Buckle Up!

“Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelt.”   I have heard that request dozens of times when traveling on an airplane without paying too much attention to it. I remember a flight from Denver, Colorado to Gillette, Wyoming when those words were the difference between security and serious injury. The pilot announced that we would be encountering some turbulence ahead and gave us those directions. Moments later that plane was rocking side to side, sliding up and down on air currents, buffeted by winds. Unsecured objects flew around the cabin. Some screamed in fear. I heard the murmur of prayers. The wild ride continued for several moments.  There was nothing I could do but trust the skill and training of the pilot and the structural integrity of that airplane.  When we landed it was a relief to step onto solid ground, though still shaken.

What a metaphor for life in general.  We are cruising along enjoying each day, thankful for friends and family, healthy and happy … until we hit the wild winds that toss us around. We feel helpless, sometimes even hopeless, as circumstances beyond our control toss us around.  Who among us has not laid awake into the early morning hours in the middle of emotional turbulence?  Who has not cried tears that are as much about helpless frustration as they are about real sorrow? Who has not felt the grip of fear that is so powerful it makes us physically ill?  That is the kind of turbulence in life I am talking about today. 

There is great comfort found in Paul’s inspired words written after his own encounter with terrible turbulence. A modern paraphrase captures the emotion for me even as the passage encourages me.  "We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he’ll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing." (2 Corinthians 1:8-10, The Message)  This man of great faith felt like he was at the brink of death itself!  His only option, he concluded, was to trust God.  He buckled up, rode out the storm trusting God, and emerged with deeper and stronger faith.

We all pray for level pathways, for bright sunshine, and for happiness. That’s good and thankfully we are blessed with those seasons, most of the time, at least in my experience. But, turbulence will come. God will, for His own purposes, allow His children to endure difficult days and terrible turbulence. The unavoidable fact is that we live in a world where is evil is real, where we make some painful mistakes, where the irrational choices of others bring awful hardship to our front door!  It may sound simplistic, yet it is true that our best and first response is to renew our faith, to put on the seatbelt of trust, and to let God be God.

The principle that Peter teaches us is no mere platitude. It is a pathway to security in the storms of life. He says "Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world. Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his wonderful name!" (1 Peter 4:12-16, NLT)  How I love the practicality of Peter.  Hard days will come. Let God use them to shape your character and grow your faith. Oh, by the way, if you do stupid and sinful things, don’t blame God for the turbulence that results.  Don’t you love this guy?

As I close this thought, I want to go to the Psalms for our word from the Word. The counsel of these inspired words is amazing, steadying – like a seatbelt for you on a flight in turbulence. Read them prayerfully and let faith increase.

" Of David.
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land." (Psalm 37:1-9, NIV)

Amen!

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(Video of this blog at this link)

 

Trust In God

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
He's been my fourth man in the fire (from the story in Daniel about the guys in the fiery furnace)
Time after time
Born of His Spirit, Washed in His blood
And what He did for me on Calvary
Is more than enough

I trust in God My Savior
The One who will never fail
He will never fail

Perfect submission All is at rest
I know the author of tomorrow
Has ordered my steps
So this is my story And this is my song
I’m praising my risen King and Savior
All the day long

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
That’s why I trust Him That’s why (I trust Him)

Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Mitch Wong, Steven Furtick

 Brandon Lake Music; Music by Elevation Worship Publishing; A Wong Made Write Publishing; Integrity's Praise! Music

CCLI License #810055

But, what if …

In three weeks Americans will elect a new government.  33 Senate seats and all 435 House seats are up for election on November 5, 2024.  We will choose our President and that person will shape the Executive branch of the United States around new policies. What a privilege we have to choose our government. I hope you are planning to vote and making time to educate yourself about the candidates. 

Fear plays heavily in this election season with threats of catastrophic results if the “other” guy is elected. Both parties are stirring up fear because, in the short-term, it is a very effective motivator.  Tragically, this fear distorts our ability to think clearly.  Fear makes us reactionary rather than visionary!  I am not naïve about the state of the world, nor have I hidden myself from the realities around me.   

America is in a time of rapid social change, filled with self-indulgence, and increasingly godless. The wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East are fires that could explode into world conflict. COVID, just 4 years behind us, made the possiblities of pandemic real, no longer just the subject of theorists.   And yes, many are anxious over issues much closer to home – marriage stress, children who struggle academically or socially, health challenges.

Are you afraid yet?

There is a powerful antidote to the poison of fear. It is NOT positivity, as desirable as that choice may be.  We are invited to FAITH, to entrust ourselves, our kids, our nation, and the world to the loving, living God. Jesus says, "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Luke 12:4-7, NIV) 

Our God holds eternity in His hands. He has the power to destroy us but Jesus reassures us that He cares about us, knowing our greatest needs intimately.  Great faith grows in us when we serve the true God of glory, not the small god of our imaginations. He does not want to occupy a small part of our lives, acknowledged only on Sunday and in times of crisis. He desires to be the center, with every decision we make shaped by our reverence and devotion.

Real faith that meets the challenges of the real world cannot be found in a lesser god.  IF we tame God, diminishing Him to fit within our understanding, the confidence we might know is lost.  If we are willing to live with the mystery of a majestic God, surrendering our self-will to His will, faith will become our solid foundation.  C. S. Lewis, the English author, alludes to the power of Christ when he writes - "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.” 

An wwe of God is rooted in true praise and genuine worship.  I am not just speaking of what we do together in a church building. Worship is an ongoing choice to live with an open heart and mind to God’s Presence every day. It is not superstition nor being gullible.  It is seeing His majesty in the sweep of history, His love in ordinary circumstances, responding to the Spirit’s invitation right here, right now. 

The wisdom of the Word teaches us that the awe that comes from giving God His rightful place leads us into wisdom and confidence. Take a look!  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (Proverbs 1:7, NIV) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) When the news of calamity and the theories of conspiracies of evil men swirl around you, turn to the Lord in prayer. Don't just pray for relief or for a bubble of safety. Pray instead that the fear of things to come will be replaced by an awesome sense of His love and purposes. Serve Him with such intensity that you have no need to worry.

As we approach this election, hearing the fear-mongering, watching the apocalyptic commercials, let’s take the revealed wisdom of the preacher Isaiah, who was inspired to give us the word from the Word for today.   He was speaking during a dreadful time for Judah. The Assyrian empire on its borders was prepared to invade. Spiritual complacency gripped the people. Yet the Spirit spoke through him and told the faithful: "Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary." (Isaiah 8:12-13, NIV)

May you know true peace as you live with profound faith. Amen.

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(Video of this blog at this link)

King Of Kings

In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope without light
Till from Heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes

To fulfil the law and prophets
To a virgin came the Word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt

 

Praise the Father
Praise the Son
Praise the Spirit three in one
God of Glory – Majesty
Praise forever to the King of kings

 

To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation
You did not despise the cross

For even in Your suffering
You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation
Jesus for our sake You died

 

And the morning that You rose
All of heaven held its breath
Till that stone was moved for good
For the Lamb had conquered death

And the dead rose from their tombs
And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who'd come
To the Father are restored

 

And the Church of Christ was born
Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this Gospel truth of old
Shall not kneel shall not faint

By His blood and in His Name
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me

 

Brooke Ligertwood, Jason Ingram, Scott Ligertwood
© 2019 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia; Fellow Ships Music; So Essential Tunes

CCLI License #810055

I'm Forgiven!

I went with my daughter to the little town office in NH to register her car. While she filled out the forms, I looked around and saw a shelf full of books with a sign that invited me to take what I wanted. A little paperback with cover art that dated it to the early 1960’s captured my attention with the tithe – “Even If I’m Bad?”  It was a book of children’s sermons published in 1962.  I picked it up and pointed out the line to Christine observing that we would not say that to a child these days. 

The clerk behind the desk joined the conversation asking why. I replied that we might say a child has made poor choices or even done wrong, but we likely would not describe them as ‘bad.’  It is a label that can have negative effect on self-image.  She smiled and reflected on the shifting values of our culture.  That little exchange made me think about the subject that is not talked about much these days – sin.

The Scripture does not avoid that subject!  Paul is absolute in his inspired statement that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, NKJV)   Some of you are sophisticated and reject the idea that ‘sin’ is real, preferring to think that humanity is good; evil coming from oppression, or lack of opportunity, or ignorance. The truth is that the evil is this world is real and results from sin flourishing in the minds and hearts of those who reject God’s love and light.  

David’s song is the lament of a person who has come to know his own failures. "Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my shameful deeds— they haunt me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just." (Psalm 51:2-4, NLT)   He had been swept up by his passions in the process betraying his friends, causing a man’s murder, and abusing his royal power. Yes, he sinned!  He is not a unique example. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that there are places in our hearts, things in our lives, that are wrong, that are beyond the plan of God for us.

One of the reasons we avoid the subject of sin is that we do not know that God has not abandoned us, consigning us to live in guilt or shame.  The grand story of the Scripture is about a God Who saves, Who goes to great lengths to restore us to Himself with forgiveness, and to change our ways – making sinners into saints.  We earn judgment, but we are given grace.  The Word says that "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NLT)

The paradox of God’s plan is that He does confront our sinfulness, but not with condemnation. Instead, He loves us to life!  Amazing grace is found in Him. We learn this- "God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:8-10, NLT) He isn’t impressed with our attempts to save ourselves with discipline or ‘good’ deeds. He offers us salvation.

Christians need not be sin-obsessed. Indeed, an obsession with ‘sin’ is likely to lead to a fall. Our focus in on the love of the Father, on worshiping Him in a way that leads us to life. If we try to defeat temptation and sin by emptying our lives of them, we only create a large vacuum that needs to be filled. The Word teaches us that we defeat sin by not by our own will to change but rather by letting Christ do for us what we cannot do for ourselves- make us God’s own child!

The transformation is described as ‘light overcoming the darkness.’  There is no way to make a dark room light without introducing a source of energy that brings light waves into that room.  Similarly we cannot escape the darkness of our natural state unless the Light of Christ is introduced to us.  Jesus says “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  (John 8.12)

Got a sin problem?

You’re not alone. Remember this - common is not normal, nor is it acceptable. Christ came to set us free, to save us from our sin!  Believe that and move from death to life, from darkness to light, from despair to hope, from guilt to freedom!

Here is a word from the Word. May the promise compel us to a new way of life, where sin’s power is broken and the beauty of a whole and holy life shines through us. 
"Therefore, 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." (Romans 5:1-3, NLT)

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(Video of this blog at this link)

Here’s a great little song from years past, best sung then by The Imperials.  Enjoy!)

I'm Forgiven

From the start
You held a place in my heart
A place that no one else could fill
Sin kept Your Spirit from workin' in me
I couldn't look at life honestly

Until the day my will gave way
To the truth that I found in You
I never knew how good it could be
To stand in Your presence totally free

Now I'm forgiven
Now I have a reason
For livin' livin'
Jesus keeps givin' and givin'
And givin' givin'
'Til my heart overflows

I can see Me
As a person who's free
Even when I slip and fall
You are a God who forgives and forgets
Now I wanna give Him my all

I know this love He's placed in my heart
 is a love that will never depart
Sin brought me here to the end of my rope
Now You've given me a brand new hope

I'm forgiven forgiven
I'm forgiven I'm forgiven

Bruce Hibbard, Hadley Hockensmith, Michael Omartian © 1980 Curb Word Music

CCLI License #810055

The Pastor

(A note – In the blog, “he” is used for convenience. The Spirit works in men and women, according to His will.) 

For 46 years I served the church in pastoral ministry.  Since stepping down from the leadership of a church in 2021, I have remained active in ministry, privileged to serve in less visible ways. This month, October, has a tradition of including Pastor Appreciation Day. (generally the 2^nd Sunday)  I’d like to encourage you in that, offering some suggestions about practical things each of us can do to encourage our ministers to do their best, to serve well, and to know real joy in their high calling.

Being a Pastor is not just a ‘job,’ it is a vocation, a way of life. Who he is cannot be separated from what he does. Unless he serves in one of those relatively rare mega-churches, the pastor knows that he is privileged to teach the Word and shape lives as well as be responsible for the mundane tasks of the local church – such as locking the doors and balancing the church budget. Pastoral ministry is not formed by the same imperatives as guides the modern CEO. He is not a ‘hero’ like Lone Ranger of American lore. His title is the best clue to how he serves – Pastor means ‘shepherd.’ He serves to protect, feed, and grow the flock of God!

Unless you have been a pastor, you cannot know how quickly a person must adjust. He moves from emotional highs to lows– birth to death, grief to celebration, praise to criticism – with his flock. He is often the first person called at a time of death, is asked to step into family times of crisis:  marriage difficulty, tragedy, serious illness. He must prepare his heart and mind to lead ‘worship,’  gathering the congregation and leading them to respond to the Spirit.  And, his sermons must be ‘interesting,’ and able to nourish souls. And, he must deliver do that work each week - regardless of his personal circumstances.

There is no better life than the one to which God called me!  Sure, I knew stress and heartbreak. Some years were more ‘successful’ than others. I understood that people who were angry at God frequently aimed their frustration at me,  the one who represented Him before them.  It stung when someone leaned hard on me in a time of need and forgot who I was when life was peachy. When my sinful humanity shown through too visibly some recoiled, even criticized me for the very same issues they had experienced. But, who else gets to lead a person to know new life in Christ as often as a pastor?  Who else knows the joy of being a ‘bridge over troubled waters’ for so many?  Pastors whose hearts are true feel the most joy when those they serve are growing in Christ, when they the ‘fruit’ of their work in a life that is pointed in the right direction.

You can maximize your Pastor’s effectiveness with some gifts you can offer.

1. Pray for him, every day.

Ask the Lord to keep and protect him, to help him to be disciplined and courageous, and to be loving in times of trial, and to stay renewed and alive in the Spirit.  Remember, spiritual leaders are front-line targets. When a pastor fails, there is hurt and disappointment. Even where there is no moral compromise, like all people, pastors become discouraged or disillusioned. So, pray for your Pastor.

2. Accept him and the spiritual gifts God has given to him.

Appreciate the unique strengths of your Pastor and encourage him in those areas where he is not as proficient. He probably knows the gaps in his skills and gifts better than you do. Remember, too, that he does not possess every gift of the Spirit. He, like you, has been created by the Lord to serve in a unique way.

3. If you must criticize him, (and no pastor is above correction or criticism) do it honestly and directly.

Pastors cannot possibly do all things equally well.  Some are more relational than others. Some are better speakers. Some are better administrators.  That means that your need or desire may not always be met as you wish.  Some tolerance is in order as well as honesty.  If you have an issue with your pastor, make a time to sit with him and tell him about it.  Do not be one of those people who tear down the preacher in the hallway at church!  Remember, life looks very different from his side of the pulpit and he may not share your perception. Give him the opportunity to explain that decision with which you disagree.  Take time to understand yourself before you criticize your pastor. If you are angry with God, do not take it out on the one in the pulpit.

4. Don’t idolize or idealize him.

He must live what he teaches, but he cannot do it not perfectly. He, like you, is working out his salvation each day, a recipient of God’s grace. If you turn him into idol, you sin because only God is worthy of your worship and devotion. If you idealize him, pushing him onto a pedestal, you will be disappointed. From that place, his ability to serve you is nearly impossible. He teaches you best, not from some lofty place far removed, but as leads you with an authentic, observable, living faith in a loving Lord. Jesus cautioned his disciples about seeking titles, about hiding behind robes. (see Matthew 23) We are all brothers in Christ. Don’t try to make your pastor more than he is – a Christian walking with Jesus – just like you.

The Word teaches that pastors are a gift from God to His church. Yes, really! The Lord “gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13, NLT)  What a ministry position description!

Here is a word from the Word. “Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all…. Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?” (Hebrews 13:7, 17 The Message) “Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” Do not listen to complaints against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him.” (1 Timothy 5:17-19, NLT)

I am thankful for all those decades that I was privileged to serve in the pulpit and now it is my joyful responsibility to hold up the hands of my Pastor, to encourage the work of ministry. Join me and let’s make God’s work fruitful and effective. 

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(Video of this blog at this link)

“Hello? Can you hear me now?”

Cell phones have a downside in my part of rural New Jersey – ‘dead zones.’  While I in a conversation when driving, suddenly the speech starts to garble and then … the connection drops. A mile or so down the road I redial and the conversation resumes.  For that reason, I tell people – “I’m driving. If the call drops, I’ll call you back.”  They often laugh if they are not familiar with call drops, but as often as not, gain a personal understanding of the warning before the call is complete!

In my lifelong Christian faith, sometimes my connection with God seems a little like my cell phone’s call drops!  There are times when I sense His Presence. Faith is strong and worship is filled with meaning.  There are also seasons when my faith is a commitment, a choice to walk on in spite of the feelings of a lost connection. Perhaps that surprises you, but I am fairly certain that in an honest moment you acknowledge your own times of walking by faith. 

I grew up in a spiritual community that did not have room for questions or expressions of uncertainty.  To say out loud that you thought that God was sometimes baffling or disappointing was near heresy.  Everybody, it seemed, just knew that He was good.  Preachers had a kind of certainty that I longed for, implying that God’s voice was always present, that their prayers never went unanswered.  I concluded that with enough ‘faith’ every particle of doubt could be eliminated.   I’m sure they intended to inspire, but for me created a terrible burden, a sense that something was wrong with me and for others whose Christianity  did not include all the ‘right’ answers.

Let’s recognize this - there is a major difference between outright disbelief and questioning the mysteries of the faith.  I am deeply committed to Christ, my life shaped by a faith in eternal life. I refuse to let whatever mysteries of faith remain for me to cause me to walk at a distance from God, to avoid worship, or abandon the pathway of life.  I live in the Truth I know and serve the Who I know. By faith, I accept the evidences of God’s existence and the revelation of Christ Jesus in the Holy Word. Yet days come when I feel a longing for ‘more.’  Like Moses, I want to see God ‘face to face.’

Daniel Taylor writes about living as a ‘yearner.’  “Yearners,”  he says, “are earnestly searching for a meaningful relationship with transcendence – often the God of the Bible.  They desire peace, belonging, significance, stability, confidence about the future and more – all wrapped in the concept of love given and received.” (Christianity Today, Sept/Oct 2024)  Does that describe you?

Jesus met a man with a need whose story is told in Mark’s gospel, chapter 9.  He evidently had heard of Jesus’ work and brought his tormented son to the Lord. The boy could not speak, foamed at the mouth, and fell rigid on the ground. “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was very small. The evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can.” (Mark 9:21-22, NLT)   Can you hear the yearning in his voice?  He wants his son healed but there remains a bit of a question – “if you can.”  Jesus challenged him to make a choice of commitment - “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” (Mark 9:23, NLT)

What comfort for yearners I find in the next part of the story.  The man throws himself, questions and all, at the mercy of Jesus- “help me!”  "The father instantly replied, “I do believe, but help me not to doubt!” When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Spirit of deafness and muteness,” he said, “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy lay there motionless, and he appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up." (Mark 9:24-27, NLT)   

Just as Jesus looked beyond that father’s questions to meet his need, God will never turn His back on us because our faith incomplete or our mind continues to ask hard questions.  IF we will choose to look to Him, with even the smallest grain of faith, He will provide what we need.  He asks that we turn ourselves to Him, that we keep our ears open to Him, and that we refuse to let our uncertainties morph into rebellion or bitterness. Paul says "We live by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV)  To doubting Thomas, the Resurrected Jesus said "Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29, NIV)

Choose faith!
Anticipate the promise of life eternal!
Appropriate the grace given!

Here is the word from the Word. May it inspire us to aspire to faithfulness. “So honor the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”  (Joshua 24:14-15, NLT)

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(Video of this blog at this link)

The Jesus Way

If you curse me then I will bless you
If you hurt me I will forgive
And if you hate me then I will love you
I choose the Jesus way

If you’re helpless I will defend you
And if you’re burdened I’ll share the weight
And if you’re hopeless then let me show you
There’s hope in the Jesus way

I follow Jesus I follow Jesus
He wore my sin I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure He is the answer
Oh I choose the Jesus way

If you strike me I will embrace you
And if you chain me I’ll sing His praise
And if you kill me my home is heaven
For I choose the Jesus way

I choose surrender I choose to love
Oh God my Savior You’ll always be enough
I choose forgiveness I choose grace
I choose to worship no matter what I face
I choose the Jesus way
I choose the Jesus way

 

Jonathan Smith, Phil Wickham

© Be Essential Songs; Cashagamble Jet Music; Phil Wickham Music; Simply Global Songs

CCLI License #810055

Scared to death!

Ever heard someone say “I was scared to death!”?   Since they were still talking, they did not die but we can all agree that fear is a miserable thing. A situation arose in my life this week that caused me great anxiety. When I went to bed, I felt the icy grip of fear. My thoughts tumbled, my mind creating all kinds of possible outcomes.  I admit it was hard even to pray and I clung to the promise that  “the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words." (Romans 8:26, NLT)   By faith, I am confident that in the will of my Father, there will be His perfect provision for every need.

Some fear is baseless, built on possibilities spun up out of our worst imaginations.  But we also recognize the reality of suffering, pain, war, and death that lurks in the world around us.  It’s hard for me to even imagine how difficult life is for those who live in a constant state of war in the Middle East or Ukraine. Those who live in areas of high crime must cope with anxiety, hoping not to be a victim of some punk with a gun.  Who hasn’t developed some health issue and felt the tension of angst about what it might mean for the future.  And, in the middle of this election season, our politicians are doing their best to stoke our fears of the future if the “other” guy wins!  I can safely say that worry is an epidemic in our the land.  Whirling graphics, ominous music, and charts in vivid colors fill our television screens.  Commercials try to convince us to buy that safer cars or better medicine, “ask your doctor.”  

Let me back up for a moment to acknowledge that most of us here in America, in spite of the noise and tempest in the news, enjoy amazingly good and long lives; with so many of our fears overblown and exaggerated.  Yet, there is real fear, chronic anxiety, that cripples many emotionally. So, what can we do about it?

When fear is real and possibilites of trouble exist that create geneuine anxiety, God, the Spirit, has an invitation for us.  “Just ask!”   
Not to be cliched, but truly we need to remind ourselves, “why should I worry when I can pray?”

Through Jesus, we are adopted into God’s family, becoming God’s beloved children. To us, He says -  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7, NIV)  True prayer, even if it just a sigh or a groan, is our privilege. When we insist on living in fear, trying so hard to control every outcome in life, we are actually,  Worrying is actually, living a kind of rebellion, refusing to fully trust ourselves to His care.  We cannot control the arrival of thoughts that tempt to us to be afraid and/or to worry, but we have a choice about what to do with those thoughts.

We can persist in worry, which is an act of disobedience and therefore, sin; (Lord, I need forgiveness. Help me in my unbelief!);

or we can prayerfully present those threats and needs to our Father and gain the supernatural serenity described this way - the 'peace of God which transcends human understanding.'

Let me ask you this simple question - Will you worry or will you pray?
Will you confess that God is bigger than any trouble that could come into your life, letting Him be Lord of life, or will you try 'manage the risks'  with increasingly anxious thoughts?

Think deeply on this inspired passage. "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. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 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)

I met that fear that overwhelmed me earlier this week by taking His invitation – “just ask!”   After spending a day or so, lost in the woods so to speak, I chose to thank Him for His faithfulness in the past, and for the gift of faith that will defeat fear.  The issue remains unresolved, but my heart is at rest.  You can do that, too!  As we see in word from the Word we are not careless, but we are cared for.  Note the interaction between our choice and God’s provision. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." (1 Peter 5:6-10, NKJV)

Now, friend, I'm going to pray. Will you?

_________

 

(Video of this blog at this link)

________________

 

Build My Life

(let this worship song speak to you today)

Worthy of ev’ry song we could ever sing

Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring

Worthy of ev’ry breath we could ever breathe

We live for You

 

Jesus the name above ev’ry other name

Jesus the only one who could ever save

Worthy of ev’ry breath we could ever breathe

We live for You

We live for You

 

Holy there is no one like You

There is none besides You

Open up my eyes in wonder and show me who You are

And fill me with Your heart

And lead me in Your love to those around me

 

I will build my life upon Your love

It is a firm foundation

I will put my trust in You alone

And I will not be shaken

 

Brett Younker | Karl Martin | Kirby Elizabeth Kaple | Matt Redman | Pat Barrett

© 2016 Martin, Karl Andrew (Admin. by Arkyard Music Services Limited)

Kaple Music (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing)

Bethel Music Publishing

CCLI License # 810055

Pushing God out of the picture

After church worship yesterday a woman thanked me for the reminder that there is more to life than what is right in front of our eyes. Holding her hands just a couple of inches from her face she spoke of the many pressures and responsibilities that kept her from seeing the whole of life, of being aware of the larger purposes of the Lord God.  She is not unique, is she?    

We all can become so wrapped up in ‘living’ that God gets pushed, unintentionally, out of the picture.  We intend to prioritize the right things, to make time for prayer, to ‘keep step with the Spirit’ but the myriad voices of work, culture, and family can become so loud that their cadence call keeps us from walking with God – unless we continually refocus, reflect, and renew our commitment to Him.

Remaining God-aware is critically important in the disciple’s daily life!  How true those words of an old hymn – “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;  here’s my heart; O take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above.”  (Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing)  When we lose sight of God, if we fail to acknowledge His Presence each day – we will wander, becoming irreverent, sidelining the sacred – and in the process losing the security and purpose that comes from when we are close to our Father.

How wonderfully assuring it is, what a steadying blessing to sense, as He desires, that He cares, He loves, He leads. Moses urged the Israelites to cultivate their God-awareness. He said, "Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other." (Deuteronomy 4:39, NIV)

When Hagar, the maidservant of Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was badly mistreated and sent away with her child, in the wilderness He met her and she gave Him a new name: El Roi – “The God who sees me!” The text reads this way - "An angel of God found her beside a spring in the desert; it was the spring on the road to Shur. …She answered God by name, praying to the God who spoke to her, “You’re the God who sees me! “Yes! He saw me; and then I saw him!” " (Genesis 16:7, 13, The Message) 

My friend, He sees you.  Another way to say it is that He gets you, understanding you better than you know yourself. And, He has prepared a way for you through this day.

It is my habit to offer up thanks and praise to the Lord each morning.  “Lord, make me a blessing to others today. Help my words to encourage, my life to be honoring to You.”  It only takes a few seconds, but it is a habit that helps me to be God-aware.  As I make my way through the day, I pause to look up (emotionally and mentally, more than physically) to thank Him, to ‘see’ Him in my circumstances.  I need to remember, always, that He is the “God who sees me!” This is not for God’s benefit, but for mine! When I encounter difficult situations, I may complain at first, but generally my next response is to consciously ask His wisdom, to intentionally commit my way to Him, or, as necessary, to seek His forgiveness for my lapses in Self-will and sin.

Disciple, be intentionally God-aware. It is true that when we are children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus, that the Holy Spirit lives in us, but He does so sometimes without our conscious knowledge. When this happens we tend to lose the nobility of holiness that comes from knowing we are children of God, that our Father is with us. Ask any child who has a great relationship with his parent what having a constant sense of parental care provides for life!
Parental love means safety and security.
Parental affirmation brings encouragement and hope.
Parental discipline and guidance provides secure boundaries!

We know that is true for children. Be reminded, it is true for children of the Heavenly Father, too.

Here is a word from the Word. May it be the prayer of the God-aware today.

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways." (Psalm 139:1-3, NIV)

"Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." (Psalm 139:7-10, NIV)

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(Video of this blog at this link)

Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing

 

Come Thou fount of ev'ry blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love

 

Here I raise mine Ebenezer  (a memorial to God)
Hither by Thy help I'm come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wand'ring from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

 

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy grace Lord like a fetter
Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee\
Prone to wander Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart Lord take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

 

John Wyeth, Robert Robinson

© Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain