Grave tending

On my lunch break I drove to the cemetery to plant the flowers that had been placed on Bev’s grave during Easter.  Sometime during the coming weekend I plan to return to seed the plot and to put mulch around the headstone. Taking care of her grave is a way to remember her, to honor the love we shared for 41 years. 

But, this I know:  my best life is not lived tending a grave. It's not what she would want. She is not there, she is in the Presence of the Lord. So, even while I tenderly remember her, I must gradually turn from the past to look ahead to what God has prepared for me in this new, though never sought, chapter of life!

There is a lesson for all of life in this. Paul speaks of the process of growth in Christ. A future focus gives us vision. Vision allows us to take hold of a God-blessed life! "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14, NIV)

We can become paralyzed by the past; captive to regret and remorse, or perhaps even unwilling to let go of some great moment of victory. If we are content to tend graves, we will never really live!  That is why we look up and expectantly pray – “What’s next, Lord? Lead me!” And, He will. 

Are you holding onto a grudge, hating someone who wronged you?  Stop grave tending!  Forgive them, for God’s sake, and find freedom.

Are you trying to relive that glory moment, going back repeatedly to try to rediscover the happiness of some bygone era? Stop grave tending!  Celebrate the love, memorialize the victory; and apply yourself to what God has for you now so that you can be a joyful and productive Christian.

Have you concluded that all your best days are behind you? Stop grave tending! Each season has its own purpose. Perhaps you are not as physically strong as you once were, but are you wiser now? Perhaps you lost a great job, but there are still goals to achieve. 

Here is a word from the prophet, a promise first made to the broken people of God. Their land invaded, their Temple torn down, their sons carried into captivity they were without hope. But God spoke, telling them that He was able to restore.  Stop tending graves and claim the promise today.  
"The desert and parched land …will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.  

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” 
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 
Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. 
Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert." (Isaiah 35:2-6, NIV)
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I Want The Joy

I want the joy of the Lord to come down.I want the joy of the Lord to fall now.I want the joy of the Lord in my life.I want the joy of the Lord to lift me.I want the joy of the Lord to change me.I want the joy of the Lord in my life.

 It's time I started dancingOver all these graves.It's time I gave You, oh my God,The highest praise.It's time to lift my voice,Oh, and beg for this blessing to fall!

Rita Springer © 2002 River Oaks Music Company (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

More than meets the eye ... living in hope

Despair looks to overtake us. Our youthful optimism gradually meets the realities of life. There is no escaping the fact of death and decay. Everything deteriorates with time. Cars rust. Gardens go to weeds. Bodies age. Systems break down. Empires rise and fall. Solomon’s sigh becomes all too familiar: “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?" (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, NIV) Unless . . .

We know Jesus Christ and the ‘redemption’ He gives to those who receive Him by faith. Let’s not sell our faith short by making it into a little bit of inspiration to just get us through another day!  Christ Jesus breaks down the barrier of time, giving us unending life. He brings Light to the dark despair by showing us that He is greater than sin and Satan. He shows us that our suffering is temporary and useful to God to cause us to hunger for the as yet unseen reality of our Father’s House. In short, Christians find a whole new way to live now because of the Hope of restoration, renewal, and justice!

Paul exclaims "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?" (Romans 8:18-24, NIV)

Living with grief I am tempted to look back, mourning for the life I once enjoyed. The rosy tint of nostalgia gives a sentimental glow to days gone by. I long to hear the laughter of my children in my house again. I ache to hold my wife in my arms, to hear her voice, to know her love.  But, looking back too long only produces sorrow and robs me of vision.  Spending too much wandering yesterday’s roads in your memory has no good end. 
Forgive the failures! 
Celebrate the victories! 
Make a memorial to love! 

Then, look ahead to the glory that will be revealed.

Paul says that the stirring of the Holy Spirit, that peace and Presence of God that we know, is but the firstfruits of what is to come.  Our best experiences of worship and the Joy of the Lord are just samplings of what God holds in reserve for us. Yes, for this time we do groan. We feel the weight of sin and all that it has brought to this Creation. But, we turn to the Lord and we find reason to hope because we know that the reign of death is limited and eternity, not a grave, is our destiny.

Feeling overwhelmed? Lost sight of tomorrow?  Here is a word from the Word.  Let it speak to your spirit, lifting you in hope today.
"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad.

There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." (1 Peter 1:3-7, NLT)

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Who breaks the power of sin and darkness?Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?The King of Glory, the King above all kings!

 Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder?Who leaves us breathless in awe and wonder?The King of Glory, the King above all kings!

 This is amazing grace,This is unfailing love,That You would take my place,That You would bear my cross.You laid down Your lifeThat I would be set free,Oh Jesus, I sing for all that You've done for me.

 Who brings our chaos back into order?Who makes the orphan a son and daughter?The King of Glory, the King of Glory! 

Who rules the nations with truth and justice,Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance?The King of Glory, the King above all kings!

 Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!Worthy is the King who conquered the grave!

This Is Amazing GraceJeremy Riddle | Josh Farro | Phil Wickham
© 2012 Phil Wickham Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Seems Like Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Bethel Music Publishing

CCLI License # 810055

What's the harm in just one look?

Right there next to the highway, I spotted ‘the’ truck. “Ah, why not?” I told myself, “Just take a look.”  Up close it was even more attractive, a nice Ford F150 with all the right kinds of options. I felt the tug of temptation, but I walked away. But, spending those few moments looking at that truck planted a seed and, for the last two weeks, images of that pickup truck occasionally slip into my conscious mind, especially when sadness comes. I am old and wise enough to know that my present grief makes me vulnerable to that kind of temptation.

Temptation’s whisper is seductive, isn’t it?  Money, power, sex, food, drink, ease … or Ford trucks … temptation finds the point of our weakness and pushes in. Everybody experiences it. The Bible says that temptation will come and that we should not think of ourselves as going through some unique experience when it does. "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience,” the Word says.  Then we are told that we can overcome -“and God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT)

Sheer determination is not going to win the battle for us! Jesus met the devil in the wilderness after a long fast. He was weak in body, hungry, and exhausted. He met each offer with the truth of the Scripture. He did not rant at the devil, nor did he whine about his situation. He boldly said, “It is written…” and after seeing that He was full in a way that allowed no success, we read that "the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus." (Matthew 4:11, NLT)  We meet temptation, regardless if it comes from the culture that surrounds us, the appetites of our body, or the devil himself, by being filled with the Word. We can master the temptations that come our way.  We are not on our own. God is with us and He has made a way.

How can we subdue the seductive voices?

We learn the Truth and choose to live in the Light!
Basic to overcoming is to know the truth. Temptations lose much of their luster when we take them out of the dark of our imagination and hold them up to the Light. What seems so good in our mind is not nearly so wonderful when we talk about it and the consequences that will follow if we go ahead and follow our impulse. 

We live in fellowship – with God and others!
Temptation gains strength when we hide it behind our pride. “What will they think of me if I admit to such feelings?” we think. However, there is real freedom in confession. Alcoholics Anonymous gives people who are struggling with sobriety a safe place to tell their story and to accept the support of a sponsor!  Let someone who is filled with the Spirit of God, who is wise and gentle, become your confessor. Amazing power is released into our lives for good when we agree with another about the way and will of God and together invite the Spirit to bring about change.

And, do not forget that God is Your advocate, too. Bring Him your struggle. "Since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin." (Hebrews 4:14-15, NLT) 

We learn that temptation is not sin!
The impulse to do wrong is different from the choice to do wrong. "I'm a terrible person, morally defective that I could even think such a thought," is exactly what the Tempter wants you to think. False guilt is actually counterproductive to righteous living. There is no moral failure in experiencing a desire. It is when we take hold of the temptation and begin to love it that sin enters the picture. James says "each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (James 1:14-15, NIV)

Here is a word from the Word to fill your mind today. Revel in the wonderful promise found here.
"Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." (Romans 7:24-25; 8:1, NLT)

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:9-11, NIV)

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Jesus what a Friend for sinnersJesus Lover of my soulFriends may fail me foes assail meHe my Savior makes me whole

 Jesus what a Strength in weaknessLet me hide myself in HimTempted tried and sometimes failingHe my Strength my vict'ry wins

 Jesus I do now receive HimMore than all in Him I findHe hath granted me forgivenessI am His and He is mine

 Hallelujah what a SaviorHallelujah what a FriendSaving helping keeping lovingHe is with me to the end

Our Great SaviorJohn Wilbur Chapman | Rowland Hugh Prichard © Words: Public Domain

I'll You in on the Secret

Is there a beauty, a compelling quality to your Christianity? Do you live joyfully, authentically, openly? Is there a bedrock conviction about the things of God that wraps around your experiences – good and bad – that steadies you?  That kind of Christian life can be known by all, not just an elite group of insiders! 

The title of this blog is purposely misleading, written only to capture your attention.  What I write of today is an open secret, known to all those who read the story of the Church.

In the book of Acts there is a remarkable change in the disciples. In the Gospels they are often at a loss for spiritual understanding.  They waver, they confront evil and are defeated by it. Just months later, they are fired up, preaching Christ, living under stress without giving up or compromise. The difference? They were filled with the Spirit!  Luke tells the story – “On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability." (Acts 2:1-4, NLT)  When people saw this behavior, they accused the disciples of being drunk!  Peter told the crowd that "what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy." (Acts 2:16-18, NLT)

When God, the Holy Spirit, came into their hearts and minds, there was a complete transformation. So it can be with us in 2016!  Our Christian lives are not just about intellectual agreement with doctrines of faith or conformity with certain behavioral standards or practice of some religious rituals. We can be people of the Spirit, owned by the Lord, overflowing with a Life that is eternal and rich. Jesus promised that when He, the 2^nd person of the Trinity, left this earth, God would remain, known to us through the 3^rd Person – the Spirit. "When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." (John 14:26-27, NLT)

The Spirit-filled life is described throughout the New Testament. He is the open Secret of the Christian life, the power that enabled those people to do God’s work, to endure; yes, to thrive! And, He is ours, today.  How do we live this life? I hesitate to write of that only because some will try to make it a formula.  You can no more describe a universal formula for the Spirit-filled life than you can write one for a successful marriage.  Each relationship is unique; yet there are choices to be made, shared in common.

First – the Spirit-filled life is one of FAITH.

The Holy Spirit does not ‘possess’ us without our cooperation, nor will He knock down the door to take up residence. We come to God in faith and accept His promise. One of my daily prayers is “Come, Holy Spirit.”  He is, of course, God and therefore always present, but with that invitation, I make myself present to Him.

Second – the Spirit-filled life is one of SUBMISSION.

Paul speaks of ‘grieving’ the Spirit. If we do not listen to Him, responding to His direction and guidance, we will grow cold towards Him. An attitude of persistent refusal of His purposes will bring about a disconnect of our fellowship with Him.  We are taught by the Word that "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives." (Galatians 5:25, The Message)

Third – the Spirit-filled life is one of WORSHIP.

We orient our lives towards God, learning to think His thoughts, to make Him known in our words and actions. What happens? His Presence grows brighter in us and the attraction of Self diminishes. How we live becomes a statement of His worthiness, which is the essence of worship.  There is a great statement about the disciples who were Spirit-filled.  In Jerusalem it was said of them that ‘they had been with Jesus.’  He rubbed off on them.  Worshipful Christians will become known primarily for the Presence that lives in them.

Do make the mistake of thinking that you can somehow become worthy of being baptized in the Spirit! You can no more earn His fellowship than you can earn a place in God’s holy family. He is God’s gift, coming to those who are hungry to know God. If we ready to settle for satisfaction with food, fun, money, and sex – we are not likely to seek or know the Spirit’s fullness. But, when we have come to the end of those things, we are ready to look higher and say, “Come, Holy Spirit!”

Ready to thrive? Ready to be fully alive? Seek the Spirit’s Presence.

Here is a word from the Word. Oh, Lord, make us fully alive in the Spirit.
“So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance!”   The Message, Romans 8:12-17
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Thrive

Here in this worn and weary landWhere many a dream has diedLike a tree planted by the waterWe will never run dry

 So living water flowing throughGod we thirst for more of YouFill our hearts and flood our soulsWith one desire

 Just to know You and to make You knownWe lift Your name on highShine like the sun make darkness run and hideWe know we were made for so much moreThan ordinary livesIt's time for us to more than just surviveWe were made to thrive

 Into Your Word we're digging deepTo know our Father's heartInto the world we're reaching outTo show them who You are

 Joy unspeakableFaith unsinkableLove unstoppableAnything is possible

We were made to thrive

Mark Hall | Matthew West © 2014 Atlas Holdings (Admin. by Atlas Music Publishing)
Highly Combustible Music (Admin. by Atlas Music Publishing)
House of Story Music Publishing (Admin. by Atlas Music Publishing) CCLI License # 810055

A Promise for the Day After

Holidays are often followed by a genuine letdown. For weeks, we have planned the things that make the Easter weekend special- family gathering, getting some new clothing, our kid’s excitement. We sang “Christ, the Lord, Is Risen Today” proclaiming our faith. We exchanged greetings with other Christians, hopeful smiles on our faces. Now …  it’s over. Here in New Jersey this Monday morning dawned with pouring rain and gray skies. What an apt metaphor for the emotional state of so many who are heading back to work.

Let’s change the story. There is more to know and experience the day after we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection. Luke tells us about two men walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus who were downcast, sorrowful that all the Messianic hopes wrapped around Jesus had come crashing to an end. "As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.” (Luke 24:15-18, NLT)  Later as they sat to eat together, Jesus took bread and gave thanks. They recognized Him in that moment "And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, who said, “The Lord has really risen!" (Luke 24:33-34, NLT) They now had more than memories. They had a mission!

The Resurrection was never meant to be ‘an end.’  That event was the revelation of a whole new era for the world, the pivot for those who follow Him.  Luke opens the story of the Church telling us about another glorious Promise. “After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but “must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon.” When they were together for the last time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?”  He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.” (Acts 1:3-8, Message)

The Holy Spirit lives in us, the gift of God Who makes us spiritually alive. But, do we acknowledge Him, seek His empowering for daily life?  We Pentecostals profess a conviction that there is an experience of the Spirit that is available to hungry saints that takes us deeper in our discipleship, that strengthens our intimacy with the Father. The record of that first generation of Jesus’ followers takes a remarkable turn when they were filled with the Spirit. Men who lacked an edge to their faith found courage to speak to crowds, to endure persecution, and ultimately many died for the Name of Jesus.  The same Spirit is promised us and on this day after, the next logical step is to invite Him to empower us for Kingdom living.

Let’s turn our thoughts to Pentecost!  The calendar says The Feast of Pentecost is May 15, but I earnestly pray that the Spirit will fall on us now, that we will find a mission, the people of God empowered by the Spirit of God. Christians have a unique message for a world torn apart by so many things.  We make Christ Jesus known – and through Him people find a whole new way to live.  The sins and rebellion that once gripped us are defeated by the Risen Lord. The hopelessness of death is replaced with the hopefulness of Eternal Life.  It is the Day After.  Time to seek the Spirit!

Today, ponder this word from the Word and pray for the fullness of the Spirit!

"And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 13:52, NLT)

"Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:18-20, NLT)

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There's nothing worth more that will ever come close,No thing can compare,You're our living hope,Your Presence. 

I've tasted and seen of the sweetest of loves,Where my heart becomes free and my shame is undone,In Your Presence Lord. 

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here.Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere.Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for;To be overcome by Your Presence, Lord.(Your Presence, Lord)(Your Presence)(Oh God how we love Your Presence Lord)

 Let us become more aware of Your PresenceLet us experience the glory of Your goodness (Lord)

Holy Spirit

Bryan Torwalt | Katie Torwalt © 2011 Capitol CMG Genesis 
(Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Jesus Culture Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) CCLI License # 810055