Tired? No, make that, exhausted? What now?

The car was from the year of my birth; an antique.  A 1955 model, it looked like it just rolled out of a new car showroom. Obviously, whomever was driving it had invested time and money in restoration. As I looked it over I wished for ‘before’ pictures. I wonder if it was rusted, if the seat covers were ripped, if the paint was faded? Most likely some of those things were true, given the age of the machine; but no more.   

Restoration, renewal –  it is a great thing, isn’t it? When I am tired after a long day, I know that a good night’s sleep will bring energy for the next day. When I have a high output time in life, I know that there will be ‘down time’ during which I will find fresh inspiration.  I love Sundays, mostly because of the gift of renewal that I find in the gathering of the people of God, in singing the songs of worship, and being together at His Table.

Are you in need of renewal, friend? Has life exhausted you?  Maybe it was a long struggle through some illness or crisis. Perhaps your weariness is just from “life” and all of the endless effort required to keep it all going. Maybe you are bruised and beat up by disappointment or the cruelty of another. Or, you might be putting life back together after some failure? I know all of the above, but I also know the joy that comes when I find renewal in Him.

Isaiah, God’s preacher to Judah, looked beyond their coming destruction to the Promise God whispered to him.  He reminded the people of renewal they would find, too.  He said that they would struggle "until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops. Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest." (Isaiah 32:15-18, NLT)  Go back and re-read those lines. They are for us, too! In my prayers this morning, one of my requests was the Spirit to give me a new awareness of my righteousness (right standing before God) in Christ, that I would sense, anew, the confidence that comes from that place. How about you, friend?

Peter stood before the religious authorities who were trying to quash the message of Jesus, the Messiah and Savior.  Full of the Spirit, he told them that the deadness of soul that kept them from truly knowing God could be replaced with Life. How?  "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)   Turn to God!  Times of refreshing will come!

Pause to pray today. Take a renewal break. Find true recreation. (Another trip, more activity, some diversion is not likely to provide what you really need.)  Instead, look up and pray for the Spirit to touch you, yet again with restoration.  And here is a promise, our word from the Word today.
"God who made you has something to say to you; the God who formed you in the womb wants to help you. Don’t be afraid, dear servant Jacob, Jeshurun, (names for God’s people) the one I chose. For I will pour water on the thirsty ground and send streams coursing through the parched earth. I will pour my Spirit into your descendants and my blessing on your children. They shall sprout like grass on the prairie, like willows alongside creeks. This one will say, ‘I am God’s,’ and another will go by the name Jacob; That one will write on his hand ‘God’s property’— and be proud to be called Israel. (God’s own people)”  (Isaiah 44:2-5, The Message)

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My Lighthouse

 In my wrestling and in my doubts,In my failures, You won't walk out.Your great love will lead me through.You are the peace in my troubled sea,You are the peace in my troubled sea.

 In the silence You won't let go,In the questions Your truth will hold.Your great love will lead me through,You are the peace in my troubled sea.You are the peace in my troubled sea.

 My Lighthouse, my Lighthouse!Shining in the darkness,I will follow You, ohMy Lighthouse, my Lighthouse!I will trust the promise,You will carry me safe to shore.

 I won't fear what tomorrow brings,With each morning, I'll rise and sing.My God's love will lead me through.You are the peace in my troubled sea,You are the peace in my troubled sea. 

Fire before us,You're the brightest.You will lead us,Through the storms.

Rend Collective © 2013 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

I just want to do what I want to do

The boy sat next to me in Awana. He as energetic as he is bright, often being told, “sit down, stop talking.” In group time, the children were asked to share what they thought to be a ‘perfect day.’ Vincent’s answer? “A day when I could do what I want to do with no one telling me to stop.”  Another boy quickly remarked, “That’s for when you’re an adult.” I smiled, laughed almost. What a revelation of the human nature. “Let me be me. Someday, somewhere, I’ll get to do want I want to do.”  That desire is a part of our human nature whether we are 5 or 50, isn’t it?  We push the boundaries, seek our own way. We may be a little less transparent about our wish for ‘freedom,’ but it is there, isn’t it?

In obedience to the Lord, we discover the greatest freedom. We are liberated from guilt, released from shame, and able to live with the sense of God’s Presence in our day to day lives. The Scripture says it like this: "That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness. There your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years. So I was angry with them, and I said, ‘Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’ So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’ ” Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ." (Hebrews 3:7-14, NLT)  

The people that God loved, who He had led out of slavery, were becoming a nation, finding their identity in Him, and being shown the way to the Promised Land. With all that going for them, one would think that they would have been delighted by His ways, eager to learn more of Him.  He was providing everything they needed, His Presence visible to them in the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. But, they resisted, complained, refused to believe, and disobeyed. Ultimately, that entire generation spent the rest of their lives in the desert, unable to enjoy the Promise, dying apart from the full realization of what God had prepared for them.

What a lesson! My late wife, a gifted teacher, each year taught her first grade class this simple principle: “Obedience equals fun!”  In that she captured the essence of the freedom that comes with a heart and mind yielded to God, willing to bend to authority.  Do you believe it? Are you letting God lead you to the fullness of life that is found only in His will for you?

King Saul, a gifted leader, the first king of Israel, became arrogant and prideful. God, who had given him the place of leadership and esteem, could no longer lead that man. Gradually, he discarded every rule, broke every law.  Saul thought he could disguise his willfulness with religiosity. God’s spokesman, Samuel, challenged the king with these wise words of instruction and caution. “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23, NLT)

On this Monday morning, spend some time with the Lord. Let Him speak to every part of your heart, leading you to life as you respond sincerely and quickly to His direction. And, you will find the path of life!

Mediate on this word from the Word.

"So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him.  Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

Then you will destroy all your silver idols and your precious gold images. You will throw them out like filthy rags, saying to them, “Good riddance!” Then the Lord will bless you with rain at planting time. There will be wonderful harvests and plenty of pastureland for your livestock." (Isaiah 30:18-23, NLT)

____________

When we walk with Lord,

In the Light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way.

While we do His good will,

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey,

For there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus,

But to trust and obey.

-          Public domain

Jerry D. Scott, Pastor

Faith Discovery Church

Washington, NJ  07882

http://www.FaithDiscovery.com

Better yesterday? A great tomorrow? What about today?

In my experience with grief, I deal with two big temptations; living in the past or escaping into the future. For months following Bev’s death, almost every day I paged through old photos, remembering our life together.  Memory can be a gift but it unreliable.  I tend to make Bev a saint and to see my failures in a much darker shade!  When try to escape sorrow by looking far into the future, imagining what life might be, I am unproductive in the present, missing the opportunities of this day.  The wisdom of God urges me to take the grace He is providing right now!

Are you a captive of 'yesterday?'  
Are you letting regret to throw a chain of sadness or fear over you so that you will not walk confidently into what God has planned for today? Yesterday should be a teacher. Learning from the past is critical, but so is forgiveness.  We need to know the forgiveness of God as well as being willing to make the choice to forgive those who have offended us.  Jesus, knowing how important it was to let go of the past, taught to the disciples. "Pray like this, forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (Matthew 6:12, KJV)  The Word promises that when we “confess our sin, He is faithful to forgive and cleanse.” (1 John 1:9)  Maybe it is not regret that has gripped you.  Are you trying to recapture some moment of joy, reclaim some achievement, relive some spiritual experience?  It is time to let go and to thank God for what was good.  Build on what was done with excellence, and face forward.

Are you dreaming about tomorrow?
When I am trying to live in the future, I can easily justify procrastination.  Certainly, I am not the only one who has excused apathy today thinking life will be easier when 'I have more time,' or 'more money,'  or 'when the kids are grown,' or 'if I get that new job.'  Hope is a wonderful thing. I am powerfully drawn along in my Christian life by the promise eternal life, but, even as I keep Heaven in my sights on the horizon of time, I choose to live in the present.

Read this passage from Hebrews 3 and take note of the word “today.” "So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He’s the centerpiece of everything we believe  … That’s why the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, please listen’ … watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it’s still God’s Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul. These words keep ringing in our ears: Today, please listen; don’t turn a deaf ear as in the bitter uprising." (Hebrews 3:1,7, 12-14, The Message)

The writer is referring to the Israelites who were called out of Egypt to the Promised Land.  In spite of many experiences of the faithfulness and power of God, they failed to walk with God because they looked back at yesterday  or they anticipated tomorrow, falling into fear.  The past and the future were excuses for their rejection of the plan of God ‘today.’   The rosy tint of memory caused them to forget the cruelty of their Egyptian task-masters! Their fear of unknown future caused them to discount God's power so that they refused His call to claim the Promised Land.  As a result, that generation died in the desert.

Make the most of today’s opportunities. Here is a word from the Word, one packed with promise.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39, NIV)

Take the blessings of the present and pray with me:

"Father, thank you for this day.

Thank you for opportunities to do good,

to experience Your grace, and to see Your provision for my needs today.

Forgive me of the sins of yesterday, Lord, and release me from the chains of regret and guilt.

Give me the greatness of heart to set others free from indebtedness as You have forgiven me in Christ Jesus.

Open my eyes to the possibilities that exist today.

Help me to look around and to see what You're doing now and to join You in making a difference in the world.

Holy Spirit, fill me powerfully with life and let me be a life-giver to the people that I will interact with today.

In the name of Jesus, my Redeemer and my Hope, I ask these things.

Amen."

A marked man!

A half-century has passed but that Sunday afternoon experience is still with me. Pastor McDaniel led us into a swimming pool at a Bible Camp and one by one we professed our faith in Jesus Christ and then he plunged us into the water.  What happened there made me a marked man – a declared disciple of Jesus Christ.

Baptism, like the celebration of Communion, is as old as our Christian faith, rooted in Jesus’ own direction to us. “Go, make disciples, and baptize!” In our fellowship, we celebrate baptisms. Yes, it is a holy occasion, but not one of solemnity. It is a joyful time when shouts are in order because baptism is the public statement of the newly converted to the world that says, “I’m a Believer!” It is statement of hope, one that anticipates a new way of life.

Does the water wash away our sins? No, that is not the purpose. We are washed by the work of the Spirit, made guiltless by the offering Jesus made at the Cross. Baptism identifies us a Christian. It is a reenactment, so to speak, of Jesus’ experience.  In Romans we read this - "Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection." (Romans 6:3-5, NIV)  The former life dominated by the sinful nature is left behind and we anticipate a new life in the Spirit.

That is why we immerse those who have made a profession of faith. Baptism without faith is an act without significance, changing nothing.  Baptism of the faith-filled is a doorway into a whole new way of life, a moment when the Spirit is invited to live in that person in His fullness.  Baptism calls us into a unity, not forced, but real, growing out of a shared identity and hope. "For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28, NLT)

Been baptized since you believed? If not, why not?

Take the step of obedience to Christ, with full faith.  Invite the Spirit to turn that act of obedience into a moment of empowerment, filling you with Resurrection Life as you leave the old land behind!

Here is a word from the Word. “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all." (Acts 2:36-41, NLT)

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Spirit of God, descend upon my heart,
wean it from earth, through all its pulses move.
Stoop to my weakness mighty as Thou art,
and make me love Thee as I ought to love.

Hast Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own --soul, heart, and strength and mind.
I see Thy cross --there teach my heart to cling,
O let me seek Thee and O let me find.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh,
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear ---
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh:
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
Only holy passion filling all my frame.
The baptism of the heave'n descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love - the flame.

George Croly© Public Domain