God’s Hand Leading

Today, I heard a testimony about God’s provision. A gentleman that served in the military shared the struggle he had getting back into the civilian world - with jobs, insurance, loans, etc. As he was able to get on his feet, his faith drove him to reach out to those serving in the military. He was looking for more than just a morning worship. He wanted to disciple them. The ministry that he is part of (Cru) is effectively reaching men and women in the service. He recently felt led to reach out to the Coast Guards, a group that has not been the focus of as much outreach. His service area is in Wisconsin and so there are several bases along Lake Michigan. Their operations are from their vessels. He was given permission to visit with these men and women, but in the winter months, they needed a place to meet. He had prayed and then asked businesses in these different towns if they could provide a place in each of the ports for Bible Study and discipleship. Over and over again he was turned down. It is easy to start feeling frustrated on why businesses weren’t more open to this outreach. It ends up God had another plan all along. He started searching for a bus at a good price to use for a family business. A bus was found, but the family no longer needed it. The deal was so good that he couldn’t just forget it. Long story short, he had a vision of turning the bus into a small Bible Study place. They decided to put a small cook area into it so that they could serve food too. He didn’t have the money so he reached out to some of the community and before long, he had the finances to purchase it. It was illegal for him to have a “yellow” school bus so he talked with some “detailers” that offered to paint and detail it for free. He didn’t want it to look like a bus inside and talked with a local business that provided all the wood flooring for the bus. He created a wish list on Amazon and people have been providing the needed items. The seats will be turned inward so that they can face each other in study. The bus also will be used to transport people to churches. If he had found physical rooms, he would have been limited as to what he could do and whether it would be there next month. Now, he will have one mobile place to services all those they are serving. God, You always know what we need even before we know we need it. Help all of us to seek and know Your leading for us. Amen

Have We Looked in the Mirror?

When I look in a mirror, I still mentally expect to see the person I was when I was in college. Today, I am a lot heavier and more out of shape than I was then. Why is it that I can’t seem to see who I really am? Isaiah, in chapter 59, reminds God’s people that they do the same things. Isaiah 59:1-3, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things.” The issues that we may have in our relationship with God do not rest on God being unfair, too strict, or uncaring. God is not unable to rescue us from any harm and there is not a prayer that we have uttered that He does not hear. So, what stands in the way of a beautiful relationship with God? We do... or more correctly, our sin does. If God did not look at his own son when He took on the sins of the whole world (Jesus: My God, My God, why have You forsaken me), why do we think that our sin would be any less offensive to Him? It is our sins, our guilt, our lies, and the wickedness of our hearts that create a barrier between us and God. God is waiting for us to humble our hearts before Him and confess our sins and rebellion. His desire is to restore His people. Actually, the end of Isaiah 59 we read, “‘As for me, this is my covenant with them,’ says the Lord. ‘My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever,’ says the Lord.” That means there is hope. Thank God that He sent His Son to restore our relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. Just like in Isaiah’s day, our hearts still have the desire to be rebellious, and without repentance, without a broken and contrite heart, without true surrender, we will not experience the intimacy that God desires with His people. There is nothing magical or exclusive in what God offers. John 1, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Father, Give us such a deep faith that our pride and earthly desires gave way to a genuine faith in You. Amen

What Is Your Calling?

So often, as Christians, we assume that we are all pretty much the same and that we are all called to serve the Lord in the same way. If, however, we read what God says, He tells us that some are called to lead, some to give, some to be merciful, some to teach, etc. Not only that, but sometimes God is calling us to serve a particular group of people. The Apostle Paul wanted to go East into Asia, but we are told God prevented him from doing that. Some are called to serve youth, some military, some in the mission fields, some to the sick, etc. When we look at whether someone is successful, it should not be based on what we might want to do, but on what God is calling them to do. Why am I making this distinction? Last night, during the halftime of the Super Bowl, Turning Point USA chose to offer an alternate to the provided entertainment. Why? The Football League was having an entertainer that was known to be controversial and crude. As much as people try to say it was family friendly, I looked up the lyrics (Spanish songs) and found many of them detestable. When I heard Turning Point’s alternate presentation, I quickly realized it wasn’t my cup of tea. I then had to re-assess my over all judgement because the target audience wasn’t for us “older folks” but rather aimed at the youth. With that in mind, they probably hit the nail on the head. The last song, however, was a powerful song encouraging people to do the right things and treasure what we have because at some point it will be too late. Good intentions don't matter when it is too late. I encourage everyone to read the lyrics. Very well done. So, how did Turning Point do? I heard a number of people, familiar with broadcasting state that if they had reached 500,000, it would have been an amazing turnout. Last count I heard was that they had over 20 million views and they were still gathering information. It shows that there is a frustration with what the “world” is trying to push on us. Praise God for organizations like Turning Point that are willing to push back. They didn’t attempt to please everyone but focused more on who God has called them to reach out to. It should be an example and encouragement for us to stand against the “worldly” flow and focus on the people that God has called us to reach out to. Holy Spirit, equip the saints for service, reveal their gifts and who they are called to serve, and grand each one Your boldness. Amen

Useful in God’s Sight!

I know of some people that love to go to garage sales. As they look around, they see items that have great value to them and other items that seem useless. The problem is that the value rests in the eye of the beholder. The phrase, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure is so true. Even though in our daily lives, we may not always seem valued, this is not true for those who put their trust in God. From the book of Exodus 19, we read, “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation...” There is no more precious identity to have than to be God’s treasured possession. You belong to Him. We read again in Colossians 3 that as those precious to God, there is also an expectation of how we carry ourselves -“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” That identity cannot be any clearer than what we read in 1 Peter 2, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” In our world today, when someone famous or of great importance values something, he or she causes the value goes up for everyone. The same is true with God. If God is for us, who can be against us? By faith, we become children of God, His ambassadors, saints, etc. Even in Psalm 23, as it speaks of His “goodness and mercy following us”, the word for follow means to relentlessly hound. That means God will not give up on you unless you have died without faith. So, the next time you are tempted to despair, be reminded that you are a child of the Most High God. Father, we are often quick to turn from You and embrace the world. Remind us of our great identity when we walk by faith. Amen

He Is Worthy

I remember hearing and seeing, when I was growing, people that believed in some sort of divine being or beings, whether the God of the Bible or false gods. There was the knowledge that something existed that was greater than we are. Today, I fear that our so-called knowledge has become our God. We have tried to create God in our own image. Funny, how when we do that, he seems to believe in the same things as we do. Truthfully, not so funny. Whether it is trying bypass God with alternate ideas of evolution and big bang theory or create a different image of God that is easier for us to relate to, it doesn’t change the truth. I like a quote that C.S. Lewis wrote on the glory of God - “A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.” It exposes the foolishness of man, living a lie because it is more comfortable than the truth. We have been studying Jeremiah in our Sunday Bible Study and, even after Jeremiah proclaims God’s judgement and spells out what punishment they will face, they turn to the false prophets that give a message they want to hear. As C.S. Lewis rightly discerns, the glory of God is not dependent on our opinions. How did we get here? It goes back to the Biblical truth, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Lest we think fear simply means a healthy respect, God also said in Matthew 10, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” It is not the Devil, but God alone Who holds our eternity. God is beyond our understanding and yet He has revealed Himself in the Bible. God created and can destroy His creation and yet He sent His son to restore His creation. God alone knows all things and yet He sent the Holy Spirit to give wisdom and understanding to those who ask and hunger for it. He has full authority over the Devil and His fallen angels. He existed before time began and will exist for all eternity. One commentary says glory- “refers to the weightiness, splendor, and majesty of God. It encompasses the honor, praise, and worship due to Him, as well as the manifestation of His divine presence.” To God be the glory forever. Father, You are our hope, our life, and our salvation. Nothing exists without You. We praise You and worship You. Amen

Putting the Pieces Together

Those that can quilt have an amazing gift. Some quilts are just a variety of fabrics sewn together in squares. Other quilts can get pretty detailed and at times, rival many paintings I have seen. Most find themselves somewhere in between. I am confident enough in my masculinity that I can say that I enjoy helping my wife pick out fabrics. I have thought about making one, but I don’t think I have the patience to do it well. I can however find fabric colors and pattern textures and bring them to my wife to help her narrow down the choices. Most of the quilts I have seen done have been thought out, sometimes before searching for the fabric or sometimes inspired by a great piece of fabric. There is the pattern, the fabric, the washing, the ironing, the cutting, the sewing, the quilting, and then masterpiece, with many other steps in between. Different quilt stores have different styles, so it isn’t always a one stop solution. I can really appreciate all the work put into it. Often the quilting, stitches that hold it all together, can be the most challenging. It can be done by hand or machine, and the stitching, if done right, will add depth and beauty by its patterns or outlines. The point is, most people see the finished product and never consider all the work to put it together. I acknowledge there are many other hobbies that also take time and talent. In our walk with God, we see people we admire greatly and wish we could be more like them. They took many years to be shaped into the person they are. Just as not all quilts end up on a bed, not all Christians have the same function. The quilt could actually represent faithful ministry as there are so many different steps and styles necessary to complete it. On our own, most of us might not seem to have extraordinary gifts and abilities, but like the quilt, when each part is carefully combined, a masterpiece becomes visible. A quilt that is done with one color and sewed together quickly can be functional but lacks the depth and beauty that people long for. It doesn’t matter what part you are, for without you, it will not be as amazing as it could be. We read in Ephesians 4, “From him [Jesus] the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Call on the Holy Spirit to lead you. Father, weave us together as one body under the headship of Jesus. Help us to do our part joyfully. Amen

Teach Them When They Are Young!

The book of Proverbs in the Bible has some amazing words of wisdom. It was written by King Solomon, who was gifted by God to be the wisest man on earth. A verse that came to mind today was from Proverbs 22:6, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” I believe that many of the families in the USA are not training their children to know God. Part of that is because they didn’t see that faith lived out in their parents. I have heard so many “enlightened” parents say that they are not pushing faith on their children so that as they grow up, they can choose what they want to believe for themselves. The problem is, if the parents aren’t training them, someone else will train them. There is so much indoctrination going on in some schools, extracurricular activities, clubs, peer pressure, political agendas, etc. A child is not equipped to determine what is right and wrong. It seems they are seldom taught critical thinking so that they can weigh out the pros and cons. It is the parents' responsibility to train them and not hand them over to others to raise... that includes churches too. Don’t get me wrong, church should be an important part of their life, but it does not replace the parents. I saw a wonderful thing take place when my wife and I went to grab something to eat. A mom came in and had, what appeared to be, two children... possibly three years old... possibly twins. They ordered their food and sat down to eat. Before taking a bite, these two angelic voices could be heard singing a table blessing. Not only were they being taught the importance of thanking God for their food, but they were setting an example for everyone else that was there... young and old alike. The two children were curious and full of joy, but they were also well behaved. It was clear that they were being trained in the way they should go. A pattern for daily living was being lived out before their very eyes. Maybe you no longer have young children. What about grandchildren or great-grandchildren? There is also Sunday School, youth group, and school events. Cheer them on and teach them to be a good sport. Maybe better yet is encourage parents that you know to train their children well. Pray for parents to step up and lead their children by example. Father, Thank You for the mother that set such an amazing example. We lift up all parents, that they might lead their children well. Amen

Why Study God’s Word?

A lot of times when people talk about believing in God, it is primarily focused on the promise of eternity in heaven. When heaven is the main focus, there may not be an urgency to grow in our relationship. After all, why should I drastically change my life when I can commit to God when I get closer to the end? If faith is just for entering heaven, we are indeed to pitied. If I wanted to play basketball, I can’t just say that I will learn it when I play my first game. In order to fully enjoy the game and do well, I need to learn the rules, practice ball control, become so familiar with the game that my actions are automatic. If someone wanted to be on the team so that they can get a trophy but had no interest in the preparation or listening to the coach, that person will likely not make the team. Going back to faith. Faith is not something we can muster up at will. If we believe, it will push us and encourage us to walk daily with God. If I have no desire to serve God fully now, I will probably not turn to Him in my last hours. More than that, I may have no idea when my last hours will come. Like the basketball analogy, if I want to be on God’s team, it is a daily walk, not a last-minute decision. Before you ask, yes, there are people that receive faith in their last hours (like the thief on the cross), but very few do. If we love God, we want to know who He is and what He expects of us. I find that in His word. It is not enough just to know what He wants me to do, but I need to be doing it. The bible says (about Jesus’ return), “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." It’s not just being ready, but the fact that by faith, we don’t walk alone. In God there is forgiveness, mercy, grace, restoration, joy, hope, wisdom, spiritual gifts, etc. Focusing on the future robs today of its opportunities. If I am not hungering for God and growing in my knowledge of Him, do I really have faith in Him? The basketball analogy breaks down when I think of earning a spot on the team. God has a spot for you already. Father, forgive me when I consider the things of the world of greater importance than knowing You and walking with You. Amen

Too Many Idols

A friend of mine recently shared a story of a trip one of his daughters took. She went overseas with a specific skillset that she was going to share with the locals. It was a poor community. They had resources available, but no one had taught them how they could use them. After serving there for a considerable amount of time, she was able to come stateside to figure out what she wanted to do next. Upon arriving home, she decided to spend time with her family. Shortly after getting there, her dad found her standing in front of her closet weeping. When asked if she was ok, her response was, “I have so much”. No matter how hard they tried to comfort her, she remembered those she served with that pretty much just had what was on their backs. It took her a while before she could go into a grocery store, because what she saw was extravagance, not necessities. In the USA, we read about all the false gods that Israel had over the ages and think, how could they bow down and worship an idol that they made with their own hands. I look at what this young woman saw when she came home... an abundance that was not necessary. I started to think of all the things that we have and realized that for many, our prosperity is indeed a false god. We put our trust in our jobs, our money, our possessions, and all the worldly services that are available. It is not hard to see how many have committed spiritual adultery in the world. They have taken the love and commitment they owe to God and have invested it in worldly things. What does Jesus say about earthly riches? It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again, we hear that we cannot serve God and money. We will love one and hate the other. Then there is the rich man that asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said to follow the law. He claimed he kept all the laws. Then Jesus said, sell everything and give it to the poor and then follow me. We were told he left sad because he had great wealth. I think we need a heart like the young women I spoke of... the heart that is not blinded by wealth but actually understands how wealth can consume us. Are your gifts and abilities drowned out by the world? Father, teach me how I might use what You have given me to serve others. Help me to love You more than these. Amen

Corner of our Lives

After church today, we headed up to visit my mom (a few hours north). The snow on the ground seemed pretty consistent until we almost got to where she was. There was a lot of drifting, but also a noticeably heavier amount of snow. She lives right on a corner in her community and when they plow the snow, a goodly amount ends up in her yard. She made the comment that at some point she felt like the snow was closing in on her. Her yard lamp is close to being under and the small tree in her yard has snow up to the lower branches. It is quite a thing to see. My mind kept going back to her corner of the yard being a catchall for the snow plowing. Sometimes, in our homes, we have those drawers, closets, or rooms that just seem to catch everything that doesn’t seem to fit elsewhere. This gets really dangerous when that thinking starts to overflow into our lives. We try to keep ourselves focused on where we need to be, but there are things in our lives that we are not sure how to file them away. I think that this is especially true of sin, but can apply to many other things. Maybe there are things God forbids that we don’t feel as strongly about, like loving our neighbors. It doesn’t say to just get along with them or don’t cause any friction, but to love them. We don’t want to call it a sin, but we know we can’t really ignore what God calls us to do so we find that little corner in our lives to file that away. Maybe we also have our full surrender in that corner because we can’t bring ourselves to give up everything for the Lord. We hear the call to obedience, but we just can’t commit fully. In John 1 we hear, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” One of the most vital things we can do is to pray that Jesus would let His light shine into those corners of our lives where we have let things pile up -unforgiveness, anger, self-righteousness, pride, and so much more. When God’s light shines in those dark areas, our motives are brought out into the light where we have no choice but to surrender them to the Lord. No one wants their sin exposed, especially if others become aware of it. Only at that point do we truly cry out to God, “Help!” O Holy Spirit, expose my sinful heart to the light of your justice, mercy, and grace. Rebuild me to reflect Your majesty. Amen

Praying

I believe that this is one of the greatest gifts that we have been given. The ability to communicate with the Creator of the universe. The One who spoke and brought everything into being is the very One that is listening when we lift up our voice (or thoughts) in prayer. We should be quick to offer prayers for those that we meet as they share their stories and life. We should begin and end the day talking to God. We should thank God for our food before each meal. We lift up our nation and leaders and the nation in prayer for God’s leading, remember to note, not my will but Yours be done, for God may have very different plans than we do. We lift our church and community that God might soften hearts for the listener and put words in the mouths of those proclaiming. I think Corrie Ten Boom had a great quote on prayer, “The wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not being able to do something, and enter God’s realm where everything is possible. He specializes in the impossible. Nothing is too great for His almighty power. Nothing is too small for His love.” How often we get our minds stuck in the world and our inability to get the job done. He specializes in doing the impossible, but we often fail to ask, and when we do ask, we don’t ask from believing hearts. Our prayers sometimes sound sheepish, as if we weren’t sure if we were asking too much or chasing the impossible. How sad God must feel when we don’t trust Him for everything. Where is the boldness that James talks about where he speaks of praying and not doubting. We need to start taking prayer off the shelves that they have been sitting on and starting putting it into practice. Prayer should be the first thing that comes to mind as we begin the day and the last thought on our mind before we go to sleep. Prayer is part of the armor we are to put on everyday as we head out into spiritual battle. And it is not just us talking. God answers prayers. Sometimes in supernatural ways, sometimes through others, sometimes with a no or not yet. Sometimes we hear or sense that still small voice that speaks from within, but be careful to distinguish that voice from the Devils and our own selfish desires. Take time to listen. Father, give me spiritual ears to hear You and to know Your desires. Speak to us by Your word, Your Spirit, and through others. Amen

Lost

I was going to visit someone who I had never been to their house before. I made sure I had the address in my phone map search and set off with all the confidence in the world. It was an area that I knew didn’t get much of a signal, so I was counting on the map program to do its job. I went left, and then right. I drove down this road and around that corner. I got into a straight stretch and ended up in the middle of nowhere. It said that I had arrived, but all I could see was snow, and trees, and more snow... not one house or building or mailbox, or fire number. I knew there had been another similar address, so I was going to enter that in, but there was no reception. I knew that I could use the compass to get to a town east of me, but then what? I started heading east, waiting for my signal to get better. All of a sudden, I came across a road that was familiar. Did I find the house I was looking for? No, but the road I recognized went to a home I had also intended to visit sometime in the near future. That day was today. It was a good visit, and I think an important one. I might have to wait until Sunday and ask the individual if I might stop by for a visit and the directions to getting there. I’m even thinking that, since we boarder another state, I might have been in the wrong state. I at least know I was in a state of confusion, but that is a whole different thing. God’s timing and God’s way. That is what I learned today. How often we trust the world or the things of the world to get us to where we want to be. A couple problems with that. Where we want to be and where God wants us to be might be very, very different. The other, and more obvious issue is trusting the world and not first seeking God. As His word says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added as well”. It sounds so easy and obvious when we say it, and yet we continue to seek our own way. If, instead of just following what a machine told me, I zoomed in to where it was directing me, I would have known it was the wrong way. When we blindly listen to others, even Christians, without zooming in on what God’s word says, we often find ourselves in places that we never intended to be. Lord, please give me wisdom. Father, we get lost in our own thoughts and desires and often don’t even recognize that we are lost. Give us eyes to see. Amen

Almost Fixed

As I grew up, I loved to try to fix things from flashlights, to radios, toasters, lamps, and basically anything mechanical or electrical. If you ask my mom, she would say that I had a lot of things that needed fixing. I, however, thought they were almost fixed. In the end, most of the things awaiting fixing had to be thrown out. Today, I ran across the same mind set. We had a vehicle with the check engine light on and several other lights. They had diagnosed it a few weeks ago and were fixing it today. An hour later, the vehicle was ready to go. I drove it about three blocks, and when I stopped slowly, it felt like the car was rolling over rumble strips and about to stall. I didn’t say to myself, “It sure runs better than it did”. We immediately turned around and went right back to the repair shop. Fifteen minutes later it was done. There was a lot of high-tech jargon used, but the essence of it was that the computer in the car needed to relearn what to do with the new sensor. No matter what the problem was, the vehicle is working great now. At least we didn’t need to throw the vehicle out like my almost fixed items. Over time, it will need to be fixed again and again until it runs no more. Then it will go to the vehicle graveyard. When we walk by faith in Jesus Christ, God doesn’t see us as almost fixed. He sees us as fully redeemed. Will there be need for tuning along the way? Yep! Each and every day. Will this broken-down body of mine eventually end up on a scrap heap? Not if I walk by faith. Instead of eventually wearing out, our bodies will become what God created us to be, children of God and inheritors of eternal life. Remember, when you are tempted to feel down because your life isn’t going as you desire that in Christ there is no almost fixed. We are either ready or we belong to the Devil. I think we often look at others as almost fixed, forgetting that in Christ, we are all made into new creations. Our eternity is not dependent on how the world defines us, but rather on faith in Christ. With faith in Christ, I am not almost fixed, but I am royalty, a child of the King. Heaven is my inheritance, and forgiveness and faith are my hope. I am called to be a mighty warrior of God. The Holy Spirit tunes me up daily. Father God, thank You for the gift of life and all Your promises Help me to daily keep my mind focused on You. Amen

What’s in Your Heart

I washed my car yesterday and today I had a shock. As I got out of my car, I noticed a big scratch in the newly washed surface. I didn’t know if it was there before the wash and was not visible, or if someone had deliberately scratched it today. I decided to put some spit on my finger and rub the scratch to see how deep it went. To my surprise, the scratch wiped right off. There must have been some dirt or soap that dripped down the side. What a pleasant relief. Isn’t funny how much focus we put on the outward appearance. I need to clean the inside of the car, but I was concerned about the outside. When I lived in Washington state, there were many people there that were more concerned about having a beautifully landscaped exterior of the house, than having much on the inside. The saddest commentary is on people's lives that are high maintenance on the outside, but the inside is empty, or worse yet, filled with undesirable things. I can’t help but think of Samuel when he was called by God to anoint who would become the next king. He was told to go to Jesse’s place and God would show which one of his sons was to be anointed. The first son looked to be a handsome and strong warrior. Samuel was sure this was the man. God said, “No”. There were a number of other sons, and each time Samuel saw them, God said, “No”. After all the sons, God had not accepted any. Samuel asked, “Are these all your sons?” Jesse said he had one more, a young boy that was shepherding the sheep. When Samuel saw him, God said, “Yes”. God also said, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart”. Sometimes we are so concerned about giving a good impression (outwardly) that we forget to take care of the inside in a godly way. What is more important to you? Your physical appearance or the condition of your heart? I’ve heard there are those that spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning. I wonder how many of those spend even a fraction of that time with God in prayer, in reading the Bible, and in worship. The next time you are tempted to judge a person by their outward appearance, pause and consider what is in their heart. Some of the best people I know have a rough exterior. Father, give me eyes to truly see the people around me for who they are and not just how they look. Give me loving heart. Amen

A Good Washing

I will find out tomorrow how bad my mistake was today. I was in town and noticed how bad the dirt was building up on the back of my car. The back seems to get dirty faster than any other car I have owned. I decided to go into a car wash. That isn’t a terrible idea, except that the temperature was about 13 degrees Fahrenheit (about 10 C). When I stopped shortly after the wash, I went around the car and opened every door so that they would not freeze shut on me. When I got home, I went to open my window to get the mail, and I heard the window motor strain before finally breaking loose from the ice. The car was cleaned, but not without some difficulties. Hopefully I can get into the car tomorrow morning. The other thing is, no matter how clean it was when I left the car wash, it will be dirty as soon as I drive. There is another One in the cleaning business. His name is Jesus. He doesn’t just clean the dirt off the outside. He doesn’t just remove the stains that have contaminated the whole body. He makes us into a new creation. He is not just fixing, but restoring to its original design. Will it get dirty again? On the outside by the things we say and do. Paul talks about this in Romans where he says the things he doesn’t want to do are the very things that he does and the things he wants to do are the things that he fails to do. He starts off saying the law is spiritual and when it points out my sin, then the law good. Then he ends that section with Romans 7:20, “Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” If I am walking by faith, the law loses its power to condemn me. That is how Paul can say it is not me that is sinning, but the sin in me. I still need to seek God for forgiveness, but by faith, I am covered in the righteousness of God. Now if I were to willfully and deliberately sin, that is a different idea, but still forgivable. In the summertime, I might choose to wash the car myself. This is not an option when it comes to sin. Only God can cleanse me from all unrighteousness. If I am able, I should seek to make restitution for my sin as a sign of my remorse. Again, it is only in Christ that we can be fully cleansed. My job is to stay out of the mud in the first place. Thank You Jesus for all that You have done for me, but especially, for nailing my sin to the cross and restoring me. Amen

Security

We have been debating going to another internet provider. Even as I sit typing this pondering, the internet keeps dropping out. Each time that happens, the internet security also stops working. When the internet comes back on, it takes a while for the security to get back up and going. It has already disconnected and connected about 7 times just in the last few minutes. Imagine owning a business and hiring security because you had some very valuable products. Every time you went to check on how the security was going, they were outside smoking and not doing rounds to make sure everything is secure. I don’t think any of us would be ok with that, even if they were family or friends. Security is not something we play around with. We want our family secure, our businesses secure, our churches secure, our possessions secure. If what we had was valuable enough, you know it would be secured as best we can. The same goes for our internet. There are too many people that want to access things on our computers, so leaving it unsecured is not a good idea. If we suspected we were being followed or someone was stalking a family member, we'd call the police immediately. So, why is it that we don’t have the same concern for our eternal security. I’m not talking about paying for a program or hiring a bodyguard, although the security I am mentioning came at a great price. Our eternal security is found when we are walking in faith and obedience. We are told that if we believe and are baptized, we will be saved. Jesus gives that security to all who have true faith in Him. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you have come from. What matters is having our complete faith in God. The internet security will fail. Thieves can find ways to break in and get possessions. No one... I repeat again, no one can take away the gift that God has poured out generously upon those who will receive it, eternal life. There is forgiveness, being clothed in the righteousness of God, the working of the Holy Spirit in us, the full armor of God, and faith. That’s what we need the most. How do we know if we have enough faith? It isn’t how much, but the genuineness of that faith. If you don’t know if your faith is genuine, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you. O Holy Spirit, there are many that say they have faith, but lack genuineness. Instill in as a deep faith in You. Amen

Weakness Equals Strength

Imagine that you are on a team that has to answer a variety of questions before the other team answers. You have control of the buzzer. Every question that is asked, you buzz in quickly but then proceed to give the wrong answer. You have someone that is very bright on your team that has known every answer so far, but you have been so wrapped up in what people think of you that it never dawned on you to seek the direction of your teammate. Even though you could have easily won the whole tournament, you end up in last place because you couldn’t accept the help of others. Now let’s translate this parable to what God desires to do. God has the answers and everything that we need, but our own selfish desire and prideful strength doesn’t leave much room for God. The end result is that we stumble and fall further than if we had simply humbled ourselves in the first place. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” You see, it is when I finally realize that I can’t do it, that I lean on Jesus, who grants us His strength. Paul went on to say, “When I am weak, then I am strong”. We like to rely on ourselves, even though we have proven to be a bad investment instead of entrusting ourselves to the One that knows all things. Why do we find it so hard to trust God and submit to Him. In the southeast, when there is even mention of a snowstorm, people buy bread, milk, eggs etc., leaving the shelves bare. Coincidentally, when we speak of the end times, there is silence and inaction. In light of eternity, which one should get the greater response? The Apostle Paul was a man, zealous for the Lord and yet it wasn’t until Paul was humbled on the road to Damascus that he walks in the strength of the Lord. Jacob cheats his brother out of his birthright and inheritance and then runs for his life. If he had not humbled himself before the Lord, he never would have returned to receive what was rightfully his. Have you desired to serve God, but it just seems like your wheels are spinning? Seek God and His will. Holy Spirit, I want to serve You faithfully, but I know that I cannot do it alone. Help me to readily entrust my life into Your hands. Amen

Not My Will...

We live in a time where there are about as many versions of faith as there are people. We seemed to have created God into our image. That is never a good place to be. I have seen so many that are solid, faithful people of God that seem to change their theology based on their circumstances. Instead of seeking God and asking Him how I or we can get back to where He has called us to be, we change the rules. What was unshakable, we now have found a way to justify. I ran across a great quote from George Muller, “If the Holy Spirit guides us, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.” The claim that I need to accept someone because that is the way they were created completely denies God’s word. We have all been born with tendencies that are out of tune with God. That is called sin. There are those that are kleptomaniacs that say they can’t help themselves and yet you and I would never give them freedom to take whatever they want. They need to find a way to control that urge. We have been created with a leaning toward sexual sin. How do I know? Scripture is filled with warnings about sexual immorality, which would not be necessary if we don’t struggle with it. Good upbringing, satisfaction in relationships with other, confidence in our own identity, and faith can go a long way to right living. The point is, no one can claim that they are free to live a life out of line with God’s word because they were born that way. That is the very reason that Jesus died on the cross. This is also why the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 12 that we to “offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God”. We are to submit ourselves fully to God. He goes on to say that we must keep ourselves separate from the world. Through faith, submission, and obedience to His word, the Holy Spirit will transform us by renewing our mind, strengthening our faith, and revealing His will to us. We are not to make God’s word more palatable, but rather, through the working of the Holy Spirit, obedience to His word will be our greatest goal and desire. When using my phone gps, I would never ignore a warning that a bridge is out up ahead. Why do I think it is any wiser to not follow God’s word faithfully? Father, Your word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path. Reveal Your will and desire to us each day. Amen

Bracing for the Cold

The weather predictions indicate that this coming weekend could be very cold, at least for our area. The wind chills may exceed -40 degrees Fahrenheit, which coincidentally is also -40 degrees Celsius. How does one get ready? Some make sure their vehicle is prepared in case the engine stalls or their car becomes disabled (maybe hits a deer). They make sure there is high carb food to keep the system going, extra clothing (ie. heavy coat), water, flashlight, a source of heat, etc. We can plan to only be outside for short times, if our job doesn’t require us to be out. We can dress for the weather. Some risk the elements and go on with life. Maybe they will be ok, but if things turn bad, they may be in for a world of hurt. Preparing isn’t just having some hot chocolate at home, but as mentioned above, be prepared for all things. God also tells us to be prepared... not for a snowstorm, but in our spiritual walk with Him. In 2 Timothy 4, we read, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.” We know that the day will come when we will stand, or rather, fall before Jesus to be judged. We are charged to be prepared at all times. That is more than making sure the car has all the appropriate survival gear. This preparation is referring to our spirit or soul. It seems to indicate a need to be helping others to be ready as well. This is not a passive waiting, but an active preparation for us and those we meet. Peter tells us a little more specifically in 1 Peter 3, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” We are being instructed to be prepared to defend our faith... why do we believe what we do and what difference does that make? These questions are not to be taken lightly, but they should constantly draw us back into God’s word and challenge us to put our faith into words so that others might know! Heavenly Father, there are so many things we prepare for on earth but knowing and walking with You need to be our hearts desire. Amen

Lifting Up our Voices

I have found that so many of the traditional hymns are a great source of meditation and worship. Often in the singing, we miss some of the message. I find reading each verse can bring out a deeper understanding. Many of the modern praise choruses miss the intimate connection between our praises and God’s character. Notice I didn’t say, “... what God has done.” We are not praising Him because of what He has done but praising Him for who He is. The first verse - “O worship the King all-glorious above, O gratefully sing his power and his love: our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days, pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.” We recognize that He is powerful, loving, a fierce defender, eternal, and surrounded with praise. Praise from who? Us? Yes, but also from angels, and God’s own creation. Verse 2 - “O tell of his might and sing of his grace, whose robe is the light, whose canopy space. His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form, and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.” As I praise Him, again, it is not just for what He has done, but our praise is declaring who He is. Let us declare to others our mighty God who is gracious and merciful. A picture is also painted of His wrath being compared to a thunderstorm, full of power and unstopable. Verse 3 - “Your bountiful care, what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air, it shines in the light; it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.” God is life itself. As He watches over and cares for His creation, He watches over His children as well. Verse 4 - Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, in you do we trust, nor find you to fail. Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end, our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!” Here we see our great dependence on Him. It reminds me of Ash Wednesday as we receive the sign of the cross, in ashes, on our foreheads and hear, “From dust we came. To dust we return”. Note who He is... “our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!” The last verse - “O measureless Might, unchangeable Love, whom angels delight to worship above! Your ransomed creation, with glory ablaze, in true adoration shall sing to your praise!” Lift up holy hands to Him. Father, to You be all glory and praise. By Your word, every living thing that we see has been given life by You. Praise God! Amen