Every Action Counts

I have watched children grow up in wonderful families. Their parents have sacrificed so much to help and support them and teach them new skills. I have seen these same kids that have been given so much turn their backs on their parents as if they were an inconvenience. I have seen adults at their workplace that have been taken under the wings of a boss that have immediately run to a new, higher paying job without any regard for the mentoring and encouragement that they received. Sometimes we are so focused on ourselves that we miss how much our actions can impact others. I read an interesting quote today, “One tree can produce a million matchsticks. One matchstick can burn a million trees. You can spend years of being good to people, but one wrong move can make them forget all you did.” I don’t know about you, but this really makes me think. We sometimes forget how powerful one in a million can be. Think of how long that tree took to be able to produce them. Each matchstick has the opportunity to burn bright. Each matchstick might be used for a different purpose... one might light the stove or barbeque, one might light the campfire, one might light a birthday cake, and so on. Just as one might help in wonderful ways, one can also create great harm. When a forest fire burns, no one is thinking of how many matches won’t be made, but rather how much damage that one match has done. We are called to shine brightly wherever God places us. Not everyone will be a preacher, missionary, or Sunday School teacher. Your light may burn differently, but we need to burn as brightly as we are able. If you work with others, let them see Christ in you. If your job is serving others in some way, shine brightly where you have been planted. If you are retired, don’t let that light burn out. It is true that one negative thing can erase many positive things, but that is not an excuse to stop trying. If, for a time, your light burns low and you say or do something that will cause others to stumble or question faith, be the first one to apologize and ask for forgiveness. It is our silence and pride that are often the fuel that causes the fire to become destructive. Actions have consequences, so think about what you should be doing. Lord, I am prone to sinning in ways that may hurt others. Give me grace and strength to take responsibility of my actions. Amen

By What Authority

I have watched news clips that are conservative and ones that are liberal. Both sides can make interesting commentary, but many of them do not bring receipts. By that, I mean that there is no supporting evidence. If I told someone in the middle of our country that the ocean tasted like salted caramel, I might be able to convince some people that this is true. However, just because it sounds good, doesn’t make it true. I could search for answers on the internet or speak to someone who has been there to prove the story false. Just because someone writes it doesn’t make it true. If someone writes from a big news agency, it doesn’t make it true. We have lost the concept of journalism seeking to present the truth. They now want to support an ideology. Always look for collaborating evidence. I hear many people using God’s word in the same way. They create the story or what they want to believe and then look for ways to support, even though it often twists God’s word to get there. We read in Luke 11, “Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons. Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven." We see how Jesus was saving the people from a situation that they could not get out of. That should be considered wonderful. The church leaders were jealous, but couldn’t refute the miracles that Jesus was doing, so they decided to push the story about it being done through the power of the Devil, or in this case Beelzebub. Today, instead of debating the foundation of different Christian denominations, some find it easier to cast broad doubts about them. For instance, the argument that they are not follow Christ, but rather, the denomination. If this is true for you, this priority needs to be reversed. All that we have is servant to God and not the other way. In the following verses, Jesus reminds us that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Sometimes Christians have been their own worst enemy. We can debate differences, but in the end, we need to stand united in faith. Lord God, thank You for not only giving us Your word, but then backing it up from other Bible books and historic documents. Amen

A Catch 22

My understanding is that this phrase comes from a military rule that the only way someone is unfit for battle is if he is insane. Claiming to be insane is the most sane thing someone might do, for if he was truly insane, he would not be asking. So, whether one claimed to be insane or not, they would not be released from service for that reason. It’s a no win situation. Now, a commander can declare that, but then that individual, if he is faking it, will likely never live a normal life again, thus still being a losing strategy. We run into those circumstances from time to time. One such concept is that of humility. Scripture tells us that we should be humble. Those that may want to show that they are humble, by that very act show that they are probably prideful, wanting to justify themselves. Humility is something you are, not something you do. C.S. Lewis put it this way, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.” Jesus never had to defend being humble, for His identity was being One with the Father. He didn’t need man’s consent. We don’t see God trying to defend Himself... for to whom would He need to justify Himself. When He told Moses to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let God’s people go, Moses asked for a sign that this was truly from God. The answer went something like this, “When you do what I tell you to do and then bring the people back here to this mountain, then you will know I have spoken.” Jesus humbled Himself at the Last Supper as he washed the disciple's feet to teach them to serve one another. In another passage it says, “If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, you have to be the servant of all.” In Romans 12 God tells us that we shouldn’t think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but to look at ourselves with somber judgement. The greatest example of thinking more of others than ourselves, is the journey to the cross, with all its suffering and shame. Jesus gained nothing personally from it, but through that act, He has opened paradise to us. So, if being humble is thinking more of others and less of ourselves, how are you doing? I’m not asking you to rate how humble you are, but rather what consumes much of your time and focus. The world points to our works, but humility points to God. Father, Help us to focus less on who we are and what we want to accomplish, and replace it with a deep devotion to You. Amen

Getting Fed

I love food. Maybe a little too much. In the USA, many of us have been spoiled and take for granted that there will always be something there for us. Even though I love taste, variety, and filling my stomach, the main purpose is to provide nutrients for the body. I love to go to a Wednesday morning Men’s Study to get fed spiritually. Do we always agree on everything? Not always. I don’t always eat everything at a buffet either... only that which I believe to be good. I really wanted to go today, as I desire every Wednesday, but before going to bed last night, it became obvious that it would not be wise due to the infection in my leg. It still needed rest. I don’t know if we always think about feeding our spiritual needs. Physically, if I don’t eat for a while, my stomach will let me know with hunger pains. Is our spiritual life intimate enough to feel the hunger to know Jesus more? Our spiritual hunger should not be fed only when we feel the need, but to continue to satisfy the longing that God places in the hearts of those that have surrendered to Him. With physical food, if we eat too much, we get overweight, and it starts affecting our health. This is not true for our spiritual growth. The more we grow in our understanding of God and His word, the stronger we become, and the better we are able to serve Him. Knowledge for the sake of knowledge can lead to complacency, pride, or a false sense of security. Without the Holy Spirit’s leading, the knowledge may be of little consequence. Like food, our spirit craves to be fed. Are we still drinking milk, satisfied with bare essentials, or are we desiring more nourishment in God’s word, to grow strong, healthy, and productive? Are we eating spiritual junk food, things that make us feel good, but don’t really nourish the soul? Are you faithfully worshiping, with other believers if possible? Are you spending time in God’s word, not just reading, but studying, memorizing, and applying what you learn? Are you spending time with other believers in studying God’s word (at church or in homes) so that you can challenge and sharpen each other in your faith? We want an assurance of eternity with God and yet we often don’t live in that frame of mind. Yes, we are saved by grace, but we need to live our faith out. God of all mercy, we can become spiritually malnourished by seeking “sweets” instead of a nourishing meal. Feed us on Your word. Amen

It’s Just a Little Problem

While on vacation, I had noticed my leg gradually getting sore. A little over halfway through, it became obvious that there was a problem. Fortunately, I was able to get it diagnosed from a video call. They prescribed an antibiotic, and my hiking had to come to an end. All of a sudden, I felt like a nuisance. I couldn’t go out and do everything we had planned, and my wife and daughter ended up having to do more work than any of us had planned. Even packing the car to leave was not an option for me. What happened? Apparently, I am more susceptible to this infection and sometimes all that is needed is a small crack or sore to introduce it to my system. It started off as such a tiny problem and grew into something that sidelined me. It has the potential, if not taken care of to be fatal. Even the small amount I had, made walking very difficult from time to time. Such a small infection can create such big problems. If it wasn’t for the pain, I might never really have noticed how bad it had gotten. If I had waited until we got home to see a doctor, my recovery would have been much greater. It must be taken seriously or else! A constant struggle in our Christian walk is sin. If it seems big and serious, we know we need to do something about it. Too often, the small sins, the unkind or judging thoughts, our justification for our actions, and the like can seem insignificant. No one else even knows it is going on. That is sometimes when it is most dangerous. When I saw the redness on my leg, having had this issue before, I knew I couldn’t wait. We need to understand the same with sin, no matter whether great or small. The thoughts that are left unattended become actions. Even if they remained thoughts, it would still condemn us. We can be good at praying for others and for requests that are on our prayer list, but confession isn’t always part of that prayer. Martin Luther talked about confessing not only the sin that bothers us, but before God, the “small” sins, and even the sin we are not aware that we have committed. Like the infection, we must first identify it and realize its danger. Unlike antibiotics, forgiveness is instant and complete. Father, I am an unclean person with a heart and mind that is prone to wandering. I am sorry. Cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Amen

The Joy of Family

My wife and I were able to take a mini vacation to see our daughter. We left early in the morning so that we could spend more time with her. We were able to get a place that had a stove, microwave, and enough beds for all three of us. Sunday was a blessing as it has been a while since the three of us have been able to worship together. Well, that and the fact that I could be fed on God’s word and not have to focus on preparing it. After that, the three of us were able to explore stores and touristy things, but the greatest was to get out into God’s creation and enjoy the beauty as we did some hiking and exploring. In the evening, we played some games and just enjoyed some fellowship. Sadly, I was using my phone to search different topics, but now I wished I had just turned the phone off. I missed out of some of the fellowship because I was searching for answers instead of appreciating the gift God was giving us. To say that fellowship wasn’t important would be an understatement. Why don’t we long for that same fellowship in the church? So often, the church is made up of a lot of individuals that gather for an hour and then they are gone. We should be gathering together for fellowship at church and out of church. Maybe it would be to gather for a meal or picnic. Make it a potluck so one person isn’t stuck doing everything. Gather together to study God’s word. Find a study at a Christian bookstore and invite people to meet together, alternating people's homes. Maybe find someone that will join you in a ministry outreach - handing out tracks, food pantries, visiting shut-ins and people in nursing homes, etc. Don’t have worship as your only community event. When you are done with worship, pick someone new (that you don’t know as well) and see if you can visit a little and find ways to pray and encourage them. If something happened to my son (and his wife) or my daughter, there is nothing I wouldn’t do to help. Do we have that same drive and passion for our own church family? When someone doesn’t show up for a few weeks, why aren’t people calling to see if they are ok? Do you just pray for friends and those that are sick, or are you lifting up each member... maybe not all at once. God’s people are our family and should be treated that way. Father, just Your name indicates family relationship. Help us not to be hypocrites by denying our brothers and sisters. Amen

The Straight and Narrow

I remember when I was first learning how to drive a rider mower, my direction seemed to always get curves instead of a straight line. I was trying to follow the tire tracks from the last pass, but that became a very unreliable way. I was instructed by someone who used to mow for a golf course that the easiest way was to look at a point on the other side of the field and just keep heading for that. Amazingly, once I got comfortable with where that target should be, my lines became straight. When I tried to make decisions based on where I was, I failed more than I succeeded. When I kept my eyes focused on where I was going, my success greatly improved. We read in Hebrews 12:1-3, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Just as my eyes needed to focused ahead for mowing, so our eyes need to be focused on Christ. There are no shortages of things that distract us, but they don’t have to be our undoing. We have the author and perfecter of our faith who endured the cross because He knew how desperately we needed help. If we want to succeed, it requires us to be more serious about our faith. In1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” Are you prepared. Have you been studying God’s word, worshiping, praying, serving? Lord, I am truly undeserving to be Your servant and yet You invite us to follow You. Put Your word in our hearts. Amen

Don’t Put Anyone in a Box

How many times have we judged someone because they are not like us? We look at their clothes, their jobs, their families, and how they act. When we are doing that, how do we see ourselves? I don’t know if you have ever seen one of those crazy mirrors at a circus that distort the image of the person looking, to make them look fatter or skinnier or some other image. I think we do that spiritually. We can look at ourselves, a sinner in need of God’s redemption, and somehow see someone who is almost perfect. We would never be so presumptuous as to think we were perfect. Have you thought about what God sees when He looks at us? If someone had a right to point out all our faults and weaknesses, it would surely be God... but He doesn’t. Why? Because He is less interested in identifying who you were and more interested in giving you the opportunity of being new and improved. As we talk about putting someone in a box, aren’t we guilty of doing that to God? Many of the Jews did that with who they thought their Messiah would be and so they didn’t recognize Jesus. They crucified Jesus because He didn’t fit in their box. There were many times in the Old Testament that the people had a very small box for God’s ability to protect them, or at least that is what their actions showed. King Solomon understood that God cannot be contained. We read in 2 Chronicles 2, “The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?” When we go to church to worship God, He is not contained in that building. The building is actually more there for us to have a place to corporately worship Him. Worship is not about seeking what God can do for us but rather being equipped to go out and do God’s work. We have our work box, our home box, our church box, and so on. God cannot be contained. We need to go back and look at what box God is in. Any limiting walls we erect around God are foolish and unspiritual. O Holy Spirit, Convict our heart of the areas that we limit You in. I don’t want anything to stand between You and me. Amen

Better Than the Next Person

I sometimes hate watching boasting athletes, especially those that really aren’t that good, trying to lift themselves up as if the world couldn’t live without them. A trend that I see is, that if the player isn’t able to be superior based on skill, they will resort to deception. There has been such a rise of athletes faking being fouled; first in soccer, then in basketball, and now it is infiltrating football too. We have lost the self-respect of earning our victories and now have moved to winning no matter what. People want to boast, but not always in what is worth boasting about. I think there is a part of every person that boast a little. Oh, it doesn’t have to be really cruel. It might just be a little comment that indicates how well we did, sadly at the expense of putting someone else down. When we sit around the table to visit, somehow stories are told about what we did. Especially in guy circles, there gets to be a competition for who is the best. Even pastors can be guilty of this. When visiting with other pastors, somehow the conversation seems to get to how big is the congregation and what amazing things is the church doing. I rarely hear pastors talking about how God has transformed them and their church or the individual that has been transformed. If there are no stories of spiritual growth, that may indicate a church that is focused in the wrong place. We read in Galatians 6, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” I must see others through the eyes of Christ. I cannot save anyone from hell. I can only point them to what Jesus did for them on the cross. In Christ we are equal. God can take the worst person on death row or most respected person in the church and transform them, if they are willing. What counts is not what I have done or who I think I am, but rather that I have been made into a new creation. I cannot be a new creation unless I first surrender to God and receive his grace and mercy. The next time you’re tempted to lift yourself up, ask these questions - “Have I been faithful in lifting up Christ?” or “Who do I lift up most... myself or God?” Or “Do I walk in my sinful nature, or have I been made into a new creation?” Lord, help me to never boast except in what You have done for me on the cross. Put Your word in my heart that I might declare You. Amen

Building Blocks

If I were planting a garden, there are certain steps that should be taken. If I just got vegetable seeds and threw them into the weeds, I would not have much hope for produce. First, we have to work up the ground to make sure the weeds are not growing and that the soil is in a condition to grow these seeds. After a while, the weeds find a way to start growing again. We need to find the best way to control the weeds and what the optimal conditions are for the seeds we planted. Then the vegetable plants begin to bear fruit and now provide rewards for the Sower. In some ways, short of the harvest, these are some of the basic steps, or the building blocks, to having a great garden. What about our own walk of faith. I ran across the following quote, “God formed us. Sin deformed us. The Bible informs us. But Jesus transforms us.” God made the seeds, and He made the people. He formed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and He created us in our mother’s womb. God is the Creator of all things. Each person is unique, with specific gifts and abilities and a group of people that they are part of. God created us to use these gifts to plant the seeds of hope in their hearts. Even though God has done amazing things, the Devil is working hard to undo it all. In the garden it might be fungus and disease and drought. In life, it is sin. Through sin and the work of Satan, our relationship with God is imperfect and strained. You were created in the image of God, but Satan has been instrumental in my temptations and falling away from God. The Good News is that God has a better way. Unlike the ads on the internet that give you some information about their product and then try to suck you into following them, God’s word gives us the whole truth. It informs us about the mercy and grace of God and the work of Jesus on the cross. As you see the plants bear fruit, we go from a person, diseased by sin, to a marvelous creation, bearing spiritual fruit. As seeds become fruitful plants, we are transformed from a flawed individual with no eternal hope to a flawed individual that has been renewed in Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. All this is done that we might perform as we were created to do. Lord, may our lives be a living testimony to who You are. May our lives declare Your praises all of our days. Amen

Do You Know Your Worth?

It is fascinating how people see themselves. I have met far too many people that think they are the answer to all the world's problems. You don’t have to ask them what they think of themselves because they will usually tell you. Then, on the other side, I have known people that are very humble and unassuming. They have impacted the world in ways that most of us could only dream of and yet when asked, they usually say, “I didn’t do anything that everybody else wouldn’t do.” Where do we find our self-identity? Many look for it in their job and their success. Some find it in their financial status and the “toys” they’ve accumulated. Some identify themselves by the friends they have or who they know. Are they all right? Are they all wrong? I think too many people are looking for the world to validate who they are and praise them for what they have done. I ran across an interesting quote, “Ponder how valuable your soul must be for Satan to tirelessly pursue it, and the King to lay down His own life for it.” Take some time to soak in the depth of that statement. The Devil and His dominions can only be in one place at a time and yet they may very well be choosing you to attack because you are a great threat to hell. The Devil doesn’t need you to hate God, just not live for Him. He can’t push you into the abyss, but he can distract you so that you don’t see God reaching His hand down to rescue you. You are valuable enough for the Devil to target you. Even greater than that is the King over all creation believed that you were worth dying for. Your worth is directly connected to what the one who oversees you finds beneficial. You may be looked down on by your fellow workers, but if the boss sees value in you, your co-worker's thoughts are meaningless. The Devil, the world, and our sinful nature keep telling us that spiritual things are holding us back. Jesus says that if you are a believer, you are so important to Him that he is preparing a place for you in heaven. Which of those two opinions really matter? If you said the Devil, then your faith is in the wrong person... for you will never succeed without Christ. If you said Jesus, then never forget how much you are loved. Father, when I am tempted to throw in the towel, remind me of who I am and whose I am. Amen

Memory Lapses

As I went to a study early this morning, I was following a slower vehicle. I was thankful that the driver didn’t turn down the road I normally took. Relieved, I joyfully headed down the road till I remembered that part of the road was under construction. I have been so used to going that way that I am on auto pilot. By the time I realized my mistake, it would have taken too long to back-track. I know my memory isn’t what it used to be, but I know better. The study that we had was talking about the glory of God. It focused on Moses in the wilderness when God spoke with him. One time, after an amazing interaction with God, he returned from the mountain with his face shining so bright that the Israelites couldn’t look at him. I think about the 10 plagues that God brought on Egypt so that Pharaoh would let the people go into the wilderness to worship God. I think about the sea being parted and several million walking through on dry ground, but the waters returned to drown the Egyptian army that was in chase. They saw manna, bread from heaven, every day. They saw bitter water turned sweet. They won impossible victories. Their shoes and clothing didn’t wear out. They saw the presence of God on Mount Sinai as the 10 commandments were given. They saw wicked Israelites destroyed. The list goes on. I started off looking at my memory. Then I looked at the memory of the Israelites. After all they saw, even though there may have been months between miracles, they still forgot about God. How could they know God and see His work as they did and yet not believe? Then I have to ask about us as well. How is our memory? Instead of remembering the many times God has answered our prayers, somehow, we only seem to remember the times they weren’t answered the way that we wanted. We may have seen the hand of God at work but have quickly forgotten. We may have heard the testimony of others that we trust that testify to what God has done, but we quickly forget. We read God’s word and can see how these words are validated by many historical events recorded in other places and yet we forget God’s word too. Is it a sickness? In a way. It is our own sinful self and sin that pulls us down. Let us not forget there is only one God! Serve Him. Lord, help us to remember You, Your word, Your promises, and Your grace and mercy, for without it, we would be lost. Amen

Studying God’s Word

I love to get together with some of the faithful people in our church to study God’s word. We have been going through the Catechism and looking at many of the verses that are tied to each meaning that is given. I love it when we have conversations about God’s word and not just being told information. Anyway, I love that time of fellowship and being able to dig into God’s word. I have had questions asked that I had never thought about before, so it forces me to dig in just a little deeper. Reading, and more importantly, studying God’s word is so fundamental to the Christian walk. When just reading, and not wrestling, we can be persuaded by people around us. We always need to be open to what others say, but if we don’t have a solid foundation in knowledge, we will be attracted to what the crowd says or what sounds good to us. God doesn’t give His word to sound good, but to instruct us and prepare us to serve. There are times that standing on what God’s word says may cause friction and division to those that think differently. There are different circumstances that may determine how we approach God’s word. I believe the Bible studies are a good place to dig deeper and understand the foundation of good theology and explaining meanings of texts and words. Church is a good place to teach that foundation too, but because there may be some people that are searching that may not familiar with Christian “words and concepts”, I believe that it should be a little more user friendly, always being available to answer any questions. I go to a fairly conservative men’s study, which is wonderful, but I believe we should be trying to find what is beneficial to everyone. Every time someone tries to push a denominational explosive topic, it almost always ends in division and people leaving bitter. I’m not saying that these topics should be banned, but that we don’t need to dig into them as deeply in that setting. I have had many wonderful one on one conversations with different men. When addressing the unbeliever, we should be sharing what we believe about God and His word, not what they should believe. The Spirit is to convict their hearts, not us. Holy Spirit, not only do we need to learn more from You, but teach us also how we might share with others. Amen

Absolute Control

I found out today, in church, that a Christian singer, who has an amazing gift of music and testimony, was doing an outdoor concert in a neighboring town. The weather did not look good, with storms working their way to us. We took our umbrellas, towels, and an extra set of clothes. I wasn’t looking forward to what might happen. When we arrived, I believe that there were many people lifting the concert in prayer. I know that I, and I am guessing others too, were not praying for our comfort, but for the gospel to be proclaimed. I knew God could stop the storm, but if it was for selfish reasons, for my comfort, I wasn’t as worried if God would answer. I did however believer that if God had brought this singer, He would also take care of the details. Having been on a music ministry team, I have seen God do that over and over again. Long story short, the winds picked up, there was some amazing lightning, and the thunder seemed to always rumble as he was in between songs, but not one drop fell where we were. The most amazing strike was when the lightning branched out across the sky, but it was both vertical and horizontal and looked much like a fishing net. I suppose one might say that we were all being called to be fishers of men. As the songs testified to a powerful and gracious God, I was saddened to think how many more could have come. I wasn’t in charge, but I think that when we are sponsoring someone, we are disappointed that others don’t show, but then when someone else is sponsoring someone, we find ourselves too busy. Imagine the amazing worship we miss out on. The day had started heating up, and I remember thinking how hard it was going to be to play guitar when perspiring and dehydrated. The reality was that the temperature and cloudiness made things extremely comfortable... maybe even a little on the cool side. Why do we ever doubt God? He heals the sick, casts out evil spirits, and calms the storm. What are we worried about? Ourselves? Whether we are going in the mission fields or proclaiming the gospel in our own neighborhood, what should we be concerned about? We need to weep for the souls dying without hope. Father, Your desire is that none be lost and yet there are so many unbelievers. Use us to plant seeds of truth. Amen

Where Is God?

There are times that life gets tough and we get so focused on the obstacles in front of us that we, sadly, forget to seek God’s leading. It often isn’t until we stop and ask God for help that our focus begins to change. We might not even notice the answers until a while after we have passed the situation. We can get frustrated asking where God is in the midst of everything going on. Other times, there may be fear and emptiness and so we think we stand alone. What should we do? I recall so many times in my past, when I had to see a doctor to get stitches or have a dental procedure done, that the numbing agent didn’t seem to work on me. There were many procedures that I questioned my tolerance since everyone else seemed to face these procedures with limited pain. Why didn’t that medicine seem to fail me so often. It wasn’t until about 10 years ago that I discovered that the medicine took longer to become effective in my system. I asked the dentist to give me a shot at least 20 minutes before working on my teeth. I had to sit and wait patiently until it took effect. Did I want to have to wait? Absolutely not. Did I want to proceed without the pain medication working? Definitely not! When I waited patiently on the medication, it brought relief that I didn’t even know was possible. Likewise with the Holy Spirit. We want God to do for us as we wish. Problem is my will is often not God’s will. I remember the disciples arguing about who was greatest and who would sit in a position of prominence in God’s kingdom. Matthew 20, “Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." ... Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink (suffer)?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father." Even the denied disciples couldn’t persuade Jesus to give them what their selfish hearts wanted. God will not forget you. Be patient and stay actively faithful as You wait. Father, I don’t like the feeling that You are not present, but I am even more concerned about not walking by Your will. Amen

Lifting Up our Voice

Out of all the ways that we can express ourselves, music might very well be the most powerful form. Music and songs can cross all languages and cultures. It is amazing how it can express sorrow, joy, excitement, tension, anger, pondering and so much more. Words are limited by language, but it seems music supersedes them all. I was listening to a talent show, loving the variety of people and talents. Apparently, when the judges take a break, a microphone is passed around the audience for people just to spontaneously sing whatever is on their heart. Usually, it is just a fun activity, but there really isn’t an expectation of anything brilliant. Why? If they had the talent, surely they would already be on the stage performing. On this particular evening, an eleven-year-old girl got a hold of the microphone and started to sing, “Amazing Grace”. There are a lot of song selections that we might expect from a young woman, buy most of us would not have chosen that particular song. It is obvious that she must have had a good upbringing in the Christian faith. Back to the young woman. From her mouth came a beautiful song filled with passion and style. She was invited from the audience to the stage, where she sang that hymn so beautifully. Does music fill your day? Are you singing in the shower, or has that just become something you have to do? Showers for many are that avenue through which they can express their heart. Is there music on in the car that fills your life with amazing expressions? Do you sing when you are doing chores or basic activities around the house? I believe that the world would truly be a more dismal place if music wasn’t allowed to flourish. We need the old hymns, the classical music, jazz, and contemporary sounds for they are all an expression of the heart. It is also good to find the lyrics to better understand the presentation. Some of the great hymns make so much more sense when we read it without having to cater to a specific rhythm or meter. When you get to church on Sunday, look up the hymns ahead of time and take some time to really become familiar with them. Let the power of the words lead you before the music brings it all together. In Psalm 111, “Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.” Amen

Pointing to Jesus

We read from Daniel and heard about King Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king that was ruling over God’s people. He had a dream which concerned him, so he went to his wisemen, magicians, etc. to find the answer. What complicated things was that he wanted them not only to give the meaning, but to tell him what the dream was. As they couldn’t answer, the kings was going to have all of them killed. When Daniel heard of the dilemma, he asked the king to give him time to seek God’s direction. Daniel asked Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to seek God with him. The next day, Daniel was able to give the king the answers he sought, but Daniel was very clear about the source. Daniel told the king he was going to inquire of God and then told the king that God had been the source of the answers. Then I look at the world around me and see so many that are willing to take credit for things they didn’t do and try to succeed on the backs of others. We need to give credit where credit is due. Martin Luther, when talking about the Third Article of the Apostles Creed wrote, "I know that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Christ my Lord or come to Him". There is no misunderstanding who Luther was giving credit to. We may be able to work at sharpening our gifts and abilities, but all we have is a gift from God. The great athlete may have worked hard, but to core of who he is is from God. The genius may have studied and worked to get to where she was, but it is still God’s gift to her. Even more, we see that in our walk with God. We cannot believe unless the Holy Spirit draws us to God. We are told to ask God for wisdom and that He will give us generously... God’s gift. The fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control... all God’s gift to us. So, what is left for us to boast about? We can only truly boast about our God, for He is worthy of all praise, and honor, and glory, and power. It is sometimes hard to be both grateful and give credit to God. When someone says they liked the sermon, I honestly say, if it was truly good, it was only because I listened to God, not my own work. Lord, help us to be able to do amazing things in Your name, but in all that takes place, we want to give You the glory and praise. Amen

It’s Not Mine

As I was pondering who I am in light of my Father, I come to a very quick realization that I am less in control of things than I would like to think. As a matter of fact, until I come to the realization that all I have and do is a gift given to me, I then will look at life differently. I couldn’t help thinking of a hymn called, “This World Is Not My Own”. While I may have some reservations with it, the first verse came to mind, “This world is not my home I'm just a-passin' through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, and I can't feel at home in this world anymore”. Even though, on one level, we know this world is temporary, we seem to live as if this world is everything. There is the priority of the world, which appeals to my sinful nature, and there is the reality of God’s word. In 1 Peter 1:8-9 we read, “Though you have not seen [Christ], you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” This has implications on how I live my life now and the assurance of an eternity in Heaven. I was struck by a quote I read today that said, “Your life is not your own: it belongs to God. To "be yourself" is to be and do what God wants you to be and do, knowing that God created you for a mission and knows you and your mission better than you do.” The reason God’s word tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom is because until we understand that we belong to God, our hope of Heaven is just that... a hope, and not a reality. We want to call our own shots because we want to be ourselves, but as rightly stated above, we are truly ourselves when we have become the person God has designed and called us to be. We are created in the image of God, and we are most ourselves when we best reflect that. Since that image has been tarnished by sin, God alone knows what our true identity in Him is. On this side of heaven, we are most like who God created us to be when we are walking according to God’s call for us, carrying out “our mission”. Since God knows what that is and what it will take to accomplish, we are most like ourselves when we do God’s will. Father, it is when we try to find ourselves in the world that we get lost. It is only when we lose ourselves in You that we are truly found. Amen

You Get As You Give What You Get

I had a Bible School teacher that had so many little teaching quips, like the one above. We have a tendency to choose our actions based on what we will get back and not always what might be best for us. There are many people that are much more excited about helping others if they get recognition for what they do. We have that worldly desire to want a payoff in everything we do... something that makes us feel it was worth the effort. I know of people that dig into God’s word because they want to appear smart or be able to win debates that might come up about their faith. They might be able to debate well, but it doesn’t always mean they are where they should be. I ran across the following quote - “The ultimate goal of theology isn't knowledge, but worship. If our learning and knowledge of God do not lead to the joyful praise of God, we have failed. We learn only that we might laud, which is to say that theology without doxology is idolatry. The only theology worth studying is a theology that can be sung!” It is not about the level of knowledge we have. It doesn’t matter what books we have read and if we can use “really big words”. It does matter where that learning has taken you. I think the above quote challenges us when we are studying God’s word. I know of many people that are so focused on completing their daily reading that they often check off chapters that they have read, but don’t express a change of the depth of their faith. I am struck by the depth and simplicity of the phrase, “theology without doxology is idolatry”. Theology is the study of God, doxology is praising God, and idolatry is replacing God with a false belief. The purpose of God’s word is to deepen our faith and desire to know and serve Him. If this knowledge doesn’t lead us to worship God fully, then the knowledge becomes our god. I think that it is great that people want to read through the Bible, even if it to be done within the year. Knowledge is a foundation. When our desire to accomplish so many chapters a day leave us with no time to ponder things, our goals must be rethought. What you get from God, you are to give, and He will get you more. Father, tune my heart to You and Your word that I might never long for knowledge over worshiping and praising You. Amen

Why Should We Be Praising God?

Psalm 68 begins, “May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him. As smoke is blown away by the wind, may you blow them away; as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.” The psalmist is acknowledging the power and authority that God has over the enemy. Even though it is speaking of a physical enemy that is coming against them, we face three distinct enemies today. They are the Devil, the world, and our own sinful nature. For believers, we know that God triumphed over the Devil when He rose from the grave. The Devil has no power over Him. We know that the world’s control is drawing us into sin and selfish desires, but again, we know there is forgiveness and that God rescues those that call out to Him faith. My own sinful nature may be the toughest enemy to conquer, but again, Jesus paid the price for our sin, fulfilled the requirements of the law, and restored us in God’s sight. May all wickedness perish before God our Father. Verse 3 encourages us to walk in the confidence of a victorious God... “But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.” It doesn’t matter how strong the enemy is because our God is stronger. We are called to rejoice before God. It is not just the attitude of the heart, but a real expression of our gratitude and worship because with God, I have everything I need. Verses 4-5, “Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the Lord — and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” Look at what He did for them in the wilderness.... “When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain... you refreshed your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.” If God could lead His people through the desert for 40 years, imagine what He can do in your life, if you’ll let Him. The psalm closes, “Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord... Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!” Lord, we praise You, for You are worthy. Amen