Just Gotta Have It!

I knew the little square of dark semi-sweet chocolate was right across the room, in the cabinet. I wanted it! I could taste the exquisite flavor just by thinking about it, feel the smooth chocolate melting on my tongue. I resisted for a half-hour, my thoughts turning again and again to the possibility of enjoyment that could be mine with minimal effort. In the end temptation won. That was just chocolate. What about the yearning for things, experiences, pleasures that are of greater consequence?

We're all tempted. Some Believers huff and puff about the sins and failures of others claiming, "I'd never do that. I'm far too mature in Christ to be tempted that way." I want to say, "Get over yourself and admit your humanity." They are denying the truth. The Scripture says, "You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted." (1 Corinthians 10:13, CEV) The setting of our temptations will vary and so will the bait on the hook. However, we all come to forks in life's road where there are just two choices: my will or God's will. For one it may be laziness that says, "Let it go 'til tomorrow. Why sweat?" For another it may be the allure of sex: Internet porn, fantasies about a friend, or an offer for an afternoon escape. For yet another it may pride that drives them to pretend to have a deeper spirituality. For still another it may be to overspend and buy bigger and better stuff. For another it might be desire for control misusing words, guilt, or position to dominate others. Yes, we're all tempted! "But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations." (1 Corinthians 10:13, CEV) However, victory requires our cooperation with the Spirit.

How do we resist temptation?

First of all, expect it. It should come as no surprise that the enemy exploits any chink in our armor that he can find. He desires to discredit the Lord and to destroy us. He circles, the Bible says, like a lion on the prowl, looking to have us for dinner. And, contrary to accepted wisdom, he does not always attack at our perceived weakness. We generally have our defenses built there. He takes us where we're strong - because we don't expect him to attack us at that point. Peter reminds us that when we're going through the trials of temptation we are sharing the same experience that Christ endured and he says, "do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." (1 Peter 4:12, NIV)

Second, never negotiate! You can't outwit temptation. Self is amazingly clever in providing you with an excuse or a justification. If you hover around temptation long enough, you will find a way to take the bait! That is why the Bible says, "O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:11, NKJV) "But, Jerry, doesn't the Bible tell us to 'resist the Devil?'" Yes, but resisting the devil is an entirely different exercise than standing as close to the fire of temptation as we think we can without getting burnt!

Third, understand and meet your needs as God intended! We need love, security, food, intimacy, and significance. Those needs were built into us by our Creator. He has provided a way for each of those needs to be met in a way that makes us whole, and when we do, we are much less vulnerable to temptation. Those little chocolate squares I mentioned a moment ago are not at all desirable when I have just enjoyed a good, nutritious meal. A person who enjoys intimacy with his spouse diminishes the power of temptation, too. Paul is very practical when he advises married couples to continue to be intimate with each other! "Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you." (1 Corinthians 7:5, NLT) Struggling with envy over another's joy in the Lord? Know this. A person who is diligent in ministry, using the gift that the Spirit has given to him, will be much less prone to covet the ministry of another.

Most important, look to Christ! We can endure "by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up." (Hebrews 12:2-3, NLT) When I am gripped by temptation I often feel like I am being torn in two, pulled apart emotionally and spiritually. Despite knowing what is right, I want what is wrong. The battle rages in my heart. I just "gotta have it!" whatever the 'it' is at that moment. There is no victory until and unless I find the reinforcement of the Spirit! If I humble myself and quietly I wait on my face before Him, His peace comes to the storm. Why? Because Jesus is my Priest and Intercessor before God. Remember, Believer, there is no shame in admitting to the temptation, for temptation is not sin!

Yes, Believer, while we live in this world, temptations will come at us. Some come from the world systems in which we work and live. Some come from what the Bible calls, 'the flesh,' or the sinful nature, the desires and needs of our physical body that crave satisfaction even in destructive or illicit ways. And some are diabolical, devilish schemes that come from the enemy of God and good.

Here's a word from the Word. Draw the strength of the promise from it today and meet temptation with the Truth that in Christ, you can overcome!

"Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:18-21, NLT)

Is Barack Obama the Anti-Christ?

Is Barack Obama the Anti-Christ? That subject line got your attention, didn't it, which is my intent! The short answer is simple: I don't know. What is curious to me is why nobody's asking, "Is Senator McCain the anti-Christ?" Why are some Believers so ready to demonize Senator Obama? Why are some so quick to discount his 20 years membership in a Chicago area United Church of Christ and insist that because his African daddy gave him the middle name, "Hussein," his profession to be a mainstream Christian is a lie? Is it that we are not content to debate his policies feeling the need discredit him as much as possible? Politics is a dirty business and it gets even dirtier when clever backroom operatives start email whispering campaigns that play off of our fears and biases.

So why am I writing about this in a TFTD?

It isn't about supporting either the Democratic or Republican candidate for the office of President of the United States. I am much more concerned about how you and I represent our Eternal King. Somewhere deep in my spirit I am convinced that taking the tiniest shreds of 'facts' and turning them into assertions about the truth or falsehood of a man's religious affiliation or using them as basis for his being a figure of the Apocalypse is wrong, very wrong. As a citizen and a Christian, I want to be part of America's electoral process in a thoughtful way that carefully examines all the facts; that prayerfully evaluates how the candidates' positions will safeguard the weak, the poor; how they will promote true liberty and justice for all; how he or she recognizes the imperative of obedience to an Almighty God.

Instead of whispering about shadowy allegations, we should pray that God will reveal the content of the heart and mind of every candidate. If anyone of them are hiding secrets, He can reveal them to the world! If they have no real fear of the Lord, which is the "beginning of knowledge," (Proverbs 1.5) let's ask Him to cause that to be known before the election. Each of us must remember that we are first disciples of Christ, bound to the highest standards of His Lordship, and then we are American citizens. How we exercise our rights should be determined by His demand of His disciples to live in truth, committed to honesty.

I do not want Christians to be dismissed from the public debate as cranks, fools, or easily manipulated sheep - as has been suggested in the past. If we are fools for Christ because we live authentically, openly, and above reproach; so be it. If we are thought to be fools because we have not made the effort to learn the facts and just repeat nonsensical allegations made in anonymous emails, shame on us. More to the point, shame falls on Christ Jesus, our Lord, which is more than tragic. Ignorance among us, who are privileged to have the mind of Christ, is a disgrace to the Lord of Glory.

Here's a word from the Word. Meditate on it today.
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8, NIV)

"And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Romans 13:11-14, NIV)

Truth and Grace

"You Christians are so judgmental!" The accusation was thrown down like a challenge. "Why can't you just accept people for who they are and let them alone?" The question was shaped in anger, not really a question at all, but an indictment. It is a common one according to David Kinnaman, author of UnChristian. His research confirms that most people outside of the church, especially those who are young, view the church's stand against things like abortion and same sex marriage as rigid and condemning.

So I ponder these questions:
Am I making a mistake in holding to what the Scripture teaches about sin?
Should I round the edges off of what I believe the Bible has to say about some things that collide with the values of the culture in which I live?

Kinnaman writes, "As we work to change the negative perceptions of outsiders, we need to avoid an equally dangerous extreme. Some Christians respond to outsider's negativity by promoting a less offensive faith. The more unpopular parts of Christian teaching are omitted or deemphasized. They hijack the image of Jesus by portraying Him as an open-minded, big-hearted, and never-offended-anyone moral teacher. That is an entirely wrong idea about Jesus. He taught remarkably tough truths about human beings and about sin.... Softening the message of the Gospel is an utterly wrong response to the objections that people raise." - UnChristian, Baker, 2007

We do no favor to those who are trapped by greed, sensuality, promiscuity, or selfishness by offering them comfort in their sinful state! Jesus says that the Truth sets us free. Just as He told the Truth and ran headlong into hatred as a result, we risk being ostracized by family and friends if we speak truthfully about choices made that run counter to the wisdom and ways of God.

There are two things that Christians do that are offensive, however, and which need to change. One is too readily pointing the finger at the sins of others without authentically dealing with our own sins! The Pharisees were quick to point out the sins that they saw in their time. And they were right about those sins. However, they used their indignation to avoid dealing with their own sins, which were less spectacular perhaps, but just as offensive to a holy God. Jesus challenged them to deal with their own hearts. "Don't just clean the outside of the cup," He said, "wash the inside, too." If we hide our own failures behind righteous rhetoric we will find ourselves also condemned by the Lord!

Another way we offend those who are outside the faith is when we are quick to indict people in their sin without offering hope for forgiveness and/or transformation. In the 1980's when the issue of abortion was at full boil in the Christian church, I saw too much hatred and fear allowed into the discussion. Anti-abortion Believers went for the sensational hurling the phrase, "baby killer" at young women who felt trapped by their pregnancy and saw only one solution. I was and I am convinced that abortion is a terrible evil, the taking of the life of an innocent and defenseless person, an act that is abhorrent in the eyes of God. However, I refused to join the attacks on women. Instead, I joined forces with several like-minded Believers to create a center where women could find answers, help, and practical care that would encourage them to obey God and choose life for their unborn child. We forbade our staff from using manipulative tactics based in condemnation or fear. Instead, we made an offer of life, based squarely on the truth.

I love this passage which reveals the heart and mission of Jesus. Take a look. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’" From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:14-17, NIV) Did you notice a phrase that repeats twice? It is this one: "Grace and Truth." Moses brought the Law, which told the Truth. With the Law came the knowledge of sin and guilt that separated people from God. Jesus did not set aside the holy requirements of the Law, but He brought Grace that gives forgiveness and creates the possibility of transformation from the inside out. Only by His grace are we restored to our Father, from Whom we receive the Spirit who empowers us to be holy.

Believer, as we represent the Lord to others, if we hold to the Scripture as our standard, we will inevitably run head-long into the permissiveness of our culture. When we do, we must not drop the standard! Instead, we must proclaim grace that is greater than all our sin.

Ponder this today, Believer, and ask the Spirit to help you to understand how to tell the truth gracefully!

"God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?" (Romans 5:20-6:2, NLT)

Stay Connected!

As soon as I emerged from sleep, I thought about Phil, an elder in our church, who is scheduled for surgery today. I prayed for Mindy and for him. Then, more people from my circle of friends and acquaintances marched through my mind as I thought about their needs and lifted them up to the Lord. These prayers have nothing to do with pastoral duty. I love these people with whom I share life and that love is reciprocated. Last Sunday, as people made their way into church, one man saw me standing at the door greeting those who were arriving. Empathizing with my present circumstances, he pulled me into a bear hug and whispered in my ear, "We love you!" Such show of caring and affection might strike some as strange, but that should be the norm for Believers.

And, I've heard from various members of the Assembly's "Foundations Experience," a small group for newer Believers at the church, who tell me how much they look forward to that hour every Sunday morning when they come together to talk about their faith, their lives, to pray for each other. They stay in touch all week, too. One remarked to me, "It's going to be hard to break up this group at the end of the course!"

Are you attempting to go through life as a Lone Ranger?

Have you been disappointed by someone, by a church, or by a Pastor and concluded that you will live the Christian life in a way that makes it about "just Jesus and me?" If so, you are making a huge mistake, robbing yourself of joy and reducing your potential for effectiveness in the work of God. I will be the first to acknowledge that people can be difficult. It's not always easy to get along with me, either. (I heard that Amen!) Relationships can go sour. Expectations may be missed by a mile. The more deeply we are willing to love the greater the possibility of being deeply hurt! And still, I love God's people. He commands us to do so. "Above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'" (1 Peter 4:8, NKJV) The rewards of love so far outweigh the disappointments, we forget about them, forgive them, and grow in love. Well, we will do that if our love is genuine and inspired by God's love for us.

The model for the way we love is the self-sacrificial, radical love of God that was shown in His gift of salvation. When we love people in the way that God loves us, we make Him visible to the world! Indeed, nothing compels others to consider the Truth of Christ and His Kingdom like Believers who genuinely love other people! "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (1 John 4:10-12, NIV)

Don't expect that love will 'make nice' all the time! That's as silly as thinking that love in marriage is based on diamonds and roses! There is nothing wrong with romance, but the stuff of real love has little to do with flowers and jewelry. It's about caring enough to adapt to the idiosyncrasies of our spouse, stepping up to be a part of their life, changing diapers, listening to their complaints, enduring their moods, and celebrating their successes. Loving other Believers will involve conflict, hard work, disappointment. But that's not the whole story for there will also be moments of incredible tenderness, joy, and shared mission. We are called to carry each other to the finish line of life!


Get connected in a local church body. Ask God where He wants you to be planted, then put down roots and stay! Reach out to care. "But my church is so unloving," you say. Perhaps it is. Then become a catalyst of caring, a person who sows the seeds of love in that church. Do it, for God's sake! It may take a year or two for change to begin, but you will be a partner with God in spiritual transformation. Isn't that an exciting mission? And, stay connected with people in your world who are still in need of Christ. It is so easy, so inviting, to move into a church circle where our only friends are those who share our faith but if we allow ourselves to do that, who will demonstrate the love of God to those who need Him most?

Jesus said, "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples-when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:34-35, The Message)

A Rich Father

When we established our home, Bev and I gladly made lifestyle choices that involved having less money. Until our youngest children were in high school, she chose to be a full-time Mom which meant we lived on one salary, a preacher's salary at that. We lived simply, but not poorly! To this day, our kids say that they had no idea how limited our financial resources were back then. They felt that their home was rich, and it was, in many things that mattered - time, love, care, spiritual life. They laugh now at how excited they got over something as simple as going out to eat, and then only at family restaurants like Friendly's. We could only afford that kind of thing with our entire family on special occasions like birthdays. We celebrated what we could afford, resisted debt, and lived in the blessings of God. What a difference love made! Our house might not have had all the things that some families enjoyed, but we were and are wealthy in love. The Lord abundantly resourced us with all that we needed and more.

Believer, you have a rich Father! The wealth that He gives you may not always be in a fat bank account or material possessions. He will always provide love, peace, and contentment to those who live close to His heart. The Bible teaches us that He delights in us as His children. He desires that we obey and love Him so that He can surround us with His blessings. Moses called Israel together and reminded them of their heritage. He said, "For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. ... If you listen to these regulations and faithfully obey them, the Lord your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with you, as he promised with an oath to your ancestors." (Deuteronomy 7:6-9, 12, NLT)

Those of us who are called to be His people today, who are 'in Christ,' enjoy the same kind of favored status among the people of the earth! "God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son." (Ephesians 1:5-6, NLT) "But, Jerry, won't we become full of pride if we think of ourselves as select or special?" Not if we remember that the selection is because of His favor, not our desirability! God did not choose you or me because of our race, our achievements, our intelligence, or productivity. As with Israel who was chosen by His love, we are chosen by His love. Having received His grace, we do have an obligation to live obediently and responsively to Him. When we do, we are in a place to enjoy His favor. Because of this special status, I want to encourage two choices in your life, Believer.

First, choose to live contentedly in what your Father provides! My children would occasionally visit in the homes of their friends and sometimes they would come home wanting more than I could or would give them. Comparing led to temporary unhappiness. Do you ever do that to your Heavenly Father? Do you become discontent because you covet the calling, the resources, the opportunities of another? Come home to Him and trust Him for His wisdom in providing what you need, not what you want. Be faithful with the blessings you have and He will trust you with more. That's a Biblical principle. "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’" (Matthew 25:23, NIV)

Second, honor the Lord with thankfulness! Wealth begins with attitude. There are those who have much who are yet poor because they are ungrateful, selfish, and discontent. There are those who have little who live like a king because they have learned to live with an attitude of abundance, giving thanks and sharing with they have to give.

__________________

How rich I am since Jesus came my way,
Redeemed my soul and turned my night to day.
How very rich, how very rich I am!
Such peace and joy I never knew before.
And countless blessings from His boundless store.
How very rich, how very rich I am!

There's a greater glory in a sunset,
A brighter twinkle in a star,
There's much more promise in a rainbow
More music in a singing bird by far;
All things have changed my eyes once blind can see,
The whole wide world is now a symphony,
And with all this, heav'n is my destiny,
How rich I am!

How Rich I Am
John W. Peterson© 1956. Renewed 1984
John W. Peterson Music Company
CCLI License No. 810055

How big is your God?

Do you know how a toddler gets when he is desperately in need of a nap; irritable, on the edge of irrational? That was me! I had a sharp disagreement (read that, fight) with my wife over a silly statement that was really of no consequence. I complained inwardly about things that are no big deal. Yes, I was one big baby. Here's how I got to that place; I tried to be my own god! Instead of taking time to share my trials, temptations, concerns and needs with the Lord, I chose to try to carry them alone, worrying about things I cannot control, fretting over an unknown future. I felt the tug of the Spirit several times through the day inviting me to spend some time in retreat, prayerfully drawing on His strength. But, I was 'too busy' (that self-god thing) and decided to substitute a few flash prayers. Those are the quick short "Lord, help __________" that we pray in emergencies. It's fine to pray that way, but they are no substitute for contemplative deep reflection when we "wait on the Lord!"

Believer, if we are engaged with the world as we ought to be, we will find ourselves desperate and weary for the battle is often fierce. The work of the Kingdom of Heaven is no Sunday School picnic. The Word is not being sensational when He warns us that "This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. " (Ephesians 6:12, The Message) We are called to care, to love, to give! Those are not without cost. Evil is active, not passive. The Devil organizes forces against God and His people and he does not fight fair. His only goal is the destruction of the works of God. And, if he can accomplish that end by convincing us that we must be 'god,' exhausting ourselves to the point of despair, he will do that. The goals of the evil one are accomplished as readily when we work hard and ineffectively to the point of becoming ungodly, as they are when we do nothing!

But, we are not his victims. We are not helpless, hopeless, or hapless. We are richly resourced, equipped for the mission. "Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." (Ephesians 6:10, NLT) There is an old saying worthy of repeating: "A Christian is never stronger than when he is on his knees!" "The Lord doesn’t care about the strength of horses or powerful armies. The Lord is pleased only with those who worship him and trust His love." (Psalm 147:10-11, CEV) So we don't run from the battle. We don't ask to be reassigned to an easier place of service. We don't seek to be relieved of duty. We ask to be resourced from the rich supply that our God has available. This is the promise: "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV)

Here's a Word on which to meditate today. As you read them, make they help you to give God His rightful place in your mind and heart. May they help you to see Him in His majesty, for He is a BIG God.

"I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21, NKJV)

An exclusive relationship

A very small percentage of Americans claim to live in an arrangement that baffles me called 'open marriage.' Supposedly these couples feel a need to have intimate partners other than their spouse so that they are able to move through stages of emotional development. It is sometimes called 'love without jealousy.' God calls it immorality. Marriage is an exclusive relationship and those who do not remain with the one to whom they are pledged, with or without their spouse's consent to their infidelity, are committing adultery. In most situations, jealousy is a destructive reaction, but in defense of our vows, we do well to jealously defend our claim to the affections of our spouse. We are right to insist that as we faithful in love, that we are loved in the same way.

Bev and I pledged an exclusive love relationship 33 years ago! I love many people, but no one in the same way that I love my wife. I know that she loves me exclusively, too. That bond is a treasure which we guard with diligence. Neither of us would overlook any relationship that we felt potentially threatened our marriage. We jealously protect our marriage because we own each other, not in a sense of slavery, but with voluntary commitment to one another as we are mutually submitted to Christ, our Lord. Our fidelity creates trust, stability, and security - not just for each other, but also for our adult children who can draw on our shared strength. I pray that our love for each other glorifies God, too, by demonstrating in some small way what it means to be 'married to Christ.'

Do you realize that God asks for an exclusive relationship with you? He says, "No other gods, only me. " (Exodus 20:3, The Message) "Don’t bow down to them and don’t serve them because I am God, your God, and I’m a most jealous God." (Exodus 20:5, The Message) Do you flirt with other gods? No, I am not talking about going after one of the Hindu deities or taking up devotion to some tribal religion. That's too obvious and not likely much of a temptation for any of us. What about the god of reputation, or pleasure, or money? Worship is not expressed only in formal setting like church. We 'worship' when we assign value and worth. God, our Father, requires that He be given exclusive position as the Lord of our life. Jesus repeated this commandment from a positive side quoting Deuteronomy: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37, NIV)

Believer, protect your love for the Lord. Serve Him faithfully. When temptation attempt to seduce you, bidding for your affections, name it what He calls it, "spiritual adultery!" That sounds so ugly because it is! He wants to own us, to give us His love, to share life with us without inference from any other lovers. Who can forget the heartbreak of the story of Hosea, the prophet to Judah, whose wife repeatedly left him for other lovers? He went to find her and found her broken and desolate. He brought her home and restored her. This tragedy became an illustration for the people of God who left their Husband to chase other gods. But, He did not abandon them. Instead, He pursued them and won their hearts again.

He loves you and me, Believer. If our hearts should wander, we can return to His love for He says, "I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD." (Hosea 2:19-20, NIV)

Lord, How Long?

Even though the saga comes 'round to a great conclusion, I do not like the story of Joseph all that much. It makes me understand that God may choose to use people and situations that are not necessarily pleasant or of my choosing to implement His sovereign plan for this world. Joseph's long journey through slavery and suffering runs headlong into my sense of self-importance! It teaches me that my personal happiness is not God's paramount purpose.
In my American mind, which values personal fulfillment, the thought that God might allow us to suffer as He works out His plan is very, very hard to accept!

Here's a thumbnail sketch of Joseph's story, which is recorded in the book of Genesis. His father loved him, perhaps too much, and set him apart from his brothers with expensive gifts. God, in His own purposes, chose him and gave him dreams about a time when he would rule over his family, enjoying unheard of prominence despite being far down the line in the family order. His brothers hated him because he was favored by their father and God. When they had the chance, those jealous siblings got rid of him by selling him to slave-traders. They took him hundreds of miles from his home to Egypt. So much for dreams of destiny, or so it seemed; but, he didn't surrender to despair. Sold to Potiphar, a nobleman, he worked hard and was soon appointed to manage the household. Then, Potiphar's wife took an unhealthy interest in him. When he wouldn't cooperate with her, she made up a charge of rape and he was jailed. Faithful again, Joseph soon was made a trustee and was running the jail! Years passed and two men from the king's court were jailed with him. They had dreams and he interpreted them for them. He asked the man who was going back to serve Pharaoh to please remember him. He didn't -at least for a few years - until Pharaoh had a nightmare that defied understanding. Then, the man remembered Joseph and Pharaoh sent for him. After decades of disappointment, Joseph finally came to the place that God promised to him when he was a teenage boy. He became the Prime Minister of Egypt.

Whew! That's a long route from promise to blessing, isn't it? Joseph must have been tempted to wonder, "What's going on?" Has God forgotten me? Why is all this happening to me?" But, he had faith and his God-given dream of destiny to which he held tightly... waiting, trusting,hopeful!

How do I know that? Because of his own words. When Joseph was at the pinnacle of power and his poor brothers came into his court seeking food and favors, not knowing they were standing in the presence of the person they sold to slave-traders years before, he told them this: "But don't be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. These two years of famine will grow to seven, during which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God has sent me here to keep you and your families alive so that you will become a great nation. Yes, it was God who sent me here, not you! And he has made me a counselor to Pharaoh-manager of his entire household and ruler over all Egypt." (Genesis 45:5-8, NLT) God used the circuitous route that led through slavery and prison to produce a man that would save a nation and his own family.If God loves me (and He does, very much!) how could he ask me to suffer?

Because He is perfecting us for His purposes, purposes which reach much more widely than we can see, given our finiteness. God is amazingly at work to bring all circumstances- good and bad- to a place where His will is done. "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:28-31, NIV)

Living in that truth requires a great faith-
which God will provide to us, if we ask!

If you're in a place where you're asking, "What's going on?" read the Psalm of Patience (Psalm 37). The lead verbs in that Psalm pointthe way to endurance, the way to let God's will emerge from the pyre on which self is offered up to His purposes.
"Trust in the LORD.
Delight inthe LORD.
Commit your way to the LORD.
Be still before the LORD.
Wait onthe LORD!"

Take this word from the Word to heart and let God love you today:
"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods." (Psalm 40:1-4, NIV)
__________________

The Lord's our Rock,
In Him we hide,
A shelter in the time of storm,
Secure whatever ill betide,
A shelter in the time of storm.

Oh, Jesus, is the Rock
in a weary land, a weary land, a weary land,
Oh, Jesus is the Rock in a weary land,
A shelter in the time of storm.

- public domain

Ambition- Keep it and Curb it!

In a mistaken idea about contentment, some Christians aspire to wanting nothing; to living mediocre, undistinguished lives. They do nothing well, never break a sweat, and resent anyone who presses them to own a bigger vision! In truth, those who are filled with God's Spirit are equipped with gifts to change the world and since we will all stand before the King of Glory to give an accounting of how we lived, we should be full of earnest desire to achieve great things with the gifts He's given us. My dictionary defines ambition as 'the earnest desire for achievement or distinction.' Is that compatible with humility in the service of Christ? I believe it is. We need ambition and we must keep it on a short leash.

Jesus had a calling to save the world! Nothing, not even a cross could stop Him. He was amazingly ambitious, yet always submitted to God and loving. "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28, NLT

Paul was called by Jesus to take the Good News of the Kingdom to the world. He was a man of great ambition, whose vision pulled him through all kinds of deprivations and difficulties.


Paul repeatedly commends those who are willing to stick with hard work. In the book of the Revelation, Jesus praises those who keep the faith saying, "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance.. . . You have patiently suffered for me without quitting." (Revelation 2:2-3, NLT) The Word adds a qualifying word to ambition that makes all the difference. That word? 'Selfish.' "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, NIV)

A person who lacks ambition will drift through life taking what falls his way, looking for minimal ways to keep his job, settling for the easiest rather than seeking the best! Solomon's proverbs say that those who are lazy want everything but get nothing. (13:4) He also says that a lazy man is like vinegar on our teeth and smoke in our eyes. What a turn of phrase. The lazy man talks a great game but proves to be a great irritant to those who work with him because he never gets the job done. An overly ambitious person is equally difficult to work around because he will not cooperate, has little sense of team-work, and is always seeking center stage. Consequently, what he does, no matter how well it is done, is tainted with self-interest.

Ambition can be dangerous because it can lead to a misplaced love of work over love for people! An ambitious person warms to the process that 'gets things done,' and may become blinded to what his drive for the goal is costing those around him.

Who are you living for - self or Christ? Does an ambition for the work of the Kingdom own you, calling you to excel in the service of the King?

Check your vision! If you lack a reason for living, pray 'til you hear His calling! If your vision is clear, but you are motivated by approval of others, or are building something bigger on which to hang your name, take it back to the feet of Jesus. Lay it there and ask Him to refocus you, not away from the desire to make a difference or distinction, but around a genuine desire to make His name glorious.
_____________________

"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:14-16, NIV)

Remembering the Good Stuff!

In my memory, it often the bad days that claim greater prominence! Like it was yesterday, I can recall the puzzlement that turned to fear on September 11, 2001. I can remember the phone calls from my kids, the meeting that I was attending that was cut short as we Pastors scattered to return to our churches and families. I remember, with crystal clarity, the awful morning, March 23, 1985, when I found the lifeless body of our foster son, then a toddler, who had wandered into the farm's pond and drowned, or so we thought. In between frantic efforts at resuscitation and desperate prayers to Heaven, God restored that child to us, but I'll never forget the horrible 24 hours between finding him in the water and when he regained consciousness in a pediatric intensive care unit. Though we so easily recall the hard days, the fearful moments, the tragedies, we need to make the choice to recall the good stuff!

Recently I sat with my Dad for an afternoon. Despite his critical illness, together we remembered... good things, fun things, happy days, and the blessings of God. We dug back through our memories, one story leading to another. We recalled changed lives, celebrations, milestone achievements, God's wonderful works. In remembering my faith was strengthened. It is important to mark the moments; both ordinary and stupendous, that God answers prayers, gives assurance, touches us with His joy. Many times in the Scripture, we read of memorials being built, records being written - just for the purpose of reminding future generations of the goodness of God. Take a look at what the Bible says about one of those times. "Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’ ... We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever." (Joshua 4:2-7, NLT)

As you face a new week perhaps you're also feeling overwhelmed by a challenge. Maybe it seems today that God is far away, that some difficulty is too big to overcome. Perhaps you've been in the fight so long you're weary even today on a Monday morning. Take a few moments for a memory review. Bring to mind a victory or two from your past and thank God! If you can't remember one from your own 'faith story,' then borrow one from some Christian's biography and thank God for His faithfulness to them. Or review a story from the Bible - Daniel in the lion's den when God showed up and closed the lion's mouth; young David on the field of battle confronting Goliath in the name of the LORD of Israel; or Paul and Silas in the jail in Philippi singing worship songs at midnight until God rocked the house!

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name." (Hebrews 13:15, NIV) Let's not misunderstand this directive of the Word. It is not just an encouragement to optimism as powerful as positive thinking is! We are reminded to praise God for His greatness, to remember our inheritance as children of God, an inheritance given to through Jesus Christ, irrevocably and freely. We bring our worshipful praise to Him as a sacrifice, which He finds deeply pleasing.

Go ahead, offer a sacrifice of praise right now. Make it sincere, even if it's simple. Then, add another and another. Soon, you will have discovered the amazing power of praise, for praise ushers us into the Presence of God, where "we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." (Hebrews 4:16, NLT)
___________________________

Deceived!

Wayne Bent, a.k.a. Michael Travesser, leader of the Strong City Lord, our Righteousness Church in New Mexico, is a winsome man, gentle in demeanor. He speaks thoughtfully, is outwardly loving towards the small group he leads, and claims to be the Messiah returned to earth, Divinity embodied! Over the last fifteen years, this former pastor in the 7th Day Adventist church, became increasingly bizarre to observers outside the cult sect he leads. He is obsessed with prophecy, setting dates for Christ's return, and using the symbolism of apocalyptic texts to support his own ends. He insists that his followers live in close communal relationships, giving up privacy, possessions, and even personal relationships to him. In 2000, he declared himself Messiah and asked those in the church to marry him. He took seven wives, including his own son's wife! He is now jailed on charges that allege inappropriate sexual contact with minors.

Is he insane, deluded, or just a self-serving manipulator of people? According to a secular journalist who produced a National Geographic documentary, Inside a Cult, Bent is all of the above! Bent's son, age 44, a former police officer, continues to defend the validity his father's visions, despite any and all evidence or argument to the contrary.

Believer, accounts like this must sober us. It is no laughing matter that deeply devout people, who are earnestly seeking to know and serve God can be led into such error. The root of this kind of deception is a misplaced focus from Christ Jesus to man. It flourishes when a person separates himself or herself from the larger Body of the Church, claims 'inside' information or private revelation, and asserts that his 'truth' supersedes that of the Scripture and the Church! The moment you hear any church leader say, "God revealed to me..." great caution is in order. Yes, I do believe that the Spirit speaks to us. He leads us, shows us His ways, and guides us; but not outside of the boundaries of the Scripture, nor as a singular voice, without accountability to His greater church.

Devotion and longing for spiritual assurance in the turbulent times in which we live must never relieve us of the need to discern, to critically consider the truthfulness and the source of revelation offered by anyone claiming to speak in God's Name.

Jesus left this warning for all of us. "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them." (Luke 21:8, NIV) Any prophet (someone who speaks for God or claiming God's authority) that uses that role to attract privilege, wealth, or attention to himself must be spurned. Even if the error is not so obvious as the one referenced above where the prophet now asserts that he is the messiah, Believers must be discerning to avoid being drawn into an ultimately destructive 'spiritual' experience.

The Word of God is not gentle nor kind to those who falsely claim to speak in God's name. Consider these words today and become a wise, Spirit-filled, discerning Believer, secured by Truth and Spirit against error.

"They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. They prove the truth of this proverb: "A dog returns to its vomit." And another says, "A washed pig returns to the mud." (2 Peter 2:18-22, NLT)

Amen!

Tremble Before Him!

While watching a recent docu-drama created around the life of John Adams, 2nd President of the US, I saw a scene that helped my prayer life! Really! At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, the American government appointed Adams as ambassador to Great Britain. He had to go through elaborate coaching about the protocols involved in meeting the king of England, including a deep bow in greeting that deeply offended Adams at first. When he finally was ushered into the throne room, the king stood regally at the end of a very large room. Adams was shaken by the majesty of the encounter and came to understand the power of symbols of power in a new way. For one of the few times in his life, the man who always had a ready answer found himself nearly speechless with awe!

Which scene better describes your attitude in prayer -
having a chat over a cup of coffee with a friend, or
an audience with a king?

The answer has a lot to do with your theology and spiritual experience; and is somewhat related to your personality. For those of us who grew up in the informality of evangelical churches with no liturgy, spontaneous prayers, and a theology largely shaped around the 2nd Person of the Trinity, prayer is mostly conceived of as a conversation with a Friend. The result is that our spirituality can be limited by a deficiency in the 'majesty' department!

It is wonderful that we as Believers know that God is accessible, that through Jesus Christ, we are invited near to find help in time of trouble. However, the Holy Trinity is not just Jesus, the son of Mary. God, the Father, the Awesome King of Glory is the head of that mysterious Being. There is a time when our mouth must be silenced by an encounter with the Lord of the Universe; when we grasp that He is Wholly, Holy Other- that He is not a man. When that image accompanies our love of Jesus, our Friend and Brother, we will find a better balance between awe and familiarity. This is important for the cliché is true - 'familiarity breeds contempt.' If we make God too small in our eyes, we will too easily argue with His will, disregard His call, and disobey His commands. Isaiah's encounter with His Majesty scared him nearly to death and made him realize, anew, the depth of his sinfulness. He cried, "It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies." (Isaiah 6:5, NLT) And God made him clean!

When God was shaping Israel into His people, when He was about to give them the Law; He brought them to Mt. Sinai. Strict regulations were put into place to prepare the people to hear the Words of God. To help them prepare their hearts, they went through symbolic cleansing, ritual consecrations, and were forbidden even to be intimate with their spouses for three days! (Exodus 19) God was coming with His Word. They needed to be ready. "Oh," you say, "but that so Old Testament." As you go your way today, ponder these words from Hebrews that apply that story to our Christian experience. And, may we learn to tremble before Him!

"You have not come to a place like Mount Sinai that can be seen and touched. There is no flaming fire or dark cloud or storm or trumpet sound. . . . You have now come to Mount Zion and to the heavenly Jerusalem. This is the city of the living God, where thousands and thousands of angels have come to celebrate. Here you will find all of God’s dearest children, whose names are written in heaven. And you will find God himself, who judges everyone. Here also are the spirits of those good people who have been made perfect. And Jesus is here! He is the one who makes God’s new agreement with us, and his sprinkled blood says much better things than the blood of Abel. Make sure that you obey the one who speaks to you. The people did not escape, when they refused to obey the one who spoke to them at Mount Sinai. Do you think you can possibly escape, if you refuse to obey the one who speaks to you from heaven?" (Hebrews 12:18-25, CEV)
__________________

Welcomed in to the courts of the King!
I've been ushered into Your presence.
Lord, I stand on Your merciful ground;
Yet with every step tread with reverence.

Who is there in the heavens like You?
And upon the earth who's Your equal?
You are far above,
You're the highest of highs.
We are bowing down to exalt You!

And I'll fall face down!
As Your glory shines around;
Yes, I'll fall face down!
As Your glory shines around.

So, let Your glory shine around.
Let Your glory shine around.
King of glory here be found,
King of glory!

Facedown
Matt RedmanCCLI License No. 810055

It really is Good News!

Good parents create appropriate boundaries for their children. Those guidelines are not for the benefit of the parent. They exist to protect the child. If a parent makes rules just to make life easier for himself, he makes his child a rebel! However, if he guides the growth and development of his child with a firm, loving hand putting behavioral fences in place that are required, his child will eventually thank him for them. Of course, those fences are moved as maturity sets in. Imagine an overprotective parent telling a 16 year old son, "You have to play in our backyard!" That would be foolish, a rule that would give a sense of control and peace to the parent perhaps, but one that is not in the best interest of a teenager. Some parents mistakenly do enforce rules just to be the boss or because they allow their own fears to take over. But, the best parents use their godly authority to bless and guide the development of their children.

God, our Heavenly Father, has given us boundaries in life - and they exist for our protection. He is not arbitrary, making rules just to show us that He is boss! He wants you and me to live in a way that maximizes our joy, that keeps us from hurting ourselves and others, so He tells us how to live. "Don't lie. Don't sleep with another's wife. Don't steal. Love Me. Love others." Jesus makes it clear that the boundaries are a blessing when we regard them as a gift to us. One illustration is this statement, "The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27, NLT) God teaches us to set aside a day each week for worship and rest. "Take a break and look up," He says. Why? Does He need our attention? Is He just trying to complicate our lives? Not at all. God gave the gift of Sabbath because He knows our tendency to get wrapped up in the business of making a living. He knows that we are not at our best when the spiritual is neglected, so He gave us the gift of the Sabbath principle.

Thoughtfully read this passage.
"We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet!" (Hebrews 12:9-12, The Message)

In another translation, part of that passage says, "We submit to the Father of our spirits and live!" (Hebrews 12:9, NIV) It was so wonderful when my kids became more mature and started doing what I asked without whining and crying. When children are two and Mommy tells them to pick up their toys, they might cry and have a fit. No amount of reason can convince them that what Mommy wants them to do is training a good pattern of responsibility into them. So Mommy just puts up with their tantrums and firmly insists that they get it done. She doesn't take their mini-rebellions personally (unless she is really tired). With maturity, comes the expectation that the child will comply more readily, understanding that their parent guides them with love for their own good.

Do you truly love and trust your Heavenly Father?
Are you choosing to 'submit and live?' Grow up and stop resisting, rebelling, whining, and complaining. Believe the Word's promise that God is loving, good, and working for your good. Then, you will agree that His Word and His ways are really Good News! ________________________________

I'll say,"Yes, Lord, yes,"
To Your will and to Your way.
I'll say,"Yes, Lord, yes."
I will trust You and obey.
When the Spirit speaks to me,
With my whole heart I'll agree.
And my answer will be,"Yes, Lord, yes."

If I never knew the fullness
Of living in Your will,
I would never know how rich
My life could be.
Lord, my willingness to serve
Is the least that You deserve,
For the blessings
You have showered over me.

Yes, Lord, Yes
Lynn Keesecker© 1983 Manna Music, Inc. ARR UBP of Manna Music, Inc. (35255 Brooten Road, Pacific City, OR 97135)
CCLI License No. 810055

Bring on Spring!

Not in recent memory can I remember anticipating the Springtime more than this year. I was ready for the greening of the earth, even though the budding of the trees brings on the sniffles of allergies. The limbs of the trees in my yard that poked skeletally into the sky are now in full leaf. The lawn that was patchy and brown is now lush and in need of mowing twice a week. Praise God for Spring and the new life that accompanies the change of the seasons. Having never lived in a tropical climate, I cannot imagine life without the cycle of Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. In the Winter, I hope for the Spring's greening. In the heat of August, I look forward to the crisp evenings of the Fall and the spectacular beauty of the changing leaves. As those same leaves pile up on the ground and I tire of keeping up the yard, I look forward to a blanket of snow covering the earth yet again. Each season has its own blessings.

In my spiritual life there are seasons, too. There are times of high productivity and times of quiet preparation. There are times when I lay foundations and times when I raise the roof! There moments of celebration and days of sorrow. This I know certainly; each season has its own blessings, if only we will remain open to the whisper of the Spirit while we live in them! To be sure, in the time of harvest rejoicing comes more naturally than in the time of planting. Yet, the season of harvest has its own sadness for it is reminder of the end of another cycle of life.

The Word urges us to steadiness: "let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." (Galatians 6:9, NKJV) I am living in a season of testing, a kind of winter of the soul, but I am convinced that God holds the seasons and cycles of life in His hands! As surely as Springtime follows Winter, the cold of trials will yield to the Lord's brightness and the Spirit will renew fruitfulness and life. Oh, for the faith to wait for the coming of Spring! Yes, in my spirit, I sense the winds of the Spirit bringing a new season of Life. I am ready, knowing that with the change there will be new challenges and new blessings.

So, Believer, what is the season in your life?
Are you, like me, feeling the cold grip of winter in your soul giving way to the Spirit's warm? Are you basking in the restful time of Summer, between the sowing and the reaping?
Are you reaping the benefit of a long season of planting and cultivating in a season of harvest? Enjoy the present season!

Give God the opportunity to do the appropriate work of that season in you, and to prepare you for the change that will come.

Ponder this wisdom of the Word. "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, NLT)

Then, pray that you will be faithful.

"I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. (in season and out of season!)Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage . . . " (2 Timothy 4:1-2, NLT)
______________________
When in the spring the flowers
Are blooming bright and fair.
After the gray of winter's gone,
Once again the lark begins its tuning
Back in the meadows of my home.

Lord, to my heart
bring back the springtime
Take away the cold
and dark of sin,
O, refill me now,
sweet Holy Spirit,
May I warm and tender be again.

Bring Back the Springtime
Kurt Kaiser © 1970 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055

A gift for me?

I find it difficult to accept gifts! What's wrong with me? Mostly, it is a pride thing, I suppose. I am not, by nature, an effusive person. Too many times to remember, I have disappointed my wife or kids at Christmas or birthdays when they presented me with some gift they had plotted and planned to get to me without my knowledge only to have me say, "That's nice. Thanks." They want excitement! I try, but whooping and yelling are hard for me. So, rather than disappoint anybody, I just say, in advance, "No gifts." When the church has a Pastor Appreciation Day, I worry about the same thing kind of disappointment for those who are trying to show their love for me, too. I am deeply touched by the expressions of thanks, but find it hard to show the proper emotion of joy! What have come to realize only of late is that when I wave off gifts or refuse to accept someone's thanks, I am robbed of a blessings and, even more significantly, I rob them of joy. So, I counsel myself, "Get over yourself!"

In Leadership, 2008, an article about one of God's great gifts to us appeared. It is from the pen of Tony Campolo. "Sitting with my parents at a Communion service with my parents when I was very young, perhaps 6 or 7 years old, I became aware of a young woman in the pew in front of us who was sobbing and shaking. The minister had just finished reading 1 Corinthians 11:27 - "whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 11:27, NKJV) As the Communion plate, with its small pieces of bread was passed to the young woman before me, she waved it away and lowered her head in despair. It was then that my Sicilian father leaned over her shoulder, and in his broken English, said sternly, "Take it, girl! It was meant for you. Do you hear me?" She raised her head, nodded - and then she took the bread and ate it. I knew that some kind of heavy burden was lifted from her heart. Since then, I have known that a church that could offer Communion to hurting people, offers a gift from God."

I want you, Believer, to take two thoughts with you today.

The first is that God's salvation is not meant to exclude, but to include! We sin terribly when we use the words of the One who is Love Incarnate, the One who came to build a bridge to our Father for us in His Body, to create barriers for those we deem unworthy of our acceptance. Jesus reserved His most angry condemnation for the religious elite who made it hard for hurting, sinful people to find their way to God. "They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden." (Matthew 23:4, NLT) Jesus offered grace to the worst, the scandalous, the outcasts and said that they would enter the Kingdom of God ahead of those who were too proud to accept God's gift, because those who were most broken understood their need better and were therefore receptive to His Gift.

The second is that God's gift of salvation is for YOU. You're not too bad, too good, too broken, too undesirable, too far gone to accept Him or to be accepted by Him. He counseled us to forgive others 77 times when they offend us. Do you somehow think He holds Himself to a different standard? His grace is amazing. The Enemy of your soul wants you to see your sins and failures written in bold capital letters. He wants you to feel the awful unworthiness as long as you will stay focused on self. For then, you will fail to see the Cross with the marred form of Jesus, with His arms extended wide in symbolic embrace of the world. "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!" (Romans 5:8-9, NIV)

Don't allow some mistaken sense of self-reliance keep you from receiving the Gift! What you cannot do for yourself, God has already accomplished in full, at His own expense, and He offers full rights of sonship, an eternal inheritance, to you freely. Yes, maybe, you, like me on Christmas, wonder, "what if I fail to show proper appreciation?" Get over yourself! It's not about YOU, it about Him. Like Campolo's father, I say, "Take it. It was meant for you."

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:4-5, NKJV) "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:10-13, NKJV)
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We will be celebrating our Great Savior and His gift with Holy Communion this Sunday, May 4, at the Assembly. I welcome you to worship with us at 10:15 AM.
If you cannot be there in person, you can join worship virtually and live on the Internet at http://www.washingtonag.com/
Just look for the live streaming globe and click on play.

Blessing of Less

I knew there was a sickness in my soul as my son described the excitement in the fast-growing church he attends and my response was not delight, but envy! I did not think, "Isn't it wonderful that God is blessing that congregation?" Instead, I stewed over the question for days: "Why doesn't my church grow like that?" Discontent is a silent sin that can thrive undetected in the hidden corners of our heart and from that place infects every part of our lives.

I believe that it is an epidemic in America right now. Many are totally convinced that there is someone, or someplace, or something that will make them feel complete. In my case, that kind of discontent was poisoning my ability to serve my church with joy and fulfillment. I've seen it break marriages, when a spouse became convinced that they needed someone smarter, richer, taller, thinner, more exciting... or something else that they failed to see in their husband or wife I've seen it cause people to go deeply into debt to buy things they really don't need because they think a new house, car, or an exotic vacation will finally be 'it.' I've watched discontent fester in Believers who move from church to church in the vain hope of finding a spiritual experience that will let them live on the top of the mountain.

Mindy Caliguire, head of Soul Care Ministries, suggests that we ask ourselves four questions to diagnose the sickness of discontent:
1. Do I feel overwhelmed by options?
2. Do I feel burdened by impossible demands?
3. Do I often buy more than I can afford?
4. Do I frequently desire to be more than I am? -- Leadership, Winter, 2008

We love having multiple investment strategies available to us. We like big supermarkets that let choose from 28 brands of ketchup! But there is stress that goes with having so many options from which to choose. We like the feeling of importance that comes from being busy, from filling up our days with activities. A crammed calendar says, "I am valuable. Look at how much I do!" But, when we cannot sleep because our mind continues to race when we lie down, that is a signal that we are trying to live 26 hours in a 24 hour day! Because we live in a consumer culture most of us accept, without question, that having more of everything is key to our happiness. For many, a shopping day at the mall is a great delight and MasterCard rejoices when they go there!

Believer, there is a spiritual discipline that restores sanity!
It is called, simplicity. What is this? It is the conscious choice to be a person who understands who God is calling us to be and focusing on that. It is the decision to pray to become contented with who we are, what we have, and where we are.

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

Here's what Jesus said. "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:22-24, NLT) What's your vision for life? If it is a clear vision, fixed on truth, and focused around the goodness of God, you will live freely, soberly, and with contentment. If it is corrupted by materialism, sensuality, celebrity, greed, or other common American 'values,' you will descend ever deeper into the confusion of trying to fill the longing for meaning with things that can never satisfy your soul.

Say 'yes' to worship, deep and intimate worship of the Lord, our God. Learn to revel in the beauty of a bird's song, the giggle of a child, the grace He promises 'just for today.' You will, in these choices, break the power of the conspiracy of self and Satan to make you a slave to reputation, stuff, and activities. Find others who are at peace with themselves, who are refusing the lie of more.

Then, dear Believer, you will discover the blessing of less.

Your Will Be Done, On Earth As In Heaven

Kathy (not her real name) was angry. She claimed that her husband was a selfish, miserable, critical man all the time! I have no reason to doubt that she was mostly telling the truth. The subtext of the story is that life has been turned inside out for her over the last few years - health problems, family turmoil - being just two of the difficult things in her life. She is a Believer and prays. Like many Christians, she thinks that Jesus should make her happy, that prayer should work like aspirin to make pain disappear, and that her Pastor should be able to dispense a spiritual prescription to make life easier.

Following Jesus is not a plan to make Kathy, or me, or you necessarily more happy by current standards. Jesus does not guarantee us smoother skin, better sex, or fatter wallets. He promises us His Presence and His Peace! At the Last Supper, to men who were stunned by His declaration that He was going to die, He said: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27, NKJV)

And where would they find such peace? In a life intimately connected relationally to Him. He illustrated that by saying, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener." (John 15:1, NIV) "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:9-11, NIV)

When Kathy's anger poured out, I did not condemn her. The truth is that life stinks for her right now! I believe Jesus weeps with her, too. He would not ask her to deny her pain, but He would call her from 'solutions' that are not real answers. He would point her to the necessity of making the choice to trust God, to ask Him for the miracle of bold love for her husband that mixes honesty and empathy, challenge and comfort. God can use her then to minister grace to this man who is working through his own struggles with life's disappointments and issues of faith.

Contemporary 'wisdom' would counsel Kathy to issue an ultimatum to Jim (not his real name) and if he does not change, to divorce him and try again. God's wisdom says "I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you." (Luke 6:27-28, NLT) Obedience provides an opportunity for God to finish His work in us, for us to know grace, and for depth of intimacy with Him to grow. And faith allows God to do amazing things in the world around us.

Jesus says, "I will never leave you, never forsake you." Is that your hope today, Believer, to live with Him at your side, to be hidden in His love and grace? We are tempted to live as animals live - foraging for food, fighting for security, and reproducing. God calls us higher. He calls us to live in Him, to let His Presence and Peace flow into our lives. Will you believe this promise? "Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:32-33, NKJV) There it is! Invite and submit to His rule - and He will take care of food, security, and the future!

"In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

(Matthew 6:9-13, NKJV)

Today's choice, tomorrow's outcome

Miley Cyrus, a 15 year old star on Disney TV appearing as 'Hannah Montana,' is a role model and the celebrity of the moment for millions of American pre-adolescent girls. Up to yesterday, she enjoyed a "G"-rated, squeaky clean image. Several weeks ago, in a photo shoot with famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, Cyrus allowed some 'artistic' shots to be taken that will be published in a national magazine. Pre-publication release of the photos provoked a storm of criticism and a quick apology by Cyrus for her choice to allow the pictures to be taken. Reading the story, I couldn't help but think of more than a few choices I have made in life that seemed good at the time but which produced a harvest of unintended consequences. How about you? Are you choosing wisely, inviting the best outcome in life? The importance of choosing wisely is a recurring theme in the Scripture! How do we choose wisely?

Most basically, we must decide who is Lord, God or Self. Elijah, the fearless prophet of God at a time when Israel was deeply involved in idolatry, laid down this challenge: "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." (1 Kings 18:21, NKJV) Who is in charge of your life, Believer? Have you made an irrevocable choice to embrace God's rule, committing yourself to follow His ways in all things, everyday? None of us does it perfectly! But, we can and, by the power of the Spirit, we will grow in grace and He will forgive us our sins and failures.

If we choose to make Him the Lord of life, it follows that we must discern His purpose. Wouldn't we be foolish to say, "I am a disciple of Christ," but have no idea where is He leading us? Jesus asks, "Why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?" (Luke 6:46, NLT) Some who call themselves Christians wrap the Bible around their lives. The words of Jesus become a veneer that hides their own self-will. A disciple who is sincere wraps his life around the Word! Prayerfully, honestly, humbly he gives himself to know and understand the Word and, having internalized it, allows the principles to shape every decision.

It is hard to give up our freedom of choice! For those of us who were taught to value self-expression, personal fulfillment, and happiness above all things, it is a hard thing to kneel before the Cross of Christ and 'die to Self.' I want to do what makes Jerry happy, but I am not my own. Nor are you, Believer. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV) That is not a grim statement of resignation, at all. It is a declaration of a glorious privilege. We are sons, not servants, and we make our Father's will known in this world; "His good, pleasing, and perfect will." (Romans 12.2) The paradox, in terms of human reasoning, is that the person who surrenders himself to God finds is the most free person of all - free from slavery to sin, free from fear of judgment, and free to become the person he was designed to be by his Creator.

What choices are you making today? Are they wise? Are they in keeping with your heritage as God's child?

Jesus promises that choosing wisely to live in the will of God produces the best outcome. Meditate on this passage and let it shape your ways. "Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27, NIV)
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All to Jesus, I surrender,
all to Him, I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him,
in His presence daily live.

I surrender all,
I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessed Savior.
I surrender all!

All to Jesus, I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee.
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

- Judson Van DeVenter - public domain

How to have a great week

"After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself." (1 Samuel 18:1, NIV) The crown prince, Jonathan, became the close friend and ally of David, the man whom God had chosen to take the throne instead of him! That kind of thing was unheard of in a time when kings even killed off their own family members to eliminate competition. In the story, Jonathan defends David, warns him of his father's murderous rage, and respects God's call to the very end of his life. Where we would expect to find rivalry and defensiveness, we find two men who love each other deeply. Both of their lives were enriched by their relationship.

Some think that love is a sign of weakness. Such persons live defensively, are quick to take offense, are always protecting their dignity and insisting that others give them what they believe they are entitled to receive. If another steps in front of them in a line, agitation sets in. If someone does not listen to them, they are angry. When overlooked for a promotion or recognition they feel they deserve, they sulk and even sabotage the one who was rewarded. But love is actually the expression of amazing strength of character. Those who live in love choose to live at peace, giving respect without the need to have it returned. Instead of seeing others as competitors or life as a contest, each day brings them opportunities to care for others- good, bad, noble, base, young, old, powerful, weak - it just doesn't matter!

Jesus is the model of this kind of life. He boldly loved others. In a time when children were treated much differently than we treat them today, He allowed them to climb onto his lap and 'blessed' them. That word, by the way, does not just mean he pronounced a prayer over them. It can mean He made them laugh by raising their spirits! He did not consider Himself too good to sit down to eat with those who lives were moral wrecks. For that He earned the scorn of the religious elite who thought they were insulting Him when they called Him "friend of sinners." He took their words as commendation that He was truly doing God's work! On the night when His own heart was broken as He faced the Cross, He did not insist on being comforted. Instead, He gathered His friends at Passover dinner and washed their feet! "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." (John 13:15, NIV) And, then He chose to die for the sins of the world - the Sinless One taking on the sins of the world - and making us right with our Father. "Greater love has no man than this, that he should lay down his life for his friends!"

Do you love well? Those who live in love enrich others and they are made rich in return! Love is a choice to become aware of others, to put their needs before our own, and to appropriately express concern. A person who loves takes himself out of the center of things and gives his attention to those around him. Here's a word from the Word. It is familiar, but read it with thought, prayerfully asking the Lord of Love to give you understanding of what it means.
"We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
We love each other because he loved us first." (1 John 4:16-19, NLT)

Go, love your world! When you do, you will have a great week, for you will be pleasing your Heavenly Father and you will experience the joy of His Presence.

Things I hate!

Hate is a strong word that offends some people. The dictionary defines hatred as "an intense dislike, extreme hostility." The tolerant culture in which we live tries to smooth out the wrinkles of hatred in us, and for good reason. Hatred is a nuclear emotion! It packs a lot of punch and, if not carefully monitored and properly focused, becomes a toxin that destroys us. But, there are things I hate.

High on my list of things hated is abuse of power! Whether it is a government official throwing his weight around, a parent misusing his authority, or a spiritual leader feeding himself at the expense of those who follow him; I hate it. My blood boils when I see a powerful person exploit a weaker one.

I hate hypocrisy- in me, and in the world around me. As much as I love authenticity, I know there are shadows in my life, places where the truth is obscured. It makes me angry when I become aware of a gap between what I profess to believe and how I live. When I am in a room with a poser, puffing and pretending to be someone he is not, the desire to shout out the truth is nearly overwhelming.

I hate suffering, especially the kind that is unnecessarily inflicted on others by people who just don't care. Recently my uncle told me of touring WW2 Nazi concentration camp at Dachau. Those imprisoned there were required to wear a hat at all times and to always stay on the concrete walkways. If a prisoner stepped off the walkway, he was shot by guards in towers. Sadistic guards would go among the prisoners, grab the hat from someone's head and toss it onto the grass. Then they would order the man to retrieve his hat or suffer punishment. When he stepped off the walkway, he was shot down. If he did not, he was beaten to death! That is an extreme example, but the same kind of cruelty, just of a different degree, exists all around us. Why people enjoy inflicting pain on others is a mystery to me.

I hate sin. Here it gets a lot less black and white. I do hate sin, but sometimes I desire it. The Bible teaches us that this part of the normal human experience. "The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge." (Romans 7:21-23, The Message) I cannot trust my own resolve to protect me from doing wrong! In fact, just about the time I start to feel self-assured, just about the time I conclude that I am beyond the reach of some temptation, I find myself locked in battle with it. The Bible goes on to say, "Jesus Christ ... acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different." (Romans 7:24-25, The Message)

Let me circle 'round and close the loop of this thought. A Believer who fails to acknowledge that he is prone to be tempted, that the sinful nature and the enemy of his soul are always ready to seduce him given the slightest opportunity, is very likely to become all the other things on the list of things I hate! Yes, I am prone to those things. If I don't not hate sin in me, I will focus on the sins of others and become a critical abuser. I will fail to see my own failures and become hypocritical, with a stench of self-righteousness covering my life. I will inflict suffering on others by demanding from them what I cannot or will not demand of myself. That is why I love Jesus! He is my Savior. For no other reason than love, He invites me to the Cross, where He died to reconcile me to my Father and to restore, in me, the ability to do God's will. I kneel in humility, acknowledging that I have sinned and that I am a sinner. Forgiveness flows and I find release from guilt, renewal of hope, and the possibility of transformation. Then, He invites me to be filled with the Holy Spirit, daily, and the power of the Spirit in me changes me 'from glory to glory.'

Believer, hate sin; but be careful that your hatred of it, drives you only to the Cross! If you allow it to take you anywhere else, that hatred will destroy you and cause you to harm those around. But, if your extreme aversion to sin takes you to the Cross, you will be transformed into a warrior of love, making the world right. Then, this will be true of you. "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, NIV)
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