Ordinary People, Extraordinarily Empowered

Ordinary people, extraordinarily empowered

While I watched the story from Virginia Tech unfold, learning of the death of 32 students and instructors, suddenly all the disappointment in people that I've dealt with for the past couple of weeks seemed to fall on me like a big rock, crushing my heart with sorrow. With my head bowed, I felt the tears spill over into my hands - not just a couple of tears sliding down my cheeks, but more like a rainstorm! My tears did not flow out of despair, but were language of prayer, my spirit reaching out to the Spirit. Gradually, they gave way to words. In that moment, a fragment of the ancient Lord's Prayer became my prayer - "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." I prayed that for a few moments, repeating the words, remaining still, waiting on the Lord.

Breathe that prayer with me. "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."

That prayer reassures and renews me in two ways. The first is that Jesus will, on the day ordained by the will of the Father, step over the threshold of Heaven and defeat evil, ruling with justice for all! What a day that will be for those who have lived in hope and obedience. The second way I understand that prayer is that right now, though I live in a world marred by rebellion, hatred, and selfishness, I can live in the Presence of the King and under the influence of His reign. "Your Kingdom come.... in my heart and life."

The book of the Acts of the Apostles is a history of the first three decades of the Church, the story of ordinary people who were extraordinarily empowered! Without a national office to coordinate their efforts, funds on reserve in the bank, an advertising budget, or a counseling office - ordinary men and women took up the challenge to change the world with a message entrusted to them by their Risen Lord. Their efforts seemed laughable. What could a few dozen followers of Jesus do to transform a world full of cruelty and desperation? Nothing in themselves! But they had a secret - the power of the Holy Spirit that sustained and led them just as Jesus had promised when He said, "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8, NLT)

They received the Kingdom and were consumed by a passion to take the Message to others that they, too, could live under God's rule, a kingdom not sustained with threats of death and punishment, but one that offered love, hope, joy, and ultimately - eternal life with God! The blood of those messengers was often spilled, but they continued in their mission. Deprivation and disappointment stalked them, but it was of little consequence. They were not supermen, and they had to deal with conflict, false starts, and wrong choices. But, they were empowered, not by a fleeting experience of momentary religious rhapsody, but by a divinely given vision of a whole new way to live 'in the Kingdom' even as they lived here on earth. Their hearts were all ready in Heaven, even while their hands did the work of God in this world! Stephen, the martyr, is an example of the way that they lived. At his trial, he preached an amazing sermon that was not filled with pleas for his life. It was a fearless proclamation of the Truth of Christ, that infuriated the council hearing his case. "At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed—he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side. He said, "Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God’s side!" (Acts 7:54-56, The Message)

Stephen's experience of Spirit empowering was not unique. Luke tells us "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s Word with fearless confidence. " (Acts 4:31, The Message)

So, in a world where evil tries to work destruction, where guns are fired by hatred, where words become weapons, where love is rejected - I pray a simple prayer, that is powerfully transforming - "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." I pray that my vision will be filled with God, that I will see His glory, and go out to serve, to love, to change my generation with the Message of the Kingdom. Let's roll!
______________________

Father of creation,
Unfold Your sov'reign plan.
Raise up a chosen generation
That will march through the land.
All of creation is longing
For Your unveiling of pow'r.
Would You release Your anointing?
Oh God, let this be the hour.

Ruler of the nations,
The world has yet to see
The full release of Your promise,
The church in victory.
Turn to us, Lord, and touch us;
Make us strong in Your might.
Overcome our weakness,
That we could stand up and fight.

Let Your kingdom come,
Let Your will be done.
Let us see on earth,
The glory of Your Son.

Let Your glory fall
In this room.
Let it go forth from here
To the nations.
Let Your fragrance rest
In this place,
As we gather to seek Your face.


Let Your Glory Fall- Ruis, David
© 1993 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055

Do the right thing!

When crisis strikes, when disappointment breaks over us like a crashing wave, or when opportunities come to us; we ask - "what do I do now?" The families of 31 students at Virginia Tech, who were shot dead yesterday by a gunman, are surely asking it today. A young man confronted by his wife's desire for a divorce is asking that question today. Young college students coming to graduation in a few weeks time are asking it. "What do I do now?" The answer always begins - "Do the right thing!"

And what is the right thing to do? The baseline response to that question is found in choosing to act in line with what the Word teaches us. The grieving parents of those dead students will be tempted to hate. But they can choose a response of love, and if they will with God's help, they will make choices in the next few days that will lead them to grieve in a way that leads them to restoration rather than destruction. The young man facing divorce can choose revenge or he can choose forgiveness - and God's way will lead him to experience grace that renews his soul in sorrow.

Over and over in my life, when I have found myself at a crossroad or in a crisis, I have found my way by going back to the basics of what Jesus Christ taught -
"Love God wholeheartedly and love others as intensely as you love yourself. Seek to serve, not to be served."

-How do I express love for God today, in this situation?
-What choices are expressions of genuine love for another?
-Am I only serving myself or am I choosing to honor my Lord?

With prayerful thought and by putting my challenges in the context of such fundamental issues, a course of action begins to take shape. Often that course of action is costly and my natural self reacts- "I can't do this!" But, with the Spirit giving me strength- I am able to do the right thing, one day at a time. What I could never imagine doing for my entire life, I can do just for today. We live in culture that teaches us that the 'right thing' is the choice that gratifies us or that alleviates our pain most quickly. It is a culture of expedience that often leads us to believe that the right choice is the one that will bring us the most immediate benefit. Many people are intensely narcissistic and their constant theme is "it's all about me! I'm unhappy. The situation intolerable to me. I want relief now." That way of thinking inevitably leads to poor choices that produce more pain in the long-term.

Joshua was attempting to lead the people of God into the Promised Land. In the forty years that Moses led Israel, they had chosen poorly many times, choosing the path that seemed easier and waking up to find themselves in deeper troubles. Repeatedly they resisted God's leading, grumbled about hardship, and allowed bitterness to skew their thinking. Eventually their self-centeredness caused them to die in the wilderness. After Moses died, Joshua was anointed their leader and he saw the challenges that were presented to him in leading the next generation to do what their parents had refused to do. How could he do it? What was the right thing to do? God came to him and said, "Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take." (Joshua 1:6-9, The Message) Do the right thing!

Years later, after he had led them through a successful campaign to own the land that God promised to Abraham, Joshua was near his own death. He summonsed Israel's leaders and gave them a similar challenge. "So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. . . .. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. . . . But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:14-15, NLT) Do the right thing!

Are you standing at a crossroad in in life?
Are multiple opportunities presenting you with options?
Does a sense of panic threaten to overwhelm you in a crisis?

Take this word from the Word and think it through today, asking for the Spirit's guidance.
"This is what the LORD says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is,
and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls. "
(Jeremiah 6:16, NIV)

"It's a faith thing!"

"It's a faith thing!"

What we think we believe is often at odds with what we truly believe! Our profession of faith in Jesus Christ is confirmed or denied, not by our words alone, but by our actions which reveal the depth of our convictions. For example, I say that wearing my seatbelt while I am driving will keep me much more safe on the road, but obviously I do not believe it is true, because most of the time I fail to put it on! The recent headlines about Governor Corzine's terrible injuries, which he received while riding in a large SUV while not wearing his seatbelt, are forcing me to re-evaluate my 'beliefs' about the value of wearing a seatbelt. You will know if I am actually 'converted' when you see me buckle up when I get into my car.

Then, too, faith is not an 'all or nothing' kind of thing. Most of us have gaps in our faith that we do not see in ourselves! A person may have a deep and authentic faith about God's provision for her financial needs which makes her generous, consistent in tithing, and worry free about her stuff and yet be an anxious wreck in raising her kids, unable to commit them to the care of the Lord.

As we mature in our Christianity, a beautiful wholeness of faith envelopes us. The gaps between our profession and our possession of faith close. Inconsistencies disappear and an admirable, rock solid, Christ-centered, life emerges like a butterfly from a cocoon.

So, how does a Christian gain faith that is beautiful and whole?

First, we ask for it! Faith is a gift of God. The Holy Spirit works in us to draw us to God, to cause us to desire Him and to live in a way that pleases Him. We can pray, indeed we ought to pray, for other's to know this work of grace in their lives. A man who was in desperate need came to Jesus seeking healing for his tormented son. He realized that the most basic need he had was for greater faith and his prayer was direct - "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9.24) We must not pretend to own a greater faith than we do. Such hypocrisy blocks us from asking for the very thing we need most in time of need - the gift of faith.

Second, we inform our minds with godly truth! The fertile soil of a strong, life changing faith, is the Scripture. In the pages of the Bible, God is revealed to us. When our minds are shaped around God, when we understand the world with a spiritual view, faith grows. The Psalmist said, "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11, NLT) What does he mean? That he had taken time to integrate the truth of God's Word into his thought life so that his actions would be consistent with faith.

Third, we invite the Spirit to school us, to develop faith. Here's a tough truth for many of us to accept. "When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." (James 1:3-4, NLT) In The Message, that passage reads - "You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (James 1:3-4, The Message) When life kicks you around, when people fail you, when the future looks dark, when to all appearances there is no way to turn for relief- you are in the school of faith! You can relinquish control, quiet your soul, and put yourself in God's care, OR you can kick, scream, and create your own solution. If you choose to exercise faith, God will make a way. It might not be the way you would choose, but it will be the way that brings honor to Him.

Don't be alarmed if you find yourself in anguish when your faith is being formed. Even Jesus was pressed to the limit. When He faced the Cross, He prayed for release, but then released Himself to God's plans, not with resignation to fate, but with a faith surrender to His Father's will!

There is no easy road in the life of faith. The natural man craves security, affirmation, and vindication of self! The spiritual man is secure in the Spirit, affirmed by God, and is willing to wait for Heaven's revelation.
It's a faith thing!
__________________
Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise,
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.

Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
Oh, glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.

His banner over us is love,
Our sword the word of God.
We tread the road the saints above,
With shouts of triumph trod.

On every hand the foe we find.
Drawn up in dread array.
Let tents of ease be left behind.
And onward to the fray.

To Him that overcomes the foe,
White raiment shall be giv'n;
Before the angels He shall know
His name confessed in heav'n.

Then onward from the hills of light,
Our hearts with love aflame,
We'll vanquish all the hosts of night,
In Jesus' conquering name.

Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
Oh, glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.

Faith Is The Victory

Yates, John H. / Sankey, Ira D.

© Public Domain

Go ahead, test God!

Phil recounted how a man approached him asking for money. The man showed no obvious sign of drug or alcohol abuse. He needed bus fare to get home. Then the stranger said, "I'm a Christian man. Help me for Jesus' sake." So, in the name of Jesus, Phil gave him some money. As he told me about the incident, he said, "I gave the money to Jesus, not the man." That is exactly right! Even if the stranger was lying about his need, Phil gave for the right reason - to honor the Lord.

Are you a generous giver of your money?
Do you follow the Scripture's pattern for contributing to the work of God in this world?

Here is what it says. "A tenth of the land’s produce, whether grain from the ground or fruit from the trees, is God’s. It is holy to God." (Leviticus 27:30, The Message) The practice is called 'tithing,' and is, I believe, a spiritual discipline that leads us to enjoy God's blessings.

Some may disagree and insist that tithing is a part of the First Covenant law which is no longer binding because of the New Covenant in Christ. Consider this. Before the Law of Moses was given, Abraham tithed! And Jesus, when He talked of the legalistic tithing practice of the Pharisees, said, "Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things." (Matthew 23:23, NLT)

From my youth, I was taught the practice of tithing, and I have practiced it faithfully. In times of plenty and in times of need, the first 10% of our household income has always been set aside for the Lord's purposes. It is one of the spiritual disciplines that I find easiest to joyfully practice. Truthfully, I wish I had more resources to pour into God's work in the world! When I write the checks reflecting my tithe to ministries, I do so with a prayer for their effectiveness, with a sense of being a partner with God in getting the work of the Kingdom accomplished. Like Phil, whose story opened this TFTD, I am conscious that I am, in fact, presenting my money to Jesus, though the check is written to a church or charity! And, God has blessed me in my obedience. No, I am not a rich man. In terms of earthly wealth, my net worth is laughable for a 51 year old man. But, I have enough, my needs are met and then some, so I am blessed.

I am convinced that tithing is a key to knowing God's provisions for our lives! The discipline of tithing teaches us, week by week, that we are not owners of our stuff. We manage it for God. When we put Him and His work first, we can pray much more confidently for His provision for the rest. We also learn to prioritize our needs and to more clearly understand what is really just a 'want.' If you think you cannot afford to tithe, you have missed the point of tithing. Truthfully, you cannot afford not to tithe. It isn't that God will punish the non-tither. That is foolishness and unbiblical legalism! But, if a person will not discipline himself to follow this basic spiritual principle, I am not sure that God can place abundance under his stewardship. Jesus said, "if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Luke 16:11-13, NLT)

Most of the time the very idea of putting God to the test is abhorrent. He is the One who evaluates us, we do not hold Him accountable!

But there is an exception to that principle. Here it is - straight from the Bible.
"I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing. I will also stop locusts from destroying your crops and keeping your vineyards from producing. Everyone of every nation will talk about how I have blessed you and about your wonderful land. I, the Lord All-Powerful, have spoken!" (Malachi 3:10-12, CEV)

He said it. Do you believe Him?

Sweet Will of God

Sometimes I am exhausted by the inner struggle between the 'right' and the 'wrong.' I know what I should do, but I am keenly aware that part of me has no real desire for that course of action. For example, there are mornings I know I should worship, but I feel no inclination to seek God's Presence. Watching TV seems more inviting! Or, there are times that I should serve others, but I feel like sitting down and letting somebody else do the heavy lifting. In those moments I wonder, "Is this normal for a Believer? Do other Christians struggle like this?" The Bible answers that question with a resounding - Yes! "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." (Galatians 5:17, NIV)

Billy Graham illustrated the struggle between right and wrong by telling of a man with two dogs, a white one and a black one. The dogs fought, but each one would win at different times. When asked what made the difference in which dog won, the owner said, "The one I feed wins." Graham's point was that the inner struggle between our sinful nature and the spiritual nature is ongoing. However, the Spirit of God, when invited to live in us, will strengthen us so that we can overcome the temptations of our old fallen character. The Word says, "we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God’s Spirit you say "No" to your desires. Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children. God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father." (Romans 8:12-15, CEV)

Sin can never be overcome by sheer strength of human will alone! Jesus told a Jewish leader named Nicodemus, "Unless a man is born again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God." (John 3.3) When we respond to God's call with obedient faith, believing that Jesus Christ has forgiven our sins, the Spirit comes to live in us, giving life to our spiritual nature. But that is not the end of the matter! At that moment of rebirth, the struggle is launched. The Scripture calls the Christian life "a race set before us... run with endurance." (Heb. 12) The reality of the Believer's life is that as one becomes more attuned to the will of God - both through knowing the Bible and listening to the Spirit's leading - he also comes to realize just how incapable he is of consistently pleasing God. The resulting desperation can lead to a surrendered life lived in complete reliance on the Spirit's powerful Presence, or to a despairing heart that gives in to temptation again and again.

The difference is grace. We can resort to rationalizations for our sins, excusing our temperish outbursts, explaining away the gaps in our love as 'just natural,' giving in to our desires because 'everybody does it.' And we will increasingly become merely religious, having an appearance of devotion, but living in spiritual death. Or, we can receive grace, acknowledging the truth about ourselves, and strip away the layers of duplicity. Vulnerable before God and man, we rely solely on God's Spirit, 'taking up the shield of faith.' The confrontations with Self and Sin and Satan are ongoing, but as we learn to rely on God's grace, we gain the upper hand, living holy lives that reflect His goodness and glory.

Oh, Believer, remember this, too. It is possible to start well and then become prideful, losing ground. Paul led people in the city of Galatia into a right relationship with God, teaching them about the Cross and faith. They believed and were filled with goodness and grace. Then, some lying preachers came along and taught them that they had to 'do this and do that' by their own effort in order to stay right with God. They became proud of their righteousness, pointing to their morality. Then, they started to fall! They began in the Spirit, but resorted to human effort. His language is strong in his rebuke. Read this carefully. "You stupid Galatians! I told you exactly how Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross. Has someone now put an evil spell on you? I want to know only one thing. How were you given God’s Spirit? Was it by obeying the Law of Moses or by hearing about Christ and having faith in him? How can you be so stupid? Do you think that by yourself you can complete what God’s Spirit started in you? Have you gone through all of this for nothing? Is it all really for nothing? God gives you his Spirit and works miracles in you. But does he do this because you obey the Law of Moses or because you have heard about Christ and have faith in him?" (Galatians 3:1-6, CEV)

Keep a pure heart - which Kierkegaard says is 'to will one thing.' Pray that God's will becomes your will. Where there is a conflict (and there will be conflict!) confess your temptation to God and accept His grace to choose His way - even if it seems to kill you. (It must!) The life that emerges from this daily release of the Spirit's life will be a thing of beauty in the eyes of God, even if rejected as foolishness by others who think they are living to the full by doing their own thing, serving themselves. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 16:25, NIV)

___________________________________

Sweet Will Of God
Morris, Lelia N.

Sweet will of God,
still fold me closer,
Till I am wholly lost in Thee.

My stubborn will at last hath yielded;
I would be Thine, and Thine alone;
And this the prayer my lips are bringin,
"Lord, let in me Thy will be done."

Thy precious will, O conquering Savior,
Doth now embrace and compass me;
All discords hushed, my peace a river,
My soul a prisoned bird set free.

Sweet will of God, still fold me closer,
Till I am wholly lost in Thee!

© 1968 Lillenas Publishing Company (Admin. by The Copyright Company) CCLI License No. 810055

My place in this world

Do you want to be a happy person, effective and fulfilled? A key is something called 'acceptance.' Learning who you are, what you are capable of doing, which spiritual gifts God has invested in you, and how to function well in the situations in which you find yourself demonstrates spiritual and emotional maturity. Do not confuse acceptance with resignation. Some resign themselves to being where they are, but continue to wish they were someone different, living in some other place. Genuine acceptance leads to excellence because it brings contentment and willingness to 'bloom where we are planted!'

I spent too many years wishing for things I did not have and, all the while, missing the opportunities that surrounded me! I now pray for the wisdom to know how to maximize the potential that my present situation presents to me instead of dreaming about being someplace that looks more desirable.

In John's Gospel, we read about a man who knew who God wanted him to be. His name is John, the Baptist. As Jesus became more well known and the crowds following Him grew, some went to John and told him, "Everybody is going to him instead of coming to us." Imagine if John had allowed jealousy to fill his heart. What if he had changed up his message or methods to try to lure the people back? It would have been only natural to have wanted to continue to enjoy the 'success' he had known when hundreds came out to hear him preach. But, there is none of that in this servant of God. His humility and his acceptance should inspire us. Take a look. "No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." (John 3:27-30, NLT)

Will you rejoice in the success of another? Will you accept the place God has given to you today?
If you begin to compare yourself to someone else, if you allow yourself to believe that happiness would come if you owned another's place, you break the 10th commandment which says, "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:17, NIV) James warns about the sorrowful outcome that is inevitable: "For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind." (James 3:16, NLT)

What has God given you? Where has He placed you?
Receive it and take the opportunities that come with it. Work to maximize your effectiveness, to develop your skills, to be God's person right where you are. There is great joy in that choice - for you and for those who are all around you. Paul, writing to a younger preacher named Timothy, urged him to avoid the trap of fighting with others to be 'top dog,' and about the lure of having more. He said, "godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6, NIV)

Let the Lord use you - starting right where you are, just as you are. Faithfulness today leads to tomorrow's promotion!

60 cents

ABC News reported from Zambia last night. In that poor African nation, 1 in 6 children die before reaching age 5. Parents do not name their new-born child for at least a week because so many babies die. A leading cause of infant death is infection at the site of the umbilical stump because the mother does not have a sterile tool to cut the cord and birthing supplies. A kit counting just 60 cents could save the baby! By contrast, this past Sunday I held a little boy at church who was born with a condition that has required high tech care at John Hopkins Hospital. I am sure that caring for little Eddie has required, at the very least, hundreds of thousands of dollars.

How I thank God that I live in a nation of such abundant resources that a little boy like Eddie can be cared for, that his life can be saved. And I wonder what responsibility I have for the children of Zambia? or Afghanistan? or urban Newark, for that matter! The simplest solution is to close my eyes to the needs of the suffering and enjoy my life to the full pretending that I am superior or more deserving than those in some other place. Pride is such an ugly sin! Or, feeling some stirring of care, I might dismiss stories like the one about the 60 cent baby saving medical kit thinking, "So what can I really do? Anything I would or could do is just a drop in the bucket." And, in that, I would miss the heart of God. It is true that I cannot directly do very much to effect infant mortality rates in Africa, but I can be, no make that, must be, responsive to the leading of God's Spirit about caring for others. Compassion starts in my own family, reaches out to my town, and reaches to the world. It must be a part of my politics, my prayers, and my choices of use of the resources I control.

Jesus told a man who was inquiring about how to please God that there were just two commands - "Love God with your whole being, and love your neighbor like you love yourself." The man's response was, "Who is my neighbor?" That was my question while watching that ABC news story, too! In reply the Lord told about a man who was attacked and beaten by robbers on a remote road. A religious worker and then a priest came by but for unspecified reasons they both avoided getting involved with the man, who was near death. Then along came a man from Samaria (considered inferior religiously and morally by people in Jesus' day) who saw the wounded man. "Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

"Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked. The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy." Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same." (Luke 10:34-37, NLT)

Meeting human needs is no simple or easy task, but it is our calling as sons of God. Really making life better for others goes beyond sending $30 each month to Save The Children! That is a good thing to do, but not if it is just a way to soothe our conscience, a token act of neighborliness! Believers, we need to examine our lives with the help of the Spirit to discover all the ways that we take advantage of our position to enrich ourselves at the expense of others. We need to pray for those who set our national policies and vote for men and women who will act in godly ways towards the poor. We need to teach God's ways to others so that they can live in a way that invites His prosperity and maximizes their ability to enjoy the provisions He has prepared in this world.

I pray daily for a heart that cares for my neighbors, really cares. I ask God for eyes to see the needs of the people I live with, that cross my path each day.
Truthfully, I know that some days I am more like Jesus than others! But, I know this - If I care about people, starting at my front door, I will also care for those in the far reaches of this earth.

Here's a word from the Word to ponder today. I pray, "Spirit of God, make it living truth for me."
At the Final Judgement "...the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.’ "Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ " (Matthew 25:34-40, The Message)

Living Words

What we believe about life, the 'truths' that are soil from which our dreams grow, is important. Why? Because we act today in ways, consciously and unconsciously, to own our dreams and avoid our nightmares! If I believe that I need a lot of money to be happy, I'll focus my efforts on creating wealth. If I believe that success is defined by ownership of things, I will work to increase my pile of possessions. If I believe that 'clothes make the man' I will make certain I am dressed fashionably. People do amazing things in attempts to make their dreams come true! Believer, what do you dream? The way to create a vision that is worth living for is to know the Truth, to let the Word of God inform your mind and shape your values.

The words -"He is Risen!" were uttered millions of times in the last 24 hours, 'round the world. Are they to be believed? John ran with Peter to the Tomb, saw the empty grave clothes and believed. Peter was there, too, but he went back to Galilee to take up fishing again, not really believing until He met the Master on the beach by a fire. Thomas scoffed when some of the disciples told him, 'we have seen the Lord!' But days later he was with them when the Risen Lord appeared and said to him, "Touch my scars; see and believe!" Those men were radically changed by what they believed, traveled far and wide telling the Story, and each died a martyr's death. People don't live like that unless they are convinced they have the Truth!

"He is Risen!" Today, we have the opportunity to translate those words into action. What we do will show if we really believe the words or if they are just religious language, an observance of tradition. As I closed the sermon yesterday, I turned to Paul's summation of the truth of the Resurrection of Christ. He understood that the fact that Jesus defeated death was the keystone of our faith. "And if Christ weren’t raised, then all you’re doing is wandering about in the dark, as lost as ever." (1 Corinthians 15:17, The Message) "There is a nice symmetry in this: Death initially came by a man, and resurrection from death came by a man. Everybody dies in Adam; everybody comes alive in Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, The Message) "With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort." (1 Corinthians 15:58, The Message) The Resurrection is the proof of our faith, the model of our eternal life, and the reason we turn our back on short-term pleasure to do the work of the Kingdom of God.

I am totally convinced that I will live in beyond the grave! I have no doubt that I will stand before God to give an accounting and to receive an eternal reward. The story of Christ's Resurrection is the foundation for my hope of an eternal home. I am living today in the full assurance that 'because He lives, I will live also!'

Don't let the skeptics rob you of the amazing truth of Jesus' Resurrection. Don't allow those who doubt all things of faith to turn the wonderful truth into a myth. It is the cornerstone of our faith. Soak your mind in the testimony of the Scripture and invite the Spirit to make the proclamation that Jesus lives a fact you own for yourself.

"He lives! He lives!
Christ Jesus lives today.
He walks with me, and talks with me,
along life's narrow way.
He lives! He lives!
Salvation to impart.
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart!

- Alfred Ackley, public domain

Driving the Nails

Watching "The Passion of the Christ" the movie produced a couple of years ago by Mel Gibson, I was deeply moved by the depiction of the Lord's anguish as He carried the sins of the world on our behalf. From the opening scenes of His heart wrenching prayer in Gethsemane to the last moments when He commends His spirit to His Father in Heaven, I was held in this thought - He did this by choice because He loves me! My sin nailed Him there- every rebellious act, every selfish word, every miserable moment focused on myself.

In a very real sense, we continue to drive the nails yet today when, as Christians, we live selfishly, lustfully, or unlovingly. There is a difficult text in the book of Hebrews the full meaning of which Believers argue about it for it speaks of turning away from Christ. Can a Believer lose her relationship with God completely? What does it mean to 'fall away?' Those questions are hard to answer and are not the focus of my thoughts today. There is one line in that passage that echoes in my mind today - "... if they fall away...they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6, NKJV) But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation." (Hebrews 6:9, NKJV) When I am cruel to another, I need to hear the ring of hammer on nail! When I choose deliberately to reject the humble way of the Spirit, exerting my selfish will against God, I need to feel the handle of the whip that opened Jesus' back in my own hand! When my voice is raised in angry accusation against another, I need to realize I joined the crowd screaming for His blood - "Crucify Him!"

If we turn the atonement (Jesus becoming the sacrifice that brings a holy God and sinful humanity back together) into an exercise in theology and individually distance ourself from the Cross, we err badly! Jesus not only died for the sins of the world - He died for my sin, your sin, dear Believer. If we let ourselves realize that our sin, personally, nailed Him there, we will come to true repentance instead of the momentary regret that so often passes for it in our lives. Singer song writer Ray Boltz captured the thought in this song. Read the lyrics thoughtfully.

They tell me Jesus died
For my transgressions;
And that He paid that price
A long, long time ago
When He gave His life for me
On a hill called Calvary.
But there's something else
I want to know.

Does He still feel the nails
Ev'rytime I fail?
Can He hear the crowd cry,
"Crucify," again?
Am I causing Him pain?
Then I know I've got to change.
I just can't bear the thought
Of hurting Him.

It seems that I'm so good
At breaking promises,
And I treat His precious grace
So carelessly.
But each time He forgives,
What if He relives
The agony He felt on that tree?

Do you still feel the nails
Ev'ry time I fail?
Have I crucified You, Jesus,
With my sin?
Oh, I'm tired of playing games,
I really want to change.
I never want to hurt You again.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.

© 1989 Sonworshipers Music (Admin. by Integrated Copyright Group, Inc.) / Shepherd Boy Music CCLI License No. 810055 Feel The Nails Boltz, Ray / Millikan, Steve

Let's not rush past the Cross to the Empty Tomb this holy week! Yes, I love the joyful hope of Easter morning. I am thrilled by the proclamation of eternal life that is made by His resurrection. But we cannot forget that without Friday there would be no Sunday, that without the willingness to die for our sins there would be no triumph over sin, death, and Hell. Kneel at the Cross today anew. Be made holy by the act of atonement which Jesus Christ willingly accomplished there, moved by obedience and love.

Then rise with a forgiven, humble heart and walk to the Empty Tomb, joyfully and with holiness that is a gift of God, not of our works, so that none can boast of his own goodness before God.

He prays for me!

At the risk of sounding weak, I'll admit that I often find life exhausting! One task is completed only to have two more pop up on the to-do list. Some personal victory is celebrated but only for a moment until the next crisis starts to unfold. One of Job's friends wryly observed, "People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire." (Job 5:7, NLT) Now that is an interesting turn of phrase. No matter how smart you are, how well you think you have prepared for tomorrow, how faithfully you take your vitamins - from some unexpected corner, at some unexpected moment, difficulties and disappointments will find their way to your door.

Believer, here's the best news. We have a High Priest who is always praying for us! I love when somebody sends me note or gives me a call and says, "Just wanted you to know that I was praying for you today." There is no gift that compares to the sincere prayers offered on another's behalf. But to think that Jesus Christ is at the Father's right hand making a case for me, asking for mercy on my behalf, directing the Spirit to keep me on my feet when life is coming at me hard and fast- is amazing - and true! The Bible says, "He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens." (Hebrews 7:25-26, NIV)

John's Gospel records the final hours of Jesus' earthly ministry in greater detail than the other Gospels. The 17th chapter is a record of the prayer that Jesus prayed on behalf of His disciples and for Believers to this day. It's a wonderful prayer that gives encouragement. It allows us to hear the heart of Jesus' prayers on our behalf. In part He says, "I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth." (John 17:14-17, NLT)

What He does not pray is as important to note as what He does ask on our behalf. He does not ask God to make life easy or to provide a rocket ship out of this world! We pray that way sometimes, don't we? "God, let me outta here! Change this situation. Just let me have an easy time of it today." Yes, I pray that foolish, childish prayer sometimes. But Jesus prays that we will be preserved from spiritual destruction, that we will be full of the Spirit's life and distinct as the people of God in a dark world, and that we will understand God's word and will.

There are two things I want to leave with you today.

1st - He is praying for you! Never forget that. You are not alone, forgotten, or forsaken.

2nd - He asks the best for you, not the easy! Pray like He prays; not for release, but for courage; not for an easier place, but for His glory shine through you as remain faithful to Him in your present situation.

Remember this. Our High Priest understands our needs for He was tempted and tested in all the ways we are. When you're wrestling with life and the will of God, remember He did, too. As He prayed in Gethsemane, under terrible pressure and in great anguish, He pleaded for another way, but eventually came 'round to surrender, "Not my will, Father, but Yours, be done!" So He understands when you're pressured, squeezed, stressed, broken, disappointed, distraught, confused, or afraid! He is praying for you.
________________________________

Jesus! What a friend for sinners!
Jesus lover of my soul!
Friends may fail me, foes assail me;
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Hallelujah what a Savior.
Hallelujah what a Friend.
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Our Great Savior - Chapmen, public domain

I am a friend of God!

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Those words which Jesus screamed in His agony on the Cross are precious words, despite the ugly context that tore them from His throat! Why? Because they let me know that my Lord and Savior understands the despair and sense of alienation that stalks each of us when we are separated from God. The grim facts are that sin entered the world. Sin separates us from God. All sin and therefore, all are orphaned from their Father. And yet, there remains a longing, often undefined, to know Him. We attempt to fill up that longing for God with many things - success, owning things, working for rewards and awards, sex - to name a few.

We search for significance in different ways attempting to make the statement- "I matter, I am a person of worth." But, none of our efforts brings lasting satisfaction. Why? Because the hole in our being is a God-shaped gap that only He can close! The only lasting satisfaction for our longing for purpose and place in this world is restoration of the relationship with God.

The Bible explains the concept like this- "When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. . . . God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God." (Romans 5:6-11, NLT)

There are dark days in our lives, even after we have come to faith, that cause us to wonder if God has forsaken us. Sickness, death, and disappointment come to saint and sinner alike. In those seasons we hear the whispers of doubt, the hiss of demonic tormenters, that say - 'Where is your God? Has He turned His back on you?' Then I remember Jesus' greatest agony, the alienation He felt as He was torn from His perfect relationship with God, the Father, as my sins were laid on Him. And I am able to pray that He will strengthen me, knowing that He has stood where I stand and that He will keep me in the hour of trial. "Since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16, NIV)

Do feel that God has forsaken you?
Apart from Jesus Christ, that is not just a feeling. It is a fact. Our sins have torn us from our Father! Look to Jesus. Believe that He has provided the full price for your forgiveness and, by faith, accept your place in God's great family!

If you are 'in Christ,' and you are feeling forsaken, ask the Spirit of God to work with you on an inventory of your life. Persistent disobedience to the will of God creates distance in our relationship. If you find that kind of willful rejection of God's will, turn to Him with open admission and "He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing." (1 John 1:9, The Message)

Know this, too. Sometimes our sense of being alone is just that - a feeling, not a reality. Fatigue and disappointment resulting from missed expectations give us a feeling that God has left us. But He is near! Stay steady, hold onto faith.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles,
but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;
not one of them is broken!
Calamity will surely overtake the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.
No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned." (Psalm 34:18-22, NLT)

Church, who needs it?

The man said, "I really do believe in God and Jesus, but I hate church." The irony underlying the conversation hit me hard. How could I, a creature of the Church, a man who has spent his entire adult life employed by religious organizations address that statement with any kind of integrity? I understood what he meant though, for I, too, have found myself despising parts of organized religion. Sometimes I, a full-time Pastor whose calling is perceived by most people as being all about spirituality, long to escape religious enterprise to do something 'spiritual.' My friend went on to ask, "Do you find many people like me?" The answer is yes! There are a lot of people who claim faith on some level but who have abandoned organized religion. The reasons are many, but a few are common. What are they?

1. Too much emphasis on money.
Church buildings need maintenance. Programs have to be funded. People who teach, preach, and lead have to be paid. But what about ineffectiveness, waste, and a lack of accountability? May I dare to say that if businesses were operated like a lot of local congregations, they would be bankrupt in a year or less! Many church leaders expect people to pour their money into the offering plate, but resent the questions about results. It is somehow considered unkind to ask - what did that all that money accomplish for God and good? And, yes, there are those few preachers who live extravagantly. The few get a lot of press and live high profile lives. But the truth is that most church employees live on salaries that are less than they would make in the secular world. They do so gladly. I am convinced that where the mission of a church is defined, where results are being observed in terms of that mission, and where real people needs are being met - there will be ample funding for God's work to be done without resorting to gimmicks, pleading, or pressure.

2. Too many hypocrites.
It's true that the church has its share of people who talk faith better than they walk faith; but, many others are totally sincere, if imperfect. If I somehow managed to poll family members and/or work associates of each and every person who sits in the pews of my church, I would find gaps in every one of their lives. I know that I don't get it right everyday, or even every hour of a single day. I'm sometimes less than loving. I allow fear to overtake faith. I misjudge others. I become the victim of my own pre-conceived ideas; but I do really love God! Christians are 'becomers,' works in progress, growing in Christ. If you're throwing stones at the 'hypocrites' in the church, watch out, because your own sins are likely to be revealed sooner or later. That said, I know there are churches where image has overtaken substance, where tradition is worshipped on a higher level than God Himself, and where conformity to the accepted rule is king! I probably would not hang out in that kind of church too long, either.

3. Irrelevant to my life.
Yes, the message of the Gospel must be connected to the culture. Paul himself said that he was willing to become all things to all people so that by all methods he could bring them to Christ! It is important to be conversant with the people that we hope to influence. The rest of the story is this: too much accommodation of the culture destroys the distinctive quality of a real Believer's life. Our calling is to be 'the salt of the earth.' But the Believer who has become 'worldly' no longer functions in that way. A healthy church will always have a tension between those who guard the gates and those who drag in the sinners! It will always have the evangelists whose hearts bleed for those in need and the theologians who work to protect both orthodoxy (right beliefs) and orthopraxy (right practices). The church isn't just about being relevant. God has given the Church (and Christians) a message of transformation that conflicts with the sins of whatever culture into which it is spoken! A church that is so compromised as to have lost her voice to call people to live in love, in mercy, and justly, isn't worth a thing, no matter how many fill up her building on Sunday.

Who needs to be a part of the church?
Every Christian Believer! The Christian experience is not a Lone Ranger one. The highest and best spiritual life is not lived in isolation from other Believers. Christianity is a communal experience according to the will of God. We are called to be a part of the Body of Christ, working at the relationships with other Believers.

The Bible says, "God has put all parts of our body together in the way that he decided is best. A body isn’t really a body, unless there is more than one part. It takes many parts to make a single body. That’s why the eyes cannot say they don’t need the hands. That’s also why the head cannot say it doesn’t need the feet.
In fact, we cannot get along without the parts of the body that seem to be the weakest. We take special care to dress up some parts of our bodies. We are modest about our personal parts, but we don’t have to be modest about other parts. God put our bodies together in such a way that even the parts that seem the least important are valuable. He did this to make all parts of the body work together smoothly, with each part caring about the others. If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honored, the whole body will be happy.
Together you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of his body." (1 Corinthians 12:18-27, CEV)

Find a group of Believers who are serious about the prime commands- Love God wholeheartedly, and love others unselfishly - and commit yourself to their company. Work at it. Give your all, for God's sake.

The Bible says that the results will be simply amazing: "we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love." (Ephesians 4:13-16, The Message)

Strengthen your brothers

Nine young Believers from The Church at Chapel Hill in Georgia traveled to NJ to be at our church this past weekend. Pastor Jeremiah and members of Fulfill The Call sang, danced, spoke, and injected our church with a dose of healthy enthusiasm. Their visit reinforced a truth I already knew but had forgotten - living in isolation is unhealthy. Groups and people tend to get ingrown. We can become paralyzed by our own sins and failings. We begin to think that our way of living the Christian life is 'the' way. The cross pollination of ideas can make us strong, will force us to stop and think, to ponder life from a new perspective. Hearing what God is doing in the lives of others renews our hope in Him for our own lives. That's what FTC did for us. They didn't invent some new truth - thank God! They told us the Gospel story as seen through the lens of their experience. They came and brought us strength!


Luke records a poignant moment at the table where Jesus celebrated the Passover and told his friends to celebrate it in His memory in the future. After that important moment, the disciple fell to squabbling among themselves about who was most important! Amazing, isn't it? They got so caught up in making sure that their place in the pecking order was protected, they lost sight of the One who gave them true Life. Jesus reminds them that true greatness is found in serving each other, that the way up is down. Then I can almost hear Him sigh and He says these words directly to Peter - "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22:31-32, NLT) His is a bitter-sweet charge. "Simon Peter, you're going to be a failure, shaken like wheat in a sifter by the work of Satan, but you will come through it and repent. Use your experience to restore your friends who will fail even worse than you will."

Peter did emerge weeks later a new man, infused with the authority and power of the Holy Spirit. He was the leader of the first generation Church, not in title, nor even in intellectual abilities, but by his testimony. James held the title of Pastor of the Church at Jerusalem. Paul came to be the thinker who distilled Christian theology, but Peter was the one with the story to which people could relate. "I was the one who fell on his face when the Lord needed me. I was the one who missed the point of the lessons - but He loved me still and restored me. Now, He'll do the same for you!" The broken, the failing, the hopeless heard a word of hope in his testimony and turned to follow the Lord. He embraced the Lord's command - "Peter, strengthen your brothers!"

Do you think you're too _____________________ (what's your excuse?) to be useful to the Lord?
Do you let the mistakes and failures of another day disqualify you from serving the Lord today?
Are you trying hard to pretend that your sins never really happened, burying them?

Take Peter's example for yourself. Get right with God. Confess the sin, find forgiveness, let the Spirit do His restoration work, then strengthen your brothers!
Are you telling the Story to others who need to hear it anew? Are you strengthening others by sharing your experience?

Here's a word from the Word. Put it into practice."Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV)
_________________________
I don't care
What label you may wear.
If you believe in Jesus
You belong with me.
The bond we share
Is all I care to see;
And we will change the world forever
If you will join with me,
Join and sing.

You're my brother,
you're my sister,
So take me by the hand.
Together we will work until He comes.
There's no foe that can defeat us
When we're walking side by side.
As long as there is love,
We will stand.

We Will Stand
Author: Taff, Russ / Taff, Tori / Hollihan, James
Copyright: 1983 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)

Paradigm Crash

Dr. Earl Creps, in a book titled, Off -Road Disciplines, uses the phrase, "paradigm crash." He explains the phrase this way. "A paradigm expresses my basic orientation toward how life works; it is my 'operating system' of unspoken premises that runs in the background unattended. ... A crash happens when pain makes the frailty of those assumptions impossible to ignore... sometimes violent, sometimes gradual - paradigm crashes create an opportunity for God to take us off road, awakening me to mission by crucifying aspects of my culture... and spirituality that need to die."

Twenty years ago, I experienced a paradigm crash. Many of my carefully laid plans for life fell apart as a result of cracks in the foundation that were hidden away beneath layers of denial, religiosity, and apparent success. At the time what I did not realize was that though Jesus was my Savior, He was not my Lord and King. I believed He was the King and Creator, sang of His majesty and love, but lived as the lord of my own life. I was morally upright, serving people in a church ministry, preaching messages that others found helpful in their spiritual development. But, I was still 'in charge' of my life and was unaware that I was trying to make God serve me, rather than me serving Him. From time to time, I sensed all was not well and felt deeply conflicted, but did not know why. When those feelings arose, I brushed them back by working harder, serving more, and singing more loudly in the darkness! Over a period of about two years, God allowed me to experience bitterness of disappointment that I had never tasted in my life to that point. I experienced a 'paradigm crash.' My assumptions about Him, myself, and the way that life should work proved faulty and He loved me enough to let me know my sin! The descent into depression and disillusionment that followed was a dark period of my life but what followed, I can now say, was a grace gift of God. In the death of self and dreams, a new faith emerged, a rock solid foundation for life.

Is Jesus the King of your life or is He King in name only?
Who is really determining how you live - Self or Jesus Christ?

That is a tough question, perhaps one you cannot honestly answer today. Maybe you're like I was two decades ago, doing right things for wrong reasons, and deeply in denial about your real spiritual need.

The people who greeted the Lord as He came to Jerusalem that final week before His crucifixion, thought they had found their king. "They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!" (John 12:12-13, NIV) Several days later, the yells in Pilate's courtyard were much different. "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" What happened? Their expectations were disappointed. Their paradigm taught them to expect an earthly monarch who would throw off the Roman rulers and restore the glory of David's kingdom. That paradigm was wrong, and there was a crash. Their plans were not the plans of God. Jesus declared, "My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36, NLT) His throne was the Cross where He conquered sin, Hell, and death but most could not grasp what He was doing. But, even to those who had turned on Him, Jesus offered grace, praying from the Cross - "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they are doing."

Peter, too, experienced a 'paradigm crash,' as he stood in the yard outside of the house where Jesus was being interrogated. When he was challenged about being one of those who loved the Lord, he vehemently denied his association, swept away by fear and, in his confusion, his weakness was exposed for all to see! From the rubble of his broken life, Peter looked up and found new faith in the King of Glory. He was filled with the Spirit of God and became, as Jesus had promised, the leader of the Church.

Is life not working as you thought it would? Is confusion lurking in the darkness at the edges of your mind? Does it seem that you're working harder but realizing less?
Ask God to show you the truth about your self, your assumptions about the world, even your expectations of Him. Perhaps you believed on Him a long time ago as Savior, but only now are coming to grips with making Him Lord and King of your life. Trust Him! He will not write you off, throw you away, or forget you. There is a new grace to be discovered at the end of the life you have planned, when He is allowed to bring into existence the eternal life He has planned.

Crown Him King today. Surrender it all to Him.
_______________________________

If there ever were dreams
That were lofty and noble,
They were my dreams at the start.
And the hopes for life's best,
Were the hopes that I harbored,
Down deep in my heart.
But my dreams turned to ashes,
My castles all crumbled,
My fortune turned to loss.
So I wrapped it all in the rags of my life,
And laid it at the cross.

Something beautiful, something good;
All my confusion He understood.
All I had to offer Him
Was brokenness and strife,
But He made something beautiful of my life.

Something Beautiful -
Gaither, William J. / Gaither, Gloria
© 1971 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright Management CCLI License No. 810055

Use stress for strength!

Medical studies are suggesting that one of the reasons for the rise in rates of allergies in American children are the clean environments they live in. Our bodies are designed with an amazing immune system to deal with germs and dirt, but if that system is left on constant idle because of an overly clean environment, it becomes overly sensitive and is triggered by agents it should ignore! Interesting, isn't it? Every little boy who is up to his elbows in backyard dirt can truthfully say, "I'm strengthening my immune system, Mom!" Our bodies need the stress of physical exercise, too. If we are constantly in a state of 'rest,' we turn into marshmallow fluff, our muscle become flabby, our bones soft, and our hearts incapable of meeting peak demand.

Emotionally, we need stress, too. An overly protective parent, who shields her child from every sad situation, who steps into every school yard dispute, is doing that child a tremendous disservice. Learning how to negotiate, how to stand up for ourselves, and how to build relationships are skills that start when we are two and three, and fighting for ownership of our toys. We develop the ability to cope with loss when we experience disappointments that are not life-threatening. Without the experience of those trials and tests of a normal childhood, we grow up to be "Momma's boys," who will not move into a fully independent adulthood. America is full of young adults whose parents thought they were helping by over-managing the details of their childhood or by making sure that little John and Jill were never disappointed or unhappy. Now, they are 25 year old men and women who cannot hold a job, build a marriage, or get up everyday to deal with the realities of life. They think that a little stress will kill them!

Dave Dravecky was a major pitcher at the top of his game when cancer invaded his body. The cancer eventually ended his career and took his arm! In all that tragedy, he went through depression, asked a lot of questions, and wondered why. On the other side of it all, years later, he reflected that losing his baseball career was the door to gaining better things in life and becoming a godly man! He writes, "In America, Christians pray for the burden of suffering to be lifted from their backs. In the rest of the world Christians pray for stronger backs so they can bear their suffering. It’s why we look away from the bag lady on the street and to the displays in store windows. Why we prefer going to the movies instead of to hospitals and nursing homes."

Are you asking God to take away all the challenges of life? Are you praying for your troubles to be erased?

Consider that you might well be praying against your best interests! Paul, the man God called to reach the world with the Good News of Jesus, faced daunting trials. He was often the object of ridicule, arrested by authorities for disturbing the peace, endured shipwrecks during his travels, was rejected by the very people he had brought to Christ, and frustrated by lack of response to his preaching. Did he pray for these trials to be taken away? Yes! Did God do it? No! And, with maturity, here's what the apostle came to know about the value of those difficult situations: ". . . we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NLT)

Are you in a tough time in life?
Is each day a struggle, with troubles cropping up everywhere you turn?

Before you conclude that God has forgotten you, that you need a 'new life,' or that you should just give up, pray for guts!

Ask God to strengthen you, to keep you on your feet, to keep you facing into the battle unafraid and unbowed. He's promised - "I will not leave you as a orphan!... I will never forsake you!"
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Here's a word from the Word to ponder today -- "God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them.
But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God." (Hebrews 12:7-11, The Message)

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TFTD will be back on Thursday, March 29. See you later this week!

An Abundance Mentality

When the Mega-Millions lottery prize climbs into the stratosphere, like it did a couple of weeks ago, with a prize of $370 million, I indulge in ridiculous escapist fantasies about what I could do with a sudden windfall of wealth of that magnitude. What would it be like to pay off the church mortgage, to be able to fund tuition for poor students, to support various ministries with gifts that would let them accomplish their mission? I think of dozens of ways that philanthropy could make a difference in the lives of people around me. It's fun, but foolish! But, I also know that there are lots of people who do the same, for I hear the chatter between members of the news media, in the coffee shop, and among my friends. Most of us think, 'if I had more, then I would be more generous.' The truth is that most of us adjust our standard of living upward when we have more resources available to us. As our income grows, we discover all kinds of 'needs' exist in our lives that must be satisfied - a larger home, a newer car, a vacation to an exotic location, higher quality clothing, and things like that. Generosity will not necessarily increase if more 'stuff' is suddenly available to us.

Generosity is an attitude that we can develop whether we are poor or rich by society's standard. All of us have something that others need: be it love, acceptance, support, time, or a listening ear. The book of the Acts tells the story of two preachers going to the Temple to pray. Their generosity is in inspiration! Take a look.
"One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John.
Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God." (Acts 3:1-8, NIV)

Don't lose touch with a major point of this story by focusing exclusively on the miracle! The fact that a crippled man was made whole is wonderful and usually becomes the thing we talk about in this account. However, there would have been no miracle without the willingness of Peter and John to be generous- taking note of a man's need, getting involved, and offering to help him! What if those two preachers had pretended not to notice him, embarrassed by the fact that they were too poor to give him a dime? What if they had just pulled their pockets inside out to reveal their lack of resources and shrugged off his request? But, they didn't! A generosity of heart and spirit possessed them because they knew they had a Rich Father, so they drew on His account, and shared the power of the Spirit that they did have with the man.

And we can do the same. Wait! Don't be so literal that you only read that story as indicating that we should be out healing people, though that could be what God wants you to do in a given situation. Don't limit your faith in God! Evaluate your resources and go beyond your bank account. Then, adopt the attitude of Peter and John - "What I have I give you!"

What has God given you in abundance? Hope, Love, Peace, Purpose, Eternal Life, Insight - are a few things that our Rich Father promises us. The question is - are we hoarding those blessings, or generously sharing them? Covey, in his book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, observes that we live in one of two mentalities. Many of us have a Scarcity Mentality that sees the pie in life as limited in size. If someone gets a bigger slice, we assume it means our slice will be smaller. So we protect our resources and live defensively. Some have grasped an entirely different way of life based on God's provisions. They possess an Abundance Mentality that trusts God to make the pie bigger as we share. From a place of a sense of security and personal worth, founded on God's promise to meet their every need, they are generous - with their resources of every kind. And the Word says, "The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed." (Proverbs 11:25, NLT)

When God called Moses to leave the desert and his father-in-law's little flock of sheep, to return to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery and to the Promised Land, he offered all kinds of excuses why he was incapable of obedience! "I stutter. I'm a nobody. They'll think I just made all this stuff up." The Lord asked Moses a question that I want to leave with you today. "What is that in your hand?" Moses was holding an ordinary shepherd's staff, a stick of wood! But, God used that stick to shake up the court of Pharaoh, like a scepter of authority in Israel, and even to part the Red Sea! But, when all was said and done, Moses had to give what he had before God could use it to change the world.

What is in your hand? What resources do you have? When God asks you to share, do it generously and see what He can do with what you thought was nothing!

The Dutiful Son

One of the best stories that Jesus ever told is recorded in Luke 15, the story of a wayward son who finally comes home to discover that his Father has been waiting for his return with open arms. It's a scandalous story that doesn't include 'appropriate' punishment for the son who took advantage of his dad's generosity, squandering his inheritance on drink and prostitutes. We expect the errant son to find an angry father who, at the very least, lectures him on his failures and puts him on probation to see if his change of ways is sincere. Instead we read of a grand party, a new suit, and restored access to the family fortune. It is a grace story! And there is a part of the story that doesn't get much attention from many of us.

"All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day’s work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, ‘Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.’

"The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen. The son said, ‘Look how many years I’ve stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!’ "

His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand. You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours— but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!’ " (Luke 15:25-32, The Message)

Many people who have been Believers for a while, who live in obedience and serve the Lord earnestly, can identify with the anger of that dutiful son! Forgetting that they are the beneficiaries of God's grace, they close the door to 'those kind of people' who would bring their messes, their failures, and the stink of their sins into the congregation. "What would people think of Christ if they saw us allowing people like that into our membership?" they think. The mission of Christ (to save sinners!) is lost to a maintenance Christianity that is focused on church programs, conformity to rules, titles for the important, and committee work that gives the appearance of progress. These dutiful sons do some good and charitable things for those they consider beneath them, but they are careful never to extend an invitation for 'those kind of people' to enter the church, for they believe it is important to maintain the distinction between 'us and them.'

Jesus is not suggesting that the only way we can really know God's grace is to rebel royally, make a total wreck of life, and then come to God! As the Father said to the good son, "You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours." A holy life has rich rewards including fellowship with God and an eternal inheritance. But, when we cross the line from realization that "but for the grace of God, there go I," to "what a good guy I am: so smart, so superior, so important to my Father," we enter the territory of ugly self-righteousness and begin to replace the beauty of true holiness with an ugly substitute called religion!

When you hear yourself speaking like a dutiful son, assuming a superior attitude, shutting another out of God's kingdom, stop and remember the pit from which God pulled you!
"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."(1 Corinthians 1:26-31, NIV)
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Amazing grace,
how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I'm found;
was blind, but now I see!

John Newton

It is finished!

Enthusiasm runs high at the beginning of a new project. You can count on it! Everybody is psyched about the possibilities, loving the chance to be a part of the grand opening. It's getting the thing completed that is so difficult. Real character is shown, not by signing on to start something, but by sticking with it until it is finished. This applies universally through out our lives. Marriage is a classic illustration. Many unions come to a disastrous end just a few years after two wonderful kids exchanged loving vows at an altar strewn with flowers. What happens? The grind of life wears down the excitement. A mortgage, a car payment, and two kids can pour a lot of water on passion's flames! Facing the drudgery of paying the bills, dealing with bad moods, and discovery of the hard work of keeping a relationship fresh and alive can make a person forget why they said, "I do," in the first place and soon they find themselves looking for a way to say, "I don't!"

Ministry service wears us down, too. I hear some people talking about 'burn out,' and wonder if that's just a fancy excuse for quitting when the going gets tough or boredom sets in? It's not always easy or fun to serve God or others. The fact is that even the called and Spiritually equipped get weary with serving. Showing up to teach a Sunday School class week after week, collecting food for the pantry, mowing the church lawn, leading in worship, going to an outreach, taking boys on a Ranger campout - they are all exciting opportunities for a while, and then they become real work as the 'newness' wears off. Does that mean a person is 'burnt out,' just because he is not as excited about his place of ministry today as he was a year ago? Or, does it just indicate the ordinary humanness of liking things novel? I get tired of my call, from time to time. I'll admit to that. There is no doubt at all in my life about the reality of God's call to full-time pastoral service that He gave to me one Sunday night in the Summer of 1971. And, truthfully, nothing gives me more joy than introducing someone to Jesus Christ and teaching people how to find the rich life of the Spirit. But, there are weeks when I think, "No more! I cannot take another call, face another critic, sit through another meeting, or write another sermon!" The temptation to look for an exit grows strong and creates all kinds of illusions about the existence of some easier place in life, out there, somewhere.

Nobody remembers people who started strong! They remember those who finish well! Those who enter Halls of Fame are those who stick with it, who keep developing their skills, who perform well until the end. So what does it take to finish well? The Word says, "do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:" (Hebrews 10:35-36, NKJV) We need a strong faith, a real confidence that rests squarely on God's promises of eternal life and heavenly rewards. When we want to quit, it is time to call for a 'time out' and to renew our understanding of why we started, what He promises, and what He asked us to accomplish.

Then, too, a good dose of 'stick-to-itiveness' is important. We need determination that fires us to say, "I'm not quitting!" and then the stubbornness to put our heads down and go forward. Perhaps endurance is a better word, but endurance and stubbornness are surely first cousins, at least! Some days it is just pure guts that gets us through! The truth is - that's life. Hebrews tells that when we are weary, we should think of Jesus! He endured the Cross. He dug deep, sweat blood, wept real tears, and felt the cold breath of dread - but He didn't quit. Isaiah says of the Messiah - "I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me." (Isaiah 50:7-8, NKJV) At the risk of sounding flip, I imagine that Jesus took a deep breath, looked Satan, death, and the Cross squarely in the face and said, "Bring it on!" He trusted God's promise that He would emerge from the dark into glorious Light.

And, from the Cross, He felt the curse fall on Him, knew the work of bearing the sins of the world was done, and He cried - "It is finished!" That was no whimper of regret or self-pity. It was triumphant battle cry that announced His completion of God's assignment. When I come to the end of my journey, I want to be able to throw my hands up to heaven, like a runner crossing the finish line, and yell - "It is finished, Glory to God!" Let's stay the course, dear Believer.

And, here is the Lord's Promise. Ponder it today and take heart from it.
"Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name." (Revelation 3:10-12, NLT)
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A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powr's engage
To do my Master's will!

Arm me with jealous care,
As in Thy sight to live,
And O, Thy servant, Lord, prepare,
A strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray,
And on Thyself rely,
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.

A Charge To Keep I Have
Wesley, Charles / Mason, Lowell © Public Domain CCLI License No. 810055

Child-like trust

My kids once thought their Dad was the smartest guy in the world, could fix anything, and always knew exactly what to do. As little children, they trusted me with their lives, literally. It was my God-given responsibility (and privilege) to teach them about the world they lived in, how to interact with other people, the meaning of life, and even about God Himself. Good thing I didn't spend too much time pondering that idea, for even writing it makes me feel overwhelmed! With maturity, they have come to realize that Dad is an ordinary mortal. Sure, they call for advice now and again, but they know that I speak from a place of limited knowledge and experience. They still trust me, but not in the same way they did when they were 5; and that is a very good thing!

We should never out-grow our complete trust in God! But, often we do. As we become more sophisticated in our grasp of the teaching of Scripture, we learn to 'explain away' the promises of God. Jesus once brought a little child to the center of the circle of friends He was teaching and told them, "Unless you become like a little child, you will not enter the Kingdom of God." (Mark 10:15) How I pray for a heart that comes to my Lord with child-like simplicity, that trusts Him without arguing, that accepts each day from Him without demanding that He act differently! How about you?

Our experiences in life require that we work at trusting Him, don't they? I read a story from the life of King David today. David wanted to do a good thing and bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. (The Ark was the symbolic dwelling place of God among His people.) His enthusiasm for the task outran his knowledge of the right way to do it. Instead of putting the Ark on poles, carried on the shoulders of priests, in the manner God demanded in the Law, David put the Ark in a cart. It seemed like the right thing to do, but it wasn't God's way. When the cart shook on the bumpy road, Uzzah reached out to steady it and as he touched it, God judged him and he died! Take note of how David reacted to this tragedy - "Then David got angry because of God’s deadly outburst against Uzzah. . . .David became fearful of God that day and said, "This Chest is too hot to handle. How can I ever get it back to the City of David?" (2 Samuel 6:8-9, The Message)

When God acts in ways I cannot understand and/or allows things to happen that do not make sense, I find myself angry and fearful, too. Word reached me on Sunday about a tragedy. A friend in ministry lost his 18 year old daughter in a car crash during the snow storm last Friday. I wept for Craig. And I was upset with God! "Is this the way You treat those who love and serve You? Who will ever trust You if you let things like this happen to people who give themselves wholeheartedly to You?" The Holy Spirit was gentle with me and after I spouted off, I felt His gentle whisper - "Jerry, let your mind and heart become child-like. I know what I am doing! Pray for Craig and Cindy to be sustained by faith and to take new solace from my promise of eternal life." So, I did! The sorrow I feel for that couple is mitigated by a choice to trust God's wisdom and providence in a situation that appears to have no 'up' side, at all.

On this side of Eternity, some (should I say, many?) of our 'why questions' will have no apparent answers. We can demand that God give us a reason, and remain furious with Him, cutting ourselves off from knowing His peace and comfort. Or, we can pray for a child-like trust that accepts each day from His hand with thanksgiving. That, my friend, reveals true spiritual maturity. When we trust Him like that, we show that we are growing in our understanding of His majesty and greatness. I'm not talking about the insincere, chirpy 'faith' chatter that passes for trusting God in some circles! Too often that is just a cover for great insecurity or is a perceived way to get God to do what we want Him to do by saying the right things, even those things we don't really believe.

Child-like faith admits anger and frustration with His ways, but steps over the barrier of 'why' and trusts Him anyway and shows that trust with total obedience!
Do you trust Him today? Really trust Him in a way that causes you to obey Him completely, even when the sinful nature screams to do things differently?

Here's a passage for your meditation today. May the Word inform your faith and make it strong today.

"We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose, and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children. God then accepted the people he had already decided to choose, and he has shared his glory with them. What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us?" (Romans 8:28-31, CEV)
Amen.

Why pray when you can worry?

Hundreds of opportunities- no, wait, make that, millions- are available to keep a person in a full state of anxiety. Just turn on your TV and be convinced! Here's what I learned recently.

Terrorists are regrouping in Afghanistan and laying new plans for attacks on America. Multiple health problems are growing threats which could develop at any time in your body, especially if you're like me, over 50! (Cut to ad for cholesterol reducing medication because high cholesterol comes from two sources, your food and your family, just ask your Dr.!) The stock market is down, along with real estate values. Could the economy be preparing for a major down turn, with lay-offs to follow? (Cut to ad from financial firm and learn that Roger has been making people secure since he was a kid.) The earth is allegedly warming and cataclysmic climate changes are certain to leave our coastal cities under water and our fertile farm land will turn into a desert that stretches from Minnesota to Mississippi! The most dangerous thing you will do today is drive. (Cut to ad for Swedish made vehicle which earned 5 stars in latest crash tests.) On the road with you are teenagers who lack skills and experience, trucks that are not properly maintained, and people talking on cell phones whose driving is impaired as much as if they had two alcoholic drinks. If they crash into your car, you may severely injured and unable to work - which will lead to your inability to pay your bills. (And, now it's time for an ad featuring the AFLAC duck!) Maybe I should worry that I watch too much television.

Yes, friend, worry flourishes in the land of so many blessings. Geraldo, Hannity, and O'Reilly (and their fellow TV 'news' reporters) make a very good living by stoking our fears with whirling graphics, ominous music, and charts in vivid colors. All of the noise and fury of our media culture keeps most of us from realizing that on the whole we live amazingly good lives in a very wonderful society. It's not Heaven, but most of our fears are tremendously overblown and exaggerated. (Read about The "Fear Industrial Complex" at http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2898636&page=1)

For the those times and situations in our lives that really do bring us anxiety, the Bible gives each of us a tremendously wonderful invitation. This passage is a mix of realistic appraisals of the threats we face and the resources we are richly provided for dealing with those threats. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." (1 Peter 5:6-10, NKJV)

Jesus directs Believers to cease worrying and to choose to live under God's rule, secure in His provisions for each day. A real case can be made that when we keep on worrying, we are disobedient and displease our Heavenly Father. A friend remarked to me in a prayer meeting, "Fear is sin!" I did not like his statement because it judged my heart! I argued with him, but the more I have thought about what he said, the more truth I realized it contains! I cannot control the arrival of thoughts that tempt to me to be afraid and/or to worry, but I do have a choice about what to do with those thoughts. I can persist in worry, which is an act of disobedience and therefore, sin; (Lord, I need forgiveness. Help me in my unbelief!) or I can prayerfully present those threats and needs to my Father and, according to the promise of the Word, enjoy the gift of the 'peace of God which transcends human understanding.'

What will you do with those things, big and small, that threaten your peace and security today?
Will you worry or will you pray?
Will you praise God that He is bigger than any trouble that could come into your life or will you try to be your own god and 'manage the risks' as you grow increasingly anxious?

I'm going to pray!
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What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry,
everything to God in prayer.

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry,
everything to God in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He'll take and shield thee,
thou wilt find a solace there.

-Joseph Scriven, Charles Converse, Public Domain