Do we really?

"Don't assume you know it all." I know just how much we struggle with "knowing the will of God" for our lives. We need, even crave, insight into getting "connected" to the will of God. There is a development of a trust relationship with the God we serve and we want to be sure we are 'doing' his will. We have to stop relying on what we can "reason out" in our own minds. To 'do' the will if God, we have to truly begin to listen to the still small voice of God - not just some of the time, but in all we do and in every decision we make. God will help us stay on the right course in our lives if we do.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Psalm 32:8 tells us that God "looks us straight in the eyes" and gives us the good advice that we need in order to make the correct or wisest decisions within our day. He will teach or counsel those that place their lives in his hands for his control. There are conditions to getting his guidance, though. We need to "make a clean breast of our failures" with God - in other words, we confess our sins, have them forgiven (hidden in Christ), and get our spirit in alignment with his. (Psalm 32:1-7) We also need to allow the Word of God to expose our rebellion, show us the truth, correct our mistakes, and train us to live God's way. As we continue in the Word (really spending time getting to see what is contained within the pages of the Word), we are allowing it to train us. In this way, we are becoming equipped for every good work God has in store for us. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

We need to seek God's guidance in incorporating his commandments (the wise counsel of the Word) into our lives - it may not be plain to us why we have the commandments of God, so we need his assistance in understanding how we incorporate them without rebellion. In other words, we are allowing the Word of God to become a counselor in our lives. (Psalm 119:35) There needs to be a daily renewal of our mind - no longer conforming to every whim and fancy this world promotes as the "next best thing". We have to take our daily, everyday type of decisions/choices before God and ask him what he thinks about them - before we take the action behind them. It is a difficult thing to resist the ease of "adjusting to our culture" instead of establishing the culture of God in our hearts. (Romans 12:1-2)

One thing we often lack in our lives (and often don't connect with us actually knowing and acting on the will of God) is the idea of cultivating a spirit of gratitude (thankfulness). We may not see how this connects with getting to know the will of God, but when we begin to be truly thankful for the blessings of God, the challenges God allows, and the ability to seek him for the answers, we are on the road to discovering his will on a more consistent basis. As a matter of fact, God honors this kind of consistently grateful heart - with his presence. What better guidance could we have in our lives than the consistent presence of God? (Colossians 3:15-17)

These are but a few of the ways we can discover in scripture that give us insight into cultivating the presence of God, understanding his plans for our lives, and living above the influence of our culture. All are key to discovering the will of God. All help us to avoid the trap of "thinking we know it all". Knowing the will of God is not hard, but it does require "consistency". Consistency in seeking; consistency in discovering; consistency in getting into the Word and letting it get into us; consistency in renewing our minds. Without consistency, we lack what we need to really "walk in the will of God". We might think we know, but do we really? Just askin!

Out of words

Have you ever found yourself at a total loss for words? Something or someone just left you speechless - finding nothing you could say that would lend to the moment? It isn't often that I find myself in that spot, but when I do, it kind of makes me take 'double-notice' of whatever it is that influenced me. Why? If something or someone is capable of getting me to the point where no words can possibly share what I am experiencing, then I either need to celebrate the joy of that moment, or run for the hills because the thing is so evil I shouldn't be around it any longer!

Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world’s “sure thing,” ignore what the world worships; the world’s a huge stockpile of God-wonders and God-thoughts.  Nothing and no one comes close to you! I start talking about you, telling what I know, and quickly run out of words. Neither numbers nor words account for you. (Psalm 40:4-5 MSG)

Look around you and you are sure to see all kinds of things that beg to be noticed. God's wonders aren't there for our casual consideration - they are put into our lives because they reveal a little bit more about him than we might have considered on our own. Take for example the clouds in the sky. As they pass over the sun, the light is obliterated - maybe not totally, but for whatever time the sun is behind those clouds, the light is just a little dimmer. Maybe these clouds are a lesson to us to not let anything get between God and us - because whatever it might be, the only purpose it serves is to obliterate the light of God in our lives!

The tiny bud on a plant beginning to take the form of a tomato or pepper. Do you ever stop to consider just how that transformation speaks to us of the tender care needed to bring forth fruit in due season? Or the importance of watching for those small, cleverly disguised things that creep in under cover and begin to destroy that developing fruit? Those tiny green worms that come on the tomato plant, for example, don't send up fireworks and red flares announcing their arrival. You probably don't even notice they are there until you inspect UNDER the leaves. They are camouflaged until they are uncovered. Sin is kind of like that - creeping in with the little compromises - and not fully recognized until God turns over the leaves of our lives to expose what has begun to do so much damage within.

Consider the birds of the air and how quickly they can take flight. Yet not all of their flight is quick or swift. Some birds find those currents of air they can just 'drift upon' and spend endless hours just circling and circling. We might be quick to 'take flight', but if all that flight just leaves us circling and circling in aimless repetitive 'inaction', we are not really getting anywhere. We may be 'at ease' and enjoying the moment of aimless drifting, but in the end, we won't be any further along than we were before we took that flight!

Yes, words can escape us, but consider all the wonders God gives us and you might just find there is much to be discovered as you do! Just sayin! 

No visions of grandeur here!

Have you ever fought for a position - feeling like you should be the logical 'next candidate' for the position - only to find that it wasn't all that it was supposed to be? Usually by the time we have that figured out, there is someone else just waiting in the wings to take our spot - dreaming big like we did not so long ago - about to buy into the illusion of grandeur! Sometimes we are just better off putting out hands and head into whatever is at hand and stop being so concerned about the status of a position!

For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me. (Matthew 18:2-5)

The disciples have just finished asking Jesus the "important" question that had been in the back of their minds: "Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?" This was probably eating at them for quite some time - being as competitive as we humans are by nature, it was only natural that they would want to know about "status" in the kingdom. Jesus uses an "object lesson" to convey the answer - a young child is called over. Why a child? Why an object lesson? Couldn't Jesus just have answered this question straight on without the object lesson? Certainly, Jesus could have simply said, "Look, this is how it is..." - proceeding to answer his disciples without any object lesson. The object lesson was going to help "connect" the words Jesus was speaking when they were looking face-to-face with the small child. That child conveyed innocence, displayed enthusiasm, and was probably more than a little curious to see what the teacher was going to do that day (especially since he had been chosen to be the center of that day's lesson!).

Jesus knows exactly what it is that we need in order to best understand the concepts he is teaching us. Sometimes it can be said straight out - grasped without any "challenge" in our spirit. At others, we need that object lesson to help us "connect" with the concepts being taught - it makes sense when we compare what is taught to what we know about the object lesson. Jesus tells his disciples that there is an attitude of spirit, mind, and will that helps us to "connect" with him - that of a child - elemental and simple belief connection. Some of us have walked with Jesus just long enough to want to be a little "weightier" in our study of the Word - we want something that will "dazzle" and will show our "maturity" as we dig into our study. We forget that Jesus is all about helping us connect with him in the simple and elemental. The "simple" side of God is his ability to be straightforward with us - he doesn't beat around the bush, but gives it to us head on. In other words, what you see with God is what you get with God! The one who is always looking for something "deeper" often misses the things that are right there before their eyes.

The elemental side of God's character reminds us that his plans for us are not complex - they are, in fact, simple and straightforward. First, love him with all our heart - in other words, all your passion, prayer, intelligence, and energies. Second, love others as well as you love yourself. A child understands these principles - everything they do is done with a passion and with energy. I have two grandsons - both engage with life like there is no end to their energy reserve and enthralled with the next thing they will encounter. That is what God wants of his kids. That is the purpose of the object lesson. We often make our Christian walk way more complicated than it needs to be - expecting things of ourselves that really end up holding us in bondage instead of helping us be free to experience Christ with passion, energy, understanding and enjoyment. The next time we are tempted to think we need to "show ourselves mature" - we would do well to remember our object lesson of the little child. God looks for us to approach with innocence - because a heart and mind that is renewed is a freeing thing. He invites us to experience him with enthusiasm - boundless passion - because he has a specific purpose for our passion.

So, it is not the question of who is the greatest - who shows themselves the most knowledgeable or the deepest in their insight. It is really about the one who reveals a mind willing to be engaged in the process of discovering who Jesus really is, a spirit that is willing to take the time and energy to connect with him, and a will that is eager to respond to the direction of his voice. Don't underestimate the privilege of living simply and engaging life elementally. The benefits of that kind of walk cannot be measured in "stature" or "position", but rather in the depth of the connection we come to experience in Christ. Just sayin!

Let's avoid this catastrophe

We find reminders within scripture of the promise that those whom God calls, he also equips or enables to do the work they are called to do. One of the various ways we are "equipped" is with the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Spirit of Truth in our lives is resident within us as a result of our inviting Christ into our lives as our Savior - saying "yes" to Jesus. It isn't a complicated invitation - but sometimes we make the acceptance of that invitation way more complicated than it needs to really be!

If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you! (John 14:15-17)

What does it mean to have the Spirit of God resident within us? How does this equip us for the calling on our lives? We never walk alone - we always have someone with us. The Spirit of Truth walks where we walk, there with us each step of the way. No path we take is without his careful attention. We are enabled to love God - where the Spirit of God dwells, there is a love for the Father that is deeply rooted in heartfelt service to him. We have his presence with us enabling us to keep his commandments - no steps of obedience are harder than those attempted without his guidance and care.

The Holy Spirit resident within us also produces the evidence of a life change. We hear this referred to as the "fruit of the Spirit". Galatians 5:22-23 tell us, "But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." Break that down and you will see there is much 'fruit' that is just not for us to enjoy, but for us to fill the lives of others us with as we share bits and pieces of it each day.

Affection for others - the ability to look outside of ourselves and see the needs of those around us.
Exuberance about life - eagerness to live, no hesitation in our walk, freedom to embrace life.
Serenity - the ability to keep our cool, peacefulness, composure even in dark or intimidating circumstances. A willingness to stick with things - we call this commitment - the attitude and drive to complete what we begin, regardless of the cost. A sense of compassion in the heart - moved by the needs of those around us to the point that there is action behind the recognition of that need. A conviction that a basic holiness permeates things/people.

Loyal commitments - this work of the Holy Spirit in our lives gives us focus, keeping us on track with Christ, and centers our every movement on him. Not needing to force our way in life - where the Spirit of God is, there is a freedom to enter, the very words to speak when we are asked to give an accounting, and an open door. Sufficient energies for life's challenges - no excuses for us - the energies we need for the journey ahead have already been provided. Wise use of our energies - along with the energies for the task at hand comes the ability to choose wisely how to devote our time, talent and energies.

As you can see, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is indeed an enabling presence. Those called are enabled - not halfway, but entirely. There is sufficiency in all God does, all he provides, and all he prepares us for. The next time you want to talk God out of "calling" you, you might want to consider just how much he does to provide all you will need for that calling. The cost of rejecting his calling would definitely be catastrophic! Just sayin!

You cannot avoid it!

I can recall many 'camp meetings' and 'youth conferences' in which young people flocked to the altar, responding to the evangelist with a commitment to the 'call' on their lives. Very few of those who responded actually went into what we might call 'full-time' ministry, though. In the course of time, those who had not yet counted that cost when they made that commitment backed out. They began to discover the demands of ministry were great and the rewards may be equally great, but the calling was a pretty hard one! When we consider the prophet Jeremiah, we might just see one of those individuals who tries very, very hard to NOT accept the calling on his life - because he isn't quite sure he wants it!

"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you.  Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations—that's what I had in mind for you."  But I said, "Hold it, Master God! Look at me.   I don't know anything. I'm only a boy!"  God told me, "Don't say, 'I'm only a boy.'  I'll tell you where to go and you'll go there.  I'll tell you what to say and you'll say it.  Don't be afraid of a soul.  I'll be right there, looking after you."  God's Decree. God reached out, touched my mouth, and said, "Look! I've just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered!  See what I've done? I've given you a job to do among nations and governments—a red-letter day!  Your job is to pull up and tear down, take apart and demolish, and then start over, building and planting."
(Jeremiah 1:5-10)

Jeremiah was called into his ministry as a prophet during a time when Judah, the Southern kingdom consisting of mainly two tribes (Judah and Benjamin) that remained loyal to David's offspring after Solomon's death.  The nation of Israel was split into two kingdoms at this time - the Northern Kingdom and Southern Kingdom.  Those who made up Judah were loyal to the line of David - serving under a king from the line of David.  Josiah is king at this time and is known as a "good king" because he called the nation back to the worship of God and God alone - calling for the destruction of the idols that they had come to worship in the land.  Jeremiah did not have a great message to bring to the people of Judah - in fact, it was one of impending judgment if they did not fully repent of their idolatrous ways and return to close relationship with their God.

Jerusalem was the capital city of Judah - the place of God's Temple and the center of the nation's worship.  During the ministry of Jeremiah, a heartless marauding Babylonian king by the name of Nebuchadnezzar would take Jerusalem and its inhabitants.  Jeremiah would undergo all kinds of torture, rejection and ill treatment during his ministry - beatings by his family, being placed into stocks by the priests, and then imprisonment by King Nebuchadnezzar.  If he had known all this would happen to him from the beginning of his ministry, I kind of doubt that he would have "signed up"!  The fact of the matter is that the call of God is a difficult thing to avoid.  Like Jeremiah, we may try to escape it, looking for all kinds of excuses for why we are not suited for the calling. His first "excuse" for not being qualified to be a prophet to the nations was that he was "only a boy" - his age limited him.  He wanted to show God how "disqualified" he was because he was untrained and really did not know whatever it was that prophets were supposed to know - he was not 'educated'.  Alas, we see the response of God that age does not matter, schooling is really not significantly important, and the fact that when God calls, he enables - regardless of age or pedigree.  

If there is a lesson for us in the life of Jeremiah it is just that - when God calls, he enables.  Jeremiah was called to pull up, tear down, take apart, demolish, and then start over with the rebuilding project of making a nation strong in its love and service to their God.  A pretty phenomenal task if you ask me! My first inclination would be to ask God if he had the right person! The nation was already torn into two - the pagan kings were rallying to take advantage of the divisions that had occurred.  Now God expected Jeremiah to rise up in his youth and prophesy about their sin, need for repentance, and  if it did not happen, judgment would be swift! Can you see why he did not feel he was qualified? God's enabling is not something we realize at first. It is often in the steps of obedience that we take that we begin to realize that the calling of God comes with the necessary enabling. As we begin to dig into the Word, we find that he brings little tidbits of truth to the surface that help us to stand strong. As we find ourselves stepping out into unfamiliar territory, he comes alongside to give us strength to face the fears head on. The process of enabling is really the process of equipping.  What we need, we have at our disposal. Even when we do not fully recognize it.

The next time we feel impressed by God to step out into unfamiliar territory, we will do well to remember when God calls for our obedience, he also enables (equips) us for the very step of obedience he requires. He places within us the exact words we will need. He even brings us into the exact "audience" we need in order to accomplish what his purposes are for our life. No encounter is ever accidental when we are walking in the calling of God. We may not "feel" equipped at first, but when the needs arise, we have all the moment requires. This is what Jeremiah learned as he stepped out in faith to do what God required of him. He had what he needed to face all the opposition, doubt, and lack of enthusiasm he would encounter. Why? Simply because God enables those whom he calls into service. If you think that the "calling of God" does not apply to you - think again. Each believer is called into service for the King of Kings. Each believer is asked to step up, embrace the call of God on their lives, and to step out in faith to go where he directs, do what he requests, and touch those he brings across our path.  Remember this:  Those he calls, he equips. Just sayin!

Learning to tie a double-knot

I used to wear shoes that needed to be tied with laces a lot more than I do now, but whenever I lace up a pair of sneakers I am always cognizant of the fact those laces may work their way loose as the day goes on. They present a tripping hazard if left in that condition, so I usually take a little extra effort 'up front' to ensure this doesn't happen by placing the laces into a double-knot. That simple 'extra effort' doesn't seem like much, but when it is the 'right effort', the rewards are innumerable!

God-friendship is for God-worshipers; They are the ones he confides in. If I keep my eyes on God, I won’t trip over my own feet. (Psalm 25:14-15 MSG)

The 'up front' effort we put into our daily relationship with God is important - it helps keep us from 'tripping up' throughout the day. While the communication with him should go all day long, and there should be an awareness of his ever-present care over our lives, it is good to 'begin' well. This is a special time where two (God and each of us) can actually share a little about themselves and get to know each other a little better - but it requires some willingness on our part to actually put in the effort to get something out of the relationship!

To the one who suffers a lot of 'trip ups' in life, I'd have one suggestion - spend a little more time 'up front' of your day getting alone with God, if even for just a few moments. Why? You are less likely to get 'tripped up' when you have done a little better 'prep' for the day, just like when I put the second knot in the laces. In those moments together, God actually confides in us. These are times when the 'personal matters' of our lives are opened up and the one who actually can help us with them is at the ready to listen, respond, and even intervene.

When we are willing to confide in someone, we are showing just how much we trust them. We are willing to be transparent - truthful and free to be ourselves with that individual. God isn't going to laugh at what brings us pain or anxiety. He isn't going to shake his head at what we cannot seem to let go of, but which gives us more than one 'tripping hazard' in our lives. In fact, he is going to embrace our honesty and respond in ways that help us to tie that 'double-knot' in our lives that keeps us from 'tripping up'!

Before I learned to tie a double-knot, I had to learn to tie the single bow! This required a great deal of patience on the part of my mom, as she was the one who was constantly directing me to go under, over, and through so that the laces were fashioned into something resembling a bow. At first, the laces were loose, kind of straggly, and a bit too 'imperfect' to really be called a bow. In time, the more we practiced together, the tighter the bows became - the more they resembled the 'perfect' bow. God's relationship with us is kind of like that - we don't always get the lesson the first time, nor do we always 'tie the best bow', but with a little 'practice', we do eventually 'tie the knot' that will hold throughout the day! Better yet, we learn to die the 'double-knot' that isn't easily undone - the knot between Jesus and us. Just sayin!

Just imagine!

What is church to you? A social club? A place to meet and greet? A chance to 'get things right' all over again so you can go out and do the same old stuff next week? So many folks trudge off to church on Saturdays and Sundays, oblivious to any heartfelt reason for going to church or attending worship services in some location. Scripture warns us to be very careful when entering God's house - there is a specific purpose for church attendance and we need to be mindful in his presence. Right now, church 'attendance' for me is to stream the service over live video feed on Sunday mornings at the same time others are gathering in the building some call the 'church'. Mom and I find it quite a blessing that this type of service is offered for those of us that find it a little harder to get to 'church' these days.

Watch your step when you enter God's house. Enter to learn. That's far better than mindlessly offering a sacrifice, doing more harm than good. (Ecclesiastes 5:1)

The key is in that second sentence: Enter to learn. There is a heart attitude and an openness of mind/spirit that is called for in "rightly" entering God's house. The focus of our heart often determines the outcome. If we are simply there to "catch up" with old friends, we are likely to only have an outcome of a nice conversation that gives us all the latest tidbits of life's happenings. We fall short of actually being challenged in our spirit to leave behind our sinful pursuits and to take up a life of obedience and service. What does it mean to prepare ourselves for worship? What is it that Solomon had in mind when he said we need to be "entering to learn", not just offering sacrifices for the sake of sacrifice? To answer those questions, we need to look at what scripture teaches:

• Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. (Psalm 29:2) - worship is a celebration of the holiness of God. It is an acknowledgment of the greatness and love of our Lord - raising his name in honor. Yes, 'going to church' allows for us to 'worship', but 'being the church' is a much better investment!
• Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. (Psalm 95:6-7) - worship is a presentation of our bodies, spirits, and minds to him - in recognition that he is our creator. As creator, he directs the care of his people - we enter into his presence in awe of his continual care and his tender mercies.
• Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. (Psalm 100:2) - worship is a joyful thing, involving the whole being in celebration of the greatness of our God. It stems from a heart of gratitude and adoration.
• The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. (Isaiah 29:13) - worship is the opposite of rule-keeping for the sake of having each rule "checked off the list". It is a connection of heart with God. 
• Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. (John 4:23) - worship is to be entered into with truthfulness of heart, openness of mind, and connection of spirit to the heart of God.
• But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” (I Corinthians 14:24-26) - worship is an opportunity for the conviction of sin, the changing of lives forever. It is an opportunity for the voice of God to be heard, the spirit of God to be embraced, and the enabling of God to transform lives.

We could go on and on with example after example of what true worship involves. The scriptures are filled with them. The main theme of each passage is plain: God must be central and in making him central in our lives - we become the church! When he is at the center of our lives, all else falls away. Nothing else really matters. That is the spirit of worship that God honors. We enter to learn - enter to hear from him. The final book of the Bible is Revelation. If you turn to the last chapter, you find that the call is to "Worship God" and no other. It has been the message from the beginning of time - have no other thing you worship EXCEPT God. Will we "enter to learn"? Just imagine the possibilities if our hearts would be turned to God in this way! Just imagine!

I need a housekeeper!

Ever get so 'into' your day-to-day "plodding" through life that you overlook the needs of others, show yourself insensitive to their plight in life, or are just plain oblivious to the heartache of your neighbors because you are just way too caught up in your own life. Been there, done that! Sometimes our "overlooking" of the other's need is not intentional, but a byproduct of the "busy-ness" of our day that results in us not being very open to seeing what is creating huge pain for another. There are other times, though, when we are quite aware that another is in pain and we simply don't want to invest the time, energy, or "heart" to reach out to them.

Don't run roughshod over the concerns of your brothers and sisters. Their concerns are God's concerns, and he will take care of them. We've warned you about this before. God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful—as beautiful on the inside as the outside. (I Thessalonians 4:6-7)

Don't run roughshod over the concerns of your brothers and sisters." The idea of "running roughshod" is really easily divided into three defining characteristics: 1) Actions or attitudes that inflict pain or suffering - these can be purposeful or unintentional, but nonetheless, by their very expression, they cause the other to experience pain or suffering. 2) Being unjustly overbearing and domineering - the tendency to be "on top", demand one's own way, or to tell someone how to live their life is probably a good descriptor of this type of behavior. 3) Callous inconsideration or harshness - this carries the idea of actions and responses that are simply unkind, meant to hurt, or are just plain rude. The warning we are to receive from this passage is to NOT display these types of behaviors or attitudes because it minimizes the needs of our fellow man and limits the development of strong relationships in which we can find the source of counsel, wisdom, and support we need to face life's challenges.

Why are we given this warning?  God views their concerns as HIS concerns - they aren't just some stranger's concerns. When we minimize them, ignore them, or treat them as though they are not worthy of our attention, we are saying that what God takes very seriously is insignificant to us. Ouch! Let me be the first to admit that I have "run roughshod" over some of the needs of my friends on occasion (I hope it has not been too often). In almost every case, it has been unintentional, but it has made an impression on that individual that takes some time to overcome. By my actions I have damaged the reputation of a caring and loving God.

There are probably a few times each week when we need to ask God to help us "start differently" so that we might "finish differently". I am not referring to a simple 'promise to be better' here - but a genuine commitment to God to "display him" differently in our lives within those relationships. God honors that kind of request. He is open to creating his image in us - perfecting it at every turn - until we finally exhibit consistency in our expression of his love, grace, and care for a hurting world. God wants to take our disorderly, unkempt lives and turn them into something of beauty that reflects him ACCURATELY to those within our immediate influence. His goal is to change us on the inside - thereby, impacting what others see on the outside. So, if we need a little "house cleaning" on the inside, this is the time to allow God to begin that process - righting, ordering, and cleaning up what needs his touch. In so doing, we begin to reflect his image with a clarity that those within our lives soon begin to see as a symbol of hope for their own needs. Just sayin!

My Best=His Best

It is quite easy for us to get 'drug down into' the culture of our day. The catty comments from opposing candidates catch our attention on the airwaves. The promise of this remedy providing instant this or that lures us into the latest of fads that only rob us of our hard-earned money and deliver none of the desired results. Easily swayed, we become 'prey' to these influencing factors. Wouldn't it be much more rewarding to be influenced with the type of things that actually pick us up instead of dragging us down? God's desire has always been for us to be 'drawn up', not down!

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:2 MSG)

We need to guard against 'separating' God from the various areas of our lives - holding some off-limits to him and giving him freedom to 'have at' others. God knows the influences that we respond to in some of those off-limit areas are the most important for him to begin to turn us away from - so denying him access isn't going to really work for us in the long run. Don't lose sight of how this passage begins - it isn't about us always wanting to turn those areas over to his control - he is going to help us to yield that influence to him if we will just ask for his help!

We take those areas easily influenced by things that serve to pull us down and we ask for his help to no longer be pulled in those directions. We don't always know what pulls at us, or how to avoid that influencing force. We might just have to admit we are 'helpless' to avoid that tempting force in order to be free of it! It is in placing these things before God (an offering of sorts) that we can begin to have the power of those influences revealed. We begin to see clearly because we are beginning to see things from a totally different perspective.

We are oftentimes 'well-adjusted' to our sin. We get into easily and we don't really see any need to be free of it. Let me just say this - we might not see the need, but others will. They look to us as their companions in this journey of faith. To settle for the presence of sin in our lives is to allow others to think God doesn't provide a means of overcoming those sins. We might not realize how much our embracing of sin actually influences another to let go of their own, but it does! This is actually how a set of values and beliefs becomes a culture!

The more we discover there are off-limit areas in our lives, the more we need to lean into Jesus and ask him to help bring the best out of us in those areas. We are well-versed in how to allow those influences to bring the worst from us - it is time we allow Jesus to show us how to bring the best into those places! Just sayin!

The heart of the healer and the mercy of a Savior

Ever hear that saying, "This may be your BIG chance", then thought, "Yeah, maybe this will be THE time"? THE time, THE chance, THE anything is kind of hard to predict - we are really saying it has all been up to chance and it continues to be right up into the present. Our BIGGEST opportunity comes not in the 'chances' we encounter, but in who it is we trust. We can trust the circumstances to bring our reward - like throwing the dice or spinning the wheel on the slots. We can trust in some 'lucky' thing to bring us the reward we hope to receive. Luck is really a two-sided coin - look it up! It refers to the 'force' that either operate 'for' you or 'against' you! I'd much rather be trusting in one that is continually 'for' me!

He asked the boy's father, "How long has this been going on?" "Ever since he was a little boy. Many times it pitches him into fire or the river to do away with him. If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!" Jesus said, "If? There are no 'ifs' among believers. Anything can happen." No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, "Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!" (Mark 9:21-24)

Jesus has come into a crowd of people, some onlookers, others simply waiting for their "big chance" to see the Miracle-Worker himself - like lining up to see some famous person.  Some of the disciples had been "working" in the crowd healing the sick, delivering the bound from their imprisonment of mental anguish - but within the crowd there is a certain boy with a diagnosis so debilitating that it has plagued him since he was very young. The disciples just don't "seem to be able to heal" this boy's afflictions.  The crowd is huge - and it is filled with "religious scholars" (likely the Pharisees) who are there simply to "cross-examine" each of those who "get their miracle" - putting them 'on trial' to attempt to disprove what has been done at the hand of the 'great healer'.

Jesus was literally "flocked" by hundreds of onlookers almost everywhere he went.  It was as though he had "groupies" who appeared in whatever region he was traveling.  Many were genuinely hopeful for some type of "touch" from the Miracle-Worker they had heard about and witnessed themselves. They were probably there, not so much because they recognized the one before them as the Messiah, but because he was touching lives and those lives were never the same again - they wanted their 'touch', too.  I have a "label" for people like that - lookee-loos - they are there for the "spectacular" not necessarily for the true heart worship. The father of this boy in the crowd is most desperate to get his boy some attention - his boy had a significant need that moved this father into significant action.  We are not sure from what is recorded if the father actually believed in Jesus' authority as the Messiah, or if he had just joined the crowds in hopeful anticipation that there might be a miracle for his son.  What we do know is that we see Jesus in conversation with the father about the disease and horrifying debility of his son.  Look at the desperate plea of this father: "If you can do anything for us....DO IT!"  

His pleas do not fall on deaf ears or an unmoved heart - Jesus turns to the father with the heart of the healer and the mercy of the Savior.  In what appears to almost be a small "chastisement" of the father's desperate plea, we see Jesus saying: "IF....what do you mean IF?"  Jesus is about to reveal to this man, and the crowd, that God desires, even yearns, to hear the desperation of our heart.  There is something "connective" about sharing at that level of honesty - it is likely what got this father and son noticed by Jesus that day.  Jesus wanted to clarify this father's faith - that is the purpose of his specific words directed at this father. When Jesus confronts our doubts, fears, or frustrations head on, his words build our faith.  Look at the change of faith that comes as Jesus confronts the father:  "Help me with my doubts!"  There is nothing more powerful in the hands of Jesus than being honest about our doubts.  His desire is to move us into fullness of faith, not keep us in the depression of doubts.  Just as certainly as Jesus changed the father's perspective on his son's situation, Jesus can change the perspective we have about ours.  It is done in that one moment of the truthful sharing of our desperation.

The words of Jesus are powerful - ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!  In the hands of Jesus, all things are possible.  What we see as the most impossible challenges are nothing more than a speck of sand on the seashore of impossibilities Jesus is more than powerful to overcome.  We need only be in the right place - in the presence of Jesus.  We need only be in the right frame of mind and heart - desperate to have our faith grow and willing to be honest about our desperation.  Then....ANYTHING can happen. What we see as impossible takes on a different perspective when Jesus helps us deal with our "IFs". The world has no solutions for our "IFs" - only Jesus does! Just sayin!

Never a wasted word

I have found people have a harder and harder time communicating with each other these days unless it is done in some sort of emoji, tweet, or text message. We just don't interact face-to-face all that much anymore. The smartphones have given us access to our 'friends' 24-hours a day - pinging away with each newly composed message, cute video feed, or stunning social media post we receive. God isn't a 'social media' kind of guy, though. He really hasn't changed from his original plan of face-to-face interaction! It is called prayer and very few of us really 'get' how prayer works any longer because we have forgotten how it works to really share - to speak, listen, restate a conversation, mull things over together, and get down to the heart of the matter - all while being connected and vulnerable face-to-face.

God keeps his distance from the wicked; he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people.
(Proverbs 15:29)

There are times when we feel that our prayers are seemingly unanswered - just spoken words into a void that somehow absorbs them and doesn't do anything with them - like sending a text and not knowing if the other person ever saw it because there was no acknowledgement. Then there are other times when it seems that the words are no sooner spoken and they are answered - life's catastrophes avoided, circumstances changed, hearts mended - intervention comes quick and sure. Regardless of the "timing" of the answer, the promise we want to hold onto is that God closely attends to the prayers of his kids - those words spoken and shared with an open, vulnerable heart.

His attention to the "details" of our life is not accidental - it is purposeful and totally intentional, because he doesn't have to get 'caught up' on his 'timeline' or 'social feed'. I cannot fathom with my human mind how God keeps all the details of my life, the lives of my friends and family, not to mention the other several gazillion  people who live on this earth in his sight and constant attention. I don't have to understand the "abilities" of God to know whole-heartedly that I can count on them, though!

The promise is that God "closely attends" to the words of his people. Not the tweeted ones we post so often, but the ones we speak and those that have to be 'nursed' from our souls as we sit quietly together.  There are times I would rather God not hear the words of doubt intermingled in my prayers, the words of fear spoken in moments of terror and my undoing. Yet, in his intense love for us, he hears each and every one of the doubts and fears - taking them to his heart and wrapping them in his care. He does this because he is our "close" friend, our "caring" father, and our "compassionate" Savior.

Prayers are nothing more than the expressions of our heart. When we learn to share our heart with God in an open and realistic manner, he is there to "closely attend to" the various needs of our lives. Sometimes we don't think God wants to hear about our doubts - but how will he help us overcome them if we cannot express them freely? There are times we think it is not very "spiritual" to have fears, to be angry, to feel frustration - it may very well be that those "emotions" are what God needs to see and hear expressed in order to open us up to what it is he desires to do within.

Prayers can be desperate or easy, frantic or calm, rapid-fire or bubbling forth in a free-flow of expression. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to pray - the simple matter is that God wants to hear what is on your mind and in your heart. As he does, he attends to us like no other could possibly do. He intentionally intervenes wherever, whenever, and however we intentionally share our need. Open up to God in the honest expression of your heart and mind - learn how closely God attends to that open communication with him! Words spoke to God are never wasted words. Just sayin!

The wise and the wisest

What action do you plan next? This is a tough question for some of us to answer because we just don't 'plan' our actions - we are more on the spontaneous side of things. Did you ever stop for just a moment to consider that even spontaneous actions are planned at some point? Yes, they are 'in the moment' actions, but we only do them because we have considered them either consciously, or deep within the recesses of our subconscious. All action is really based on some intensity of emotion combined with some belief we are to take that particular action. This is were things get a little complicated, because the intensity of our emotion may not always align with our beliefs! Sometimes they are 'way over the top' and just don't make sense in comparison to the action being enacted.

Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get. (Proverbs 20:18)

If you have ever made a 'resolution' to do one thing, and find yourself doing another, it isn't that you didn't 'plan' the action - it is likely that some emotion overrode the original or intended action. There are indeed times when we don't have well thought out plans that are truly "actionable" and "realistic".
If there was one thing that was drilled into me over and over again in nursing school it was that our goals (plans) for our patients needed to be actionable and realistic - something they could actually achieve. In other words, we needed to be able to show how we planned to accomplish the care for our patient, each step outlined in detail, until the goal could be realized - not just through our action, but as a result of how the patient would respond to those interventions. Why was this so important? Simply put - a plan that was outlined with detail gave us guidance in establishing the best course of action that would get us as close to the results we desired to see for our patient's best outcome.

Our "purpose" (PLAN) needs to be formed by asking for counsel. Asking for advice when formulating our plan is important because we NEED the input of others - especially God. Most of the time, we set out on plans ourselves without seeking the input of others (especially God) because we think we have it all figured out. Others (especially God) may see things in a different way, lending a well-rounded approach to the plan. When we have the wisdom of a counselor (especially God) on our side, we may have more "actionable" or "trust-worthy" steps to our plan. The counsel we receive is only as good as the counselor we seek out. In other words, if we want to succeed in weight loss, we go to somehow who has walked the path before us. If we want to learn to invest our finances wisely, we need someone who can live on a budget and who is able to spend wisely. When we come for counsel, we are seeking the opinion of that other person and we are looking for them to give us instruction that will affect our conduct. So, it is important that we seek the best counsel as possible - but never at the expense of excluding God's counsel from his Word and time in prayerful silence.

Every goal has to have actionable steps - those itemized increments that will get us to the goal. No step in the process should be without some purposeful action. If we are just including something into our plan because it looks good or sounds good, but really has no real purpose in aiding in the accomplishment of the plan, it is wasteful - unnecessary fluff that will sap our energy, time, and attention. We spend energy on something that has no results. When we do this, we "burn out" on the plan faster and we don't realize our original goals - intent was good, but execution was poor. What plans do you have for this day or week? Have you sought wise counsel to assist you in formulating your plans (especially God's)? If not, you might want to heed the advice of our scripture. The plans of a righteous man are ordered by God - especially God. The plans of a righteous man are actionable and measurable because they have been submitted to the counsel of the wise - and the wisest. Just sayin!

A well dug well

Deep wells are necessary here in Arizona because anything near the surface actually dries up pretty quickly unless it is fed from a very deep and refreshing source. The tendency to water only the surface of our ground actually doesn't promote deeper root systems, but a more superficial rooting. The trees, shrubs, and grasses with only these superficial roots often don't make it for the long haul of summer because they have nothing to draw from when the intensity of heat comes. We want to have deep wells to draw from, as we will face many a circumstance in life that turns the heat up more than a little in our lives.

Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within.
(Proverbs 20:5)

There is a tendency to "over-think" things today. We "work" a solution until it is what some call "fool-proof" and then we might take the steps to put it into action. The problem is that none of us is really all that what we work is sometimes 'proof' we are still a little bit foolish. I find that I am more spontaneous than 'over-working' a solution at times - I like to try something before the idea has a chance to grow mold! Most of the time when I act quickly, I come out all right. There are more than a few occasions though where that spontaneity resulted in the occasional flop, supporting the idea that it wasn't a "fool-proof" plan.

There is a time for planning and I definitely know not every half-baked idea is a good one! I am no fool, although I act the fool on occasion. There is a well that lies deep within that we each can draw from when we need an immediate solution to a problem life deals us - but a well must be found before it can become our source. Whenever we take the steps to do exactly what God has reminded us to do in his Word, we are creating a deeper well to draw from. What are those steps? Glad you asked!

First, we must hide his word in our hearts. That is more than just memorizing chapter and verse. It is allowing the word of God to get deep into the core of our being - through study, meditation, and application of the word. When we need to call upon the lessons we have learned, they will be there as guiding influences. Then we must allow the Holy Spirit to take up residence in our lives. We are given the gift of the Holy Spirit at the point of our saying 'yes' to Jesus in our lives. There is a very distinctive act - a point in time - when we invite him to truly "fill us" to overflowing with his presence. At that point, there is a definite "infilling" of our lives with the power to live for Jesus.
We also must engage with the Holy Spirit to see the fruits produced within that only he has the power to bring forth. Fruit such as affection for others that stems from an attitude that is not simply focused on what WE can get out of the relationship, but is committed to being a blessing in the lives of others. The fruit of the Spirit is evidence of the work of Christ in our lives - evidence of a deep well.

When a believer allows these things to occur, there is a well of "wealth" to draw from when the time arises. We look upon that person and call him "wise" because his every action seems to be "well-planned". In fact, you are probably just witnessing the person living life with lots of "dips into the well" of faith. They have frequented the "well of life" (Jesus) and now they have a "reliable well" to draw from when life hands them challenging moments. Wells require some work, though. They must first be dug in a place where there is hope for the flow of water. That is why we "dig into" Jesus. Then they must be dug deep because the waters that come from deeper down are purer and much more refreshing. They must be accessed - no well serves its purpose if it is just there for "wishing"! Become a "well-digger" today - you will be amazed how many times you will "tap into" the refreshing, reviving, and rejuvenation of the "well of life". Just diggin!

Let me be clear here...

What are the ways you are influenced? Where is it you turn to when you need to be updated on the state of affairs in politics, the weather, or the results of the football game? It used to be we had newspapers, but more and more of those have gone by the wayside. We used to huddle around radios and listen with intent as the latest events were crackled from the airways. Now we are likely to read our social media posts, quick one liner tweets, and updates on our 'electronic' news feeds. As times change, so do the ways we receive our influences in life. We might not realize it, but the things that need to have the greatest influence in us are actually being suffocated out of their place of influence by all the things that vie for influence in our lives today.

"Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he's up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won't follow a stranger's voice but will scatter because they aren't used to the sound of it." (John 10:1-5)

We have many opportunities to listen and to respond to many voices each day. There are individuals we admire that speak words of advice - easy to embrace as a voice we actually want to listen to. There are individuals that are passing acquaintances in our lives - we listen to them, but are more selective in what we act upon when they speak. Then there are individuals that are only influential because of their position, prominence, or popularity - we'd be surprised how often we lean toward their voices without even realizing it. Each voice represents a unique place in our lives - some are more intimately "in tune" with the deep spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of our lives. That is what Jesus was referring to when he said the sheep hear his voice. As a matter of fact, they listen for it! Why do they know his voice? Simply because they have become familiar with it. It is a pretty well-accepted fact that we respond to what we are most comfortable with. If we are comfortable with the voice of Jesus, it stands to reason that when he speaks, we will respond.

Look at what Jesus says about the "other voices" we listen to:

• They are deceptive - they don't come at you with honest intentions. There is an agenda in mind that is contrary to your good.
• They are misleading - they promise one thing, but end up leaving you in a more chaotic place than you were in the first place.
• They are not reliable - they are not only deceptive and misleading, but they cannot be counted on when the rubber meets the road.

The voice of God is entirely different:

• It is trustworthy - his voice is well-known by his disciples. He comes with words that encourage, exhort, and direct. As he speaks, the words settle in deeply and 'bear witness' within our spirit. 
• It is directive - his voice gives clarity, never bringing chaos or uncertainty. In fact, his voice is instructive to those who know him.
• It is loving - his voice comes at times when we need to know his presence, oversight, and care the most. His words are those which uplift, keep us safe, and afford us the opportunity for shelter.

Today is an opportunity to clarify the source of the "voices" we listen to. The voice of God - simple, direct, and loving - comes at us "straight on". As our shepherd, he has direct access to our lives - no need to weasel his way into our lives because he has been granted open access to our hearts, minds, and emotions. If the voice we are choosing to listen to is coming at us in a forced, uninvited way, it is likely not the voice of God. There are many choices in life, but none so rewarding as choosing to listen to the still small voice of our loving God. Just sayin!

Through and through

The reality test of discipleship: Living out in your daily life exactly what Jesus tells us. All the world is into the fad of reality shows. At every turn of the day, new ideas for reality shows spring up - everything from being marooned on an island to trudging across country without anything at all to your name, dancing with famous people (whether you have rhythm or not), or making an absolute fool of yourself in the name of entertainment. These shows often push the envelope and exhibit the basest of human nature - it is truly "no hold barred" as far as they are concerned. People eat it up! Why? Perhaps because we are living "posthumously" through those on the screen - not really wanting our life's calamities portrayed for all to see, but associating with the ones we see up on that screen. Maybe we want validation that we are not any worse than others. Regardless the reason, the shows are prospering - they are big business these days. Not all that makes it in 'big business' is really all that refreshing or rewarding, though.

Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you." Surprised, they said, "But we're descendants of Abraham. We've never been slaves to anyone. How can you say, 'The truth will free you'?" Jesus said, "I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can't come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through. (John 8:31-35)

There is one "reality test" that would never make it to the top reality show ideas, though - the test of walking daily as a disciple of Christ. I imagine some would see this as too "tame" for the widescreen. Still others might see it as too "ordinary" or "mundane". I feel sorry for those who would make that judgment without ever experiencing the reality of the walk. In fact, they'd discover that there is nothing "ordinary" about a walk with Christ. It is challenging at every turn. There is more dedication required in one simple act of obedience than all the challenges of the reality show realm could combine! There is more 'test of the will' in each step of transparent truth about one's self than any journey on these shows. This walk is not for the weak of heart - it requires determination, commitment, and endurance - all the things our hearts have more than a little trouble with. The neat thing is that if we lack any of these, Jesus provides what we need!

The result of discipleship: We will experience the truth. As with the reality show programs, there is an end result - something that is desired as an end result. The disciple of Christ is to be transformed into the image of Christ. There is to be an exchange of nature - resulting in the revelation of Christ through us. Truth is freeing - even when we don't know we are bound! The Pharisees were questioning Jesus about the reality of his ministry when he spoke these words about being free or bound. He was called upon to explain who he was, what he was all about and what he was doing on this earth. In response, he challenges them toward discipleship and reminds them that they need to be free of their bonds of sin. Now, if you know anything about the Pharisees, you probably know that this did not sit well with them!

You see, we don't realize the benefits of the "result" until we have a revelation of the "resistance" put up to keep us from ever realizing those results. Sin is resistance - we are resisting the control of God in our lives, choosing our own way over his. In turn, we get all bound up in sin. At every turn there is "resistance" in our lives. If we experience enough resistance, we often reach out for different "results". Jesus promises the result that really matters - being set free from all that brings resistance into our lives. The reward of discipleship is that the truth will make us free. As with the reality shows of the widescreen, there is a reward to those who choose the path of discipleship. The truth makes us free! If you are struggling with the walk of a disciple today, I challenge you to see that the reality is that you lack nothing to enjoy both the results and rewards of discipleship. Everything you need is revealed in Jesus - he is the truth that will set you free. Just sayin!

Take this most seriously

The power of two - do we really understand or appreciate it? There is something most powerful that happens when two are standing together! When there are two, one recognizes where it is that one or the other is a point when that one can no longer stand alone. At that point, we reach out to others. In a society that values the strength and ability of an individual, this idea of 'partnering together' is seldom overlooked for the value it presents. In recent years, we have seen education begin to teach the concept of "teamwork" by having students do "team projects" to obtain their grade rather than individual reports. This is not taught so much for the benefit of developing the inter-relatedness of each other as much as the development of the "social skills" that allow people to work together for the good of the whole. In God's economy, there is a benefit in being rightly related - first to him, then to others that he strategically places in our lives. It is more than the social skills of teamwork - it is the strength of not standing alone.

"Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there." (Matthew 18:18-20)

Get together on anything at all on earth - the promise is pretty "all-inclusive". Whenever two of us get together on anything at all on this earth, God is there. The idea is that God never wants us to walk alone - he knows we need the strength of others - the physical hand, arms, and presence of another. The strength of their hug, the warmth of their smile, or the intimate "knowing" of their silence all serve to give us the strength to endure the present battle and prepare for the future one. God values when two stand in agreement - determined toward the same goals, living the same values, pursuing the same excellence. In that union, he is glorified.

And make a prayer of it - now we come to the crux of the matter. It is in the prayerful expression of our united stand that God is present. God gives us the one we stand alongside, not just for the hugs and moral support, but as a prayer partner, a helper in prayer. One who will take the burden we bear and lift it to the throne room of God - what a valuable treasure we have in one such as this. It is an honor to lift the needs of another to God - it is his joy to answer the prayer of one so committed to the other. We stand as more than just "moral support" - being a sounding board or a place to "dump" our stress and worries. We stand as "prayer support" for each other - a person who will do battle on behalf of the other.

My Father in heaven goes into action - that says it all! God sees the two standing in agreement, lifting the needs of each other, and he goes into action - for both! What more can be said? God in action is better than any solution two heads could come up with - and the benefits of standing together outweigh just one being blessed - both receive the blessing! Two hearts joined in prayer is the key that puts God's power into action. The next time you are tempted to stand alone, don't. Remember the "power of two". God's heart is "softened" and his power is placed into action by the prayer of those who stand united. Just sayin!

Hope is a seed

I watched an episode of "The Good Doctor" last evening and the story depicted a mother whose statement really caught my attention. She had a son with a heart disorder, requiring a major surgery to correct all the defects. As the doctors examined and re-examined this boy, their decision was that he was beyond the help of the surgeons - his defects were too serious. They were ready to prescribe some pills and send him home. The mother's determination on behalf of her son is not unique to this mother - for she was like a dog with a bone - determined to have these doctors do something for her son and not just write him off. In one of those tense moments when the doctors stood before her saying they had no plans of doing the surgery, she says something along the line that she doesn't have much at home - she is poor from a wealth perspective; she doesn't have any type of fall-back - for this is her only alternative. The one thing she has is hope - the simple hope of a mother trusting that these doctors will be able to save her son. It was Tertullian who said that hope is patience with the lamp lit. This mother was being very patient with a group of young doctors, all intent on telling her that she had no reason to hope. Her lamp would not be put out, though!

Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing.  (Isaiah 26:4)

There is much to be said about faith, but the greatest part of faith is hope - hope begins in the heart and it convinces the entire body and mind to follow suite. This mother wouldn't be dissuaded from her hope, for her intense love toward her son would keep that faith alive. She held on, encouraging his heart to beat - intent on seeing this little life made totally whole and fully alive through the interventions of these doctors - he last hope. None of us wants to be at the place of our 'last hope', because when hope is gone, so is our faith. Faith isn't kept alive within us because of what any man may do for us, but really because of what God can orchestrate through man on our behalf! Let that one sink in a little. God uses others to build upon and answer the longings of our hope - our faith. He isn't asking for us to trust man for the answer, but to trust him to bring the answer to us, sometimes through man and sometimes just simply by some miracle we don't fully understand. As our passage implies, dependence is a continual effort - it cannot be bypassed, nor dissuaded. We must depend like our life depends upon our dependence - because it does!

Tertullian also observed that the martyred saints of the early church - men, women, and children murdered at the hands of the Roman soldiers - had one common trait of intense faith in the God they served. Yes, they died at the hands of the Romans, but as Tertullian quickly pointed out, their blood was actually "seed" that brought forth an even stronger church! The bloodshed should have ended the growth of the faith people were placing in Christ, but instead, it acted as seed to bring forth even more hope, faith, and growth! That is the thing with faith - it isn't going to stop with us. It will multiply in the lives of those around us - because it is a 'seed'. As Christ said, it doesn't have to be a huge seed - even the tiniest hope is enough to see his hand moved in our lives. We might not think we are holding onto much at this very moment, but if we have at least a 'seed' of hope, that is sufficient in the hands of our God. Just sayin!

Your full attention, please

My mother frequently uses the term "Listen to me!" as a way of getting my attention so that I actually stop, pay close attention, and hear out whatever her idea or issue is at the moment. It isn't always at the most convenient moment, nor is it always easy for her to get out whatever it is she wants to share. Yet, it is important enough for her to ask to for me to hear it, so I respond with, "I'm listening, mom", and she begins.  It isn't said in anger or in a moment of disappointment. Rather, these words are usually spoken in a "sing-song" manner, but with very specific intent - they are intended to get me to REALLY listen to what she was saying. Why? Because she knows she has something to say even if it is getting harder for her to say it! She has walked through much already, learned many lessons, and has the advantage of experience on her side, but the disadvantage of advancing age makes it harder and harder for her to actually form those thoughts into sentences. She wants me to pay attention to the things she needs to say - even when it is hard for her to say it - so sometimes she has to show me because the thoughts just won't form well enough to get her point across. We usually figure it out, but sometimes it can be a little more of a challenge than others!

Dear child, I want your full attention; please do what I show you.  (Proverbs 24:26)

God stands everyday asking for our full attention - knowing he has something which may be hard for us to hear, not always easy for us to understand, but important for us to actually listen and respond to. He is asking us to tune up our ears, focus our minds, and direct our heart toward his voice. Why? Because he knows what lays ahead, how it will affect us, and what we need to make it through! That's love! That's compassion and concern in action. When God asks for our full attention, he is asking us to "narrow" the field of voices we are paying attention to - those we are willing to give careful thought to and respond in some manner. It is a concentration of our faculties that affords him access to ALL of our inner doubts, conflicts, and frustrations. In that 'space of concentration', he sorts things out, brings order to chaos, and gives clarity. When we are so focused on the chaos, we aren't open to the clarity that is at our disposal. So, God asks for our "attention".

Many of us have "attention deficit disorder" when it comes to listening to God (and sometimes when it comes to listening to others). We spend all kinds of time and energy getting distracted by the loudest voice of the moment - those things that seem to tug at our emotional strings. Then we wonder why we are in a "muddle" of chaos emotionally!!! God is seldom the loudest voice! As part of understanding and overcoming our "spiritual attention deficit disorder", it is important to recognize that we limit our success in any matter when we find ourselves focusing on the voice of "emotion". Emotion is irrational - it seldom is based on fact, but rather on "feeling". How the event "makes us feel" becomes predominant, not how it will impact the outcome of our lives if we respond to it in irrational ways. God's voice is rational, focused, and direct!

His voice may not be the loudest, nor may it seem to "stroke us emotionally" just as we would like to be stroked at that moment, but it is reliable and consistent. If we settle into taking time to hear (focusing our attention), then pay attention (doing what we are shown), there is almost always a better emotional outcome for us in the end! God's goal in speaking to us is to keep us safe, give us direction for our present, protecting us into our future - it is something we 'need' that we cannot gather from any other source! So, if we find that we struggle from 'attention-deficit' type behavior when it comes to hearing God, it is time to respond differently when we fell the tug at our heart that begins with the "listen to me" warning that comes from him. It is intended to better us, never hurt us. It is intended to focus us, not lend to our ever-increasing chaos. It is intended to bring us into partnership with him, not a further reliance on our emotions or all those other voices that lead us astray. We often find that we don't need more clarity - we often need less chaos! Just sayin!

Oh, listen, then do! I get it!

The Golden Rule - I even have a ruler with the words printed on it! This is one of the most common 'rules' of the Bible, often repeated by many an individual who has no idea they are quoting scripture! Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Did you ever stop to consider how Jesus opens this statement? If you look closely, you will notice he says these words to anyone who is listening - really listening to what he has to say. The beginning point of all teaching in our  lives begins with listening - then it moves into the doing part. Sometimes we get this backward and attempt to do before we hear!

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:27-30)

Jesus is speaking these words - the setting or timing of when they were spoken is important to understand.  He is under attack from those who should be shouting in praise of his works.  The Pharisees see him "mixing with" common sinners and criticize him terribly, publicly ridiculing him for the company he keeps. Rather than celebrating that he is reaching out to those in the greatest need, they criticize his choice of friends. He is criticized for his timing in doing what he is doing. He heals on the Sabbath - seen by his critics as a "work" by those of Rabbinical teaching. Their hearts are so "into" the rule-keeping (doing) that they fail to see the needs right before them (listening). He has just finished the appointment of his twelve disciples - calling them to be his closest companions during the ministry he performed on this earth - something we should not gloss over as we look at his timing in speaking these words.

There is one thing I have learned over the years - if we are prepared for the journey, the path is easier to travel. It is when we are unprepared to travel where it is we are called to travel that we struggle with the pathway we are on. At the very beginning of his ministry, Jesus deals with one of the most difficult "roads" that any of his disciples must walk - the road to forgiveness. Why does he begin with this teaching? I believe it is because Jesus wanted his disciples to know that they'd find themselves walking it over and over again. He wanted them to be prepared for a very long journey. The journey would involve many opportunities to put into practice the principles they were being taught - hearing, then doing.

Oftentimes, forgiveness is a journey we'd rather not travel alone, but we often find ourselves as the only ones realizing that the journey is necessary. We recognize that there is the need to forgive - bringing restoration into a damaged relationship - but we feel as though we are the only ones traveling the road. Those who may have committed the offense may not even realize that they play a part in the journey. It is important to remember we NEVER walk the path alone - Jesus is alongside each step of the way - even when the ones involved in the offense are unaware the journey has even begun. It is a road that must be traveled frequently - over and over until the journey is completed. Jesus was asked by one of his disciples just how many times he must forgive. He posed a question and suggested an answer that seemed quite generous - seven times was his proposal. To that, Jesus answered, "Naw, seventy times seven....", and at that answer, jaws dropped. Forgiveness extended over and over - until it is complete.

It is an uninvited pathway - we don't forgive just because another asks us to travel that path with them - we initiate the journey, often without anyone else realizing the journey has begun. This is quite evident in Jesus' words to his Father on the day of his death, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Those who needed his deepest forgiveness did not seek it - in fact, they did not even know they needed it. Our offenders often don't seek forgiveness - ours is the path to them - we take the first steps. It is an unconditional and costly journey. There is no "trip insurance" with the assurance that your "investment" will be fully enjoyed and participated in by all who take the journey. There are no "conditions" under which the journey can be "refunded" if the destination is not reached by all involved in the offense. In other words, we pay the price - others enjoy the benefit - often without realizing the price that was paid.    

So, although it is a difficult road to travel - it is a necessary one. Jesus began his ministry with his disciples revealing this much needed lesson of life. Forgiveness begins with us taking the first step. Forgiveness is possible only because of the first step taken. Do unto others...we call this the "golden rule" by which we are to relate to one another. Easier said than done. It is a difficult path to walk, but the rewards of the journey are astronomical. There is nothing more binding than bitterness. There is nothing more weighing upon us than a load of unforgiveness. There is nothing more costly to us than forgiveness that is not sought, or is not "deserved", but which is given freely from a listening heart. 

There is nothing more freeing than unconditional forgiveness - taking the first step. There is nothing more enlightening than seeing the other person through the eyes of Christ. Equally, there is nothing more rewarding than the steps you take toward your offender. A tough journey at that, but a necessary one! Walk on!

Is it today or tomorrow that we get that?

There is clearly a difference from being willing to learn and being excited to be taught. It was Winston Churchill who reminded us, "Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I don't always like being taught." We won't always like the topic we are learning, nor will we be in the best of mindsets to receive what is being taught. There are still going to be those 'lesson moments' when we hope to make it through relatively unscathed. We are just getting through it by the skin of our teeth.

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole. (1 Peter 1:3 MSG)

In the meantime, there is a whole lot of discomfort on more occasions than we'd like as we are taught what it is we need to learn along this pathway called "life". We are headed to a life healed and whole, but along the way we might just discover how 'unhealthy' and 'broken' we really are. God isn't surprised by our desire to learn, and he is equally not surprised when we find ourselves feeling a little like life caught us unaware. He knows we have difficulty with staying focused, so he designs specific learning moments that help us to recognize how much we still have to learn and just how broken we are without his health making us whole again.

Many of us live for some time in the future. Don't believe me? How many of us have a retirement fund of some sorts set aside for the day we retire from our regular, day to day employment routine? Isn't preparing for our income at that time actually living for some time in the future? Today we are focused on all the things that need to be done and setting aside that little nest-egg for that day in the future when we won't have to punch the clock any longer. This isn't something God frowns on because he asks us to steward well all the increase he brings into our lives. Yet, there are places in our lives that remain untouched and unprepared simply because we see them as 'future' and not for the here and now.

The future starts now. God isn't preparing us in the flash of an eye for all he has prepared for us to enjoy in his presence - he is preparing us in the now for all that we will come to fully enjoy in the future. Today we see and understand only fragments of what we will come to fully understand in the future. This incremental growth in our understanding is the way we learn - not all at once. All God is doing today in our lives leads up to all that he has prepared for us in the future, but the future isn't really anything we 'put off' - it is embraced with each new breath!

It is Christ in us that brings us into our future - it is Christ in us that makes every moment of today an opportunity to learn something new - to see life through his eyes and not just our own. We get so caught up in the here and now, we miss some of the beauty of what he has prepared for us right now. We don't want to see some of these things because we don't 'feel worthy' of them. To that I simply say, "That's bunk!" We are declared worthy and we are brought into his safe-keeping. In that moment, we become students of his grace. This is a life-long journey into our full future, but we are living our future with each new embrace of grace in our lives. Grace made our future possible - grace brings our future into our today, also. Just sayin!

Learn on!

There are times when I just don't want to listen. I am intent on something else, the plot thickens in a TV drama I am intent on watching, or I am just too tired to care. Listening is hard at times because life gets us involved in other things. Listening is really a two-way street. When we aren't listening, we are blocking one side of the street! We must have open ears to hear the message - but we must also ask clarifying questions so as to get the full meaning of what is being shared. That is how God intends for us to be with our spiritual "ears" - listening with the intention of getting the full meaning of what he is sharing.

Simpletons only learn the hard way, but the wise learn by listening. (Proverbs 21:11)

There is a clear difference between being a "simpleton" and being a wise learner. We rarely use the word "simpleton" anymore in our English language. In fact, I cannot remember hearing it used in very many situations in my entire lifetime. A simpleton is a fool, a knucklehead, a ninny of sorts - he does not seek to understand, therefore we call him ignorant. I grew up with the idea that a fool was some kind of ninny that just did not get what was going on, was too self-absorbed to see others, or just plain 'didn't get it' in life. I think we need to focus on the fact that the fool is one who is "ignorant" - he or she just doesn't get it.

Look at the root of the word which is ignore. The fool is one who ignores what is right in front of his face - it is there for the taking, but he doesn't even notice it, or if he does, he just plain steps around it. He spends very little effort attempting to grasp what he has evident in his immediate path, much less a future one. The fool is ignorant because he will not learn from what is available to him - he has the tools, but he lacks the initiative to use them. I think of initiative as the 'internal reason' for which we use what is given to us. We are moved to use something because we see the usefulness, even though we may not fully grasp its purpose.

The fool is oblivious to life oftentimes ignoring the very plain or obvious. Even when there is clear evidence, he chooses to ignore it as not pertinent to him, the situation, or the future. Being oblivious is really because of two traits common to the fool - being inattentive and being easily distracted. The ability to distract a fool is really quite easy because he lacks the intent "focus" that is required to stay on task - not because he does not have the ability to focus - just because it is the path of least resistance for him.

The warning to each of us is that the simpleton (fool) only learns things the hard way! Ouch! That stings! Ever feel like you could have learned a lesson just a little quicker, or a little easier? The obvious conclusion is that you were submitting to the path of least resistance (the fool's path) and had to learn that lesson the hard way. So, the tendency to be "foolish" in our response to life events is apparent in all of us - even though we may not call ourselves a simpleton. We make the choice - live as a fool, taking the path of least resistance, or live as a wise man, submitting to the path of learning.

Keep one thing in mind: The "hard way" is evident at the end of the path of least resistance. The path of learning may seem "hard" at first, but in the end, it is really the path of "least resistance". Submission to the process of learning is paramount to avoiding the life-course of a simpleton - a journey none of us really wants to take. Therefore, we need to learn on! Just sayin!

Shhhhhhhhh.......

Our challenge is NOT in having the right advice to offer - it is allowing enough time to pass for the other person to actually WANT our advice! When I was in Bible College, one of the classes we took was designed to give us the skills to "listen" - really intent, serious listening. It was probably the longest and hardest semester learning the skills of biblical counseling - beginning with the skills of listening and ending with the skills of, oh yeah....listening. What was that all about? Somewhere along the way, our professors had learned that answering before listening is both stupid and rude. People were going to want to confide in us, hard things would be shared, and answers would be sought - but we had to learn to hear them out before offering the advice we were just chatting at the bit to get out!

Answering before listening is both stupid and rude. (Proverbs 18:13)

The failure to listen long enough or allow the time to build the trust that would be required to really share the issues could result in a wrong perception of the issues and a truly faulty answer to the problem. That would benefit no one. The entire eighteenth chapter of Proverbs is about words - how a fool speaks in ramblings and without thought; how a few words of gossip are nothing more than cheap words that really turn your stomach in the end; or teaching about how fights are started by the words that are chosen - be it your words or the other guy's. This is only one chapter of the Bible, and it has so much to say about what comes out of our mouth!

God has much to say about how we speak, what we listen to, and when it is that we are to speak or be silent. He commends us for bringing forth truth instead of lies. He exhorts us to listen before we speak. He encourages us to consider the audience and the timing of the message before we bring it. It must be an important thing for us to learn how to listen if God speaks to us so much about our speech and about our listening ears and responsive hearts! Words are weapons or wealth - they have the power to heal and the power to restore - but a lot depends on who is wielding the weapon or sharing the wealth.

We are encouraged to learn the skill of being good listeners. That may mean that we have to learn to NOT speak - something we might just benefit more from than any other instruction we embrace from scripture! I was often taught that all I think may be true, but not all I think needs to be spoken (although I struggle with keeping my thoughts inside sometimes). I need to give others time to come to a place of clarity in their thinking - eventually they will come to a place of sharing that may include the things I knew before they even said it. If that is so, they needed that time in order to be ready for the answer God wants them to receive. This is called wisdom - learning to speak when the time is appropriate.

I have learned that words do more than describe a situation - they expose a heart. The 'skill' comes in allowing the other person enough time to connect with their heart. When we take the time to truly listen, we give them the time they need to make that connection themselves. You'd be surprised what you learn about the heart of another when you give them time and opportunity to share it without jumping in to offer advice at the first opportunity. Our challenge is NOT in having the right advice to offer - it is allowing enough time to pass for the other person to actually WANT our advice - godly wisdom comes in allowing the time for the other person to be ready to receive that advice! So, tune up those listening ears and shut off that constant flow of "free speech". It is time to listen! Just sayin!

Shaky footing

From time to time I like to share a quote I come across that speaks to me. Today, I will share one that we all need to learn well: "The past always looks better than it was. It's only pleasant because it isn't here." (Finley Peter Dunne) It was Henry Ford who reminded us that failure was just an opportunity to begin again, wasn't it? The past looks so good because we are probably busy finding ways to fail anew right now! As long as we are still on this earth, we are going to know times of failure - of unpleasant endings to what we hoped would end a little better. We didn't count the cost well - we didn't consider the outcome before we took the leap. The past looks good only to those who don't remember the pain of the failure!

Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. I hope the test won’t show that we have failed. But if it comes to that, we’d rather the test showed our failure than yours. We’re rooting for the truth to win out in you. We couldn’t possibly do otherwise. We don’t just put up with our limitations; we celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you. We pray hard that it will all come together in your lives. (2 Corinthians 13:6-8 MSG)

Solid isn't deemed solid until it is put to the test. I have cautiously taken that first step out onto suspension bridges spanning drops so great I could not estimate the distance. The second step comes with a little more bravado, and then a little bit of the bridge's board crumbles upon your third step, and you feel that moment of panic! The first two steps may have been called 'solid', but that third one undid all you believed about the bridge! Your footing is less that secure at that point and you almost find yourself taking a step back. Why? You return to where you knew there was solid footing because you felt more secure there. If you have ever lived in icy regions, you know there is just a fine line between 'firmly frozen' and 'unstable ice'. There is a huge difference in where one stands or ventures between the two! 

We all need regular checkups where it applies to our spiritual health, my friends. We get off on not so solid footing from time to time - because we have a tendency to allow a little drift due to our inattentiveness. The thing about the suspension bridge or the icy crossing is that we are forced to test what it is we are placing our trust in all the time. Each step requires our intense concentration - we really cannot just stop to enjoy the thing around us. If we are a little easier path, we might not pay as close attention, allowing our thoughts to drift and our focus to be less intense. Speaking as one who has come up a few times a little bruised and battered by that one, let me just say we might not realize the unevenness of the path or that we have veered a little askew of straight!

The truth winning out in us isn't the result of a one time test - it is the result of being aware of our footing along the way. We don't lose focus - we don't need to 'reset' our course. Yet, if we have lost our course, it is easy enough to 'reset'. This thing called grace is actually a great 'reset' point in life. We lay hold of grace, it lays hold of us, and we get pulled back to firm footing time after time again! The truth is that our footing isn't going to always be solid. When we need that 'reset' in life, we might find we look back and think it wasn't all that bad 'back there', but we soon forget just how shaky that footing was! Just sayin!