice, or working at holding lust at bay! The Kingdom is about being full of the Spirit which displaces the power of evil in us. Trying to empty a room of darkness is an impossible task. Filling a room with light is as simple as lighting a candle!

Here’s the word from the Word. As you read it, give thanks that the Spirit calls you from darkness to Light, from petty religion to eternal glory, then lift your eyes and live like a King’s kid today. "This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. God wanted everyone… to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less." (Colossians 1:26-30, The Message)
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Lord, the light of Your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness shining;
Jesus, Light of the World, shine upon us;
Set us free by the truth You now bring us.
Shine on me, shine on me.

Lord, I come to Your awesome presence.
From the shadows into Your radiance;
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness.
Shine on me, shine on me.

As we gaze on Your kingly brightness,
So our faces display Your likeness;
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirror'd here, may our lives tell Your story.
Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine.
Fill this land
With the Father's glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze.
Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow.
Flood the nations
With grace and mercy;
Send forth Your Word,
Lord, and let there be light.

Shine, Jesus, Shine

Kendrick, Graham
© 1987 Make Way Music (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055

Freedom – God’s gift

Few concepts of Christianity are more abused and misunderstood than freedom in Christ! Some ignore the gift and keep on trying to please God by living under a heavy load of self-imposed rules that they imagine to be creating favor with the Lord. Others take the idea and run straight to unbridled indulgence of their whims and miss the beauty of a holy life, all the while insisting they are just exercising their liberty.

While in Pennsylvania yesterday, I visited a school that is noted for ‘holiness.’ There on a softball field were high school age students playing a game for gym – the boys dressed in long sleeves in the hot sun; the girls attempting to run the bases in skirts that reached to their ankles. From all appearances, I would guess that ‘freedom in Christ’ would not be a doctrine that is well understood in that setting. As an example from the other end of spectrum, I can think of a church noted for preaching about liberty in Christ where the leadership clothes themselves in high fashion and extremely expensive jewelry, which I am sure they wear without a thought for the message of cultural conformity they are proclaiming without words.

The truth is – neither group owes me or you an explanation! It is Christ they serve (hopefully!) and it is Christ to whom they will give account (most assuredly!). The Bible says, "Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. (keeping rules that others write for you) Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision (the ritual that marked Jews as truly Jewish) to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace." (Galatians 5:1-4, NLT)

Because Jesus Christ makes me right with God, by His death on the Cross, I am free from slavery to public opinion and human rules. Furthermore, Christ finished the work of my salvation. Oh, blessed thought. If I truly and faithfully receive His gift, I know that I can’t make myself any more acceptable to God by what I do, where I go, or how I eat. So, let’s ‘eat, drink, and be merry’ right? Wrong! There are choices to be made if that reflect our status as holy disciples of Jesus Christ. Those choices do not earn us ‘blessing points’ with our Father, but they do align us with His will and allow us to let His beautiful character shine through us.

For example, God tells us not to gossip about others. He gives us this rule because He wants us to enjoy the blessing of deep, trusting relationships. A person who is negative, who is always sharing the worst about others robs himself of that blessing. Will gossiping send us to Hell? No, but it will keep us from a blessing!

Another example is setting aside quality time for worship with others who love God. In the Old Testament, God gave His people the Sabbath rule. In the NT, the principle remains for us in the Lord’s Day. His desire is that we take a break from the usual stuff of our busy lives to look to Him in adoration and to get together with fellow disciples for encouragement and worship. Will a person lose his salvation if he fails to go to church every Sunday? No, but he will miss out on the renewal that corporate worship provides and the maturity that one learns when living in a close community.

Here’s a word from the Word. Read it prayerfully and thoughtfully. These words are rich in promise and call us to something higher than religious practice. Here God calls us to holy lives that are free but loving, without pretense, dedicated fully to the life in the Spirit.

"Let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good.


For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too." (Romans 14:13-18, NLT)

________

I stand on the shore of an ocean
Gazing out to sea;
He casts my sins to the waters,
And watches them sink down deep.

Oh, Love that covers me!
Oh, Truth that sets me free!
For I know my Savior lives today,
There's an empty tomb
And a promise made
That free in Him is free indeed!
I'm free, I'm free to live.

Free to Live
© 1998 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Ian White

CCLI License No. 810055

Lying by exaggeration

This morning the stories about Osama’s end are being revised. The “million dollar mansion” he was reportedly living in was not luxurious at all. The ‘prolonged firefight’ did not happen, with only one person firing at the Seals who did the raid. Osama did not use his wife as a human shield. It’s easy to get the story wrong in the excitement of the moment, but I think other things were a factor, including making this villain even more villainous to enhanced the story of his capture. My experience with the news makes me discount much of what I read and hear, thinking - "So, what really happened? What is the kernel of fact under the layers of padding?"

Hyperbole is not the problem. When a person says, "I've told you a thousand times!" we know what they mean, that their words are not to be taken literally. The problem is word inflation, which is just plain old dishonesty. It is everywhere around us.

• Candidates for political office say things that are designed to impress. "It's so good to be here in NJ, the best state in the US. I always look forward to visiting beautiful downtown Newark." The audience politely applauds while thinking, "How many times have you said that this week?"

• Job titles are handed out that mean little in reality but that give the appearance of importance. Have you ever noticed how many assistant vice presidents there are in banks?

• Advertisers routinely mislead consumers, though carefully within guidelines that avoid legal repercussion.

• A couple of years ago my grandson and I visited McD's where he got a Happy Meal, which included a little toy. After a moment, he threw the toy down on the table in disgust. "What's the matter?" I asked. "It doesn't work like on TV!" he replied. Hey, little boy, welcome to the deceptive world.

Even though ‘everybody does it’ we who follow Christ must not go along with the trend of dishonesty. We must not fall into the trap of padding our stories. It is sin. Jesus tells us "Just say 'yes' and 'no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong." (Matthew 5:37, The Message) He made this statement while talking about vows and promises. Our word should be so filled with integrity that we feel no need to buttress our truthfulness by saying things like, "I swear to God!" Those who follow Him should be so transparent that no one even thinks to wonder if there is any need to search for hidden messages. James, likewise, directs us to plain speech. "Since you know that God cares, let your language show it. Don't add words like "I swear to God" to your own words. Don't show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can't be used against you." (James 5:12, The Message)

Disciple, have developed a habit of inflation, even in the little stuff? Do you exaggerate the tone of another's words? When you speak of yourself do your words make no more, no less of the situation than is real? Do you use language in a way that always shines the favorable light on yourself?

Aim for honesty. I am not suggesting that in the name of being real that we have to say hurtful, mean, or ugly things! There's a time for discretion which is expressed best by silence. Sometimes the best words are no words. Honor the Lord by refusing all forms of puffery, dishonesty, and fluff! Refuse to cultivate an image. Be the person God, in His grace, has called you to be, nothing more, nothing less.

Here’s the word from the Word. "We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God." (2 Corinthians 4:2, NIV)

Stress Relief

A woman I know complained of burning neck pain last week. It was so intense, she felt as though she could not keep up with her daily responsibilities. The doctor’s discovery was that she was experiencing physical symptoms resulting from high levels of stress! Her body’s ‘fight or flight’ response, which leads to elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, and tense muscles, was creating pain. Stress comes in a couple of varieties: distress, which is bad; and eustress, which is good. Distress results from problems that turn into threats. When we begin to feel overwhelmed, distress develops accompanied by loss of appetite, aching bodies, and sometimes depression. Eustress gets us out of bed in the morning. The challenges of life give us meaning, keep us engaged and alert, and help us to grow spiritually and emotionally.

Are you asking God to take away all the challenges of life? Are you praying for life to be easier?

Consider that you might well be praying against your best interests! Paul traveled thousands of miles carrying the Good News of Jesus. He faced daunting trials. He was often the object of ridicule and was arrested by authorities for disturbing the peace. He endured disasters during his travels, was rejected by the very people he had brought to Christ, and frustrated by lack of response to his preaching. Did he pray for these trials to be taken away? Yes! Did God do it? No! And, with maturity, here's what the apostle came to know about the value of those difficult situations: ". . . we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NLT)
That’s not to say that distress is a good thing. It’s not! The woman of whom I wrote a moment ago can tell you that. However, the answer is not always to seek a life that is free of difficulties. People who refuse to engage in struggle, accomplish little or nothing, wasting their gifts and talents. Here’s what I know. Faith can transform distress into eustress. When we present our troubles to the Lord, He can turn them into challenges that we rise to meet. Sometimes we see a miraculous deliverance from our trials, which causes us to praise Him. Sometimes we are led through the darkness and emerge into a whole ‘new normal’ where we praise Him for what He’s done in us or through us.

Is each day a struggle, with troubles cropping up everywhere you turn?

Before you conclude that God has forgotten you, that you need a 'new life,' or that you should just give up, pray for guts! Ask God to strengthen you, to keep you on your feet, to keep you facing into the battle unafraid and unbowed. He's promised - "I will not leave you as a orphan!... I will never forsake you!"

In this word from the Word, you find God’s prescription for stress relief. May He transform your distress to eustress!
"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)
_______________________

“This train never stops”

In a news story about the work of governing, White House spokesman, Jay Carney, spoke of the victory gained by the death of Osama bin Laden and the resulting bump in the President’s poll numbers. Time to celebrate is limited. He pointed out that issues remain that occupy the President’s attention. Unemployment figures are still sky high, the economy is stalled, and government spending remains a huge challenge. “This train never stops,” he said.

So true! We all deal with life as it keeps rolling. We think that life might become less complicated next month or next year, but it never does. Each season brings new challenges. The demand for growth is ongoing. Let’s be honest, it can get exhausting. There are people who are overwhelmed by the race; who drop out, hide out, or wipe out! Some just lay down and go with the current, swept away to irrelevance. Others bury themselves in meaningless diversions like watching TV endlessly or hanging out at the bar. Still others make terribly self-destructive sinful choices.

The Scripture says that there is a way that leads to life. It’s called endurance! "Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.” But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved." (Hebrews 10:35-39, NLT)

How do we stay in the race, keep on meeting the challenges?

First, we choose faith, our hope set fully on Christ’s promises! The rewards in this world are not always attained. In Ecclesiastes we are told that "The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor satisfaction to the wise, nor riches to the smart, nor grace to the learned." (Ecclesiastes 9:11, The Message) In short, life is not fair! We risk becoming disillusioned, even embittered, if we measure success by our wealth or status.

Second, we do God’s will, not ours! James’ realism is refreshing. "Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15, NIV) Are you listening for the direction of the Spirit as you meet today’s challenges and plan for tomorrow? Do His will today, and you can rest confident that He will lead you through the unknown that lies ahead.

Third, we know that there is an End, when the King returns! In that Glorious Day, He will set things right, bring justice (both a comforting and fearful thought), and finally bring us to our Home.

Yes, disciple, this train never stops this side of Heaven. So, weep, if you’re sad. Rejoice, when you win. Love always. And, remember, you need not walk alone.

Here’s a word from the Word. "For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind." (Isaiah 40:30-32, The Message)

Wait on Him and let the Spirit renew your strength for the race, then go get’em!

The most important choice you make

When I talk to teens about life, choices, and success I tell them that the one choice that brings the greatest consequence is who they choose to marry!

• A spouse can be ‘the wind beneath your wings’ or a millstone around your neck.
• An emotionally whole person with whom you can share life will double your joy.
• A person who is a parasite will dim the sunshine on the brightest of days.
• A spouse who joins you in loving and serving God allows an intimacy to grow that is increasingly rare in this world.

 At the royal wedding last week, the Right Rev. Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, offered this insight. “A spiritual life grows as love finds its centre beyond ourselves. Faithful and committed relationships offer a door into the mystery of spiritual life in which we discover this; the more we give of self, the richer we become in soul; the more we go beyond ourselves in love, the more we become our true selves and our spiritual beauty is more fully revealed.”

For the last six Sunday evenings, it’s been my privilege to lead a workshop about marriage using amazingly good material from Family Life aptly called The Art of Marriage. Couples who were married one year and those married 40 years sat next to each other learning or renewing their understanding of God’s design for humanity’s completion. The release of emotions that accompanied the teaching was something to behold. We hunger for love, don’t we? Our crazy, mixed up culture offers us sex in place of intimacy, schemes for control in place of other-centered service, and urges us to use our relationships to build our self-esteem. Marriage, as God intends it, is rapidly disappearing; replaced by contractual obligations shaped around raising children and creating economic advantage. No wonder so many marriages are full of misery. True marriage can never exist when we refuse the wisdom of the One who made us male and female then called us to covenant relationship that makes us ‘one flesh.’ (Genesis 2:24)

The man I quoted a moment ago, went on in that homily to offer this profound thought: “As the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the West, there has been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life. This is to load our partner with too great a burden. We are all incomplete: we all need the love which is secure, rather than oppressive, we need mutual forgiveness, to thrive.

As we move towards our partner in love, following the example of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is quickened within us and can increasingly fill our lives with light. This leads to a family life which offers the best conditions in which the next generation can practise and exchange those gifts which can overcome fear and division and incubate the coming world of the Spirit, whose fruits are love and joy and peace.”

The Word commands us simply and clearly to "Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery." (Hebrews 13:4, NLT) Let’s do it for God’s sake.

First, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will teach us how to be models of grace in our marriages, accepting one another, forgiving, and growing together in God’s purposes.

Second, let us reject the sinful ‘marriage’ ideas that are offered by pop culture, written up in Cosmopolitan, and offered by Oprah; accepting instead the counsel of the Lord.

Third, let us commit to preparing the next generation of Christians to be good husbands and wives by teaching them about this most important choice and by modeling godly marriage for them.

Here’s a word from the Word, a familiar passage about the kind of love that makes godly marriage possible. Remember such love comes from the One who is Love. We can only love like this as we accept His love for us. May you be loved today by our Divine Lover.

"Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end. Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit."

(1 Corinthians 13:4-8, The Message)

Amen

The Sword of Justice

Osama Dead! The headline was in the largest type I have ever seen on the front of our newspaper. The story fills the news this morning and will be buzz of every conversation today. A man who hated America so fanatically that he spent his fortune to destroy her finally was killed by an elite force of US military. Justice was 10 years coming. I cannot deny the real gladness that a person so bent on killing others in the name of his God no longer walks among us, but . . .

There is another kind of dread arising out of the truth I learn from the Scripture. The sword only sows blood and reaps a harvest of even more blood. Osama killed and he was killed. It is as Jesus said: “all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52) Justice demanded that we pursue him and bring him to death. I offer my appreciation to those who bravely pursued him through the mountains of Afghanistan and to those who finally found him in a house in a town in Pakistan. They carried the sword of justice. But those who think that this will finally bring peace are chasing a mirage. Among those who share Osama Bin Laden’s understanding of the world, hatred will be refreshed by his blood. His death for them is not justice but more injustice, that demands retribution be visited on the ‘Great Satan’ of the West. And so my joy at end of one man’s hateful existence is tempered by a sorrowful realization that more death will come.

Until the hearts and minds of men are changed by an encounter with the Lord of Love, there can be no peace. I pray today for the coming of the Prince of Peace. I am torn between two convictions that collide in my mind today. I am convinced that justice must be done to curb the expression of evil in our world. I am equally convinced that the road to security and peace does not lie through the building of ever greater machines of war. With the deepest of humility I kneel before the Father today to pray for those who lead our nation that they will be honorable and that they will seek the guidance of the Lord. And, I pray for myself.

“Father, by your Spirit, help me to follow the exhortation of Jesus in my personal relationships to ‘turn the other cheek’ to those who misuse or abuse me, so that I can become one who breaks the cycle of hatred that grips humanity. As I have been shown mercy, teach me to show mercy. As I am loved, so let me love.” Amen.
Here’s a word from the Word. May it challenge you this day. "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14, NIV)

A privileged life of a prince

This morning in London, two young people were wed and, if media reports are to be believed, a quarter of the world’s population watched the ceremony at Westminster. Will and Kate, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will lead a privileged life. Their every move will be scrutinized by the press. They will set trends and someday will become the King and Queen, symbols of Britain’s glory. In times of crisis they will be expected to offer encouragement. At all times they will be ‘royals’ whether they feel like filling that role, or not. It is their calling and birthright.

When you received Christ, you too were called to a privileged life. The Spirit of God, who lives in us, ennobles us, lifts us out of the slavery to Satan and Self that was our natural state, making us royal sons and daughters of Heaven. Think of that wonder! The Scripture says that when we live this high calling, there is such a quality of life in us that others cannot help but take notice and thank God. "Keep on growing in knowledge and understanding … live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return … be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God." (Philippians 1:9-11, NLT) In another passage we learn that we "recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, The Message)

Go back and re-read those two passages, please. Do you see how it happens? It’s not because we were born beautiful, or because we were trained at the best prep school, or from a sparkling personality. The radiance of life, the nobility of heart and character, comes from the love of God, from the gift of the Spirit we receive by faith. There are eccentric people who try to become like the English royals. A few even buy titles! They put on a role, pretend to be who they are not, but they are quickly recognized as wanna-be’s because they just don’t have the right stuff. Similarly there are those who try to act like a Spirit-filled Christian, going to church, doing the stuff of Christianity, but whose lives do not reflect the brightness of which the Bible speaks.

Do you want a life that is marked by a quality unattainable by any human means? Do you desire to be a noble whose life has a radiance?

Ponder this word from the Word and give the Spirit yourself, without reservation, that He might lead you into the holy and privileged life of a child of God.

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.


The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:16-26, NIV)

___________________

Change my heart, oh God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, oh God,
May I be like You.
You are the potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray.

Change My Heart Oh God

Espinosa, Eddie
© 1982 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055

Throw it away

After eleven years in our current home, we’re moving next week. Bev and I are fairly orderly people, but it’s still amazing how much junk (there’s no better word for it) that we have accumulated. Last week I took 400 lbs. of odds and ends I dragged from our basement to the landfill. Yesterday, it took me over an hour to sort through the armoire in the bedroom. I discarded a box full of ‘important’ papers I had saved, a couple of broken watches, and old cell phone parts. On the surface of things, our home is clean and neat. But, the clutter was lurking just out of sight. It feels good to throw it away.

In my prayer this morning, I invited the Lord to shine the light into the corners and closets of my life! To all appearances, I live a straight-arrow life; faithful to my wife, tithes paid, obligations met. Is there junk hidden away? I’m not talking about the ‘big sins’ that ought to be obvious. The things that clutter my heart could be much more subtle sins: unresolved conflicts, attitudes that are not fully surrendered to His Lordship, fears not matched with faith, motives that are incompatible with belonging to Christ Jesus. The Bible says "let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up." (Hebrews 12:1, NLT)

Disciple, throw it away! When the Spirit of the Lord says, “let it go,” obey His voice! The verse quoted above borrows the illustration of the runner who keeps too many articles of clothing on for the race, only to find his feet tangled and his face in the dirt. When we hang onto favorite sins, excuse ungodly attitudes, make room for grudges, or give ourselves a pass from faithful service we create a potential for failure. At the very least, we will not enjoy the blessing of deep intimacy with our Lover because we have too many other things holding us back.

Read these words from the Word. They are no threat to us if we desire Him above all things. They are a promise! Read them and make the final passage your prayer.

"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." (Hebrews 4:12, NLT)

"I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve." (Jeremiah 17:10, NLT)
"Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart." (Psalm 26:2, NLT)
_____________________

Nothing between
My soul and the Savior,
So that His blessed
Face may be seen;
Nothing preventing
The least of His favor:
Keep the way clear!
Let nothing between.

Nothing between,
Like worldly pleasure;
Habits of life,
Though harmless they seem,
Must not my heart
From Him ever sever,
He is my all,
There's nothing between.

Nothing between,
Like pride or station;
Self or friends
Shall not intervene;
Though it may cost me
Much tribulation,
I am resolved
There's nothing between.

Nothing Between
Tindley, Charles Albert
© Public Domain

Investment Advice

I lack financial acumen to really understand the best ways to pick a stock. Even more, I am a terrible investor because I follow the market too closely! Every downturn makes me jittery. I am advised that if I want to profit most from an investment in stocks, I should choose a diverse portfolio as wisely as possible, then be willing to ride the up’s and down’s over the long term. Even a legend like Warren Buffett does not show a profit each and every year.
Our life in Christ must be viewed as a long-term investment! OK, that’s sound quite selfish, doesn’t it? Keep reading. In the closing chapters of Deuteronomy, Moses recaps the Law for Israel. Most basically, he says – “If you live obediently, God will bless you. If you ignore Him, you’ll be cursed.” "If you listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, and heartily obey all his commandments that I command you today, God, your God, will place you on high, high above all the nations of the world." (Deuteronomy 28:1, The Message) "All the peoples on Earth will see you living under the Name of God and hold you in respectful awe." (Deuteronomy 28:10, The Message) Those promises apply to the Church, just as they did to the people of Israel. When we love and revere the Lord God, when we accept His merciful grace and goodness and invite the Holy Spirit to lead us we will find the ‘abundant life’ that Jesus said He came to provide for those who follow Him.

Some of you are reading that and immediately you object- “But, I know Christians who are suffering. I know people who really love the Lord who are going through very tough times.” And, so do I! So, is God’s promise true or not? It is but the blessings we enjoy are like the profit of investing in stock – they appear over the long term! It’s foolish to walk with the Lord one week and then say, “Where’s the blessings?” The godly are part of a world where evil people do things that cause suffering for the godly and ungodly alike. Godly people suffer along with the rest of the world in times of war, when greed causes economic collapse, and when family members forsake the Lord and drag their sin home.

But, Jesus points out that “everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." (Matthew 7:23-25, NIV) Those who stay faithfully close to the Lord through it all are blessed with a security that reaches into eternity.

There’s another caution that we must take note of about living a blessed life. If we focus on the blessings and not on the love of the Lord, we will turn into religious fanatics congratulating ourselves when life is good and beating ourselves when things are bad! We will become self-focused, mistakenly thinking that it is our goodness that makes God bless us. It is such a subtle deception; and the Devil delights in letting us wander into that place. When we think, “it’s all about me” we make the wonderful life of those who are graciously godly into an ugly parody, increasingly absorbed with trivial matters. Over time we create a long list of rules that hides the beauty of the grace of God from us and in us!

\Disciple, love Jesus! Invest yourself in Him, pursue Him as your Divine Lover. Don’t pay too much attention to the temporary up’s and down’s of life. Only God knows why the trials and joys of each day are allowed to come our way. Invest in Him for the long-term.

Here’s a word from the Word. May it be both a caution and encouragement for you today.
"Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!— harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith." (Galatians 6:7-10, The Message)

Easter, everyday!

We act today in ways, consciously and unconsciously, to own our dreams and avoid our nightmares! That is why it is so important to plant the right seeds of truth in the soil from which our dreams grow.

For example, if I believe that I need a lot of money to be happy, my aim will be to create wealth.
If I believe that success is defined by ownership, I will increase my pile of possessions.
If I believe that 'clothes make the man' I will make certain to buy prestige labels.

People do amazing things in attempts to make their dreams come true! Disciple, what do you dream? Think your dreams just happen? Ah, you’re mistaken. You can create vision! How? Know the Truth. Let the Word of God fill your mind. Invite the Spirit to keep a conversation going with you.

Two days ago, Christians ‘round the world declared -"He is Risen!" Those can be the most transformative words ever spoken if …. if we really believe. John ran with Peter to the Tomb, saw the empty grave clothes and believed. Peter was there, too, but he went back to Galilee to take up fishing again, not really believing until He met the Master on the beach by a fire. Thomas scoffed when some of the disciples told him, 'we have seen the Lord!' But days later he was with them when the Risen Lord appeared and said to him, "Touch my scars; see and believe!" Those men were radically changed by what they believed, traveled far and wide telling the Story. The world was changed by their message. That’s not hyperbole, exaggeration, or a sales pitch.

"He is Risen!" Will you translate those words into action by how you live today?

What we do today will show if we really believe the words. Paul's summation of the truth of the Resurrection of Christ insists that it is the keystone of our faith.
"And if Christ weren't raised, then all you're doing is wandering about in the dark, as lost as ever." (1 Corinthians 15:17, The Message)
"There is a nice symmetry in this: Death initially came by a man, and resurrection from death came by a man. Everybody dies in Adam; everybody comes alive in Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, The Message)
So, "with all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort." (1 Corinthians 15:58, The Message) When that Truth owns your heart and mind, it’s Easter, everyday. Every decision is made in light of eternal life, not simply just as a means of surviving this day. Large vision and great dreams are born out of the truth that Christ lives and we live in Him.

Don't let the daily grind of life rob you of the amazing truth of Jesus' Resurrection. When you’re confronted with anger, fear, cruelty, or apathy think about the amazing fact that Christ triumphed over it all, that because He is alive you are a eternal being, a person of destiny. Soak your mind in the testimony of the Scripture and invite the Spirit to make the proclamation that Jesus lives a fact you own for yourself.

"He lives! He lives!
Christ Jesus lives today.
He walks with me,
and talks with me,
along life's narrow way.
He lives! He lives!
Salvation to impart.
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart!

- Alfred Ackley, public domain

More than Optimism

We love stories about 'can do' people, those who like the little engine in the children's story, just keep going saying, "I know I can, I know I can!" But true faith is more than gritty determination or a positive outlook on
life. Faith has a fixed point of promise on which it rests securely.

In the book, Good to Great, (Harper, 2001) Jim Collins recounts a story of meeting Admiral James Stockdale. Stockdale was the highest ranking  American POW during the Vietnam war. For 8 long years he was confined in the "Hanoi Hilton," often tortured, both physically and psychologically. When the war ended and he was released, he came home to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for his superb leadership of the other POW's and his valor during that terrible time. He helped many of those men survive their confinement by devising a communication method so they could encourage each other. He also set an example by resisting the work of the Vietnamese to use the POW's for propaganda purposes. When Collins met the Admiral, he asked him, "Who didn't make it out?" "Oh, that's easy,"

Stockdale replied, "The optimists." The men who convinced themselves, we'll be home by Christmas and then had to face disappointment; who then set the date for Easter and were crushed yet again, eventually gave up and died of broken hearts. Then Stockdale told Collins this: "You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end - which you cannot afford to lose - with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your reality; whatever they might be."

Collins names this "the Stockdale paradox." Retain faith that you will win in the end, while forcing yourself to face the facts, tell the truth, and deal with even the ugliness of your situation.

Believers who want to win the prize of the high calling of God would do well to observe the Stockdale Paradox. The great faith chapter, Hebrews 11, starts off with some great stories about people who lived in faith and who enjoyed success. The same chapter closes with illustrations of people who had great faith and appeared, in this life, to lose! The inspired writer closes the chapter with this summary about those good and faithful people who died without seeing their reward: "All of these people we have mentioned received God's approval because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised." (Hebrews 11:39, NLT)

Our faith cannot be expressed in simple optimism that insists, "Everything will turn out great!" The awful truth is that good people sometimes die young. Great sacrifice sometimes appears to produce next to no results on this side of eternity. Godly people get Alzheimer's. People who live disciplined healthy lifestyles sometimes die from heart attacks. Depressed yet? Actually, looking at the worst stuff and realizing that God is still God, is the only way to remain true, steady, and enduring. I hate the false promises made by preachers of prosperity that cause people to think that they can control their lives by saying the right prayers and doing the
right things. These false prophets may seem to stir 'great faith' in people, but they also create many casualties of faith by building hope on a foundation of half-truths.
True faith is set in the goodness of God and His absolute promise that those who trust in Jesus Christ will have life eternal. He declares that in the End, He wins. But the End in His timeline is not necessarily correspondent with the end of our timeline.

Jesus promises us "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." (John 11:25, NKJV)

In the book of the Revelation, He says, ""You still have a few Christians in Sardis who haven't ruined themselves wallowing in the muck of the world's ways. They'll walk with me on parade! They've proved their worth! "Conquerors will march in the victory parade, their names indelible in the Book of Life. I'll lead them up and present them by name to my Father and his Angels." (Revelation 3:4-5, The Message)

That's the ultimate promise I take as my North Star to keep me on track through the present world. It is not mere optimism that steadies me, it is faith in the Eternal promises of my Savior and my God, to Whom belong all the praise, all the honor, all the glory. Amen!
____________________


My Faith Has Found A Resting Place - Edmunds, Lidie H. / Gretry, Andre

My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.

I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

Enough for me that Jesus saves,
This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul, I come to Him,
He'll never cast me out.

My heart is leaning on the Word,
The written Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior's name,
Salvation through His blood.

I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

C Public Domain

The Cross I wear

Christians wear crosses and usually decorate their sacred places with crosses. Ironic, when you remember that the cross was an instrument of execution, a brutal, cruel one that brought terrible suffering and gruesome death. The Christ who died there imbued the cross with Glory! Among some Christians it is now fashionable to keep the cross out of sight. Symbols that replace it include rainbows, angels, or doves. I will glory in the cross! A rainbow speaks of hope. Angels bring a measure of comfort and strength. Doves certainly are a Biblical image that evoke the hovering Presence of the Spirit. But, only the Cross restores me to my Father's covenant love.


What a glorious thought: Christ suffered for ME, willingly, because He loves ME! I wish it had never been necessary for Him to become the Lamb of God, offered for my sin, but that is not the case. I am a sinner, a wretch, through and through: hopeless, broken, alone, dying - apart from the Cross where Life flowed down to ME!

I read through some of the hymns of the Cross again this morning. Read these lines thoughtfully, prayerfully. Let Watts and Crosby lead you to contemplate the wonder of Jesus' offering of Himself to meet your desperate need --

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary's mountain.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever.
‘Till my raptured soul shall find,
Rest beyond the river.
______________

Alas and did my Savior bleed,
And did my sov'reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head,
For such a worm as I?
But drops of grief can ne'er repay,
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself to Thee,
'Tis all that I can do!

At the cross, at the cross,
Where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart rolled away;
It was there by faith,
I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day!
______________

In the cross of Christ I glory,
Tow'ring o'er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o'ertake me,
hopes deceive and fears annoy;
Never shall the cross forsake me,
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
by the cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that thro' all time abide.
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It is the Christ of the Cross that makes us holy and free. Don't 'rush' to the Resurrection this week. That is a grand Truth, and we love to tell it again and again. The empty tomb is the ultimate! But, the road to new life leads through the Cross. Think on His suffering. Don't distance yourself. Worship Him that He died for you, for me! Don't be swept up by those who would teach you that you can save yourself from God's judgment by religion, goodness, or martyrdom. God's love flows from the Cross, so let's glory in the Christ who showed us the depth of His love by dying there.

“For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate." (Galatians 6:13-14, The Message)

Are you coveting your neighbor's wife?

The 10th commandment forbids a sin many do not even understand. The Bible says, “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17, NLT) Coveting is an epidemic in America. Mostly, we are convinced that there is someone, or someplace, or something that will finally bring us a sense of wholeness. “If only I had ____ , then I would be happy." It breaks marriages. Coveting another man’s wife happens when we begin to believe we need someone smarter, richer, taller, thinner, or more exciting. Coveting causes people to go deeply into debt to buy things they really don't need. The constant messages of advertising drives the idea that “it’ will be found in a new house, another car, or an exotic vacation. Discontent can fester in people who move from church to church coveting a spiritual experience that will let them live above the trials of life.

Mindy Caliguire, head of Soul Care Ministries, suggests that we ask ourselves four questions to diagnose the sickness of discontent-

1. Do I feel overwhelmed by options?
2. Do I feel burdened by impossible demands?
3. Do I often buy more than I can afford?
4. Do I frequently desire to be more than I am? - Leadership, Winter, 2008

Options are as American as apple pie! We like big supermarkets that let choose from 28 brands of ketchup! On the ‘auto mile’ there are a dozen dealerships offering 20 kinds of automobiles, differing little except in style. Having so many options from which to choose is a source of real stress. There is a spiritual discipline that restores sanity! It is called simplicity. This discipline teaches us to live contentedly, not complacently, which keeps us from the sin of coveting.

Simplicity is the conscious choice to be the person who prays to know who God has made us and focusing on that. It is the decision to pray to become contented with who we are, what we have, and where we are. What does this mean practically?

We stop looking at others and comparing ourselves.
We refuse to buy things we don't want to impress people we don't like.
We give away stuff we no longer use, instead of renting storage space to keep it until we die and our kids throw it away.
We give thanks for what we have instead of begging God for more.
We receive the gift(s) of the Spirit He's given to us and to do what we can, right where we are, today!
We simplify our menu, unclutter our closet, and learn that saying 'no' to yet another appeal is just fine.
We refuse debt, financial and emotional, choosing to live in what we can afford, and not borrowing against tomorrow.

Here's what Jesus said. "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:22-24, NLT)
Is your vision clear, fixed on truth, and focused around the goodness of God? Or are you looking around frantic to find something to own, certain it will bring you the peace you crave?

A single minded focus on Christ and His love allows us to live freely, soberly, and with contentment. Say 'yes' to worship, deep and intimate worship of the Lord, our God. Learn to revel in the beauty of a bird's song, the giggle of a child, the grace He promises 'just for today.' You will, in these choices, break the power of the conspiracy of self and Satan to make you a slave to reputation, stuff, and activities. Find others who are at peace with themselves, who are refusing the lie of more. Then, you will discover the blessing of less.

“Pick me, pick me!”

In the movie, “Shrek” there is a funny scene when Donkey jumps up and down, yelling, “Pick me. Oh, I know. Pick me.” Even though it’s a cartoon, we identify with his desperation. Whether we admit it or not, we like to be ‘picked,’ to be made to feel valued by another. Feeling inconsequential is common to every one of us. Watch little boys strut their stuff as they try to make somebody notice them. Many adolescent girls go through a time when they are at grave risk because they will do almost anything thing to get boys to pay attention to them. Having a ‘boyfriend’ makes them ‘somebody.’ Grown-ups want to matter, too. A little self-disclosure would be healthy here. I try not to let the size of the Sunday crowd effect how I feel about myself, but it does! Strange, isn’t it, that we attach so much importance to such passing things, even when we ought to know better?

Christina Kelly, an editor of magazines for young women, wrote a revealing essay. “Why do we crave celebrities? Here’s my theory. To be human is to feel inconsequential. So we worship celebrities and we seek to look like them. All the great things they have done we identify with in order to escape our own inconsequential lives. But, it’s so dumb. … doing it makes us feel even worse. We make them stars but then their fame makes us feel insignificant.” (as quoted in King’s Cross, 2011) A title, a tiara, an award, another degree, a front-page photo, a bigger paycheck: these are the things we are told will make us people who matter. They don’t!

All kinds of self-destructive behaviors grow out of the feelings of worthlessness that stalk us in the dark of our soul. Some find that alcohol or chemicals numb the pain. Of course, they also rob life itself! Others choose promiscuity, willing to trade their dignity for a few moments of fraudulent intimacy. Others become excessively religious, attempting to erase the uncleanness of sin through pious acts. Some become driven to succeed, in the memorable phrase of Charles Colson, willing to ‘run over their own grandmother’ to win the race for position or money. Some give up hope and their cynicism turns them into a pit of misery and self-loathing.

God has picked you! Read this familiar text without rushing through it. Let the amazing message sink in. “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son." (John 3:16-18, NLT) You’re valued because you exist, not because of what you achieve. Before you ever did a thing, God loved you!

My favorite book in the Bible is Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Again and again, inspired by the Holy Spirit, he reminds us of the depth of God’s love for us. "You were dead in your transgressions and sins, … gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts … we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, … For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:1-10, NIV) Dead, worthless, destined for destruction: but God intervened! And why? Love alone.

The great lie is ‘you don’t matter.’ If I believe it, I dig deeper into sin as I try to rescue myself while I jump up and down yelling at the world, “pick me!” The grand truth is that each one of us matters so much that God sent a Savior to rescue us and to restore the glory in us for which we were created. Do you believe that?

Here’s my prayer, one of the richest in the Scripture. "I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:16-19, NLT) Amen

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Walking to the Cross

Ever faced an event with dread, knowing it will be difficult? Things like a critical interview, a big test, major surgery, a confrontation that has to happen come down the road to all of us. Some we can’t avoid, others we know we should do, but we wonder; “can I do it?” This is Passion Week. Jesus knew that the Cross was His destiny. It would be suffering unimaginable, loss of everything including His oneness with the Father. And here’s what Matthew’s Gospel tells us: "He began to be sorrowful and troubled." (Matthew 26:37, NIV) That word ‘troubled,’ is the word ‘ademoneo’ in the original language of NT, a strong word of emotion that speaks of being depressed! Jesus did not go gleefully to the Cross. He was broken-hearted, full of dread, and even prayed for release from it. “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?” (Matthew 26:39, The Message)

Obedience to the will of our heavenly Father will not always come from a heart full of joyful anticipation! Doing what God wants us to do may sometimes cause us great grief, be so overwhelming as to cause us to be depressed. What a thought. What sustained Jesus was seeing, by faith, the Glory that would be His on the other side of that awful cross. Think I’m just saying that? The Bible says that He "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV)

• Forgiving that person who has abused you so terribly may be nothing you want to do. Hating him feels so good, how could you give it up? “He doesn’t deserve forgiveness!” you scream. But your Father says you must. Will you die to yourself? It’s going to hurt.

• Letting go of that goal you know is not compatible with being a true disciple of Jesus is something you know that you have to do, but you don’t know how you will go forward in life if you turn away from it. The cost is huge, but your Father beckons.

• Facing that sinful habit and admitting it belongs to you and that it offends God is painful. For years you have blamed everyone, excused yourself, but now the Father says, “Let’s confront it and grow past it.” Hell’s fury will be unleashed when you deal with it and you know it.

• Will you let ego die? Will you take your talents, your gifts, your best hope of gaining worldly acclaim and let God use it, even if it means choosing obscurity? That is a crushing decision, isn’t it?

Things like that can make us feel the same kind of depression that Jesus felt as He looked toward the Cross, but He took courage from the promises of His Father. He prayed His way to the Cross. He drew on the strength of the Spirit and leaned on His friends, who failed Him in the end! And, on the other side of the pain, the loss, the blood, the groans, the cries – there is the glory of the Resurrection morning. He is the prototypical New Man and we know that ‘because He lives, we will live also.’

Are you walking to a cross? It is all right with the Lord if you weep. You are not a spiritual failure if embracing His will makes you weep. Just learn this passage and let the same kind of submission fill your life. The path to greater glory follows the way of the Cross. "He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." (Philippians 2:8-10, NLT)

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Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)

One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin;
Dwelt among men, my example is He.
The Word became flesh,
And the light shined among us,
His glory revealed

Living He loved me, dying He saved me,
Buried He carried my sins far away.
Rising, He justified; freely forever!
One day He's coming;
O glorious day!

O glorious day.

One day they led Him up Calv'ry's mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree,
Suffering anguish despised and rejected,
Bearing our sins my Redeemer is He!
The hand that healed nations,
Stretched out on a tree,
And took the nails from me,

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door,
Then He arose over death He had conquered,
Now is ascended my Lord evermore.
Death could not hold Him,
The grave could not keep Him,
From rising again (rising again).

Living He loved me, dying He saved me,
Buried He carried my sins far away.
Rising, He justified; freely forever!
One day He's coming;
O glorious day!
O glorious day.

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