Are you anchored or adrift?

What are your anchor points for life?  Do you just ‘make it up as you go’ or have you committed yourself to principles that are bedrock solid, that keep you anchored when life gets stormy?  Are your decisions shaped around core convictions?

A thousand ideas, many quite good will come into your mind today.  How will you sort them? By what will you evaluate them, some on reserve, some discarded, perhaps one or two moved to the top of your list?

I am convinced that most of us do not need more things on our 'to-do' list. We need to pare down our commitments to things shaped by our anchor points! And that obviously means we must form those anchors from a solid base of truth.

I am deeply grateful to my Dad and Mom who taught me the principles of the Bible, who made regular attendance at church, along with the reading of the Word, first-line priorities for me.  My head is packed full of Scripture - stories of the Old Testament heroes and Jesus, and teaching about the Christian life from the letters of Paul.  My adult life has been marked by a journey of understanding, processing those ‘ideas’ that I learned over the years into Truth that is the basis of my anchor points!

What anchors me?
-I am a child of God through the grace of Christ.
-My life aimed at eternal reward.
-Love is the highest value- loving God, loving family, loving others.

Ah, yes, friend, I know that life is very complex and demands growth. I did not decide what was true 4 decades ago and close my mind. I remain a student and a disciple, growing in grace and understanding.

One thing I can say with complete conviction – “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)   I am comforted, corrected, and guided by the wisdom of the Word, which the Spirit brings to my consciousness again and again.  Those words are anchor points that keep me from going adrift.

The lack of love for the Scripture is one of the trends in the Church that is of real concern for this pastor. Many Christians only know what others say about the Bible, seldom reading it for themselves. It is common for Christians to have little idea of what the Bible says about life, about God, about our hope. Many ideas compete in their minds and the lack of anchor points leaves them subject to fear, doubt, and instability.

Paul, near the end of his life, wrote to Timothy, a younger man pastoring a church, and struggling with opposition.  The old man reminds him of the importance of anchor points!  "Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you." (2 Timothy 1:13-14, NLT)  

"But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work." (2 Timothy 3:14-17, NLT)

Are you receptive to the Scripture or do you argue with God's wisdom because 'it just doesn't make sense,’ your mind without anchoring convictions? God is never offended by our honest questions, but we certainly sin when we allow our questions to become a root of bitterness or an excuse for rebellion. Be like Jeremiah who exclaimed: "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty." (Jeremiah 15:16, NIV)

Want to develop anchor points that will hold you steady?
Give yourself to diligent study. 
Find a pastor who loves the Word and who will faithfully open for the congregation.
Process your faith with prayer, thought, conversation, and by putting it to work!

Here is a word from the Word. I pray it is your desire. "With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word." (Psalm 119:10-16, NKJV)
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Anchor

I have this hopeAs an anchor for my soulThrough ev'ry stormI will hold to You\With endless loveAll my fear is swept awayIn ev'rythingI will trust in You

There is hope in the promise of the crossYou gave ev'rything to save the world You loveAnd this hope is an anchor for my soulOur God will stand unshakable

Unchanging OneWho was and is to comeYour promise sureYou will not let goYour Name is higherYour Name is greaterAll my hope is in You\Your word unfailingYour promise unshakenAll my hope is in You

Ben Fielding | Dean Ussher
© 2012 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055

Just a wise guy?

Circumstances of my life this week have pressed a prayer from me repeatedly – “Abba, I need wisdom!”  What am I asking for?

 

Wisdom can be difficult to define. Wisdom encompasses more than knowing many things and is certainly more than great intelligence. We all know some really smart people who do not have enough common sense to come in out of the rain! Yet, when we see Wisdom is obvious to us - a combination of knowledge, experience, and insight – that bring direction and purpose.  Wisdom sees beyond the moment, is able to take in a wide range of information and process it in decision-making. Wisdom understands the needs of the day and sustains discipline that leads to a better outcome tomorrow.

 

In the Bible’s collection of wise saying that we call Proverbs, the call to become wise is repeated often. "Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.” (Proverbs 4:5-9, NIV)

 

Get wisdom!  Got it, Lord. How does one become wise?

 

First there is the foundation we choose for our life.

"Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor." (Proverbs 15:33, NLT)  Take God out of the picture and there is no hope for wisdom. The ‘story’ that shapes the richest life begins with the Creator, grasps the human dilemma brought on by Sin, and humbly seeks God, finding Him at the Cross of Christ, and resting hope on the Resurrection! 

 

Second, there is the recognition of our limits.

There is a conceit common to many, especially those who have not yet encountered life’s greater sorrows, that allows them to think that they are the master and commander of their destiny, that they are self-sufficient within themselves. The Word warns us "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil." (Proverbs 3:7, NIV)  

 

I cringe when I remember the misplaced confidence that I had in my own abilities prior to the age of 32! My life was full of accomplishments in which I took pride. I had little understanding of the advantages that my upbringing gave me. I charged full tilt into life with that unique optimism of the young. But, experience taught me the limits of my abilities and wisdom began to settle on me when I humbly sought God in the middle of failure!

 

Third, there is the importance of gaining information!

True wisdom is impossible without opening our minds to the vast amount of information that is available to us. A person of great intellect who chooses to remain ignorant will not develop the best wisdom. Gleaning information demands conversations with others. Those learning conversations include formal learning in a classroom, talks over a cup of coffee with those further down the road in life, reading the thoughts of others in  books, and being part of peer groups that help us sort through the mental data we are accumulating as we pass through life.

 

Fourth, there is the discipline of thought!

Wisdom emerges from a willingness to learn to think. How often do we just react to life? And, those reactions are often lacking wisdom, leaving us with nothing but regret. In our culture where life moves at great speed, when we can interact in real time via texts, emails, and Facebook posts we can easily become ping pong balls, bouncing from idea to idea.

Those who would become wise must carve out time to think. Some call it meditation, others contemplation. Christians need to understand that prayer is not just presenting requests to the Father. True prayer also includes deep thought, time of focus on the Presence of the Spirit that allows Him to sort through the mental clutter, coupled with our willingness to confront our preconceptions, prejudice, and selfishness! Our Abba invites us to “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10) From that centered place, we can move into wisdom.

 

Fifth, there is the choice of companions!

The simple truth is that we are influenced, powerfully, by those with whom we do life. "Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble." (Proverbs 13:20, NLT)  Who can argue with that?

 

Here is a word from the Word. 

May our Abba draw us to greater wisdom, leading us to lives that are rich, productive, and that honor Him.

"Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom?

Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom." (James 3:13-14, The Message)

 

"Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor." (James 3:17-18, The Message)

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We Fall Down

 

We fall down

We lay our crowns

At the feet of Jesus

The greatness of mercy and love

At the feet of Jesus

 

And we cry holy holy holy

And we cry holy holy holy

And we cry holy holy holy is the Lamb

 

CCLI Song # 2437367

Chris Tomlin © 1998 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

The collapsing house built on sand

A deep vein of skepticism runs through American society today. Institutions are no longer trusted after multiple scandals. Most of us do not trust our government systems, convinced that too often power is used for monied special interests. And, under it all, we have adopted a radical kind of individualism that rests on the conviction that we can make our ‘truth,’ that we can live as we believe best fits our own thoughts. Even many Christians reject a life shaped around the immutable will of God. They give lip service to loving God, but choose to ignore Him in areas where they believe the ancient ‘truth’ to be irrelevant to life. If we are a person dedicated to the morality of the revealed Word of God we are likely to be regarded with the same disdain reserved for racists!

What then to do with this statement? "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (Proverbs 1:7, NIV)  The Message paraphrase of that passage is more accessible - "Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning. " (Proverbs 1:7, The Message)  Do we believe that Truth about the world, about the meaning and purpose of life, about spirituality is found in the revelation of God or are we convinced that only those things which can be measured, discovered, and confirmed by scientific methods are ‘true?’ 

Many modern Christians are so confused about the truth that they make a mockery of the Scripture even while professing that they follow it for life. For example, a virtual tenet of faith among many conservative Christians is that capitalism and consumerism are enshrined in the Scripture. So, they pile up wealth and buy things considering this their destiny and right. In truth, the Bible is very clear about the importance of shared wealth, care for the poor, and the folly of shaping life around ‘stuff!’  Another glaring area of confusion is around sexual ethics.  Christians raise a great deal of clamor over the agenda of the LGBT community, even as divorce is as accepted in the church at the same rates as it is among non-believers despite the Bible having much more to say about the sanctity of marriage than it does about homosexuality.  My point is not to justify one with the other but to remind us that we lose credible witness to the truth when we select which ‘truth’ we accept.  

When one looks over the holey faith practices that most of adopt, it is little wonder that a whole generation is discarding the church, rejecting Christianity as just another ‘idea’ and one that is not all that compelling. For the last half century many pastors and churches have looked for ways to accommodate the culture changes, softening the call of Christ to discipleship, remaining silent on the more controversial truths of the Scripture. As a result, the vast majority of people under 40 in our churches have no idea about the actual revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Instead they have adopted a new kind of ‘religion’ that some call “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism” shaped around the idea that God exists but is distant from daily life, that He (or She) just wants us to be nice people, that we exist to find personal happiness and to feel good about ourselves, and that all ‘good’ people go to heaven.

This insipid religion cannot compel radical change, has no concept of sin, and does not see the need of a Savior, even disdaining the story of the Cross as a relic of superstition! Jesus’ words should shake us to our core.  “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law." (Matthew 7:24-29, NLT)

Dear Christian, it is time to dig down to foundations, to look deeply at our faith, to ask ourselves where the holes exist in our convictions!  We need to pray for a new revelation of God, the rediscovery of Christ Jesus, and a fresh outpouring of the Spirit. Such a life will make us fools in the eyes of our world and cause us to be rejected, perhaps even hated, even as Jesus was. Paul sarcastically addressed the ‘worldly wise’ Christians in the church of Corinth saying "We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ!" (1 Corinthians 4:10, NIV)  His words echo to us today who are confronted with the same label if we choose a live that is centered on God and His will. Are you ready to be dismissed as a ‘fool’ because you radically trust and serve Jesus Christ?

Here’s a word from the Word for your thoughts today. I pray that the Spirit will use it to pierce our pretensions, to guide us to true wisdom.

"Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself." (1 Corinthians 3:18-4:3, NIV)

_____________

Now walk with God

And He will be

your dearest Friend

Where'er you go

In everything you do.

And may your life

Reflect His love to ev'ryone.

Now walk with God

And He will walk with you.

Now Walk With God

Skillings, Otis © 1969 Lillenas Publishing Company (Admin. by The Copyright Company)

CCLI License No. 810055

When you are stuck in the mud!

A year or two after high school, my son bought a Jeep Wrangler. The romance of “off-roading” captivated him, and so off he went into the deep woods on a trail that was suited to a small four-wheeler. He over-estimated the ability of the 4 wheel drive as he drove into a muddy hole! The Jeep was soon buried to the axles.   

When Jay showed up that evening long ago, tired and muddy after his misadventure in the woods, I was aggravated with him for being foolish, but thankful he asked for help. The next day, with help from his and a friend who knew the ‘woods’ well, the Jeep was recovered after considerable effort. The trip to retrieve the Wrangler turned into an adventure we did together, a memory we share. Today, it’s one of those family stories that always brings on laughter. It’s not hard to imagine Jay’s frustration and desperation as he gunned the engine and just dug in deeper! 

There is a parable for life. In life, we find ourselves in a bog from time to time, don’t we?  We cruise along, becoming overly confident and then, we’re stuck! Sometimes all our struggling does nothing but make the mudhole deeper. We squirm and argue, kick and whine, but no matter what we do, the hole just gets deeper. You know what I’m talking about, it happens to all of us.

The wise know when it is time to just give up – in a faith-filled way. No, we do not just quit or resign to the circumstance, with a heavy sigh and defeat.
We stop struggling.
We admit our weakness.
We enlist good friends to come alongside of us.
And, we surrender our heart and life to the Lord asking for His wisdom,  asking for an infusion of courage, and trusting Him to reveal the resources we need to get out of the hole.   

Think that’s easy?  It’s not!  There is that thing called – pride.  Millions stay stuck refusing to admit, “I’m in over my head.”  Who wants to admit he can’t get himself out of the pit? Who wants to ‘let go and let God?’  We say it and it sounds good, but the doing is much, much harder.

Shortly after the miraculous Exodus from Egypt, the people of God found themselves with no way out! The Egyptian army (the super-power of the day) was a day’s march behind them and the Red Sea was blocking the way ahead. They were a nation of former slaves, with no army and few weapons.  As their situation became desperate, they “panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!” (Exodus 14:10-12, NLT)  Panic! Blame! Loss of perspective!  The mud flew, so to speak, but they were still ‘stuck.’

Moses, whose faith had been deepening, calls on them to give up! “Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (Exodus 14:13-14, NLT)  Just stand still. This was not giving in to fate. This was giving up in faith!  Their admission that they could do nothing was paired with their expectation that God would do something. And He did. Only as the faithful and courageous Moses was willing to obediently do what God said, extending his staff over the sea, did the Lord open up the sea. The solution was amazing, unforeseen, and a lesson in greater faith.  

Is the mud flying, the hole getting deeper?
Is your desperation growing?

Give up! Look up!

Turn to the Lord and offer yourself completely to Him. Sometimes He changes our situation, sometimes He changes us.

Here’s a word from the Word. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." (Psalm 46:10-11, NIV)

________________

Lord I Need You

(Listen at this link as you pray)

Lord I come I confess

Bowing here I find my rest

And without You I fall apart

You're the one that guides my heart

Lord I need You oh I need You

Ev'ry hour I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more

Where grace is found is where You are

And where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

Where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

So teach my song to rise to You

When temptation comes my way

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

Lord I need You oh I need You

Ev'ry hour I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

Christy Nockels | Daniel Carson | Jesse Reeves | Kristian Stanfill | Matt Maher

© 2011 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Sweater Weather Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055