What Is Yet to Come

For quite a few days now, the weather forecasters have predicted a storm that could be 2-4 feet of snow. This is an inconceivable amount for us in northern Wisconsin. It would fluctuate a little here and there, but if anything, it was becoming more dire. I have to admit that having seen many storms lose power, I considered that fact that this could all be hype. But what if the predictions are true. I need to make sure I have gas for the snow blower, any food, bread, milk, eggs, etc. that I might need. I’m still not convinced it is going to be all they say it is, but I would be foolish to completely ignore it. Stay tuned on the outcome. Why did I share this information? Well, there is a book in the Bible that also predicts some very dire consequences. It doesn’t have to do with a storm we probably can clean up after. It has to do with our eternity... with God, or with the Devil. I believe there are some very specific things that are predicted including an unprecedented amount of people falling away from faith, the appearing of the Anti-Christ, plagues and destruction. God’s word even says that if Jesus didn’t return when He did, even the faithful would not be able to continue to stand. There are many that don’t take this seriously. Some consider it a scare tactic. Some figure since it hasn’t happened in several thousand years, that it at least won’t happen in our lifetime. Some simply deny Christ. Like the snowstorm, if it is real, I want to be ready. The Messiah had been predicted for a few thousand years and yet so many didn’t recognize Him, even though He did exactly what the Scriptures said He would do. The church leaders and a crowd called for His execution... on a cross. It didn’t matter if the people believed, God still did what He had promised. God’s word has always proven to be true. So, what do we need to do to be prepared for Jesus? Believe. Not just go to church, read the Bible, do good stuff. Believe with all your heart! It is not like betting, where we don’t’ put everything on the line. We try to cover all the bases just in case we lose the bet. But with Jesus... with this living faith... it is all in or completely out. There is no safety line. We can’t wait and see, and then change. It is a complete surrender. We can only serve one Master and that is God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Father, there is a part of me that doesn’t want to let go of worldly pleasures and treasures, but I want to love You more. Amen

Prayer

We talk about prayer all the time in church and Christian circles. Sadly, I think sometimes we offer to pray for people as a form of gossip... finding out something that others don’t know. However, if we know the information, we can pray specifically, but we still can’t tell God how He has to do things. We don’t need to know the details to lift someone up into the throne room of God. We just have to lift them up because God knows what needs to be done. We also have to be cautious about what we promise. If someone shares a struggle or a surgery that is coming up, it is easy to say that we will remember them in prayer... but do we? As Christians, we need to be more than words. We need to live out our faith and keep our promises. I read recently that, “The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor.” That is where prayer needs to be. Maybe we can’t physically get on our knees before God, but we can humble our hearts before Him. If we can get on our knees, our physical actions often encourage the heart, and thus our spiritual condition. Our natural reaction is to try to fix things on our own and then maybe we remember to pray. Some use prayer as a backup rather than the first line of action. I’m always reminded of the prayer meeting that was called for during a long drought. They gathered together to petition God for rain. In the crowd, only one person, a young boy, believed enough to bring an umbrella. That is the faith, the humble heart, the expectation that we should all have. Prayer is not an inconvenience or a chore we need to accomplish. It is the opportunity to interact with the God who created all things. If we were invited to visit with royalty, most of us would consider it a great honor and yet when we have been invited to come before Almighty God, suddenly we struggle. What does that say about our faith. I know that prayer can become so predictable that we sometimes pray without even thinking about it. This can be particularly true with table prayers. If we always pray the same thing, we might not think about it or we might try to pray quickly so that we can get back to watching TV or get to eating. Just remember that when problems arise, there is an obvious first step. With a humble heart, we need to pray. Father, help us to rely on You in all things. Help us in our struggles and enable us to help others in Your name. Amen

New Life in Christ

At Christmas time, we had purchased a poinsettia for the church. Towards the end of December, we took that plant home. I wanted to keep it going until spring and plant it outside. I didn’t water it as faithfully as I should, although I’m not sure it would make a lot of difference. Red leaves started drying up and falling off. My wife would ask to throw it away, but I would just add more water. I noticed about a week ago that it has a bunch of new leaves popping out. Its success had nothing to do with my great care. In spite of me, it is growing and I think will make a beautiful plant this summer. What a beautiful picture that is of our relationship with God. Isaiah talks about “a bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out”. God is not in the business of destroying lives...He came to save lives. Many, if not most people, would have given up on that plant. Even if there was a glimpse of new life, it would take too much time and it would not look beautiful for quite a while. There are many Christians that fall and the “beauty” they once held is gone. Maybe they were caught in adultery, had a divorce, lost a job, struggled with health issues, or got on the bad side of the wrong person. We may say we care, but how do our actions show that? Do we try to help them get back on their feet again or are we OK with them falling away from the church, the family, the community, etc. Truthfully, our churches should be filled with people that are hurting, wounded, and ignored. They deserve to be loved and cared for too. Just as my watering and the sunshine are bringing new life to my plant, God is able to bring new life into others. Wait a second. Who needs this new life? Just the outcast? No! We all are in need of this new life that is offered through Jesus. As we surrender to the King of kings, we find that His work on the cross washes all who come to Him in faith. He renews us, restores us, and empowers us to represent Him wherever we go. This new life is in Christ. You might say it is for all who are born again. His mercies are new every morning. God’s family is not filled with the rich and famous. Many of the rich are trusting in their own power. It is the sick and wounded that truly need spiritual hospitals. Who is God calling you to nurture and encourage today. Holy Spirit, there are so many that are wounded and so few that are there to love them. Use us to reach the lost. Amen

Erase Before Starting

We have been recording our services at Community Lutheran Church in McAllister, WI since covid-19 hit. We don’t have the internet at church to record it live so I record it onto a SD card and from there, there is a process to get it on YouTube so that others can see. On service pretty much fills up the card, so we have to keep erasing it so that the next service can be recorded. We have a number of cards that we keep rotating. I have had times that I try to put the card in the camera and camera tells me that it won’t work. Sometimes the card doesn’t make the right contact, so I have to try several times to get it to connect properly. I did it once where I had three cards in my pocket that I brought from home. The first card didn’t work. I tried the second card and that failed too. The third card didn’t do any better. The fourth card, that was already at church, did the trick. I took the other three cards home and realized I had never erased them. To record, I need a clean slate... a new start... a removal of the past. This brings me to our walk with God. We cannot try to hang onto the “data” of the world and think that we can absorb what God wants us to know too. Adam and Eve tried that and failed miserably. This is where our surrender comes into play. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to remove the things of the past and of the world that we sometimes cling to so that we can be fully available for God. It sounds easy, but sadly, it is often much more of a challenge. We like to believe we have turned from the world only to find that it once again has control over us... maybe it is a bad habit, an addiction, or just a longing for what we should have left behind. Like Sodom and Gomorrah, God tells us not to look back, but we want to take a little peek. That didn’t work out well for Lot’s wife and usually it creates a problem for us as well. We read a number of times where God tells certain people to sell all they have, give it to the poor, and follow Him. Their love for money often became too great to walk away from. With the video, I can’t hang on to the past and still record the present. With our spiritual walk, we cannot hang onto the world and somehow think we are truly ready to follow God. We cannot serve both. It is like being married and flirting with a mistress. Lead us, Holy Spirit. Dear God, the world is filled with temptations, but none can compare to You. Help us to renew our desire for You each day. Amen

In the Heat of the Day

As I was preparing for Sunday's message, I had looked at the Gospel lesson which was about the woman at the well. For those that are not familiar with it, it is taken from John chapter 4. No one went to the well to get water in the heat of the day... only one who was outcast and despised by many in the village. Jesus arrived at the well at this time and sees a Samaritan woman pulling up water from the well. Jesus’ disciples had gone to town to get food. No respectable Jew, by himself, would have talked with any woman, let alone this outcast. On top of that, she was a Samaritan women and Jews pretty much despised all Samaritans. However, Jesus started a conversation by asking for a drink. As this woman was questioning Jesus’ motives, He responded by saying that if she knew who He was, she would ask Him for living water (either the Holy Spirit or God’s Word) and she would thirst no more. Not understanding this water wasn’t from the well, she asked for some so she would not have to continue to go to the well to fetch water. Jesus asks her to bring her husband. She states that she has none. He confirms that and then tells her she has had 5 husbands and the one she is with now is not her husband. She recognizes His spiritual gift to see her life. Then Jesus confirms that He is the Messiah, the promised Savior. She, the one that has been outcast, goes to tell the town who Jesus is saying, “He told me everything I have ever done.” Can you imagine that you would rejoice that Jesus can see all your sin and shame? She wasn’t focusing on what she had done, but who Jesus was. Maybe she hadn’t thought about her sin, or she was thankful that Jesus still cared for her in spite of her sin. She was celebrating the fact that Jesus might very well be the Christ, the waited Savior. Jesus spoke of salvation (being restored) and worship. I think she hungered for that renewal. Jesus states, “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” Maybe you know of someone like the woman at the well. Maybe you are in her shoes. Maybe you will bump into someone longing for redemption. Will we look at their outward appearance and life mistakes and stay clear of her, or will we offer her to promises and hope of God? Father, like the woman at the well, we have been guilty of things we are not proud of. Remind us of our new life in You. Amen

Trusting in God

I always love taking time to look at the meaning and heart of our beloved hymns. Today I wanted to look at the hymn “If You but Trust in God to Guide You”. It is so basic to our faith. Without trust, we really have nothing. Without trust, His promises are of no value to us. The first verse states, “If you but trust in God to guide you And place your confidence in Him, You’ll find Him always there beside you, To give you hope and strength within. For those who trust God’s changeless love Build on the rock that will not move.” The sign that we really trust Him is when we go from talking about ideas and philosophies to putting the trust and confidence in the only One who holds all things in His hands. As we walk in that faith, we can have confidence of His presence and leading. That trust that we have in God is not wasted because it lays the foundation on what the rest of our life will be built on. Verse 2 goes on, “What gain is there in futile weeping, In helpless anger and distress? If you are in His care and keeping, In sorrow will He love you less? For He who took for you a cross Will bring you safe through every loss.” There are many times that we get overwhelmed with life and our circumstances. Too many times, this seems to overwhelm us and render us helpless. No matter what we are going through, know that if you walk by faith, He will not leave you in your sorrow, but lifts you up to begin again. The assurance that we have is in what Jesus willing did for us on the cross to free us from the things pull us down. Verse 3, “In patient trust await His leisure In cheerful hope, with heart content To take whate’er your Father’s pleasure And all discerning love have sent; Doubt not your inmost wants are known To Him who chose you for His own.” We can get confused between trusting God and His timing and expecting God to do for us as we please. We await Him and His call for our lives. When God is slow to answer (from our perspective), do not see it as uncaring or indifferent. His timing is perfect and He knows your every need. Verse 4, “Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving, Offer your service faithfully, And trust His word; though undeserving, You’ll find His promise true to be. God never will forsake in need The soul that trusts in Him indeed.” So, trust his with all that you have. Lord, How quickly we trust what the world says and how slow we are to really trust You. Change our heart, O Lord. Amen

Food for the Soul

An area of my life that I really struggle with is eating too much. My greatest weakness comes with snacking and eating past 6 pm. I feel all the more guilty because I know there are so many that have so little. I seem to hold out ok until I decide to have a few crackers. Soon I have gone way beyond that. The blame for my behavior rests on me, and me alone. Why is it that it is so easy to snack on food, but it often seems so hard to feed on God’s word? I have a hard time stopping the snacking, and yet, at times, it seems like reading God’s word is such a chore. When I am snacking, the end result is initially feeling famished, only to have an uncomfortableness with being too full. On the other hand, when it comes to God’s word, when my soul hungers for the true word from God, there is not enough time to read all of God’s word that I desire. The physical food leaves me feeling lethargic and uncomfortable while the word of God fills me with a deep passion for God and a renewed energy. When I am snacking, I often am searching for a specific taste or texture, and other foods like veggies are often far from what my taste buds desire. When feeding on God’s word, the variety only adds a deeper interest and passion to God’s word. When snacking, I tend to push myself away from people, maybe because I don’t want anyone to know what I am doing. When I am feeding on God’s word, I have this great desire to share it with all those that I meet. When I finally use self-discipline, I struggle the first few nights and then it ceases to have that control over me. When we break the habit, it no longer holds us prisoner. When we commit to reading God’s word, it may seem like work at first, however, the more we do it, the easier the pattern becomes. What negative habits have we allowed to reside in us? I want to replace the effort to read God’s word with a deep desire to know Him. If we have a choice, we seek the best, tastiest, crunchiest food to fill our stomach. What are you hungering for? Are you seeking God’s leading in your life? Do you read beyond what your devotions direct you to do? When my heart starts to really burn, I try to expose myself to many cross references that add depth to what God is trying to say to us. I don’t ever want to run from God’s word, but rather to joyfully embrace it. Father, help me to desire Your word more than I desire the food of this world. Give me a deep longing to dig into Your word. Amen

Soap Operas

I hate to admit it, but I remember a time that I was hooked on a soap opera. I would anxiously wait for the next day so I could figure out what was going to happen next. Then there were days that I couldn’t see it, and low and behold, I didn’t seem to miss anything important. I realized how much time I was wasting and the fact that if I looked around, there were many soap operas running in real everyday relationships. Funny thing was, or maybe not so funny, I saw one of the soap operas after about 5 years and realized that I still hadn’t missed that much... I still knew the storyline. Why is it that we get so interested in watching someone else’s life and all their drama, but we fail to realize that we too have our own storyline going. The soap operas were good at getting you thinking there was something big going on when in reality the viewer was led inch by inch into nothingness. I was thinking about some quotes from C.S.Lewis’ “Screwtape Letters”, where Lewis looked at the Christian life from the Devil’s point of view. For example, one of the demons says, “Whatever their bodies do affects their souls. It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out....” The Devil wants us to act without thinking... desire without restraint... and convince us that the Devil made me do it instead of taking responsibility. An empty mind is not a worshiping mind. Another condemning statement that truly fits the soap opera life, “Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” Most people don’t usually, on the spur of the moment, choose to walk away from God. It is a long gradual road that slowly turns from God and seeks the comforts of self. Much of the American culture along with many churches are so caught up in our comfort and desires that we don’t even realize how close we are to the gates of Hell. The last quote I will share from the Devil’s perspective is, “A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all—and more amusing.” As long as we are playing church, our souls are in danger. It is the difference between a child playing a fireman and an adult being one. True faith is not a game, but it is life itself. Father, forgive us for all the times we go through the motions, but fail to worship and serve You fully. Amen

Intercessory Prayer

To define this type of prayer is most basically to pray on someone else’s behalf. It can be praying for health, for guidance, for spiritual encouragement, or whatever needs we may feel need to be lifted up. It can be for one person or a group of people. Most often in the Bible is Jesus interceding for us. We read in Romans 8 that “Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” In this section, it was talking about who can separate us from the love of Christ. Clearly we are the only ones that can do that by walking away from faith. Jesus is interceding for us before the thrown of God. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, the Father no longer looks at the faithful as they are with sin and rebellion, but sees us as one cleansed by Christ. We read again in Hebrews 9, “For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.” Again, it is not a wish or an attempt to lift something in prayer in hopes that God might hear and even answer us. Jesus is appearing before our heavenly Father to present our prayers before God Himself. Again we read in 1 John 2, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This interceding is not just Jesus representing us to the Father. Yes, Jesus is the mediator between us and God, but we are also called to pray on behalf of others. In Revelation 8, it says, “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.” We do not pray to the saints, but the saints (forgiven sinners) lift up prayers on behalf of those in need. Sometimes God just puts a situation or an individual on our hearts. This is most likely because God is calling us to lift them in prayer. Not matter where or when, God’s people should be praying for others. Father, teach us not only to lift our own hearts and needs before you, but lead us in praying for all of Your people. Amen

Are You Ready?

Recently, I visited a classmate that had just had surgery. He was almost back to his normal self, which for our group still may not have been normal. Anyway, a few days later, I heard he was back in the hospital with an infection. As time went on, he passed away from that infection. It was such a shock. I never imagined that that was possible. We had the funeral today. It was good to catch up with some friends, but I wish it could have been under different circumstances. Last summer, he had sent me a postcard from a trip he and his wife had gone on. Then he had left a message on my machine saying that we should get together just to visit. At the time, I had quite a few things going on and ended up not getting back to him. I regret not having met up with him, especially now that he is no longer around. Don’t take life for granted. We never know when our time will end here on earth. Take a little extra time to be with friends and family. Our length of life is unknown to us. Even more importantly is sharing our faith with others. From what my friend said before he passed, I believe he knew the Lord. The question is, “How many of the people that you know don’t really have a genuine faith in God. One can faithfully go to church without believing that Jesus is the only way. Write an old-fashioned letter and share why Jesus is so important to you. Visit someone that is having a hard time and share how you have found peace in God. Ask them if they know for sure where they are going to be spending eternity and why they believe that. Might they be offended by your questions and your sudden interest in their faith? That is a real possibility. If, however, they die unexpectedly, will you be ok with the fact that you didn’t reach out when you could? I am not trying to guilt you but make it very plain what is at stake. I’d rather someone hate me and make it to heaven than be friends with those in the world and then see them condemned to hell. John 3:18 says that if they don’t believe, they stand condemned already. What does it mean to believe? To know and call out for God’s forgiveness, to know Jesus died for all sins, and that through salvation bought by Jesus, I will live eternally with Him. Do you have that faith? Does everyone in your family have that faith? Who do you need to tell? Father, help us to hear this warning and put it into practice because too many people die without the assurance of heaven. Amen

Impacting Lives

There was a funeral for a friend of mine who was on the fire department. Over the years, as he moved around, he served on quite a few departments. There was an overwhelming presence of firefighters in their dress blues. I know that part of it was because he was only in his 40s, but also, part of it is that he had impacted a lot of lives. I even talked with some that weren’t on a department with him that had worked side by side with him when mutual aid was given. I could list a lot of characteristics that made him into a great friend and fellow fireman. Part of this pondering is to honor all those that serve their communities. Part of it is to honor him as a friend. The main reason, however, is that this is a great example of what the body of Christ should look like. The first quality I see is a desire to serve those around him. As Christians, that doesn’t just look like assisting one in need, although that is part of it. It is a desire to bring Christ wherever we go. Another quality is his desire to jump in and help. When he moved to a different township, he would join the fire department there because he knew how to serve through that. As Christians, are we so quick to want to jump in and share the gifts and abilities that we have? A third quality was that he was generous. I know of so many people he helped materially and by lending a helping hand. Yet another quality was that of asking questions and seeking clarity. He always wanted to do the best that he could. How many times as Christians are we not sure of something theologically or just clarity on a passage but never followed up to find out what it meant. This fireman was friendly, gentle, helpful, hardworking, etc. It was hard to say goodbye. Now we need to focus on moving forward, displaying many of the characteristics that defined who he was. I should put it the proper way and say that we need to pattern our lives after Christ and those characteristics will be ours as well. As we think about gifts that we can pass on, the greatest gift we can offer others is the hope and knowledge of God. The biggest gift we can offer is our heart to God, fully surrendered. My prayer is that many of those that gathered for the funeral, that don’t have a deep relationship with God, might hunger to know that comfort, peace and assurance from God. Father, open the hearts of those that gathered to mourn, that they might draw nearer to You and hunger for what only You can giver. Amen

God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle

Is that really true? It is inferred from God’s word. In 1 Corinthians 10, it says, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” I think sometimes God allows things to pile up on top of each other just to bring us to a place where we can’t make it without Jesus. My schedule really piled up over the last few days. I was thinking what a challenge it was going to be. Then, I ended up going to the Emergency Room with someone that ran late. It will be well after midnight before I get to bed. I’m not seeking a pity party. I would not give up a thing I am doing. It is just to say that I might be pushed toward my limits this weekend. That’s OK, because we serve a God that isn’t afraid of the impossible. He actually specializes in it. Note, I was concerned by my limits, but not God’s. With God, all things are possible. I am just thankful for the privilege of serving those in need... from a funeral to medical issues. Each is a great opportunity. Actually, on the trip to Green Bay, and even at the Hospital, I had some great time to think and ponder the things to come. Some people hate driving, but for me it is very therapeutic. I think God allows things to pile up on us so that we will turn to Him. If I could always solve it myself, I might never turn to God. Like the thorn in the flesh to Paul, heavy schedules and overwhelming circumstances can also keep us humble and dependent on God. He says that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. I can get frustrated with a heavy schedule, or I can see it as an opportunity to lean on God. So, as 1 Corinthians 10 says, we need to be cautious of our own abilities and egos. God tells us that He will always give us a way out, and I would guess that He gives an extra measure of faith when an escape is not possible. Joseph chose to separate himself from Potipher’s wife when she tried to make sexual advances toward Him. He paid a price and was jailed, but God used that to bring Joseph to a place where he could rescue his own family from a coming drought. Father, forgive us for looking at our circumstances through our eyes and not according to Your will and desire and ability. Amen

Who Owns the Church?

Over the years I have heard so many different opinions on this question. I think when people really think about it, they would say, “God”, but in general, we tend to think of it as our church. How we see the church, in many ways, will determine how we worship. Is replacing the carpet for our enjoyment and pride or is it a desire to keep God’s house in good shape? If it is for us, and not to glorify God, we might want to consider if it really is a good use of the finances entrusted to us. When we put our offerings in the Offering plate, do we think of it as a means of paying for gas, electric, and salaries or is it honestly an offering to God from our hearts to be used to further the gospel message? If it is God’s house, then every time we enter, we must understand that we are guests. We are there to enjoy the intimacy with God and should honor God with humble and surrendered hearts. Would you walk into someone else’s house and track mud or leave your candy wrappers all over the place? If it is God’s house, are we cleaning up after ourselves to leave the place better than we found it. I don’t want this to be seen as legalistic bullying. I am not even trying to tell you what you have to do? I just think if we realize we are taking care of God’s house, we might treat it with more respect than if it is our building that we pay for with our offerings. I’m just asking that people consider their heart and their motives, even as they enter the house of the Lord. I respect those that have been called to oversee the church and the ministry, but if it ever came to a choice between following God or the desires of man, I would try to gently explain why I couldn’t follow the rules of man. Lastly, if it is God’s house, then when we arrive, it is first of all, to see Him, not to catch up with our neighbor. There should be a desire to honor God with how we dress, how we act, and how we listen and worship. Even when churches are making their budgets, do we consult God? By this I mean, have we spent time praying for wisdom to know what God wants to accomplish through His church this year? Our budget should match what God is directing us to do and not just what we think we can do. God is not short of financial and spiritual support. How can I enter God’s house with an attitude or worship and service? Father, help us to understand the importance of worship and to recognize your rightful place in our hearts and life. Amen

One of Our Biggest Threats

I looked in a Bible Encyclopedia to understand the concept of complacency. It said, “Complacency, in a biblical context, refers to a self-satisfied state of mind that leads to a lack of vigilance, spiritual growth, or responsiveness to God's will. It is often characterized by a sense of contentment with one's current spiritual state, which can result in neglecting one's duties and responsibilities before God. The Bible warns against complacency, as it can lead to spiritual stagnation and vulnerability to sin.” This not only describes much of our nation, but it is also quite accurate for many in the Christian Church. I just want to include some Bible passages that point to this self-satisfied state. We read in Zephaniah 1:12, “It will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good or evil!’ Stagnant faith is destructive faith. It has really fallen when it no longer believes that God is just. Then we read in Deuteronomy 8:14, “...then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Even after God’s people had been rescued from slavery in Egypt, they still forgot His provisions. Pride is one of those characteristics that cause us to turn our face away from God. In 2 Chronicles 20:33, “The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.” If we are serious about our faith, we should not allow false teachings and idols to have any part of our lives. We cannot serve God and idols. Again in Ezekiel 33:31, “They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain.” Hearing the word of God and not put it into action is not much different than the Devil. He believes in Jesus but does not do what the Word says. Lastly, we read Amos 6:1, “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion And to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria, The distinguished men of the foremost of nations, To whom the house of Israel comes.” Renew your faith. Father, help us not to fall into complacency and seek comfort as our highest goal. You and You alone are our hope. Amen

Father Knows Best

Even though this was a TV program years ago, that is not what or who I am talking about. I am talking about our Heavenly Father. God tells us that even when we were in our mother’s womb, He knew the plans He had for us. We like to tell God how He should do His job. We do that when we don’t just lift up our circumstances, but we have a desire on how that should be accomplished. We might pray for God to heal someone, when maybe God was ready to take them home to eternity. We might pray for success at work when God has a different line of work lined up for us. We might pray for God’s help in our ministry so that we might see great success... but is that for us or the kingdom of God? We might pray for God to raise up people to go out into the mission field, not realizing that maybe God is calling us to be that person. How often do we, with all honesty and commitment, include the phrase, “Not my will but Yours be done”. I don’t question that God answers prayers and I believe that we can pray very specifically, but is it seeking God’s intervention and direction or is it accomplishing our will and desire? How much time do you spend seeking God’s direction for your day-to-day life? If our Father knows best, then why aren’t we asking Him? How I wish my earthly father was still around and that I could continue to seek his advice. Why don’t we all have that same passion and desire for our Heavenly Father? What gifts has God given you and how does He want you to use it? We are told that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to people as He chooses... He, not us! We also need to get over the concept that we are too old or too young. Retirement doesn’t remove our calling to serve God. If anything, it gives more time to be about our Father’s work. Are you gifted in teaching, in administration, in being merciful, in generosity, in serving others, being encouraging, or in some other area. How are you investing that gift in God’s kingdom. He doesn’t equip us to be comfortable, but to be faithful. If our Father knows best and He has equipped us for service, are we listening? John was the only Apostle that might have died of old age, but we don’t read of his retirement. As long as we have been given life and breath, we should serve God... praying, giving, serving, praising... Father, You have called me into service. You have gifted me to do Your will. Help me to be faithful in my call. Amen

Hurry Up and Wait...

An old phrase that I have heard many times. I believe it is something that those in the military have experienced, but most of the public has also experienced the same. We work hard to prepare and get things ready, but once we are there, we have to wait for the right time. Sometimes that time never comes. It can be frustrating and seem pointless at times, but when action is needed, it is then that those who prepared, got ready, and were waiting, will shine. I had my own experience. I had mentioned that there was water on my ears because the eustachian tubes were not draining. I had already struggled for almost a month. I am by no means saying my struggle is worse but that it is frustrating to deal with. I took medication and did what was asked. I had an appointment with a specialist who I hoped would do something to make things go back to normal. I did everything I could to clear my hearing, only to be told I had to wait another two months before they could do anything. Apparently it can take the body that long to restore itself and so insurance won’t cover it yet. Now the wait. Will my body do what it’s meant to do? Will God step in and supernaturally restore my hearing... maybe even better than it was? Are there lessons I can, and maybe need to learn, as I face a hearing disability... even for a few months. If I had waited 12 weeks without any attempts to clear things up, I would have to wait even longer. As Christians, we need to be ready. We sometimes wait until the need arises and then try to get ready. Often, it is too late. It is better to be ready and not have to intervene than to be unprepared and maybe not only fail to help someone else in need, but even fall short ourselves. If I get to 12 weeks and find no relief, then there are still things they can do. If I am prepared, by the Holy Spirit, through God’s word, and I face challenges that go beyond what I know, that is not the end. We have a God that does the impossible for those whose trust is in Him. If I find that my hearing becomes permanently destroyed (which I obviously pray is not the case), God will still use me, just in a different way. God’s ability to heal or to use us, even in our broken state, is all the hope I need. Hurry up. Turn to God. Be Alert. Be available. Trust. Father, I am Yours. You created me in my mother’s womb. You know the plans You have for me. I entrust myself into Your care to be used by You. Amen

Do Not Think of Yourself More Highly Than You Ought

There is a line between being confident and being prideful or self-centered. If we think nothing of ourselves, we will likely accomplish nothing. When we realize that we can be someone in Jesus , our confidence shifts from us to God. If we think too highly of ourselves, we become God and our ears are tone deaf to God’s instructions and leading. In Romans 12, we read, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” We are only as good as God makes us. My success without God is like a clanging symbol. God knows it is done, but there is no beauty in it. I heard an interest pondering recently that went like this, “Sometimes I worry that I am going to mess up God’s plan for my life and then I have to remind myself that I am not that powerful.” God’s plan is going to be carried out with or without us. To somehow think that the world is going to fall apart without me is a little egotistical. That doesn’t mean that you don’t have a special part to play, but your inaction might leave you out, and God will still accomplish what He chooses. I think about the Old Testament judges. There was a female judge that asked one of the men to carry out a mission to destroy an enemy leader. He was too hesitant to act, and so Debra sent another to accomplish the task. God still stopped that leader, but it was another woman that received the praise. This is also when I recall someone’s quote that stated, “When God calls you to accomplish a task, don’t worry about how it will get done, because God has already factored your stupidity and weaknesses into the outcome”. God is not our genie or life coach that is there to help us get what we desire. God is our King, Master, and Creator. We owe Him everything and we need to understand that our life belongs to Him. My identity is not found in what I do or accomplish, but through my trusting in God. If we fail to do what God sets before us, God is not stuck, but the challenge may become greater for the one who is faithful. So, when we serve God, we should forget about what other people think about what we do and focus on what God wants from me. Father, we imagine ourselves to be the center of the world at times. Help us to remember that we revolve around Your Son. Amen

Never Will I Leave You

I went over to the church to print off the bulletin. The parking lot had been freshly plowed and so it was nice to drive on. I went to the back door, took out my key and discovered that the lock was frozen. I could only get my key halfway in. I decided to walk around to the side door. Within my first few steps, I slipped and almost fell. I took a couple more steps and almost fell again. This time I pulled out my phone and called my wife. I wanted to make sure that she knew what was going on. If I did fall, I wanted someone to know about it. Thank God I made it safely into the building, but it reminded me how wonderful it is to hear God say, “Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you.” That passage is found in Hebrews 13:5-6, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” It is not an idle comment, but aimed at those that walk by faith. We don’t need to covet the things of the world because God is enough. With God in control, what do I have to fear? I had to call my wife to let her know my situation and concern. With God, He knows before we even know enough to be concerned. The most comforting thought is that He knows what is going to happen before I ever considered it. The bad news is that He knows what is going to happen before I ever considered it. Since He knows me and still loves me, in spite of my sin, why do I try to hide it from Him. We are called to confess our sins that He might cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There are too many people that are carrying burdens that God desires to free them from. He doesn’t walk with us because He needs us, but we walk with Him because we need Him. Like Adam and Eve, we need to stop hiding from God. When God asked Adam if He had eaten of the tree that He had told him not to eat from, why didn’t Adam just hang his head low and say, “Yes. I am so sorry! Will you forgive me?” Sin would still enter the world, but we would likely have been in a much better place with God. What burden or guilt are you carrying? It is time to let go and let God. There is nothing God cannot accomplish in you. Father, help us all to understand that we are not in competition with others to be good enough, but to let You renew us today. Amen

Attitude for Life

I didn’t actually watch the Winter Olympics, but I have been watching some of the key events. I have absolutely fallen in love with the American skater Alysa Liu. Her life story is amazing, as her dad had to leave China for safety. The dad worked with Alysa and at age 13, she did very well at the Olympics in figure skating. She was overwhelmed with her experience and all the pressure, that she retired from skating. The next winter Olympics, she didn’t participate. She then decided she wanted to make a comeback which is unheard of after being out of competition for several years. She contacted her coaches, minus her dad, as she wanted independence. She told the coaches that she would determine what she ate, how long she practiced, what music she would use, and wanted to collaborate on the choreography. They agreed and so began the unheard-of comeback. She pushed herself because she wanted to and not because she was told to. That is story enough. It was her attitude that caught my eye. She had a pure love of the sport. She said multiple times, and I believe her, that she wasn’t skating for the gold, but because, as an artist, she had a great desire to stir up emotions in others. She did not appear to be nervous because she wasn’t trying to prove anything. You could see joy, not nervous concentration. She wanted all the girls to do well and cheered them on. Even as a gold medal winner, she didn’t act like it. She rejoiced with all the other skater's great routines. There is such a pure and selfless attitude in her interviews. I heard more than one seasoned announcer say that the relationship that these skaters had with each other was unlike any they had seen. This is what the Olympics were to be about. I even saw a former gold medal skater weeping, overwhelmed with the comeback and what he saw. This will do more for figure skating than one can imagine. I don’t know if she is a believer, but we as Christians should carry that same passion. We are to be joyful in serving the Lord, and selfless in our attitude and desires. We are to rejoice with those who rejoice, fight the good fight, be moved by the Holy Spirit and do the best we can without worrying about the outcome... that’s God’s department. If Christians, moved by the Spirit lived an attitude like that, people would want to know more. Father, may we be so filled with the Holy Spirit that our longing would be for You and that our faith would shine like the Son. Amen

Awaiting the Change

Growing up in the tropics, Winter is not my favorite season. I love Spring with the new life bursting forth and the flowers, migrating birds, warmer weather, no snow shoveling, etc. We had been getting warmer weather, and I had been watching the snow slowly disappear. Much of our driveway had become visible again. Then we have snow and predictions of more to come. Not a big snowstorm, but enough to make things white again. While it is stunningly beautiful, I am ready for a change. We’re still in February, so I know this longing will likely be on hold until the at least April, although I remember one year when it warmed up in February and stayed nice. When will Winter be done? We know what the calendar says, but reality might vary considerably. If I spend all my time looking for Spring or even Summer, I will waste the season I’ve been given... one without mosquitos or ticks. Each season brings its own challenges and work. Today, we are awaiting the biggest change that is possible... going from this mortal finite world to an eternity. Notice I didn’t say in heaven. Not everyone will be there. There will likely be some that thought they would be there that won’t enter. Why do I say that? We read in Matthew 7, “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' God is calling for a genuine faith that motivates us to do God’s will. Those that build on the foundation of God, which is His word, will enter eternity with God in heaven. So, yes, we can long for Heaven as we long for Spring, but we must live in the present with its challenges and successes. Unless Jesus returns before then, Spring is all but guaranteed. Unless we live out our faith in Jesus, Heaven is not guaranteed... only hoped for. I can keep marching through Winter because I know Spring is on its way. Likewise, I can face persecutions and hardships for Christ’s sake because I know Heaven calls all believers. Now is the time to seek the Lord and grow daily in faith, serving faithfully. Father, help us not only to walk more intimately with You each day, but help us to bring others into Your fold. Amen