He gives life and breath

I listened to our President’s words last night with sorrow as he made himself an advocate for the death culture in America. What do I mean?  Increasingly, Americans are prone to use phrases that ignore the real issues. “Quality of life” creeps into our discussions about those with critical, lingering illness. “Choice” obscures the decision to end a life almost before it begins. When people reject the truth of Creation, believing that humanity emerged from the primordial ooze by chance, the sacredness of human life is forgotten. The conversation about life that only turns on words about happiness, convenience, or what seems best in the moment, ignores the precious gift that each person is to us and to our God.

The most difficult conversations usually swirl around the issue of abortion, the choice to end a human life during pregnancy. I am aware of the very real and difficult issues that can surround an unplanned pregnancy.  The discussion extends to the those hard choices that must be made at the ‘end of life,’ while we are aging, when we suffer dementia, or become terminally ill.  Though times of complexity, to choose to make our decisions on  ‘what seems best’ or what appears to be convenient, ignores the Christian convictions about life’s sacredness. 

I am moved by the wonder and mystery of the words of the Psalm which tells us "You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (Psalm 139:13-14, NIV)  You matter to God!  We are in awe of this truth - "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." (Psalm 139:16, NLT)  

And we know that Jesus calls His followers to hold others in highest regard by refusing even to express contempt for another person.  “You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell." (Matthew 5:21-22, NLT)

After the Supreme Court decision of 1973 that set aside the state laws governing abortion, I joined with a group of Christians who took a public stand to protect life. While holding the life of the unborn as sacred, we firmly believed that attacking women and sensationalizing the argument was antithetical to the call of Christ. Rather, we chose to create a place in our community that offered support, information, and resources for women (or couples) who found themselves struggling with an unplanned pregnancy.  That ministry continues to this day as a place where love is expressed with truth and practical support for women who are struggling to find their way to make a life-changing and difficult choice.  (CareNet Pregnancy Resources)

Because I know that life is a gift of God, that each and every human being belongs to Him, I am ‘pro-life!’ I despise ‘the death culture’ that embraces violence as a solution to conflict.  Loving ‘life’ will cause a citizen to work to hold authorities who operate with government sanction responsible to protect the lives of the poor and those without political influence and, in my opinion, will lead to great skepticism about the imposition of the death penalty, since it is applied so randomly and unfairly. And, being pro-life will extend to those who are approaching the end of life, especially the elderly.

Some question the reason that I am so convinced about the necessity of defending the lives of the unborn. More than once I have been asked, “Jerry, there is no passage in the Bible that says, ‘you shall not have an abortion’ so why do you believe it is an issue of moral concern?” 

As previously stated Holy Scripture teaches that life comes from God, His gift. That is the primary reason that I am convinced of the need to protect life from the instant of conception to the last breath. And then there is this, too.

Repeatedly, our God teaches those who love Him to love others selflessly. This means that we will seek justice, stand alongside of the weak, defending those who cannot defend themselves. Who is more defenseless than the one still in the womb, totally dependent on another for survival?  Who is more vulnerable than Grandma who has become dependent on the care of others to survive?

The defense of life must be shaped by love, not harsh condemning words. Taking the model of Jesus, we must hold out our hands, being willing to give ourselves away to help those who find themselves hurting, confused, or uncertain about the future. We cannot claim to be ‘pro-life’ if we promote war, demand violent means to meet violence, or if we are unwilling provide for the child that is born ‘inconveniently.’ However, compassion must never silence our commitment to the truth about the sacred gift called ‘life.’  Life is as complex as love is. The defense of life should involve intense prayer, careful thought, and carefulness in our rhetoric. It is a sin to demonize our adversaries. While the basic truth is an unwavering principle, the way that we express that truth must be compassionate.

A final word must include hopeful redemption! How thankful I am that God loves and forgives. All of us come up short of God’s plan for us. Our only hope of finding eternal life is through faith in Christ Jesus who died for all of us and who lives to reconcile us to our Father. To single out the woman who has had an abortion and imply her decision is an unforgivable sin is wrong, ignoring the wonder of the grace of God, found in Christ our Lord. Lives are really changed by restoration that we received as a gift of God.

So, I will stand for life, and do so with humility, with grace, and praying to know the compassion of Jesus even as my convictions extend to every human being, knowing that ‘they are precious in His sight.’

Here is a word from the Word. Let the wonder of the Creator’s love cause you to hold life as a precious gift. "He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need there is." (Acts 17:25, NLT)   "Then God said, “Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life—the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals.” So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:26-27, NLT)

________________

Father, I thank you for the gift of life.
I am in awe of the wonder and complexity of being.
I pray that we, as a nation, will come to understand
Your will and way, that we will take great care of life
in all seasons and times.

Fill us with compassion. Help us to serve selflessly.
Shine the light of Your love through us, I pray.

In Jesus’ name. Amen

Defeated or Surrendered?

If you know me very well you know that I question authority! One of the things that especially irritates me are rules that lack any real reason other than “because I said so.”  Yes, the law exists for public order and I am glad for it but I despise regulations that appear to exist solely to justify the job of some regulator.  Despite my inclination to independence, I try to surrender myelf to obedience because it is generally the right thing to do, for God’s sake. The Word tells me to be a good citizen and to honor the law.   

Of much more significance is the challenge of surrender to the will of God!  He asks me to love the unlovely, to forgive without holding back, to serve even when unnoticed, to say “no” to temptation and “yes” to His ways. I know full well the experience described by Paul in Romans 7:  “The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.”

Maturity has taught me that my surrender to the will of another is not a sign of defeat or weakness.
It is a mark of strength to choose humility. 

When I say “yes” to the Spirit’s call to love the unlovely, to care for the broken, to take up the cause of those who are without the ability to defend themselves, setting aside my pride and my way, I am living like Jesus did!  Paul, prior to meeting Jesus, was a proud Pharisee, a man much concerned about his reputation. But, in his encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus, he surrendered! 

He recognized Jesus as his Lord, a word of submission. His embrace of submission to Jesus was personally costly in terms of his stature among his fellow Pharisees. Jews following his conversion.  Later in his life, even many of those with whom he shared the Gospel treated him poorly.  But, he surrendered - choosing to allow himself to be accused, attacked, and rejected.  Why?  He answers with these words - "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness." (2 Corinthians 11:30, NIV)

Christian we are called to be like Jesus, willing to forget Self and embrace surrender! He gave away His divine rights and stood alongside of us who were sinners. "You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being." (Philippians 2:5-7, NLT)  He went further!  He submitted Himself, in the will of God, to the ignominy of crucifixion.  Stripped of respect as well as His clothes, He hung naked on a cross, identified with the outcasts, reviled by the respected.  On the Cross, He became the Bridge of God’s grace to sinful humanity.

Do you want to love like Jesus? Do you want to be a person through whom He is able to show His love? The only way is the surrender of self willl to God’s will. He asks that we “turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it." (Luke 9:23-24, NLT)  The wonder of all this is that when we have left behind our love of Self, making what we treasure here on this earth secondary to His call, only then do we find the treasure that is most precious.  We cannot possess the latter until we have let go of the former.

Here’s the word from the Word shows the reward of surrender. Because of His submission, "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, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining." (Philippians 2:9-14, NIV)

This Monday morning the key question for your prayerful meditation  is this - is there something I need to surrender to Jesus that I might fully live in the Spirit?

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(Video of this blog at this link)

Heavenly Father, help me to live in obedience,
Filled with faith,
So that Your blessings can flow through me
To this world.
May my thoughts, words, and actions
Cause others to turn to You and
Give You praise.
In Jesus’ holy Name, I pray.

Amen

Terror or Trust?

Are you afraid today?  There are enough reasons for fear in this turbulent world, as well in our individual lives, IF we choose to focus on them. Russia’s dictator bragged of the readiness of his nuclear forces and threatened the West with destruction yesterday.  Our own government is a mess of dysfunction, unable or unwilling to address even the basics of budgeting and immigration.  Much closer to home, many of us struggle with health, or marriages that are broken, or children who have difficulties making their way in the world. And then, too, inside our own heads we hear the whispers of insecurity wondering if we are ‘enough.’

Christian, God promises peace IF we will accept His way, His love, and learn to live in faith.  So, what will we choose today - terror or trust?  Here is what I know - when fear owns our emotions, we never make the best choices. We become reactionary, sometimes angry, and self-defeating!  The 14^th chapter of the Exodus is a great teaching moment for those who are afraid. 

Through the miracles of His mighty hand, God had delivered the Israelite people out of Egypt. They were joyous over their new-found freedom, ready for the journey to Canaan, their home, God’s Promised Land. Then this happened. "When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites were not planning to return to Egypt after three days, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all these slaves get away?” they asked. So Pharaoh called out his troops and led the chase in his chariot." (Exodus 14:5-6, NLT) "As Pharaoh and his army approached, the people of Israel could see them in the distance, marching toward them. The people began to panic, and they cried out to the Lord for help." (Exodus 14:10, NLT)    

Let’s not make little of their crisis! There was an army behind them and the sea in front of them. But, somehow in spite of all the miracles they had witnessed over the previous year or two, those people quickly turned on Moses with angry accusations. “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? Why did you make us leave? Didn’t we tell you to leave us alone while we were still in Egypt? Our Egyptian slavery was far better than dying out here in the wilderness!” (Exodus 14:11-12, NLT)  The Scripture says that they cried out to the LORD, too, but their cry was not born out faith, it was a wail of terror.

God spoke to Moses and told him to face forward, to expect to be delivered, to move on in faith. He took that Word to the people. “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:13-14, NIV)  We often read that last line as one of comfort, but the Hebrew text has the context of rebuke. The phrase in Hebrew is an obscure one that can include the meaning of steadiness, of forward focus, like a man plowing a field! The Message picks up that context translating the verse this way: “God will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!”

When we find ourselves in the middle of a crisis, when we are full of fear, one of the most difficult choices we can make is shut up and keep moving forward in faith. The very source of our strength, hope, and wisdom is the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit, but He is often drowned out by the panic, the wailing of fear.

We know the rest of that story. God opened a way for them through the sea and then closed the waters over the army of Egypt and the threat was gone.

This principle of quiet faith and patience waiting on God’s will and deliverance is one repeated often in the story of God’s people.  “Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!" (1 Samuel 12:16, NIV)  

David, the shepherd King of Israel, lived through many crises. His song says-
"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." (Psalm 37:7, NIV)

Terror or trust, it is a choice that we who live in the Spirit can make. Will we?
God invites us to go steady on, to keep plowing the field!

Here is a word from the Word. "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. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:8-11, NIV)

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(Video of this blog at this link)

Goodness Of God

I love You Lord
Oh Your mercy never fails me
All my days
I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
I will sing of the goodness of God

All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest night
You are close like no other
I've known You as a father
I've known You as a friend
I have lived in the goodness of God

Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me

With my life laid down
I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
Your goodness is running after
It's running after me

Ben Fielding | Brian Johnson | Ed Cash | Jason Ingram | Jenn Johnson © 2018 Capitol CMG Paragon; SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia; Fellow Ships Music; So Essential Tunes; Bethel Music Publishing
CCLI License # 810055

I’ll make you pay!

So, have you ever been offended? I feel the stir of irritation, from time to time!  Sometimes it’s a momentary thing as when a careless driver cuts me off in traffic. At the other extreme,  I can remember deep soul wounds that kept me from sleep and even, I confess, provoked thoughts of retaliation. Nursing the anger, unholy thoughts of making the other person pay for what they have done or said take over my mind - temporarily!

Everybody gets angry at someone, sometime. Kids persist in behavior too often requiring correction. Husbands leave the toilet seat up! Neighbors speak angry words over a trivial matter and go on to build fences. 

The issue for followers of Christ is not so much will we become offended or even why we get offended. What’s of greatest importance is this - how will I respond when I feel offended?  

Scripture’s wisdom teaches us that "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger and his glory is to overlook a transgression. " (Proverbs 19:11, NKJV)  A more modern phrasing sayd "People with good sense restrain their anger; they earn esteem by overlooking wrongs."

When we face our response of offense honestly and maturely, we usually will find elements of pride and/or insecurity. Recently, when I felt offended by another’s words, after the moment passed and I thought it over, the realization came that I was wondering if I were still up to the task, if my age was making me less capable. I heard words through a filter that set me up for offense! Almost always in the offended person there is more than a small amount of self-love, self-concern; is there?  When we get worked up because someone pulls into that parking slot in front of us, or we when find someone sitting in ‘our’ pew, or because our work does not find the expected appreciation, or … (you can fill in your own issue here.)  

We all desire to experience respect, to know that we are regarded with worth.  That is normal and healthy.  A person without good self-esteem becomes prey, subject to manipulation and abuse. And yet, it is also a fact that if we gauge our personal worth by measuring the response of other people to us, we will spend inordinate amounts of time angry or in despair.  

Here’s what I know - what we see as a slight, when we are wounded, most of the time it is not malice in the other person. It is just thoughtless or pre-occupation with their needs in the moment. Maturity in our emotions and discipleship brings about an inner strength that allows us to absorb the bumps and bruises of everyday life, a self-awareness that gives us insight into our own strengths and weaknesses.  A key part of this serenity is the love of God!

The great message of grace is that God, because of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins, forgives us, removes our shame and guilt, and restores our dignity. We, who were broken by sin in ourselves and by the sins of others, are called 'children of God!' And we are not just tolerated kids, either. We are His beloved sons and daughters. When we remember the profound way in which we are loved, anchoring ourselves in this turbulent, often cruel, world, we can become tender, gentle, and loving.  T

his passage is a favorite of mine.  "See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don’t know God, so they don’t understand that we are his children. Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure." (1 John 3:1-3, NLT)

Here is the kernel of truth about this. The more we are filled with the Spirit of God, the less we will grow offended by others. 

John has in mind the need to overcome offense and builds on God’s love to point the way. "We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was right. So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to eternal life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another Christian is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them. We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters." (1 John 3:11-16, NLT)

It’s too simple to direct the ‘blame’ for offense outward saying things like - “She just makes me so mad!” or “He just drives me right over the edge!”  No, that’s really not true. We are not given the ability to shape another’s actions but we are fully in charge of our own response.  Feeling offended?  Take God’s grace to heart... really!! And you will find yourself at peace- loved, and therefore, loving.

The word from the Word is two-fold today.  First a warning - “An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.”  Proverbs 18:19 (NIV)  Knowing that, here is the call of Christ. “Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven. If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you.” (Luke 6:37-38, NLT)

So, in a world where there is so much tension, one in which people are constantly offended, let us as the children of God live in peace and pray to become peace-makers. That is a noble and high calling.

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(Video of this blog at this link)

Refiner's Fire

Purify my heart
Let me be as gold
And precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold
Pure gold

Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You my Master
Ready to do Your will

Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within

Brian Doerksen © 1990 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing; Vineyard Songs Canada

CCLI License # 810055

 

Make ME happy!

Personal happiness is regarded as a basic right by most people. The idea that we can be most happy by loving ourselves first has become an unquestioned ‘fact.’ “Serve another? Why?” we ask. When asked to set aside our own preference for the greater good we generally react with surprise, even anger.  Our feelings are honored to a great degree, aren’t they?  I make no case for misery, nor do I believe that seeking suffering for its own sake is a wise choice. However,  we will accomplish the greatest good for God, others, and ourselves when we mature into a life in which our choices are made with more in mind than ‘what makes me happy’ right now.

Just being ‘happy’ cannot be our goal in life. We will find it when we make godliness and service our priority.  When a person focuses on attaining happiness, he will change course a hundred times trying to hold onto what is an ephemeral thing - an elusive feeling. That is precisely how millions of people make their day to day decisions and then they wonder, “Why am I so unfulfilled?” After burning through three marriages, moving to yet another town, restarting their live in a fourth new career; they may finally realize that happiness is not a situation or a location.

We are wiser when we make the pursuit of JOY are goal.  Joy is similar to happiness. The difference is that JOY flows inside out, from a life that is centered on God and good whereas happiness is outside in, a product of what is happening (see the similarity in the words?) to us.

Isaiah, the preacher, spoke of the eternal wisdom of God’s word and will. Those who surrendered themselves to Him will discover JOY.  The passage is written in vivid metaphor to emphasize the point. “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.” Isaiah 55:12-13 (NIV)  That is the life I desire, one of so much more depth than merely being happy.  How about you?

A life that yields the greater satisfaction over the long term is one guided by the will of the One who designed us.  Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40, NIV) On another occasion, a man quoted these two commands to Him and His response was, “Do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:28, NIV)  The word that is translated ‘live,’  is a rich word in the first language of the Bible, meaning much more than to ‘keep on breathing.’  Jesus says that the person who loves God as his highest priority will find a full, rich, vigorous, refreshed existence.  That sounds like the life I want!  How about you?

I remember a grindingly difficult time in my life, now 15 years past. In January, 2008, my father was very ill with cancer and my mother needed help to care for him. I changed my priorities so that I could make the 2.5 hour trip each week on Sunday afternoon to help with his care for a couple of days before returning to my work on Tuesday. I walked, at length, with my parents through that deep, dark valley.  I was usually awake all night because my presence gave him comfort.  It was not always a happy experience, but I found tremendous joy throughout that 14 month journey.  I often came home after those days feeing very sad and exhausted. But, in sharing their tears I gained a different kind of joy.

Disciple, refuse to chase the mirage of happiness. It will always be one day, one dollar, one experience beyond your reach! Instead, choose joy!
Surrender Self to God today.
Love somebody today even when it is costly to do so.  

Listen for the Spirit’s urging today and respond with a ready, ‘yes, Lord!’

Here’s a word from the Word. Let it fill your mind as you prayerfully ponder it. "The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.” Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!" (Psalm 32:8-11, NLT)

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(Video of this blog at this link)

Jesus Calls Us O'er The Tumult

Jesus calls us o'er the tumult
Of our life's wild restless sea
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth
Saying Christian follow Me

As of old St Andrew heard it
by the Galilean lake
turned from home, toil, and kindred
leaving all for His dear sake.

Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world's golden store
From each idol that would keep us
Saying Christian love Me more

In our joys and in our sorrows
Days of toil and hours of ease
Still He calls in cares and pleasures
Christian love Me more than these

Jesus calls us by Thy mercies
Saviour may we hear Thy call
Give our hearts to Thine obedience
Serve and love Thee best of all

Words: Public Domain

Choosing matters

What choices will you make today? Some matter little like the clothes you pull from the closet or the brand of fuel you put into your car. Some seem small but have larger consequence like the kind of food you put into your mouth or the words you say.  The inescapable fact is that today’s choices are the foundation of the life you will live tomorrow.  

That high school student who shows up for class, does assignments on time, and engages with her education gains far more than knowledge. She learns disciplines that will serve her well in college or in her job. The husband who takes time for the little considerate words and acts in his marriage strengthens a relationship for a lifetime. The person who disciplines himself to regular saving instead of spending every penny he earns creates a resource that will serve him well in leaner days.

Before I continue let me offer this caution. Life is complex with all kinds of influences overlapping in our day to day lives! We are not machines and a straight line of cause and effect is often outside of our discernment. Bad things happen to good people without explanation. 

Bev, my late wife, was always careful about what she ate, never drank or smoked, got regular rest, and lived a generally healthy life yet in her 59^th year, ovarian cancer developed in her body that ended her life at age 61. There is no discernable reason for that cancer to occur, but it did.  I have known the best and most devoted of parents who raised rebels.  Business owners must deal with economic factors that are outside of their control. That is why we resist judgment of others! 

However, the general principle that we harvest a crop of the seed we plant remains true!  We are foolish to think otherwise.

Love prompts love.

Generosity invites generosity.

Kindness gives rise to kindness.

Investment brings reward.

(Most of the time!)

Are you living in a way that creates the probability of a richer, fuller life in the future?
Are the choices you are making laying a foundation of health, wholeness, and prosperity?

The Proverb reminds us that "The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception." (Proverbs 14:8, NIV)  God gives us the gift of choice, the ability to think, to look down the road, to adjust our course of action. How tragic is the life of the person who lives only in reaction to what comes their way rather than taking action to shape their life around the best and the beautiful.

Nowhere is this more important than in our spiritual life. In Jesus there is an offer of ‘life to the full,’ an ‘abundant life’ that can be experienced by those who will follow Him faithfully. That is why we are invited to be ‘disciples.’ Disciples are, by definition, people who give themselves away in service, who set aside self-will to adopt the plan and purpose of Jesus!  Short-term those choices can be very costly to us. 

Consider this challenge - “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-15, NIV)  It’s easy to drift with life’s current, isn’t it?  The lure of comfort and today’s reward can obscure the promise of tomorrow’s reward.  That is why Jesus calls the path to the life of the Spirit a narrow one. He demands our intentions, requires pursuit, and His will is discovered only by those who are willing to seek it.

Remember this. The way of the Spirit, the life of Christ, is not a fearful one, nor is it found in a ‘holier than thou’ attitude towards others. Some think that to be godly makes one mean, judgmental, and close-minded. What a deception. The truth is that the disciple is living an adventure.  In Christ we find what is of greatest value - love, joy, peace, and eternal life.

Here is a word from the Word. I am using The Message, a contemporary paraphrase today. Meditate on the challenge, then make the choice for life!
"This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life.
It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?”
God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are.

We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.
And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance!
We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him,
then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him! " (Romans 8:15-17, The Message)

So, what important choice do you need to make today?

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Build My Life

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 beside 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 Kaple | Matt Redman | Pat Barrett

© 2016 Kaple Music; Capitol CMG Genesis; Housefires Sounds; Said And Done Music; sixsteps Music; Thankyou Music; Vamos Publishing; worshiptogether.com songs; Martin, Karl Andrew; Bethel Music Publishing

For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com

CCLI License # 810055

Jesus, help me!

When asked the common question- “how are you doing?”- I generally answer, honestly, with the word - “Wonderful!”  I mean it. I love life!  I am blessed with a meaningful life, plenty of food, a comfortable home, a wide circle of friends, support, and four children who make me both proud to be their Dad and thankful for their accomplishments.  have peace of mind and hope for eternity.

Yes, life is good and yet … days come when the chaos and suffering so common in this world gets to me, keeping me awake in the small hours of morning, turning my prayers into sighs and sometimes even tears.  A couple of those kinds of days came my way this week. Remembering the millions suffering in war conditions, sitting with a couple struggling to come to terms with the realities of advanced age, standing with a family broken by an untimely and tragic death, seeing poverty up close, and reading of violence in the streets of our cities - there was a feeling like being punched in the gut. 

Mike Woodruff, pastor and author, calls that a "Caspian moment."  He writes - “When Prince Caspian — the title character in the Narnian Chronicles of the same name — comes face to face with Aslan, the lion king asks him, "Do you feel yourself sufficient to take up the Kingship of Narnia?" Caspian says, "I — I don't think I do, Sir." To which Aslan responds, "Good. If you had felt yourself sufficient, it would have been proof that you were not.” Have you had your Prince Caspian moment?”

When we are overwhelmed, when we sense our smallness in a vast universe, there is fertile soil for the growth of humility which paradoxically creates the opportunity for Christ to reveal His grace and goodness to us. When our sense of mastery and control melt away we are ready to say, “Come, Lord Jesus, to my life and lead me.”  Or less eloquently, we may borrow Carrie Underwood’s words - “Jesus, take the wheel!”

So many want Him to be their Savior, giving hope. Fewer want to crown Him King and serve Him as Lord. Here in the opening days of Lent, the chaos of the world and the choice to surrender can combine to help us to discover a life that is rooted in things beyond the common blessings of our existence.

Our hope is not without a foundation. Jesus’ prayer for His disciples at the Last Supper before He went to the Cross gives us the promise of a strength beyond our own.  He prays for us!  “Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them—all those you have given me—so that they will be united just as we are.” … "I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They are not part of this world any more than I am. Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world." (John 17:11, 15-18, NLT)

Is your life stormy at the moment? Do you sense your weakness, knowing your inability to calm the storm? 
Rather than rage or fear, choose faith!
Shouting at the wind does little but exhaust us.
Retreating into ourselves in fear tends only to amplify the voices that threaten our destruction.

Have you had a ‘Caspian moment?’
Choose humility. Act from faith, even if small. Find rest in His arms! From that place, you will become strong, equipped to live as He desires, knowing a ‘peace that goes beyond human comprehension.’

Here is a word from the Word - "We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God’s comfort. I think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead. And he did deliver us from mortal danger. And we are confident that he will continue to deliver us." (2 Corinthians 1:7-10, NLT)  Trust Him!

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Jesus, Take the Wheel

She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati on a snow-white Christmas Eve

Going home to see her mama and her daddy with the baby in the backseat

50 miles to go, and she was running low on faith and gasoline

It'd been a long, hard year

She had a lot on her mind, and she didn't pay attention

She was going way too fast

 

Before she knew it, she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass

She saw both their lives flash before her eyes

She didn't even have time to cry

She was so scared

She threw her hands up in the air

 

Jesus, take the wheel

Take it from my hands

'Cause I can't do this on my own

I'm letting go

So give me one more chance

And save me from this road I'm on

Jesus, take the wheel

 

It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder

And the car came to a stop

She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat, sleeping like a rock

And for the first time in a long time

She bowed her head to pray

She said, "I'm sorry for the way I've been living my life

I know I've got to change, so from now on tonight"

 

Jesus, take the wheel

Take it from my hands

'Cause I can't do this on my own

I'm letting go

So give me one more chance

And save me from this road I'm on

 

Oh, Jesus, take the wheel

Oh, I'm letting go

So give me one more chance

Save me from this road I'm on

From this road I'm on

Jesus, take the wheel

Oh, take it, take it from me

 

Sung by Carrie Underwood

Written by Hillary Lindsey / Brett James / Gordy Sampson

Worth the effort?

The Superbowl is over. The team I hoped to see take home the Lombardi trophy  went down to defeat in overtime. The analysts will dissect the game. In my opinion, the result turned on a missed kick!  It cost the 49’rs one point that would most likely have given them the win. If that kick succeeded, San Francisco would be having parades instead of Kansas City.  What a game, what effort all around.

In my thoughts this morning I am asking - “Jerry, what are you working for? What trophy do you hope to claim? Is it worth the effort?

Is accumulation of wealth my desire?
What I buy will soon wear out, become obsolete, or lose its luster.

Am I trying to make a name for myself?
            Celebrity is a BIG deal in America.
            But, I remember that line about 'everyone getting their 15 minutes of fame.' The public's                         attention span is very short!

Perhaps it is a life that feels secure?
            Nobody likes living in fear of the future but if ‘being safe’ is our aim, we will miss much of                     life’s joy.  The fact is tomorrow is uncertain, end of story.

Because I am a Christian, I choose to be focused on gaining eternal life, on living today in the light of God’s ultimate evaluation of my efforts. Paul pointed to the athletes of the sports arena as an example.

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (1 Corinthians 9:25, NIV) He speaks of the 'crown.'  That was a wreath of laurel that was placed on the head as a ‘crown.’ The effort of the competitor was rewarded with recognition. But, that crown had an obviously temporary quality. The leaves soon wilted and eventually crumbled to powder! Did the athletes really work to win the wreath? Of course not. It was the recognition that came with wearing that coveted symbol of success. But even such recognition is short-lived. They knew that another athlete was already training hard to compete in the games, and that another would be taking first place in line soon.

Realizing the relatively short life of wealth, fame, and even security - we choose wisely when we make our focus an eternal one! "So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:26-28, NLT)

Our love for others, our giving of ourselves in service, our willingness to serve rather than be served, our choice for excellence in ordinary responsibilities - these all take on a new kind of significance when our goal is to please God.  Please do not believe that having a meaningful, God-pleasing life requires being a pastor, a church employee, or working in some line of social service. God needs His people to be making their best efforts in trades, in business, and government.  Jesus said we are ‘salt and light’ in the world in which we live. God’s wisdom tells us that "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)

Whatever we do, if we are reaching for the eternal prize, must be done in a way that reflects Christ is Lord of our life. Honor the Lord with your efforts today. As a parent, as a spouse, as an employee, as a neighbor, as a friend... keep your eyes on the eternal prize of His approval, a prize that won't wilt, crumble, fade, or be surpassed by another.

Let’s keep this word from the Word in our thoughts, guided by the promise of eternity! "Because of God’s special favor to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone’s work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward." (1 Corinthians 3:10-14, NLT)

(Video of this blog at this link)

____________________

Build My Life

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 beside 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 Kaple | Matt Redman | Pat Barrett

© 2016 Kaple Music; Capitol CMG Genesis; Housefires Sounds; Said And Done Music; sixsteps Music; Thankyou Music; Vamos Publishing; worshiptogether.com songs; Martin, Karl Andrew; Bethel Music Publishing

For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com

CCLI License # 810055

Do you look like your Dad?

As I age, I hear this comment often: “You look just like your Dad.”  I really don’t, but I do share his vocation, some of his mannerisms, a similar laugh, and my voice sounds much like his.  Our shared DNA and our many years of relationship impressed him into my brain and though I make no conscious attempt to be like him, apparently I am! People for whom he cared as a pastor for decades sometimes transfer their memories to me. I am glad to ‘bear his image’ and continue the work of ministry that shaped so much of his life. (It’s hard to believe that he stepped into eternity 15 years ago last Monday.)

Here is a question worthy of our reflection - do I bear the image of my Heavenly Father to friends, families, and co-workers?

We were created in His image, made to be like Him. Oh yes, that image was marred by disobedience, the intimacy with God broken by sin. However, we know that through Christ Jesus the image of God is restored in us. He gives us the privilege of knowing God, loving God, and becoming more and more like Him.  The inspired Word says “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NIV)  When we take time to worship (individually and together), when we allow the Word to shape our thoughts, when the Holy Spirit is invited to change us, inside out, we gain the amazing privilege of being ‘Jesus with skin on.’ 

Christianity is often focused on externals - certain ethical and moral choices or religious practices. Those choices are not wrong, but they are not the essence of bearing the likeness of Jesus in this world. Our faithfulness to church activities is not likely to cause others to ask the reason for our hope. But, when our daily lives are marked with love for others, by a deep peace in this chaotic world, by forgiveness and a gentle spirit, by a hope that transcends the disappointments of this present existence, we are ‘being transformed into His likeness’ and Jesus’ beauty becomes visible to people who live around us. This is my desire - that Jesus is seen in me.

There is another amazing thing that happens as we ‘become like our Heavenly Father.’  We gain a quiet confidence, a godly authority over evil!  Moses was sent to the court of Pharoah to state God’s desire to take the Israelites out of Egypt, freeing them from slavery.  He was fearful of this mission, for good reason. He was going to stand before a man others considered a god, a man who was the most powerful person in that part of the ancient world who could order his execution without the blink of an eye.  Moses acknowledges his weakness and inability.

"Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country." (Exodus 7:1-2, NIV) "And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”" (Exodus 7:5, NIV)   Moses faced many difficulties and failed more than once. The divine authority conferred on him by God did not make him super-human, nor did it exempt him from ordinary hardships. But, God did the miraculous through him, causing him to form a new nation even as he led them from Egypt to the Promised Land.

Spirit-filled Christians share that privilege of leading others from darkness to light, from slavery to evil to spiritual freedom, from death to to life. We don’t do with great personal charisma, through blinding brilliance of intellect, or with grand strategies of human programs.  The work is done by people who are filled with Spirit of God, enjoying the quiet confidence of the godly!  This is the truth- "We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God. He is the one who has enabled us to represent his new covenant. This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:4-6, NLT)   

There is no need to go about blowing trumpets of our own making. We need not act as religious nuts, screaming at evil and rebuking the Devil, to accomplish God’s work.  We just live in His goodness letting His Presence overflow from us.  And others will begin to say - “He looks just like His Father!”

The word from the Word today is the prayer Jesus prayed for us just before He went to the Cross. May His prayer cause us to desire to reflect His goodness more and more. “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. And all of them, since they are mine, belong to you; and you have given them back to me, so they are my glory! Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them—all those you have given me—so that they will be united just as we are." (John 17:9-11, NLT)  "Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world." (John 17:17-18, NLT)  Amen!

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Oh To Be Like Thee

 

Oh to be like Thee

Blessed Redeemer

This is my constant

Longing and prayer

Gladly I'll forfeit

All of earth's treasures

Jesus Thy perfect

Likeness to wear

 

Oh to be like Thee

Oh to be like Thee

Blessed Redeemer

Pure as Thou art

Come in Thy Sweetness

Come in Thy Fullness

Stamp Thine own Image

Deep on my heart

 

Oh to be like Thee

Full of compassion

Loving forgiving

Tender and kind

Helping the helpless

Cheering the fainting

Seeking the wandering

Sinner to find

 

Oh to be like Thee

While I am pleading

Pour out Thy Spirit

Fill with Thy Love

Make me a temple

Meet for Thy Dwelling

Fit me for life

And Heaven above

Oh to be like Thee

Lowly in spirit

Holy and harmless

Patient and brave

Meekly enduring

Cruel reproaches

Willing to suffer

Others to save

 

Oh to be like Thee

Lord I am coming

Now to receive

The anointing divine

All that I am

And have I am bringing

Lord from this moment

All shall be Thine

Thomas Obediah Chisholm

Public Domain

Come, Follow Me

One year ago I was privileged to spend 10 days touring the ancient sites in Israel. Each day I followed our guide. Hela led the adventures, explaining the meaning of what we were seeing, setting historical context, offering insight. I’m sure I could have rented a vehicle, used a GPS, and found the same places but my understanding would have been so much less without that little lady who walked at a brisk pace out in front of our group!  I was thrilled to be her ‘disciple’ for that week, learning as much I could from her expertise.

Jesus says “Come, follow me!” The invitation is not just about taking an interest in Him. It is about becoming His disciple, devoted to Him, willingly aligning our lives to His teaching, trusting Him when the Way ahead is hidden to us. We cannot ignore the call to self-denial that comes with His leadership.

He says it simply:  “No one can love two masters!”  Will we adopt the attitude of those first followers? "At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him." (Mark 1:18-21, NIV)   So often we only hear of the ‘cost’ of being His follower. There certainly is a price to be paid but there are rich rewards, a kind of life found in Him that cannot be discovered in any other way.  He says that in Him we find “abundant life,” life in its fullest now and hope of eternal life.

Will you take His invitation to an adventure? There will be some uphill climbs through discouragement, times when you overflow with sweet joy, mountain top moments as His Presence settles over you.  There will be rocky stretches where He will call you on urging you to ‘press on!’   The key through it all is this - Follow!  I urge you to pray something like this: “Father, help me to find You, to follow You, and to show Your goodness in my life. Give me wisdom to say Yes to the Best! Keep me on faithfulness.”

Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi, urging them to follow in his footsteps in an adventure with God, the Holy Spirit. He had made Christ Jesus his Lord and followed Him. Was he flawless in that choice?  He can answer for himself.  "I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection!  

His discipleship was a work in progress.  “But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.” (Philippians 3:12-15, NLT)   “I press on!”

John Bunyan, a devout free Christian in 17^th century England, gave us a classic- Pilgrim’s Progress. This man, barely educated beyond the ability to read and write, wrote of Christian’s journey to the Celestial City. In vivid metaphor, Bunyan writes of the journey through the Slough of Despond, along the Wall of Salvation, in the Valley of Humiliation, into the town of Vanity, including a visit to Doubting Castle, and through the Delectable Mountains.  In the quaint language of the time he reminds us of the necessity of pressing on!

“This hill, though high, I covet to ascend;
The difficulty will not me offend.
For I perceive the way to life lies here.
Come, pluck up, heart; let's neither faint nor fear.
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.”

 Let’s journey on! Remember to ‘keep step with the Spirit, since we live by the Spirit.’  This adventure is not a solo hike.  Travel with those who share your love of the Savior. Together, we will discover the fullness of the life for which we were created as well as God’s rich grace for each day. 

 Meditate on these words of Jesus that speak of the intimate relationship that empowers His followers. The word from the Word calls. Let’s go. Adventure awaits! "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!

My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father. “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love." (John 15:5-10, NLT)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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He Leadeth Me

He leadeth me O blessed thought

O words with heavenly comfort fraught

Whate'er I do where'er I be

Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me

 

He leadeth me He leadeth me

By His own hand He leadeth me

His faithful follower I would be

For by His hand He leadeth me

Sometimes 'mid scenes of deepest gloom

Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom

By water's calm o'er troubled sea

Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me

 

Lord I would clasp Thy hand in mine

Nor ever murmur nor repine

Content whatever lot I see

Since 'tis my God that leadeth me

And when my task on earth is done

When by Thy grace the victory's won

E'en death's cold waves I would not flee

Since Thou through Jordan leadeth me

 

 

William Batchelder Bradbury

Words: Public Domain