To Serve - 10/5/2007

Luke 17:10, "It is the same with you. When you have done everything you are told to do, you should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done the work we should do.'"

We are called to serve God. In doing so, we are promised an unimaginable reward. A reward so great that its eternal glory cannot be described in a way that we could understand it. That is why it is written, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no one can know what God has in store" 1 Corinthians 2:9.

But, this scripture in Luke captures the heart of the servant. Yes, we are called to serve, but we do not do so for the reward; we do not serve and honor God because of what we can get out of it. If that were so, we would not be serving God, we would be serving ourselves.

Our relationship with God is not a business deal. We do not enter into an agreement to serve so we can collect our "paycheck," our reward for serving. Rather, we serve God because it's what we should do, as the scripture says.

It explains how servants are to work - they serve with no expectation for reward. Their attitude is to say, "we are unworthy servants; we have only done the work we should do." They do not expect to be invited to eat with their master. They are satisfied with being able to serve him instead.

Luckily, our Master, our Savior, our God Almighty is loving. We know that He will indeed invite us to His banquet table, after telling us, "Well done, my good and faithful servant ... come and share my joy with me" Matthew 25:21. We were created to serve Him, but we were also created to be in an intimate, loving relationship with Him.

We can serve Him selflessly with humble, dedicated hearts because we know that He is good. "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11. We know that His plan has our best interest at heart, even though we cannot see the whole picture or undersand why - until we look back and see ther perfection of His work.

Serve Him well. Obey Him. We are loved and will be rewarded, but remember that in the end, we are unworthy servants who have only done the work that they should do.

300 - 8/7/2007

We serve a mighty God. We serve a powerful God. We serve the one true God of wonder. He alone was worthy to atone for our sins, and He alone is worthy of our praise and worship. How do you honor God? How do you give Him the glory He deserves, for all He’s done in your life and all He’s done for everybody?

I recently saw the movie 300, a bloody tale of how a garrison of just 300 Spartan soldiers were able to hold back thousands of Persian soldiers from invading ancient Greece. This great accomplishment comes right out of the history books, though the movie itself is very “Hollywood.” My point is, the Spartans lived for glory on the battlefield, and for earning honor in battle.

Another popular movie that I love is Gladiator, in which the main character would often dispatch the soldiers (and then the gladiators) in his command with the words, “Strength and Honor.” In fact, I know men who were so inspired by this story that when parting, they will repeat to each other, “Strength and Honor.” Like the Spartans, these gladiators valued strength, honor, and glory.

But, I ask, whose strength? Whose honor? Whose glory?

Their own? Who were these people that the glory they earned on one battlefield should earn more attention than the Glory of God, which has been proven on countless battlefields? Why should their story captivate our thoughts above God’s glory? Of course movies are secular and will focus on 300 Greek soldiers and not on generations of God’s followers. But as Christians, we should make an effort to maintain our focus and be less impressed with the feats of man than we are with the miracles of God.

This morning as I was listening to the song, “Not to Us” by Chris Tomlin, with a chorus that repeats, “Not to us, but to Your name be the glory,” I was reminded of the story of Gideon in the book of Judges.

Gideon was a normal man, not trained as a warrior. God asked him to take 32,000 soldiers and conquer the Midianites. But God said to him in Judges 7:2, “…You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So 22,000 men left, while 10,000 remained.”

God wanted to reduce the number of Israel’s soldiers to put the odds in favor of the Midianites. This was the only sure way to prove that the victory in battle was because of God’s power, not the soldiers’. Then God told Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there” (7:4). While they were drinking, God told Gideon to separate the ones who drank from their hands from the soldiers who got down on their knees to drink. Three hundred soldiers drank from their hands, the rest who got down on their knees to drink were asked to leave.

That left 300 Israelite soldiers to conquer thousands of Midianites. Cue faith in God and glory for God, please.

The movie “300” focused on 300 Greek soldiers; the glory of so few defeating so many, while encouraging each other with ideas of their own honor and glory. The story of Gideon also used 300 soldiers to illustrate the glory of victory against all odds, but focused on just one person's strength – God’s. Those soldiers encouraged each other as they ran into battle by saying, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” That battle cry reminds me of the one that the Angel warriors use in Frank Peretti novels, “For the saints of God and for the Lamb!” Both battle cries give honor and glory to the only One who truly deserves it.

Now if we keep in mind that often the Lord’s army can be an army of one – you – then perhaps the challenges and battles in your life are no longer obstacles, they are in fact opportunities. They can be situations God has set up to maximize the glory He has earned in delivering you from them. It may be that, like Gideon’s army, God has orchestrated unfavorable conditions in your life to demonstrate His power when delivering you from them. So let Him. Be obedient, trust Him.

I know in these situations, I often find myself whining when I should be encouraged. I mope about circumstances not going my way when I should try to contain the excitement from waiting in anticipation to see what God’s going to do next. I should wait to see how God will "prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies." I should be reminded and inspired to put my faith in the One who is all powerful and the one who is my friend.

Glory to God in the highest!

God Strikes, Our Reward - 7/26/07

2 Chronicles 20:15 & 17, "...Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Go out and face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you."

The verse above is the response that the king Jehoshaphat received from a prophet in the crowd after he had prayed for God's help. Since the people attacking Judah were the result of obedience toward God rather than disobedience, the picture changed for the people of Judah. And so did the battle. "The battle is not yours, it's the Lord's." Johoshaphat prayed for protection against vast armies mounting an attack, and through the mouth of another that God sent him encouragement.

His prayer is a good model for one seeking protection or help from God. While praying, he brought to mind the fact that the armies approaching were from the lands God told Israel not to attack upon delivering them to the promised land. He humbled himself before God; not pointing his finger and saying, "This is your fault!" but rather, he stressed God's power and that the people did not know what to do, but they would still fix their eyes upon God. They relied totally upon God, trusting His power and favor to deliver them.

The people of Judah were told only to go out and face the oncoming armies. Not to get their weapons. Not to fortify their homes. They were asked to step out in faith, and to watch what the Lord would do. This reminds me of the verse in Isaiah that says, "No weapon formed against me shall prosper."

God used the weapons brought to destroy Judah against those who wielded them. They all slaughtered each other in the presence of the servants of the Lord. The battle truly was the Lord's, since the people of Judah didn't enter into the fight for a second. We see here that though Judah faced a great challenge as a result of their obedience, God protectd them and made sure they would not suffer for it. All they were asked to do was to step up and face their enemies while relying on the strength and promise of the Lord.

Following God does not mean we should fear a backlash from the enemy. If our obedience leads to a threatening situation, we can be sure God will deliver us from it - for that is an example of when the battle is not ours, but the Lord's. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!

The Waiting Room - 7/24/2007

1 Samuel 13:8-14, "He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. 9 So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
11 "What have you done?" asked Samuel. Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, 12 I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD's favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."
13 "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command."

I am in a waiting room right now, so to speak. I am waiting on the interviews and job offers to start at the beginning of August. Teaching is a seasonal job, and consequently so is the hiring. Anxiety has set in, and I've found myself planning an imaginary move to nearby cities to "set up shop" and create the illusion of progress for myself. Although, I have pending applictions in several cities and the one I choose to move to doesn't necessarily mean that's the city in which I will be hired. Only God knows which one that is.

Waiting on God is an important part of following God. We may look around, as Saul's soldiers did, and feel anxious - pressuring ourselves into making a move. But if we move on our own timing instead of His, we probably will miss out on the incredible blessing He's arranging behind the scenes. God is perfect, so is His timing. We are imperfect, and so is our timing.

I have been reading the book Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets off and on. Today I picked it up, and the author alluded to this part of 1 Samuel to emphasize the importance of waiting on God. God, through the prophet Samuel, commanded Saul to wait for Samuel's arrival before making an offering, winning the Lord's favor before battle.

Saul was the king of Israel, and he saw that the men in his command had become anxious. Instead of doing as he was told, ceding his authority to God's, he took it upon himself to make the offering and rally the men for battle. Samuel described this as a foolish act. It showed a rebellious streak in the king's heart; a refusal to wait on God's timing. The consequence: God replaced him with David, "a man after God's own heart."

I must continue to wait on God. He has a job lined up for me, this I know. He's made this clear. I would rather be known as a man after God's own heart than one who is known to make a foolish act in a panic. So I wait. There's no reason not to - He's provided me with everything I need in the interim, and then some. Everything, that is, except the patience to wait. No, He's only provided the opportunity to use patience. So I will. I will patiently wait, because I love God and can trust Him. And I'm thankful that God used this scripture today to remind me of the bigger picture and set my focus back on Him. God's so cool!

A Change in Perspective. - 7/13/07

Genesis 18:13-14, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."

Is anything too hard for the Lord? Certainly not. Is anything too hard for me? Of course. And through whose point of view do I see the world? Too often, my own. But, through whose point of view should I see the world?

If I look at life and my own situation in comparison to the control I have over it, discouragement could easily follow. I could examine my ongoing job search and my dependent living situation and get frustrated because so much of it is beyond my control. Junior High teaching jobs are strangely hard to find in Washington right now.

But, "Our hope is in the Lord." Like the verse above from Genesis asks, is anything too hard for the Lord? When I look at my life from His point of view, everything is simplified.

• Of course I'll get a job. God told me to leave Belize and move to Western Washington.
• Of course my family will heal, because Mark 11:24 states, "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours."
• Of course my neice will be taken care of when she moves to Montana. She has trusted her life to God and Luke 12:31 says if we seek His kingdom FIRST, everything else will be added to us ... by His power and authority though, not our own.

Is anything too hard for the Lord? Is anything too hard for the Creator of Heaven, the Maker of the Earth? No. We have only to wait on His perfect timing and trust that He means what He says. He's already proven that.

So now, I continue to wait. I continue to hope. I can relax, enjoy a cup of coffee, and know that I am taken care of. As a Christ follower, hope is something I am blessed with and a source of so much joy. I praise you Jesus for blessing me and guiding me here for a life I know you've prepared for me ahead of time.

Useful Pottery - 2/15/07

Jeremiah 18:4-6, “But the pot He was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him…’Can I not do the same with you as the potter does?’ declares the Lord. ‘Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand.’”

I love this verse and think about it often. I came across it in my Bible today as the song, The Potter’s Hand by Hillsongs played in the background. I turned the page, and in the scripture there, God again used a clay pot as an analogy for Jeremiah. Three clay pot references. So, I decided to think on this a bit and figure out what God was saying to me.

This verse says that the clay was “marred in his hands.” If God is the potter, and we are the clay, then that is very true. We are born from sinful flesh – we all start out as marred clay. We cannot shape ourselves, so we have two choices. We can sit in a lumpy pile and let our lives remain self-absorbed and sinful. Or, we can bring our sloppy, mess of a life to our loving Father, who makes all things new. "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).

Once we’re transformed, we take on the shape He decided on; our lives look like His design rather than what we would have chosen for ourselves. Though we may have had a different mental picture for our lives, we should still trust Him fearlessly. We already know what it looks like when we make the decisions - and it's never as good as when we allow Him to gently guide us. That’s the hardest part of being a Christian – yielding my will to God’s and allowing Him to call the shots.

I should remember that a vessel shaped by a potter; it is not my job to tell Him what I should look like or what my role should be. That's the other thing - my purpose is not meaningless; I was created for something specific, just as a clay pot is created for a specific reason. Though it may look pretty sitting on the shelf, that was not its intended function.

The shape God gives our lives is uniquely suited for the role he has us play. A bowl is different from a pitcher which is different from a pot. I shouldn’t be discouraged if my life doesn’t look like someone else’s; if my shape is drastically different from those around me. That just means he has a drastically different plan for me.

That also means I have no right to question what my Father – the potter – fills his vessel with. How absurd would it be for a cup to come to the potter and insist on holding oil rather than tea? “I made you, you silly cup! Hold what I ask you to hold because you can’t see what I’m doing here. You can’t see the table I’m setting. Trust me, and I promise I’ll take care of you.” He’s proven time and again that He is good. He is powerful. He is loving, and He has plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future.

“I’m captured by
Your holy presence
Set me apart, I know you’re drawing me to yourself
Make me more like You

Take me, and mold me
Use me, fill me
I give my life to the Potter’s Hands”

Dawn of the New Year - 1/7/07

So here it is, five months after my last blog entry - on this blog. So much has happened; God has changed my life so dramatically and worked so incredibly on aspects of my character that I didn't even know needed to be addressed. Our time in Belize has been incomparable to anything I've ever experienced. In a nutshell, these are the biggest things I've learned or that have changed while living in Central America:

• All I really need is God. Not friends. Not my family (though I desperately want them in my life). Not an internet connection. Not affordable food. Not any of the comforts of living in the U.S., just God. Only God. God, God, God. We all know it; many of us say it, but to be shown that it is true causes deep, personal growth.
  
• I had an unhealthy attachment to the area I lived in because of the history I have there. The land was directly tied to the memory of my mother, as were several of the posessions I had that she had given me. Selling those and leaving that place to move to C.A. changed me forever and freed me from being bound to certain aspects of my grief.
• Melissa and I have grown so much closer. We moved so far away from friends and family that we couldn't help but grow together - all we have to lean on is God and each other. He has truly strengthened our marriage and given us a solid foundation to build the rest of our lives together.
  
• I don't have to be alone to have an encounter with God. I used to think that the only way I could have meaningful God time was to isolate myself from everything. While this is still true to an extent, God has shown me how I can still find Him anywhere; everywhere if I look carefully. Five months of living in a fish bowl and never being alone taught me how to see God in all things.

And perhaps one of the biggest things I learned while teaching in a private school in Central America is that Christian Americans are terrified to talk about their faith around non-believers. The culture I am surrounded by is based on Christian faith, and sometimes I'm taken aback at how frankly people talk about God's undeniable truths. I will hear something that even I, as a Christian, may take offense at. But, that generally only happens when it is a Christian value that is not sensitive to other spiritual points of view. It's not what you would call "politically correct." There is an incredibly vocal group of non-believers that has everyone walking on eggshells. Christians hesitate to say the very name of Jesus in public to avoid offending a follower of any other faith or "disrespecting the rights" of an atheist.

When I look at how I lived back home (and how so many other Christians do as well), I am ashamed. We are commanded to freely spread the gospel to everybody. Who am I to decide it shouldn't be heard by an outspoken atheist? Why should I be afraid to boldly declare God's truth to everybody, regardless of how they may see me? After all, they boldy speak their mind! So what if people in the historical church gave Christianity a bad reputation? That's what people do; we're flawed. "Mistakes were made." But God's character is flawless and He's the one I follow.

I am reminded of John 15:19, "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." The message of the cross offends non-believers. Plain and simple. Being a Christian means that you will not get along with everybody, but you should still try to. Frankly, if we are not offending people with our faith, chances are we are not being bold enough with it. Chances are, we are allowing ourselves to water down what we say we believe in the presence of non-believers to avoid causing any offense. Most likely, we are not letting God use us as a torch to set the hearts of our loved ones on fire because we're afraid of getting into an argument on theology.

That's not necessary! We have only to present the truth as we know it and let the Holy Spirit do His job in the heart of the listener. And if they don't receive the message, tragic as that is, we've done our part. On that Glorious day, God can point back to that moment as an example of His trying to win another heart over; He will be glorified through our work. Keep in mind, too, that many Christians represent some of the previously most hard-hearted atheists ever. But, God can soften any heart. In fact, He probably wants to use me to do just that, if I let Him...

There are a million other things God has shown me through this incredible experience. Whether or not we stay in Belize, this year has been life-changing. I am blessed not only by what He has done in my life, but also where and how He did it. Praise His holy name! Jesus Christ is the sovereign Lord of all, and I thank you Lord for the miracles you've worked in my life. I'll tell you later about how He healed my tooth!

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.