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.
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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

Treasures

Gavin, my 5 year old grandson, was frantic this morning. "Help me, Poppa. I have to find it." We looked around and finally uncovered the object- a 10 cent string of plastic beads that he claimed was 'very special' because a good friend gave it to him. It was just a trinket to me, but to him it was a treasure! I enjoy learning about what others treasure. My new friend, Anthony, loves to collect old Bibles. He has built a beautiful cabinet in his office where he displays dozens of big, old Bibles. My Dad treasures kids, and not just those to whom he is a parent. Mom and Dad adopted 10 after raising their own offspring, but over the years they have shared their home with too many kids to count (no exaggeration in that statement). Jake enjoys collecting guitars. Some collect stamps, others collect coins, still others buy up fine art!

Is it right for a Believer to own and enjoy things?

There has always been tension among Christians about this. Philip Yancey observes (Christianity Today, Nov. 2007) that the Church has sang both "This Is My Father's World" and "This World is Not My Home" with equal fervor through the years! He describes his recent tour of England while reading John Wesley's journals. Wesley had little time for culture, art, or even flower gardens as he saw this present world as being of so little worth compared with his home in Heaven. If any person was not ready to take a vow of poverty in the name of Christ, Wesley felt the sincerity of that person's devotion was in question! Yet, other Believers through the centuries to this present time, have deeply loved God while creating beautiful gardens, buildings, music, and art.

Jesus helps us with this by reminding us that no earthly treasure can be allowed to become our master. God, alone, must hold the central place in our life. Old Bibles, guitars, and art are great as a hobby, even as something to enjoy with pleasure, but they are poor gods to serve. That is why the Lord says, "Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being." (Matthew 6:19-21, The Message) The core issue is learning the difference between enjoyment and worship, between making something the source of the meaning of life and enjoying it in proper priority.

Because we are so very different, the level at which we should enjoy the things of this world will vary. A man once came to Jesus to inquire about becoming his disciple and finding eternal life. He was very moral, claiming to have observed the Commandments scrupulously. Jesus did not question the truthfulness of that claim, but knowing his heart, he challenged the young nobleman to go and sell everything he owned and then he said, "come, follow me." "But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions." (Matthew 19:22, NLT) His true treasure was revealed in that last line - he would not let go of what he loved most - his wealth! For many of us raised in a wealthy land, consumers to the core, a call similar to the one issued to that rich young man may be in order! The only cure for our materialism may well be radical surgery!

For others, the discipline of proportionate giving, the tithe (10%), is what reminds them of the Lord's ownership of all. They have learned to hold loosely the things that are in their lives, loving God more than anything in this world. To each of us, Jesus puts the question that He put to Peter as He pointed to the fishing boats, the familiar life of Capernaum - "Do you love me more than these?" (John 21:15, NLT)

Here's a word from the Word to ponder today.
"True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:6-10, NLT)
___________________

Modern times have brought us many comforts.
People live in wealth and luxury.
But the Master still asks this question,
"Lovest thou Me, lovest thou MeMore than these?"

"Lovest thou Me,More than these, My child?
"What will your answer be?O precious Lord,
I love Thee more than all of these,
More than fame, more than wealth,
More than the world.

I love Thee more than this old world can offer,
All sinful follies I deny for Thee,
My love, my life, my all
I pledge Thee,I love Thee Lord,
I love Thee Lord,
More than these.

Lovest Thou Me
© 1962, 1989 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright Management
CCLI License No. 810055

Tender-hearted, quick to forgive?

Today's thought comes from my reflection over the work that I have been doing with a few who have become offended. Some will surely read this TFTD and take offense! In writing it, I risk that, but I'm sending anyway, with the prayer that these words will promote unity, not build walls! Take God's wisdom to heart. He says, "Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!" (Proverbs 17:9, The Message)
_______________________

Got a 'chip on your shoulder?' Some say this phrase dates back to medieval times when a knight would place a piece of wood on his shoulder and dare anyone brave enough to challenge him, to knock it off! Occasionally, the chip was knocked off accidentally by the jostling of a crowd but the hapless person who knocked it off was faced with the nearly impossible task of trying to explain he did not mean to provoke a fight.

When someone is abused or manipulated or suffers a financial loss, I can empathize with their loss and understand their anger. But, when people get angry, hurt, and deeply offended over perceived slights or repeated rumors that bear little resemblance to actual events, I am mystified by depth of wounds that develop, wounds that fester with the worst of human traits. Why do we choose the pain and heartbreak of being offended, when we can forgive a matter, release the offender from obligation, and find ourselves free of resentment, sorrow, and anger? The question that I raise is this - is the thing so important to require that relationships be broken, churches divided, or leaders criticized?

Things that set us off are often obscure, even inscrutable, to others. When my brother, Andre', was little, about age 6, he hated to be called a 'green pig.' Of course, being 5 years older, I took delight in calling him a 'green pig,' just to hear him wail. Why did he hate that silly phrase? Who knows? I would even imagine he doesn't remember it today, but it was a sure way to offend him in 1966! Call him a 'green pig' today and he'll laugh and wonder if you're crazy. Are you letting obscure things cause offense, even when others have no idea what or why is causing your distress?

Offense is not just a human relationship issue; it is a spiritual issue! We are much more likely to be offended when we are not walking in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit. When we are quick to take everything to Him in prayer, we receive healing for our wounds and the issue quickly dies. But, if we hold onto our pain, the Evil One seizes the opportunity to stir controversy between people - in marriage, in ministry, in neighborhoods, in churches, even in families. Why? Because an offended person is capable of sowing chaos that can ruin good organizations, that can cause close groups to disintegrate. The Devil spotlights the failure, the lack of simple courtesy, or even the intentional digs that we deal with and we become convinced that our honor and dignity is at stake. Ironically, the more focused we become on preserving our honor, the less honorable we generally are! There is great dignity displayed by the person who simply refuses to take offense. The Bible says, "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. " (Proverbs 19:11, NKJV)

There are two choices I try to make when I am feeling hurt, when I know that I am vulnerable to becoming offended. They help me to step over my pride, my sense of dignity, and preserve rather than destroy.

1. I secure my heart in the Love of God! He loves me despite knowing my worst faults, my most carefully concealed sin, and the gaps in my character. He gave His love to me while I was rejecting Him, turning my attention to lesser gods! When I allow His Word convince me how much I matter to Him, I am able to choose to refuse offense. When the Evil One whispers- 'you're not being treated with the respect you deserve,' - I can silence his chatter in a moment by remembering - "absolutely ...nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (Romans 8:38-39, The Message) If I am loved I can forgive readily, as befits one who is forgiven so much by Jesus. In this I please the Lord and become a person who creates harmony, unity, and peace to the glory of God.

2. I remind myself of the 'big picture.' When I see the greater goals, I find it much easier to step over lesser issues. For example, I cherish my marriage, the joy of having a strong relationship with my wife, so on those days when she is less than pleasant, or when she is pre-occupied with her own interests, I work to refuse the temptation to descend into petty insistence on getting what I want and stirring up anger. Most things in life are more important than my feelings!

If you're offended, I appeal to you to be tender-hearted and quick to forgive. If you're happy and satisfied, store these words in your memory for that time when you are tempted by offense, a time that will surely come, sooner or later.

And here's a word from the Word to take with you today - "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." (Luke 6:37-38, The Message)

One small leap to a wrong assumption

I was glad the friend from church stopped by my office yesterday. She had misunderstood a simple thing I had recently done in a service. She was tempted to assume that I was acting to control a situation. But, being a gracious and mature Believer, realized that she had to talk with me about what seemed, on the surface, to be as plain as day. In our conversation my action was set in context and she realized that I had no hidden motive. If I were guilty of anything, it was being insensitive to the moment because I was unaware of what was going on. What if she had not taken the time to come by and talk to me for 15 minutes? What kind of fertile ground might the Enemy of God and good found in which to grow seeds of suspicion and/or alienation?

Ever made the leap to a conclusion because you just knew the obvious? I can say that I have been there, done that, and lived to regret it. What actually happens; what a person intends to happen; and what we think we saw happen; are often three unrelated tales. Our state of mind influences the information taken in by our senses, doesn't it? If we are fatigued, discouraged, or angry - an innocuous comment can sound like a thunderous criticism. If we have a preconceived idea of what we want to happen, we may too quickly assume that everybody knows what we're trying to do and fail to bring them up to speed on our background thinking that gives context to our present decision.

Even our worldview can be faulty and cause us to misinterpret the facts, so that we come to the wrong conclusion, misjudge another, or even blame God! Jesus disciples had been trained by their religious leaders, wrongly, to think that if someone was suffering, there was a direct line of cause and effect. Suffering indicated sin and judgment, or so they thought. The truth was very different, as they learned from the Master.
" As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.
"Rabbi," his disciples asked him, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?"
"It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him." (John 9:1-5, NLT)

So many troubles and problems within the church would be eliminated if we would just be courageous enough to talk to one another and to the Lord!
"Why did you do that?"
"What did you mean?"
"Are you angry with me?"
These are simple questions, left unasked and therefore, unanswered, too often. In both our relationships one another and in our love for God, we must have faith. Peter says, "Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything." (1 Peter 4:8, The Message)
" Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. " (1 Peter 4:12-13, The Message)

The Devil's strategy of 'divide and conquer' is defeated when we keep our heart and mind open, when we quickly take our concerns to one another, when we trust God to care for us - even in the most difficult situations. Think today about this... Have I misjudged another? Have I allowed myself to make an assumption about God's purposes without praying to know them? Am I making one small leap to a wrong assumption?

I can't wear your armor!

As Believers we oppose and face opposition from three sources- the World (the systems that are not submitted to God and His ways), the Sinful Nature (the inward desire to live contrary to God's ways), and the Devil! If we belong to Christ, we are living in a 'state of war!' Sometimes it rages externally, and we are under spiritual attack that requires a defensive posture . And, sometimes, we advance for God, destroying some place where evil has a stronghold. We call this - 'spiritual warfare!' Many books are written on the subject some solidly Biblical and others nothing more than sensationalism and superstitious formulations. Often books about spiritual warfare are encouraging stories of the experiences of someone in a unique situation. Such stories can encourage us, but we must not try to replicate the experiences. Why? Because, if we wage war basing our strategy on the experiences or stories of another, and expect the same results, it is a little like attempting to go to battle while wearing another's armor.

There is a humorous story from the early life of David. Jesse sent his youngest son to the battle front with provisions for his brothers who were serving in the Israeli army. When David got to the warfront, he found the army dug in. Each morning, they suited up and went out to the ridge to yell their battle cries, but they didn't advance! In response, the Philistines would send out their hero, a giant of a man named Goliath. He would hurl insults at the Israelis and their God, making them shake in terror. When David saw this happening he asked, "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26, NLT) News of the courage of this young man reached King Saul who calls him into the royal tent. Hearing his stories of God's empowerment and seeing his courage, Saul decides to send David into battle with Goliath. Here's where it gets hilarious if you have a good imagination!

"Saul outfitted David as a soldier in armor. He put his bronze helmet on his head and belted his sword on him over the armor. David tried to walk but he could hardly budge. David told Saul, "I can't even move with all this stuff on me. I'm not used to this." And he took it all off. Then David took his shepherd's staff, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd's pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath." (1 Samuel 17:38-40, The Message) Can you picture this shepherd lad, trying to wear the king's armor? It didn't fit. He didn't even know how to move under its weight. So, David took off Saul's armor and took up what God had given him: a stick worn smooth to his hands during his sheep-herding days and a slingshot he'd used thousands of times while passing days watching over his flocks.You know the rest of this story! David prevailed by God's power, using the 'armor' that fit. At the end of the day, Goliath lay at the feet of the lad holding a stick and a sling.

In a paragraph rich in imagery, the Bible urges each one of us to suit up for battle!
"Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ... put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, ... Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Ephesians 6:10-18, NIV)

God, the Armorer of His soldier-saints, has protection that is uniquely designed for you, that equips you in a way that is custom designed to meet the particular demands of the battles you will wage given your circumstances, your personality, and demonic assaults. Have you 'put on' what He has made for you so that you can advance the front line of the Kingdom? Then, go and fight the battles for truth and righteousness with assurance, 'thoroughly equipped for every good work.'

Spend time with the Master - in His Word, waiting on Him in prayer, letting Him teach you the way that you can stand secure against every assault - from every foe.

And remember this, mature Believer, don't try to make another wear your armor. The amazing wonder of our Christian faith is that God knows us personally and He equips us individually to live for Him. Praise Him!
____________________________________

A response, not a reaction!

Yesterday brought me some disappointment. The development (I cannot write about details because of issues of pastoral confidentiality) is painful for me both personally and professionally and creates a set of leadership challenges for me to deal with in our congregation. I wrestled with the problem for most of the day. I am determined that I will not allow the actions of someone else to determine my reaction. A long time ago I learned that while I cannot control others, God has given me freedom to choose not to engage in the self-defeating behaviors of a victim when I am handed a set-back. What are they? They take many forms, but almost all involve making short term choices for comfort that lead to long-term negative consequences.

I could become vindictive and attack those who have disappointed me. It might feel good in the moment that I gave vent to my anger, but that would just stir up another set of problems which I would then have to solve!

I could sink into self-pity and sulk, making it all about my feelings. "How could they do this to me?" That would only cause me to delay dealing with the real issues involved which are much bigger than my feelings.

I could indulge myself with a shopping spree, or too much food, or some other distraction, but there are many downsides in those choices that are obvious to me!

I could look for a scapegoat, someone to focus my anger on or to blame for the situation. Nothing is accomplished by this except to create a wider circle of problems.

When life goes wrong for you, do you allow yourself to engage in self-defeating behavior or lock into self-defeating thought patterns? We will all experience disappointment as a result of the actions of other people and we will all fail someone, sometime, and somewhere! We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world. We have an Enemy who exploits every situation as much as he can to break relationships, to make us feel helpless or alone, to tempt us to the choices of a victim. Christ Jesus, whose Spirit lives in those who are His, offers us a different way to live. Take a look. "Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you... My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God’s Spirit you say "No" to your desires. Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children." (Romans 8:10, 12-14, CEV)

I am not a victim of circumstances because my Lord Jesus Christ lifts me above them! Because am no longer in the grip of an old sinful nature, I can choose to respond, to solve the problem instead of magnifying it. Take a look at this empowering promise God gives to us. "The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. " (Romans 8:2, The Message) "Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored. But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re talking about." (Romans 8:6-9, The Message)

Choosing to live as a mature spiritual person instead of a self-indulgent child, isn't natural, nor is it ever easy, but it is always right!

So what do we do when disappointment and/or disillusionment comes our way?

First, take it to the Lord in prayer! Seek His wisdom, insight, and the gift of courage to deal with it.

Second, seek a solution. Let God lead you - by the Spirit, with the wisdom of the Word, and through the counsel of trusted friends - to change what needs to change, to reconcile what needs to be reconciled.

Third, learn to accept those things beyond your control with grace. We can spend more time than necessary or helpful trying to make the world around us fit into our expectations. Or, we can realize when it time to move forward leaving things we cannot change in the hands of God, trusting His promise to ultimately use all things to work for our good!

Reinhold Neibuhr penned a prayer that has come to be called the Serenity Prayer. It circulates in various forms, rewritten and reworked because he never sought a copy right for this work. I use it frequently when dealing with disappointing circumstances and encourage you to pray it - sincerely - often, too.

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

The Religion of Reputation

I watch a TV Ministry almost weekly (left unnamed purposefully) and I really enjoy the great music on the program. However, when one of the preachers comes on screen, his words are almost always superlatives:
"Best song I've ever heard!"
"Most inspiring anthem from the best choir in the world."
"Most profound book I've read in the last 10 years!"
"A story so interesting, everybody will want to hear it."

And all these words are delivered in a bass voice that is trained to resonate! Word inflation cheapens the value of his praise! The end result is that I discount whatever he says. Isn't that sad? A man whose has a life calling to speaking the Truth lacks credibility. Here's why- he is much too concerned about impressing others. He is serving a Christian television monster that requires a growing audience, to provide a continuously increasing revenue stream, so it can on more stations, so it can attract a growing audience..... Are you starting to see the problem? Now, I do not know, nor should I judge, if that preacher has a deep love for the Lord, but it is obvious that the opinions of other people about his church and ministry are tremendously important to him because he thinks he must impress people to attract them as viewers and supporters. When he starts to look around at people instead looking up for the applause of the audience of One, his efforts sure appear to be compromised, at least from where I stand.

Religion that is misused to burnish egos is very common and not just among TV preachers.

I must admit that occasionally when I pray public prayers, I fall into the trap of speaking to the people in the room instead of God! I misuse my prayers in ways that are not related to actually communicating with the Lord. In that, I sin! May God forgive me. Such 'prayer' is not prayer at all, because it is addressed to people in the disguise of speaking to God. Honest prayers care nothing for the opinion of those who may hear them, for they are conversation with the One, not the many. Churches fall into the trap of serving ego-based religion when they give the largest donor a seat on the board regardless of his or her spiritual gifts or Christian maturity, or when they name the new education wing for the person who gave the first $million for construction! Worshippers get it wrong the moment they start to be concerned about what the person next to them is thinking- good or bad- about the way they are interacting with God!

Jesus warns "Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. ... When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.
"And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? "Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. " (Matthew 6:1, 3-6, The Message)

Here's the paradox in all of this. Our good works will attract attention. In this same sermon, Jesus says, "Let your light shine before men so that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven!" The goodness and love that comes from the life of the Spirit in us will make us stand out in a sin-filled world in stark contrast. But, never should our intent be to attract attention! We simply love God, giving our best to Him, seeking His will in all things, and living a life that is shaped to win His approval. The by-product of that kind of life is an undeniable reality that brings attention, not so much to me or you, but to the One we love.

Believer are you trying to look good or are you seeking to serve God well? On the surface the difference is so slight it is seldom noticed, but over time religion that used to enhance our reputation or our standing in the church shows the corrupt core, rotting from the inside out. That kind of pride shows itself in envy and jealous, in craving of recognition, in striving for positions of power and/or influence and James say that "Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats. Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced." (James 3:16-17, The Message) Rotten motives among those who 'serve' lead to many a church fight and much bickering among Believers whose lives should be the epitome of love, according to the Savior's wisdom.

Pastor Bill Hybels wrote a book with this simple title- Who You Are When No One's Looking. That is, I believe, a great test for the authenticity of our desire to serve God. Are you prayers as loud and fervent in your bedroom as they are in the sanctuary? Are your secret thoughts as pure as your carefully screened words? Do you give of your self and your time to those who cannot repay as generously as you do to those who have the ability to repay you with thanks and/or kindness?

Here's a challenge from the Word to ponder today. "When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint. If you ‘go into training’ inwardly, act normal outwardly. ... God doesn’t require attention-getting devices. He won’t overlook what you are doing; he’ll reward you well." (Matthew 6:16-18, The Message)
___________________________________

Baseball, football, and God!

I don't watch baseball games. The game seems to me like a throwback to another time, moving rather slowly, with long stretches of not much happening, punctuated with frantic flurries of men dashing along baselines. I probably just typed heresy for those of you who love the game. Don't get me wrong. I'm not hostile to the game. In fact, I'm glad that many enjoy it. I enjoy hearing them talk about the actions of men on a field pre-occupied with a small white sphere, but I never know exactly what to say to an avid fan. The insiders lingo is foreign to me. The strategy is beyond me. I used to take my kids to a AA Mets club in Pittsfield, MA but not really for the game! It was the experience of their joy that made it a great outing for me. And, despite my lack of interest in the sport, I am aware that it World Series week, with the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies in pursuit of the championship. So, for my friend Terry's sake I say, "Go Boston!"

I wonder how many people feel the same way about 'faith' that I feel about baseball? They're glad you enjoy it, even enjoy your enthusiasm for it, but don't really 'get it' at all. To them, church services seem a little slow, often even old-fashioned. The language of the faithful is sometimes hard to understand and there are 'insider' routines that are downright mysterious. They attend church occasionally with family members and appreciate the joy of those who participate, even if they don't know exactly what's going on. And, come Christmas or Easter, they're aware of the general flow of things, much like my general awareness of the Series, and they say, "Go Jesus!" - not irreverently, but because it is the thing to do.

At one time, the American sport of football also was something of a mystery to me, too. What was so interesting about 22 men running around and falling down on an oblong object, then getting up, forming a line and doing it all over again? Then my friend, Jerry Jacob, invited me to the local high school's football games where he patiently taught me to really see what was happening. He showed me how to see plays being set up, how to read the defense, what the offense was doing. Now I understand a zone defense and man to man coverage! I can spot a passing play being set up. What was incomprehensible has become a game I truly enjoy watching because someone was willing to 'convert' me into a football fan and to be my teacher. "Go New England Patriots!"

Believer, Jesus taught us to be intentional about making His Gospel known, about introducing others to Him. He said, "Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."" (Matthew 28:19-20, The Message) When Jerry Jacob taught me about football, he had to step out of his comfort zone and put himself in my place. He probably wanted to just enjoy the games, but instead he patiently instructed me as he interpreted the game for me. When we are introducing others to Christ and the practices of our faith, we need that kind of patience and ability to bridge the gap!

Jerry's obvious enthusiasm for Warren Hills football made me curious! I wanted to experience that same fun that he had so I tagged along to games. In much the same way, if obviously love the Lord and demonstrate that He makes a real difference in the quality of life for us, others will want to know what's up with us, too.

Are you doing 'outreach' for Christ?
Are you intentional about helping others understand your faith?

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." (Proverbs 11:30, NIV)

_______________________________

Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad.
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.

Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love;
Tell of His pow'r to forgive.
Others will trust Him if only you prove true
Every moment you live.

Give as 'twas given to you in your need;
Love as the Master loved you.
Be to the helpless a helper indeed;
Unto your mission be true.

Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Make Me a Blessing
© 1924. Renewed 1952 Word Music, Inc.
(a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055

A reluctant leader

Politics used to be one of my passions. While living in Massachusetts I ran for an office quaintly called a Selectman, a town councilman. As a conservative in one of the most liberal states in the country, I was not elected, finishing 6th in a field of 7! However, the experience of knocking on doors, standing in front of the post office shaking hands every Saturday morning, and being 'attacked' in letters to the editor was an amazing civics lesson. I am not as excited by the political process as I once was, but I continue to have an interest in the process, so I have watched the Presidential race with more than passing interest.

Do ever wonder what possesses a person to want to be the President of the United States? A candidate's entire life is open to question, on display, dissected and criticized endlessly. Privacy is a thing of the past. Critics abound. Praise is scant, problems are huge, and the threat of bodily harm is never far away. Once elected, that person cannot even run down to McDonald's for a burger if he wants one without mobilizing a small army of security and shutting down parts of the city! Drawing on my own experience in my very small foray in politics, I believe those candidates have a noble impulse, believing that they have a program that will benefit the nation if they are elected. To be sure each has a huge ego. If they did not, they would not survive the rough and tumble of Presidential politics, but they also want to make a difference for this country - at great cost to themselves and their families.

Unlike Romney, Guilani, Clinton, or Edwards - Gideon, a leader of Israel that we meet in the book of Judges, was a reluctant leader. He didn't run for office, nor did local politicos seek him out and try to convince him to become a candidate! He was a farmer just trying to feed his family when God sent an angel to the oak of Ophrah that belonged to Joash, the Abiezerite. (Just threw in those little details for fun!) This man was not bold, nor was he brave. When he first appears in the Bible story, he is concealing himself as best he could, avoiding attracting attention, trying to thresh wheat in a tiny winepress in a remote place. But God saw qualities in him that He needed at that time, in that place, so He sent a divine recruiter. "The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, "Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!"" (Judges 6:12, NLT) Gideon's response is almost funny. Cynically, he asks the messenger, "If the Lord is with us, why are all these bad things happening to us? Where are all those miracles that I heard about in the past?" The ensuing conversation continues in much the same give and take. The angel tells Gideon God wants him to be Israel's deliverer. Gideon tells the angel he doesn't want the job!

Finally, Gideon prepares a sacrifice which the angel touched with the tip of his staff and it was miraculously burnt up! So, Gideon was convinced, right? Wrong. He was still not ready to work for God. So we come to the story for which Gideon is best known. "Then Gideon said to God, "If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised." And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, "Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew." So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew." (Judges 6:36-40, NLT) After that, he was a changed man and became a great leader, restoring Israel's security and prosperity.

Are you reluctant to let God use you, Believer?
Do you look at those around you and see people more skilled, better prepared, and feel intimidated - thinking, "Lord, I'll just stand by quietly. Use them!"?
Does the cost of joining God's service seem too high?

Consider Gideon, the reluctant leader! God saw in him what he could not see in himself. Where his neighbor's saw a man without much to distinguish himself, God saw a man who thought strategically, who would learn to respond obediently and faithfully, and who could accomplish amazing things. And the Lord persistently called this man, encouraging him through his doubts, to a place of effective service. He can do the same in you and through you!

Here's what I learn from the Bible - all of God's children are called to serve and equipped for the task to which He calls them. The Holy Spirit divinely empowers us to serve the purposes of God in our world. A sample listing of the ways He prepares us for service is found in the Word where we read this amazing and wonderful promise. "A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have." (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, NLT)

Don't be reluctant!
Put yourself at God's disposal. Let Him use you. It will cost you! However, the results will resound to His glory and your faithful service will earn you the commendation of Heaven. Is anything better than that?

No excuses, no explanations!

My Dad used to tell me, "Son, if you want to succeed you've got to pay attention to the pennies and the mice!" It's a homespun phrase of farming origin. The mice are little creatures but they can consume an amazing amount of grain, eating the farmer's profit. The phrase taught a principle that a life well-lived begins with the details, with paying attention to excellence around the small things. By way of illustration, I know that leading a church well does not start when I walk to the pulpit for the most public part of my work. It begins with personal disciplines of prayer, study, and good work habits. Creating a culture of excellence in our church not only involves the Sunday sermon; it extends to the little things nobody sees - like keeping church finances in order, picking up the trash left in the parking lot, and replacing burnt out light bulbs.

Tony Dungy, a committed Believer and an NFL coach who has led the Tampa Bucs and the Indianapolis Colts to championship levels, recently published a book, Quiet Strength. (Tyndale, 2007 ) He tells his teams that when they fail to win there are 'no excuses, no explanations.' The solution is to go back to work to get it right. He writes about the philosophy he instills in his team, "Champions know it is all important. The little things coaches are asking of you really do matter..... You can always find excuses for not doing exactly what you're supposed to do, but that is exactly what creates a losing environment."

I can name many people of lesser innate abilities who reach greater success than those with great talent. Why? Because those blessed with the brains, or the good looks, or the brawn - often let down on the hard work of preparation because they over-estimates their advantages. The guy with less education or less physical advantages knows that he has to prepare and perform at a consistently higher level to get the win. Winners function with focus, paying attention to the daily disciplines that build strength and character. When they win, they celebrate then go back to work. When they lose, there are 'no excuses, no explanations.'

Spiritually, I know that same principles work! Ask my adult children why they are active Believers today and one of the things they'll mention was that they were trained, from birth all the way through high school, to give church meetings on Sundays the first priority of life. They were never allowed to skip worship; not because of late nights, work, or sports. That discipline taught them that being a Christian required choices and self-denial. "Oh. come on, Jerry. We both know that being a Believer starts in the heart with faith." Yes, you are right, but the choices we make matter, too. For example, church attendance is a tangible way to say to God, the world, and ourselves - "God is Number One, not a god who serves my convenience." Choosing to be in corporate worship is one way to reinforce a much greater principle- Put God first. Yet, many Believers, because they think they are stronger than they are, will have a hit or miss church attendance pattern, allowing almost any activity to take priority on Sunday morning. They miss out on the encouragement of the Body, never experience the joy and camaraderie of true ministry, because of their inconsistency.

The principle applies to all the spiritual disciplines. A consistent prayer life is a cornerstone to spiritual strength. Getting up just 15 minutes earlier to allow for a focused time to converse with God can make a huge difference, but for many prayer becomes a reaction that occurs in crisis instead of a purposed meeting that allows God to lead and guide. Some think that because they don't have a red-hot conversation with God everyday (nor do I, by the way) they assume they can let it go today, and tomorrow, and . . . in time, intimacy with the Lord is lost. Regular reading of the Word, and study with a group, gives a person access to the wisdom of God and foundational principles for life. Yet, for many Believers, Bible study is non-existent, replaced by a 'devotional' reading of a few lines, robbing that person of the wisdom of the Word.

Are you thinking like a winner, doing what it takes to shape your life with principles that lead to excellence? Or, are you cutting corners, letting the little things go, and letting your life slide into destruction, one small choice at a time? At the end of his life, Paul reflected on a life well-lived. He served the Lord faithfully in spite of hardships. He kept his eyes on the goal, never giving in to the temptation to 'go easy.' About mid-way through his ministry life, he wrote of the pursuit of excellence. "Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, NLT)

As a result of living this way, years later he was able to sum up his life and express his hope with these words, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7-8, NLT)

Success - on the football field, in the realm of business, in your marriage, in raising your children; yes even in becoming a mature, fruitful Christian - starts with a commitment to excellence, even in the small things. So, "pay attention to the pennies and the mice!"

Real Joy, Inspiring Hope

I am hopeful about tomorrow! Neither the threat of war, nor the supposed onset of the "last days" makes me worry. Militant Islam is a real issue for the world, but I am not losing sleep over it. Industrialization is having an impact on the environment, but I am not in despair about that. (Sorry, Mr. Gore!) Churches in this nation are, on the whole, not very healthy, filled as they are with unconverted people who serve themselves rather than Christ; but I am confident that Christianity will thrive, none the less. (Yes, I believe that with all due respect to Mr. Barna's research!) When I see what is happening in America's homes and families, I am motivated to work for real change, for the trends are not good. Yet, I believe there are victories ahead. (Dr. Dobson's gloomy forecasts not withstanding.) Personally, I do not like what the process of aging is bringing my way, but I anticipate blessings that will offset the losses. And, yes, Heaven is closer every day.

Is all this 'hope,' just coming from a relentless optimism? Not at all!
Am I just choosing to ignore reality to 'look on the sunny side of life?' No, again.

My hope comes from the Lord! Through the whole Bible there is a thread of hope that is tied to God's faithfulness, to God's promises to ultimately defeat Evil. My life is anchored in Him, therefore how can I not win in the end, too? I need not trudge through life marked by negativism and need, sucking life from all those that come into my circle like a black hole consumes matter. Instead, as I am renewed by the Holy Spirit, I am made radiant, a person who reflects God's light and life to the world in which I live and work. This is more than optimism or living positively. There is nothing wrong with either of those except that sooner or later they can be defeated. Seasons in life come when there are many difficulties and troubles, when sickness and death come in waves that nearly overwhelm us, when disasters diminish the quality of life, and when unexplained suffering stretches on, and on. In those times, thinking positively won't work. Mere optimism, in those moments, is just whistling bravely in the dark.

But hope that comes from God is greater than anything that comes our way in the course of life. The Scripture says this - "None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (Romans 8:37-39, The Message) The more of life that I experience, the more hopeful I become, precisely because I see His faithfulness through it all.

Jeremiah, a prophet who was called by God to preach to a people who ignored him for his entire life, remained full of faith. Why? Because he was thinking positively? Perhaps he did, but his real hope was anchored to his conviction that God was greater than the circumstances in which he found himself. "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" (Lamentations 3:22-24, NLT)

Believer are you facing a tough day, a hard week, a challenging Fall, a long Winter?
Will you allow the challenges that stretch out in front of you to rob you of the joy of living and turn you into a negative person who drains vitality from others? Or, will you turn to the Lord and take hope from Him?

Let God, be God. Give up your demand to make all things fit your ideals or meet your agenda. Make Him Lord of all, and you will find that hope will grow strong, sustaining you, filling you with faith that overcomes.

Here's a word from the Word. May it create hope in your soul today.
"I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing." (Psalm 34:1-10, NIV)