Life comes at us fast...are we ready?

I have been cleaning out small spaces lately, going through all of mom's belongings, sorting little things to give to family that will hold meaning to them. In the process, I came across a small trinket I have carried with me for years - a "Dope-Stopper" coin given to me by Art Linkletter when I was around 12 years of age. I was honored to hear him in person, having won a challenge at my local school to create a poster that spoke to remaining drug-free. In the height of the 60's, drugs were rampant and kids everywhere were beginning to experiment with the stuff. His goal was to speak truth and hope into the lives of pre-teens, on the cusp of making life-changing decisions as they entered their challenging teen years. My "Speed Kills" poster afforded me the opportunity to meet this great man, but most importantly, gave me the chance to hear his message of his daughter's addiction and her ultimate death. In the end, I walked away with his words echoing deep within me to keep kids - friends and those I'd never even met yet - safe from the damaging influence of drugs. I am grateful he shared his pain, because the careless decision to 'do drugs' carried more than one 'bad outcome' in lives all around me. If we were to be honest, there are a whole lot of things that we 'do' in this lifetime that are blatantly 'careless' and without much thought. Drugs aren't the only thing we should avoid - because there are a whole lot of careless living choices we make that take us down pathways that lead to pretty awful outcomes.

Keep the rules and keep your life; careless living kills. (Proverbs 19:16 MSG)

I have shared this before, but my poster, entitled "Speed Kills", featured a man taking speed, then speeding down a road filled with turns, until finally he crashed and died. Kind of morbid when I look back on it, but my thought was to capture the twists and turns life puts us through and the dangers created when we don't "obey the rules". The rules we 'violate' are the ones that would have helped us avoid those twisty and danger roads! "Keep the rules and keep your life". Many don't realize Mr. Linkletter was an orphan, adopted by a preacher, growing up as a "P.K" (Pastor's Kid). He was abandoned by his own family when he was only a few weeks old, adopted by an evangelical preacher, and he grew up to be quite a man. One of his most talked about accomplishments in life is the longevity of his marriage! 75 years married to the same woman! Not a thing most people in Hollywood can boast! One of the things I liked best when he spoke to us was what he said about choices in life - there will be many, but not all will be the best for us. He was saying we have to keep growing, constantly developing, because none of us is perfect yet. So true!

Life comes at us fast - decisions made on the fly often get us by, but they don't always make sense for the long haul. When we have a good foundation, we often respond better to the "on the fly" choices we have to make. When we don't take time to lay the right foundation, we often lack consistency, or what some may call integrity in our decisions.  We have choices in life - not everything is cut and dry. If you have ever tried to find some things in scripture, such as exactly when to marry, if you should marry at all, or if you should get a tattoo, you might be a little frustrated to see there are no clear cut "words of wisdom" recorded for us on these matters. Sure, there are "guidelines" like not doing something that will offend others. There is nothing in scripture which clearly says YOU should marry HIM, or YOU should not ever marry ANYONE. In fact, the Apostle Paul tells us some will desire to marry, and this is okay. Others will desire to stay single, this is still okay. Not one set of guidelines fits for everyone. In cases such as these, we need to go with the guidance of scripture and prayer. God is giving us choice in some matters such as marriage - so, if it is for you, go for it! Just use wisdom in selecting the one you are going to spend the rest of your life with - it is a "for keeps" relationship!

Carelessness kills. Being careless is when we don't really pay attention to the choices we are making. We might think of it as being a little too "unconcerned" about the outcome. In making choices, when we are not concerned with the outcome, we almost always will be caught a little off-guard with what "comes out" of our choices! Rules are there for our safety. Although I don't like to think of scripture as a set of "rules", they are! The guidance set out in scripture does what a "rule" does - it sets boundaries for living. Embrace them and we usually come out okay. Disregard them, and we are mopping up the mess! The heart of our heavenly Father beats for us as his kids. His words to us are heard over and over in scripture - the beat of his heart for us is found in the words recorded for our learning and protection. His goal in all the "rules" - for us to avoid the hazards of carelessness. What seems burdensome to us at this moment makes all the difference in the outcome! Just sayin!

Give him the pieces

What or Who is it that causes division among you right now? Maybe it is more of a 'what' than a 'who' that is creating the division between you and something you need in your life. Perhaps you are struggling with an addiction to something that keeps coming between you and true liberty from the hold that thing has on you. Yes, addiction is really the worst kind of enslavement one can imagine - being so emotionally or psychologically attached to the 'thing' that any attempt to break free causes so much trauma in your life that you just cannot imagine being free. But...God is above that addiction - he is stronger than the emotional or psychological pull that thing has in your life. Maybe the dividing force in your life right now is a 'who' - a tough relationship challenge between you and a coworker, a spouse that seems to no longer share your interests or values, or even a relative that doesn't understand some of your choices and now chooses to withdraw from relationship with you. Whatever the form of 'division' that is there, the message to us today is that we are to allow God to help us do away with these dividing forces - because we are to have 'agreement' in our lives. Agreement in our thought life and habits - but the type of agreement that aligns with the Word of God. Agreement in our relationships - not the type that says we will agree to disagree, but the genuine agreement that brings people together on the same page. Agreement in our actions - so our steps are toward the same goals.

My brothers and sisters, I urge you by the name of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed, to come together in agreement. Do not allow anything or anyone to create division among you. Instead, be restored, completely fastened together with one mind and shared judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:1)

Division requires restoration. I have an old hope chest that belonged to my mom. It is perhaps seventy to eighty years old and has been moved around a lot. That has made some of the 'seams' in the wood less than aligned. While the fine workmanship of this piece is stellar, the rough handling over the years has left it with some required restoration. In the very near future, I will undertake this task, as I am now beginning to understand how to do the restoration of these joints that will allow the alignment to come back. Restorative work is hard because it has to understand where the 'coming together' needs to occur. Maybe this is why we find it so hard to allow restoration to come in our lives in those areas where it is most needed. We just don't relish the 'hard work' it requires to bring back order and 'alignment' within our relationships. The moment we choose to allow God access to our addiction, we are opening ourselves up to the discovery of just how we went down that pathway toward addiction in the first place. This can be uncomfortable, even a little unsettling to some of us. We learn where the psychological hold actually began and that might just get us a little unnerved in remembering that season in our lives, but it is often one of the most liberating steps we take in breaking free. In the connection between the 'why' of our addiction with the 'who' or 'what' of the addiction, we find there is somehow a way to see light on the other side of the hold it has had on us.

Come together in agreement. This indicates the parts must be sorted out and then brought together in such a way so as to show the 'agreement' of the parts. I recently decided to begin doing some jigsaw puzzles again and let me tell you - you have to sort out in order to bring together! You cannot just take a jumble of pieces and start lining them up. You must find the edge pieces - so you understand the framework. You must then sort by the various 'recognizable' features of the puzzle, such as sky or grass pieces. In doing all this 'sorting', you are preparing to bring together - to find 'agreement' with the pieces. In much the same way, we find the things that have caused division in our lives need to be sorted out, so we get back to the right framework and then we begin to see how the things that we can do quickly to bring agreement can come into play. As we get these two things done, we are left with a little hard 'mixture' of pieces that require a lot of sorting, trial and error in 'fitting them together' so there is agreement of the pieces, and then in the end, we will see the result of all that work. While there is much that brings division, there is nothing beyond God's ability to bring 'agreement' back! Just sayin!

He IS

Every now and again I run across an 'old school' preacher who will blurt out, "God is good", expecting the response, "All the time", from those he or she is around. It was frequently used as the 'affirmation' of our trust in his goodness and grace that we were expressing back in the day. We don't hear it very much in our local churches these days, but it is a good thing to remember - our God IS good. He isn't 'becoming' good - he IS good. He isn't enticed to 'do good' - he IS good. The state of 'IS' really means in the present tense, at this very time, without any hesitation, or without any concern that something exists - he IS good.

The Eternal One is good, a safe shelter in times of trouble. He cares for those who search for protection in Him. (Nahum 1:7)

Three short things we can learn from what our writer shares here today. First, God is good - even when we doubt his goodness, he never ceases to be good. It is his nature - he cannot deviate from his nature. He may seek to 'nurture' that 'goodness' within us, but it is something that he doesn't have to work on in himself - it is inherent in who and what he is. Goodness is inseparable from him - wherever he is, goodness is.

Next, it is important for us to see that in him is the greatest and most secure protection we can ever experience. Another term we could use here is that he is our refuge. See once again that he IS our refuge - our shelter, place of safety, anchor in hard times. We don't have to create a place of refuge - he IS that place of refuge. If you have ever been in the midst of something very troubling to your spirit, you might have realized all you had to do to feel 'protected' was to focus your mind on him. In so doing, you allowed all the danger or trouble you were experiencing to be shut out. You entered into what he IS at all times - our place of refuge.

Last, but not least, he is near to us at all times. It may come as a surprise to some, because they have sense him to be distant or farther away than they might have liked, but it is impossible to care for and protect those who are distant. Protection comes in the form of being near - being up close and personal with the one you are protecting. Does the bodyguard protect the individual they are charged with protecting from a distance? No, they do so by drawing near and staying there! The protection of God IS found in the nearness we maintain with him. Even when we don't sense he is close to us, we can rest in the knowledge he is never far from our heart.

God is good. He is our refuge. He is near to us - caring for us each step of the way. Three things we might just want to commit to memory and remind ourselves of from time to time. These are the things we sometimes forget when the battle is raging and the times are tougher than we'd like, but because he IS all these things, he never fails us. Just sayin!

You thirsty?

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says.” (John 7:38)

Today, we find Jesus unfazed by the opposition of the religious leaders of the day - teaching in the Temple, as was his custom. The religious leaders are appalled at how much of the Law Jesus knows and how well he explains it. In fact, they are engaged in a heavy discussion about where he received his "credentials" to preach when Jesus responds to their curiosity with a simple statement: "I didn’t make this up. What I teach comes from the One who sent me. Anyone who wants to do his will can test this teaching and know whether it’s from God or whether I’m making it up. A person making things up tries to make himself look good. But someone trying to honor the one who sent him sticks to the facts and doesn’t tamper with reality. It was Moses, wasn’t it, who gave you God’s Law? But none of you are living it. So why are you trying to kill me?” (vs. 16-19) All this "banter" between the religious leaders and Jesus begins to get some in the crowd talking about Jesus' "origin" and his "ability" to be "in ministry" without any "formal teaching". Doesn't it just seem like the crowd always has to include some who will question the validity or motivation of anyone who is in public view?

Jesus is steadfast in his teaching - never wavering despite the continued and escalating opposition. The religious leaders are jealous of him receiving the following of the crowds - a powerful opponent to humility is the devil within we can each call pride! Yet, in all Jesus "endures" at the hand of the crowd of onlookers, there are those "in the crowd" who he knows are on the brink of hungering and thirsting for the reality of "God with them". To them, he begins to minister - "If ANYONE thirsts...." This is not likely an invitation to the religious, but to the seeking hearts who long for something more than set of rules to follow and a place to gather on "church day". Two things Jesus tells them: "Come to me" and "drink". Look at the little three-letter word which begins this invitation - "LET". Jesus is saying to the religious "righteous" - "allow, permit, grant access" to the thirsty - they need what I have to offer. It was as though he is saying to the rabble-rousers in the crowd, "Stop standing in their way and let them alone!" He recognizes the hungry within the crowd - those who desire more - not just the onlookers there because they wanted to be 'part of the group'. It is these seeking hearts he desires to touch. Jesus never sought to "convince" the religious "righteous" of his greatness - he just opened heaven to those who were willing to admit their own righteousness would never be enough to truly bring peace to their souls and right-thinking to their minds.

Come to me is the first invitation - permit these hungry among you to experience access to what it is they desire so desperately. Then he adds the instruction to allow them to drink - the place of refreshing awaited those who would draw near enough to experience the "flow" of his grace fully. Religious righteousness only makes people more "thirsty" for something that will truly satisfy - Jesus is simply offering himself. The filling-up of one's thirsty soul with the presence of Jesus is the only truly satisfying position the thirsty can find - for the rivers of grace flow freest and clearest the nearer we come to the source of the "water". Then he adds what becomes a message of hope to the thirsty within the crowd - "Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way". Dry to the bone, you will be refreshed beyond your capacity to "contain" or "hold" what is offered by the infilling of his grace! Rivers are not tiny streams that trickle along in some lazy way, following the path of the least resistance. Rivers have currents - they cut paths right through whatever stands in their way! Jesus tells us his grace has the power to cut paths where there is resistance - to overcome obstacles to refreshing and renewing.

He adds the rivers will "spill out". Ever "over-pour" a glass of soda? You know, you just did not expect it to overflow the top of the glass, pooling around the base of the glass and dribbling onto the floor. He is not talking about this kind of "fizz up" overflow here! In fact, he talks of it being a river that spills out - from the depths of one's being. Soda fizzes up and then the "overflow" dissipates, doesn't it? His "river of living water" is non-dissipating! It flows and flows and flows. Grace has no limits! Grace abounds - the more we need it, the more is spills out, but did you ever stop to consider that which spills out has to have filled the object in the first place? I don't know about you, but I want this kind of "overflow" in my life! I don't want an occasional "sprinkling" or "fizz up" of his presence, but the genuine flow of his grace constantly renewing me, cutting paths through the places of resistance in my life. How about you? Just askin!

In Season

Fruit in season - it is just about time for some of my favorite fruits to hit the market. I love cherries, sweet watermelon, and cool honeydew. When fruit comes in season, I snatch it up, as I am a big fruit eater. During the 'leaner' fruit season of winter, I only have a select few fruits to choose from, such as bananas, apples, and oranges. Now, as summer is approaching, the markets are beginning to fill with fresh berries, melons, peaches, pears, and the list goes on. The bountiful harvest of fruit is something I look forward to, while the 'leaner' times are something I endure.

The wicked envy what the evil plunder, but the root of the right-living produces fruit for all. (Proverbs 12:12)

Fruit isn't just 'there' - it has to be produced in season. We don't find watermelon grows very well when the ground is covered with snowy ice, nor trees laden with peaches or plums when there is an absence of leaves in the frightful cold of winter. There is a season to the 'production' of fruit - complete with all the right 'conditions' being met. In our lives, there are seasons of growth - times when the 'conditions' are just right for the fruit to be produced. During these seasons, it is time to allow for the production of fruit in full abundance, not just one little bit!

Fruit is produced because there is a good root system established. If you think about it, we don't 'put down roots' easily, do we? We kind of resist growth sometimes, like when we encounter hard places that make our roots a little more difficult to 'put down'. It isn't that we don't want to grow, but the effort to overcome the 'hard places' is most demanding. We must have some spiritual substance to endure those 'leaner times' where growth is the hardest and the challenges to grow put obstacles in our way. This 'substance' comes in the weirdest of ways sometimes - but it is what will keep us on the path that moves us into the seasons of fruit production.

Perhaps the 'substance' we need to grow right now is that which will help to spur us on, even helping us to move the obstacle, or find a path that embraces it and sets roots that encompass the obstacle. If you have ever had a root system break a pipe in your yard, you know just how 'encompassing' those roots can be. They don't allow the obstacle of the pipe to get in their way - they embrace that obstacle and allow it to give them even greater 'anchorage'. That 'substance' may be found in times of prayer, reading of the Word, or just in contemplative silence before God. We don't know how to overcome the obstacles until we seek his wisdom in doing so.

If roots were easily set, we'd see all kinds of growth in our lives, without measure. Roots are set in some of the toughest of seasons - when our lives are said to be the 'driest', and the season seems to be the 'bleakest'. We don't know the obstacles in our path, but we can embrace them and see them become the foundation for even greater growth in our lives. What we choose to do with the things that push against our spiritual 'root system' will determine the fruit that is produced in season in our lives! Just sayin!

Period!

When someone tells you that you need to wrap your mind around some concept, they are telling you that the subject at hand will take some effort on our part to actually get enough of a hint of it in order to even remotely understand it. The subject is complex, even a little overwhelming, and we will have to apply ourselves to really grasp it very well. We cannot wrap our minds around God's wisdom and knowledge - because it is infinite and our brains are sadly finite. We can only 'think' so far and then we have to 'trust'. Some of us think there is nothing we can trust if we cannot 'think' it through, but this will never work when it comes to our faith. Faith requires trust in what is unseen and not fully comprehended. The truth we believe is really building our trust, but until we approach God with more trust than 'thought', we will never fully grasp some of the things he has prepared for us.

We cannot wrap our minds around God’s wisdom and knowledge! Its depths can never be measured! We cannot understand His judgments or explain the mysterious ways that He works! For, who can fathom the mind of the Lord? Or who can claim to be His advisor? Or, who can give to God in advance so that God must pay him back? For all that exists originates in Him, comes through Him, and is moving toward Him; so give Him the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

One of the things that stood out from this passage this morning was this idea of everything that exists actually 'moving' toward God. This might make sense in terms of the scientist who studies the planets, gravitational pull, and even the fact that tides come and go. There is a certain element of 'trust' in each of the 'theories' they present related to how each of these planets rotate, exist, and remain 'afloat' in the universe. We don't fully understand the black holes, or even exactly how the earth rotates and stays in exactly the same orbital pattern year after year. Yet, we trust the theories developed by these scientific minds. Why is it so hard for us to trust the truth of scripture, but we can believe in the theories of mankind?

All that exists originates in God himself - period. This is not a wishy-washy statement; it is a statement of fact and truth. We exist because he created us. The chair you are sitting in right now exists because someone made it, but all that exists that allowed the chair to be created was made by him. All the elements that go into the metal, material, and wood within that chair all exist because he made them. Man might have created the 'structure' of the chair, but he created the 'substance' of the chair. All comes through him - period. Nothing is truly 'self-made' in this world, for man's success is in the hands of God. All comes through him - he allows us to proceed along the course that allows us to enjoy success. It all comes because he exists, calls into existence, and allows to continue to exist. Period.

In the end, nothing exists that is not moving toward him - period. It may seem there are things diametrically opposed to his holiness and this would be true. Yet, even the things that are opposed to him are moving toward him - for nothing exists that isn't moving toward him. This is truth and we need to accept that God will control even the bad stuff that stands in opposition to his truth - period. By his hand all is held together. By his breath all enjoys life. By his heartbeat all experience love at the greatest level possible. By his movement all other movement is influenced. God is at the center of it all - shouldn't he be at the center of your life, as well? Just askin!

God - You Got This!

We all have moments when we feel overwhelmed by the task at hand. The possibilities of doing what it is we are called upon to do seem daunting and we just cannot possibly see how God could have plans for us in the moment. The Apostle Paul faced a little of this - knowing full well he was "schooled" in the Law of Moses, but not at all "schooled" in the message of grace. What he learned about grace he experienced the same as we all do - because the teacher embraced him with that grace! Back when Paul wrote his epistle to the Ephesian church, he admits to his absolute and overwhelming surprise at receiving grace. In fact, he says, "Hey! I now have a new life's work - helping others know what it is like to receive this surprise gift of grace!" Paul goes on to explain his absolute lack of "qualifications" to do what it is God has him doing - but God was handling all the details. Humbly, he admits he was the least "qualified" of any of the available Christians. Yet, in each new step he took in obedience to God, God saw to it that he was equipped and not relying on his natural abilities.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. (Ephesians 3:20)

We frequently discount the possibilities when we compare our abilities to the weight of the task at hand. We see the mountain as too large! Scripture reminds us, "God can do anything!" I want to add, "With anything and anyone available to his use!" We might find it hard to "explain" grace, but we can demonstrate it through our life actions. We know full well an example speaks volumes more than words alone. "When we trust in him, we’re free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go." Free to say whatever needs to be said! Ever find yourself in a place where you know the exact thing that needs to be said, but you talk yourself out of it because you don't think the "hearer" will be open to receive it? Paul tells us when we trust in Christ, putting our every step in his care, we become free to speak what needs to be spoken. He is responsible for the "receiving" of the message, not us. Now, this doesn't mean that we just blurt out anything we "think" someone needs to hear, but when we feel the prompting of the Spirit of God within, we can stand assured God will "back up" our words! Bold to go where we need to go! Freedom and boldness are two tell-tale signs of the Spirit of God indwelling a believer. What is the means by which this freedom is experienced and this boldness becomes the foundation upon which we stand - it is in the Holy Spirit working WITHIN us. In Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit CAME UPON a man - not WITHIN. Christ's sacrifice made it possible for God to "indwell" mankind with his Spirit - grace providing the means to experiencing God's presence again as we were designed to experience it.

How exactly does the Holy Spirit operate in our lives? Some of us may think he comes with a heavy hand, strong-arming us into a position of submission. Indeed, it is exactly the opposite. He comes in the gentleness of grace. Ever try to be the Holy Spirit in someone else's life? You find yourself "demanding" or "insisting" they act a certain way because you know their life needs to change. How'd that work out for you? If you were like me, probably not too well. People resist being "strong-armed" into a position of obedience. Grace is the exact opposite of "strong-arming" - it is gentleness, meekness, long-suffering, peaceable, and loving. It embraces us when we our finally ready to be embraced. The Holy Spirit doesn't push us around - he is not a bully! He doesn't demand his own way, but yields to us until we are willing to yield to him. Don't get me wrong, he keeps "working within", but he doesn't clobber us with grace! He extends it to us - leaving it up to us to take it, or leave it. I have had many moments in time when I have said, "I don't want it!" Those times when my willful disobedience seemed more enjoyable and promising than any offered grace. Oh, what a sad state of events unfolded with those determined moments of resistance! The hope I can leave you with this morning is simply this: God's grace is there. His Holy Spirit is working WITHIN us - gently, peaceably, with all love and compassion. Grace resisted leaves us wanting. Grace embraced fills us to overflowing. We might push God away, but he never allows us to move so far away that we cannot turn into his embrace! Just sayin!

His ways are discoverable

The work of God in our lives is sometimes misunderstood, isn't it? We don't actually 'get' why some things happen, like the present pandemic. Why is it the world is set into absolute chaos, economies hit so hard, and people left jobless all as the result of one tiny virus? In this day and age, you'd almost expect the CDC and  WHO would have found a way to put a bubble around the virus and eradicate it as quickly as it emerged. The advances in medical science have come to be 'counted on' in times of extreme crisis as we are seeing now, haven't they? The work of God in our lives is sometimes as easily misunderstood as our knowledge of medical science is at times. We don't fully appreciate the extremely difficult job it is to eradicate a virus and we understand even less of how God moves or works in our live at times!

You can no more predict the path of the wind than you can explain how a child’s bones are formed in a mother’s womb. Even more, you will never understand the workings of the God who made all things. (Ecclesiastes 11:5)

You've heard it said that God moves in mysterious ways, but I would have to add that he moves in 'discoverable' ways, even though they seem to be a little bit of a mystery at first. The more we get closer to him, the easier it becomes to appreciate how he moves. We may not understand all the things behind each movement he makes, but we begin to sense his moving and we begin to move with him. When I was pregnant the first time, I read every book I could get my hands on to figure out what was going on inside of me with that tiny fetus under development. Although I read about how the nerve pathways are growing and being connected one right after another, all occurring between this week and that week of gestation, I still cannot fathom how one cell divides into two and two into four and so on. It is a concept I can appreciate, but can I honestly say I understand how it happens? Nope! I don't have the power of creation, so I don't really know how God does that!

I understand that a virus can mutate, divide, and even replicate at break-neck speeds, but do I understand how it came to emerge right now, in this virulent form? Nope. Do I have to understand it to appreciate it has some pretty awful potential in that one tiny virus 'body'? Nope. What I do have to understand is that God has people in key spots working diligently to understand it way better than I ever will and who are working overtime to 'break the code' so to speak on how to get this pandemic under control. What does God require of us if we aren't required to fully understand these things that are just 'bigger' than our ability to fully comprehend? I think it might just be he requires us to rest in him, lean upon his understanding of the matter, and then rely upon him to work all things out according to his knowledge, not ours.

We sometimes get stuck in the place of having to 'understand' in order to allow change, adopt a particular practice, or avoid something altogether. Understanding takes on different forms, but the most basic form of understanding God asks of us is to trust the one who we don't fully understand, but who we know loves us more than anything on this earth. God isn't limited by our understanding - but he is limited by our lack of trust. When we choose to not trust him because we don't understand how he is moving, we are putting up roadblocks to his movement in our lives. This isn't something we want to engage in very often (if ever), though. We want to allow God free access - to move in our lives as he sees fit and as he knows will best serve our lives. It is hard to trust when we don't see or fully appreciate, but if we always saw or fully understood a matter, would there be much basis for trust? Just askin!

A little stuck?

Have you ever heard the story of the valley of dry bones from the Book of Ezekial? There is this place where skeletal remains all over the place, totally picked clean, dried up by the sun and time. God leads Ezekial around the valley, then through it, experiencing the full vastness of its expanse and the multitude of bones contained there. We probably won't experience anything like this, but there is significant meaning within this prophesy for the nation of Israel. I also think there could be a lesson or two for us, if we look close enough! In order to get as much out of this as possible, I am going to take you on a little "word journey", so bear with me!

Then God said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Listen to what they’re saying: ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there’s nothing left of us.’ “Therefore, prophesy. Tell them, ‘God, the Master, says: I’ll dig up your graves and bring you out alive—O my people! Then I’ll take you straight to the land of Israel. When I dig up graves and bring you out as my people, you’ll realize that I am God. I’ll breathe my life into you and you’ll live. Then I’ll lead you straight back to your land and you’ll realize that I am God. I’ve said it and I’ll do it. God’s Decree.’” (Ezekial 37:11-14)

A huge valley filled with DRY bones. No signs of life - DRY. If God were to look at our lives, would he see staleness, a lack of freshness - people no longer communicating warmth, enthusiasm, or tender feelings? Bones without FLESH. They may have rotted away by time, circumstance, or the lack of no longer being fed. I wonder what the impact of time has done to us? Or perhaps the involvement in circumstances spinning beyond our control, or the simple lack of taking time to feed upon that which maintains life? These bones may have been picked clean - by the predators all around them. How many of us suffer the impact of "predators" without even realize we are being "picked clean"? No APPEARANCE of hope for resuscitation. In the eyes of man, there seems to be little hope. They are dead by all of man's estimation and human understanding. But...when God sees them, his estimation and understanding see life. Perspective is everything! Hear the WORD of the Lord! The word of God will always bring a commotion, a stirring, and a rattling of our "dry bones". Sometimes this stirring is not enough - we still are nothing more than revived corpses! We might have "new flesh", but just looking "new" on the outside is no assurance there is something "new" on the inside!

BREATHE that they may live! It is the breathe of God which brings them alive on the INSIDE! They rise as a multitude - an army of warriors. Alive because of the moving of the Holy Spirit over their lives. We are made alive in the same manner - through his movement. It is his "giving of breath" which revives. Sometimes we are no more than unrelated parts - dry bones scattered to the far corners of the earth. We can remain as dry bones - disconnected, unrelated, scattered. When we do, we live "disconnected" lives. As a result, we lack the strength and capacity of "corporate" unity. In this state, we are prey to the predators of our lives - sin, evil, distraction, deception, etc. The winds of adversity will take us down. The circumstances of life will drain us further. The trials will leave us defenseless. We are open to being carried off by our predators because we aren't connected and alive! We can settle for a week-to-week existence. You know the kind I mean - come to church each week, get a touch of life, then be drained by the time the week is even over! Or we can know the vitality of life - as God intends it - a living, breathing organism of grace.

I want us to see some things about the wind in order to really get as much as possible from this passage. It rattles - rousing us from our slumber. Sometimes we don't even know we have lost our alertness to the things of God. It is the breath of God's Spirit, moving over our lives, which rouses us. Maybe we need a little "wind" in our sails again! It shakes - stirring again feelings long left untouched. The wind has a way of stirring what it touches. In fact, this is how we know the wind is actually there - we see and feel its movement across our lives. There are areas of our lives that have not been "moved upon" in a long time. Maybe today is the day for God to "move us" - opening us to new possibilities in him. It moves - causing us to change our position. Watch the wind sometime and what you see is the effect of it upon that which it touches. There is much to be said about the wind bringing a change of position. Sometimes it is the movement that uncovers that which has been hidden for a long, long time! It draws - pulling us out of the "crannies" of apathy. Things get stuck from time to time. We get apathetic to the stuff we become the most familiar with, don't we? It is the wind of the Spirit which "unsticks" us. It drives - moving us forward when nothing else will. Sometimes the influence of the wind is to move what has been stationary for far too long. Things which have been rigid and unchanging. We all need a little "nudging" sometimes, don't we?

The Spirit is what gives dead bones new life. The purpose of the bones was in the formation of a vast army - not a solitary existence. The army was not sparse, weak, or ill-equipped. In fact, it was vast - numberless, large, great in number! This type of army will make its presence known - if not in the sound it makes, in the display of the power behind the resurrection of those dry bones. It is not easy to hide an army such as this! Just sayin!

Belonging brings harmony

Tax season gets everyone thinking about whatever it is they may "write off" in the interest of lowering their tax base. We search the books, attempting to find the specific expenses we may deduct, finding all the legal 'loopholes' that will reduce the overall tax penalty we are hit with each year. Why? We want all we work hard to acquire! If you have more than your high school diploma, didn't you have to work a little harder for that college degree? If you have more than an associate degree from the local community college, didn't the effort you put into obtaining that bachelor's degree require more than just another two years in school? Now, if you have gone on to achieve your master's degree or even a doctorate, think of all the effort that went into those hours agonizing over your projects, thesis, and graduation requirements. There is something within each of these accomplishments that gives us a sense of satisfaction - but even the best of write off's and legal loopholes, or the excellence we attain in our academics is nothing compared to the greatness of knowing Christ!

But whatever I used to count as my greatest accomplishments, I’ve written them off as a loss because of the Anointed One. And more so, I now realize that all I gained and thought was important was nothing but yesterday’s garbage compared to knowing the Anointed Jesus my Lord. For Him I have thrown everything aside—it’s nothing but a pile of waste—so that I may gain Him. When it counts, I want to be found belonging to Him, not clinging to my own righteousness based on law, but actively relying on the faithfulness of the Anointed One. This is true righteousness, supplied by God, acquired by faith. I want to know Him inside and out. I want to experience the power of His resurrection and join in His suffering, shaped by His death,  so that I may arrive safely at the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:7-11)

We gain or achieve things we believe to be important in life, only to realize they hold very limited 'excellence' in our lives when we hold them up to the gift of knowing and living in Christ Jesus. When it counts, we all want to be found belonging to him! What does it mean to truly belong? It isn't that we are his 'property', nor that we have the right 'pedigree' to be part of a group. It is more like we find he permeates our entire being and it is that presence within us that pulls us close to his heart, experiencing more and more of him until we almost burst because of his goodness and grace. Belonging isn't just a state of mind - it is a reality of the heart and spirit. When we belong to Christ, there is a harmony that occurs - our hearts and minds become one - led by the Spirit of God, our spirit is ignited by his. We begin to experience the passion he experiences. There is a new power that controls us - guiding our steps, clarifying our thoughts, and communicating his heart to others.

True righteousness is more than asking God to forgive our sins and then believing we are saved. It is allowing God to take all the things we have been counting on in life - looking for as things we can raise up as accomplishments - and giving them to him. As we yield these to him, acknowledging how little they really 'count' in terms of making us 'better' people, we find God's peace enters into our lives. Where peace dwells, life begins to change - because our life-focus has begun to change. It isn't our accomplishments that matter anymore - it is what he is accomplishing within us that becomes the central part of our existence. This is maybe the biggest mystery mankind will ever encounter - lives touched by the Spirit of God and the desire to exchange all that we held up as so important in our lives for the grace and peace of God. We won't find loopholes we can fall back on in his kingdom. We find grace - not a loophole - but rather a place and position of rest and security that gives us more 'return' than we ever will 'put into' life! Just sayin!

A little leash training required

I am considering a keyless entry lock in my garage and have been reading the online reviews, as well as the user manuals for these various models. The instruction manuals of some seem very basic, while others look like they would be more for the use of the Space Station in orbit! Isn't it amazing how some instructions can be so plainly written - easy to grasp and even easier to put into use - while others can be so vague or complex that you just struggle and struggle to make sense of it all? The Word of God isn't supposed to be one of those 'manuals' that we struggle with, but rather something we can turn to, easily embracing what is written within and easily putting it into practice in our lives. Yet, we make the commands of God so complex, don't we? We complicate them with our rules or conditions we want to 'add to' the simplicity of God's instructions. Whenever we 'add to' God's simple instructions, we are not going to find the Word bringing order to our lives, but rather a sense of chaos and disorder.

Here’s my instruction: walk in the Spirit, and let the Spirit bring order to your life. If you do, you will never give in to your selfish and sinful cravings. For everything the flesh desires goes against the Spirit, and everything the Spirit desires goes against the flesh. There is a constant battle raging between them that prevents you from doing the good you want to do. But when you are led by the Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law. (Galatians 5:16-18)

Order comes into our lives when we allow the Spirit of God to actually create order out of the chaos of our lives. We have all made decisions we regret, taken actions we wish would never have been acted upon, and thought things that we have had trouble breaking free from. We all have 'added to' God's Word in some form - all because we aren't relying upon the Spirit of God to 'tutor' us - to guide us in such a way so as to bring 'order' where there has been disorder. We wonder why we are giving into our sinful cravings all the time - forgetting that we cannot overcome these without the tutelage of the Spirit in our lives! The 'constancy' of the battle to follow the commands of God for our lives and the desires of our flesh are just going to present a 'clash of the wills' in us until we allow God's Spirit to 'remodel' our priorities, desires, and thoughts.

I don't have a dog any longer, but I remember taking my dog for a walk, leash securely attached to the collar around her neck. Actually, if you want to know the truth...she took me for a walk! She pulled continuously against that leash, dragging me this way and that. Why? I never did any 'leash training' with her when she was young and she learned this 'leash pulling' thing was okay. She could have learned the value of being on the leash, but instead pulled against it, desiring to explore all the things she needed to stay away from. She'd put her nose where it didn't belong, venture into places she should have stayed out of, and attempted to leave her mark in places she didn't have a right to leave a mark on! All because she was not aware of the safety and privilege of the leash.

Now, we don't wear a leash, but it is an apt illustration of how the Spirit of God helps us stay within places of safety - avoiding those places where we should never leave a mark, or allow to become a mark upon our lives! God doesn't desire us to pull against the leash of the tutelage of the Spirit in our lives, but we do anyway. When we do, he does a little 'leash training' to get us comfortable with the leash - to become obedient to the commands he gives. This isn't discipline - it is training. There is a difference, you know! One thing we can count on - God isn't going to be pulled hither and yon by us. He is going to 'train us up' in the ways we should walk and then he expects us to actually heed his commands. Imagine that! Just sayin...

Handling it?

The struggle we endure today is preparing us for the strength we will grow into tomorrow. Stop for a moment to think about the last time you struggled with something and answer me this: Did that struggle bring a new strength in you? If it did not, was it because you let go of the struggle and just abandoned it? If we let go of the struggle, but allow God to continue his work within us, we won't lose out in the end. We will grow into a strength not otherwise realized in our lives.

So who can separate us? What can come between us and the love of God’s Anointed? Can troubles, hardships, persecution, hunger, poverty, danger, or even death? The answer is, absolutely nothing. As the psalm says, On Your behalf, our lives are endangered constantly; we are like sheep awaiting slaughter. But no matter what comes, we will always taste victory through Him who loved us. For I have every confidence that nothing—not death, life, heavenly messengers, dark spirits, the present, the future, spiritual powers, height, depth, nor any created thing—can come between us and the love of God revealed in the Anointed, Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

There is no separation that can enter into our lives when we are allowing the working of God within our lives - even if the 'working' takes on the form of 'waiting'. I think waiting may be one of the hardest forms of struggle we deal with. We want the timing of things to fit within our plans, or within our way of dealing with things. The problem with our need to have things 'fit' into the way we think they should go is that we rarely know all the things that we will face. We don't know what the struggle will involve, but the safest way to deal with it is to allow him to develop his strength within us while we wait.

Absolutely nothing separates us from the love and protection of God in our lives. If that be the case, why do we resist struggles so desperately? Maybe we don't mean to resist, but we are resisting every time we complain the struggle is too hard, the wait is too long, the cost is too much. Yes, these are indeed the valid emotional responses of our heart in the midst of the struggle, but our refuge is found in the midst of the struggle, not in the absence of it! We don't even realize we have stepped out from 'inside' the refuge of God's protection until we realize we are in the midst of the struggle.

We experience sorrow - does that have the power to be our undoing? No! We endure hardship after hardship - does that have the power to uproot us from the position of grace in God's kingdom? No! We wander around in empty places of loneliness and darkness - do they have the power to shut down the light of God in our lives? No! The 'absolutely nothing' of God's protection, power, and purpose in our lives is exactly that - NOTHING will separate us. We might feel like the struggle is harder than we will ever be able to handle, but perhaps that is the purpose of the struggle - to show us we aren't supposed to handle it alone! Just sayin!

V-Day

Victory! What does this term mean to you? Perhaps it means you have succeeded in something you never thought you'd be able to complete, or that you triumphed over something that held you back in life. Maybe it carries the idea of having achieved superiority to your enemy - no longer having to engage that enemy in battle because you have been declared "victorious" over that enemy. If we look at this in the truest sense, any victory is really a sense of achievement where an advantage is attained and maintained. There is something in the one who is victorious that screams, "I have overcome!" There was an obstacle in your way and now that obstacle no longer stands as any impediment to your progress or success in life. I wonder just how many obstacles God has removed for us without us even knowing they were gone - allowing us to walk victoriously in areas we never really had any idea how to overcome?

Only through God can we be successful. It is God alone who will defeat our enemies and bring us victory! (Psalm 108:13)

Victory comes one way and one way alone - through the work of God in our lives. It is only in Christ that we truly can be successful over the things that hold us bound. God defeats our enemies - even when our enemies are our own thoughts, emotions, and doubts. There are tons of us who are facing obstacles that aren't external to us, but are right there in the thoughts we frequently reconsider and ruminate on repeatedly. There are those of us who find our emotions huge hurdles to overcome, binding us to some specific course of action because we cannot seem to overcome how we 'feel'. Still others of us are intent on doing something that will result in a life-change we desire, but all those doubts and frustrations keep creeping up, paralyzing us, holding us back from ever taking more than the first step. Obstacles aren't always easy to identify, but when they are within us, ever-present with us, we find their taunts hard to overcome.

It is only through God we can be successful in overcoming these internal hurdles. No amount of self-help, positive intent, or mind reset techniques can help us. We might get to 'feeling' a little bit like we can take on these hurdles, but if we were to be honest here, these tactics and techniques might work for a while, but they aren't lasting! They fizzle as soon as the next negative thought pattern takes hold, crumble when we find ourselves too fatigued to try any harder, and evaporate when we realize changing our thinking isn't all that easy. God defeats all our enemies - even those that are of our own making! Success - how would you define that in terms of your present 'internal enemy'? In order to define our success, we must first be able to name our enemy correctly! This requires honesty on our part and the help of our Savior to help us understand the true enemy that stands as the obstacle in the way of our victory.

We don't have to overcome on our own. We don't have to understand every nuance of that internal obstacle that mounts defense after defense, avoiding any attempt to eradicate it from our midst. What we do need is God's presence, power, and peace. As his presence begins to be entertained and made a more prominent thing than the obstacle that stands in our way, we find that obstacle begins to lose its power over us and his peace begins to permeate our entire being. We aren't asked to use our power, but to rely upon his. Yes, we will be asked to take steps of obedience toward the obstacle and then to actually begin to tear it down in his power, but we don't do that alone - he guides us step by step until it is finally removed. On the other side of that obstacle stands a victory we won't know without his help. Don't go it alone - remember he desires to go before you in the battle! Just sayin!

The long front porch

I once was told we had to understand the intent of words in scripture, such as understanding what the 'therefore' was there for. It is a word that tells us we are about to understand the conclusion of all that has been presented. As a result of something that has been done, enacted, created, etc., we are to understand that what follows is the conclusion of the matter. With that in mind, if we were to read the scripture with an eye on the words that really help us to understand a condition has been met, or that the matter is firmly and finally settled, we might just realize we have no excuse for continuing in fear, despair, or doubt. It would settle our minds and hearts as we come to trust what has already been accomplished on our behalf.

Therefore, now no condemnation awaits those who are living in Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King, because when you live in the Anointed One, Jesus, a new law takes effect. The law of the Spirit of life breathes into you and liberates you from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

This particular 'therefore' is there for us to begin to focus anew on the hope we have in Christ Jesus and to stop looking at all the other things we had relied upon, such as our good works, or a pursuit of empty religious rituals. The Apostle Paul has spent a great deal of time helping us to understand the course of mankind, the coming of Christ, and the liberty God provided in the finished work of the Cross and the Resurrection. I like the first seven chapters of the Book of Romans to a 'long front porch' that helps us get to the doorway of what it is we will come into as we reach that end. Grace is that doorway, but in order to understand and fully value grace we need to understand the exact reason we need grace in the first place. Paul tells us of the downward spiral of mankind in choosing their own will over God's, finding ways to dishonor not only God, but themselves in the very actions that are a result of each of us being born with a sin nature.

Grace wouldn't be necessary if mankind could have found a way to liberate themselves from sin and death! A Redeemer wouldn't have been necessary if mankind could have learned to live above the pull of sin deep within us. Grace has always been the entryway - Christ being the one that unlocked the door of grace. Left to our own devices, we'd have wandered around on the 'front porch' of God's goodness and love a long, long time. So, the 'therefore' is there for us to realize we are no longer to be 'porch dwellers', wandering all around grace, trying to find a way to escape our sin nature all on our own. Grace must be embraced, but when it is fully embraced and we pass from self-reliance and self-will into the abundance of grace, we begin to experience the liberation we could never find in our religious pursuits or grand efforts of 'good works'.

Therefore...NOW no condemnation awaits those who are living IN Jesus the Anointed...

There is a definite moment in time where the threshold of grace is passed and we fully enter into the embrace of the liberating freedom that grace brings into our lives. It is important to keep in mind that NOW refers to something that comes without further delay in our lives - it is immediately available to us as we enter into it. What is it that is available as we cross over this threshold of grace? The removal and full release from ALL condemnation that sin brings into our lives past, present, and future! As we living IN Jesus, we are continually renewed by grace and this renewal process continually releases us from the grip of condemnation - whether it comes from others or our own self.

The long front porch prepares us for the entry into the place where we finally find our rest, peace, and eternal hope. There is no better time to enter into that place of liberating grace than NOW. Now suggests a permanence of it always being the right time to seek more and more of God's grace each and every time we need it in our lives. Liberating grace - always renewed - freshly embraced - setting us free from the laws of sin and death. Neither sin, nor death need hold us bound any longer. We are free in Christ Jesus. Let that sink in. You have entered into a new way of living - NOW live as liberated children of the Most High God. Just sayin!

The goodness of God

You are my God, and I give You thanks; You are my God, and I praise You. Give thanks to our Eternal Lord; He is always good. He never ceases to be loving and kind. (Psalm 118:28-29)

There is a certain sense of 'intimacy' in these words, isn't there? Our psalmist capture the essence of the relationship desires of his kids. The closeness of one who can proclaim, "You are MY God...", is something that isn't known by all who claim to know him. They may claim him as God, but not as 'their God'. Our psalmist starts with the acknowledgement of God being close to him first, giving praise to him, then acknowledges that God is good to all, moving from a personal to corporate view of the relationship. God always asks for us to focus first on the personal, then engage with the corporate. Does that sound a little too 'self-centered' to be something God would want? Not at all, because he created us to commune with him in a deeply personal sense and then to bring that communion relationship into our relationships with others.

God is good ... and the people say, "All the time". Have you heard that in some church service at one time or another? If you have ever experienced the goodness of God in your life, you know the "all the time" part comes from within you in a little deeper way than just repeating some words by rote, right? How has God been good in your life today? As I write these words, I can recount multiple examples in just the past week. A daughter who lovingly stepped up and helped me care for my mom's needs at the end of her life, kept me fed when I didn't feel like cooking, and continued to call/text to be sure I was doing okay myself. My BFF who came morning and night to help me bathe mom, change her sheets, and get her situated for her day/night, countless times of holding mom's hand, and endlessly just letting me weep a little. God's goodness comes through in our lives through people, in special memories that flood our souls, and in times of just breathing in and out as we think upon him. 

Goodness isn't always a 'thing' - very often it is something felt, known, and sensed. Goodness is something we are to celebrate - with passion and purpose. If we consider the goodness of God in our lives, we begin with the 'personal' goodness he has revealed in and through us, then we consider the more 'corporate' goodness he reveals in and through those around us. When was the last time you acknowledged his goodness? If it hasn't been in a while, maybe it is time to just sit down, get quiet, then begin to allow his goodness to flow over you, bringing forth moment after moment of praise, adoration, and worship from within. His goodness is something to be celebrated - so shout it out! Just praising God today!

Circumstantial or Direct Evidence?

Circumstantial evidence - have you ever heard that term used? It means there is some form of evidence, but does it really prove whatever is being proven? Circumstantial evidence allows for more than one possibility to be presented - relying heavily upon 'inference' rather than a direct connection. My fingerprint on your phone doesn't mean I own it - it means I likely held it for a moment at some time. My DNA found in the genetic mapping of one of my children gives clear evidence that we are entirely related. One is circumstantial - inferring a connection; the other is direct evidence - confirming the connection without any doubt. God gives us direct evidence of his love for us in his Son - yet I wonder how many times we look at the 'circumstantial evidence' trying to convince us that God feels we still don't 'measure up'? We can give a whole lot of credence to 'circumstances' and forget there is one who has already made a direct connection that overrides those circumstances!

Celebrate always, pray constantly, and give thanks to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. (This is God’s will for all of you in Jesus the Anointed.) (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

We probably spend a great deal of our lives relying upon 'circumstantial evidence' in our lives. We settle for some form of connection, however weak it may be, instead of pressing for that direct evidence in our lives. Whenever we settle for less than the direct evidence of God's grace, love, and hope in our lives, we are falling short of what God intends for us. There is no room for 'inference' in God's house! Direct evidence is that which makes a connection via the shortest and straightest path. Now, doesn't that sound a little like how God likes to work in our lives? He isn't impressed with the long, drawn out prayers - he is drawn to our simple, truthful, and transparent ones. God isn't going to scold us for those long ones, but he would sure rather we get down to business with him instead of pussy-footing around all the time!

When we choose to allow God to take a 'direct course' in our lives, we are not allowing what are called 'collateral' courses to develop. If you look at the miracle of our circulatory system, you will begin to understand a 'collateral' course. When a blood vessel in our heart begins to experience some form of narrowing or blockage, our body has a way of forming what is referred to as 'collateral circulation'. The body begins to make small pathways for blood to circulate and feed the heart muscle, albeit not as efficiently as the main vessel would have done. In time, the heart can be surrounded with all kinds of 'collateral' vessels, but none will do the job quite as well as the original pathway for circulation of that blood.

In much the same way, whenever we begin to see the pathway God desires for us to follow as 'too hard' or 'too narrow', we might begin to form some 'collateral' pathways. We still are his kids, but we aren't as well connected to the direct flow of his life-blood within us. We find we rely upon those things that we have created as 'collateral' pathways instead of that direct connection with him. What would be a 'collateral pathway' in our lives? It might be the reliance upon a relationship with another that we 'go to' because they won't ask the tough questions when we need to be challenged. It could be we bury ourselves in work to avoid the pain of allowing God access to things he has been seeking access to in our lives. There are lots of ways we form 'collateral' pathways - putting our faith in 'circumstantial evidence' rather than allowing for the 'direct evidence' of his grace, love, and hope to fully be worked into our lives. Just sayin!

The chapter of grace

Have you ever picked up a piece of fruit, felt it, and then put it back down only to pick up another until you find the right one. You are rejecting some to find the one you feel is the best. One of the "darkest" places to be in our lives is in the place of being examined, but rejected by those around us. By the very nature of rejecting someone, the one being rejected is being said to be useless or unsatisfactory to the one who is doing the rejecting. They have no purpose in our lives - therefore, we discard them, refusing to accept them and what they bring into our lives. One of the toughest things to learn to do with people who treat others as though they are "rejects" in this earth is to NOT reject them because of their "actions" of intolerance or judgment! It is only natural to want to reject those who hurt others, abuse us, or treat some as though their sins are too great. It is also a very dangerous place to tread - because we move into a place of judge in their lives - a place ONLY God can occupy. Today, I don't want to focus on the one who rejects so much as on the one who has been rejected. The place of darkness this rejection creates in the lives of those who suffer at the hands of those who reject them is almost insurmountable.

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, you’d find me in a minute—you’re already there waiting! Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!” It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)

What does an individual who is being rejected experience? Aren't the gamut of emotions ranging from being angry at those who reject them to feeling immensely useless and hopeless common to those who have been rejected? In fact, the list of emotional ups and downs is probably too large to even begin to consider. Suffice it to say, rejection wreaks havoc on our emotions - and in turn, on our self-image, our ability to relate to others in the future, and the desire to ever trust again. Why? Trust has been violated. We placed some element of trust in the one who rejected us - now it is difficult to want to trust again. Relationships become a thing we fear rather than embrace. How we see ourselves is "shaded" by the impression the rejection has left - much like a hand print in wet cement hardens in time, always reflecting the impression left behind by the influence of the pressure exerted when the cement was at its most "form-able" phase. Our psalmist's heart obviously knew some of the anguish of rejection - for he had been hurt by his closest of friends, wounded by children who just did not seem to understand the importance of his wisdom, and guilt-ridden in his own shame over sins he had committed. Sound like anyone we might know? I know his "experiences" in life hit close to home for me - this is probably why I associate so closely with David's teachings, and those of his son, Solomon. The heart of David constantly cried out to God for mercy - the heart of this gal writing today constantly cries out to God for more grace, more mercy, more of Christ in me.

The one who experiences rejection "feels" - these feelings are real and cannot be denied. They want to escape the pain they are experiencing, don't they? They look for a place to curl up, hiding from the anguish of the rejection. There is an attempt to flee the pain - looking high and low for the thing that will cover over the intense sting rejection leaves. One who has been rejected by another wants to be out of sight - for even seeing themselves hurts! We can try to escape God's Spirit, but where can we actually "go" to flee from God's compassion and his grace? The answer: NOWHERE! Why is it we are trying to escape God's Spirit anyway? Isn't it because we don't even think God loves us at the point we are experiencing such rejection from others? Does it come as any surprise to you of Satan's "design" in the actions of rejection? His goal is to get us AWAY (and keep us away) from the very thing which we need the most! His greatest joy comes when we flee from God! His greatest fear is when we run to God! He is there when we attempt to avoid him. We might purposefully attempt to avoid encountering him, but he purposefully pursues us anyway! We try to cover up or hide - not because we ARE unworthy, but because we FEEL unworthy. We believe the lie rejection brings - no one, not even God, wants us. The furthest thing is true - even when NO ONE wants us, God loves us deeply, embraces us closely, and believes in us immensely. When we feel the sting of rejection, it is natural to want to do one of two things. Either we begin to live a lie - falsely escalating in joyful cheer, making the others think all is well with us, or we attempt to flee underground, trying to escape without further "damages" being experienced.

The most amazing part of this passage is in God's "position". He is THERE. Not by accident, but because he has determined to be waiting for us wherever we attempt to flee! "Then I said to myself, 'Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!'” Even in our darkest place, God immerses us in his light! Darkness isn't darkness to God! In fact, no darkness dwells where God is - and we are reminded God is everywhere we are! I don't know the havoc rejection has brought into your life, but here's the hope I want you to find - God is not the author of this rejection! He is the author of YOU. As the author, he can re-write anything in your life that causes you pain. Sometimes it is in the actions of forgiving the one who rejected you. At other times, it is in the actions of coming out of hiding, learning to be comfortable with who you are and how God made you - all your quirks and hang-ups included. No "chapter" of your life is written in stone - except the Chapter of Grace! The author has seen to it that GRACE will always be a part of your life! First, grace to you - then, grace through you! What am I "just sayin" today? Plain and simple: God's grace is waiting to embrace you in this your most darkest of hours! Reach out - take his hand - he is already there waiting! Just sayin!

Replant me

Compared to ............ I am like ...........

This is a pretty open-ended statement, but one we run over and over in our brains, most of the time without even being aware that it is happening! Why do we find it necessary to compare - to put things within our lives on a scale against what another has, does, or is on the opposite side of that scale? I guess we will never learn that God has a purpose for each of us - independent of what another does, is, or has! Comparison is often the very thing that erodes at our faith and brings decay into what we refer to as contentment or fulfillment. We need to guard against this erosion and decay, but how?

It makes little difference to me how you or any human court passes judgment on me. I even resist the temptation to compare myself to the ever-changing human standard. (I Corinthians 4:3)

If we spend today looking at ourselves in the mirror, what will we see? Will we see exactly what is there - no more, no less? Not likely - because we will eventually think about our skin in comparison to that friend a few years old who looks even better than we do, or the one who works out regularly, eats mostly veggies and fruits and is the size of a twig. We do this all without much encouragement. In fact, we have to do a whole lot of 'discouragement' of our thoughts in order to get them back under control. 

If we are always looking at the 'them' in our lives, we will likely begin to do one of two things - fear they think less of us than we'd like them to, or fear they think more of us than we see as our value or worth. Either way, we lose! Human standards are an ever-changing target, so God warns us to not use them. I had a professor in Bible College who always tried to tell us there was a danger in comparison because it took our eyes off of what God was calling each of us to do as individuals. We each have a calling - no matter how small or large, mature or immature we may be! We need to keep this in mind anytime we do some 'mirror-gazing'.

Resist the desire to compare. That means you have to actually get those thoughts under control and refuse to entertain them! This is the only way to actually begin to settle into the purpose God has for us in our lives. Yes, I did say 'settle into his purpose' because it just doesn't happen in a 'poof' all at one time. God's purpose for us is constantly developed - even though he has designed it fully - we will take time to develop into it. Fruit in our lives isn't instant - it is grown. Callings don't develop overnight - they are grown, refined, and sometimes even 'replanted'. 

What do I mean by 'replanted'? There are times when it seems God brings 'death' to a vision in our lives - something we were pursuing or a purpose we felt we were to fulfill. When these times come, we don't just stop in our tracks and not move on. We seek God's will in the 'replanting' of our purpose once again. Renewal brings new growth and with that newness comes a difference aspect of how that purpose will be fulfilled in and through us. As with all callings in life, the very thing that stands in opposition to the fulfillment of them may actually be the pathway to the 'replanting' that will bring even greater purpose and fulfillment. Just sayin!

Let God Breathe

There are always going to be things in this world that are too big and way too hard for us to understand. There are things that defy our understanding really - even though we say we understand gravity, do we really? I think the force of gravity is actually a God-breathed thing - not some force of nature. Colossians 1:17 reminds us that all things are held together by the hands of God. That makes gravity something that is kind of "God-breathed" - it is there because he is there! Do I have to understand that totally, or just trust that he is looking after his creation and takes every detail of our lives into his hands each and every moment? I think the the latter is probably closer to how we all want to live, but I also know many of us are 'silenced' by the things we don't understand - we get all focused on them and lose sight of the One who is always there and in control - even when we don't see or hear him.

O Eternal One, my heart is not occupied with proud thoughts; my eyes do not look down on others;
I don’t even begin to get involved in matters too big, matters of faith, state, business, or the many things that defy my ability to understand them. Of one thing I am certain: my soul has become calm, quiet, and contented in You. Like a weaned child resting upon his mother, I am quiet. My soul is like this weaned child. (Psalm 131:1-2)

I am quiet - resting upon God. This is the best place to be, but have you ever noticed how frequently we find ourselves 'silenced' in a place where our heart is wondering just what is going on around us? It is like chaos abounds and we just draw near to his breast and rest there. We are brought into contented silence and just listen to the rhythm of his breathing for a while. We don't understand how his breath gives life to all things, but we trust that it does. We don't fully comprehend the things that escape our reasoning, but we find ourselves just resting in his ability to set things in order. One thing I heard recently is that even in the midst of the greatest silence, God is NEVER silent. What does this mean to us today? He still breathes! He still moves! He still maintains control! He still creates! He still upholds!

Silent places are not always comfortable ones for us because in silence we sometimes begin to dwell upon thoughts that had no 'voice' when we were so caught up in the frenzy of life. As I enter into silent places in my life, I have learned to listen - not because it is easy to be silent - but because it is only when I actually begin to settle those other thoughts that God is able to take those otherwise unnoticed thoughts and begin to breathe life into them. It is like he begins to create things anew in my life and in that newness comes something that oftentimes defies my ability to understand, but I trust him with what he is doing and saying. In time, I find he has breathed into my life in ways beyond my comprehension, but not beyond my appreciation and thanks! Just sayin!

Encouraged, Uplifted, and Protected

There is one statement we might just want to consider this morning: "I know ONE person who will never give up on me . . . GOD!" There are always going to be times when we find ourselves thinking everyone has given up on us, (it could be we are the ones giving up on ourselves), or that we want to give up on everyone else! When we feel like giving up, we are simply acknowledging we are at the end of our resources, aren't we? We are exhausted by the fight, worn down by the demands, or simply frustrated with the seemingly impossible odds. King David reminds us there are more "options" available to us than to just "give up" on life or ourselves. I think God wants us to hear this when we feel like the going is too hard or the times are too rough:

Let all who run to you for protection always sing joyful songs. Provide shelter for those who truly love you and let them rejoice. Our Lord, you bless those who live right, and you shield them with your kindness. (Psalm 5:11-12)

We need to learn to "run to God" when we are in the spot of feeling like it is time to give up. Whether we need "bolstering" for the continued battle, or just need to finally put down what we have been holding to so tightly, God's arms are the RIGHT place to be. To run into the arms of God for "protection" is always going to be the SAFEST place to be. Think about it a little - - - when we are facing insurmountable odds, don't we want someone to protect us from the very thing we see as insurmountable? When we are holding onto stuff we have been instructed to put down, don't we need something to "fill the space" where this "stuff" has been stored in our lives? David tells us to run to Jesus - for protection - not just to 'hide out'. I think of all kinds of "protective" things I have in my life. I have a silicone sleeve on my smartphone - not because it looks good, but because I may drop it and it is costly to replace! I have car insurance - not because I like supporting the insurance company, but because I don't drive these streets alone! I wear shoes outside, not because I enjoy having my tootsies enclosed in shoes, but because the Arizona sun makes the sidewalk hot enough to cook an egg! Protection is the preservation from injury or harm. Some of the things we have / use for protection are to protect us from injury - others are to protect us from harm. Injury suggests something we might have happen to us because of how we respond to a situation or in a particular circumstance. Harm is something that might catch us unaware - like a tornado out of nowhere.

We will experience encouragement and uplifting when we run to God for protection. When faced with harm - run to him. When needing to avoid injury - run to him. What we often find ourselves doing is running to others - not sure why that is, but it is a fact I have observed in my own life. We run to what we find comfort in rather than running to the one who provides a "covering" for us. The word "protection" comes from the Latin protectionem - a covering over. Take this a step further, and you will find the root word protegere which suggests placing a cover in front. God's protection is not a hiding place - but a place of shielded covering. It is a place where we can take refuge - still seeing the battle clearly, but being out of the line of fire. I stated earlier, God's arms are the RIGHT and SAFEST place to be. Shielded covering makes them the safest place to be. Uplifting encouragement makes them the right place! We have a chance to "refill" when we come into his arms. It is in his arms we pour out our hearts, share our fears, and find the faithfulness of God in managing the disasters of our lives. There are other forms of "protection" we might find ourselves using in life. Things like words to "protect" us from being found out. Using these words to mask where we really are emotionally, spiritually, or physically. Ever had anyone ask you, "How are you?" and found yourself answering, "Fine, thank you, and you?" It is likely you are asked this each day, by multiple people! How many times are you honest? Probably not many! In fact, if someone ever stopped me long enough when I asked this of them to actually "tell" me how they really were, I'd be so caught off-guard! The problem with all of our "shields" of protection - they "mask", but they don't really "shield" us from harm or injury. Only the arms of Jesus are capable of truly "shielding" us. Just sayin!

Holding those cards close to the vest...

Can I get you to stop what you are doing for just a moment to consider something? Do you have 100% confidence God hears you when you speak with him? I really would like you to consider very carefully your answer to that question. We don't always live in this bold confidence, do we? We sometimes just 'float things out there' past God's hearing ears in an attempt to see if we might be "on track" with what he might be 'inclined' to do in our lives. It is like we ask, but we don't really know for sure that God will honor our 'ask'. Scripture assures us that we can and should live in this bold confidence - God hears our voices. Sometimes he hears our collective voices - like when we are all gathered together and praying for a matter that we are all intent on seeing him take action in. Most often he hears our singular voice - when we cry out to him for those deeply held secrets and pains of our heart. I don't think the 'collective' voice carries anymore 'weight' with God than the singular voice of one of his kids. He hears them ALL.

We live in the bold confidence that God hears our voices when we ask for things that fit His plan. And if we have no doubt that He hears our voices, we can be assured that He moves in response to our call. (1 John 5:14-15)

We call - he hears - and he moves. If we are not seeing or sensing God's movement in our lives, then maybe we haven't really expressed our inner longings or desperate needs to him all that openly. I have said this before - God may know the inner thoughts of our minds, but there is something powerful that happens when we give voice to them in shared communion with him. Not the communion that involves bread and juice, but the "let's just hang together for a while" kind of communion in which thoughts begin to be spoken and hearts begin to be mended. Communion begins with our coming to him - it most often ends with us knowing he has come to us. He never left us, but we just weren't all that aware of his presence with us until we stopped long enough to commune with him.

Let me be truthful here with each of you - a little vulnerable, if I may. I can hold things pretty close the vest, so to speak. It isn't that I want to live a secretive life, but I am like the card player who is holding those cards so close to my chest in order to keep others from knowing what I am going through. I have a few close to me who can 'see all my cards' without fear or worry that they will 'share my hand' with others. In turn, they do the same with me. We need to be willing to lay down our cards, to have them seen and known, if God is to help us 'play the hand we are dealt'. Just as in a card game, you don't have much control over the hand you will receive, but you do have the ability to play it with his oversight and knowledge of how to play them! 

Ask - he isn't put off by our need. Know - be certain he isn't unaware of our need, nor uncertain as to when or how to meet it. Receive - we don't know until we ask; we don't ask if we don't expect to receive. Just sayin!

A little game of hide and seek

Do you remember that old time game of hide and seek? All the kids in the neighborhood would gather together, then we'd pick someone to be the 'seeker' and all the rest of us would dash hither and yon in hopes of finding that perfect hiding spot so we would go undiscovered until we heard the loud cry of "All come free!" hollered across the yards. The one who had the task of seeking had to explore all the nooks and crannies, under objects, behind them, and even inside of them. We'd scamper up trees, nestle back inside a bushy hedge, or scramble into an empty box beside the house. All of this was in the hopes of not being found by the one doing the seeking. I wonder how many of us think God is the one 'hiding' while we are the ones doing the seeking? We may even be at the point in our lives where we feel like we need to call out, "All come free!", simply because we have been seeking way too long and been totally unable to find what it is we are seeking in him. 

Without faith no one can please God because the one coming to God must believe He exists, and He rewards those who come seeking. (Hebrews 11:6)

God never hides, but there are some principles we can see in scripture that may help us understand why we 'think' he does. If you have ever read through the Song of Solomon, you may have observed this story of two lovers that somehow transitions into one of them seemingly pulling far away or almost 'hiding' from the other. It seems like this 'love story' kind of takes an unexpected turn from this totally close, intimate place of relating to one another, into this place of 'hey, where did you go' kind of scene. I think the thing God was showing us in this story is that he is the groom and we are his bride. In the first stages of our 'relationship' with him, we are madly in love, always together, sensing each other's presence almost continuously. Then we enter into this 'other stage' of our relationship with Jesus in which our 'sense' of his presence is somehow affected - we just know he isn't as close as he was and we wonder where he has gone. 

It is at this point that we can either cry out in despair, thinking he has abandoned us and left us to fend for ourselves - thinking perhaps that we didn't matter to him anymore - or we could do exactly what he expects for us to do - seek him out! He hasn't hidden - he has moved a little bit further away so that we will come along with him - seeking new things in him. We might feel abandoned at times, like all we've known has been taken from us, but we need to be called to account for believing those feelings of abandonment. Yes, the feelings are real - but God intended those emotions to drive us into seeking - to get us up and moving again toward something we may not have ever experienced before in him. As it says in our passage today, God rewards those who come seeking. 

Seeking can be done various ways, but at the crux of it is this kind of 'desperation' momentum that drives us on and keeps us looking. As with the hide and seek games of our youth, we know the clock is ticking and we want to find as many of the neighborhood gang as we can before the time is up. We sought them out with gusto - earnest in our seeking. God asks the same of us - be earnest in our seeking. He also asks us to be honest in that seeking. We come believing, but we are also totally honest with him about our disbelief! There will be times we come with more disbelief than we do belief - but that is okay because he wants us as we are, not some fancy, made up 'us' that isn't real. Seek him as you are and don't be surprised if the seeking takes you into places you have explored yet in him. Just sayin!

Time for a reset

Can you say you exercise 'good sense' the majority of the time? I know I can have moments of nonsense in my life - those times when the decisions or actions just did not make total sense. In fact, they kind of bordered on the ridiculous on occasion! The majority of the time, I exercise good sense by listening to wise counsel, heeding scriptures warnings, and not doing whatever my conscience says I should not do. These three don't always keep me out of trouble, but they go a long, long way toward helping me avoid those 'nonsense activities' that would only bring more trouble into my life.

Good sense brings blessing, but the road of the treacherous is long and rough. A clever person acquires knowledge and then acts on it; but a fool advertises his folly for all to see. (Proverbs 13:15-16)

Think of a clever person as one who is quick in their intellect, mentally bright, and quite able to handle issues as they arise. If that isn't how you'd describe yourself today, then you probably aren't alone in the mix because others will say they are a little 'dull' in their intellect, not always mentally bright, and are often unable to deal with things that come their way. Does that make any of us less likely to receive God's blessings in our lives, though? No, it just make us human!

There is a difference between being clever, or a person of good sense, from being treacherous and foolish. The treacherous is ready to betray trust at almost every drop of the hat. They aren't very faithful in their commitment to anything other than what may benefit them at the moment. The foolish things that emerge in the activities of one given to living a treacherous life are really what sets them apart. Their actions are marked with deception - so much so that there is really nothing reliable in them. 

This is why their road is long and hard. Their choices aren't reliable - their commitments are absently promised - their words are meaningless. The actions God desires are those that stem from acquiring knowledge that actually helps to bring foundation into our lives. If we haven't allowed that foundation to be built, we will be all over the board. If we want to enjoy the blessings of God in our lives, it begins by submitting to the process of learning. Scripture isn't just given to look at from time to time - it is meant to be 'grafted into' our lives much like a sprig from a tree may be grafted into the life-giving trunk of another.

I opened with the thought of three things that can help us to exercise good sense - wise counsel, scripture, and our own God-given conscience. If you won't listen to good counsel, and you don't always think about scripture when you are about to act, you can at least fall back on your conscience! When all three align, you are much better off. When two align, you are closer than you'd be with only relying upon one. We really need all three together. So, if you aren't in a place where you are regularly taking in the Word of God - get there. If you don't feel like you have those who give wise counsel in your lives - ask God to bring them into your life. If you have been a little too 'lax' in listening to the nigglings of your own conscience - perhaps it is time for a complete 'reset'! Just sayin!

Let's shed a little light on it

I don't know what God has planned for me or you or anyone, but I do know that in darkness, you discover an indistinguishable light. 

(Cory Booker)

There are seasons in our lives that we might call those 'dark' times when we just feel like the clouds are closing in around us emotionally, physically, and even spiritually. We cannot avoid them anymore than we can avoid the influx of clouds up in the sky. We could try to outrun them, but then would we ever truly appreciate the light that comes after the darkness passes? Would we ever truly begin to influence the darkness if we never let our inner light shine? 

The light of the right-living brings joy as it burns brightly; the lamp of a wrongdoer will be snuffed out. (Proverbs 13:9)

The light within burns brighter than any darkness we can experience - even those times of deeper emotional darkness when we think we might just become totally undone, destitute and alone. I am not ashamed to say I have stood squarely in the midst of emotional darkness on occasion, taunted on every side from unreasonable fear, haphazard thoughts raging as waves of doubts come crashing in over and over again. I am also not ashamed to admit that when the storms raged, the darkness set in with full force, and those fears and doubts assailed me from every side, there always came a glimmer of light that gave way to more and more until the darkness was totally gone.

When light begins to shine forth - even that first spark of light - there is something that becomes very evident about our darkness. We find that we have placed too much importance and focus on the things that so often taunted us and caused us fears in those dark places. We looked at the shadows cast by the light rather than the light! It is truly in darkness that we begin to see there is a very indistinguishable light God brings into our lives. I cannot overcome darkness alone - nor can you. We each need the light of God that shines in each of our lives - first a glimmer, then a fully revealed light.

What is your dark place today? Most will attempt to conceal that darkness from others simply because our pride keeps us from admitting we aren't as 'put together' as we'd like others to see us. The truth of the matter is that pride is keeping you from dispelling the things that cause you such concern in that dark place - shadows becoming more and more consuming as your darkness closes in upon you. The way to dispel darkness isn't to attempt to shut it out - but to bring light into that place! Each of us carries someone's spark of indistinguishable light - we just have to learn to let it shine brightly so it can begin to be seen through the darkness they face. Just sayin!

What's in your wallet?

True wealth is not of the pocket, but of the heart and of the mind. 

(Kevin Gates)

I'd have to say there are a whole lot of 'posers' in this world today - people who proclaim great wealth and tend to 'flaunt it' a little at times. These same people are oftentimes poor in the true sense of the word - deficient, lacking, impoverished in the spiritual and emotional realm. Why is it that material wealth really doesn't satisfy us all that well? I think it is because we are made as 'tri-part' beings - body, soul, and spirit. All have to be fulfilled for their to be a true balance in life. We cannot neglect the spirit and feed only the body or soul. One cannot exist without the other. Wealth does little to feed the spirit, while it oftentimes overfeeds the body and soul. There is a lot of pretense in life, but we cannot pretend to have a healthy spirit apart from it being indwelt by the Spirit of God.

One pretends he is wealthy but has nothing, while another seems to be poor but has great wealth. (Proverbs 13:7)

Great wealth isn't found in our pocketbooks or wallets. It is found in the heart of a man - spirit motivated by the inner working of God's love, peace, and grace. Therein we find true wealth - greater than the wealth we might put on display for others to see. It matters not if you live in a cardboard box or a palatial mansion - how are things with your soul - your mind, will, and emotions? Are they in balance? Are they whole because God's Spirit has touched them, making them whole and healthy? If not, the wealth you have is probably temporary and will soon depart when adversity comes your way.

Why is it God's kids seem to flourish in times of uncertainty and greater adversity? It isn't that they have a secret stash of foodstuff in the root cellar or stockpiles of money in the mattresses. It is that they know where their true provision comes - from the throne room of God himself. They have learned to trust not in things seen, but in things unseen. So many of us attempt to fill some empty part of our lives with things that won't really endure when the hard things must be faced. We are going to be emotionally bankrupt in short order when our trust is placed in such things. 

As I write these words today, I know some will quickly defend their 'position' by pointing out they 'know God', but let me just say to each of us - if our trust is more in what we see and hold, then we are trusting in the wrong thing. We can have divided trust - it is possible to put our trust in God, but put trust in 'things' and 'positions', as well. That is why the rich young ruler had such a hard time with what Jesus told him to do when he asked him how he could experience eternal life. Jesus' response actually put a hurdle in his way that he could not jump over. 

What was Jesus' response? Sell what you have, give it to the poor, and come follow me. How many of us can say we really understand the struggle the young ruler had at that moment? He had told Jesus he had kept the commandments, honored his parents, and remained faithful to his wife. Why would Jesus ask him to sell his possessions and give them to the poor? It was because Jesus knew where the man 'anchored' his faith - in what he had amassed. The scripture tells us he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19:16-30) 

Jesus may not be asking us to part with our physical riches, but he is asking us to consider how much faith we place in them, or our own ability to obtain them. His purpose in asking us to take notice of where we place our faith is because if there is anything else in the center of our trust other than him, we will live truly unfulfilled and empty lives. Just sayin!