Life brings some interesting and stressful events across our paths. Paul writes: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered…we were under great pressure far beyond our ability to endure…But this happened that we might now rely upon ourselves but on God…”(2 Corinthians 1:8-11)
We face great stress, pressure and anxiety at times. At times we even feel like we are dying inside. Is there any purpose for these hard times? It just might be that God is telling us to stop relying upon ourselves, to stop trusting in our abilities, and to stop seeking our desires.
We must rely upon God “who raises the dead.” Perhaps we are dying inside—not physically but in our dependence upon us. We are realizing these events are beyond our coping skills. God has brought us to this place to kill out our self-reliance. Self-reliance dies a very stubborn death. It goes kicking and screaming. We think, “I’m supposed to be able to handle these events” – The truth is NO I’M NOT! Only God can handle these events and we desperately need him.
We must totally rely upon God to handle life. We must let go of our self reliance and discover the joy, power, peace and strength of God-reliance.
The question is not only can I trust God, but will I?
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Life, as it is meant to be
It seems to me that as Christians we concern ourselves with the exterior expressions of our Christian life more than the interior changes and growth. The exterior is easier to discern. We have become performance oriented rather than heart oriented. But I think the heart is more important. True spiritual development must focus on the inner life. When we get the inner life right the outer life will follow.
Jesus came to change our hearts not just to change our behavior. We think that Jesus came to make us good, but he came to make us alive! We were dead in our trespasses and sins but are made alive in Jesus.
If Jesus is going to make us alive then we must make the journey through our hearts. We struggle in this. If we chose to make this journey with him we discover coldness, lusts, wrong desires, bad attitudes, sorrows and deadness within our hearts. We learn that we have living our lives out of these things rather than out of Jesus.
If we decide to really life the life of Jesus then we place all of our lives before him, walk through these wastelands of the heart and submit to the painful spiritual surgery of their cleansing. Now we really begin to live our lives as Jesus intends. We live out of his heart, walk in his love, display his peace and celebrate the joy of the Lord as it becomes our strength.
Jesus came to change our hearts not just to change our behavior. We think that Jesus came to make us good, but he came to make us alive! We were dead in our trespasses and sins but are made alive in Jesus.
If Jesus is going to make us alive then we must make the journey through our hearts. We struggle in this. If we chose to make this journey with him we discover coldness, lusts, wrong desires, bad attitudes, sorrows and deadness within our hearts. We learn that we have living our lives out of these things rather than out of Jesus.
If we decide to really life the life of Jesus then we place all of our lives before him, walk through these wastelands of the heart and submit to the painful spiritual surgery of their cleansing. Now we really begin to live our lives as Jesus intends. We live out of his heart, walk in his love, display his peace and celebrate the joy of the Lord as it becomes our strength.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Divine Calligraphy
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” Reading this can make us stop and think: trouble results in glory! Our moments involve eternity!
Many walk through a deep valley. It can be dark, trying and empty. In the midst of that valley we stop and wonder what God is doing. Why does He lead us into these hard and trying places?
In the hard times we must open our hearts fully to God. Then he can write on our hearts his Word. Our spirits are the paper, our struggles, joys and actions are the ink, the Holy Spirit is the Author who writes, YET what is written is in letters that belong to another world—Heaven. The Spirit communicates God’s truth to our hearts in these hard times. He writes there things that we struggle to understand, yet, from His perspective, so beautiful and wonderful and full of God. The value of what is written comes as we open our hearts fully to God and allow the Heavenly translator of this Heaven language reveal to us the power of God’s truth.
When we do not understand what is happening. It is a call to stop, turn our hearts toward God and allow the Spirit to reveal the beauty of what is being written in our lives. This is growth and maturity. This is life, real life, abundant life, eternal life—the life of Jesus.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Sacrifically Whining
Paul writes in Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.” NIV
We do not like the word, “sacrifice.” This has a very deadly, bloody picture attached to it. It is not pretty nor easy. We are set to ask ourselves, “What have I really sacrificed for Jesus?” I could list time, money and life, what I have truly given to Him? Just stopping and thinking about this makes us either uneasy or proud, depending on what we think as we see our sacrifices.
Cyril of Alexander writes: “Never forget that what gives value to a sacrifice is not the renouncement it demands, but the degree of love which inspires the renouncement.” Putting all of this together made me ask myself, “Have I given up to God what I have out of love for him or out of simple obedience?” I realize that if I sacrifice out of love then I would do it willingly without complaining. If I sacrifice out of obedience only, then I might whine, complain and be tempted to give grudgingly.
Jesus demonstrated his deep love for us in his passionately giving of his life on the Cross. Brennan Manning writes: “The root of ‘passion’ is the Latin ‘passere, to ‘suffer.’ The passion of Jesus…is the voluntary laying oneself open to another and allowing oneself to be intimately affected by him, that is to say the suffering of passionate love.” (Abba’s Child; page 165)
The real value of our sacrifice for Jesus comes as we take our eyes off of us. I must stop focusing on my feelings and my desires and my life. I fix my eyes on Jesus.
When I look upon Jesus I see the holes in his hands and side. They remind me of His agony, His suffering and His sacrifice. When I look at Jesus I see the crown of thorns on his head. He was mocked and ridiculed. Why should I fear what others might think or say? When I look at Jesus I look into his eyes – joy and pain – peace and problems – love and judgment – His eyes pierce me to the heart. All is laid bare in His gaze. I can give as he gave, sacrificially because I stand amazed in his presence, focus on his love and live the life that models his.
We do not like the word, “sacrifice.” This has a very deadly, bloody picture attached to it. It is not pretty nor easy. We are set to ask ourselves, “What have I really sacrificed for Jesus?” I could list time, money and life, what I have truly given to Him? Just stopping and thinking about this makes us either uneasy or proud, depending on what we think as we see our sacrifices.
Cyril of Alexander writes: “Never forget that what gives value to a sacrifice is not the renouncement it demands, but the degree of love which inspires the renouncement.” Putting all of this together made me ask myself, “Have I given up to God what I have out of love for him or out of simple obedience?” I realize that if I sacrifice out of love then I would do it willingly without complaining. If I sacrifice out of obedience only, then I might whine, complain and be tempted to give grudgingly.
Jesus demonstrated his deep love for us in his passionately giving of his life on the Cross. Brennan Manning writes: “The root of ‘passion’ is the Latin ‘passere, to ‘suffer.’ The passion of Jesus…is the voluntary laying oneself open to another and allowing oneself to be intimately affected by him, that is to say the suffering of passionate love.” (Abba’s Child; page 165)
The real value of our sacrifice for Jesus comes as we take our eyes off of us. I must stop focusing on my feelings and my desires and my life. I fix my eyes on Jesus.
When I look upon Jesus I see the holes in his hands and side. They remind me of His agony, His suffering and His sacrifice. When I look at Jesus I see the crown of thorns on his head. He was mocked and ridiculed. Why should I fear what others might think or say? When I look at Jesus I look into his eyes – joy and pain – peace and problems – love and judgment – His eyes pierce me to the heart. All is laid bare in His gaze. I can give as he gave, sacrificially because I stand amazed in his presence, focus on his love and live the life that models his.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The Church Lately
I have been considering the church lately. I wonder why so many people find reasons to avoid it and simply drop out. I know that we struggle with our natures that tend to resist the spiritual side of life. Yet, God continues to pierce my heart telling me that there is more to it than just that.
I am reading a book titled: “Quitting Church.” It seems that there are many millions Americans who are opting out of church yet they chose to continue their own private time with God. They read their Bible, pray, even share their faith. Yet, they have given up on the church. Why?
These people see the lack of God in most churches. So many churches are dysfunctional. People are tired of church fights and church scandals. People are weary of clergy who are too controlling and demanding. It would appear that many churches have made the Bible irrelevant to many believers. There are hurting and struggling individuals who need the care, grace and compassion of God’s people but who end up getting judged, criticized and ignored.
All of this begs the questions: “Is this so? And if it is so, what should concerned followers of Jesus do about it?”
As a pastor I have felt firsthand the jabs of those within the church who demand their own way. I have experienced the heartache of being attacked and criticized for trying to walk the journey God has me on, when others do not understand and feel threatened by it. I wonder where we were lead astray. Why has the will of US overrun the will of God?
Perhaps we have become followers of a Christian culture that has grown within our society more than we have been followers of Jesus. We have so many books, so many different Bibles, so many Christian knick knacks that we have become disoriented to stepping in the footsteps of the One showed us that the way to live was to die.
I know the power of the grace and love of God. I have experienced his presence and his burden for his children. I have seen some of his children serve him so that those who are struggling might see his love in them. For all the misdirected things that are happening in the church there are others who are truly working to make a difference. They are the faithful followers of Jesus.
Church, let us fix our eyes on Jesus and not the Christian culture around us. Let us imitate the life, the heart and spirit of Jesus. Jesus only displayed anger at the religious elite who made converts who became “twice as much the sons of hell as they were.” Jesus displayed compassion, care and kindness to those who needed God the most: the prostitutes, drunks, lepers and outcasts of his world. Should we not do the same? Then those looking at his church will say, “Now that’s the Jesus I could follow!”
I am reading a book titled: “Quitting Church.” It seems that there are many millions Americans who are opting out of church yet they chose to continue their own private time with God. They read their Bible, pray, even share their faith. Yet, they have given up on the church. Why?
These people see the lack of God in most churches. So many churches are dysfunctional. People are tired of church fights and church scandals. People are weary of clergy who are too controlling and demanding. It would appear that many churches have made the Bible irrelevant to many believers. There are hurting and struggling individuals who need the care, grace and compassion of God’s people but who end up getting judged, criticized and ignored.
All of this begs the questions: “Is this so? And if it is so, what should concerned followers of Jesus do about it?”
As a pastor I have felt firsthand the jabs of those within the church who demand their own way. I have experienced the heartache of being attacked and criticized for trying to walk the journey God has me on, when others do not understand and feel threatened by it. I wonder where we were lead astray. Why has the will of US overrun the will of God?
Perhaps we have become followers of a Christian culture that has grown within our society more than we have been followers of Jesus. We have so many books, so many different Bibles, so many Christian knick knacks that we have become disoriented to stepping in the footsteps of the One showed us that the way to live was to die.
I know the power of the grace and love of God. I have experienced his presence and his burden for his children. I have seen some of his children serve him so that those who are struggling might see his love in them. For all the misdirected things that are happening in the church there are others who are truly working to make a difference. They are the faithful followers of Jesus.
Church, let us fix our eyes on Jesus and not the Christian culture around us. Let us imitate the life, the heart and spirit of Jesus. Jesus only displayed anger at the religious elite who made converts who became “twice as much the sons of hell as they were.” Jesus displayed compassion, care and kindness to those who needed God the most: the prostitutes, drunks, lepers and outcasts of his world. Should we not do the same? Then those looking at his church will say, “Now that’s the Jesus I could follow!”
Monday, June 01, 2009
Tongue Tied
In Proverbs 10:19-20 we read “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. NIV
St. Benedict wrote: “…where your tongue goes, the heart follows. If you curse others, your life will be cursed. If you bless others your life will be blessed.”
Do we ever stop to listen, really listen to the words that come out of our mouths? Do we really listen to the manner in which they are spoken? Jesus told us that we can kill with our words. "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Matthew 5:21-22 NIV
How often have we “killed” a heart, a soul, a life because of the words we have said about someone or to someone?
Poem Entitled: "Thou Shall not Kill"
Yesterday I killed my son's joy,
In the victory of his team,
I complained about his dirty clothes
And that ripped seam.
The day before I killed my daughter's prides
In the dress she had made,
I pointed out its faults,
Then added my faint praise.
One day I killed a friendship
And affection turned to hate,
I misunderstood her motive,
Until it was too late.
Today I killed my husband's love,
Not with a mighty blow.
It died bit by bit;
Year by year-so slow.
First I robbed him of his pleasures,
In those simple satisfactions
Oh, he had no self-confidence
And few worthwhile ambitions
I wounded him with cruel jibes,
When others too might hear,
I thought his wince of pain,
Was just unmanly fear.
Tonight I saw the light of love,
Die slowly in his look.
When he reached toward me his hand,
But I picked up my book.
God restore to me this man,
And teach me to love and understand.
St. Benedict wrote: “…where your tongue goes, the heart follows. If you curse others, your life will be cursed. If you bless others your life will be blessed.”
Do we ever stop to listen, really listen to the words that come out of our mouths? Do we really listen to the manner in which they are spoken? Jesus told us that we can kill with our words. "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Matthew 5:21-22 NIV
How often have we “killed” a heart, a soul, a life because of the words we have said about someone or to someone?
Poem Entitled: "Thou Shall not Kill"
Yesterday I killed my son's joy,
In the victory of his team,
I complained about his dirty clothes
And that ripped seam.
The day before I killed my daughter's prides
In the dress she had made,
I pointed out its faults,
Then added my faint praise.
One day I killed a friendship
And affection turned to hate,
I misunderstood her motive,
Until it was too late.
Today I killed my husband's love,
Not with a mighty blow.
It died bit by bit;
Year by year-so slow.
First I robbed him of his pleasures,
In those simple satisfactions
Oh, he had no self-confidence
And few worthwhile ambitions
I wounded him with cruel jibes,
When others too might hear,
I thought his wince of pain,
Was just unmanly fear.
Tonight I saw the light of love,
Die slowly in his look.
When he reached toward me his hand,
But I picked up my book.
God restore to me this man,
And teach me to love and understand.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Miraculous Moments
In Number 13 and 14 we read that the people of God came to the very edge of the promise of God. There they stood ready to grasp the blessing He had promised them. Then, they discovered something. Giants stood in their way. They questioned, they shook with fear, and they wept and decided to turn back. Why? They believed that the giants were bigger than God.
What about us? We follow God’s direction. We have walked through some hard times. We know that he has promised us a blessing. THEN – GIANTS!
What will we do? How will we react? Faith is refusing to grumble against God because there are giants in the place he is leading you to. When faced with a problem will we lose faith in God? Or will we see the obstacle as an opportunity?
The miracles of God can take place when we run out of our own abilities. The miracles of God occur in the situations that we cannot handle. The miracles of God take place when we are faced with our own frailties. God often leads us to places where there are giants to show us how awesome and great our God really is.
The miracles happen when we step out of the safety of our boat to walk in the storm with Jesus. They happen when we bring our five loaves and two fish to a multitude. Miracles occur when we can do nothing but cry out, “Lord, Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!” Miracles occur when the brother has died and Jesus is late arriving. Miracles occur when He has been in the grave three days.
What giants are you facing? What weaknesses are you discovering? What miracle is God waiting to show you in the midst of it all
What about us? We follow God’s direction. We have walked through some hard times. We know that he has promised us a blessing. THEN – GIANTS!
What will we do? How will we react? Faith is refusing to grumble against God because there are giants in the place he is leading you to. When faced with a problem will we lose faith in God? Or will we see the obstacle as an opportunity?
The miracles of God can take place when we run out of our own abilities. The miracles of God occur in the situations that we cannot handle. The miracles of God take place when we are faced with our own frailties. God often leads us to places where there are giants to show us how awesome and great our God really is.
The miracles happen when we step out of the safety of our boat to walk in the storm with Jesus. They happen when we bring our five loaves and two fish to a multitude. Miracles occur when we can do nothing but cry out, “Lord, Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!” Miracles occur when the brother has died and Jesus is late arriving. Miracles occur when He has been in the grave three days.
What giants are you facing? What weaknesses are you discovering? What miracle is God waiting to show you in the midst of it all
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Deceitful Hearts
Jeremiah tells us : “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” NIV (Jeremiah 17:9)
How many times do we struggle with our hearts? There are things that clutter them—life’s hurts and pains; people’s opinions of us; and even our own thoughts about ourselves. Our hearts seem to be tossed whichever way the wind is blowing at the time.
God’s heart resides within those who are followers of Jesus. His heart is steady and true. When we attempt to “listen” to his heart we discover that these emotions and habits of our hearts can block out the voice of God’s heart within us. There is so much “”noise” in our hearts. We must learn how to tune it out so that we can tune into God’s heart.
God seeks to teach us all to listen. One day I sat on a hill and God spoke to my heart and said, “Listen.” I heard several different birds, a squirrel running though dry leaves, a cricket, a frog, a jet and some people talking. I had tuned out the “noise” of my heart and tuned into God’s world. God told me that I can do this anytime I decide to. I can also tune into his heart anytime. I can learn to tune out all the clutter of my heart and tune into God’s heart that is in the midst of the clutter.
We need to ask God to forgive us for “tuning” into people, life’s pains and our own concepts of us and forgetting that our hearts are deceitful. We must not take anything or anyone, including our selves, more seriously than Jesus!
I wonder what would happen if we took God seriously, tuned out the noise of our hearts and tuned into His?
How many times do we struggle with our hearts? There are things that clutter them—life’s hurts and pains; people’s opinions of us; and even our own thoughts about ourselves. Our hearts seem to be tossed whichever way the wind is blowing at the time.
God’s heart resides within those who are followers of Jesus. His heart is steady and true. When we attempt to “listen” to his heart we discover that these emotions and habits of our hearts can block out the voice of God’s heart within us. There is so much “”noise” in our hearts. We must learn how to tune it out so that we can tune into God’s heart.
God seeks to teach us all to listen. One day I sat on a hill and God spoke to my heart and said, “Listen.” I heard several different birds, a squirrel running though dry leaves, a cricket, a frog, a jet and some people talking. I had tuned out the “noise” of my heart and tuned into God’s world. God told me that I can do this anytime I decide to. I can also tune into his heart anytime. I can learn to tune out all the clutter of my heart and tune into God’s heart that is in the midst of the clutter.
We need to ask God to forgive us for “tuning” into people, life’s pains and our own concepts of us and forgetting that our hearts are deceitful. We must not take anything or anyone, including our selves, more seriously than Jesus!
I wonder what would happen if we took God seriously, tuned out the noise of our hearts and tuned into His?
Monday, April 20, 2009
Persistent Overcomers
There is a man from Israel who shared about struggling to settle in that war torn land. He said that he had to replace his windshield seven times in the last three years. He was wounded in his leg by a bullet and hit in the face with a rock. Yet he said, "Everyday for each person killed we bring two new children into the world. For every field burned we plant two more. This is exciting. This is part of the challenge of life."
He is helping to build the nation of Israel. What about us Christians? We are helping to build the Kingdom of our Father. Are we willing to endure the struggle of sharing and living out our faith? 2 Tim 2:3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. NIV
In fact we can do more than just endure, we can really thrive because of our faith and trust in Jesus. Through Him we are overcomers! 1 John 5:4-5 This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. NIV
He is helping to build the nation of Israel. What about us Christians? We are helping to build the Kingdom of our Father. Are we willing to endure the struggle of sharing and living out our faith? 2 Tim 2:3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. NIV
In fact we can do more than just endure, we can really thrive because of our faith and trust in Jesus. Through Him we are overcomers! 1 John 5:4-5 This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. NIV
Monday, April 06, 2009
Our Journey to the Cross
Those of us who follow the Man from Galilee understand that it is a journey. A journey that begins with Jesus seeking us where we are to following Him down the roads of our lives. Somehow we think that following him should be easy, simple and effortless. But it isn’t. This journey of following Jesus is a day by day, moment by moment and step by step progression of walking with him to and through the cross.
For the Christian life is always a journey toward the Cross. Each step toward the Cross of Jesus is a step away from self-centeredness, a step away from being self-focused to a life of freedom, peace and fruitfulness. Each step becomes a deliberate choice to stop seeking what I want, to stop focusing on my feelings and to center my walk and feelings on the One who hung on the Cross.
We discover in the death and resurrection of Jesus our own dying and rebirth to the life God has called us to. It is the Cross that frees us from the power of the world, the flesh and the devil and raises us to life in the Way and the Truth and Life of Jesus. Life is now a journey of becoming – becoming fully alive to God, life and ourselves. It is the life we were created to enjoy. It is the life that delivers us from evil and takes us into the joy, peace, love and power of the One who gave his life that we might find it.
It is what Easter is all about!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Lost Followers
Have we as followers of Jesus lost our way? What is the focus of our Christian faith?
We believe that the Christian life is somehow about defending our faith and attacking those who do not believe like we do.
We have become confrontive rather than compassionate. We confront those that think differently than we do. We attack their character and their lives. Jesus calls us to compassion. We are called to care for them. Jesus’ compassion will lead them closer to his Father more than confrontation will.
We want to argue people over to our point of view rather than love them over to God’s point of view. Somehow we think if we just had the right word to show them how wrong they are or to “prove” to them how right we are then we could “convert” them. Yet, we must realize that conversion comes not from the right argument but from the right LOVE – Jesus’ love, dying for them showing them the heart of God.
We have a passionate protest –ant theology rather than a passion from our Savior which fills our hearts and flows out of our lives to those who need him.
Jesus is the Way – to live, to love and to lead people into the heart of his Father who passionately loves them.
We believe that the Christian life is somehow about defending our faith and attacking those who do not believe like we do.
We have become confrontive rather than compassionate. We confront those that think differently than we do. We attack their character and their lives. Jesus calls us to compassion. We are called to care for them. Jesus’ compassion will lead them closer to his Father more than confrontation will.
We want to argue people over to our point of view rather than love them over to God’s point of view. Somehow we think if we just had the right word to show them how wrong they are or to “prove” to them how right we are then we could “convert” them. Yet, we must realize that conversion comes not from the right argument but from the right LOVE – Jesus’ love, dying for them showing them the heart of God.
We have a passionate protest –ant theology rather than a passion from our Savior which fills our hearts and flows out of our lives to those who need him.
Jesus is the Way – to live, to love and to lead people into the heart of his Father who passionately loves them.
Monday, February 23, 2009
It's easy to be hard
Following God is never easy nor without its temptations to turn away from the straight and narrow path. I was reading about the prophet Balaam. When men came from king Balak asking him to come and curse the Israelites, he went to seek God’s direction. God told him, “No, do not go with them.” So he refused. Balak sent men of great importance to pressure Balaam to come. Knowing what God had said, Balaam still went to ask God about going with them. If you know the rest of the story, Balaam was almost killed by an angel and ended up listening to his donkey in order to get the message from God.
How many times do we stop to consider other things when we know that God has already spoken to us about. We know what we should do or where God wants us to go. Yet, we often seek the easier path. Jesus called it the broad road that leads to destruction. God does not promise easy. He promises to go with us on the road he has chosen for us. Our hearts and spirits know the way we are suppose to go, but our emotions and fleshly logic often call out to us for an easier, more ego driven way.
We are faced with a decision (Most of life is about making godly decisions). Am I really a follower of Jesus or am I follower of the world, the flesh and the devil? When asked that way the answer seems easy. When presented with a harder, God directed path or an easier emotional directed path, the choice gets very sticky.
Do I really believe that with God’s help I can handle whatever he leads me into? Do I really trust in the One who created me, gave me gifts and talents to assist me on this journey? The way is clear when we listen to his heart within us. We know the way. We can be free from the stress of hard choices. God does not always lead us down the easy way, but he ALWAYS leads us down the straight and narrow way that leads to life!
How many times do we stop to consider other things when we know that God has already spoken to us about. We know what we should do or where God wants us to go. Yet, we often seek the easier path. Jesus called it the broad road that leads to destruction. God does not promise easy. He promises to go with us on the road he has chosen for us. Our hearts and spirits know the way we are suppose to go, but our emotions and fleshly logic often call out to us for an easier, more ego driven way.
We are faced with a decision (Most of life is about making godly decisions). Am I really a follower of Jesus or am I follower of the world, the flesh and the devil? When asked that way the answer seems easy. When presented with a harder, God directed path or an easier emotional directed path, the choice gets very sticky.
Do I really believe that with God’s help I can handle whatever he leads me into? Do I really trust in the One who created me, gave me gifts and talents to assist me on this journey? The way is clear when we listen to his heart within us. We know the way. We can be free from the stress of hard choices. God does not always lead us down the easy way, but he ALWAYS leads us down the straight and narrow way that leads to life!
Monday, February 16, 2009
A little boy is attempting to move a large rock by himself. His dad stands by watching him. As the little boy pulls, pushes and pries the rock refuses to budge. “You are not using all of your strength,” the dad says. So the little boy pulls harder, kicks at the rock, puts his shoulder on it and pushes for all he is worth. Still it doesn’t move. “You still are not using all of your strength,” dad says. The little boy looks up at his dad and back at the rock. “Yes I am, daddy!” he says. “No you aren’t” dad replies, “you have not asked me to help you.”
How often do we attempt to do things by ourselves before we seek God’s assistance? We want to believe ourselves independent and not needing anyone or anything to stand strong. Yet the truth be known we are very dependent on others and on God. Why is admitting this so hard?
Jesus told us, “Seek and you will find. Ask and it shall be given. Knock and the door will be opened.” Theophan the Recluse writes: “Such is the rule for spiritual advancement. Nothing comes without effort. The help of God is always ready and always near, but it is only given to those who seek and work, and only to those seekers who, after putting all their own power to the test, the cry out with all their heart: Lord help us. So long as you hold on to even a little hope of achieving something by your own powers, the Lord does not interfere. It is as though he says: ‘You hope to succeed by yourself—very well, go no trying! But however long you try you will achieve nothing’ May the Lord give you a contrite spirit, a humble heart.” [From the Art of Prayer]
The Lord will lead us to places where we realize that we are totally dependent on him. We see that we will utterly fail without asking, seeking and knocking on the doors of heaven and pleading for our Lord to guide us, grant us his wisdom and release our dependency upon ourselves.
Have you used ALL your strength? Have you called on your Father?
How often do we attempt to do things by ourselves before we seek God’s assistance? We want to believe ourselves independent and not needing anyone or anything to stand strong. Yet the truth be known we are very dependent on others and on God. Why is admitting this so hard?
Jesus told us, “Seek and you will find. Ask and it shall be given. Knock and the door will be opened.” Theophan the Recluse writes: “Such is the rule for spiritual advancement. Nothing comes without effort. The help of God is always ready and always near, but it is only given to those who seek and work, and only to those seekers who, after putting all their own power to the test, the cry out with all their heart: Lord help us. So long as you hold on to even a little hope of achieving something by your own powers, the Lord does not interfere. It is as though he says: ‘You hope to succeed by yourself—very well, go no trying! But however long you try you will achieve nothing’ May the Lord give you a contrite spirit, a humble heart.” [From the Art of Prayer]
The Lord will lead us to places where we realize that we are totally dependent on him. We see that we will utterly fail without asking, seeking and knocking on the doors of heaven and pleading for our Lord to guide us, grant us his wisdom and release our dependency upon ourselves.
Have you used ALL your strength? Have you called on your Father?
Monday, February 09, 2009
Questions haunt my heart
We all have questions about life, questions about direction and just plain “why” questions. We may stop and try to reason things out. We may attempt to seek advice. We can even pray about the issues, but still the questions remain. There are many who offer “answers.” They might be quick solutions or good advice. The problem is that they are other people’s answers to our questions.
There is a friend who is dying of cancer – why him? We are searching for direction – why doesn’t God tell us? We have prayed for our family – yet there are still trials. We have tried to follow the advice of others, but it has fallen short. Slowly doubt creeps into our hearts. We begin to question ourselves, our friends and God himself.
The questions force us to search our hearts, consider our beliefs and think through the things we value. If it is the emotions of the moment that lead the way we become mired down in the mud of life. If it is human reason that guides the way we discover so many dead ends that have wasted our time and energy.
So how do I discover the answer to the questions that haunt my heart? We read in the Bible: “I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.” Psalm 38:15. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
The real answers to our questions rest with God. These answers do not come in microwavable formulas. They are rarely the quick fixes we want. They come as we ask, seek and knock on the doors of heaven and WAIT for God to answer. Patiently waiting is difficult. But to wait patiently doesn’t not mean we do nothing. Rather we focus on God himself. We turn our hearts toward the Father who holds every answer within his hand. We draw nearer to him and know that He is working things out behind the scenes in places we cannot see. Isaiah tells us: “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isa 40:30-31 NIV
So we discover that in the midst of all the questions, in the center of every trial there is God. He holds every answer and waits for us to seek him and his heart so that He can strengthen our hearts and teach the most important answer that we need to hear: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Ps 46:10 NIV
There is a friend who is dying of cancer – why him? We are searching for direction – why doesn’t God tell us? We have prayed for our family – yet there are still trials. We have tried to follow the advice of others, but it has fallen short. Slowly doubt creeps into our hearts. We begin to question ourselves, our friends and God himself.
The questions force us to search our hearts, consider our beliefs and think through the things we value. If it is the emotions of the moment that lead the way we become mired down in the mud of life. If it is human reason that guides the way we discover so many dead ends that have wasted our time and energy.
So how do I discover the answer to the questions that haunt my heart? We read in the Bible: “I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.” Psalm 38:15. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
The real answers to our questions rest with God. These answers do not come in microwavable formulas. They are rarely the quick fixes we want. They come as we ask, seek and knock on the doors of heaven and WAIT for God to answer. Patiently waiting is difficult. But to wait patiently doesn’t not mean we do nothing. Rather we focus on God himself. We turn our hearts toward the Father who holds every answer within his hand. We draw nearer to him and know that He is working things out behind the scenes in places we cannot see. Isaiah tells us: “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isa 40:30-31 NIV
So we discover that in the midst of all the questions, in the center of every trial there is God. He holds every answer and waits for us to seek him and his heart so that He can strengthen our hearts and teach the most important answer that we need to hear: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Ps 46:10 NIV
Monday, January 19, 2009
Enjoy the Journey
Life is a journey that takes us many different places. This journey may be to unusual locations. It may also lead us to remarkable individuals. The journey leads through fascinating circumstances. Throughout the journey we are carried on a roller-coaster of emotions.
How often do we think that when we get to a certain location that we have arrived? We forget that our destination is the Kingdom of our Father. We are simply passing through.
God takes us on this journey through these locations to lead us to new friends. He teaches us fresh ways of handling life. We gain fresh perspectives on God and his Truth. Each stop on our journey toward Heaven increases our joy in the adventure that God has us on. We must learn to enjoy to beautiful vistas of each stop.
What we have gleaned from each stop on our journey we carry with us as we travel on. Our hearts grow richer. Our spirits flourish. Our souls are strengthened through the many blessings and trials God escorts us through.
Our lives are different, better because of our journey. We laugh. We cry. We love and we die. Yet, people of faith cling to the Lord of all and discover the heart of God in it all.
We are faced with a choice in our journey. We can curse the journey and waste the blessings we gain. Or we can enjoy the journey and really learn about ourselves, our God and be richer for it.
How often do we think that when we get to a certain location that we have arrived? We forget that our destination is the Kingdom of our Father. We are simply passing through.
God takes us on this journey through these locations to lead us to new friends. He teaches us fresh ways of handling life. We gain fresh perspectives on God and his Truth. Each stop on our journey toward Heaven increases our joy in the adventure that God has us on. We must learn to enjoy to beautiful vistas of each stop.
What we have gleaned from each stop on our journey we carry with us as we travel on. Our hearts grow richer. Our spirits flourish. Our souls are strengthened through the many blessings and trials God escorts us through.
Our lives are different, better because of our journey. We laugh. We cry. We love and we die. Yet, people of faith cling to the Lord of all and discover the heart of God in it all.
We are faced with a choice in our journey. We can curse the journey and waste the blessings we gain. Or we can enjoy the journey and really learn about ourselves, our God and be richer for it.
Monday, January 05, 2009
The Journey to Change
“Though the fig tree does not blossom and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no fruit, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Habakkuk 3:17-18
This passage makes me stop and ask: “Will I trust God no matter what happens or doesn’t happen in my life?” In the journey of our lives, everything we deal with, every problem we encounter, every place we journey to, every person we meet may bring us to the place where we must decide to trust God again or not.
Why is it that we believe that if God is directing our steps on our journey, it will always be smooth sailing? When we are sailing the boat of our lives, we are forced to leave the safety of the harbor. One man wrote: “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are made for.” Life is risky. Yet, we cannot enjoy the adventure that God has us on if we always refuse to take a step of faith, to leave the safety of our harbor.
The adventure of following God will take us to unexpected places, challenge our faith and force us to face our frailties. In this adventure of life we may be faced with letting go of our ideas. God wants to enlarge our lives so that our hearts may be filled with more of him. Part of our journey with God is learning to die now so that we might really live, then by living well we can die well.
Do I really seek the God who will change me? Do I seek him with all my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength? What could God do with me if I answer “yes” to all of these questions? What if he decides to let everything around me crumble? What if He leads me to the desert and I feel dry and barren? What if my version of success eludes me? Will I joyfully serve the God who is changing me, and shaping me into the person he created me to be?
This passage makes me stop and ask: “Will I trust God no matter what happens or doesn’t happen in my life?” In the journey of our lives, everything we deal with, every problem we encounter, every place we journey to, every person we meet may bring us to the place where we must decide to trust God again or not.
Why is it that we believe that if God is directing our steps on our journey, it will always be smooth sailing? When we are sailing the boat of our lives, we are forced to leave the safety of the harbor. One man wrote: “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are made for.” Life is risky. Yet, we cannot enjoy the adventure that God has us on if we always refuse to take a step of faith, to leave the safety of our harbor.
The adventure of following God will take us to unexpected places, challenge our faith and force us to face our frailties. In this adventure of life we may be faced with letting go of our ideas. God wants to enlarge our lives so that our hearts may be filled with more of him. Part of our journey with God is learning to die now so that we might really live, then by living well we can die well.
Do I really seek the God who will change me? Do I seek him with all my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength? What could God do with me if I answer “yes” to all of these questions? What if he decides to let everything around me crumble? What if He leads me to the desert and I feel dry and barren? What if my version of success eludes me? Will I joyfully serve the God who is changing me, and shaping me into the person he created me to be?
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