The Word and the Light

God presented us with a beautiful, wonderful world!

On Nature, a PBS program that I watched Sunday evening, the complexity of the Creation was on full display. From tiny creatures to huge whales, in vivid colors, I saw God's creativity in a way that makes the best art of humanity look like the crayon sketches of a little child. And then I see what man does to Creation - polluted rivers dying, amazing jungle habitats burned, blue skies turned grey with smoke.

God's gifts go beyond the splendor of rivers, oceans, and canyons. He gave us the exquisite gift of love and sexuality, the ability to become 'one' with another. What can compare to the love of a man and a woman? And what have we done with that? We have turned love into a commodity. We cheapened sex, made it into an act of the darkness. We sell it on the street, use it to enslave and exploit, and turn something beautiful into something that pollutes body and soul!

Yet, another gift of God, the desire to know Him that He placed in us, that longing for Life; is turned into religion that only produces Death! The glory of the Transcendent Lord was 'exchanged for images made to look like mortal men, and birds, and animals, and reptiles.'

Thus, Jeremiah laments that "the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9, NIV)

But, all is not lost. As we celebrate Advent we find the Promise that brings us to renewed hope for the restoration of all things at the coming of the Lord. Our hope looks back to the Incarnation, when "the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." And, we saw "His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14, NIV) He lived to bring us Truth about our God, died to bring us Reconciliation with our God, and was resurrected to bring us Eternal Life in the presence of our God. However, that was only the first act! The second act is the Coming of the Lord of Glory. John, in language rich with symbolism, explains that He will ride out of Heaven to destroy evil and restore what God made to bless us. "I saw Heaven open wide—and oh! a white horse and its Rider. The Rider, named Faithful and True, judges and makes war in pure righteousness. . . . On his robe and thigh is written, King of kings, Lord of lords." (Revelation 19:11, 16, The Message)

And this, Believer, is what the Season is really all about. No wonder we rejoice. In this intermission between the Incarnation and the Revelation, we have the opportunity to be agents of reconciliation that appeal to those around to look up, to turn from their devotion to empty things to gaze on the wonder of His majesty. We invite them to accept the grace of God, to become part of the conspiracy of righteousness, which Jesus described this way. "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches. . . . The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." (Matthew 13:31-33, NIV)

Do you live in the Light?
Do you know the Truth of the Word?
Are you filled with the Beauty of His Holiness?

The Gift is yours to receive, by faith, provided without cost to you, at great cost to God. Accept Him today. In honesty, own up to the darkness, the hidden sin, the rejection of His ways, the ignorance that made you a slave to evil. But don't wallow in guilt! Take the offer of grace that makes you a child of God, that restores your inheritance, that gives you dignity and worth. Believer, live in that Glory. "Become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life." (Philippians 2:15-16, NIV)
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Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room,
and Heaven and nature sing!

No more let sin and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground.
He comes to make,His blessings flow,
far as the Curse is found!

He rules the world with Truth and Grace,
and makes the nations prove,
the glories of His righteousness.
and wonders of His love.

-- Isaac Watts, Public Domain

Just trust Him!

In 1977, Bev and I left our first real ministry call and moved to Wyoming. A boom town called Gillette, full of young workers and with a shortage of spiritual care, caught my attention and seemed like a place where a young preacher could do something good. I felt that the Spirit was in the desire to relocate far from family, friends, and the familiar, so, we packed up and moved. We were on an adventure with no safety net or job promise! The first three months that we lived in that town brought one trial after another. Our son, Jay, then an infant, developed critical pneumonia and was hospitalized. The denomination that credentialed me balked at transferring my ministerial license to another District because, due to my inexperience, I had failed to observe proper protocol. To support my little family I took a back- breaking job in construction working from sun-up to dark! It sure looked like I had made a colossal error in judgment! After a year in that town, we moved back to New Jersey and to the position we had left. I looked like a kid that lost his nerve and failed in his mission. The whole move appeared to be a meaningless detour. But, all these years later, I am still convinced that God sent us to Gillette, Wyoming. What I did not know then, but do now, was that His purpose was not to use me to save the town! He used the town to save me! In those 12 months, He provided mentors and experiences that gave me lessons about His faithfulness and grace that changed my life, literally!

A half-century on this earth has made me aware of one sure thing - God's way are higher than my ways! Just when we think we made our plans and secured our future, everything turns inside out. Our new business runs headlong into a recession. Our investments lose a ton of money. We suddenly learn of a major physical problem. Or, just when it looks like we're about to go over the cliff, a bridge across the chasm Providentially appears. When there seems to be no answer, God reveals a divine solution. I believe that God smiles at our sense of surety, not because He's mean, but more like a father who knows how much his children do not know. As I watch my own adult children I sometimes want to rush in to offer them the benefit of my experience, but realize that they need to figure it out for themselves. My counsel is available, but not forced on them. God, too, offers the counsel of the Word and the Spirit, but is patient as we work it out.

And, for this I am so thankful - that He is a patient Father that works out His purposes; sometimes with our cooperation, and sometimes in spite of our obstinacy! When we are so certain that He's got one plan for our life, but He keeps on working out His purposes using even the detours for our benefit. Not every experience ties itself up into a neat package with a complete answer. Some our our experiences remain puzzling. We ask, "Why did that happen? What purpose did that serve?" The Lord told Isaiah, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.... For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9, KJV) So, we trust Him.

Remember Moses? His mother, fearing that Pharaoh would put him to death along with the other Israelite babies, set him afloat in the reeds. An Egyptian princess found him and took him to the palace where he grew up in royal privilege, given a great education, and learning to deal with power. Then, he grew headstrong, killed a man and became a fugitive. Did it appear that any promise in his life was gone? Sure enough! He spent 40 years tending a few sheep in the desert, far from power and privilege. But God had not forgotten him. In a moment of revelation at the burning bush that miraculously was not consumed by the fire, Moses heard God commission him to go and lead the Israelites out of slavery. He balked. He dallied. He stumbled. God steadied him, led him, and used a refugee, murderer, fearful man who stuttered, to build a new nation for His glory.

Perhaps you're 'in the desert' today. The bright promise you once knew is gone. It might be because you made some dumb or sinful choice, like Moses. It might be for reasons you cannot understand. Just know this, God knows who you are, where you are, and He still has a purpose for your life! Trust him! "But my work all seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose at all. Yet I leave it all in the Lord's hand; I will trust God for my reward." Isaiah 49:4 NLT

I do not mean to suggest that we should become fatalists, floating down the stream of life without using the oars provided to us by the Lord. We need not bounce off all the rocks while we stupidly shout, "Praise Jesus!" Choices must be made and they need to be shaped by a God-honoring obedience. It is important that we live intentionally, `on purpose.' Yet, it remains that even when we are obedient, even when we have the best of intentions—there will be side trips and detours that leave us wondering. In those moments, we must `let go and let God lead.'

Here's a word from the Word. Let it reshape fear into faith and change despair to hope. "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son,
so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?
If God is for us, who can ever be against us?" (Romans 8:28-31, NLT)
________________________

Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my hands and let them move,
at the impulse of Thy love.

Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise;
Take my intellect and use
ev'ry power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine.
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own.
It shall be Thy royal Throne.

- Frances Havergal
Public Domain

An open door!

How my will and God's will intersect is not always crystal clear for me. Bev and I were talking about some life-changing decisions we've made in the past; accepting new positions, relocating to a different church. What part did God's will play in those choices and what part did we play? Even the two of us who shared in those decisions saw them differently. At various times one of us saw God leading, while the other viewed the choice as human will in operation! One move from long ago she labeled 'impulsive,' on my part, while I called it an obedient response to God's leading. To a degree, we both are right. How can I say that? Because I am convinced that both of the following statements are true despite the apparent contradiction: God rules the affairs of my life; and I have the freedom to cooperate or resist His will.

The story of Mary, mother of Jesus, illustrates the point. God sends his messenger to tell her of His plan that she should bear the Savior of the world. Could she have refused this calling? The Scripture implies that she had that power. Here's an excerpt of the story. "The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." ... the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus." (Luke 1:28-31, NIV) "I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her." (Luke 1:38, NIV)

God opened the door to an impossibility; Mary stepped through it. Her obedience to the plan of the Lord was difficult and raised questions for which she had no answer. When her Son was born and shepherds showed up to tell of angels' in the skies announcing that a "Savior has been born to you,: she heard them and "kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant." (Luke 2:19, CEV)

Believer, if we wait until we have all the answers, until we have plotted the whole course from start to finish, before we engage ourselves to do the will of God, we will accomplish little for Him in this life! Sometimes all He gives us is the promise of His Presence to guide and an open door! Like Mary, we need to humbly say, "I am the Lord's servant!" and step through the door. Some will say we have been impulsive. Others will see us as bold. Some will call us foolish, while others will praise God for our vision! All of that matters little if we are living in humble obedience, seeking to know and do His will from day to day. Are you?

The life of the Spirit-led individual is an adventure. I am not advocating stupidity, arrogance, or irresponsibility. I am not suggesting that any of us should refuse to be accountable to those who offer wise counsel to us. But, we must be ready to hear Heaven's call and to respond readily. Humility is the key. If we detect even the tiniest amount of grandiosity, even the smallest amount of an attitude that says, "I'll show you," we need to throw on the brakes and get our heart right before God. Mary had no need to become famous, no need to be the Messiah's mother, no need to try to impress God. She was just a peasant girl in Nazareth when God came to her and opened a door of unbelievable opportunity and she said, "Yes!"

Here's a word from the Word to ponder today.
"These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." (Revelation 3:7-8, NIV)
_______________

I've a yearning in my heart
that cannot be denied.
It's a longing that has never yet
been satisfied.
I want the world to know
the One who loves them so,
Like a flame it's burning
deep inside.

To be used of God,
to sing, to speak, to pray.
To be used of God,
to show someone the Way.I long so much,
to feel the touch
of His consuming fire.
To be used of God
is my desire.

When I think about the shortness
of my earthly years.
I remember all the wasted days,
the wasted tears.I long to preach the Word,
to those who've never heard,
of the One who can dispel all fears.

To Be Used of God
Audrey Meier© 1954 Manna Music, Inc.
ARR UBP of Manna Music, Inc. (35255 Brooten Road, Pacific City, OR 97135)
CCLI License No. 810055

Where is the Church?

In the Nov./Dec. 2007 issue of Worship Leader, Bebo Norman writes about Gary Haugen, founder of IJM (Int'l Justice Mission), an organization that fights injustice among the poorest of the world. This Christian group grapples with human depravity at its worst. Human slavery and sex trafficking of children are just two of the ugly practices they try to end in the name of Jesus. Back in 1994, Haugen was asked to part of the United Nations inquiry in Rwanda. Haugen's assignment was grim. In a nation where more than a million people were hacked to death by their neighbors using machetes, he was asked to dig up mass graves and sort through piles of body parts in stadiums around that nation to try to arrive at an accurate estimate of the number of deaths that resulted from this outpouring of hatred! Most of us would collapse under the weight of such an horrific assignment, probably whining and blaming God by asking, "Where were You?" Gary Haugen asks an entirely different, and much more useful, question: "Where were God's people?"

I fear many of us have asked God for easy assignments, far from the front lines. God's people are often missing in action at critical moments when evil might be turned aside, when sin threatens to overwhelm yet another life, neighborhood, or nation! How many pray or, at least think, something like this - "I will serve you, Lord, but only where it requires minimal inconvenience and little sacrifice in terms of my autonomy and lifestyle."
Have you ever considered any of the following....
...Going to live in an urban center of America that are torn apart by violence, drugs, and poverty to be a light for Christ and His Gospel?
...Staffing a missions outreach in lonely, hard post in a developing nations?
...Taking on a ministry call to teach kids, feed the poor, visit those who are elderly and lonely, or lead a prison Bible Study?
...Getting up regularly to pray for the world at 4:30 AM?
...Encouraging your kids to accept a call to full-time Christian ministry as a pastor or teacher despite the sacrifice that comes with that vocation?
If not, why not?
Have you preserved your own comfort and offered to serve, but only at your convenience?

Jesus issued an 'in your face' challenge, words that we usually either ignore or soften, but that deserve our full attention. He said, "If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find it. What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What would you give to get back your soul?" (Matthew 16:24-26, CEV) That's not Mommy-talk! That's drill sergeant growl! The Lord of Glory wants us to realize that the stakes are huge. The destiny of your family, your church, your town, your nation; yes, the world - depends on the Church (you and me) standing up and reporting for duty.

Andy Stanley teaches that real and passionate visions develop in four stages:
1. Defining the Problem.
2. Outlining a Solution.
3. Determining the Reason something must be done.
4. Deciding to do something now!

The problem is that evil is on the rampage, destroying lives, and deluding people to march straight for Hell.
The solution is the message of the Gospel, that Christ Jesus has defeated evil and opened the way to eternal life.
If we don't step up, a generation will be lost, our generation!
So, "knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." (Romans 13:11, NKJV)

When you decide to answer the call, watch out that you're not diverted into the sub-culture of evangelical Christianity that is so consumed with preserving a certain kind of lifestyle! Jesus did not die on the Cross to make us all Republicans so we could pay lower taxes and fight bloated government spending! Our mission is one of justice, mercy, and compassion. We are advocates of the poor, liberators of those enslaved by sin, and priests of the living God who are sent to bring healing to the nations.

Get desperate! Get serious! Let's show up and, by the power of the Spirit, let's make a difference in our generation.
____________________________

Who said it should be easy?

People with purpose commit themselves to a way of life that goes against the flow! Things left to themselves quickly deteriorate, don't they? As I write, I'm looking out on my little half acre lawn. It requires constant attention to be kept attractive. Today there are leaves scattered across the grass, waiting for me to rake and mulch them. Come Springtime, weeds will invade if I do not put down the proper herbicides. Then, the grass will need a weekly mowing. It's not just the lawn that needs to be maintained. Organizations fall into ineffectiveness without constant leadership. The church that I lead presents new challenges for my pastoral leadership almost everyday! Our President called together leaders from Middle East nations yesterday. Why? Peace, or what passes for it in that hotspot of the world, requires nurturing, arm-twisting, and negotiation under pressure. Even nations left to the natural course of things do not tend to peaceful relations, but rather to the chaos of war!

Why is the course of nature towards disintegration without intervention and work? The Bible explains it with these words in Genesis. God said, "Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made." (Genesis 3:17-19, NLT)

Evil is a virus infecting every relationship, every organization, everything in this Creation. Unchecked evil destroys the best and causes the worst to emerge.

Why does a good God allow evil to continue to wreak havoc in this world? That is the question of the ages, for which we have only incomplete answers. But this we know: He calls people to Himself through Christ, gives them the power and gifts of the Spirit, and commissions them to do the work of reversing the Curse of evil! Wherever Believers faithfully do the work of God, good follows. The suffering of sin is defeated by the proclamation of the Good News that Christ is Lord of all, by the diligence of those who throw themselves into the battle against evil in all of its awful expressions.

It is no easy task, nor is it done once. Only the work of the Cross is finished, complete for all time. The work of setting the world right is ongoing, a task in which we renew our efforts daily. Yesterday's victories are challenged by new demons, new conflicts, new weeds growing in our world today.

Does that all sound exhausting? It can be if we attempt to wage the war in our own strength and by our own wits! That is why the Scripture reminds us to suit up for battle. "God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.... Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet." (Ephesians 6:10-11, 13, The Message)

Taking up the call of God is not for cowards, lazy people, or those looking for an easy road. It is a way of struggle and sacrifice. And, it is a high and holy calling that brings rich reward in this world and in the age to come. God needs a few good men. (That term, dear sisters, is generic!) Will you be one of His mighty men, one of those who resists evil and builds the kingdom of righteousness?

Here's a word of encouragement from the Word. "...you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." (1 Corinthians 1:7-9, NIV)
_______________________

What this dying world could use,
Is a willing man of God.
Who dares to go against the grain,
And work without applause.
A man who'll raise the shield of faith,
Protecting what is pure.
Whose love is tough and gentle,
A man whose word is sure.

Men full of compassion,
Who laugh and love and cry.
Men who'll face eternity,
And aren't afraid to die.
Men who'll fight for freedom,
And honor once again.
He just needs a few good men.

God doesn't need an orator,
Who knows just what to say.
He doesn't need authorities,
To reason Him away.
He doesn't need an army,
To guarantee a win;
He just needs a few good men.

A Few Good Men
Jennings © 1990 Townsend and Warbucks Music ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright Management
CCLI License No. 810055

A Redeemer Kinsman?

The question is an obsession for me: "How does a Christian maintain a distinctly God-honoring life while being effective in his calling to influence his friends, family, and community?"

Some Believers I know are so immersed in their world and culture, that their Christianity is all but invisible! They are materialistic consumers, obsessed with their status and things, doing little (at least that I can see) to advance the cause of Christ. They can sing all the current tunes and discuss the latest movie, but have little to say about what the Spirit is saying to them through the Scripture, of which they know little or nothing. Others choose to live so separately, that they are out of touch and irrelevant, incapable of having a meaningful conversation with anyone who is not 'on the inside' with them! They can win a Bible Trivia quiz anytime, but they don't build any bridges from the Church to the world and fail miserably as articulate communicators of the Gospel. Each side claims its own proof texts from the Bible. Those who are 'relevant,' point to Jesus' words about being 'salt and light,' and not putting a covering over their light so it can shine. Those who are separatists point to the verse that says, "Touch no unclean thing... come out from among them and be holy!"

As usual in my moderate stance, I am in the middle! Those who completely withdraw from the world of which they are a part miss out on many opportunities to do God's work in that world. Without recognizing it, they become hypocritical. They take advantage of the education, the technologies, and the medical knowledge that others who they look down on as less 'spiritual' produce; but refuse to make their own contribution to the processes that bring those advances. Those who are engaged with their world, risk being swallowed by it! Many who have stepped outside of the safety of the 'church' culture in an attempt to bring Christ to the world lose their footing and fall headlong into the muck they hoped to clean up.

My early Christian experience was primarily expressed in a separatist mode. My attitude towards 'the world' was one of contempt. I regarded it as destined for destruction and said, "It's all gonna burn, so let it go to Hell." In one sense I was right. The Scripture is very clear about the temporary nature of the present order of things teaching us that "the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment." (2 Peter 3:10, NLT) Repeatedly the Bible warns about being seduced by the world that is passing away, about loving things that we cannot carry into Eternity.

However, (you knew that was coming, didn't you?).... the Believer is to be redemptive, not dismissive, in his stance towards the world! That word, redemptive, comes from the institution of slavery. A person who fell into debt because of mismanagement or misfortune, could be seized, along with his family, and forced into servitude to his creditors. A wretched existence resulted. But the extended family could gather resources to satisfy the creditors claims and 'redeem' their kinsman from servitude, restoring his freedom. That person was called a redeemer kinsman. (For a wonderful story about this, see the short book of Ruth. Boaz became her redeemer kinsman!)

Our model in our relationship with the world around us is Jesus Christ Himself, "who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2:14, NIV) In this Season of Advent, we remember that He was willing to leave His place in Heaven, to become fully human, to suffer temptation, deprivation, and rejection to -- yes, become our Redeemer! His death on the Cross was not for His benefit, but for ours. His Incarnation was not for His own reputation, but so that He could become our Priest, creating a bridge from God to fallen humanity.

So, Jude tells us to "Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh." (Jude 22-23, NIV) And how do we do this without losing ourselves to the world?

Answer that as you ponder this word from the Word today.
"But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.... To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." (Jude 20-21, 24-25, NIV)

Go, in the power of the Spirit, and be REDEMPTIVE to someone today!

You Gotta Have Heart

The marriage was in trouble. She was finished, she said, no longer willing to play second fiddle to his car, his friends, his sports, the TV, the kids, and his job. As we talked I found that he never forgot their anniversary, showed up with flowers from time to time, and paid the bills. But through her tears she explained that she could not recall a conversation about their shared dreams, about their hopes, about what love meant to him. "I feel," she said, "like another of his investments!" Many is the husband who is mystified by that kind statement. "What does she want?" he asks angrily. "I pay the bills, provide well for our family. Isn't that enough?" If a couple wants a marriage with intimacy, that goes the distance, and is fresh and alive well into old age, it isn't!

Great marriages include the heart, too! We all want to be loved for more than for what do. We want to be desired, to be valued for who we are! In my own marriage, I want that kind of love with Bev, too. Sure, I appreciate her part in making our home function, but I also want that kind of connection that lets our eyes meet from opposite sides of a room full of people and communicate "I love you!" I want to know her well enough be able to finish her thoughts.

Jesus wants us to love Him in that way, too. He wants more than our tithe, more than our regular attendance at church, more than our dutiful Bible reading, or 'Lord, bless my day,' functional prayers. He wants our hearts, to be the Center of Life. Heartless Christianity is all too common in my opinion. Sincere Believers do all the right things and have an orthodox confession, but their hearts are full of the 'other stuff' of life. You may find His words harsh, but they are true. Take a look. "...at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’ " (Matthew 7:22-23, The Message)

The prophet Isaiah indicted the people of God with a similar judgment. "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men." (Isaiah 29:13, NIV)

So, what does 'heart' look like? Maybe you're like that husband who wondered, "What more does she want anyway?" You point to the things you do for God, or at least you think you're doing them for Him. Consider that you may, in fact, be acting from very selfish motives! Your 'acts of worship' may be more about keeping up appearances or staying on God's good side than real passion!

Heart deep devotion to God is a love that informs daily choices, that draws us into prayerful reflection often through the day, and that gives us eyes that see God at work, even in the small things. It keeps us from chasing the illusions of happiness that the Tempter dangle in front of us. It makes us authentic and preserves us from shallow religion. If we love the Lord with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength we will take great care not to offend Him with careless or sinful choices, not just to avoid judgment, but because causing Him to be disappointed brings us terrible pain. Keeping this love alive requires daily attentiveness just like keeping a marriage fresh requires constant communication. If we want to love Him from the heart, we will have to wrestle with Him, seeking to know His will, listening to discover His plan, and working through the surprises that make us wonder if He cares! Yes, even those who love Jesus Christ with their whole heart find themselves angry and/or disappointed from time to time. But, they don't turn to another lover in that moment. Instead, they pursue Him, wait on Him.

Passionate Christianity will produce a person of amazing depth of character. The Bible says that they will have the fruit of the Spirit in abundant evidence - that being, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV) Don't confuse great works, big ministries, or long, windy prayers with passion for Jesus. Don't confuse effusive emotionalism with love for Him, either.

Look for love's evidence. "If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.... Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.... Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13, NLT)
________________________

My eyes are dry, my faith is old,
My heart is hard, my prayers are cold;
And I know how I ought to be:
Alive to You and dead to me.

But what can be done
With an old heart like mine?
Soften it up with oil and wine!

The oil is You, the Spirit of love.
Please wash me anew
In the wine of Your blood.

My Eyes Are Dry
Keith Green © 1978 Birdwing Music
(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) / Ears To Hear ü / BMG Songs, Inc.
(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)CCLI License No. 810055

I don't deserve it!

I conducted the funeral of an old saint yesterday who stepped into eternity after 93 years journey here on earth. Standing to one side of the room, prior to the service, listening to an hymn playing over the sound system, I filled up with gratitude, amazed that God would choose to use me to bring His Word and comfort to those who mourned. "Why me, Lord?" I asked Him. There is nothing about me that qualifies me to enjoy such trust, to have this privilege of being a shepherd to His flock. It is a grace gift - start to finish. Then, after the service, there was another 'gift.' A young girl, part of the family and from the congregation I serve, rode with me from the funeral home to the cemetery. Our time in that short ride was a gift to this Pastor. I so enjoyed talking with her about her life, her plans, her dreams. And again, I asked the Lord, "Why do I enjoy these kinds of blessings?"

Do you feel entitled to different circumstances, greater joy, more respect? If you allow that attitude, you will miss the joy of the moment! The entitlement mentality creeps up on us stealthily and becomes a blot of darkness in us. When we don't get what we feel that we are entitled to receive, we become miserable. When I start to think that I should be treated differently, given more of this or that, have a bigger place in life - I get ugly. I cut myself off from the love of others and the peace of God by focusing on myself, my perceived needs, my desires. The Spirit withdraws His fellowship and others stay away; and why not? A person wrapped up in himself is a very small and unattractive package!

Do you believe that God owes you - blessings, healing, salvation, peace, joy? Many Christians do! They twist God's rich and wonderful promises into entitlement contracts and their prayers are more like legal briefs thatpresent demands for actions than conversations with a Friend. These Believers turn faith into a 'gimme' system that says, "God, you promised; now, pay up!" How tragic, how misguided. Our Father in Heaven loves tobless and He does, but He owes you and me NOTHING. His gifts are based in grace, not merit.

One day Jesus was traveling and came upon ten men who suffered one of the worst fates in that time. They were lepers. When leprosy became evident on a person's skin, he was immediately separated from the community, as a means of keeping the spread of the disease to a minimum- no more living in his home, no more meals with his family, none of life's pleasures were available. Instead, the wretch lived as a beggar outside of town, usuallynear the dump from which he scavenged the scraps that kept him alive! When the ten lepers realized who was approaching, they yelled - "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" He looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, their leprosy disappeared. Luke 17:14 (NLT) Imagine their joy when they saw their skin clearing, all evidence of their leprous condition gone, given the desperate situation that they lived in because of it! Now, here's the part of the story that I want to emphasize today. "One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God, I'm healed!" He fell face down on the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?" (Luke 17:15-17, NLT)

If we think that we are entitled to the blessing of God, we will not even think of thankfulness! Instead, we'll simply believe that God paid up, made good on the deal. The downside of that line of thinking is that when things go badly, when life falls apart, we will beat ourselves up wondering what we did that brought such grief on our heads. The Psalmist reminds us - "He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust." (Psalm 103:9-14, NIV)

Are you grateful today?
Does thankfulness overflow from you?
Or is God asking, "where is the gratitude, where is the recognition of My mercy?"
Let's not be found wanting when it comes to returning thanks.

Here's a word from the Word. Note the benefit of waiting on God with thanksgiving!
"Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." (Philippians 4:6-7, The Message)

This Thanksgiving, check your heart for areas where entitlement has taken up residence. Get rid of it and realize, anew, the gifts of kindness and mercy that come your way. Then, liberally give thanks - to God, to friends, to family.
___________________

Why me Lord?
What have I ever done,
To deserve even one
Of the Pleasures I've known?
Tell me Lord?
What did I ever do
That was worth loving you,
Or the Kindness you've shown?

Lord help me Jesus,
I've wasted it so,
Help me, Jesus, I know what I am.
Now that I know that
I've needed you so,
Help me Jesus,
my soul's in your Hand.

Try me, Lord!
If you think there's a Way
I can try to repay,
All I've taken from you
Maybe Lord, I can show someone else what
I've been through myself
On my way back to you.
Lord help me Jesus,
I've wasted it so,
Help me, Jesus, I know what I am.
Now that I know that
I've needed you so,
Help me Jesus, my soul's in your Hand.
Amen
( Words And Music By Kris Kristofferson )

Living in Shame?

Tim Blixseth, a 57 year old billionaire, used the shame of his childhood poverty as motivation. As he sat in his French mansion surrounded by opulence, he recalled being 5 years old in the welfare lunch line at his school. He said that it was then and there he determined that he would do whatever he needed to do to get money and escape those feelings of inferiority. (20/20, abcnews.go.com)

Shame can serve a positive purpose. There is a place for shame in this world. When we are selfish, cruel, dishonest, or crude - we need to feel the sense of diminished worth, the pain of the soul, that signals a need for change. That is shame. If shame motivates to examine ourselves and work on becoming a better person, it serves a valuable purpose.

But, shame can be toxic, too.

A woman who feels worthless because her appearance does not match the idealized cultural standard of beauty and consequently develops an eating disorder is not helped by shame!

A man who struggles with sexual desire and who hides his feelings, becoming more and more enslaved by his lust, is not helped by his shame.

A Believer who wrestles with some habitual sin and who chooses, because of shame, to conceal his behavior is increasingly enslaved.

Parents who use shaming as a primary disciplinary tool are making a grave mistake! Holding a child up to ridicule, carping on a character flaw, or criticizing behavior in a way that diminishes his sense of self-worth is very destructive. If you tell a little person he is worthless long enough, he will learn to believe it and most likely will treat himself like a piece of junk! I counseled with a woman several years ago who hated anything that made her feel attractive. As we explored the roots of those feelings, she told about her adolescence, as her body began to develop. She liked being pretty, but her father seeing her beauty, repeatedly called her a whore or a filthy tramp. Most likely he was projecting his own feelings of shame about his sexuality onto her. His tirades left deep emotional scars.

A constant feeling of shame and/or inferiority leads to all kinds of dysfunctional behavior; yes, even to sinful and self-destructive choices. The glory of the Gospel of Christ is that in Him, we find a true release from shame! It is tragic when Christianity is turned inside out and made into a tool of shaming and condemning. When the Bible is used like a club to beat sinners with guilt and to drive them deeper into despair, it makes me furious. Jesus Christ came into a world that was full of darkness and sin, and became the Light of True Righteousness. No longer did the shamed guilty person feel that his only choice was to hide his sin, to pretend, or to cover over his sins with good works, pleasure, or gaining notoriety. He could be forgiven and set free! Jesus came to find the sinful and to offer forgiveness for our sins, and to give us the Spirit who sets us free to live a new life! "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." (John 8:12, NLT)

Can you see the old way of shame contrasted with His way in this story?
"The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, "Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?"
They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?" "No one, Master." "Neither do I," said Jesus. "Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin." (John 8:3-11, The Message)

And this is the same Jesus who loves you and me, Believer! He sees us not just for what we have done, but for who we can become in Him. He does not excuse our sins and failures, He forgives them and sends us off to live a wholly new life. The Cross is for us both a symbol of terrible shame and tremendous glory, for there the worst of sin met the amazing grace of God. The Scripture tells us "You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross." (Colossians 2:13-15, NLT)

Are you living in shame?
There is no need to stay there any longer.
The One who knows you best, loves you most!
________________

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross;
The emblem of suffering and shame.
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best,
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

Oh, that old rugged cross, So despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God, Left His glory above,
To bear it to dark Calvary.

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For 'twas on that old cross, Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

The Old Rugged Cross
George Bennard © Public Domain / 1913 George Bennard Renewed 1941 The Rodeheaver Company
CCLI License No. 810055

A favored son

Nobody likes making mistakes publicly. When I am in front of the church on Sunday morning, it is my desire to be prepared so as to help the worship experience to be seamless for those who are in the congregation. Yesterday, that was not happening! The PowerPoint slides were in wrong order. My words seemed to trip over each other. The message was somewhat disjointed. It was a great reminder - "Hey, Jerry, you're not perfect!" My natural tendency after such Sunday mornings is to feel worthless because I don't 'get it exactly right.' Yes, I am something of a perfectionist. When I fail in more important ways such as being loveless in words or actions, allowing myself to be envious, or some other sin; I am even harder on myself. But, I have learned to turn quickly to the Lord. When I sin, I seek forgiveness. When I just don't get it right like yesterday morning, I refocus my attention from a self-defeating attitude that says, "I am no good," to thank Him for using me in His work in spite of my imperfections.

Tempted to wrap myself in sackcloth of self reproach, I read again the amazing declaration of God's favor that is directed to me, and towards all who are called to be 'in Christ.' Here it is. "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding." (Ephesians 1:4-8, NLT)

Did you take note of the verbs that describe God's actions? "Loved, chose, decided!" God pursues us, not because we are perfect, or even because we are desirable. He chooses us because He is good and gracious. And, going beyond simply having pity for us in our sorry sinful state, He intervenes to change the way we live; to give us a new life, one marked by freedom and wisdom! No matter how badly you have failed someone or even God Himself, no matter how far you may have fallen, there is a Savior whose grace is greater. That is the good news. Believe it, receive it, and see what God can do with you!

Paul started out as Saul, the Pharisee, persecuting Christians, even seeking their death. He rejected the Lord of Glory and lived in an ugly parody of righteousness, centered on futile attempts to be good enough for God, that ignored the true state of his soul. Then, he met Jesus and was shown the depth of his deception and depravity. Saul, the man with the rich religious heritage, and sorry record of sinfulness, sees the truth that he is, despite his best efforts, 'the worst of sinners.' But, he does not live in that declaration. He lives in the grace of God. He says, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:15-16, NIV) A friend calls the past failures and sins, 'the junk in the trunk.' We can drag around that stuff, letting it weigh us down, hoping to keep the past hidden, convinced that though we are going to Heaven, that here on earth we are worthless to God! OR, we can let the Lord Jesus have the junk, forgive the sins, restore us from our failures - and become favored sons of God, in whom He shows off His amazing grace and ability to transform. Saul took a new name, Paul, and God made the one time sinner into an amazing saint.

At the start of this week of Thanksgiving, let God's love pour over, right now. Thank Him for the Cross of Christ, where all your sins were fully forgiven! Thank Him for the grace that closes the gap between your good intentions and your human tendency to fail. Thank Him for loving an imperfect child like you. I thank Him for loving one like me, everyday.

Take this prayer with you this week -- read it again and again, accepting what it says as true for you:
"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. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:16-21, NLT)
______________________________

Holy Confidence, Praying Man

Georgia is enduring a terrible drought, down to a few weeks of water reserves. Earlier this week, the governor of the state called a prayer meeting on the steps of the state capitol building. An atheist from Atlanta decried the governor's action saying, "It's make Georgians look stupid." From a purely secular viewpoint, a group of people standing on a government buildings steps, with eyes closed, addressing an unseen God, is absurd, isn't it? Yesterday, several friends of mine gathered and we, too, talked to the unseen Deity. We poured out our hearts, asking for healing, for guidance, for provision for our needs. We did so, not in an act of desperation, or as a last resort! We prayed with confidence. Do you?

Jesus says that Believers should pray confidently for this reason - "God is good!"
He says, "If your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him." (Matthew 7:9-11, NLT) Do you believe that is true? The enemy of God argues against His goodness and has done so since the beginning of human history.

The Genesis story of Eve and Adam becoming sinful centers around the question of God's goodness! The Tempter implies that God is withholding something desirable from those He created! "The serpent told the Woman, "You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." (Genesis 3:4-5, The Message) With variations on that theme, the deceiver works at getting you and me to doubt God's benevolence.

If we begin to believe that God is capricious, or uncaring, or remote, or cruel - our prayers become tentative or fearful; or they cease altogether! That is why we need to hear Jesus' words about God's goodness, again and again. "Your Heavenly Father will give good gifts to those who ask Him!" God's goodness, His ultimate love, forms the basis of holy confidence and frees us to pray earnestly, honestly, and from our heart - trusting Him to do what is best- for us in keeping with His eternal purposes.

We must accept what God's goodness means.
It does not mean He is nice like Grandpa! As a grandparent, I am not charged with training my grandsons like their father is. So, when they visit me, I can let some of the rules slide 'cause that what a Grandpa does. I put chocolate in their milk! I surreptitiously slide their peas onto my plate so they don't have to eat them. Their Dad has to discipline them and he is good to them by enforcing disciplines that will shape their character. God doesn't always give us chocolate milk, but He is still good! God's goodness does not mean that He always makes our lives easy, pleasant, or pain-free! "For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way." (Hebrews 12:10-11, NLT)

Do not misplace your confidence, when praying, in your own goodness. Many Believers do. When we think we have been good in a moral kind of way we begin to think that we have built up some credit with God. Subtly, the lie 'God, you owe me,' slips into our mind. When we start to think thoughts like - "I tithed and even gave generously above my tithe, so You should give me what I want." - we are no longer praying like beloved children of God. Instead, we have becoming dutiful servants, begging our case. Our true confidence in prayer focuses on His goodness, on the fact that even our entry into His Presence is an invitation of grace provided to us freely at His expense. The Word reminds us that it is "Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence." (Ephesians 3:12, NLT)

So, here's the word from the Word- "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7, NLT) Pray and receive from the Lord what is truly good for you. God's invitation is -
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters;
and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David." (Isaiah 55:1-3, NIV) Amen.

Testify!

The church I grew up in was big on testimony time in the Sunday night service. For the uninitiated, it was a kind of 'open mic' time when people stood to tell what God had done for them or at least what they attributed to God. We heard a lot about near misses while people were driving! I started to think that maybe Christians were really bad drivers. Sometimes the 'testimonies' sounded like plain old bragging to me especially when it focused on the award won by somebody's son!

Sometimes an anecdote provoked laughter as it revealed an ordinary human foible in contrast with God's greatness. Sometimes I was bored by the tales of faith that I heard over and over and over and over until I could almost tell them from memory even though they were not 'my story!' I was often mortified by the displays that people, who seemed so unsophisticated in their faith, ('sophisticated faith' - is that an oxymoron?) attached to their testimonies - tears, laughter, shouts, hands waving in the air, etc. It was hard for me, especially in the self-consciousness of my teen-age years, to see the value in the gritty spirituality that was so raw, so authentic. Today, nearly 50 years of age, I reflect on those services more charitably and with a different kind of appreciation.

While some crazy stuff happened when the mic got handed to people not used to having the floor, there was real value in sharing our spiritual journey, in "letting the redeemed of the Lord say" where and how they were experiencing His grace, His love, and His power in their lives! Occasionally testimony time was GREAT. Yes, there were moments when the message was nearly lost to mangled syntax or obscured by an overflow of uncontrolled emotion. But, there were those moments when the raw witness to God's work was more powerful than a sermon.

Few church meetings stand out in my mind more vividly than those in which a missionary who was serving the Lord in Africa or Asia came to testify about how they were seeing God at work.

We don't do testimony time much anymore, at least in our church services. Perhaps in our desire to avoid hearing Brother Jones long-winded and/or over- wrought presentations we have has robbed ourselves of a valuable part of our communal Christian experience- testimony time. We need a place to tell our stories and we need to hear them told, don't we?

Psalm 107:1-2 says that we must --"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!His faithful love endures forever.Has the Lord redeemed you?Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies."

Let me encourage you, Believer, to take a few moments next week to have a 'testimony time' at your Thanksgiving mealtime. At the Assembly, on Thanksgiving Eve, we're going to have an old-time testimony time, too! We're going to encourage one another, not by letting our light shine, but letting His Light shine through us. We're going to give the glory and honor to Jesus.
When you 'testify' whether in church, at your dinner table, or around the break table at work, do in a way that maximizes the effectiveness of the story.

Take some cues from a guy who's sat through a lot of testimony services.

- Don't brag, give God the glory.
- Don't embellish, let the simple truth bear witness.
- Tell your own story, not a second-hand one you read in a book. Your story is more interesting and compelling even if it is not so dramatic.
- Don't be afraid of real emotion. Tears aren't toxic! Relax.
- Don't preach, let the story pack it's own punch.
- Keep it short and succinct.
_____________________________________

Unprincipled Expedience

It was one of those situations that can only be filed under the label - "Beyond Explanation." Last week Pat Robertson endorsed Rudy Giuliani for the Republican nomination for President. The preacher who has advocated for the protection of the unborn, who has resisted same sex marriage laws mightily, chose to publicly throw his influence behind a man who is a self-admitted adulterer, a supporter of abortion on demand, and gay marriage. I liked McCain's response which was simply eloquent, "For once, I'm speechless!" My remarks are not about who should be our next President. TFTD is not a political column. What I want to focus on is the reason offered by Robertson for what he did, "Giuliani is the only candidate I think can defeat the Democrats in the '08 election." In other words Mr. Robertson chose a position based expedience, what he thinks will work to produce the desired result.

Expedience tempts us all. A young Believer whose marriage is on the rocks wept as she admitted to me that she married a man she knew did not share her faith. Now their marriage was missing a heart, a shared set of values built around a common love for Christ. She made her choice despite the Scripture's warning about being unequally yoked and her own Mom's warnings. She knew the principle but chose to do what seemed to work for her in the moment. Most of us could tell similar stories of times when we, too, found a way to sidestep God's wisdom and way to follow our preferred path.

In Genesis, we read the story of Abraham and Sarah. God promised them a son from whom would come a great nation! As age closed in on her and it became clear she was beyond the age of conception, she chose a path of expedience, giving her maid, Hagar, to Abraham as a surrogate mother. Problem solved, right? Wrong! It was a plan that worked to produce a son, but it was not God's plan for the promised son. As the story unfolds we see the struggle that developed between the son of promise born later by miraculous provision and the son of Hagar, conceived through expedience! Proverbs reminds us that "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 16:25, NKJV)

Principled people are a pain in the neck! They refuse to just 'go along to get along.' They often seem to be rigid, unyielding- for they are not susceptible to winds of opinion, to peer pressure, or to desperation. They stand in the way of those who 'just want to get the job done.' They want to 'do the job right.' They are called unreasonable, pushed aside as obstacles to progress. Of course there is a different between a truly principled individual and a stubborn one! A stubborn person just does not listen to anyone else because he is convinced of the rightness of his superior opinions. That is not what God wants from us. We must take great care that we do not confuse our preferences with God's eternal principles!

Let me use a hot button issue to illustrate. Hundreds of churches in America are bitterly divided over styles of worship. On one side stand those who think that true worship is built around 18th century hymns, beautifully written, and accompanied by a pipe organ. On the other stand those who sing songs written yesterday, lyrics projected on the wall, accompanied by pounding drums and electrified guitars. Both claim principle backs their position. Neither is right. The issue is one of preference!

A person of true principles is never arrogant, haughty, or harsh. He is quietly committed to living the Truth of the Scripture and knows that "wisdom is proved right by all her children." (Luke 7:35, NIV) Believer, are you tempted by a path of expedience today? Is there a choice before you that involves a 'practical solution' versus a 'principled decision'? First, know God's wisdom and ways. Then, ask for faith to accept it. Then, follow His path, no matter the cost.

Here's a word from the Word. May it guide your mind today and always. "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ... the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." (James 3:17, NKJV)

What a team!

An oft-quoted proverb, attributed to the Chinese, says:
If your vision is for a year, cultivate wheat!
If your vision is for a decade, cultivate trees!
If your vision is for a lifetime, cultivate people!

Yesterday, I was taking an inventory, sorting through the resources that are available to me to accomplish the work that God has called the Assembly to do. Our church is currently wrestling with some fiscal issues that are a challenge. Prayerfully I thought - "What, if anything, am I supposed to do about this, Lord?" I am not very enthusiastic about doing the work of raising funds, but the need is too pressing to ignore, which pushed me over my reluctance. As I listed the Assembly's resources I saw the obvious- buildings, of which we have plenty. There are some monetary reserves on which to draw, but not nearly enough to bridge the looming gap. There is equity in our properties which might be tapped. Then, my thoughts shifted to people resources. God has assembled a great team, good men and women who care deeply about His work and the ministries of our church. In reflection it became more clear to me that my part in meeting this current challenge is not so much about raising funds as it is about cultivating the "people resources" that God has provided.

A church that is functioning as God intended is a team of dedicated people who give their time, their money, yes- themselves - to advance the Kingdom of God on earth. It is not a theatre where many gather to watch a few perform! It is a community where many are gifted, in dozens of ways, to work to bring about a mutual benefit, all for the glory of God. Our Assembly has a simple statement of purpose. We exist to 'teach people how to say 'yes' to God's purpose for their lives!' When you know how to discern the will of God and live in the center of His plans - that is life lived to its richest potential!

So, we are committed to giving people the skills, the support, and the opportunity to say "yes!" We do it in many ways-
-the Sunday morning corporate worship experience that includes a teaching of the Word,
-in a Christian school that educates 150 children ranging in age from 2 to 13 in a Christ-centered setting,
-in a ministry to teens,
-in mid-week ministries to boys and girls,
-with material published on the Internet that reach out to the wider world,
-in specialized outreach such as prison and nursing home work,
-in compassionate ministries that provide tangible expressions of Christ's love, and
-in Sunday classes where small groups interact around the Scripture's truth, and with other unmentioned ministries, too!

Can a single pastor do all that? No way. A whole team of people make it happen! Leaders, lead. Singers, sing. Musicians, make music! Those with creative gifts, create! Teachers, teach! There are many with less public roles - changing light bulbs, printing literature, pushing a vacuum cleaners, driving mowers, running tech support, interceding in prayer, giving money... that are just as much a part of the work as I am, even though everybody sees me standing front and center on Sunday morning! The team is the greatest resource the church has, apart from the Spirit Himself.

Let me encourage you to find a place to serve God actively - whether in a 'recognized' ministry of the church or in some place in the community. If you want to be one of God's MVP's (Most Valuable Players) there are a few choices to be made.
-Know your service will be effective when you are equipped by the Spirit, not just because of your talents.
-God's glory is the issue, not your sense of accomplishment. Set aside any need to be recognized and/or rewarded.
-Play the position He puts you in without comparing yourself to others. He calls each of us to our place and our eternal reward is for faithfulness, not visibility.
-Serve humbly, doing your best while thanking God for the privilege of being on His team.

"You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same.

Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. . . . He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

No prolonged infancies among us, please. ... God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love." (Ephesians 4:4-16, The Message)
___________________

Rain Down!

Who can explain the 'why' of worship, the combination of soul and Spirit that produce those amazingly wonderful moments when the Presence of God rains down on us? Yesterday in our prayer time at the Assembly, as I moved from person to person, anointing them and praying for them, He came near and spoke to me, not audibly, but so clearly in my heart - "I love you!" There are not words to describe the mystical experience. Inevitably in those moments, I weep! And so it was as I went to the pulpit to lead in Pastoral prayer. When I opened my mouth to offer praise, I could barely speak, filled up with emotion, eyes welling over with tears - not of sorrow - but because I was overshadowed by the Spirit, embraced by grace. God reaches into the depths of my being in such times and hits the reset switch, turning off the worry, erasing spiritual fatigue, re-centering me in His purposes.

I cannot, and I will not, claim that anything I did caused God to touch my heart as He did. However, I know that there are things that I can do that prepare my heart for the Spirit's work. Peter preaching to the people of Jerusalem in the early days of Christianity, pointed to those preparatory choices saying, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus." (Acts 3:19-20, NIV) A kind of desperation comes over me when I realize that I have, yet again, drifted into spiritual apathy, that I am living carelessly for the things of God. I confess that and turn my attention to Him, in prayer, in worship, cultivating a readiness to receive His grace. And, as I wait, He comes to me gently with His loving renewal.

The Christian life is a great deal like marriage! God, Himself, chose the marriage relationship to illustrate our relationship with Him, calling us the "bride of Christ." In nearly 33 years of being Bev's husband, I have experienced the ebb and flow of love many times. At times we are madly in love and at times we are cool towards each other. We have gone through seasons when we are focused on getting through a shift in our relationship that stresses the marriage. Then, recognizing that we are drifting, we give attention to each other and rediscover the wonder of being soul-mates. It took me a long time to learn to be an attentive husband. As a young man, working at providing for my family, establishing 'my place' in this world, and dealing with my own immaturity, I was not nearly as sensitive to her as I needed to be. Not only did my apathy about our relationship rob her of joy, it also kept me from knowing the profound oneness of heart that is such a source of joy at this stage of our life together. And yet, even today, I am sometimes distracted from loving her by the little things of daily life. How like my walk with God. I know better, but I lose focus on Who He is, What He's done, and Why I exist. But, the promise of knowing His loving Presence, draws me to repentance and renewal.

God wants our hearts, our complete attention. He is unimpressed with all our wonderful work, with our reputation, or with our accumulation of awards. He just wants us to love Him, to focus on Him, to listen to Him, to walk with Him. When we do, He rains down those 'times of refreshing' on us! That doesn't mean that all the difficulties in our lives disappear. I awakened to a whole set of challenges that I will wrestle with this week. I am still very much in this world! But, I am renewed, strengthened to deal with the demands from a place of peace.

Believer, have you drifted into apathy towards Him?
Has a preoccupation with your business, diversions, financial matters, family, or even 'ministry,' distracted you from knowing the love of God?

Here's a promise of the Word. Take it to heart and prepare for 'times of refreshing.'

"I cried out to You, O Lord; And to the Lord I made supplication:
"What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth?
Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!"

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever." (Psalm 30:8-12, NKJV)
_____________________________

Looks like tonight, the sky is heavy,
Feels like the winds are gonna change
Beneath my feet, the earth is ready,
I know its time for heaven's rain,
it's gonna rain

‘Cause it's living water we desire to flood our hearts with holy fire

Rain down - all around the world we're singing,
Rain down - can you heart the earth is singing?
Rain down- my heart is dry but still I'm singing
Rain down, rain it down.

Back to the start, my heart is heavy
Feels like it's time, to dream again
I see the clouds, and yes I'm ready
To dance upon this barren land, hope in my hands

Do not shut, Do not shut, Do not shut the heavens
But open up, open up, open up our hearts

Give me strength to cross this water
Keep my heart upon your altar (Rain down)
Give me strength to cross this water
Keep my feet don’t let me falter (Rain down)

Rain Down
Words and Music by Martin Smith/Stuart Garrard ©2003 Curious? Music UK

Here comes the judge!

Ever been to court? Tradition, ritual, and deliberation are the ideals of the courtroom. Why? Because when we are accused of breaking the law or when we have a claim for compensation, we want a person who is fair, thoughtful, and wise presiding over the process that produces the verdict or judgment that will effect our lives and our freedom. Judges have a unique role in our society from which they act almost like kings, with amazing authority, and out of the reach of politics and influence of special interest groups, money, and public opinion. The judicial system relies on the integrity of the judges. Nobody wants to have their case heard in a court where a corrupt judge presides! There is a reason that the judicial process is so deliberate, even aggravatingly slow. Ever hear of something called 'the rush to judgment?' Judges want the parties to a dispute to assemble their case, to present the facts in an orderly and reasonable way, then he takes time to weigh the evidence, to carefully consider the material presented by each side. If a jury is involved, he tries to make certain that their work is done with no outside influences.

Contrary to popular opinion, the Church needs judges, too! Important issues arise that require a decision. Doctrinal questions come along that demand careful consideration. Sin arises in the lives of Believers that will corrupt the entire Body of Christ if not challenged and corrected. Disputes between sincere disciples crop up and only the intervention by others who are wise and fair can keep the peace! However, Jesus tells us - "Judge not, that you be not judged." (Matthew 7:1, NKJV) So, what are we to do with that statement? He is reminding us that we are not to 'set up court' personally, handing down verdicts at our dining room table in a manner that is casual and uninformed!

Many is the person who has been hurt, sometimes terribly, by judgments proclaimed by self-appointed judges within the church. There are those who are quick to form an opinion despite having few facts on which to rely. There are those ready to bend the rules to favor themselves, or the wealthy, or the influential. A certain gracelessness is often in evidence that fails to appreciate the process justice, preferring instead to hand down a quick verdict and move on, no matter the consequences for some. This is what Jesus forbids among us! He does not tell us to set aside discernment. We cannot lose the ability to recognize the difference between right and wrong, truth and error, in the name of love.

In a word picture that must have provoked laughter in his audience, Jesus says, "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?" (Matthew 7:3-4, NLT) When we jump to conclusions about another, when we wag our heads in disgust, and repeat a juicy morsel of unsubstantiated gossip, we place ourselves in the seat of the judge, but our judgment is flawed, hindered by our own lack of clear vision! Judgment in the Church is given to the mature, to those recognized as Elders because of their deep reverence for the Lord, their willingness to make difficult choices, and their love for justice more than their need for approval.

Are you critical of others?
Are you pointing the finger of accusation at this one or that one?
Are you deciding whose 'in' and whose 'out' based on your own personal preferences?

Stop, in the name of Love! (Sorry, Diana Ross, just had to use that line.) Leave judgment to those who are qualified to judge!

"It is written: "‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’" So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way." (Romans 14:11-13, NIV)

God-confident, eternally secure!

I like to think I'm a good and responsible man. I keep my yard trimmed, my car clean, and my desk orderly most of the time. I pay my bills on time, watch my credit score, and take my vitamins. I voted on Tuesday, went to Bible Study on Wednesday (after all, I am the pastor), and visited the elderly from the congregation. I love my wife and my kids, don't curse, pay tithes to my church, and read my Bible. How 'bout a high five for the good guy? Yet, I am not perfect and I never will be while I am still on this side of Heaven! I am tempted to doubt, wrestle with pride, and fail to love too often. Even though I know my sins and flaws well, there is a not so subtle temptation to think that God might love me just a little more if I try harder to do the right things.

There is a major problem with all that 'being good' as a basis for hoping for God's favor. He says, 'If you hope to please me with your own righteousness, know this - the standard is perfection. And, the fact is that there is no one who can reach it." God does not grade on a curve. He does not give extra credit for good intentions or longer prayers. So long ago, I abandoned my own goodness as a reason to hope for God's favor and as a basis for being a citizen of the Heavenly Kingdom. I accepted the gift of God's favor, provided freely to me by Christ Jesus, and found confident hope for life now, for death when it comes, and for eternity! The Scripture says that because of God's gift of acceptance we rejoice - in the good times and the tough times equally - because our hope transcends our circumstances. Read it!
"By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next." (Romans 5:1-4, The Message)

Some Believers live an 'up and down' spiritual life because they accept that it is God's grace that allows them to hope for a home in Heaven, but hang onto their own goodness as a basis for enjoying God's blessings now. When life is going well, they conclude that it must be because they are being 'good enough.' When they hit a rough spot on the road, the Devil exploits their faulty theology by making them think it must be punishment for some sin. They redouble their efforts, go to church; try so hard to be nice - so God will grant them some relief. If He doesn't, they get discouraged, or worse - become angry at Him - because "He is so unfair!" Don't jump to the wrong conclusion here. Our actions do have consequences, both good and bad. The Lord wants us to grow in grace and live good, pure lives. But, we never trust in our own goodness to earn for us, what He wants to give to us freely - salvation, acceptance, and hope!

Here's what the prophet Jeremiah said about this.
"Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land.
But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit." (Jeremiah 17:5-8, NLT)

Are you truly righteous, or just religious? Righteousness is a gift of God through grace alone! It is so precious, no amount of our time, money, or efforts can buy it! God reserves it for those who will respond to His offer of grace with faith. "Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing." (Ephesians 2:8-10, The Message)
_____________________________

A friend of Jesus! Oh, what bliss
That one so weak as I
Should ever have a Friend like this
To lead me to the sky!

Friendship with Jesus!Fellowship divine!
Oh, what blessed, sweet communion!
Jesus is a Friend of mine.

Joseph Ludgate- Public Domain

A God-free zone

A decision of the Olympic organizers in China to ban all Bibles from the athletes' Olympic village has some Christians angry. The officially atheistic government of that nation reportedly said that the presence of Bibles could produce division and provoke violence among athletes. According to news reports, religious symbols such as crosses are also banned among competitors. This anti-religion stance is not really new. For those of us who grew up in the mid-20th century, it is a familiar theme. When Communists were ruling the former Soviet Union and much of Eastern Europe, we read of Bible bans, arrests of Believers, and destruction of churches all the time. Karl Marx, the philosophical father of Communism, was himself an atheist who characterized religion as an 'illusory happiness... the opium of the masses.' He believed that abolishing religion would force people to deal with the real issues of their sad lives. Following his lead, Communist leaders in many nations attempted to create God-free zones- and they failed, miserably! China may ban Bibles, but her atheistic leaders cannot turn the Spirit of God away at the border.


Believer, there is a more pressing issue for us than Bible bans at the Olympics! Many of us leave God out of entire parts of our lives - sometimes intentionally, sometimes unconsciously. Let me give you a couple of examples.

When you turn on your TV to watch a movie or a couple of programs in the evening, do you invite the Holy Spirit to be with you? More to the point, if Jesus Christ were visibly present in your living room, would your choice of programming be different?

When go to work, do you leave the Lord in the entry lobby? Do you separate the Biblical principles that govern your personal life from the decisions you make in your business?

When you open your checkbook, does God have a say in the way you spend your money?

When you're getting angry with someone, do you push the Lord out of the room so you can really vent your emotions, without restraint, complete with profanity?

Is He invited to the secret reveries of your mind, the place where you escape the scrutiny of others and the restraints of social convention to wander through fantasy land?

Let me remind you of what you already know - There are no God-free zones! He is omniscient and omnipresent. In the 139th Psalm, we find a prayer praising God's greatness. The Scripture says, " God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. . . . You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going. . . . . Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? " (Psalm 139:1-2, 4-5,7 The Message)

Perhaps you find that a threatening passage, and are filled with the same kind of revulsion that we feel when confronted with the invasions of privacy of Big Brother government! I hope not! For me, knowing that God is always near, that He knows everything about me, is a wonderfully reassuring fact. Nothing that comes my way today surprises Him, catches Him off guard. As my Advocate, my Counselor, I can rely on Him to guide me through the situations for which I am unprepared, to keep me from being overtaken by the temptations that spring at me like a lion from the bushes along the road!

To be sure, there are times when He falls silent. Sometimes we are the ones who grieve Him, who break the intimacy with Him, with deliberate choices of disobedience. And, sometimes we just do not sense Him near, for reasons we cannot know. I have walked through several periods in my life when my prayers were cold and lifeless, when I 'felt' like a spiritual orphan. Know this - God is there! All Believers experience such times. Recently we learned that Mother Teresa was anguished by long periods when she did not feel the Presence of God. The biographies of every Christian has chapters that record similar seasons. In those moments, by faith we remain true to Him. What we cannot know with our senses, we receive with our mind. We live in the promise of the Word. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV)

Don't allow for any supposedly God-free zones in your life, dear Believer. Here's a prayer from the Word. Make it your petition today.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24, NIV)
__________________

On God's holy Word I challenge you
To give to the Lord your life anew.
My friend, make your choice;
He waits for you
For this is the moment of truth.

Now walk with God
And He will be your dearest Friend
Where'er you goIn everything you do.
And may your life
Reflect His love to ev'ryone.
Now walk with God
And He will walk with you.

Now Walk With God
Otis Skillings© 1969 Lillenas Publishing Company (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 810055

The Gift of Language

My grandson, Payton, is mastering language. Often He takes off into a flow of syllables that I cannot decipher, much to his dismay. Yesterday over breakfast he fired off a long sentence that I did not understand. When I mimicked the sounds I'd heard, he looked back at me with a combination of confusion and irritation, and said it again. I still didn't get it! Thankfully his older brother is better at "Paytie speak" than Grandpa, so he translated. I chuckled when it came to me that in just a few years that little guy will be able to discuss complex, theoretical problems using the same sounds that are now so garbled. With maturity, he will learn to form his thoughts into words. And this Word will be true - "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13:11, NLT)

Have you thought about the power of your words recently?

Words build community, focus our mutual efforts, and let us give away little pieces of ourselves. They can soothe a broken heart! Think of the power of that simple heart-felt phrase - "I love you!" Words can inflame fury,too! "You're an idiot, a worthless piece of trash!" Words like that, spat out in harsh tones of anger, can hurt more than the cut of a knife. Hateful words that demean another, that criticize, that unfairly judge; can tear apart a family, a town, a nation - yes, even the world!

How are using the gift of language, Believer?

James urges us to give the Spirit our hearts so that the overflow of our words is like a fresh water spring! Take a look. "A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. . . . With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can’t go on. A spring doesn’t gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? . . . You’re not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?" (James 3:3-12, The Message)

Are your words healing or hurting?
Are your words building up or tearing down?
Are your words encouraging or discouraging?
Are your words refreshing or exhausting?

I want to encourage you to monitor your speech. Pray that the Spirit of God will help you hear what you're saying- good and bad. If you discover a preponderance of foul, discouraging, or faithless words, seek a spiritual renewal, the washing of the Word for your heart and mind. Let Him change the source and replace that kind of language with whole, helpful, and worshipful words that give life. Be careful about just settling for 'nice' words. We all know how silly PC (politically correct) speech is! That is when the sentiments of our heart are disguised with words that are purposefully bland! Go for a whole new vocabulary and tone that reveals the life of the Spirit in you!

Here is a word from the Word to ponder today - "Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior." (Ephesians 4:29-31, NLT)

"Lord, my prayer today is that "the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14, NIV) Amen.

When You're Weak, He is Strong!

Unlike most Sundays, I was not really all that eager to speak yesterday, and that's a problem for a preacher! There was the stress of dealing with some internal problems with one of our ministries during the week, which distracted from preparation time. And, on Sunday morning I was not feeling well - dealing with a cold, fatigue, and aches of flu-like symptoms. So, I went to the pulpit yesterday knowing I was 'weak.' I prayed that I would present His Word in an honorable way. Then, about 5 minutes into my sermon, my computer locked, meaning that I didn't have my PowerPoint display. Now, that might seem like a small thing (and it is, I suppose) but I use those notes to keep me on track while I speak. So, as we walked up the aisle to greet people at the door, I whispered to my wife, Bev, "I sure did a lousy job today!" To me, it seemed that I had fumbled the wonderful Truth of the Word. Then, on Sunday evening, I received this email- "I just wanted to say thank you for your message today. I know that you were not feeling well, but you let God use you to give a message that I feel was just for me. Thank you for you serving spirit." Never count yourself out, for God is at work even when you're sick and tired!

Paul, the apostle, was privileged to receive great revelations in the Spirit. Pride is so common and such a detriment to effectiveness in God's work. So, to keep him humble and prayerful, God allowed him to have an ongoing weakness, the nature of which we can only guess at today. But the 'why' of that weakness is perfectly clear! Take a look. "... to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10, NLT)

What a paradox! At the point of our weakness, God finds an opening to show us how dependent we are on the power of the Spirit and to show the world how strong He is at work in and through us. Now, it is true that the Enemy attempts to exploit those weaknesses, too! But, if we acknowledge them and present them to the Lord instead of trying to hide them or put a spin on them to make them look good, He can use our very weaknesses for the display of His glory! He is often revealed in our lives not because of what we consider our strength, but in spite of what we think is our weakness. Even our sin becomes an opportunity for the amazing grace of Christ to be displayed. You think I'm making that up? It's the Bible truth. "The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21, NIV)

None of the above should be misconstrued as an endorsement of courting failure, allowing poor preparation, or flagrantly breaking God's law! It is foolishness and presumption on the grace and goodness of God to say, "Well, God I didn't spend time preparing myself for my service or work today so bless my 'weakness' and show your power!" He may well let you fall flat on your face, and perhaps He ought to! We must never think that we can 'sin and grin,' mistakenly thinking that His grace gives us permission to live sinfully and yet enjoy immunity to the consequences of our actions. Indeed the Word says, "Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! " (Romans 6:1-2, NLT)

There is plenty of weakness in me even on my best days, even when I've diligently done all that I can do. The Lord expects diligence and discipline in my life. But, He also knows the flaws in my fallen nature that make me prone to sin, to weakness. When I am truly weakened by sin, by the actions of others, by a surprise attack of the World, the Flesh, or the Devil- I can rest in His promise that at the very point of my weakness, God's power will be released.

Feeling spiritually weak today?
Battered by circumstances that you can't control?
Overwhelmed by the need around you?
Fighting what looks like a losing war with temptation?

Take this passage to heart and thank God for His Mighty Power which finds a way into your life right at the point of your weakness!

"It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!"
and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful. If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that.
You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. " (2 Corinthians 4:6-8, The Message)
_______________________________

I sing the mighty power of God,
That made the mountains rise;
That spread the flowin' seas abroad,
And build the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at His command,
And all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord,
That filled the earth with food;
He formed the creatures with His word,
And then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed,
Where'er I turn my eye;
If I survey the ground I tread,
Or gaze upon the sky.

There's not a plant or flow'r below
But makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise and tempests blow,
By order from Thy throne.
While all that borrows life from Thee
Is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that man can be,
Thou, God, art present there.

I Sing the Mighty Power, Isaac Watts© Public Domain