You are an Influencer!

The explosion of our use of social media has brought us a new ‘occupation.’  A person can now become an ‘influencer.’  In the old days we called them ‘sales professionals’, I think. In case you do not know, an influencer is a person who enjoyed a large following on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube. She produces media designed to influence’ her audience's purchasing decisions, promoting products and services, basing content around her own experience with the product that is featured.

This relatively new method of marketing is not actually all that new. What has changed is the reach of an individual through social media. The Avon lady of the past who ‘influenced’ her neighborhood and family is now replaced by the person whose skill gathers the attention of thousands from far and wide.

So, are you an influencer? You may not think so, but all are. Our lives are interconnected with others; our words and values affect others. What kind of influence are YOU?

My Christian friend, Jesus calls us to become people who change our world! When we trust Him and embrace the call to ‘come and follow Me’ that He gives to us, like it or not, we become His representatives in this world.

Here is how He describes our lives - “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  - Jesus (Matthew 5)

In decades of Christian ministry, I have been part of the process of hundreds of people coming to faith in the Living Lord. A few have done so because of something they read or because of a television program. A few more have been drawn to a local church and, hearing the good news of Jesus’ love, respond in faith. Most, however, are led by a friend, often influenced first, not by words, but by the love, peace, and/or purpose they observe in the life of another.

When we who claim to follow Jesus live markedly different lives, we WILL invariably influence our circle of friends.
When we are loving and care for even those who are hard to love, our actions are notable.
When we find a greater reason to live than wealth or pleasure, satisfied by knowing Christ, the contrast will be inescapable.
When we are humble, refusing to boast about ourselves and our accomplishments, always giving thanks, the difference from the culture around us cannot be ignored.

When I think of the responsibility of representing Jesus in my world, it can feel overwhelming. I know my own failures and sins. I know my tendency to wander from the Way. How about you?

Pray that the Spirit of God Who lives in you through faith to change you inside out.  Trust His grace. Invite His Presence to flow into you, like a river, and then from you as a refreshing stream.

I am greatly encouraged by the words of Paul. He reminds us that we are God’s own and that the ‘influence’ we bring to our world is NOT the result of our own charisma, attractiveness, or intellect.  Think deeply on these words then pray to bring real, lasting positive change to those in your circle.

 “Thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.
And who is equal to such a task? (the implied answer, none of us on our own, but all of us through the Spirit) Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.” 
(2 Corinthians 2)

Be the salt that flavors and preserves.
Be the light that brings the color and beauty to the dark world.
Be the fragrance of Jesus to others.

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Danger lurks in your success

We love winners, don’t we? Those ‘rags to riches’ stories inspire us. When the ‘ordinary’ kid we knew from our town goes pro in his sport we all feel a little pride. Sometimes we describe a person who has reached high office or gained great wealth without the benefit of a pedigree, private school, or powerful connections as a ‘self-made man.’ 

It is appropriate to recognize that accomplishment in that person who works hard, endures the difficult times, and works on skills that carry her to the pinnacle of success– But  we also need to know that nobody is a self-made person! There are always people in the background – parents who sacrificed to make an education possible, a friend who provided just the right encouragement at a critical moment, a spouse who shared the tough times, and God who blesses.

There is a real potential for danger when success comes our way. The Proverb says “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:17)  Jesus told a story of a man met with success, whose crops were bountiful. Instead of thanksgiving, the man concluded that it was time to reward himself – “Take life easy. Eat, drink, and merry!”  He forgot charity, humility, and gratitude!

How do you handle success?

Success can bring more spiritual hazard our way than disappointment or failure! It is true! . When we are knocked down, beat up or broken we are much more likely to reach for help, to know our need and readily accept counsel. But, when we are winning, the temptation is to congratulate ourselves for our brilliance and to become proud.

The wise person understands that his success, in whatever field it may be, calls for humility. Another Proverb reminds us -"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2, NIV)  Success can fill us with entitlement; “I am so grand, everyone owes me.”  That grandiosity has destroyed many, sabotaging them at the height of their success.

Consider these examples-

*A person builds a great company and begins to think he is above needed the counsel of others and it comes crashing down.
*A politician reaches the office he has desired for decades and is brought down by corruption because he thinks he ‘deserves’ the perks offered to him.
*A Christian seeks the Lord, walks faithfully with him, and is blessed with prosperity which becomes a means of buying more pleasure and abandoning service of the very God who blessed him!

Success can be a real blessing if we remember our Source!

Those who understand the truth that God loves to give good gifts to His children and that with those gifts comes greater responsibility and accountability keep their balance in life. They remember the principle that we are blessed to be a blessing.

Have you enjoyed the rich blessings of the Lord?
Then, thank Him!
There is no need to hide your success.
But remember, it is not about you.

Take this Word with you today. It is the inspired counsel of God.
“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.”  (1 Timothy 6)

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Does nothing make you happy?

This week I read a funny and fascinating article which reported on one-star reviews left for some of America’s most beautiful national parks. Yosemite, known for beauty, was described by one reviewer as “trees that block views and too many grey rocks.”  The Grand Canyon which is awe inspiring to most was reviewed as “just a hole, a very, very large hole.”

Human beings can be incredibly difficult to please! Complaining is sometimes more a habit than a choice, a negative certainly. It is our nature to focus on the anomaly rather than the usual, to note the spot or stain first!

The old story of Israel’s emigration from Egypt to the “Promised Land” includes one account after another of the people’s ingratitude. God gave them manna, free and perfect food daily, and how did they respond? With complaint! “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!”  Somehow, they forgot that the food they had eaten in Egypt was purchased by their slavery.

The tragedy is that we are not all that different too often. When something disturbs our comfort or shifts us into a situation that requires us to adapt, what is our default response? Complaint! In the Summer we are too hot, in winter, too cold. Seeing our neighbor well-dressed suddenly we conclude that our clothes are rags in comparison.

Have you allowed yourself to slip into constant complaints or criticism? I confess that I have failed in that regard too often as well.

Two choices will make a difference for us.

The first is genuine humility, a refusal of an attitude of entitlement. When that thought “I deserve” arrives, kill it immediately by confessing that you are no more entitled that anyone else to whatever it is that has seized your imagination. Kneeling before God with a prayer to accept this day from His hand helps to keep us humble.

The second is the surrender of our will. We can learn to say this with conviction - “You are God, I am not” Giving ourselves to Him to use as He chooses, where HE chooses, with whatever resources He gives provides fertile soil in which contentment grows. Please do not think I am describing a life of apathy! Our passion cannot be for our own agenda, but rather for His.

Paul’s words can be more than a motto. He says  “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.”  (Philippians 4)

In a life of humility and surrender, the grace of gratitude grows. as a fruit of the Holy Spirit’s life that can flourish. The Word is simple and clear - "No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT)  I pray for a better grade in gratitude and thus, a better life in 2019.

So, let me put an question to you to will be a key to personal happiness.

Does gratitude flavor your life?

Are the words that fill up the air and your first thoughts shaped by an attitude of appreciation and gratitude? Want a better estimate? Ask your spouse or a trusted friend for a grade! In the ordinary situations of life are you more prone to gripe and complain over minor inconvenience or have you learned how to let go of self-centeredness that blocks sincere gratitude?

Let me suggest that you join me in a prayer of praise, true worship, heart-deep expressions of your thankfulness for His love. May the light of Jesus shine brightly in us as we break the cycle of complaint, replacing our gripes with ceaseless thanks.

Here is a word from the Word.

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.

The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

(Psalm 118:24-29, NIV)

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So MANY Words!

In our time we live with a barrage of words that seem to mean less and less. A flood of political opinion fills our screens, flows from 24/7 ‘news’ channels, and is shared on countless podcasts. Pundits tell us how to invest our money, maximize our time use, parent our children, enjoy more intimate relationships, and … well, everybody has an opinion.

James keeps it short and sweet in his inspired words that warn excessive speech. ^“Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.”  (James 5.12)  

He repeated what he had learned from Jesus who said it like this – “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No;’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5)

As I meditated on that passage in James today, I asked myself a hard question –
Do I devalue my words by using too many
or by misusing the gift of language trying to create a false “reality?’

Inflation is not just about money it is all around us. How easily we can slip into a pattern of puffing up ourselves with words that are less than honest, far beyond a simple “yes” or “no.”

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

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

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

IF we believe Jesus’ words about truth and authenticity, we will take care to avoid the trap of word inflation knowing that it isn’t just a ‘little thing everyone does’ but something that offends the living God.

Christ’s followers should be so authentic, so transparent, that no one even thinks to question the truthfulness of what they say or wonder if there is any need to search for hidden messages. Take another look at the wisdom of James from a paraphrase of the Bible called ‘The Message.’  "Since you know that God cares, let your language show it. Don’t add words like "I swear to God" to your own words. Don’t show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can’t be used against you."

Let’s pay attention to what we say.
Have I developed a habit of word inflation, even in the little stuff?
When I repeat a story do I accurately reflect or shade the report to favor my own point of view?
When I speak of myself do my words give life or death to others?
Does that way that I use language always shine the favorable light on ME?

Even though I encourage us to aim for honesty I do NOT mean that we should, in the name of being real, take the liberty to say hurtful, mean, or ugly things! There's a time for discretion which is expressed best by silence. Sometimes the best words are no words.

Honor the Lord by refusing all forms of puffery, dishonesty, and fluff!
Refuse to cultivate an image.
Be the person God, in His grace, has called you to be, nothing more, nothing less.

I pray that we will follow Paul’s example when he was challenged by false teachers who exaggerated their resumes. He declares – ^“Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”  (2 Corinthians 5.2)

Can I get an amen?

You CAN Change!

The old adage insists that "a leopard cannot change its spots." Can a person, especially one with bad traits, change his basic nature or character? The answer is a qualified “yes!” We cannot transform ourselves into saints without an intervention, a moment of conversion. God promises to do in us what we cannot do for ourselves. Truth transforms!

James, in his letter to us, says - "(God) chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession." (James 1:18, NLT) He acts out of His love. What’s my part? He goes on - “Humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls." (James 1:21, NLT) 

The Good News of Christianity is that we can know Divine Love, no longer living under the cloud of guilt and condemnation. It is a tragedy when the only message heard is about sin and death! The whole story carries us from alienation to restoration. John says - “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” (3:16-17)

What is required of us?

 Accept the Word!

When guests come to my home, I want them to feel welcome, to realize that I have anticipated their arrival. I want them to feel valued because I have provided for their comfort. My aim is to be hospitable, encouraging, hopeful, and welcoming.

James says that God has planted His truth in us,
but it is up to us to welcome Him, to give His word a home in us.

So how do we accept the Word?

IF the preacher’s sermon touches a sensitive place in your life, a habit which you are struggling to change, do you get angry and throw up walls, or do you open your heart to the Spirit’s work?
When you read the Scripture and the text comes alive through the Spirit, asking for a change that He desires, do you say a ready “Yes” to Him and move to obedience or offer excuses about the impossibility of it all?
When you discover God’s declaration of a new identity in Christ Jesus do you give thanks and receive it for yourself, or do you doubt His power to transform your mind and heart?

Accepting the Word has the rich benefit of unleashing the power of God in our lives to ‘save our souls.’  This is more than just getting us to Heaven! Salvation is not just future, it is for ‘right here, right now.’

The full meaning is that the Word implanted and accepted restores us to full spiritual health, makes us whole where we are broken, and allows to find that ‘life to the full’ of which Jesus spoke. The Psalm says that the Lord “saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them." (Psalm 107:19-21, NLT)

We can change, not just by discipline or devotion but by God’s grace and power. We can become His dear children, beloved, and pleasing to Him as we give the Truth a home in our heart and mind, letting it grow like seed to a full harvest.

Have you believed the true Word?
Have you invited the Word into your life?
Is the Truth shaping your decisions today?

Here is a word from the Word. Hear it, learn from it, love it. "Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:13, NLT)

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Feeling Invisible?

Are you one of those people who feel ‘invisible?’  Do others overlook or even devalue you because some ‘difference’ in you?

The world is frequently unkind to those who are deemed ‘broken’ in some way. IF you think I’m wrong …
Ask the kid with some disability about his daily experiences at school.
Ask the girl whose body does not conform to the beauty ideals of social media!
Ask the man whose business failed.
Ask the person who struggles with chronic disease.
Ask the elderly person who cannot move or think as quickly as they once did.

 Some of us shy away from those we find hard to deal with. We avoid that person who acts or speaks in ways that bring us discomfort. Without words we may speak loudly to another person, letting them know that they are ‘that’ person, the ‘invisible’ one, implying that they are too broken to love.

An essay in Christianity Today (Sept/Oct – 2025) was written about God’s care for the “good,” not just the “perfect”  “When the Church sees disability solely as something to be fixed rather than as something that can be honored and received, it obscures the Truth of creation’s goodness and distorts the image of God.”  Yes, think about that!

A young woman in our congregation comes to us with halting steps, unable to speak, touching others with quiet grunts that seem to express recognition. She obviously delights in the music of worship. Should our only prayer be for healing or should we consider that God has a purpose for her, that she is worthy of being counted our ‘sister’ and a gift to our congregation?

Jesus was always aware of the needs of those others considered ‘broken.’ 
He touched lepers.
He engaged with those who were possessed by demonic beings.
He let prostitutes into His company- a scandal, right?
He looked up into a tree and saw a social outcast, a man short in stature, whose heart was aching for love, and He went to Zacchaeus’ house for dinner.

As Jesus became more well-known, the rich came to Him, but He was not seduced by their money, power, or influence. He remained the champion of the broken. His mission statement was not just for publication, He lived it.

Quoting Isaiah, He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” (Luke 4:18-19, NLT)

The radical Gospel follows His path which is, truly, the ‘narrow road and few find it!’  Many Christians develop romantic notions of ministry to some needy part of our world. They are going to feed the hungry, house the homeless, love the orphan – and they do, for about 6 months. When they find that the pit of human need is bottomless, that people do not always (I might even say seldom) respond with gratefulness. Change is slow in coming. When their ‘service’ loses the shine, when excitement fades, too many retreat to the company of those who seem to be whole, who appear to have life all together, those who bring fewer demands and less discomfort.

God forgive us when we, the Church, take the broad road of the ‘world’ and only loves the lovely!

James, the pastor of First Church in Jerusalem, was inspired to teach us. His words are pointed. Take them to heart, as I did this day.
” My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well,  doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?

Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  (James 2)

Jesus offers a Gospel for the rest of us!
Yes, in the end, we are all imperfect, broken by sin, scarred and marred – but as He loves us, we are made into “His treasure” and we are declared “Good” though imperfect. Oh, what a Savior!

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Excuses, Excuses

How honest are you with yourself? It’s a tough question, isn’t it? Are you self-aware, able to see what you do clearly as well as understanding why you do it?  Learning to be honest to God and ourselves is a big step in spiritual maturity, a key to personal freedom.  I am a real supporter of AA as a pathway to sobriety. The 10^th step addresses this issue, with the person seeking that freedom committing he will “take personal inventory and when wrong promptly admit it.”

In recent months I noticed that I was becoming more irritable and critical. Finally, I took time to prayerfully examine my life and realized that I had been repressing an unfocused anger. I took steps to address it, to think about it, and to ask God, the Holy Spirit, to work in me for a change. What freedom I found in the process.

Often when we are challenged about some choice or behavior our first response is to rationalize and excuse, pointing out why we are right. It is a pattern as old as Eden, where Adam told God that "it was the woman you gave me that gave me the fruit!" She, in turn, blamed the serpent, "it deceived me and I ate the fruit!"

Think of the various excuses you use to justify yourself. Some blame bad parents. Others point to a poor education. We might point out our genetic heritage, co-workers, traffic, our spouse … the list is long, isn't it?  Many years ago, a wise teacher repeated a phrase that sticks in my mind. It was her definition of a self-justifying excuse - "a skin of a reason, stuffed full of lies!"  With that little phrase, she pressed us to be responsible people.

If you want to be right with God, throw away the excuses; forget about convincing Him that 'the Devil made you do it.' Spiritual freedom and maturity begin with honesty – with ourselves, with others, and with God. John teaches us - "If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." (1 John 1:8-9, NLT)

We look at the mess we've created
with ill-informed, or selfish, or thoughtless choices
and we say,
"That's what I did. God help me!" -
the glorious truth is - He will.

In the book of Romans there is this passage that is packed with promise. Take a look.
"Now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:21-24, NIV)

The Law of Moses defined the standard we were to live up to in order to be acceptable to Him. In our human frailty, we all fail – miserably! Those failures are sin, and sin separates us from God. But God… yes, He stepped in to provide a way home, a path to maturity.  The situation is not hopeless, because what I could not do for myself- get right with God - has been done for me by Christ Jesus.

When we get ‘honest to God,’ when we turn to Him in faith accepting His invitation to live in grace, we are justified! No excuses are needed. God declares our sins forgiven and erases the debt and guilt. Yes, as the old phrase says, I am new; “just as if I'd” never sinned!

Are you wallowing in guilt?
Are you still trying to excuse the things you have done that you know are wrong, sinful in the eyes of God and others?
Throw away the excuses and choose to humbly acknowledge the truth. THEN, accept the gift of forgiveness and renewal. We can become ‘new creations’ through Christ’s death and Resurrection, empowered to please God by the Spirit Who lives in us.

It is the way to real and lasting change, the only way to become genuinely holy, and therefore, pleasing to God.

Take this Word with you today. Meditate on it for a few moments.
"Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners." (Romans 5:1-6, NLT)

Lord God, lead us to freedom, to maturity, to lives of beauty through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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More than My Fear

Have you ever sensed panic rising in you, wanting to run from a situation as fast as you can or to find a place to hide? I remember facing major surgery for the first time in my life about 15 years ago and feeling possibly the worst fear I had ever known. Waiting outside the operating room, I trembled, my breath coming in short gasps! I survived and learned a whole new lesson about overcoming panicky emotions.

Fear can be conquered with faith! Jesus' disciples who were in a boat with Him as a storm rose on the Sea of Galilee. When they panicked, they turned on Him and accused Him of not caring for them! Mark tells it this way – The disciples said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

He asked them to think about their reaction to the storm, to consider the totality of their resources, wondering why they gave into fear so quickly.

Emotions are a wonderful gift UNTIL they are allowed to rule us.

Fear can become a panic, running wildly through our thoughts, if we do not speak faith to it.

Anger can turn into a roaring blaze of rage if we do not restrain it.

Desire will turn rapidly to all-consuming lust, greed, or gluttony if we do not invite the Spirit to rule in us.

So, David teaches us by example when he talks to himself! He says, "Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things he does for me." (Psalm 103:2, NLT)

There is an attractive myth of our time, widely believed, that tells us that every thought must be spoken, every feeling explored, every desire fulfilled. In truth, self-discipline, that wonderfully valuable tool for successful living, teaches us to rein in our thoughts, or redirect our emotions, and to restrain our desires. Those choices may cause us some discomfort, but none of them will be fatal!

Ever see a fully grown adult throwing a tantrum? Not pretty, is it? Then, too, some make poor choices to satisfy some urge today and in the process sabotage tomorrow, immaturely blaming the mess they create on someone else. We try to excuse ourselves by saying, “I just could not help it,” but in this we lie. People enslaved by ‘living in the moment’ are often unaware of the deepening chaos they are creating. So we must learn to speak to our own soul with the voice of reason and in the power of God's Spirit.

Spirit-filled Christians who speak Truth to their inner storms gain greater freedom with each victory. They grow in godliness. The Spirit produces a wholeness of life that makes them the overcomers God desires them to be.

We do not gain this victory by ignoring the inner tumult, or by denying negative emotions, or by repressing unpleasant feelings. We know what we feel, but we also know that God gives the power of choice and promises us His Spirit lives in us to help us be over-comers! We can fully acknowledge our emotions without letting them take control.

Jeremiah, called 'the weeping prophet,' faced calamity and felt the crushing weight of sorrow. His example is powerful. Here is how he spoke to himself - “My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD." I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness, and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fails. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:18-23, NIV) Oh, how I love that passage as it gives me courage to face reality and to overcome my first responses.

Here is a truth to take with you today. “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 10:5, NIV)

A contemporary paraphrase of the holy Word, The Message, enlarges the thought. Let these words become part of your resources to overcome fear. Learn to live in faith, and to see what God can do with the challenges of your life.

Read and rejoice! "The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fairly. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture.

We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity."  (2 Corinthians 10:3-6, The Message)

Lord, help us to become ‘more than overcomers’ so that we live for Your glory. Amen.

Sorrow’s Possibilities

I visited Bev’s grave yesterday, remembering. 10 years ago we were facing the approach of death as the deadly cancer in her body advanced. Sitting there, grief settled over me like a wet, grey fog.

And then, too, I thought about the assassination of Charlie Kirk and his Memorial service held on Sunday. My heart ached with sorrow for a life ended too soon, for a young wife left alone with little ones. And, my sadness was compounded by the too often awful words stirred up by his death – some criticizing his life and others praising him – using harsh and hateful words in the process. Could we not just agree that a good man died in a terrible way?

My melancholy widened to take in the sorrow of millions in this world who live under despots, in desperate time of war, and with great fear! It was not a good day.

But, I found great comfort in remembering that there is One to Whom I can turn Who understands, Who does not turn away, Who will not judge me weak for my tears. Yes, I am talking about my Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Isaiah wrote of the Lord’s Servant, our Savior, describing Him as “despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;  it was our sorrows that weighed him down.”  (Isaiah 53)

Joy is a great gift and thankfully there is much in my personal life for which I am joyful. Like most people normally I would do almost anything to avoid sadness. Should I find myself sorrowing I sometimes look for a way to exit that emotion as quickly as possible. And yet we should know that … there is a kind of maturity that grows in our sorrow that cannot happen otherwise.   C. S. Lewis wrote that “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”  

Levi Lusko, a young pastor from Montana, wrote, Through the Eyes of a Lion, in which he tells the story of his daughter’s death. Lenya went to visit her Grandparents for dinner and a few hours later, her life here on earth came to an abrupt close during a severe asthma attack.

Told without self-pity, the story urges us to grab onto God’s promise of eternal life and the Resurrection. Levi does not gloss over his grief, nor does he diminish the real struggle that accompanies loss. His words are not clichéd or empty triumphalism. He offers, instead, a template for applying the Word of God to life, signposts to the path of faith that will protect us from letting sorrow descend into utter despair.

He writes of the new parts of his life that emerged after Lenya’s death. I could identify with his realization that his pain had broken up hard places in his life and made him much more tender. It has happened to me, too.  I was once a man who resisted tears, but I am now touched easily by pain, much more empathetic than I once was. It was pain, awful loss, that broke my heart, in a good way.

Levi points out that a new touch of the Spirit, an ‘anointing,’ can result from being crushed. He explains- in the Bible priests and kings were ‘anointed’ in a ritual that involved having olive oil poured over their heads. Here’s a reference - “…the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe.” Psalm 133:2 (NLT) This olive oil that marked that person as God’s own, as one prepared for service, as one empowered by the Spirit was the product of a crushing.  

A press applied great pressure to the olives and it produced the oil that was used for anointing.  Now it gets good. “Jesus, who is both King and Priest forever, when to Calvary, but first he went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Gethsemane means ‘olive press.’ …. Beyond the ceremonial oil, there in the Garden, Jesus knelt down and was in such agony (of spirit), under such great pressure that He sweat drops of blood. There He was crushed before He went to the cross. … You cannot get to Calvary without going through Gethsemane.”  (Lusko)

My greatest desire is to be used by God to do His work. More than money, fame, or fun times I want to know Him and make Him known. But, I cannot do that without an anointing of the Spirit. Nor, can you.

At least a part of the cost of that anointing is crushing!

We need look no further than the life of Jesus. Isaiah says that “he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.”  His crushing released the beauty of our salvation!

Do you desire to be an intimate of God, ‘anointed’ for service? Pain is part of the process!

A. W. Tozer writes that “It is doubtful whether God could ever bless a person greatly until He has hurt him deeply.”  You may have to think about that for a while before you add your agreement.

If you are walking in a hard situation, if you are wrestling with pain, grief, rejection, loss, temptation – whatever is actually so common to the human experience – offer it to God for His purpose. Ask Him to make you tender, to sharpen your spiritual hearing, and to release the sweet fragrance of His anointing in your crushing.

And always remember – Jesus Christ knows sorrow and walks with you in those moments.

Amen

______________

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Truth or Mercy?

I struggle with a real tension in my Christian life. When should I show mercy to another and when should I tell them the hard truth? Jesus asks serious disciples to carry His message out into the world not just to hang out together in a church sanctuary. That message is one of God’s great love, of humanity’s great sin, and of the gift of life eternal for those who receive Him in faith and follow after Him.

He warned that “Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”  (Mark 13) The Gospel is great news BUT it runs head-on into human rebellion, calling people to surrender to God and that is a message of offense!

One temptation which all serious Christians face in this culture urges us to take the edge off of the Message, to only speak of the love of God, to ignore sin. The texts about God’s mercy and love are so much more acceptable than those that call us to change our ways and conform to His will, aren’t they?

So, how do we live faithfully to the call of Christ?

First, there must be humility.
Those who love Jesus are sinners saved by grace. We cannot forget His mercy shown to us and assume a place of moral superiority. The weeds of hypocrisy grow in fields of spiritual pride.

Second, we remember that PEOPLE matter.
Every interaction we have must begin with genuine acceptance that wordlessly announces: “You matter to me because you are a person.”  

Some would suggest that loving that person requires us to affirm their choices, making them feel good about who and what they are. There is the real rub. We cannot claim to love a person who is living in open rebellion against God and say to them - “You are fine, just as you are.” 

Third, we avoid taking the role of a judge.
Jesus counsels us that when we interact with those who have sinned that we  “First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”  The call for others to repent and be reconciled to God through Christ is not delivered from a lofty perch. We get down into the dirt of life and offer a hand, show the way, weep with the broken, and give bread to the hungry.

Fourth, we seek to understand and put the Gospel into real life context.
How people act and what they do have a backstory, and Christians do well to listen before they speak, to understand the situations into which they speak.

Jude teaches us that a one-size-fits-all approach misses the will of God. "Build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives." (Jude 20-23, NLT)

Some need mercy, a genuine compassion that sees where life Is beyond their control, where they are captives of their experience, their past, or their incomplete understanding. 

Others need rescue! We have to stage an intervention. Risking offense, we tell them the truth about the way they live and their ultimate end, judged by God. 

Jude says it’s like reaching right into the fire and pulling the stick out before it’s burned. What an image. And, for such a person, we need a healthy fear of the power of temptation so we don’t get drawn into their disobedience.

Fifth, our message must be offered out of our own relationship with Jesus.
The mission to which Jesus calls us is not just to make church members or to share our particular religious convictions. We invite others to KNOW the One who has given us life and hope.

Our own relationship with Christ must be fresh! We encourage each other, pray real intimate prayers, and remember that we are all saved by merciful grace. Nothing speaks more powerfully than a rich, current, and deep love of God. It makes us shine.

Taking the Gospel into our world is no easy calling. It requires the insight and wisdom of the Spirit, which is given to us all. I hope you agree that real love never just leaves others alone, out of some mistaken sense of privacy.

My prayer – “Lord, keep us in your love and let us be merciful people of healing, sharing Truth, and giving light to dark places in this world. Amen.”

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Hope that holds me together

Somebody once said, "blessed are those who expect nothing, for they will never be disappointed." True enough, but is that really how anyone wants to live? Is the path to serenity paved with apathy?

You might say, "I don't know and I don't care." If you did, you would be among millions of Americans who choose to live a life detached, not truly alive in fact, but simply existing!

Daring to hope creates the possibility of disappointment! 
HOPE creates opportunity for fulfillment and joy!

The true foundation of lasting hope is God’s care.  The ancient preacher says - "Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with her who lies in your embrace be careful of your words. But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." (Micah 7:5,7 NIV)

Paul was inspired to give us this direction. "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." (1 Timothy 6:17, NIV)

People, even those who are close, may abandon you when you need them most.
Wealth, here today, lost tomorrow, can never provide real security.
But, the Lord sustains hope through times of sickness, war, recession, and even death.

What does it mean to 'put our hope in God?'

We transfer our expectations to His promises -
that He will provide what we need, not what we want;
that His love will never fail or falter,
that  "He is faithful, even when we are faithless;"
that He gives us eternal life through Christ Jesus.

Even professing Christians sometimes get it wrong, thinking they are hoping in the Lord, while in reality making God into a kind of personal magician who is expected to grant them all the joys of this present world, with little or no passion for spiritual things. 

Hope in God enters into our present pain. It does not seek to escape it. More times than I can remember, I have stood with families who have come to grief, with those who have a diagnosis of terminal disease, with people whose lives have gone upside down. I too have known that kind of experience. My choice?  I wait in hope. I trust God.

That choice is not always the easy or simple one! It is made in faith in God, the assurance I know that He can keep us when we hurt, hold us together when life is crumbling, and do what is beyond my comprehension at the moment. This kind of faith does not erase the pain of missed expectations. But, it allows real hope to grow.

Are you struggling to make sense of life today?
Is some disappointment causing you anguish?
Have you given up hope, choosing to live in apathy?

Put your hope in God! In faith, accept the love of Jesus, deep, sustaining, limitless love. Pray that the Holy Spirit will change your heart so that you will come to desire His love and let Him become the reason you live. Actively hand over your doubts and disappointments to Him in prayer. Look upwards beyond your present ache, feelings of lack, and/or fears and a new tomorrow will take shape.

Here's a word from the Word. "We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure." (Hebrews 6:11, NIV) "We who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever." (Hebrews 6:18-20, NIV)

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