Help from the hills

Undoubtedly, our lives are more complex these days despite technology and multiple 'labor saving' devices that are supposed to make it all easier to manage! We have more things to keep in working order, a wider circle of relationships to tend, and multiple demands on our time. In this busy world, I'll be first to admit that it takes a lot of effort to keep our hearts in tune with God, to nurture our marriages, to raise our kids to revere the things of God- in short, to order our lives in a God-pleasing way that really works.

Life doesn't always 'work' the way we think it should, does it? The more desperate we become, the more we search for sources of solace. But, where will we turn? We love our self-help sources! Prevention magazine promises us that we can live forever if we follow the advice of the various gurus. The church of Oprah meets daily and from her pulpit she dispenses wisdom to millions who are ready to drink up her advice about everything from politics to sex. WebMD allows us to doctor ourselves.

Many people turn to faith in God in times of crisis. She walks out the door and suddenly he wants to go to church. The teenage daughter announces she is pregnant and her parents decide that it's time to reorder weekend priorities to include worship. The mistaken idea is that with faith comes magic answers, instant solutions, and a return to happy land. That's all fine, but it doesn't work! God is the God of miracles but He's not our Magician, nor is He our household Butler who shows up after our party to clean up the messes!

One of my favorite Psalms is also one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible. Here's the song:
"I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."
Those who first sang this song in Israel understood the opening line better than we do. We think the Psalmist is rhapsodizing about the glory of the hills that turns our thoughts to God! No, that's not it, at all. The hilltops of ancient Israel were places of idolatry, where shrines stood to the various gods. Want to assure a better crop in the Springtime? Go to the fertility shrine on the hilltop. Need protection from drought? Go to the hilltop where the sun-god could be appeased. The gods (Baals - literally "lords") were notoriously fickle. They were thought to fall asleep on the job! The priests claimed they could awaken them if the right offerings were presented. They forgot to send rain, make the fields grow, and to protect from evil demons.
Only if a person went to the hills regularly to offer their sacrifices, could they hope to keep things in order. The gods needed the people they supposedly cared for. But, it didn't work! The priests were frauds, the orgies in worship of the fertility gods just a distraction from the grim realities of daily life!

Thus, the followers of the One True God, Yahweh, did not look for help from the gods worshipped at the hilltop shrines. They looked to the Maker of the hills. How was He different from the Baals?

The promises that follow make it plain.
"He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you-
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."
(Psalm 121, NIV)

Does this mean that faithful Christians will never turn their ankles, never get cancer, never find their marriages troubled? Can we expect that He will exempt us from the up's and down's of the economy? No, and if we read it that way, we may eventually lose faith, concluding that God is fraud, or at least, ignoring us. Or, we may think that we need to dance faster, give more, or raise the volume of our prayers to attract His attention.

What God promises in this Psalm is that even in our times of distress we can count on His Presence, lean on His wisdom, and expect His purposes to prevail! Unlike the fickle gods, He is an ever-watching, always active, and all Powerful Lord for all those who trust with their lives.

Don't turn aside to the gods of the hills. No, of course, we don't worship the Baals any longer, but we do worship Money, Government, Education, and many other gods who prove incapable of seeing us safely home. Look, instead, to the Creator, who is never caught napping. Trust Him now, even in the good times, so that you will know how to walk with Him when the storms come- and they will.
__________________

The beasts of the field,
The birds of the air
Are silent to call out Your name.
The earth has no voice
And I have no choice;
But to magnify God unashamed.
Let the rocks be kept silent
For one more day.
Let the whole world sing out.
Let the people say,

"Almighty, most Holy God;
Faithful through the ages.
Almighty, most Holy Lord;
Glorious, Almighty God."

Well, time marches on
With innocence gone,
And a darkness has covered the earth;
But His Spirit still dwells;
He speaks, "It is well,"
And the hopeless still
Offered new birth.
He will break the leash of death;
It will have no sting.
Let the prisoner go free.
Join the dance and sing,

"Almighty, most Holy God;
Faithful through the ages.
Almighty, most Holy Lord;
Glorious, Almighty God."

Almighty
Watson, Wayne© 1990 Material Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) / Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)CCLI License No. 810055

Something to celebrate!

Many Americans will have a holiday from work today. It is a day set aside to honor the work and memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. who stirred the nation’s conscience and led African Americans in peaceful protest to gain the rights promised to all of our citizens. This year, with the election of Barack Obama to the Presidency, the day takes on even more meaning. The fruit of Dr. King’s labors is readily evident as an African American prepares to take the oath of office. Regardless of our personal politics, this is something we can all celebrate, a watershed day in our national story. Does Obama’s election mean that racial divisions are gone? Of course not. Bigotry stills has a grip on millions in ways both conscious and unconscious!

Disciple, you and I are called by Christ Jesus to live without hatred, to let the Spirit root out the mistrust of those different from us. What did He say were the two basic demands of God for all of us: to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Those words roll so easily from our tongue. They just must be true, right, and compelling- and they are! Yet, the history of the Church has too many tragic chapters where hate was given the sanction of her leaders. The Scripture were and are abused to support suppression of human rights and dignity. Frequently ‘the way things have always been’ was confused with ‘the way things ought to be.’

We still have issues with which we wrestle. A couple of examples would be –

· How do we understand what the Bible says about homosexual behavior and apply that within the teaching of Jesus about the worth and dignity of every person? No simple answer there!
· How do we remain faithful to the basic teaching of the Scripture about the difference between male and female roles in the family and yet honor the New Testament reminder that "all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:27-28, NIV)? Not a simple answer there either!

We must not settle for just tolerance. That word annoys me! I have not honored Christ by just tolerating a person who is of a different race, religion, or color! I honor Him only if I genuinely love that person as I love myself. That, dear friend, requires more than I can muster up in myself. John says that “we love others because God loved us first!” The love of God for us should produce a profound sense of humility and obligation: humility that wonders ‘why me, Lord?’ and obligation that says I must share the love I have been given with those who need Him!

Today, I encourage you to take a few moments to pray for racial reconciliation here in these United States. Ask God to bring Light to the darkness of ignorance and hatred. Ask His blessing and protection for our President-elect for these are difficult times and if he is successful in office, he will need the wisdom of the Lord. Thank God for what has been accomplished and invite Him to make you a part of what remains to be done – for the praise of the Name of Jesus.

Thank God for your pain- then do something about it!

The man talking to me was hurting- obviously. He wasn’t sobbing, but his voice would catch in his throat and his eyes would fill up and spill over, again and again. “What’s with this place?” he asked. “I come here and I start crying! It’s not what I want to do.” To me, his tears showed two things: that God’s Presence that he sensed in the church made him feel safe enough to cry and that he was in terrible pain inside, a pain he usually could not or would not let himself acknowledge.

Do you know that pain is a gift? It is a signal that something is wrong, that corrective action is necessary. Touch a hot surface and instantly you hand pulls away as nerves flash a pain signal to your brain that causes you to react. Without the pain, your hand would be severely damaged, wouldn’t it? The ache of the soul is a signal, too. What does it mean? It might be God calling us to return to Him. It might be signaling guilt. It might be signaling longing for purpose and/or meaning. It might be telling us that we are not living for the right things, wasting precious days. It could be signaling depression that needs to be treated, or unresolved conflicts from long ago!

Too often we treat the pain symptom instead of the cause of it. Our medicine cabinets are full of chemicals that mask our pain – Advil, Bayer, Aleve. None of these are healers! They just temporarily turn off the pain signal. That’s not all bad if we take steps to deal with the issue that causes us pain at the same time. Tragically there are things that many use to mask the pain in their hearts, too. Alcohol, pleasure, sex, pornography, buying things, anger – the list is long.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29, NLT) Don’t be too quick to dismiss that prescription! Regular times of corporate worship with God’s people, quiet times of reflective prayer, and daily handing over of our cares and concerns really is amazingly healing. The Spirit of God will lead us to forgive, will call us to repentance, will help us sort out the junk from the treasure – but only IF we are in a place where we can hear Him speak.

As with most healing, the pain of our soul is seldom relieved in an instant. Rather, God heals us from the inside out as we learn to live in ways that are spiritually healthy. Here’s a word from the Word. Read it thoughtfully, prayerfully today. There’s a lot of soul food in it!

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be self-controlled and alert.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." -1 Peter 5:6-10, NIV
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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!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

Scriven, Joseph M. / Converse, Charles C.
© Public Domain

Steady hands

One of the character traits I highly value is steadiness. I want to be the kind of man who does what he does with quality and in a consistent manner. No one should have to question, ‘can we rely on Jerry today?’ The Bible calls this trait faithfulness and God desires to see it in us. He entrusts us with the treasure of Christ and says " it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2, NIV) Few things bring more disgrace to Christ than those who claim to be passionately committed to Him one day and apathetic towards Him the next! "Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can’t go on. A spring doesn’t gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it?” (James 3:10-11, The Message)

Faithfulness grows out of disciplined decisions. One does not live recklessly for years and suddenly become the model of steadiness! Faithfulness grows out of making the choice, again and again, to do the right thing- not the easy thing, not the convenient thing, not the fun thing – but the right thing. A child who is taught to do the little things on time and with quality will most likely grow into an adult who is capable of pushing through tough days faithfully! Jesus told a story about three men given a trust, each according to his abilities. The master inspected their work and commended two who were faithful by saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!" (Matthew 25:20-21, NIV)

However, faithfulness is not just a matter of discipline. There is a little story in Exodus that reminds us of the importance of companions who keep us steady when Life gets rough. Take a look. "While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset." (Exodus 17:8-12, NLT) How did Moses keep steady hands? Only with the help of two great friends!

I promise you that days will come when you want to turn from the hard stuff and run away! Some of those days will stretch into months when every morning dawns demanding that you get up and do the right thing. It might be dealing with chronic pain, loving a difficult person, working for an idiot boss, or wrestling with some inner temptation. Stay steady. Don’t quit. When you think you’re on the edge of collapse, call for support.

Watch out for pride when you’re doing well. One of the larger hazards is blindness to our weakness that overtakes us when we’re on a long run of success. Here’s a warning and promise. May the wisdom of these words keep us faithful.

"Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence. No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face.
All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it " (1 Corinthians 10:12-13, The Message)

Blaze bright, God's Light.

Two men who were in their middle 40’s died, both unexpectedly, just two weeks apart. I was asked to conduct their funeral services. The two lives were a study in contrast! One man wasted his life; burning through relationships, drinking heavily, living in a drug-induced fog much of the time, often in jail for petty crimes. The other man invested his life in adventure; created beautiful award winning photographs, gave himself to generously helping others, and loved the Lord Jesus Christ. One lived in darkness, the other in the Light! Only God can judge the eternal destination of each man, but a detective’s skill is not required to discern which one leaves a greater legacy. At one service, the mood was sorrowful regret, an acknowledgment of emptiness. At the other, the sorrow was lightened with hope, the many pleasant memories deeply comforting.

The Bible says "The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1:4-5, NLT) There is a great darkness in the world that reaches out to engulf each one. There are thrills that exist in the obscurity of that dark. They seduce those who turn from the Light.
Cheap sex provides temporary pleasure, but those who indulge give away their dignity.
Various chemicals create a trip into a phony bliss only to show themselves thieves that steals health and vitality.
Wealth rewards to those who work to gain it but soon it owns those who think they possess it and they become slaves of their stuff – guarding it, fixing it, trying desperately to keep it.
Hatred temporarily blocks the sense of loneliness but quickly it turns on the hater and makes him even more alone!

There is a Great Light that shines brightly! He offers real life, genuine hope, lasting joy, and a purposeful existence that never ends. He shows us how to really love, makes forgiveness a reality, and builds a bridge that carries us over the river of death from life to life! John says, "God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” (John 3:19-21, NLT)

The Scripture urges us to make a choice to live in the Light. When we are wrapped in the Light, He becomes a kind of armor that defends us against the Evil one. Interesting thought, isn’t it? "The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13:12-14, NKJV)

Disciple, pray for the Light to blaze brightly before you; yes even within you. Meditate on this passage and may it’s challenge turn you to Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
"Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! " (Ephesians 5:11-16, The Message)
_______

One sat alone beside the highway begging,
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see.
He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows
Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee. (Mark 10:46-48)

When Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken;
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away,
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

So men today have found the Savior able,
They could not conquer passion, lust and sin;
Their broken hearts had left them sad and lonely,
Then Jesus came and dwelt, Himself, within.

When Jesus Comes
Homer Rodehaver

Abba’s Wonderful Gifts

A father I knew adopted the drill sergeant as his ideal! His kids addressed him as ‘sir.’ Orders came down that were not to be questioned. In many ways, he was a good father and provider except in the most important way; genuine affection. As much as a person might have admired the efficiency of the household, there also was a chilly sense that nobody was too happy to be there. I often wondered if those kids would exit their Dad’s life when they became adults! My tribe experienced discipline, too. I had no reservations about calling them to account, setting standards, and asking for respect. The core of our home, however, was and is love. Obedience of my children was gained not so much through punishment as it was by setting an example and persuading them to follow. Today, though they range in age from 27 to 32, we are friends and love each other deeply!

Our Heavenly Father is a loving Dad!
Jesus Christ came into this world to show us just how deep the Father’s love really is.
John says, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ” From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known." (John 1:14-18, NIV)

Abba’s gifts are grace and truth!

Grace is a rich Biblical word that fills the New Testament. It refers to the kindness of our Father that is shown to us when we are disobedient, rebellious, and resistant to His will. His grace exerts a powerful influence on us, drawing us into His love and causing a transformation of heart and character. Yes, He is a holy God who cannot and will not simply ignore our sins. He has no reluctance to act to discipline us, but He does so for our ultimate good, not our destruction; out of His desire to fill our lives with ‘one blessing after another.’

Truth is also amazing. Our Father refuses to let us remain in the deceptions of the Devil. In the beginning that Liar promised what he could not deliver. Jesus Christ came and demonstrated what life could be when the Truth was loved. He refused the foolish pretensions of superficial religion. He would not play the games that others played to gain wealth, power, or prominence. He was ‘full of truth!’ If we choose to live in the Truth, we will know peace and joy, too.

Receive Abba’s gifts offered in Christ. Here’s a word from the Word for your meditation today.

"This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. …

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.

May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins." (Colossians 1:6-14, NLT)
____________


Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty,
Teach me faith and duty:

Christ, the blessed one,
Gives to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of life;
All so freely given,
Wooing us to heaven:

Sweetly echo the gospel call,
Wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior,
Sanctify forever,

Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of Life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of Life.


Wonderful Words of LifePhilip Bliss © Public Domain

Living With Abba

What must it be like to be fatherless? I cannot imagine for from the dawn of my memories, there are father images in my mind. "My Dad..." is a phrase that comes so naturally to me. My earliest recollections are of a big man who took me with him in his car, showing me adventures galore in his work world. When I was about five he seemed like a god, unafraid and powerful. Over time, Dad became more human to me, a real man. Throughout my adult life, I often called him sometimes to ask, "Hi, Dad, what do you think I should do about this?" and other times to seek his affirmation! I am tremendously thankful for the heritage I have from my Dad- setting an example for me about the importance of loving God, the privilege of serving others, and the necessity of living with discipline.

I have a second Father to Whom I was introduced by my Dad! I cannot imagine living without His love, either. My Heavenly Father is a constant Presence, the Source to Whom I turn for daily needs, a Friend for all times, and the One who gives me identity and purpose. He is God and time has only enhanced my love for and reverence of Him. While I enjoy an exclusive relationship with my Dad, the family of God is open. The Scripture says the core reason Jesus Christ came was to bring us home to our Father. "To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:12-13, NIV) Later John wrote "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1, NIV) Take a few moments to think that over!

Don't live as an orphan. Take your inheritance! "...you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory." (Romans 8:15-17, NLT) That passage reminds us that the relationship that we are privileged to know is full of love, that God is not just Father to us. He is also "Abba" which is an Aramaic expression of familiarity. He is our Papa, our Daddy!

Are you facing a tough week? Don't go it alone. Reach out to your Daddy!
Not sure what to do? Ask your Daddy to give you His wisdom!
Celebrating a success? Share it with your Daddy!

A loving earthly father enjoys his children. (I know that well, for my Dad loves when I spend time with him and I love those all too few days in the year when my own children come home.) The Father loves us to worship and adore Him. I urge you not to let the pressures of the day, the many responsibilities of your life, draw you away from time with your Dad!

Take this passage with you today. Meditate on it and live in the great Truth declared by it. "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.We know we love God's children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith." (1 John 5:1-4, NLT)
____________

Children of the heavenly Father,
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e'er was given.

God His own doth tend and nourish,
In His holy courts they flourish;
From all evil things He spares them,
In His mighty arms He bears them.

Neither life nor death shall ever,
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.

Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne'er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.

Children Of The Heavenly Father
Sandell-Berg, Caroline / Olson, Ernest W. / Ahnfelt, Oscar© Public Domain

The Good and the ‘Good-er!’

In some choices I make as a disciple of Christ there really is no choice. There is no need to sit around pondering, “should I steal that beautiful car?” It’s no-brainer that I won’t be getting drunk this weekend! If Bev and I have a disagreement, I won’t be using profane and/or filthy language. When the Lord’s Day rolls around, I will be among Believers in church. I will write my tithe check with joy. In these choices, and so many more, the Scripture tells me the will of God for my life. My only choice? Obedience!

Then, there are those choices between the good and the ‘good-er’ that are difficult. If we are a serious disciple, if it is our goal to please God and make His Presence known in our world, if we desire to be a ‘good and faithful servant’ in His kingdom; we will seek to conform our lives to His will in all things. Here’s a dramatic illustration of my point. In Philippians, Paul was describing a time of real trial in his life. He talked about not really knowing how to pray – for deliverance from his troubles or for death! He faced two goods! "Life versus even more life! I can’t lose. As long as I’m alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I’d choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better . But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it’s better for me to stick it out here." (Philippians 1:21-24, The Message)

About ten years ago, I was serving a great church as their Pastor. I loved the people, the town, the opportunities that God gave me to minister. But, a part of me was restless, feeling that it was time to be open to moving to a new ministry in another church. No one was dangling any positions in front of me at the time, so I knew I was not being tempted by more money or the prestige of a larger church. I spent months praying and meditating asking the Lord to help me to know whether it was time to go or time to stay.

Then, in the Summer of 2000, events unfolded that made it clear to me that He was sending me to a new ministry. Could I have stayed where I was? Yes, and it would have been good! However, in the will of God, there was something better that I had to receive by faith. By many measures it would have been better to stay where I was than to move to a new set of challenges! But it was my desire not simply to live acceptably before God, but to be right in the center of His will for my life at that time.

Disciple, the choice between good and ‘good-er’ requires more than adding up the pluses and minuses! We cannot always choose the easier way, the more lucrative way, or the way that will make us most comfortable. We are His, awaiting His dispatch, so we must listen carefully, eliminating sin from our lives that would hinder us. “Here I am, Lord. Send me. Use me. Let me choose to live wisely and for your Glory today,” should be our daily prayer.

"So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. … When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It’s the diligent farmer who gets the produce.
Think it over. God will make it all plain." (2 Timothy 2:1-7, The Message)
__________

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow'rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield;
Be Thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Bear me thro' the swelling current,
Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs and praises, songs and praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.


Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Williams, William / Fosdick, Harry E. / Hughes, John / William, Peter© Public Domain

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow - What then?

Between Young and Old

Last night, I had this strange moment when I felt suspended between two generations. On my left was my father, on his 75th birthday, very ill with cancer, in a hospital bed in the living room of his home. On my right was one of my adopted sisters, age 17, reading a fashion magazine and texting a friend with constant tapping on her cell. I felt old and young at the same time! I remember 17, the eagerness to tackle life that was so much a part of me then. At 17, I thought that life would stretch on endlessly, with opportunities boundless and energy inexhaustible. It didn’t! Now, at age 53 I am close enough to ‘old’ to know the irritant of memory gaps and the limits of lesser physical endurance. Each year I grow less employable for I am on the cusp of growing irrelevance despite accumulated knowledge and expertise. What I know is less and less valuable to those who are a full generation (40 years) behind me for whom knowledge doubles every 7 years!

But, 53 isn’t all bad! I welcome the wisdom that I enjoy today. With maturity, comes the ability to weather the storms of life with steadiness. This is borne of experiencing God’s grace through the years as well as the realization that the sun will, in fact, come up tomorrow after going through quite a few ‘end of life’ moments that weren’t! I have lived long enough that I can cry without self-consciousness. I understand, with much more clarity, the difference between what is merely urgent and what demands my full attention. It’s a relief to have outlived the need to ‘succeed’ by building something bigger than what somebody else has built. My goal now is to successfully hand off the baton of faith and ministry to the next generation, to finish honorably and well for Christ’s sake, and to enjoy simple things like the spontaneity of child’s laughter and the colors of a sunrise!

I am not quite ready to ride off into the sunset to drive a school bus, play golf, or buy a condo in Florida! There are plenty of challenges yet to be met in my life – the Lord-willing. My prayer is that I will be much wiser in choosing the things to which I commit myself in the next 20 years. I pray that the experience of mortality and aging will remind me to lean more heavily on the Spirit, to listen more, and urge on those who are overtaking me on the road! What a tragedy it would be to become a grumpy old man who is a constant critic of all things novel and all persons younger than himself. Those tendencies reside in me (and most of us, I think.) God make me an encourager who is excited to participate in the adventure of life and faith even though it is more and more from the sidelines!

If you’re a 30-something or younger you probably have no clue what I am musing about!
If you’re 40-ish, you probably understand me a little, but hope I get over it!
If you’re my age or older, you probably are smiling and wondering what took me so long to get here!

Let me close with the words of another Preacher. May his inspired wisdom keep you steady in your pursuit of God and things eternal, no matter where you are on the road of life.

"Honor and enjoy your Creator while you’re still young, Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes, Before your vision dims and the world blurs And the winter years keep you close to the fire." "The words of the wise prod us to live well. They’re like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd. But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There’s no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you’re no good for anything else.

The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:1-2, 11-17, The Message)

Merely Smart or Truly Wise?

Gaining Wisdom

After a meeting on Monday evening, Don and I were talking about a man whose opinions have been trumpeted across America for 20 years on talk radio. This man is often correct in his insight, but he is so obnoxious and confrontational, he ends up talking only to people who already agree with him. Even allowing for the fact that radio is ‘show business’ his presentation is arrogant. In those two decades, this man has been through some rough times personally and still he maintains the bluff and bluster. I think he is smart, but not wise. Because of his attitude, frequently the issue to which he speaks is obscured by his personality.

When I look back two decades in my own life, I see so many moments when I was ‘correct’ but not wise. I knew the Bible’s truth but I lacked the wisdom to know how to gently bring it to bear in my world. One example is how, when my now adult kids were in public schools, I was too ready to spar with teachers or administrators that failed, in my opinion, to give proper respect to our Christian convictions. I was often so right, I was wrong! I consider it tragic that I often allowed my Self to get in the way of the love and truth of Jesus Christ.

Believer, we need wisdom so that we will know how to ‘correctly handle the Word of Truth.’ The Bible urges us to humility and further says "Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts." (Colossians 3:16, NLT)

The wisdom of Daniel is an inspiration. He was incredibly smart! He survived being carried off by an invading empire and went on to serve four kings in Babylon as a counselor. And, he was wise! He knew the Source of his strength, his insight, and his influence.

Meditate on Daniel’s thankful prayer today. He offered it up after God allowed him to show the king what to do by interpreting a dream. Pray with me for a heart of humility like that of Daniel and for the wisdom that will allow us to bring God’s message to our world in a way that will lead them to Jesus!

“Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.” (Daniel 2:20-23, NIV)
________________

It just breaks my heart

Debra (not her real name) came by my office yesterday. When my secretary brought her in, it was obvious this was no 'stop by and chat with the Pastor about the weather' visit. When she started to talk, the grief that spilled over was so awful that she nearly collapsed. Sobs wracked her body for a long time. "Where is God? Does He exist?" Her questions were not born of self-pity. Her life has been sucked into a whirlwind of events that she cannot control, with problems so big that she cannot see a way to even start to work her way out of them. She cried, "I tried to do all the right things in my life. How did it come to this?" I prayed earnestly for her in that moment. No platitudes could soothe her broken heart. There was only our cry for the comfort of the Spirit.

Debra is living through a year of terrible injustice, where she has been subjected to people with power who are only concerned with protecting themselves and/or avoiding consequences, no matter the cost to those who stand in their way. Her ordeal appears to be long from over. The reality that an evil: a destructive, cruel, selfish evil- has seized this woman and it will not let her go. Only the power of God can overcome and restore her life, but the process may be brutal and bloody! It just breaks my heart!

Evil is everywhere, disciple.
· I have seen evil take over a once loving couple and they lock themselves into power plays which destroy their marriage and sometimes even their lives.
· Good people rise to places of authority and then are seduced by evil and begin to use their power to secure more perks or money for themselves. In the process, they wreck lives and often ruin a company, an organization, even a church!
· Benevolent nations enjoy prosperity and gain strength, only to become imperialistic bent on conquering the world and horrible suffering results.
· Sex, a gift of God designed to create life and bond a man and woman intimately for life, becomes lust and consumes men and women with perversion as they chase pleasure endlessly driven by an insatiable need.
· ... and the list goes on and on.

Jesus describes says that there is Evil that exists only to "kill and destroy!" The Bible speaks of the Devil repeatedly as the 'enemy.' Peter compares Satan to a 'roaring lion seeking for someone to devour.' The book of the Revelation speaks of the reality of Evil in powerful images "the Dragon, that old Snake-the very Devil, Satan himself!" (Revelation 20:2, The Message) In our sophistication, some of us have rejected the idea of evil as just superstition. 'Evil is not real,' we say. 'It is just an illusion, the result of lack of opportunity, misunderstanding, or ignorance!' Rightly discarding the silliness of a horned devil in a red suit carrying a pitchfork, some Christians also throw away the truth that evil is real, personified in a fallen spiritual being named Lucifer, and bent on destroying all that God has made and loves!

If we accept that there is a real Devil and that there are truly evil people and situations, what are we to do?
Some choose to pretend evil is not real, closing their eyes, shutting their ears, blissfully apathetic- until evil finds them!
Some 'make nice' somehow thinking that only saying positive words and being kind is the answer, until they are stabbed by someone they thought they could change with their niceness.

God calls us to War! But, the war is not one of fists, guns, or swords; nor even of words! It is a strange war waged with two primary 'weapons,' love and truth. We learn the truth from the Word and the living Christ- a truth that condemns us as sinners, then frees us from our sinfulness when we confess our utter depravity and grab hold, in faith, of the grace of God in Christ Jesus. Seeing His love which brought Him from Heaven's perfection to the sewers of sin, and experiencing that love firsthand, we learn to love. And love conquers! Yes, it is a bold love that costs us our life, which we trade for that life in the Kingdom that never ends.

In a passage that is both full of promise and yet terrifying in the probability of the disturbance of our comfort, the Bible says: "It has come at last- salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth- the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time."
(Revelation 12:10-12, NLT) ______________

Lord, let your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Fill us with Power, not like that of this world, but of the Spirit.
Teach us to live in Truth and Love, able to see evil where it exists,
willing to challenge it, even die to our comfort in dealing with it.
May we love the hateful, absorbing their poison.
May we bring Light to dark places, full of holiness that is bold, yet humble.
Keep us in Your grace, and bring us to Your side,
rejoicing that you counted us worthy of serving You.
In Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.
____________________________

A mighty Fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world,
With devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear,
For God hath willed,
His will to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure,
For, lo, his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours,
Through Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also.
The body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still.
His kingdom is forever.

A Mighty Fortress is Our God
Martin Luther © Public Domain

A Rich Man!

Occasionally I allow myself to dream about what I would do if I were a rich man. My thoughts usually run along the lines of philanthropy: I could help that person, pay for some project, fund a scholarship, etc. Sunday evening, at a prayer meeting with a couple of dozen people, I was reminded that I am a rich man with many opportunities to do good! In quiet prayer, the Holy Spirit led me through a time of reflection in which He reminded me of the wealth God has placed under my management:
a rich heritage of faith,
an experience of His grace,
healing of soul, mind, and body,
gifts of the Spirit that equip me for my vocation,
a wide network of friends,
the privilege of service in His Church.
Then, He placed this challenge in my heart; “Jerry, what are you going to do with your wealth?”

We can easily miss the resources that are available to us by looking at the resources that another possesses! God only asks us to use what we have, where we have it, in the opportunities presented to us!

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus gave His disciples an ‘impossible’ task of feeding a huge crowd! Evening was approaching and the disciples took the common sense route of suggesting that Jesus send the people home. Instead, He said, “That isn’t necessary-you feed them.” I would have loved these guys! They added up their resources and told him; “Impossible!” . . . We have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” But they were about to learn about what God can do with what’s available!

“Bring them here,” he said. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. And he took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God’s blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave some of the bread and fish to each disciple, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves, in addition to all the women and children!"(Matthew 14:16-21, NLT)

Bring what you have to Jesus Christ today, disciple. It might seem to you to be nearly worthless, too little to be of much value to Him, like a small lunch of five pieces of flat bread and two dried fish when you need dinner for a few thousand! What God can do with your gift only He knows. All He asks is that you faithfully present yourself to Him. The results are up to Him.

Remember, wealth in God’s eyes is counted much differently than wealth as we commonly consider it!_____________________

Does the place you're called to labor
Seem so small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He'll not forget His own.

Little is much when God is in it.
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There's a crown and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus' name.

When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
"Welcome home, my child, well done."

Kittie Suffield
Public Domain

Beyond Your Wildest Imagination

Since I was taking care of Dad on the night shift, I was up early on this first day of 2009. About 5 AM, I started to channel-surf through the cable news networks to see what was being reported for this new year. None were predicting good! That’s no surprise. Renewed conflict in the Middle East threatens to heat up the simmering pot of troubles for the Western world to a boiling point. The stock market that lost $7trillion (I don’t even understand that number, do you?) in value may have reached bottom but the financial analysts continue to warn of rising unemployment and a deepening recession. The President-elect, they warned, faces an up-hill battle to implement his economic program given the rising resistance of Congress to further spending. And on it went… one gloomy story after another.

Then, I picked up the Bible!

Here’s what the Lord says:
“This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’" (Jeremiah 33:2-3, NIV) The Message says it like this: "Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own."

In 2009, God will do things that are beyond our wildest imagination! Do you believe that? I sure do.

The LORD is not necessarily telling us that He will do exactly what we want Him to do. He will do what is best for us… often in ways that we couldn’t or wouldn’t expect. We are often tempted to use God to further our agenda.
“God give me the money I think I need for that new project.”
“God, make my husband love me in a way that makes me a happier person.”
“Lord, make sure my job remains secure this year.”
“Heal me… comfort me… give me more…” are common lines in our prayers. We should be asking God for what we desire. He invites us to do that with confidence. James teaches us, “Tell God what you need.” Faith, however, accepts that God knows our need better than we do and what He allows us to experience is always for the best. His gifts are ‘good and perfect’ gifts.

Permit me to be very personal. One year ago on January 1, 2008, I had no idea I would walk with my Dad in the valley of the shadow of death for an entire year! For months and months, I have traveled to his home where I spend a couple of nights each week sitting at his bedside. Yes, in keeping with my desire, I prayed for his healing. The Lord did not do anything I asked or expected of Him in this situation! Instead, He gave me the opportunity to rediscover a relationship with my Dad that I have not known Him for two decades! And… this journey has also made me love the Lord more humbly and hopefully, with deeper faith. Is cancer and confinement Dad’s choice or mine? No! It was one of those things so far outside of my plans, it was beyond my wildest imagination. Most of us read that passage I quoted and we naturally think of “wondrous things” as fun, happy, and comfortable developments. The LORD’s wondrous things are for our ultimate good and for the good of His kingdom.

Disciple, God does have a plan for you and me! Our greatest joy is found in letting Him set the pace. He is a good God; not tame, not predictable, not bound to our limited perspective; but amazingly wonderful. So, "since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25, NIV)

Here’s a New Year’s blessing. Receive it as you pray for the faith to let God be God!
"I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen." (Ephesians 3:17-21, NLT)

Before you turn the page

Prior to arrival of personal computers and online banking that make keeping a checking account in order so much simpler, I remember the end of the month chore called 'balancing the checkbook.' It seemed that there was always at least one check that was entered incorrectly, or some charge forgotten, that kept my balance from agreeing with that of the bank statement. I would go through my check register - line by line - looking for the error. If I didn't do the work each month, the job of reconciliation became a monster!

In a few hours 2008 will be in the rear view mirror as we speed on down the road of life. Before it's completely history, we would do well to take some time to make sure we close the books on this year with things in balance, with all accounts reconciled. Some questions that should be prayerfully and thoughtfully considered could include:

*Who needs to be forgiven, thanked, loved, accepted?

*What habits are helping to make me a better person and therefore should be cultivated, and, which ones are a drag on me spiritually or emotionally and need to be eliminated? *Are there gaps in my character that need to be addressed with discipline?

*What gifts has the Spirit given to me for which I should be thankful and that I must use for His glory?

*How did I succeed? ... or fail? ... and by whose measure?

If we refuse to engage in reflection and contemplative prayer (that which allows God to speak to us, rather than us speaking to Him) we will get stuck in patterns that quickly can become deep ruts that trap us. Remember that movie, "Groundhog Day?" (1993) In it, we are introduced to Phil Connors, (Bill Murray) a self-absorbed weatherman who finds himself re-living Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, PA over and over again. At first, he gives himself to selfish hedonism, but those choices soon cause him to be consumed with despair. Then, he starts to use his 'curse' to gain the skills he needs to help out others. He becomes a genuine hero.

Life can sometimes seem a lot like that film story! One day runs into the next, many seeming like a re-run of the day that went before. But, if we make the most of our opportunities and let God shape us with His hand, we drive away despair and begin to live with hope and joy as He promised.

Here's a word from the Word for us on the last day of 2008. May the Lord give us insight and wisdom to embrace the calling that is urged on us in it.
"I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;... Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:8-9, 13-14, NKJV) ___________________

Father, I am thankful for all that You have allowed to be part of life.
I thank you for forgiveness for my sin,
for the power and life of the Spirit that changes me,
and for the promise of the prize of life in your home.

As this year closes, I pray for the gift of insight;
that I will see my life through Your eyes.

Now, Lord, as we turn the page into 2009,
I pray that You will lead me to the choices that will make my life count,
that will cause me to be a blessing to this world,
and most importantly,
that will allow me to hear Your commendation.

These things I ask in the Name of Jesus Christ,
my Savior, my Lord. Amen.

How many apples are in that seed?

The topic that you hear discussed everywhere is the state of our American economy. The DOW has declined about 30% in the last 6 weeks. Major corporations like GM and Chrysler are weeks from bankruptcy. Right across the street from my house sits a house that is in foreclosure. One does not have to be an analyst to realize that these are tough times. I lead an organization that relies on the generosity of others for operating funds. Though we are a relatively small church with a lean and trimmed budget, we still need to take in about $8000 a week to continue to serve our community as we presently do. When I look at our very limited cash reserves, I pray for wisdom in the decisions that are made about spending the Lord’s money and sometimes (I hate to admit this) I get afraid for the future!

In those moments, I hear the whisper of a spirit that I know is not the Holy Spirit urging me to cut ministries and/or trim missionary support so that we can “conserve the core.” That is exactly the wrong choice to make for it comes from fear and reveals a way of thinking called: a ‘scarcity mentality.’ When a person lets a scarcity mentality take over, he begins measuring the quality of his life by what he thinks he lacks rather than by what he has available to him. The perception of lack is born out of fear and where fear takes over, hoarding quickly follows.

Jesus urges us to live with an ‘abundance mentality!’ In this story He commends generosity that comes from faith that believes that God will provide. "Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.” (Mark 12:41-44, The Message)

Nowhere in the Bible will you read anything about scarcity of resources! God designed the world to be full, rich, and replenishing! I don’t know who said it first, but it bears repeating: “Anybody can count the seeds in an apple, but only God knows how many apples are in a seed!” The key to peace in these troubled times is a mind that thinks God-thoughts. Jesus promises to meet our needs; not our wants, not even what we think we need, but what He knows that we need. He says, "Why be like the pagans (those who do not know God – my edit) who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." (Matthew 6:32-33, NLT) God promises to meet our needs and directs us to be generous, not from our abundance, but from what we have in our hand right at this moment.

By the way, a scarcity vs. generosity mentality is not just about money! We apply God’s promise of provision to our love, to forgiveness, to mercy – yes, to all of life. Make God your resource. Put Him first, and learn to give it away.
_________

Now, he was working in his garden when I happened by.
He waved me over with that look in his eye
and started breaking off some ears of corn.
He said, "Here, boy, today, this corn is just right.
"Boil it up for your supper tonight
'cause I've learned it's true what my pappy used to say.
Nothing's quite as good until you give it away."

If you want more happy than your heart will hold,
If you want to stand taller, if the truth were told,
take whatever you have and give it away.
If you want less lonely and lot more fun
and deep satisfaction when the day is done,
throw your heart wide open and give it away

There are two kind of folks, There's takers and givers.
There's gripers and complainers and big-hearted liv’rs.
It depends on how we choose to spend our days.
'Cause we can hoard up all we´ve got or give it all away!

Copyright – Bill Gaither

On the Lord's side?

People were everywhere in our house for the last few days. A pile of shoes, large and small, was just inside our front door. Every room overflowed with bags, clothes, and coats. Who were these people? Our family! They came from their places to be at the home of Mom and Dad to celebrate Christmas together. As the years passed, my kids moved far apart – geographically and in their experiences, each one uniquely gifted; and yet, they are still ‘part of the family.’ We argue with each other, even criticize decisions others have made, but we are still ‘family,’ and those ties are strong! There is a tremendous sense of security that comes from being connected and knowing who stands alongside of us in ‘the family!’

This morning in my meditation in the Word, I spent some time with a passage in the Psalms. It speaks of ‘the LORD who is on my side’ and the security that comes from knowing to Whom we belong. Take a look. "If the Lord had not been on our side— let Israel say— if the Lord had not been on our side when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away. … Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 124:8, NIV)

The Heavenly Father calls us into His family and there we find a home, an identity, security, and Someone who is ‘on our side.’ To attempt to buy His favor is a big mistake. To even think of earning a place at His table is an affront to Him! He is on our side because He loves us. We have only to receive His favor by faith! Genuine faith produces real life change and we become holy sons and daughters who love Him and live close to Him. The Word tells us that because we are ‘in the family’ even in times of trouble we are steady. "Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation." (Romans 5:1-4, NLT)

Christian, as I look in 2009, I see some rough water ahead for us! The simmering resentments in the world are ready to explode into more violence. The economic outlook is dark for America. Many of us face personal challenges and difficulties, too. Let us not forget that the “LORD is on our side!”

"So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites. Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. … When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor." (James 4:7-10, NLT)
______________

Who is on the Lord's side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world's side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord's side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, By Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord's side, Savior, we are Thine.

Who Is On The Lord's Side
Havergal, Frances R. / Reichardt, C. Luise © Public Domain

How will you feel on December 26th?

Reading that title line you're likely thinking, 'what the rush? Let's just enjoy the holiday.' You're right. But, living 'in the moment' has a limit and we all need to keep in mind that today forms tomorrow's foundation. How you act over the next 72 hours will surely affect the way that you feel on 12/26! So lay a foundation for joy. How?

First of all, deal with your expectations of Christmas! It's just a day. No, I'm not Ebenezer Scrooge. I am as excited as I can be about having my children back home for a few days, playing with my grandsons, swapping old stories, having a table full of conversation! But when the party's over, life will resume. If we put too many expectations on the day, the 26th will dawn with disappointment. Better to simply enjoy life as it unfolds and thank God for the serendipitous moments that find you. If you overload the day with great expectations, even one disappointment can obscure a hundred blessings.

Second, keep the focus where it belongs. This is Jesus' birthday party. If we get trapped by a misplaced emphasis on the external stuff of Christmas and, in the process of getting our various 'to-do' lists checked off, we will live right through the holiday and miss the meaning. It's a 'Holy-day' primarily. Yep, Americans made it into a festival of consumption... too much food, too much fun, too much spending. The fat guy in a red suit has mostly eclipsed the Babe in the manger. Don't get me wrong! I like Santa Claus. The jolly old man is a myth that captivates me even now. Who doesn't yearn for somebody to magically bring happiness, if even for a day, to all the kids of the world? But, even more, there is Wonder in the story of God giving the Gift of Himself to a broken world, changing sinners to saints, bringing alienated sons and daughters of God back home!

Third, be wise - financially, emotionally, spiritually. Holidays always create stresses. Old family issues surface as we rub shoulders with people we do not see the rest of the year. Obligations at home, work, and church pile up. Most of us will feel some need to try to settle old debts or to balance the scales; especially the emotional ones. There is a heart that beats in each of us that picks up on the longing for love and we'll try almost anything to feel the magic. Parties can set us up for mistakes. So, we will need insight, gentleness, and courage to navigate our way through these challenges successfully. If we don't, we may well wake up on the 26th missing the joy, with an aching head and a maxxed out credit card.

Keep LOVE in focus. Put people first. That is, after all, the meaning of Christmas! "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." (John 3:16-17, NLT)

The Spirit of God is here, near, right now. Pray to be in a place where He can touch your life with Light. Set times of prayer and contemplation at regular intervals, moments when your soul can breathe in the Breath of God.

... And you will surely know more joy on the 26th!

I pray that the LORD will bless your life today - with peace, with joy, with wholeness. Thank you for reading along each day.
CWTW will be back next week... sometime. Merry Christmas!
______________

O come, O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel,
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go.

O come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home.
The captives from their prison free,
And conquer death's deep misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel,
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

John Neale, Henry S. Coffin
© Public Domain

Tourists or Residents?

I visited Israel a few years ago, spending 10 days there. But, I’ll be the first to tell you that despite having a marginally better understanding of that complex country, I really don’t know much about it at all. I saw much of the country, talked with a few of the people, and sampled the cuisine, but I’m no expert on Israeli society, culture, or politics just because I visited there once upon a time. Tourists are an interesting lot of people. They visit a region, eat in the best restaurants, see the most interesting sites, talk with a guide who is paid to tell them stories, and go home thinking they know the place. Residents know their country differently. Ask me about Northwest Jersey or Western Massachusetts! After spending much of my life in those two places, I know the kind of people who live there, the attitudes, ideals, politics.

Some approach their Christianity as tourists. They go to one church, then another; following this preacher, taking in that revival, going to hear the newest speaker on the circuit, attending a conference. Today they are a charismatic, tomorrow they’ll be Reformed, the year after that they’ll be Episcopalian! They might think they know something about being a disciple of Christ, but mostly they’re after an experience to distract them from their otherwise mundane life.

Other Christians are genuine residents of the Kingdom of God! They are living the life of a disciple, serving the King by serving the needs of those around them. They are faithful to the Body of Christ through good times and bad; have endured bad preachers with grace, and know the meaning of walking in the Spirit even when they’re just struggling to put one foot in front of the other in life. They know that being a Christian isn’t just an experience. They desire so much more than a chill or a diversion, and so they seek to know the King and His people intimately.

Jesus Christ was a resident! The Bible says: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14, NIV) The Message makes it even more clear: "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood." (John 1:14, The Message) He knows us, understands us, cries with us, laughs with us, prays for us. Take your cue from Him, Christian. Move into His Kingdom. Dwell with His people! Only then will you know the full experience of discipleship and find the abundance of life He promised to those who follow Him wholeheartedly.

This week, as we celebrate Christmas, I pray that the wonder of “God in flesh” will captivate you. Let the story of a Baby in a manger, on a side street in a little town called Bethlehem, cause you to know the old yet always new truth of Immanuel, God with us.
_______________________

O come all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of angels.

Sing choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
O sing all ye bright
Hosts of heav'n above.
Glory to God,
All glory in the highest.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus to Thee be all glory giv'n.
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing.

O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

© Public Domain

Immanuel - What a Beautiful Name!

Yesterday, for about an hour, I was simply swallowed by grief. The pain of my own life coupled with the difficulties of so many in my pastoral care merged to become one big ache in my soul. And, I'll admit, I wept. I got in my car and drove down the highway. (I find that being alone in the car is a great place to pray.) As I communed with the LORD through my tears, I experienced the miracle of Immanuel, "God with us!"

Think of me what you will, there are times in my life when nothing except God's loving arms can comfort me! Challenges, disappointments, even weariness overwhelm me. "When can I meet God?" is the prayer of my heart. When the Holy Spirit embraces me - and in my spirit I hear the Voice of God say, "it's all right now!" - sometimes I cannot hold back the tears, as the emotions that have been bottled up spill over in my heart. There was a time when I was ashamed of those tears, fearing that they were a sign of weakness in me, but now I understand that they are a language that God understands. Jesus wept, too!

The message of Christmas is that God is near- "Immanuel, God with us!" The Gospel writers make it abundantly clear that He is not just God for the 'together,' the rich, the beautiful, the brave, or the intelligent. Jesus Christ, is the God of the little, the forgotten, the weak, those bruised and broken by life.
• The Father chose a young girl from a hill town to bring His Son into this world.
• He was born in the animal shelter 'out back,' because the room 'up front' was full. Just maybe the kinsfolk of Joseph in Bethlehem had 'no room' specifically because they could count to nine, and knew that Mary's pregnancy was a scandal.
• The royal family in Judah determined early on to kill Him, and Jesus' family became fugitives for a time until Herod's death.
• As He began His adult ministry, Mark tells us that His own family thought He was mentally unstable and tried to bring Him home to avoid embarrassment.
• At the end of His short life, He hung naked, pinned to a rough cross, bleeding to death, while passers-by hurled insults at Him. Pilate mocked Him - "The King of the Jews" read the sign ordered nailed above Him as He died, a cruel joke.
Yes, Immanuel is not just a Name. It's a statement. He understands your weariness, your brokenness, your disappointment, your feelings of worthlessness... because He's been there,too!
But, He offers more than sympathy. He is the Savior who is also the Lord of Glory. He is the embodiment of the Promise of the Great Reversal - who will make the last, first - who will exalt the humble!

Mary's song captures the joy we can know because of the Christmas promise. Read it thoughtfully today. Note the triumph in the words, spoken prophetically, and with great hope. It is a poem written from the safety of the Divine Parent's embrace.

"Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed. For he, the Mighty One, is holy, and he has done great things for me.

His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who fear him. His mighty arm does tremendous things! How he scatters the proud and haughty ones! He has taken princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. And how he has helped his servant Israel! He has not forgotten his promise to be merciful. For he promised our ancestors-Abraham and his children- to be merciful to them forever."
(Luke 1:46-55, NLT)

"He embraced his chosen child, Israel; He remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high." - The Message
Are you tired, confused, sad, broken, forsaken? Retreat for a while to the quiet, but don't focus on your pain. Instead, wait for Immanuel to come. Invite Him to soothe your soul with His Presence. We can endure, indeed; we can recover our joy when He embraces us with Grace.
____________________

One sat alone beside the highway begging,
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see.
He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows
Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee.

When Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken;
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away,
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

So men today have found the Savior able,
They could not conquer passion, lust and sin;
Their broken hearts had left them sad and lonely,
Then Jesus came and dwelt, Himself, within.

When Jesus Comes
Homer Rodehaver

Half-truths about the LORD

A few days ago I met a family while they were shopping in a local store. Their third grader, a pretty blonde, spotted a DVD she wanted and announced, “I want that.” Her father smiled at her and said, “You’ll have to ask your Mom if you can have it.” He then looked at me and said with a smile, “I give her whatever she wants. I have a hard time saying no to her.” As the father of two daughters, I understand! Dads hate the disappointed look, the tears that sometimes flow when they say ‘no,’ so mostly to protect their own feelings they say, ‘yes,’ even when they know they shouldn’t.

“God loves you unconditionally!” is a phrase repeated by this pastor and from thousands of pulpits. It’s only half-true! Yes, God loves us; deeply, passionately, but not unconditionally. Too many of us treat Him like an overly indulgent Father. Despite knowing what’s right, we do what we want to do. “He will not really do anything about it,” we tell ourselves. But he will! Unlike Dad’s who can’t say no to pretty little girls, our Heavenly Father always acts in ultimate love and within the bounds of His holiness and justice. The Scripture reminds us that our choices will always have a consequence.
“Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.” (Galatians 6:7-9 NLT)

He is patient Father and deals with us gently, which too often we confuse with leniency. Just because we do not feel the heavy hand of judgment the day after we willingly ignore His Word should not be interpreted as a sign He really doesn’t care. He wants to spare us, so He convicts, convinces, warns, and draws us back to Himself. Oh, how thankful I am for His mercy, but I am terrified of His Majesty! One without the other creates an image of the LORD that is only half-true. The Psalmist sings of the mercy of the LORD and assures us that His love is rich because He knows we are frail and weak. Read ALL of this passage.

"He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—" (Psalm 103:10-17, NIV)

Take time to meditate on this passage from the ancient prophet. Thank Him for His justice, then pray that the Spirit will help you to live obediently, squarely in the center of His favor.
" The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet…. Why are you scheming against the Lord? He will destroy you with one blow; he won’t need to strike twice!" (Nahum 1:2-3,9, NLT)

Yes, His love is amazing; and His holiness is awesome, or at least it ought to be. Don’t fall for half-truths about Him. It’s not only foolish, it’s downright dangerous.
_____________

Our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above;
With wisdom, pow'r and love, Our God is an awesome God.

When He rolls up His sleeves, He ain't just puttin' on the ritz.
Our God is an awesome God.
There is thunder in His footsteps And lightning in His fists.
Our God is an awesome God.
And the Lord wasn't jokin' When He kicked 'em out of Eden.
It wasn't for no reason That He shed His blood.
His return is very close, And so you better be believin'
That our God is an awesome God.

When the sky was starless in the void of the night,
Our God is an awesome God.
He spoke into the darkness and created the light,
Our God is an awesome God
The judgment and wrath He poured out on Sodom;
The mercy and grace He gave us at the cross.
I hope that we have not Too quickly forgotten
That our God is an awesome God.

Our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above;
With wisdom, pow'r and love, Our God is an awesome God.


Awesome God
Rich Mullins © 1988 BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055

It's THEIR problem?

America's biggest challenge today is not economic. It is spiritual! We are nation of irresponsible, pleasure loving, 'live for today' people who refuse to grow up and face the consequences of a four decade binge of self-indulgence. We insist that somebody rescue us from ourselves.

It's a national illness. For example, public schools, which used to exist to educate our children, now are asked to be a second home- sort of like an institutional grandma's house. Schools serve breakfast, lunch, and sometimes even dinner to kids whose parents are either too distracted or too lazy to care for the children they brought into the world. Families and churches used to rally 'round the sick and aged to care for them. Now we have vast government funded programs that pay people to do this. Businesses who have made poor decisions send representatives to Washington, DC to seek $billions to pay off their bad debts and we all say, "We can't afford to let them go broke," denying a fundamental part of our capitalistic system which is designed to reward those who make wise choices with profitability. Now, foolish executives blame their failures on somebody else. Everyone points to someone else and says, "It's their problem! Rescue me."

It's personal, too. Marriages are collapsing at phenomenal rates. He blames her; she blames him. The truth is that in most situations both live childishly, refusing to discipline themselves, excusing their sin and selfishness saying; "It's his/her problem!" People blame the banks and credit card companies for their crushing debt. Did Citi-card make us buy all that stuff we have in our house? Did GMAC force us to buy a car that we really could not afford to own? Who signed a mortgage that offered fairy tale terms that were literally too good to be true? But, the broke insist, "It's their problem! Rescue me." (Yes, I realize there are market forces that individuals cannot control that produce crisis, too. My point is to emphasize personal responsibility.)

Real change is not possible until a person stops hiding from the truth. A cornerstone of recovery from any problem is to first admit that it exists. Who can deal with that which they insist is not real? AA teaches those who become part of the group to say, "Hi, I am Jane and I am an alcoholic." Is that hard? Sure is! But, when a person owes her problem, she is ready to change. I am not suggesting that we have the power to save ourselves - from addiction, from sin, or from the troubles of life. We need others desperately. That's the core of the Christmas story. God saw a world in need and stepped into becoming our Immanuel, "God in flesh!" to be the one who 'saves us from our sins!' However, before He can be our Savior, we have to acknowledge; yes, we must own our sin without excuse.

The Bible, front to finish, teaches a principle of accountability and responsibility. Before He will transform us, God asks us to face ourselves and tell the truth: to ourselves, to others, and to Him. Here's how John says it.

"This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him. If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, (seeing what God sees!) God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin.
If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God." (1 John 1:5-10, The Message)

We can be saved - nationally and personally - but not until we start to live in the Light, exposed and vulnerable, confessing our sin. When we do, God will save us and then lead us into the discipline of the Spirit which produces a life of holiness, wholeness, and leads us to "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!" (2 Corinthians 4:17, NKJV) Here's a prayer. Billy Graham closed thousands of meetings with George Beverly Shea's rumbling voice leading people in singing it. It's a prayerful song, we all need to pray - again and again. It reminds us that it's not 'their problem.' When we pray it, we confess, "It's my problem and Jesus can meet me in it to save and heal me."

Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou biddest me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome pardon cleanse relieve.
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God I come I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind,
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just As I Am
Elliott, Charlotte / Bradbury, William B.
© Public Domain

The Best Way to Give

This thought is one from the archives! As I was doing some Christmas shopping yesterday, I remembered this one and thought it would be appropriate to share it again with you. Each time I publish it, there are reader comments about it. I send it with a prayer that you will find the joy of receiving the Gift of God, Life in Jesus Christ! I also pray that each of us will a great gift-giver this Christmas season, motivated by love for those to whom we give.

________________

Christmas shopping? Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? If you're like a majority of Americans, even here just a week before Christmas Day, you still have people on your gift list without a matching present! We approach our Christmas shopping from a variety of angles.

There is the CHEAP shopper. He is driven by one goal - buying something, anything, that satisfies the imperative for gift giving - while spending as little money or energy as possible. My one question to this person is -"why bother?" You have missed the meaning of Christmas entirely. Save yourself the effort because the person who receives your 'gift' will only be obligated to write an insincere 'thank you' note!

There is the HURRIED shopper. With hummingbird-like rapidity, they dart from store to store, grabbing this and that and checking off the names on their list. Obligation, not love, is the primary drive behind their search.

There is the "PAY MY DEBTS" shopper. This person hopes that with one gift, usually that cost way too much, they can make up for their failures through the year. No gift can do this, and this shopper is sadly set up fordisappointment all ready!

There is the "I'D SURE LIKE THAT" shopper who buys gifts he would like to receive for others! His gifts are often very nice, but don't 'fit.' Why? Because, at the heart, he's selfish. His gifts are not thoughtfully chosenbecause he is too in love with himself to be aware of what really going on outside of his skin.

And there is the "BECAUSE I LOVE YOU" shopper. Finally, we find the heart of Christmas! This person thinks carefully about the tastes, the needs,the personality of the person for whom he is getting a gift and, after acareful search, prepares a gift that he presents with no strings attached.This is how God gave to us. In the Scripture, this very familiar text is also a precious one. We read that "God so loved ____________________ (insert your name here) that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV)

His Gift was rich,
prepared from eternity,
given to settle my debts,
based on my need, and
shaped by His love for me!

In your gift-giving, make LOVE the reason.

Having trouble finding a gift for someone on your list? Relax and think about who they are, what they need, and how you can express love in a language they'll understand. It will come to you! Perhaps the gift will not be some thing.

The best gifts are, like God's gift to us, a gift of ourselves.
____________________

Don't forget to offer your best gift to the One who is the Reason for the Season. Find time to worship, to serve, to give of yourself in His Name. Let God love you, friend. His love changes everything and those who are loved by God become the best gift-givers in the world for they learn to give richly, with purpose, to meet the need of the recipient, and with love - just like their heavenly Dad!

"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:16-19, NLT)

On God's 'critically important' list

"I don't need church to worship God," is a phrase often heard from sincere Believers. "I find the Spirit in _______" and that blank is filled in with myriad things. While I agree that worship certainly happens in many places outside of a church house, a disciple who brushes off the importance of going to church and being an active part of a congregation, is ignoring something that is on God's 'critically important' list!

In a short book called Haggai, we find the LORD speaking to His people, urging them to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. He asks them a pointed question. "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. .... Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD. "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house." (Haggai 1: 3-5, 8-9, NIV) The Lord took issue with their insistence that the Temple was not important to Him.

So, you might object that Haggai was writing to Jews whose practice included sacrifices offered in that Holy Place and that we no longer need such a place. Only in a partial sense would you be correct! There is no more single Holy Place, nor Altar where priests offer up sacrifices. Christ was the final sacrifice, offered up for the sins of the world. But the New Testament, while calling each one of us a 'temple' in which the Spirit dwells, also calls us together for worship! In Hebrews right alongside of a reference to the superior sacrifice of Christ, Christians are given this command: "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:22-25, NIV)

The church house in which we gather might be someone's living room, a school gymnasium, a chapel by the roadside, a brick edifice, or a cathedral depending on the economy and function of the building. I have gathered with other Believers in all of the above and offered my praise and worship to the Living God. I once worshipped while sitting on a crude wooden bench in a former potato warehouse in India, singing accompanied only by the thump of a single drum! And I have worshipped among thousands, with orchestra and pipe organ, too. The house in which God's people gather is not what is central to our faith practice. It is the act of gathering; coming together so that the Spirit can be among us! And Jesus assures us that "where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20, NIV)

• If you're church is not a good church, then earnestly pray for her; don't abandon her! God may change the church or He may change you, but the act of loving His Church with prayer and support, is a choice of obedience that the Lord will always bless.
  
• If your church is a good, healthy Body, give thanks for the work being accomplished and pray for those who lead her to keep vision renewed and fervor fresh. Nothing breeds complacency like 'success' however that may be defined.

As much as some may denigrate the church, there is nothing that will contribute to the stability and vitality of your faith in a greater way than your church over the course of your life. God says so! If the Church is important to Him, it must be important to those who claim to love and serve Him! You better believe it.

____________________________

The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation by water and the word.
From heav'n He came and sought her to be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.

Elect from ev'ry nation, yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation- "One Lord, one faith, one birth;"
One holy name she blesses; partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses, with ev'ry grace endued.

Yet she on earth hath union with God the three in one,
And mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won;
O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we,
Like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with Thee.

'Mid toil and tribulation and tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation of peace forevermore;
'Till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious, shall be the Church at rest.

Though with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed:
Yet saints their watch are keeping, Their cry goes up, "how long?"
And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.

The Church's One Foundation
Samuel Stone, Samuel Wesley© Public Domain