Call Now! - 8/6/06

Jeremiah 33:3 - "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

At the worship service last night, this is one of the main points the speaker made. This verse really spoke to me - often this is how I approach my devotional time. I will begin each quiet time by praying that the Holy Spirit speaks to me and guides my thoughts and hands to reveal whatever the Lord has for me to hear or understand. When I let God direct the conversation, I'm always blown away by what He shows me.

What I find most fascinating, is that these "great and unsearchable things" are often located in a scripture that I am already familiar with or that I would normally read over and find no additional meaning beyond what is plainly before my eyes. But if I pray to God first, I can suddenly see how to apply that scripture to my life or how it could also mean any number of additional things.

The key though is in the first part of this scripture: "Call to me..." We have to make the first step. We have to invite the Lord in to our hearts and minds to guide us and speak to us. If we don't initiate the conversation, then the "things you do not know" will never be revealed. God will still work in your life and guide you, but the advantage of wisdom will not be at your side to help you discern the truth in any given situation. Obviously then, regular exposure to such a pattern of devotion and worship will lead to greater knowledge and application of Godly principles to your life.

I want alll of my friends and family to experience this form of devotion and communication with God; this kind of two-way relationship. Such an intimate and personal communication level with God strengthens your relationship with Him beyond measure, and having Him working so closely in your life regularly means His love, provision, and protection go before you wherever you may be led.

Praise be to our God for being so concerned with relationship that He would literally die to maintain it, and communicating with each of us individually to express His deep love for all of us, regardless of our past or present - just as long as we give the future to Him.

El Paseo - 7/29/06

John 14:4,6 "You know the way to the place I am going. ...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me."

I like the layers of wisdom and direction found in this verse. Where was the place He was going? To His Father's house. The way in which He was to travel was through sacrifice - offering Himself up to pay for our sins. The place He was gong was also the Cross.

But, the way we know of to get to His final destination is to follow Him; His teachings, His way of living. The whole time Jesus was engated in ministry, He spent every waking minute telling people how to be reconciled with teh Father, and showing them the power of God through His actions.

That's another thing I like about this verse - "You know the way..."
In verse 6, Jesus says "I am the way..."

"You know The Way."

Jesus is the way, and I know Him personally. He is my God, but also my friend, my guide, my Father, my confidant - my everything. He is the way to that place where all hope is fulfilled. Permanent Peace. Permanent Love. Permanent understanding. Permanent life. That means no more separation through death either. Saying goodbye to people you love is hard, be it for a season while moving to another country or for a lifetime if death is the cause of that separation.

Thankfully, in Jesus no goodbye is permanent. Because through Him, everybody has been given direction to the same place; everybody has been shown the way to meet each other again. It may sting for the moment you experience the separation, but if those you love follow The Way, the Truth, and the Life, then we'll all arrive together in everlasting life.

I think a little bit of what I experienced today is a big part of the eternity experience. We had everybody over to say goodbye before moving to Belize, good friends and family. It ended with sad goodbyes - but I knew I'd see them again. And in the life everlasting, this day would not have ended. We would all continue to enjoy each other's company in the presence of our most powerful God who brought us all together in the first place, both in this world and again when we are all reunited in His kingdom.

Until then, everybody has been given their own map to follow leading to that moment.

Don't lose the Way, and I'll see you there.

Tropical Fruit - 7/28/06

John 15:4, "Remian in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

"Apart from me you can do nothing." How true is this! I am a broken person born of a sinful nature. Everything I attempt on my own or try to accomplish for my own selfish desires ends in failure. Without God, anything I try to pursue fails to deliver any sense of satisfaction - only a hollow longing for something else.

However, when I remain in Him - remain plugged in to the true vine, I barely even have to try and much fruit is produced in my life. Like in a true branch, His power flows into my life - meeting every true need and causing me to produce beautiful fruit to honor Him.

I don't want to make it sound like I have no troubles and live a carefree lifestyle - though in a sense I do. But, sometimes branches have to be cut back to produce good fruit. We rarely recognize this for what it is during the pruning process. That's why we need to just thank Him for trouble or hard times and always trust in Him. Then, when we see the fruit produced in our lives, it becomes clear why we endured what we did and can give Him glory for it. Everything is done for the same ultimate purpose - to give glory to God.

I am plugged in to my God, and for a season at least He has decided that my wife and I are going to produce tropical fruit for Him. He has called us to Belize to work for Him among His people there. Along the way, every need and want has been satisfied or addressed. The planning stage has gone so smoothly that it became clear only God could have orchestrated this process of relocation - right down to finding a home for our cat. We couldn't do it on our own, though we tried, and resolved to take him to a no-kill shelter full of abandoned cats - a safe but sad solution.

On our last day in Pullman, a woman from our church decided to take Sumo in and love him as an "only cat." I thought to myself, "How great you are, God! Why would YOU care about what happens to this crazy animal - enough to act on it and find a home for him before we leave?" As soon as that thought crossed my mind, another followed right behind it that was not my own,

"Because you do."

God loves me, and I'm plugged in to Him. If I'm a part of the vine, then my needs are His needs, my concerns and worries are also His - regardless of how small they may seem.

So trust in God! Get plugged in! Talk to Him every day! That's how He guides you and helps you produce big, ripe, juicy fruit.

Mango, anyone?

Step By Step - 7/17/06

Galatians 5:25, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

It still blows my mind to think of all God has given me; all He has done in the lives of my friends and my family. He has done so much to heal the hearts of those who were close to my mother. And, He's done so much to bless our lives in every way.

And now Melissa and I are moving to Belize. Such an incredible opportunity to serve Him, and in doing so we are blessed with an adventure unlike anybody's I know of. Still, the reality of good-byes puts into sharp focus what it can mean to step out on faith to follow whatever you believe God has called you to do.

I have no doubt in my mind or my heart that this is God's will, from the very beginning. Everything has come together so perfectly, it has to have been orchestrated by God Himself. I can see things He'd done years in the past that paved the way and prepared for this very event.

But, I've been dwelling on my present family situation and what a difficult time it is to leave them. On the way to work this morning, these lyrics caught my ear and spoke to this situation:

There was so much work left to do...

But so much You've already done!
Oh God, you are my God
And I will ever praise you...

I will seek you in the morning
And I will learn to walk in your way

And Step by Step you'll lead me
And I will follow you all of my days...

Like the scripture above in Galatians, God will lead Melissa and me, step by step. We still don't know so many details about where we are going to live. But, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is God's will and our needs have been met. We have housing, furniture, income, and an assigned ministry where we can serve Him.

These two priveleged Americans can learn to do without everything outside of that assignment. For now, we must take baby steps in the direction God has pointed us. As the Holy Spirit leads us, step by step, we will continue to honor and praise Him.

God, YOU are my God. There is no other. I will ever praise you. Thank you for taking care of me and my family. I love you for alll that you've done, and because you first loved me. Lord Jesus, I praise your Holy name. May your will be done, and I thank you for mending my heart and my family's. Amen.

The Coolest Kid EVER - 7/5/06

"Do you wanna know why none of the ashes from the fireworks hit us?"
"Why, Kelsey?"
"Because I prayed."

So adorable!!! My niece joined my wife and I for the Fourth of July Weekend. We watched the fireworks show the city put on, with primo seats almost directly underneath the display. A lot of the embers were falling nearby, and one especially hot piece landed on the blanket of the people behind us. It was still glowing and sent the family into a panic. My niece apparently was worried the same drama would unfold on our blanket, so she prayed. Then she believed with childlike faith - relied entirely upon God - that we would be safe.

Mark 10:15, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

This is the same kind of faith we are commanded to develop. We must learn to simply rely on God. When we pray for something, of course it will come to pass because we know how great and powerful our God is.

I had my niece all weekend for camping, fun, and some quality time before my wife and I move to Belize. It was so very, very hard taking her back home. For both of us. But, I had made a CD of the latest Christian hits for her last time she stayed with us. She informed me this weekend that one of her favorite songs on that CD is the same as mine.

I made a point to emphasize that as much as I love her (which is a WHOLE lot), God loves her even more. Like this song that she told me she liked. Like He loves all of us...more....

More
by Matthew West

Take a look at the mountains
Stretching a mile high
Take a look at the ocean
Far as your eye can see
And think of Me

Take a look at the desert
Do you feel like a grain of sand?
I am with you wherever
Where you go is where I am

And I'm always thinking of you
Take a look around you
I'm spelling it out one by one

(Chorus)
I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today
And tomorrow, I'll say it again and again
I love you more

Just a face in the city
Just a tear on a crowded street
But you are one in a million
And you belong to Me

And I want you to know
That I'm not letting go
Even when you come undone

(Chorus)
I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today
And tomorrow, I'll say it again and again
I love you more
I love you more

Shine for Me
Shine for Me
Shine on, shine on
Shine for Me

(Chorus)
I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today
And tomorrow, I'll say it again and again
I love you more

(Chorus)
Than the sun
and the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you, yesterday and today
Through the joy and the pain
I'll say it again and again
I love you more
I love you more

And I see you
And I made you
And I love you more than you can imagine
More than you can fathom
I love you more than the sun
And you shine for me

Jesus thank you so, so much for calling my niece at such a young age to learn of your Great Love and grow up under your protection and provision. I pray you show her that, though the sorrow may last for the night, your joy comes in the morning.

I love you, Kels!

Receive Rewards - 6/28/06

2 JOHN 8, "Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully."

Following Jesus Christ is hard work. The pull of our sinful nature is always fighting against our salvation. Our bodies want what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is against the flesh.

This goes beyond carnal desires. Arguing, bickering, persecuting, judging, attacking ... so many sins that divide the people God loves set us against the Spirit's leading. This stems from our sinful nature, and the people God loves who are affected by this includes Christians and non-Christians, because we all started from the same place. We just decied to follow the path of Christ Jesus, and that comes with many rewards. When you choose to live for God, life does not become easier - but the blessings become greater and this brings Him even more of the glory He deserves, and then you are blessed for bringing Him glory and the crazy love cycle begins!

The scripture above warns us, "watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for." Do not lose the faith! Do not get discouraged, the Lord wants to reward you for your faithfulness and for standing up for Him when nobody else would. But, the enemy wants you to focus on current trials and tempt you into walking away from your reward with lies.

For example, Jesus wanted to bless Jerusalem and reward its people, but they were not willing to receive it. Luke 13:34 exposes God's grief over stubborn Jerusalem; their refusal to let God bless them by their own choice to live against truth. Jesus laments to Jerusalem, "But YOU were not willing!" He wanted to bless them.

We make the same choice. We have all at some point embraced our sinful nature and become slaves to it. Luke 6:20-21, "When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time...?" I'll tell you the benefit. We got to proudly shout, "I'm in control! I DECIDE!"

And where did that lead? Nowhere. We can't see the whole picture, only HE CAN. And HE LOVES US! He will bless you, guide you, and bring you into eternal life, that there may be no more strife; no more separation.

So, do not lose what you have worked for! Let yourself be rewarded fully by keeping up with God and His leading. Galatians 5:25, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

Check in with God every day to make certain that you are doing so.

Gimme More Gimel! - 6/26/06

Psalm 119:20, 24 "My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times. ...Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors."

Psalm 138:1,4-5 "I will praise you with all my heart; before the 'gods' I will sing your praise."

I love how bold David is in this Psalm. Before the false gods he will sing praises to the real Lord of Heaven! He is fearless because his love for God and his desire to honor Him is greater than any other emotion.

We could benefit from taking the same position in our lives. Our culture is filled with false gods. Money, materialism, fame, celebrities, decadent lifestyles... people worship these idols every day. They don't pray or burn incense to them, but they are idolized and raised to the highest position in millions of lives.

What's sad is that the Lord my God will probably do one of two things: deliver those who reject Him to their evil desires, that they may enjoy the fleeting pleasures of this life and suffer consequences later. Or, He will remove from the lives of those whose hearts are prepared for Him whatever is held above the Lord. If you value anything more than God, He will remove that obstacle from your life. That can hurt, especially if you love that object more than anything else in your life.

He admitted from the very beginning that He is a jealous God, and that you shall have no other Gods before Him.

Now, imagine how bold you must be, how much you must love God to stand before the false gods and idols of others and sing praises to the Lord. That is the boldness I desire for my own life.

I think God used Psalm 119 to articulate that desire for me. The other day, I could not get the word "Gimel" out of my head. I recognized it as a letter from the Hebrew alphabet. I know that Psalm 119 has verses for each letter of that alphabet, with each line beginning with the letter of that verse in the original language.

I turned to Gimel to see why it was stuck in my head. Two lines struck me - "my soul is consumed with longing for your laws" and "your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors."

I am consumed with longing for my God at all times - this is how we should live. Nothing else matters more than Him. Nothing else is as permanent or as great. And, the words of God are my counselors, my strength.

I will boldly praise His name before those whose gods are man-made and temporary.

Lord Jesus, may your name be praised....amen.

________________________________________________________________________

Big Events - 6/21/06

It's hard sometimes to think of what my mom would say during life-changing events. She passed away in September of '03. Since then, I married my best friend, my little brother married an awesome woman, and they gave me another niece. Now, my wife and I are stepping out on faith - going on an adventure to Belize where mission work and employment blend into one.

What would my mom say?

Luckily, I know her heart so I have an idea of what she would say. And she knows Jesus Christ (she lives in His house right now). I know Jesus, too, and she is most likely aware of what He is doing in my life right now. So I know what she probably is saying.

I think God helped this become incredibly clear when Melissa and I were driving home from Tacoma on Father's Day. God the Father's Day...

She had fallen asleep, and I was listening to the radio. A song that I had heard dozens of times before started playing. It was a familiar tune, but I never paid any attention to the lyrics - until now. Suddenly all of my attention was fixed on this message playing in my car. I believe it is exactly how my mom would react to the news of my traveling to Belize to teach junior high in a Christian school. This is where the lyrics started speaking to my heart:

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
to dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
and help you find your wings

May passion be the wind
that leads you through your days
And may convictions keep you strong
guide you on your way
May there be many moments
that make you life so sweet
But more than memories

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
to dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
and help you find your wings

It's not living
if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
but I'll cheer as you fly

...so let my love give you roots
and help you find your wings

Thank you Jesus for your presence; for reminding me of my mother's love - the roots of which will be there for me whatever this life brings. Thank you Lord for filling my heart with dreams and the faith it takes to do great things for you. I praise your holy name, Jesus. Amen.

Christian Chameleons - 6/20/06

Galatians 2:11-12, "When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of [those men]."

I don't know that I've been struggling with this, or maybe I will in the near future, but it's a good reminder for me. When I read this scripture, the first thing I thought of was the term "Christian Chameleons." This does not refer to colorful lizards singing praise with long sticky tongues and testifying with their arms in the air in the jungle. I've heard this somewhere before in reference to Christians who change who they are or what they say they believe depending on their environment. Peter did this when influential believers with opposing beliefs came to visit him. He stopped doing what he knew was right out of fear that he would offend these men.

Of course, that is the exact opposite of how we're supposed to live. Think of it from the point of view of somebody who has never really seen a Christian live out his or her faith. Every time that person is around a believer, they don't see an example of Christ's love or a person living by His teachings. Instead, that person has seen watered down versions of the truth in order not to offend.

I don't care much for an in-your-face approach to sharing faith. Sometimes that is necessary, but if that is how you approach even casual conversations, your well-intentioned faith will be written off as overzealous and oppressive. But, we should not allow fear of other points of view or the influence of others censor our convictions so as not to offend. We have been commanded to go out into the world and be an influence. Refusing to share what we know to be true out of fear does nothing to fulfill that commandment.

I like this scripture because Paul confronts Peter directly. He doesn't gossip about the situation to other believers. In alignment with scripture, he told Peter to his face that he was in the wrong. Peter "...was not acting in line with the truth of the gospel" and Paul let him know it.

There are have been many times that I was confronted with opposing beliefs that forced me to identify why I believe what I believe. My faith was like the proverb, "Like a reed in the wind, I will bend but not break." Evidence of God working in my life is undeniable and reinforces my faith all the time. That doesn't mean though that I haven't questioned some things from time to time, and I believe that's healthy.

This scripture is a good reminder overall. I must be strong when faced with opposing points of view, and must not change who I am to suit my environment; I must avoid becoming a "Christian Chameleon."

Shut The Door - 6/12/06

Matthew 6:6-7, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. "

I think God is reminding me here that my devotional time is just that - devotional. I must devote my time entirely to Him when I make a point to read His word and seek His guidance.

First of all, I haven't been regularly devoting time to God lately. Not that I'm not in prayer every day, but there is a special connection made when I step aside from my daily routine and responsibilities to check in with Him and just spend quality time together.

Lately too, when I do get to my devotions, I've been almost trying to multi-task. I may read the Bible in the living room while the T.V. is on or carrying on a conversation. I believe this is a reminder from God regarding the first entry I made in this journal based on the scripture Luke 5:16, "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray." I must completely detach myself from everything in the world ... to withdraw to a lonely place and pray. I have found that only when my attention is completely focused on God can I hear Him leading me through scripture or inspiration. If I'm focusing on what I hear from the TV or radio, I'm not focusing on Him and won't hear what He has to say.

We are supposed to model our lives after Christ's. That is a huge task because I am so self-centered naturally. But making sure I also model my prayer life after His, that tendency will naturally be kept in check. ...Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray...

I feel a bit like our cat (who I'm pretty sure has Attention Deficit Disorder) . Sometimes to get his attention, I'll have to snap my fingers or clap at him and shout his name. Then he'll look at me with his head cocked to the side and realize, "OH, you mean I'm not supposed to be on this countertop! My bad..."

I think maybe God may have clapped His hands at me to get my attention to remind me that I must not lose my focus or take my devotional time lightly. This is not an option; what I do in the rest of my day is.

Did Something Crazy - 6/7/06

So... got a little crazy today! I'm still looking for a teaching job, and the options are limited. Melissa and I had joked about me getting a teaching job in Belize, since we fell in love with it on our honeymoon.

Well, I randomly decided to search for teaching jobs in Belize today, and came across a Christian School looking for six teachers. All positions but the 7/8 grade teacher had been filled. I meet all the minimum qualifications, and then some. I talked with Melissa about selling most of our things and heading down there, and she is as excited about it as I am. So, I completed and submitted my application this evening.

So... if you're reading this blog right now I'd like to ask you to pray for God's will in this situation. That way, if He wants me to go down there and teach these kids, it will happen. If He'd rather I stay in Washington and help kids here, then that's what will happen. Still, I'd appreciate a quick prayer on the subject. Thanks!

Know What You've Got - 6/4/06

Ezra 3:11, "And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the House of the Lord was laid."

"You don't know what you've got, 'til it's gone." This is a famous proverb, proven to be true in every life, generation after generation. Of course, it's also a rock ballad from the 80s.

The book of Ezra takes place upon the Jews' return to Israel. While in exile, the Jews could have easily made this song their National Anthem. Although the rock group Cinderella wouldn't exist for a few thousand years or so...

A few generations of wicked rulers slandered the Holy name of the Lord in the nation He rose up. As a consequence, God removed His hand of protection. His own house - the temple Solomon built - was looted and destroyed. The walls of Jerusalem were torn down, and its people carried off as captives.

They had all forgotten or turned away from God. He sent many prophets to speak for Him; to nudge the people back in line and reveal to them the wickedness of their ways. We receive similar reminders when our lives don't mesh with God's will. A friend may rebuke or identify our unhealthy decisions out of love. A scripture may remind us of how we should live. The fact is God gives us many chances to turn our lives toward Him.

Some of us don't learn so easily. Too many of us choose the hard road, and must "hit rock bottom" before we can see how destructive or unhealthy our decisions have really been. When the Babylonians invaded, the Jews lost their fredom, their wealth, power, and the right to worship God in His temple and enjoy His protection and provision. Cue their anthem.... "You don't know what you've got, 'til it's gone..."

While in exile the Jews returned to the Lord. It's a sad truth that many times we must be faced with tragedy before asking God to start working in our lives. They returned to God, then they were permitted to return to their land. Their captors were eventually conquered by the Persians, and the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem.

God used this exile to lay a foundation of people who would serve Him, then they returned home to build the foundation of a temple to do just that. The scripture above describes their reaction to the sight of that foundation - they shouted and praised God.

It may be time for you to lay a foundation in your own home to praise God. Maybe like the Jews had done, you've also embraced a spirit of rebellion against God, or just forgot to reference Him in your decisions. Maybe your home already collapsed under the attack of the enemy. Rebuilding and strengthening can start immediately.

This time, make Jesus Christ your foundation. Build your house on that rock, and regardless of the enemy's strength, you will prevail to give God the glory. "...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15.

The Promised Land - 5/31/06

Joshua 11:12, "He did just as Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded."

Joshua was the leader responsible for establishing a place for the Israelites to build God's nation. After leaving Egypt and wandering the desert for decades, the Israelites came upon the land of Canaan - the land God had promised to the people He chose to spread His name across the globe.

God needed to secure this land for the only group of people who worshipped Him on the planet. This is the place where His son would be born into the world and offered as a sacrifice to reunite God with all of His children - the same children who had separated themselves from Him by sinning. But first, Joshua must lead the smallest of nations into this land and defeat dozens of kings and their people.

Joshua and his army succeeded in every military campaign because he was obedient. He did exactly what Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded. Therefore it wasn't by Joshua's own power or ability that he was able to deliver this land to God's people, but because the power of God went before him.

One thing that truly amazes me is that the same God, the exact same person who helped Joshua; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the God who defeated Pharaoh and the one who invented air, water, earth, and love - works directly in my own life with the same power and authority He had over His people throughout history.

Since that time though, the law has changed. God no longer needs a temple and a blood sacrifice because Jesus' blood sacrifice paid the debt caused by sin, and God has chosen the hearts of His people as His temple.

With the spirit of the living God living in me, I can experience the same level of direction and success when the odds are against me - as long as I am living according to God's will and honestly seeking His direction. Ephesians 6:14 emphasizes the concept of living by God's direction when it speaks of the "Armor of God." This armor consists of:

the belt of Truth
the protection of Right Living on your chest
on your feet wear the good news of Peace
carry the shield of Faith to stop all burning arrows of the Evil One
accept God's Salvation as your helmet
take the Sword of the spirit which is the word of God
... and Pray in the spirit at all times

Joshua had the "protection of right living" on his chest. He lived according to God's will, plan, and purpose. For that reason, he was protected when standing against an army three times the size of his own. In the same way, God will protect us if the way we live is right in His eyes. Not only will He deliver us from our enemy, but He will establish us in a land flowing with milk and honey - a prosperous life where the protection of His hand will allow us to enjoy success.

Small Steps, Giant Leaps

Romans 10:17, "So faith comes from hearing the Good News, and people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ."

Every day people easily put their faith in simple, unreliable things. When I insert the key into my car's ignition, I have faith that the engine will turn over - even though cars fail every day. When I flip a light switch, I have faith that the room will be illuminated - even though light bulbs eventually burn out. When a skydiver jumps from a plane, he or she has faith that the parachute will deploy and save them from a series of unfortunate events, so to speak - even though we've all heard of incidents where that was not the case.

Why is it that somebody would actually throw themselves from an airplane and expect to live? On what basis do they have reason to believe the parachute will save them? This is an important question. Think about it. If a person has never attempted skydiving before, why should they believe that the parachute will open for them as it has for others - and believing it strongly enough to step off the edge of the plane? Chances are, there is somebody who explained to them how the parachute works. Another person who put their faith in it - and has proven it to be true in his or her own life - has explained it. Somebody who experienced it first-hand convinced the new skydiver that it really works and is worth the jump. This person explained the "Good News" of parachutes to somebody who will soon be falling fast. This is exactly how faith and the message of Jesus Christ spreads from one person to another. Somebody who has proven it to be true in his or her own life is asked to pass that information along to somebody who has not.

Right now, we're all falling. But many of us have Christ in our lives - the parachute that will save us from eternal death. He loves us enough to catch anyone who is willing to accept His love and believe in Him, guiding them gently to safety. It's open to anyone because not one person in this world is worthier than another to be saved by Him. We don't have to earn it, but we do have to consciously receive it.

Hebrews 12:1 begins, "We have around us many people whose lives tell us what faith means." The first scripture says that faith comes from hearing the Good News of Christ. This second scripture is tangible evidence of that Good News - changed lives and hearts. So if we are surrounded by so many people whose lives tell us what faith means, why aren't they all passing it along? Why aren't they handing extra parachutes out to their friends and family who are still falling? Why aren't people who haven't heard the Good News getting it from those whose lives tell us what faith means?

This morning I came across an excerpt with a similar theme from God Came Near by Max Lucado. It made me chuckle. Here it is for your reading pleasure:

A few nights ago a peculiar thing happened. An electrical storm caused a blackout in our neighborhood. When the lights went out, I felt my way through the darkness into the storage closet where we keep the candles for nights like this...I took a match and lit four of them...
I was turning to leave with the large candle in my hand when I heard a voice, "Now hold it right there."
"Who said that?" I asked.
"I did." The voice was near my hand.
"Who are you? What are you?"
"I'm a candle." I lifted up the candle to take a closer look. You won't believe what I saw. There was a tiny face in the wax...a moving, functioning, flesh-like face full of expression and life. "Don't take me out of here!"
"What?"
"I said, don't take me out of this room!"
"What do you mean? I have to take you out. You're a candle. Your job is to give light. It's dark out there."
"But you can't take me out. I'm not ready," the candle explained with pleading eyes. "I need more preparation."
I couldn't believe my ears. "More preparation?"
"Yeah, I've decided I need to research this job of light-giving so I won't go out and make a bunch of mistakes. You'd be surprised how distorted the glow of an untrained candle can be..."
"All right then," I said. "You're not the only candle on the shelf. I'll blow you out and take the others." But just as I got my cheeks full of air, I heard other voices.
"We aren't going either!" ...I turned around and looked at the three other candles...
"You are candles and your job is to light dark places!"
"Well, that may be what you think," said the candle on the far left..."You may think we have to go, but I'm busy...I'm meditating on the importance of light. It's really enlightening..."
"And you other two," I asked. "Are you going to stay in here as well?"
A short, fat, purple candle spoke up, "I'm waiting to get my life together. I'm not stable enough."
The last candle had a female voice, very pleasant to the ear. "I'd like to help," she explained, "but lighting the darkness is not my gift...I'm a singer. I sing to other candles to encourage them to burn more brightly." She began a rendition of This Little Light of Mine. The other three joined in, filling the room with singing.
I took a step back and considerred the absurdity of it all. Four perfectly healthy candles singing to each other about light but refusing to come out of the closet...

Are you a closet Christian, or are you letting your light shine so that others - having heard the message of Good News from you - can have faith of their own?

Truths and Untruths - 5/21/06

2 Timothy 2:23-26, "Stay away from foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they grow into quarrels. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and patient. The Lord's servant must gently teach those who disagree. Then maybe God will let them change their minds so they can accept the truth. And then they may wake up and escape from the trap of the devil, who catches them to do what he wants."

"I'm not stupid, YOU'RE stupid!"
"No, YOU'RE stupid, stupid-head!"

Okay, so maybe these aren't the exact words typically used, but I think this dialogue summarizes the mood that so often prevails when a believer and non-believer discuss their differing viewpoints. I actually wrote this journal entry weeks ago after a tense discussion my wife and her sister had with their father regarding spiritual matters. I didn't feel the need to post it at the time for some reason, but in the light of the Da Vinci code being released, so many people are up in arms about a new attack on Christianity by those who don't understand the truth so I felt like I should post it now.

The scripture above warns us to stay away from foolish and stupid arguments when discussing such things because they grow into quarrels - which last much longer. It's so easy to forget how difficult it is for a non-believer to forsake their own will for something unseen. It's just as easy to forget that their spirit has not been touched by the love of our living God, and we must pray for them. God has already changed the hearts and minds of millions of others just like them -- just like you and me.

When we disucss matters of faith with soeone who has never heard them before - or has only heard distorted misrepresentations - we are urged by this scripture to gently teach those who disagree. It says a servent of the Lord must be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and patient.

All three of these can be difficult when the tone of the conversation becomes condescending or hostile. Then, you don't really want to be kind, or patient, and therefore cannot be a good teacher. We must not let our emotions eclipse our ability to pass spiritual knowledge on to somebody who knows nothing of the matter. If in fact they do know something of the matter but have chosen to be against God, then the most you can do for them is to pray for them. The least you can do for them is walk away...

This scripture says that the devil uses traps to ensnare people and do what he wants. In our culture, the science of manipulated facts and theories to support anything that is against God is so often used to that effect. A theory that is unproven and against God is often accepted as truth. Those who believe it are now working for the enemy and against the kingdom of God. Unproven theories become pillars of modern science and used as arguments against the existence of God.

Truth, however, and spiritual facts have three pillars: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. Their evidence, other than changed lives, changed hearts, and answered prayers - is simply all of creation.

So when we talk about the evidence of spiritual truth and facts, we must be patient and understand that the person we are talking to has been deceived by the father of all lies. Be kind to them, and pray that their hearts may be softened; their minds opened up to truth, His will, and His way. Do not let it escalate into a foolish or stupid argument. We are ambassadors for Christ, and must work as He did, speaking diplomatically but sternly, unwavering in what we as Christians know to be true.

A Real Jarhead - 5/4/06

2 Corinthians 4:7, "We have this treasure from God, but we are like clay jars that hold the treasure. This shows that the great power is from God, not from us."

The treasure spoken of here in this verse is the light of the Good News about the glory and reality of Christ. It is this treasure that acts as the daily source of hope, joy, and purpose for the believer - even in the midst of trials and tragedy.

The verse just before this one reads, "God once said, 'Let the light shine out of darkness!'" This is what is meant when referring to Jesus as the light of the world. It is explained in this chapter that "the devil who rules this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe." He has covered the globe in darkness, evil, and ignorance. Jesus Christ is the radiant light that pierced that darkness, overcoming it when He allowed His body to be pierced; His sinless blood cancelling the power of evil.

His glory cast out all shadows, and the gift of His love and grace along with the freedom He offers from the bondage of sin is the treasure we carry. Christians carry this light with them to continue shining in a dark world. But, the good news and power and love and grace and success that many Christians enjoy does not come from them. Anything good is from God. We are only clay jars - not equal in value or endurance to the treasure we carry inside. Clay is fragile, crude, and easily broken. It cannot match the purity and brilliance of the treasure inside - the Holy Spirit of the Lord and the knowledge of and relationship with Christ.

This scripture says that the treasure we hold shows that the great power is from God, not us. Nothing as pure and perfect and eternal as God can come from something as flawed and temporary as we are.

This reminds me of an argument by the philosopher John Locke in which he claims that the very idea of a perfect, holy God could only come from such a being. Basically, he argued that you cannot imagine or think of ANYTHING that you don't have some first-hand experience with. Every thought is based on something else we've seen, touched, heard, smelled, or tasted. Try it - the most imaginitive thought you can create cane be broken down into simple, un-original elements based in lifetime experiences. We possess NO knowledge of our own; everything we know has been passed to us from an outside source.

So, if we cannot be all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipresent, eternal, perfect, and holy - but we know of these qualities - that means something actually possessing these traits must exist. That also is a treasure held in the clay jar of our mind; the character of God revealed to mankind.

We serve a powerful God. He works in our lives daily. Some recognize His work and are in awe of it. Ohers labor under a lie and refuse to acknowledge His design and existence and stumble in darkness. But if you swallow your pride long enough to admit thyou don't have it all figured out seek Him, then His light will flood your life and change you forever. As Christians, we are commanded to carry this light to those who've never seen it. And that job will last the rest of our lives.

Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It - 5/2/06

Luke 5:31, "Jesus answered them, 'It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to invite good people but sinners to change their hearts and lives.'"

Jesus offended many religious leaders by hanging out with people who weren't concerned with looking or acting holy. His is the Son of the Most High God, but you would have seen Him more often in the house of a sinner than the temple - the house of His Father.

It makes perfect sense, that He would spend His time teaching those who have never heard of God's love and how to live holy lives, rather than spending it with those who already knew of it. These are the sick who needed a doctor; their hearts were poisoned with the lies of this world and needed a heart transplant from the Great Physician.

When Jesus rose from the grave and went to heaven to prepare a place for us, this task of caring for the "sick" passed on to us. The Bible says that we are the body of Christ; we are His hands and His feet and must follow His example. We must walk as He walked and work as He worked. This is our mission.

We go on mission trips to oher places and countries, and that is good. But every morning, we wake up in the mission field right here. We are surrounded by sick people who have never heard the good news of God's love and grace. Or, they've heard an incredibly distorted version of it and are avoiding God based on that misguided understanding.

Ideally, we would wake up each morning and prepare for the day as we would if we were on a mission trip - praying, devoting time to God, fellowship, singing, and drawing strength from the source of strength for a day full of affecting the people in our lives.

We can't rely on pamphlets and books and blogs to teach people about God's love. Why weren't any of the books of the Bible written by Jesus himself? I think because there would have been only one book. Granted, the best one I'm sure. But rather than writing, He spent His time working with people. He touched lives every day so they would write about His love and glory from their individual points of view. Then those people went out and touched lives, and those people touched lives; crossing borders and rivers and languages and oceans, spreading like a fire across the globe until millions learned the truth of God. Every kind of person has believed "...from every tribe and every nation, every language."

Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other." Believers in Christ are sharpened iron - sharp enough to cut through every lie about God and sharpen other people's faith.

So, you know your mission; you have your assignment - you're living it. Now, you must do as Christ would have done if He lived your life, because you are living for Him and not yourself.

Being Still - 4/26/06

2 Corinthians 12:8-10, "...take this problem away from me. But He said to me, 'My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.' ...when I am weak, then I am truly strong."

His grace is enough for me, too. Even though I can't see His plan for my life or where He's leading me right now, that shouldn't matter. I have His grace, meaning favor or good will. It also means mercy/clemency, and specifically the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.

His grace is enough for me. I know that He has plans for me, ".... plans to do good and not to harm me. Plans to give [me] hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11. I can sigh heavily in my discontent or pout, but really I should know that I am in His favor and that is enough. His grace is enough for me. Just like Psalms 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God."

"Be still and know that I am God."
"Be still and know that I am God."
"Be still and know that I am God."

That's what the scripture above means when it states that His power is made perfect in our weakness. We finally decide to be quiet and let God do His work. So often, it is only in our weakness that we rely on God, which is the opposite of how we're supposed to live. Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." We're supposed to lean on Him always so He can guide our paths, rather than make our own decisions and then look to Him for validation or supporting miracles. But, coming to Him in our weakness, humbling ourselves and relying on Him, opens the door for Him to work in our lives. That's how His power is made perfect in us -- we give Him complete control or our wills and our hearts.

There lies the greatest challenge. I had a conversation last night with the guys in my Bible study about what a mature Christian looks like. We decided that they've learned to live by faith, trusting in God and almost never questioning His will or purpose -- which makes me a toddler.

Basically, regardless of the circumstances we're facing or the uncertainty of the future, we must praise the God who has our best interests at heart and remember that no matter what, we serve Him, not the other way around. When we finally see the big picture, we'll understand how His path, while confusing from our point of view, was perfect in every way. Even when it leads us through challenges. I like the lyrics of this new song:

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen"and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear
You whisper through the rain"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God
Who gives and takes away

Chorus:
I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my sideA
nd though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear
You whisper through the rain"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God
Who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

"Praise You In This Storm" by Casting Crowns

True Wealth - 4/22/06

Hebrews 11:24-27, “It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be treated as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of the Messiah than to own the treasures of Egypt. He was not afraid of the king … he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.”

“The one who is invisible.” Moses wasn’t afraid of the wrath of the king, because he kept his eyes on the true king. He chose to serve the one true God rather than himself or the Gods of Egypt or the wealth and power he was raised under.

It says in this scripture that the pleasures of the sinful Egyptian culture were fleeting. Moses saw that it was better to suffer and seek the will of God; to be in God’s favor. He lowered himself to ensure that he was seeking the will of the one true king rather than his own. Not many of us would have the strength it takes to walk away from the easy life and submit our will to God’s every moment of every day.

To be treated as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter meant to enjoy all the wealth and privilege of Egypt. Moses decided to forsake all of that to become a slave. He left the courts of Pharaoh to bake in the brickworks with the slaves of Pharaoh’s monuments.

Jesus Christ did the same thing – He stepped down from His throne and the courts of heaven to join with His people in their slavery – slavery to sin and death.

Moses humbled himself before God, and He used Moses to deliver a nation. Jesus Christ humbled Himself to His father’s will, and God used Him to deliver all nations. Through Him, we’ve been delivered from sin’s bondage; it’s cycle of destruction. And, we’ve been delivered from the eternal power of death. We have still sinned, and will suffer the consequence of separation through the death of our physical bodies. But, we will not suffer the sting of eternal death, but will live forever by Christ’s sacrifice. He served His father’s will and freed us all to pursue holiness in this world and then enjoy life everlasting.

Moses showed us that when you do let God’s will reign over your own, great things will happen, and the Lord will further His kingdom. And at the end of all things when His glory is revealed to all mankind, we will be found standing on His side enjoying the ever-lasting joy and freedom He has freely given to us.

Waves of Doubt, or Strength? - 4/12/06

Matthew 14:29-31, "And Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. But when Peter saw the wind and the waves, he became afraid and began to sink. He shouted, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught Peter. Jesus said, 'Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?'"

Why did YOU doubt? Why did I doubt? How many different ways does God have to demonstrate His power and faithfulness before we can rely on Him? It's sad to think, but I don't know that I would have been any more successful than Peter was in this situation. Try to imagine it. A raging sea. Dark skies. Giant waves crashing all around you - and you're walking AWAY from the boat!

What Peter failed to focus on though, as any one of us could have, is what he was walking toward. The only begotten son of the Most High God was standing right there, ON the water. His presence was safer than the man-made boat Peter was walking away from.

I like the words of the song "Borrow Mine" by Bebo Norman describing this situation - and how we can approach similar situations in life.

Take my love
when all you can see
is the raging sea all around us
And don't give up
Because I'm not letting go
and the God we know will not fail us
We'll lay it all down as we call out
Sweet Savior, help our unbelief

The scripture says that if you ask anything in Jesus' name and do not doubt, it is yours. Doubt undermines our faith and tells God, "I don't really believe you can do this."
Doubt and faith - a constant struggle for us. Another great song, "Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns emphasizes this idea,

Oh what I would do to have
the kind of faith it takes to come out of the boat and then
on to the crashing waves
To step out of my comofort zone
into the realm of the unkown where Jesus is
and He's holding out His hand

You can analyze Peter's example to see how to combat doubt & fear. Why did Peter doubt? Read the scripture above, "...he saw the wind and waves, he became afraid and began to sink."

Peter let what he saw scare him away from what he knew. That's how the enemy prevents us from praying dynamically with the faith moves mountains. He knew Jesus could save him and cause him to walk on water. After all, He was standing there to prove it. But Peter focused on something else, letting those distractions steer his faith away from Jesus.

So that's how we can strengthen our own faith and prevent doubt and fear. Focus on Jesus. Remind yourself of previous times Jesus answered your prayers. Use answered prayers to ediy your faith, and quote scripture, the word of God that's referred to as the "sword." You can stab and cut at doubt with the word of God. You can use a model similar to this one: Jesus, you said that ________, so I believe you will do ________ here and now.

It's not easy. Melissa and I are reading the book Left To Tell by Immacullée Ilibagiza, a Rwandan survivor of genocide and a fellow believer. Her prayers and God's protection are the only things that kept her alive while over one million of her people were butchered in one of Africa's smallest countries. In one instance, she was praying against being discovered in her hiding place while thoughts of doubt and fear flooded her mind. She had an intense battle to fight, then a vision of Jesus (one of several) appeared to her and told her to have faith, noting that it wouldn't be easy. If it were easy to have enough faith to move mountains, there wouldn't be any still standing!

So, she chose to be strong and trust His word, and pray - relying completely on Him. Now, she's left to tell her story due to His protection that she prayed for in faith. Just as thousands of others have throughout history.

So, why do you doubt? Sure, you may drown at any moment, but Jesus Christ is with you...

Journey To The Rock - 4/8/06

Peter 2:4,6, & 8, "Come to the Lord Jesus, the 'stone' that lives. The people of this world did not want this stone, but He was the stone God chose, and He was precious. The scripture says, I will put a stone in the ground in Jerusalem. Everything will be built on this important and precious rock. Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disappointed. Also, He's a stone that causes people to stumble, a rock that makes them fall. They stumble because they do not obey what God says."

The analogy of the stone, or rock, surfaces so often in reference to God. It's a great way to describe the power and stability of our Lord. In this scripture from Peter (Peter's name means "rock" or "stone"), Jesus fulfills the prophecy from Isaiah. The one the Jewish people rejected was chosen to be the foundation of all. This same rock will stand strong against those who sin - causing the shaky ground on which they built their lives to crumble and forcing them to rebuild on the solid rock of Christ Jesus.

As Jesus explained to the Samaritan woman at the well, if you come to Him, the "stone that lives," as Peter puts it, your thirst will be permanently quenched. John 4:13, "Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty. The water I give will become a spring of water gushing up inside that person, giving eternal life."

There is a song that refers to Jesus as "a fount of living water." He can quench a thrist you don't even know you have. A thirst for truth. A thirst for love. A thirst for something real, at least one thing in your life that is permanent, unchanging, that has the strength of a rock. Deuteronomy 8:15, "He led you through the large and terrible desert that was dry and had no water, that had poisonous snakes and stinging insects. He gave you water from a solid rock..."

Moses struck a rock with his rod and a spring of water flowed from it in the desert for God's children. The teachings of Jesus - of love, forgiveness, and a relationship with God, work in the same way. They are a life-giving stream that flow from THE Rock.

The woman at the well met the Rock of Ages, and couldn't help but tell everyone that the Messiah was here. She wanted to share the life giving water flowing from the cornerstone of God's kingdom. John 4:42, "They said to the woman, 'First we believed in Jesus because of your speech, but now we believe because we heard Him ourselves. We know that this man really is the Savior of the world."

This woman shared the life giving water, and they believed. Their thirst was quenced because she shared what she knew to be true. Then, they believed after receiving life from the source. Psalm 73:27-28, "... But I am close to God, and that is good. The Lord God is my protection. I will tell all that you have done."

I will tell all that you have done so that others may taste the life-giving water that you receive when coming to the rock. Then they too can turn to the source of that water like the Samaritans did, so they may have a spring of water gushing up inside them - giving eternal life. Then we may never again thirst for true love, truth, and a quenching relationship with the savior.

April Showers...Elijah's Rain? Or God's Reign? - 4/5/06

Zechariah 10:1, “Ask the Lord for rain during the springtime rains. The Lord is the one who makes the clouds. He sends the showers and gives everyone green fields."

It has been rainy where I live the past few days. I keep thinking about the rhyme I learned as a kid, “April showers bring May flowers.” I can already see the results of that here – greenery returning to the rolling hills that surround this city.

When I read this verse in Zechariah, I felt the twinge that so often accompanies a verse that I feel God has led me to. Then I thought of the rain over the past few days. Wasn’t enough confirmation for me, though! I turned the page to look for a verse elsewhere. I soon turned back though, accidentally. That confirmed that God really wanted to speak to me through this verse tonight.

I thought about it, and I think this verse is awesome. “Ask the Lord for rain … the one who makes the clouds.” The One who makes the clouds! Go to the source! Right now it’s the season for springtime rains. If you’re not receiving what you need, if you are not experiencing blessings raining down in your life, then go directly to the One who made those things.

Let’s see … what else did God make? Oh, maybe … EVERYTHING? So, are we trying to make our own plans or provide for ourselves according to our own ability? Or, are we letting God truly reign in our lives, coming to Him with our petitions, cares, or concerns?

If you need a quenching rain in your life, let God reign in it first. Pray to Him, sincerely with faith, and give Him the glory when He answers that prayer. There is so much power in prayer. Believe me, God hears us when we pray. Elijah prayed for rain, and against it. God heard him. James 5:17-18, “Elijah was a human being just like us. He prayed that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years! Then Elijah prayed again, and the rain came down from the sky, and the land produced crops again.”

Elijah wasn’t a powerful being with supernatural powers, it says plainly right here that he was a human being just like us. Every one of us can see the power of God moving in our lives like this if we aren’t praying selfishly and are willing to give God the glory. But first, we have to pray.

Think of the fig tree Jesus cursed. One of my favorite stories, actually. Jesus was hungry and approached a fig tree for food, finding none growing there. He cursed the tree and it immediately dried up. It seems even inanimate objects should be prepared to serve the son of God and are subject to His judgment. Plus, when I’m hungry, I get crabby. I can use this as justification for being short with people when I haven’t eaten… just kidding.

It’s what Jesus said after cursing the tree that is really powerful. Matthew 21:21-22, “… I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to this tree and even more. If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer.”

I wrote a scripture like that one (Mark 11:24) on the top of each page of my prayer journal. When I’d ask for something in prayer, I’d read that, believe I received it, and wrote the prayer down with the date that I asked for it. When Jesus answered my prayer, I’d write that date on the other side of it.

After a few pages of answered prayers, I was humbled to think I could have ever doubted God’s power or involvement in my life. He loves us SO much He’d give us whatever we ask for!

Anyway, it’s raining outside right now. Did you pray for this? Or do you need to so that it will rain in your life? Well then, let Him reign…

How do these scriptures apply to your life? Are you in a season of rain or draught? Let me know!

________________________________________________________________________

First, Fruits,Then Blessings - 4/2/06

Malachi 1:2, “The Lord said, ‘I have loved you.’”

… I have loved you … That’s what God said to me on Thursday. My wife suggested that this evening I look into the book of Malachi. I opened to it, and the second verse of Malachi basically read itself to me; it was so clearly the focus of the page. And, it reiterated Thursday's message.

I know that the Lord has loved me. I can look throughout my life and count my blessings. He has indeed loved me. More than any blessing He has ever given me though, He died for me. His blood paid off my great debt. He said the greatest love a man can give to his friend is to die for them. So, He has loved us.

Should we not honor the greatest love then with the highest honor? How do we do that? Maybe through sacrifice? You could you say that He has honored His love for us through His sacrifice. He said He loved us. Then, He proved it - honored His word - in the biggest possible way - He gave up His life for His friends.

This was his Father’s idea, to bring about reconciliation between Man and God. Jesus honored His father as we’ve all been commanded to do by fulfilling the request to lay down His life in place of ours. His sacrifice was honor. “The Lord All-Powerful says, ‘A child honors his father, and a servant honors his master. I am a father, so why don’t you honor me? I am a master, so why don’t you respect me?’” Malachi 1:6.

The Jewish people offered sacrifices to honor God and to atone for the sin debt. Our debt has been paid by His ultimate sacrifice so blood is no longer required. So, we are left to honor God in another way. What then? We can sacrifice our wallets and our purses. Do you believe and trust God enough to actually give Him your money?

He’s asked for ten percent of what we bring in to be returned to the storehouse. Malachi 3:10, “Bring to the storehouse a full tenth of what you earn so there will be food in my house. Test me in this.’” Here you will find the only plce in the Bible where God asks US to test HIM. Plus, we still get to keep most of it – a full ninety percent.

What do the results of this test look like? The Lord of All Creation will protect your assets. If you’re using them to help further the kingdom, then why wouldn’t He protect them? “I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need. I will stop the insects so they won’t eat your crops. The grapes won’t fall from your vine before they’re ready to pick,” Malachi 3:10-11.

Most of us don’t plant crops. But we all spend our days planting and harvesting something. The Lord will place His protective hand over what you’re working on, so that it may bear fruit.

When it does, we must remember to offer to Him our firstfruits. The best of the crop. By His power and protection, they’re His anyway. Proverbs 3:9-10, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and the firstfruits from all your crops. Then your barns will be full, and your wine barrels will overflow with new wine.”

This is the heart of the message of the book of Malachi. The Lord took no honor in the half-hearted offerings, the second-rate sacrifices the people brought to Him. They weren’t firstfruits. They were leftovers. Blind sheep. Crippled calves. It was no sacrifice for the Israelites to sacrifice them. They saved the best for themselves. So, the Lord All Powerful said to them, “…You have robbed me in your offerings and the tenth of your crops. So a curse is on you…” Malachi 3:8-9. Don't steal from God! God! All-Powerful, remember?

All Powerful, and Loving. He has loved us with His sacrifice. We can return that love through action, demonstrate our faith in Him through works. He has told us to test him, and to honor Him. Why shouldn’t we show honor to the One who paid the greatest price? He alone is worthy of it. If we do, we’re blessed. If we don’t, we are stealing from the Lord God All Powerful. I wouldn’t steal from my wife, or a friend. Why should I consider stealing from the only one who has the ability to curse me for doing so?

Honor through our firstfruits - our tithe; a return on the Lord's investment of great love, and then blessings for us.

The choice is clear, so why not make it already? If you don’t believe it, test Him…

Confirmation - 3/30/06

Okay, so I just published the post below this one and loaded the page to make sure everything uploaded. The automated Verse of the Day on the right had the following scripture posted:

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

It's confirmation for me that this was really where God directed me in answer to my prayer to speak to me through His word tonight. This verse is from Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet who told of the coming Christ, the Messiah. Jesus' life - and death - was the fulfillment of that prophecy. His fulfilling that promise meant we didn't have to live by the law of Moses to be holy any longer; like the verse above states he was crushed for OUR iniquities. We can now live under his grace, washed clean in His sight by the power of his blood, the power of his love...

Law & Order - 3/30/06

There is a spiritual law at work in our lives that I don't quite understand. For reasons I cannot fathom, blood is spiritual currency; it can be traded for redemption. That’s why the Jewish people sacrificed animals, because our sin brings about death and blood can erase sin. But, only sinless blood. That makes every one of us broke.

There is one however who is not broke. Just one. The book of Revelation, the book that describes the end of all things, shows a moment in time where Heaven looks throughout all of history for one person worthy enough to open the scroll that brings about God’s final plan. Here, worthy meant "without any sin." No one was found, not one person ever. John, the author of the book, began to weep. An angel then told him, “Do not cry! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, David’s descendant, has won the victory so that He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals” Revelation 5:5.

Jesus is the powerful Lion of Judah he spoke of, the one who is not spiritually bankrupt. The victory spoken of here is obeying his Father and allowing himself to be killed. His blood was sinless, the only blood powerful enough. His was the only spiritual bank account big enough to cancel OUR debt – and He did it out of love for us. He resisted the urge to have legions of angels strike down his oppressors and instead let them shed his sinless blood on behalf of our sinful selves.

I opened my Bible tonight and began reading an excerpt in the margins from Six Hours One Friday by Max Lucado. It described the moment when the Father in Heaven cast my sin, our sin, onto Jesus and then allowed Him to be slain in our place.

“Hour of death, moment of sacrifice, it is your moment. Rehearsed a million times on false altars with false lambs; the moment of truth has come… The living must die so that the dying can live. The time has come to kill the lamb…”

The instant man first sinned, this was the only option remaining to bridge the divide sin caused between rebellious man and a perfect, holy God. And He followed through with it because He loves us each so much.

Immediately after reading that, I flipped over a chunk of pages. I know God was speaking to me directly through the words on the page (like I asked Him to before starting my devotion) because my eyes were already focused on the line that read, “I have loved you.” Yup. I know this to be true, and believed He was telling me this now through His word, but the English teacher in me became confused by the tense. What do you mean, “have loved?” That’s past tense. You don’t love me still?
Then I read the next line of the verse, “The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends.” ... I have loved you...

BAM! Yes, he has loved me because He died for me – past tense, thank you very much. And, whoah! He called me – us – His friends! John 15:12-17, “This is my command: Love each other as I have loved you. The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I heard from my father. You did not choose me; I chose you. And I give you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last. Then the father will give you anything you ask for in my name. This is my command: Love each other.”

We’ve been promoted here. From servant, to friend. We have been told His plan – by doing so He offered to us His friendship. We prove ours to Him by doing what He commands. We’re not slaves, we don’t have to. But if we obey His teachings, we’re friends with the most high God and if we work for Him we can have anything we ask for in Jesus’ name.

I think of my friends, and how I want them to get along with each other because I love them all. You probably feel the same way. Same with Jesus. We’re His friends and He wants us to love each other. Loving others is His command, which in some circumstances may in itself be work. But this is the work that bears fruit – fruit that lasts. Loving others enough to bring them into God’s presence so they may be touched by His love is hard work, and can be done in countless ways. But that work bears the fruit that will last forever.

Loving each other will restore order. Again, I don’t fully understand spiritual law, but I know blood has power in it and the most powerful blood has been shed for me and anyone else who will receive that gift. That’s the law that will bring about ultimate order through His loving sacrifice. Revelation 5:11-12, “Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne, and the four living creatures, and the elders. There were thousands and thousands of angels, saying in a loud voice: ‘The Lamb who was killed is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength, honor, glory, and praise!”

That’s my friend...

Is he yours?

Watch Where You're Steering ... 3/27/06

James 3:4-5, 7-12, “Also a ship is very big, and it is pushed by strong winds. But a very small rudder controls that big ship, making it go wherever the pilot wants. It is the same with the tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it brags about great things… People can tame every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have tamed them, but no one can tame the tongue…We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people whom God made like Himself. Praises and curses from the same mouth! …Do good and bad water flow from the same spring? …can a fig tree make olives, or can a grapevine make figs? No! And a well full of salty water cannot give good water.”

It’s strange to think that the tongue has so much power over our lives. But the more I think about it, the more clearly I see how our daily lives, our interactions with everybody, is based on language. What we say – or don’t say – determines how others see us and how we respond to the circumstances in our lives.

It’s also a convicting reminder that our tongue and what we allow to be said should be constant; always the same. Either be a spring of life, love, and truth untainted by sour words, or allow bitterness to speak for you without the façade of misleading wisdom.

If I’m frustrated at work or in a situation at home, I’m better off to bite my tongue than to lash out with a forked tongue and poisoned lips, causing damage; so that any words of truth I speak at other times may have impact by their own weight and not diluted by the sourness of what I speak on other occasions.

Plus, harsh words leave wounds that contradict the blessed love I’ve been given, the same love I’m commanded to pass along to others. Proverbs 12:18, “Careless words stab like a sword, but wise words bring healing.” I’d rather serve God as one who has healing words rather than carelessly creating wounds with a sword that God will have to heal in that person later on.

Even more, as a Christian my entire faith is weighed and measured by what I say. If I want to bring glory to my Father and truth to a non-Christian, I should be consistent in the words I speak to that effect. James 1:26, “People who think they are religious but say things they should not say are just fooling themselves. Their ‘religion’ is worth nothing.” Ouch! Spiteful words are just one thing that creates the stereotype of the Christian Hypocrite – an image used so often as an excuse not to believe in the truth of God's word. I’d rather be completely silent before allowing a personality conflict to demonstrate to another that my “religion” is worth nothing.

My tongue directs my life. I use it to praise my Father, that is what is in my heart and what I want to share and what is spoken from my mouth should reflect that. Luke 6:45, “Good people bring good things out of the good they stored in their hearts. But evil people bring evil things out of the evil they stored in their hearts. People speak the things that are in their hearts.” My God has been working in me my entire life to change my heart. I can do my part then to prevent cavalier comments from staining His good work…

Money Money Money ... (MONEY!) - 3/25/06

Ecclesiastes 5:10&11, “Whoever loves money will never have enough money; whoever loves wealth will not be satisfied with it. This also useless. The more wealth people have, the more friends they have to help spend it. So what do people really gain? They gain nothing except to look at their riches.”

I don’t really feel like I’m struggling with materialism at this point in my life, but I know I have in the past and there may be a point in the future when I’ll do so again. So, I’m going along with what I feel to be God’s direction here in His word today.

I came across this scripture almost immediately after opening my Bible. It used to be a favorite of mine — probably back when I first discovered my materialism, “He who loves money will never have money enough.” This from the wisest King ever to rule — and probably the wealthiest. I believe Solomon was speaking from wisdom AND experience here.

The line directly following this quote in the scripture explains a bit about why the lover of money never has enough, “whoever loves wealth will not be satisfied with it.” That’s because happiness isn’t found in wealth. Wealth is “useless,” as it says here. Happiness cannot come from things. Sure, you may have more friends with increased wealth, but they’re not the kind that bring happiness either, they’re the kind that help you spend money. Chances are when the money runs out, so will they.

A favorite quote of mine I heard a couple years ago goes, “If you can’t be happy without it, you won’t be happy with it.” If there is one thing you’re pining for — putting your hope for happiness into — you’ll see when you get it that it wasn’t what you really wanted or expected because such things cannot bring lasting satisfaction or happiness. Hope in Christ is the only lasting source of satisfaction and pure joy.

Yesterday I was listening to the “Spirit” SIRIUS radio station at work. Between songs, the DJ played a great quote that caught my attention, “Envy is counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.” If we focus our energy on serving God rather than ourselves, our needs will be met AND we’ll be rewarded. If we are good stewards of what we have been given, even more will be added to our lives, according to the parable in Matthew 25:14-30. I believe that applies to being good stewards of everything God has given us, not just money: our homes, the people in our lives, our bodies … we must demonstrate responsibility to our God before we’re blessed with increase.

To do so, we must constantly seek His will to truly serve Him and not ourselves. Remember, you cannot serve yourself and Him at the same time. “No one can serve two masters. The person will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches” Matthew 6:24.

I will then continue to try and serve God — something permanent — rather than the temporary possessions and lifestyles of this world.

Longing, Love, & Loyalty - 3/22/06

James 4:2-5, 7 & 10, “You do not get what you want, because you do not ask God. Or when you ask, you do no receive because the reason you ask is wrong. You want things so you can use them for your own pleasures. So, you are not loyal to God! You should know that loving the world is the same as hating God. Do you think the scripture means nothing that says, ‘The Spirit that God made to live in us wants us for himself alone?’

So give yourselves completely to God. Stand against the devil, and the devil will run from you. Come near to God, and God will come near to you. Don’t be too proud in the Lord’s presence, and He will make you great.”

There is so much truth here. James 4 is a great chapter. Here, we are reminded that we need only to ask and we shall receive what we need from our loving God. It's possible though that if we have asked and did not receive it's because the reason we asked is wrong. Are we asking Him to provide something that would help us to better serve Him? Or are we asking for something that will serve our own will and our own desires - or for our own plan in our lives rather than His? MY GOD IS NOT MY GENIE. I've had to remind myself of that several times. I serve Him, not the other way around. Yes, he has the power to give me anything, but won’t do so if that thing will replace God in my life.

Read the next part of the above scripture — if you ask of something for your own pleasure, you are not loyal to God. In fact, loyalty to the world makes us God’s enemy. Hmmm...that’s not really a position I want to be in. At some point, every Christian has to face his or her longing for worldly things, and power — absolute control over every aspect of our lives. This is one of the hardest things to give to God; control of our will.

The scripture above also quotes a line from Exodus, reminding us that God wants us for Himself alone. This is from the original Ten Commandments where God admits to being a jealous God. In fact, the very first commandment is to have no other Gods except Him, followed by the commandment to worship no idols. We worship Him and Him alone.

Check, and, check. I’ve never made a Golden Calf or a statue of a man with the head of a jackal. You can come over and check for yourself. Definitely never worshiped either of them.
Except … we can idolize and worship less obvious replacements of God. Fame. Money. Power. Money. Control. Success. Money. Good looks. Talent. Money. Control. These are the true American Idols, Simon.

Read the book of Hosea. He was an Old Testament prophet, and God commanded him to marry a prostitute, Gomer. He made her promise to stop doing her business and devote her love and loyalty to him. So she did. For awhile, then she started to go back to her old ways. Grounds for divorce, right? Nope. God commanded Hosea to take her back and ask her to re-commit herself to him. Whoah! Why? Because the Israelites — and we — have done the exact same thing to God. There is no other human experience that can explain the emotions God has when we replace Him with other things except infidelity. He feels cheated, and rightfully so.

I have been Gomer. I’ve let the devil tempt me in the past to seek out my own will or chase sin; to make my own selfish plans for my life and I know that it hurt God. But He took me back and would a thousand times over. The scripture in James clearly states that if we resist the devil and his temptations, he will flee from us. The One whose Holy Spirit lives within us has already defeated the devil so we need only to declare our allegiance to Jesus and that will chase him away. And if we come near to God, He will come near to us. So we can easily prevent any future "Gomerisms" by making an effort to draw near to God every day.

His love will never fail us, never end, and never give up. We’re human and make mistakes, but we’re forgiven before we even ask for it. That’s living under grace. What’s more, living for Him rather than ourselves will bring about greater blessings than anything we would have chosen for ourselves anyway. “Don’t be too proud in the Lord’s presence, and He will make you great.” Humble yourself enough to serve His will instead of your own, and He will take great joy in elevating you so all can see God’s power in your life. You will have great success and blessings so that He may receive the glory. Then, our longing will not be for material things, but only for Him and His Love, and He will have our Loyalty until that day when we get to be with Him and His other servants for eternity in His love, His peace.