Living in perpetual happiness?

Gerald Sittser, a devout Christian, was enjoying a family trip when a car driven by a drunk came around a curve. In a moment, he lost his mother, his wife, and his daughter.  Out of his anguish, he wrote A Grace Disguised, How the Soul Grows Through Loss.  He did not pretend that his loss was without pain. He did not indulge himself in sin to avoid the sadness. He endured it, carried the crushing burden, and from his searing experience shares this;  “The soul is elastic, like a balloon. It can grow larger through suffering. Loss can enlarge its capacity for anger, depression, despair, and anguish, all natural and legitimate emotions whenever we experience loss. Once enlarged, the soul is also capable of experiencing greater joy, strength, peace, and love. What we consider opposites—east and water, night and light, sorrow and joy, weakness and strength, anger and love, despair and hope, death and life—are no more mutually exclusive than winter and sunlight. The soul has the capacity to experience these opposites, even at the same time.”

The belief that those who are good Christians can live in perpetual happiness, always serene, never uncertain, is common and persistent. Somehow the promise of the joy of the Lord gets turned into an expectation that those of deep faith will avoid life’s trials. When that false hope merges with an experience of deep sorrow,  a person compounds his pain with unnecessary feelings of guilt or failure.  Let me state it plainly here: Real Christians go through dark valleys!  The great tragedy is that many Christians prefer a superficial faith and will do almost anything to avoid hard things, to go around rather than through experiences that can make God their treasure.

David endured much sorrow as he walked out God’s plan for his life. He lived for nearly 20 years in the shadow of King Saul’s jealousy. He had to deal with threats of death, irrationality, and isolation. Even David’s friends questioned his faith!  Was it easy for him? You judge as you read his song. “O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die. Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall." (Psalm 13:1-4, NLT)  He longed for relief, but trusted God through it all!

This Passion Week we must remember that our Lord chose to go to the Cross. He was not forced. He willingly submitted Himself to the plans of the Father, enduring great sorrow and pain in the process.  In the garden, as he prayed, the Gospels say that He was in anguish!  “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." (Luke 22:42-44, NIV)  The way to His highest purpose and greatest glory was through terrible suffering.  We should not expect a different way.  "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:" (Philippians 2:5, NIV) "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8, NIV) "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." (Philippians 2:9-10, NIV)

Please do not wrongly conclude that you must seek out suffering, that you must work at causing yourself pain. The Word does not encourage misery for its own sake. Ascetism (denying one’s self pleasure or comfort) can be just religiosity, a vain attempt to earn God’s favor or impress other people.  The road to Glory, to an ‘enlarged soul,’ is one where we are led by the Spirit and should He choose to lead us along a darkened pathway, let’s walk it out with faith, authentically entering into the suffering and taking the grace offered by the Spirit in that moment.

Here are words from the Word. "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5, NIV) "Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven. " (Luke 6:21-23, NKJV)

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My Life Is In Your Hands

You don't have to worry

And don't you be afraid

Joy comes in the morning

Troubles they don't last always

For there's a friend named Jesus

Who will wipe your tears away

And if your heart is broken

Just lift your hands and say

(Oh) I know that I can make it

I know that I can stand

No matter what may come my way

My life is in Your hands

With Jesus I can take it

With Him I know I can stand

No matter what may come my way

My life is in Your hands

So when your tests and trials

They seem to get you down

And all your friends and loved ones

Are nowhere to be found

Remember there's a friend named Jesus

Who will wipe your tears away

And if your heart is broken

Just lift your hands and say

My life is in Your hands

My life is in Your hands

My life is in Your hands

Kirk Franklin

© 1996 Lilly Mack Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

The time is NOW!

Phil Malcolm, a missionary coordinating ministry to Africa's Children, laid out numbers that boggle the mind. There are 500 million kids in Africa, 90% of whom live in abject poverty, illiterate, without access to healthcare, and often victims of the violence of war. The challenges to Christian ministry on that continent are huge. One man raised his hand and asked, "How can you do it? Don't you get overwhelmed by the needs confronting you?" Phil acknowledged that sometimes discouragement does come his way, but he chooses to look at the face of the one child in front of him that he can reach today!

What can you do for the Lord today? If we think about trying to change the world, feed all the hungry, comfort every sad person, bring the Gospel to the millions who do not really know Christ - we will most likely do nothing. Our mind just will not be able to wrap around the need or find a solution. The Word tells us to "Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do." (Ephesians 5:16-17, NLT)  

Serve the one person standing in front of you. Love the one person that stands nearest to you. Find a way to act in the place where you are in life right now. We are all tempted to wait until another day to join some grand scheme, to look for that ministry that really excites us, before we get our hands dirty. And, we wait, and wait, and wait... while life passes us by and Hell celebrates our inaction.

Phil also mentioned that there are some who come to Africa, make a lot of noise, and then go home. They find that Africa's needs cannot be met in a month, that some of her challenges are so rooted, that they simply do not visibly yield to the solutions offered up. We love results so much, he observed, that we just will not stick with the project when it's not fun anymore. What an observation!

Will you make a commitment to do what the Lord shows you to do faithfully; today, tomorrow, and the year after that? Ministry should be fulfilling! But, 'fulfilling' is not always found in something 'new' or in success that can be measured in numbers. God blesses faithfulness, showing up each day with excellence, dedication, and a willingness to get the job done.

You have heard it before, but it needs to be repeated. Do not quit too soon! Take a break for renewal. Re-evaluate methods. Learn from those who do it best. Listen for the voice of the Spirit. Enlist people to stand with you; but don't quit!

Study this word from the Word. Before you read it, pause for moment and pray this: "Lord, teach me and give me courage to accept the Truth." OK, now read it.

"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. Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters." (Galatians 6:8-10, NLT)

Go, the world is waiting for you. Start where you are!

Want to know more about the Malcolms? See Malcolms in Africa

By and by, I’ll place an Ebenezer! (see below)

I spent some time looking through old pictures yesterday. Each image triggered memories – some happy, some sad, some wistful.  There were photos of a trip to family reunion in Indiana that I took with my Mom and Dad. Going with them was a spur of the moment decision.  I am now so thankful I took a the time. None of us knew that it would be the last trip together, that Dad would become gravely ill not many months later.  Did God play a part in guiding me to take the time to go? I absolutely believe He did.  It wasn’t the only moment where yesterday’s reflection revealed His hand guiding me.    

The Word tells us that "The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives." (Psalm 37:23, NLT)  Often His hand is unseen in this present moment, but we continue to walk in faith. And, like I did yesterday, as we look back, we can, like Samuel create memorials to remind us of God’s faithfulness.  "Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer—“the stone of help”—for he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!” (1 Samuel 7:12, NLT)

Abraham was directed to take his son, Isaac, to Mount Moriah.  God demanded a sacrifice. As they traveled, the boy wondered aloud about a missing element. “Father, we have the wood and the fire, but where is the lamb?”  The man of faith answered, “The LORD will provide!”  Only at the moment of surrender, when Abraham was willing to give that which was dearest to himself, he experienced the fulfillment of his words of faith. "Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. So he took the ram and sacrificed it in place of his son. Abraham named that place “The Lord Will Provide.” (Genesis 22:13-14, CEV)

I am in one of those times when it is hard to see the Lord’s hand. Frustrating situations, multiple problems for which no solutions are evident, and questions about the future are very much a part of my life right now. My choice is to trust. Why? Because of His promise to direct my steps, to be my Provider.  Only half in jest, I wonder why He doesn’t choose to put enough resources in my bank account to eliminate any concerns, why He doesn’t let me see a level, straight road into tomorrow.  In my heart I know why, though.  Then, I would grow complacent, perhaps even apathetic, in my pursuit of Him.  He loves me enough to keep me close to Him, to encourage me to walk in faith. 

Do you want to look back and know that He has led you? Then, follow the path of Abraham, which is one of faithful obedience for this day. Even if we cannot see the outcome, we must submit our will to His  In time His ‘delight in every detail of our lives,’  will become evident. In eternity, when He reviews our lives, we will see His purposes and plans completely.  Faith will become sight!

Here’s a familiar passage from the Word.  Let’s own it and live in the promise. "Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act." (Psalm 37:3-7, NLT)

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Blessed Assurance

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.

O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Perfect submission, all is at rest.

I, in my Savior, am happy and blest.

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song;

Praising my Savior, all the day long!

This is my story, this is my song;

Praising my Savior, all the day long!

Fanny Jane Crosby | Phoebe Palmer Knapp

Public Domain

Loving the Truth

Loving the Truth

What is a lie?  Is it just telling somebody something that is blatantly untrue?  That’s one kind of lie. A much more common way of lying is creating subtle impressions, allowing others to form wrong conclusions that are encouraged with a wink and a nod, a dropped hint, an arched eyebrow.  But, is that really lying? Yes, it is. We can create an aura of spirituality by dropping the right words or folding our prayers in a prayerful pose. We can devastate another’s reputation without ever explicitly saying a negative word.  In the realm of politics this is called, ‘spin.’  A whole profession has grown up around image-making, teaching people who live in public how to create the right impression or to encourage the slant on the story that puts them in the best light.  And, all of this is an offense to the Lord who calls you and me to authentic living, to love the truth.  

Truth, as a word, is fairly easy to define - the actual state of a matter, conformity with fact, honesty.   Living truthfully is much more difficult.   Admitting to the reality of certain attitudes or thoughts,  acknowledging that we are tempted in certain ways,  dealing with the things we would like not to be true, is a huge challenge.    When I look in the mirror every morning my mind is tempted to superimpose the image of an energetic 30 year old man over the reality staring back at me.  Seriously, it is much more difficult, when I am before the Lord, to acknowledge the realities of my sinful nature that the Spirit brings before me.   When He says, "Jerry, this attitude must change,"  I would rather excuse it or deny it, than deal with it.  

The upside of loving truth is freedom!  The Bible says that "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:23-25, NIV)

Consider the gifts that loving the Truth provides:  

·         Truth makes us free. No one can control us, deceive us, or blackmail us if we live in truth. 

·         Truth opens the door to Christ’s gift of grace that makes us holy. "Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth." (John 17:17-19, NLT)      

·         Truth lets us to live 'in the Light.'  We don’t stumble around, falling into things, hurting ourselves when we live outside of the shadows.    Jesus said, "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you." (John 8:31-32, The Message)    And, "he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." (John 3:21, NKJV)   Interesting statement isn't it?  "Does the truth."    Truth is not abstract nor is it merely philosophical.  We can live it!   

  

Do you love the truth?  
Is your life characterized by honesty, authenticity?  
Do you refuse to play games with yourself and others?  

Living in that way will not necessarily win any popularity contests.  Jesus confronted the world with the truth and they killed Him for it!   But, living in the truth and letting truth shape your life from the inside out will make you whole and holy, a person who conquers temptation and pleases God.    Look for even the smallest kinds of bending the truth in your life and ask God to give you the courage and strength to get it right.

Here's a word from the Word for your thoughts today:   "Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." (Matthew 5:37, NKJV)  No spin, just the Truth!

Tears of Engagement

I find myself in tears after a phone call to my office from a young mother who can’t afford diapers for her baby because Daddy decided it was more important to have ‘fun’ than to take care of his child.  Driving down the street in our little town, I see teenage kids shuffling along, trying hard to look cool, and I cry for  them because I know that they find the world a scary place these days.  Reading about 2 boys in an Ohio town who decided a dead-drunk girl was just a toy for their gratification makes me cry – for her, for them.  The empire-building that continues in this world – the rich exploiting and oppressing the poor – makes me cry, too.  Yes, I cry about myself, too, when I realize how easily I am distracted by some trinket, taken up by some fad, deafened by choice to the Spirit’s voice.

These tears are not born of despondency or depression. They are the Spirit’s work. He allows us to catch of glimpse of the heart of the Father that is broken by the sins and suffering of His Creation. Do you realize that the Bible’s Gospel is not at all about escape?  It is about engagement.  God did not abandon the world to sin, He came to be part of the world to bring salvation to us. "So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father." (John 1:14, NLT) “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." (John 3:16, NLT)  Jesus Christ is God come to earth, God becoming Man, God warring with Evil, God defeating sin.  Our churches are decorated by crosses and from that many people gather that what happened there was the grand finale of God’s plan, except it wasn’t!

Yes, the Cross is amazing and key to our hope.  There we see Jesus becoming sin for us, bearing the guilt of the world.  But, the story of the Cross is incomplete without Resurrection morning.  When Jesus stepped out of the Tomb, alive forever more, He gave us evidence that sin’s power is broken.  Like Jesus we need not preserve our lives by escape.  We can ‘die’ to Self, engage with a suffering world at great cost, because of the Resurrection!  We must remember that we are invited to enter into new life with Him, not just so we can eventually go to Heaven, but to wrench Creation and those who live in it from the grasp of evil.  We can give our lives with the certain hope that He will give us everlasting life. After a long, detailed argument about the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, the Word comes around to this conclusion: "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV)

Are you so assured of God’s power to save that you will follow Him into dark places to be His light, serve Him in difficult situations without complaint?  Here is a word from the Word. Take hold of its promise by faith then boldly go where tears abound, with complete confidence in His promise to save. "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." (Romans 8:11, NIV)  “ Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." (Romans 8:34, NIV)  "We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39, NIV)

Amen