More Moxie, Please

Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life. (James 1:12)

I know many of us don't feel very 'fortunate' when we are faced with challenges that test our faith or fortitude. In fact, we probably groan a bit and wish the doggone thing would just evaporate before our eyes. We might dig in because we know it isn't going to just go 'poof' and be gone, but then somehow we don't have the fortitude to stick it out. Fortitude is both the mental and physical strength to face the difficulty with courage. If you are like me, getting my mind and body to align is a challenge a great deal of time - I get one motivated and moving, but the other seems to lag behind or go in a totally different direction! Have you ever seen something coming at your head-on? As a teen, I remember a group of boys in the neighborhood playing 'chicken' with their bikes. They would ride at each other, picking up more and more speed, all in an attempt to prove one had more 'moxie' than the other. The courage of spirit and the determination of the mind to persevere in an attempt to be declared the one who was 'more courageous' than the other, combined with the testosterone wafting in the air made for a dangerous combination! God isn't looking for 'moxie' from us, but he is asking that we face challenges far harder than 'bike chicken' and that we do them with faith and fortitude.

The one that 'manages to stick it out' implies to me that some face life with their only little bit of 'moxie', but when the challenges become too much to handle, that moxie doesn't carry them through. I don't want us to miss a few things within this passage, so indulge me while I break them down for us this morning:

- You don't invite a challenge - you meet it in your path. It isn't always a 'welcomed' or 'planned for' guest in our lives. In most cases, it just jumps out in front of us and we either veer off-course to avoid it, or we face it head-on. I have had elk, moose, and even deer bound across the road as I have been driving along. I avoided all of them due to both defensive driving techniques and sheer dumb luck! I have also had jack-rabbits and mourning doves dart out in front of the car, so close that I have been unable to divert my grill from their flight or my tires from their speedy attempt to cross to the other side. It is a sickening feeling to hit something 'head-on', but sometimes there is no other course for us to take. Any other course would put us in dangerous places - in line with oncoming traffic, off into a field, or into the unsuspecting fellow driver's side panel. We didn't invite the challenge, but we were faced with it. It met us right where we were - we didn't have to seek it out. Life is full of challenges that just 'dart out' at us. Some we will deftly maneuver to escape - others we clearly have no other alternative than to face them head-on. Some we will do well to get through unscathed, others will leave us feeling a little saddened by the outcome. Stick with it - have the faith to trust God with the outcome - even when you are a little saddened by it.

- Sticking it out isn't in our own effort (moxie) - it is made easier because of our intense love for Jesus and his even more intense love for us. Our boldness isn't based in us - it is based in the work of Christ within us. What makes us 'dauntless' in the challenge? It isn't our own mental determination - thinking a certain way doesn't make it any easier to avoid the flight of the mourning dove into your grill! It isn't our own physical strength or stamina - not every battle is won on sheer might alone. I think God wants us to here clearly there is a basis in our 'moxie' that goes way beyond what we can 'muster' or 'maintain' on our own. It is his strength within us that gives us the 'moxie' that helps us make it to the other side of that challenge. What gives us 'spiritual moxie' for the challenges we face? I believe it is our desire to keep Christ first in the midst of everything else that seeks to move him to the back places in our lives. Some call this loyalty - I call it being 'right-focused'. Get Christ in the right place in your life and the challenges will still come, but you will face them with a 'spiritual moxie' that far outweighs the things coming at you 'head-on'. Just sayin!

Taken in and taking up

"Now, vigilantly guard your souls: Love God, your God. Because if you wander off and start taking up with these remaining nations still among you (intermarry, say, and have other dealings with them), know for certain that God, your God, will not get rid of these nations for you. They'll be nothing but trouble to you—horsewhips on your backs and sand in your eyes—until you're the ones who will be driven out of this good land that God, your God, has given you." (Joshua 23:11-13)

Joshua is about to turn over the control of the nation at the point of his death. He gathers the leaders, priests, and elders together. In the moments which pass, he gives them sound advice on how God expects them to live in the land they have been given as an inheritance - a place of permanent settlement after years and years of wandering the deserts. His first piece of advice: Stay alert! Why? The work was not done - nations still had to be dealt with. Know this, my friends, OUR work is never done! We need to STAY ALERT. His second piece of advice: Stay strong and steady! Why? There would be so much influence around them to do what would get them into big trouble and it might not seem like it, but that influence would eventually pull them into a downward spiral of self-centered living if allowed to get root. In warning them to stay strong and steady, he is advising them on living by the principles God set out in his word - more than fluffy words to be established in the new life, but to be rooted solidly in God so that new life would be rewarding.

This probably sums it up very well for not only Israel, but for us! We need to vigilantly guard our souls - because we have a tendency to wander when we are not paying attention! Look at the consequences of being a little lax in dealing with the nations around them - God would not get rid of them for them! If they dabbled with them, God wanted them to know how much trouble they would bring into their lives - like horsewhips on their backs and sand in your eyes. Dabble with anything God warned you to not 'dabble in' at all? I have and I know how much trouble even a little dabbling in those things God told me to avoid brought into my life. Do you know the meaning of 'dabbling'? It carries the idea of working at anything in an irregular manner - taking a superficial approach to it. What might not seem like it will amount to much if we just 'dabble' can eventually become a rather 'regular' and 'deeply ingrained' pattern in our lives. Don't dabble even a little bit - that is God's instruction, not mine!

Now, I have never been horsewhipped, but I have had sand in my eyes. I know how painful this is - but not only is it painful, it is downright impossible to see right! We have to spend so much time trying to rid myself of the irritating stuff in our eyes that we cannot see what is right in front of us - the tears that form obliterating a clear view for us. What Joshua may be saying to us is to be aware of just how much even one compromise (one grain of sand) can impact our clear focus! When one is vigilant, they are so keenly aware of their surroundings that not even one seemingly 'harmless' influence escapes them. Why? They are "on alert" - sensing danger - knowing when something is 'just not right'. God has our back, but he doesn't want us to be fooled or duped by the influences around us. We only get duped when we are not paying close attention. The purpose of a horsewhip is to control the actions of the horse. A horseman doesn't take one in hand if be doesn't think he'll have to use it. We are being reminded of the influences of belief systems, traditions, and the prevailing fads of the day. They have a tendency to become things which can "control" us much like a horsewhip can can control the horse. "If you wander off and start taking up with them..." In essence, God is describing the kind of lackadaisical action on our part which gets us into the deepest kinds of trouble - all while we are seemingly unaware!

The horse will wander the fields, leisurely taking in what is in front of it. The danger is in not being discriminating in what is taken in! Some things a horse may take in may not be the best for its digestive system - the old cowboy shows used to call it "wacky weed". It would make the horses downright miserable. Guess what? When we "take in" stuff without really thinking it through, we may be downright miserable, too! Two "actions" on our part result in two "outcomes". One action really comes as a matter of "inactivity" - we wander right into the things God has plainly said to stay away from. The outcome is feeling like a whip has been taken to our backs - we feel controlled! The second action is really one of getting stuff "into" us which really doesn't have a place in us. The outcome is evident in the effect it has on our ability to see clearly (sand in the eye). Either way, neither of these outcomes is desirable. So, we'd do well to listen to the warning given here. Be alert. Stay strong and steady - not veering from the Word of God. Be vigilant - your enemy is waiting to lure you in. Just sayin!

Doubt, is it the enemy of trust?

“But blessed is the man who trusts me, God, the woman who sticks with God. They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers— Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season." (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Trust is won, but not as easily as it is broken sometimes. We have all probably trusted someone to do something they committed to do in the manner they promised at the specific time they intended. The outcome was slightly different than what was committed, though. We end up disappointed by the lack of commitment someone revealed in that moment. When that happens repeatedly, trusting that individual to fulfill their commitments becomes very hard, doesn't it? Think for just a few moments today why it is you trust or don't trust God. I doubt a lack of trust in God is based on him not keeping his commitments in the manner he promised within the timing he intended! In fact, it is likely we 'don't trust' God because we 'don't trust' someone else who has disappointed us way to many times - maybe even ourselves.

One that trust has 'put down roots' within the relationship. There is a depth because there has been an investment made within that relationship. Roots don't just 'form' because you 'think' them into existence. There is first a process of death before there is any evidence of life! Think about it - the seed has to decay a bit, breaking down the hard surface of the seed in order to open up to the soil into which it has been planted. Then it sends down roots - little ones to begin with - then bigger ones that give it more and more anchorage as time passes. I have trees in the back yard that have roots extending from one side of the yard to the other. You know how I know this? I have tried to dig up some of the soil around the yard only to find the roots of the biggest one spreading wide and deep!

We trust God because we have placed roots in him. We get solid anchorage over the course of time, but not without first experiencing a little 'death' in the process. We likely have to 'die' to our own desires a little, embracing the new desires he places within our heart. In time, we come to trust those desires as they begin to create change within us - we see the fruit of change. Trust isn't emotion-based, but it carries emotional attachments, doesn't it? When we trust fully in someone, we 'feel' secure even when the choices they are making seem a little harder than we might like. We 'feel' that way because our roots are deep enough to hold us secure when the thoughts of doubt begin to emerge - and they will emerge! Doubt is not really the enemy of trust (faith), though. I have often reminded myself that if doubt is there, then full trust is just waiting to take hold.

I remember an exercise in a leadership training session. We had to pair off, then we had to turn our back to our partner, cross our arms, and fall backward into their arms. I recall a peer who just wouldn't do it - she just couldn't 'trust' that her partner would be able to catch her. Why? She saw herself as 'too much' for her partner to handle. I guess we all get to this place from time to time where we see our circumstances or needs as 'too much' for God to handle, but the truth is that nothing we do or are is 'too much' for God. Eventually, she bowed out of the exercise because she never could get to that place of trust - fear overwhelmed her 'emotions' and she just walked away. We have been given the seed, soil fertile and rich, and an 'overseer' that tends the seed until it takes root. Rather than believing our emotions, let's trust the process of faith - a little death, revealing a little growth, then deeper roots, until full trust is developed. Just sayin!

No choice but to flee

How many of us seem to just be 'spinning our wheels'? We seem to be going nowhere, but we are doing a lot of work to get 'nowhere'. There are times in each of our lives when we just feel like we have been "marching all night". We seem to be constantly moving, but accomplishing very little - exhausted by the many battles of our day that seem to just keep coming no matter how many we have fought. These are the times when our enemy wants to mount his most significant attacks. Why is this the best time for him to attack? He views us as "weak" when we have been "marching long"! He views our physical exertion and weakness as spiritual weakness, too! Silly devil, don't you know who we stand with and who stands strong on our behalf?

Joshua marched all night from Gilgal and took them by total surprise. God threw them into total confusion before Israel, a major victory at Gibeon. Israel chased them along the ridge to Beth Horon and fought them all the way down to Azekah and Makkedah. As they ran from the People of Israel, down from the Beth Horon ridge and all the way to Azekah, God pitched huge stones on them out of the sky and many died. More died from the hailstones than the People of Israel killed with the sword. (Joshua 10:9-11)

Israel's armies had taken Ai and Jericho and now the news of the victories won in those two very 'tough' regions has reached the other kings in the surrounding regions. Adoni-Zedek is the king of Jerusalem at the time - he is their region leader, but he is not the commander of their military. He gets a little worried by the things he hears about Joshua's army. In order to "plan ahead", he aligns himself with four other kings in the region to attempt to form an alliance which will hold off the forces of Israel. That plan would align four military commanders to strategize to overcome Joshua's military force. His plan is to mount such a forceful attack against Israel so as to keep them from invading any of the territory ruled by these five kings. Silly kings! Who can stand against the "march" of the army of the Lord?

Joshua receives a message from a smaller town known as Gilgal - a plea for help was sent to Joshua because they didn't have the forces to withstand these allied military forces. They see the five allied kings as a threat to their territory - pleading with Joshua for his help to intervene against them. So Joshua set out from Gilgal, his whole army with him—all those tough soldiers in a 'march' toward what would likely be a very tough battle! BUT....God told him, "Don't give them a second thought. I've put them under your thumb—not one of them will stand up to you." (vs. 8) A huge allied army laid before him and his men - yet nothing stood in their way - they were under God's protective arm!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we always faced battles with this same kind of assurance? Hearing clearly from God that nothing and no one will stand in our way or be able to stand up to us! We probably have heard those words, but we somehow stand there in the face of the enemy's attack and forget everything we have heard. We somehow talk ourselves out of believing how strong God's defense is when we see the massive attack our enemy mounts against us! Why? We are tired from the battle and worn down by the stress of the day! Look at what happens with Joshua. He takes the troops - marches all night. Now, if you have ever had to march with "full armor", you know how tiring that is. The troops did not get a lot of time to "rest up" before their next battle! BUT...they march in, taking the enemy by surprise! The "fortified forces" of the allied armies were nothing in comparison to the strength of the army of God. What gave the army of God this strength? 

A faithful leader. The best armies are nothing until they align with the purposes of their leader. We "win" battles when we are aligned with the right leader! Five kings aligned their forces with the "wrong" leader! One force was "fortified" by their alignment with God as their leader! We are fortified for the battle when we are aligned with the faithfulness of God. An obedient army. The best leadership is nothing if there are not obedient forces who align themselves with the leadership! God's greatest opportunities come in the area of our allegiance. When we determine to be obedient, even when it is not convenient or the easiest choice to make, we are aligning with his goals for our lives. As we align, we are made strong. No force can withstand the force of obedience!

An unlimited amount of resources. The skies actually opened on behalf of Israel. Look at our passage again - more were killed by the hailstones than by the sword! Think of the amazing thing which could be missed here - none of Israel's army were hit by those falling stones! Only the enemy! We sometimes get "bogged down" in the battle - tired and stressed out - but if we were to look up, we might just see "unlimited resources" at our disposal! What we cannot accomplish in our own ability - God undertakes in his supernatural ability! March on, my friends! The battle might look overwhelming - forces seemingly aligning against you - BUT God's leadership, coupled with your obedience, will bring unlimited resources to your disposal! Let the skies open up on your behalf! The enemy will have no choice but to flee! You will have no choice but to STAND and STAND STRONG. Just sayin!

In and Under Authority, but Absolutely Free

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. (Galatians 5:22-23)

I have run into people over the years that ask why I chose to follow Christ. They aren't asking because they are curious so much, but because their 'view' of being a 'Christ-follower' means I must be a total 'rule follower'. As such, I must not have a very interesting life because I am 'limited' in what I can do, where I can go, who I can hang around with, and when I can do it. While I like having the 'boundaries' rules establish for my life, do I ever cross those lines? You can rest assured, I am not the best 'rule follower', but I do love Jesus with my whole heart. Do I struggle with the rules at times - yes, and so do you! When we choose to live God's way, we are making a choice to live in a way that reveals a change in the 'ultimate authority' in our lives. We are turning our authority to live as we want over to him. Does he allow us to go fishing on Sunday? Yes, and he even helps us enjoy the day with good weather and perhaps a catch or two. Does he allow us to hang out with others who don't know him like we do? Yes, and he even asks us to be a light in their world. Does he sometimes ask me to refrain from doing something in the timing I'd like to do it in? Yes, but I also know his timing has proven to be much better than mine anyway. So, I am not 'limited' by my choice to follow Jesus - in fact, my life is better than it ever was apart from being in relationship with him!

What happens when we live God's way? A pretty pointed question is posed for us today - because it starts with this change in the 'ultimate authority' over our lives. It is us choosing to allow God to be that authority and I mean a daily, moment-by-moment choosing. We don't make that choice one day back in 1972 when our lives were pretty much falling apart, but we make that choice each and every day to walk under his authority. Yes, there was a day when we felt this exchange of 'leadership' over our lives was necessary, but it is also a daily choice to remain under that leadership. You know what one of the most telling signs of his authority in my life was? The ability to make loyal commitments - no longer feeling like I had nothing to offer in relationship - feeling like I had to 'force myself' upon others to get them to like me. Now, that may seem a little bit awkward to admit, but I actually was a very insecure individual, constantly feeling like I had to impress, stand out, be the class clown, getting attention anyway I could. When God took over the authority of my life, I realized something different going on deep within my emotions. I began to 'settle into' the way God had made me. I began to realize there was no longer any need to be 'insecure' because I was magnificent exactly the way he made me. 

God's way of living is in 'liberty', not bondage. What is competition? Isn't it by its very nature a sense of having to be in 'bondage' to some end goal? It is a contest to come out on top all of the time. If we are always trying to be the king of the hill, we forget what it is like to just be content to be playing the game! I didn't run to compete any longer - I ran because I enjoyed the burst of energy as I made my way down the track. I didn't create works of art because I wanted to be noticed - I created because I had ideas and they needed an outlet of expression. I didn't talk to be noticed - I shared because I genuinely cared to hear another's ideas, too. God's way of living is being free to be exactly who God has created us to be, not some artificial or 'bound' expression of ourselves. God's plan for you and I is that we live free - in him, under his authority, but there is no better place to actually experience total freedom! Just sayin!

I have 'green hope'

So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it! Jesus, staying true to God’s purposes, reached out in a special way to the Jewish insiders so that the old ancestral promises would come true for them. As a result, the non-Jewish outsiders have been able to experience mercy and to show appreciation to God. Just think of all the Scriptures that will come true in what we do! For instance: Then I’ll join outsiders in a hymn-sing; I’ll sing to your name! And this one: Outsiders and insiders, rejoice together! And again: People of all nations, celebrate God! All colors and races, give hearty praise! And Isaiah’s word: There’s the root of our ancestor Jesse, breaking through the earth and growing tree tall, Tall enough for everyone everywhere to see and take hope! Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope! (Romans 15:13)

I want to focus on that last statement this morning because it really connected with me right where I am at right now. God is the one who gives hope where there seems to be little hope, just as he is the one who fills us to overflowing when our peace is vanishing in the midst of chaos and discomfort. I don't want to miss something - God gives 'green hope' - in other words, he gives us seeds of hope and then he nourishes them until they grow into the full growth of hope within us. He gives us seeds of hope because he is desiring to see a harvest of 'full joy', 'peace overflowing', and 'life-giving energy'. God doesn't just give us 'hope' on a silver platter and then send us off filled to overflowing all the time - sometimes he gives us just a glimmer of light, then in time that glimmer begins to become a more constant glow, until one day the entirety of our life is filled with the blazing brightness of his full hope. 

I am guilty of asking God to just 'do something' in my life circumstances something - somehow expecting that he will set things that are out of order back into perfect order. How foolish of me to think God would always make 'everything better' at the blink of an eye. What I have observed is this idea of God planting seeds of hope - eventually nurturing that hope within me until I am certain the 'everything better' I had believed possible will not only come to pass, it will be better than I imagined. We are filled up when we allow the seeds to take root - but we first have to embrace the seed. Too many times we see a seed, or a glimmer of hope, and then when it seems to not be growing, we give up on that hope. I have planted seeds to start my summer garden and for weeks it seemed like nothing was happening beneath the surface. As I opened those packages of seeds, I trusted there would be a harvest. When I planted them, I trusted there would be a harvest. When I watered them day after day, I trusted there would be a harvest.

 

The seeds have broken through the surface and do I have a harvest? Nope....but I still trust! I have hope that what has shown signs of growth will continue to grow, and then mature, and eventually multiply - making a harvest possible. Hope is perhaps a simple word to describe faith - we trust in something outside of our own ability to produce something outside of our own imagining. Faith isn't given in 'silver platter' fashion - it takes some work - the work of trust. We have no faith to endure if we don't trust we will see the end result. We have no faith to share if we don't trust what we have to be the very thing that will set another free. Trust feeds hope - hope feeds trust - the cycle is never ending. We may feel like we are all alone right now - like hope isn't really revealing any great harvest, but don't give up on the seed that has been planted. We may not see the growth, but there was a glimmer of hope when we received that seed and when we saw it planted into the core of our hearts. Now, nurture it - allow it to be nurtured by his hand - and then trust in the harvest. It is coming - I am sure of it. Just sayin!

Just not capable

My dad could sell anything - but he also liked to 'brag' about the 'big' fish that got away. He might have been called a 'big talker' when it came to some of his fishing tales, but dad was an excellent fisherman, nonetheless. Big talkers - do you know any? They kind of paint a picture that sometimes goes way beyond what we imagine possible, but the "picture" never really materializes. What do they do with their "big words" and "big ideas"? They build up hope, don't they? At least until you have been "burned" a few times by the "hollowness" of their words! While dad's 'big talk' was harmless because it was just another 'fish tale', there are 'hollow words' we might all hear from time to time that are not only harmful, they are downright misleading to all who listen.

Like billowing clouds that bring no rain is the person who talks big but never produces.  (Proverbs 25:14)

I live in Arizona, so I am used to seeing big clouds gathering on the horizon, but no promise of rain is in the forecast! The "look" of the clouds may indicate a "chance" of showers, but in reality much less will be produced than what was promised in the "chance" of showers materializing midday or later in the night. By definition, when we "produce" something, there is a creative power behind what it is that is being brought forth. In the truest sense - there is only ONE Creator - we might create a little here and there, but even our creation is from something he has created in the first place! A billowing cloud is all puffed up - it has all the appearances of being a rain cloud, but in reality it is just a puffy mass of empty fluff! A person who promises a gift, but doesn't give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain. Big talk and promises without substance are about the same thing - both end in emptiness.

What is a promise? Isn't it the expectation of something being done or provided? In the simplest sense - a promise builds expectation - it gives someone hope. If we have been in the situation of our "hopes" being built-up frequently by the "promise" of substance, we have likely come to expect substance from that promise. When there is nothing produced, what is our response? It is like that we are slower to trust in the promise the next time - or even worse, we trust less in the one who promises such things than we did before! No wonder we have a hard time trusting! We have been surrounded by all kinds of "billowing clouds" - big talkers who promise the world, but deliver far less and much worse, deliver a big package of disappointment! In the end, we develop some trust issues, don't we? When we come into relationship with Christ, we may struggle with actually being able to trust him! After all, we have a history of seeing promises not upheld! What makes God's promises any different?

Trust is based on a few things. First, there is a sense of integrity. In the simplest sense, integrity is the state of being whole. In terms of God's integrity, there is a soundness to it which comes from him being wholly "holy". We cannot find any action by God which diminishes our impression of his consistency and integrity. Throughout all of the scripture, we see his reliability, his promises revealed and fulfilled. Even in the face of our own lack of integrity, he comes through over and over again! This is called grace! Trust involves an ability to rely upon the strength of another. I don't know about you, but my own strength waxes and wanes from day to day - even from moment to moment. I have trusted others to be "strong" for me, but in the end, I have found their strength to be nothing when compared to the strength of my God! Humans eventually breakdown - God never does!

Trust is based on what we see as the ability of another to do what he / she says. In my relationships, I like to be able to "count on" another to do something when they commit to it, but you know this may not always be the most "trust-worthy" thing to do even though they are very well intentioned in their promises and commitments! I need to go to the one who is unlimited in ability - God himself! In respect to his ability, I have some pretty awesome examples in scripture - things like waters being held back for thousands to walk over on dry ground, earth opening up to swallow up others, graves being left empty, and withered limbs being made straight. While the list is far from complete, it is pretty good stuff to show God's ability, if you ask me! Trust is based on a "surety" - the sense of another being responsible to act a certain way. There is none more responsible than God himself! Maybe this is why he holds us "responsible" for our actions - because we were created in his image and are supposed to live by the example he sets for us! 

When it comes to trusting God, we are not trusting in a "billowing cloud"! We are counting on a firm foundation, complete in every way, creative on all accounts, and capable beyond our wildest imagination! We may not be able to always trust in our fellow man, but we can trust in God! He has proven this over and over again - we just need to remind ourselves he is NOT capable of being unfaithful! Just sayin!

I am in second place

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. (Colossians 3:12)

Chosen by God - don't those words just excite the soul? There is an intense desire on God's part to have you and I as his children - embraced by his love, set free by his grace, and living in the liberty those two things produce within us. We aren't just 'picked from the pack' - we are chosen by him because there is an intense desire - a passion of sorts that keeps his focus squarely on each of us. As a result, we are never outside of his provision, protection, and certainly not far from the reach of his passion. 

One part of this passage that struck me this morning was the point of being 'content' with second place. How many times do we strive to be on top? From our earliest age, we played games where someone was 'it' and all the rest of us made it safely home without being tagged by whoever was 'it'. That meant we didn't have to be the seekers - we were the ones who won. We competed in sports like there was no other goal than the ribbon or medal at the end, but we didn't want anything short of the gold or the blue - because first place was said to be the most important.

I don't know about you, but as I have grown a little older, slightly wiser, and more 'seasoned' in the choices I make, there is no 'drive' for me to be at the top any longer. I am perfectly content with 'second place' in life. Not that I don't give it my all, because I still put 100% into my work, relationships, and even my leisure time. I just don't strive any longer to 'be on top' - the king of the hill. Why? I have discovered the futility of the climb! The climb is hard and the result of 'being on top' all the time isn't really all that rewarding. 

Try telling that to some 'up and comer' in the ranks of their career today and they will look at you like you have grown a third eye in the middle of your forehead. Try convincing the athlete being on the team is an honor, not being named the "MVP" of the game and they will look at you like you have lost your last marble. Society pushes us to be at the top of our game all the time, but let me give you a little permission here - second place is not a bad place to dwell. In fact, as long as the love of Christ rules your life, you are squarely in the embrace of his love and grace, and your eye is on him first and foremost, there is no other 'climb' worth the investment.

The 'climb' into his arms, right up into the 'snuggle' of his lap, is pretty doggone amazing and it certainly carries with it some pretty phenomenal rewards or blessings. I cannot describe it any other way other than the 'snuggle' of being in the lap of the Lord's love and grace. It would be like one of your kids just crawled up in your lap, sat there and just snuggled for a while. How does that make a parent feel? Pretty doggone blessed and amazed at the intensity of the love shared in those 'snuggle' moments! So, snuggle in - you aren't 'settling' for second place - you are embracing the liberty of it! Just sayin!

Coffin Life is No Life

Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within. (James Baldwin)

The more we attempt to 'live within' our masks - rather they protect us from things we'd rather not know, or cover over things we already know all too well - those masks aren't really going to do their job very well in the end. Some people use their careers as the 'mask they live within' - useless busywork that seems to really be getting them nowhere in the end. Others will use their humor as the 'mask they live within' - seeing sarcasm and pointing out the foolishness of others as a way of taking the eyes off of themselves. We can become masters of 'living within' our masks if we allow ourselves to escape into those things. Yes, you read that correctly - we 'allow ourselves' to escape the reality of life by 'living within' some mask we have created. That 'masked place' is really a place of hiding and God asks us to rip off the cover, exposing us to the full light of his grace. The 'full light of his grace' - don't miss that - his light doesn't expose to embarrass, but rather to bring into the full arena of grace's touch.

Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! (Ephesians 5:11-16)

Love doesn't 'expose' to embarrass, but rather to allow the freedom to be healed, whole, and perfect in the grace of God. Fear places us behind those 'masks' we attempt to 'live within'. Ever try to live perfectly behind a mask? It is almost impossible because there is always something attempting to pull us out of that place of 'artificial comfort' we have created for ourselves. The truth is that our 'artificial comfort' is something that is able to be 'acted upon' in order to bring a level of chaos that will constantly be attempting to disturb that level of comfort we feel within those masks we are attempting to live within. Our comfort is 'acted upon' in attempt to 'steal away' that comfort - creating a place of what becomes a very 'uncomfortable exposure' we neither planned, nor eagerly embrace.

The masks we 'live within' actually become as coffins for us - they securely fasten us in a place where there is a lack of true life. They bury us under what can oftentimes 'cut off our life breath' - so we are isolated, apart from others, under the weight of oppressive feelings and thoughts. The thoughts we are thinking are no longer free to 'live without' the confines of that coffin. God's love actually releases us from the coffin - giving not only life breath again, but the freedom to truly live outside the confines of the mask. Baldwin said it well - we live with a fear that we cannot live without those masks. I believe the moment we choose to be released from the coffin of our chosen self-isolation, God squarely deals with that fear - placing us fully in the place where we can experience fully his love and grace.

We waste a good deal of our lives 'living within the masks' we create to deal with something we fear deeply. The only way for the weight of the 'coffin lid' to be lifted is by the hand of grace - the only way for us to climb out of that coffin is to take hold of that hand. We may never think we can be free of that 'coffin' created by our fears, but we are never free living within that coffin, either! So, what is the harm in trusting God to show us the way out of our fears - the way to live without the mask? Just askin!

It isn't patience you need - it is endurance

So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books. (2 Peter 1:5-8)

If you have ever started a 'project', then realize it sits unfinished some months later, you are not likely alone in that 'project completion' cycle. Many of us are great at 'making starts', but then somewhere down the road it all fizzles out. Why? We began with all the gusto in the world, but somehow that gusto didn't carry us along to the finish line. We wearied, got distracted, lost interest - whatever the 'excuse' - there is sits in that 'unfinished state'. It might not be all that bad if we were restoring an old table, but when it comes to 'restoring' this old sinful life of ours, we cannot let that project fall into the 'unfinished state'! We have to keep at it.

Our faith has to reach the place of 'completion' - not that I have any idea what that will look like for me, let alone you, but I present Christ as an example we can ALL follow. As he walked this earth, what did we see exhibited in him? We certainly saw repeated record of his good character, didn't we? He was spat upon, whipped, beaten, skin torn to shreds, and do you know his response? "Father, forgive them." He was ridiculed for healing on the Sabbath, misunderstood as a son of Satan, and do you know his response? He continued to heal, embraced the sinners, and never wavered. Why? He was a man of 'solid character'. He expressed tremendously generous love in all he did - even when he needed to encounter sin head on.

We all likely want some greater amount of spiritual understanding. We might even believe owning a leather bound Bible, carrying it to church on Sundays, opening it while the sermon is preached, and taking a few notes to boot will help us develop that 'understanding'. I think we might think we will somehow get this understanding in the passages we read, but trust me on this one - it isn't what we read - it is what we study, apply, study again, and reapply that helps develop our spiritual understanding. We don't get deeper understanding by casual acquaintance with the Word of God - we get it by deliberate effort.

My daughter told me she prayed for patience - I asked her why? She said she needed it to deal with a couple of head-strong young men growing up under her roof - my grandsons. I reminded her to pray for patience is to welcome something she may not have wanted - tribulation. She paused for a moment while I explained that is what scripture proclaims as what produces patience in our lives, so she may not want to pray for patience as much as she prays for a spirit of endurance. God will help her endure the challenges of parenting teens - by helping her to develop spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, and even generous love. Endurance is the ability to stand without compromise - what more could a parent ask for from God?

We somehow equate spiritual growth to those 'great moments' when we experience those huge changes in our lives, but I want to point us toward the daily 'grind' of 'finishing the project' at hand. Those 'finished projects' within our lives lead to the next project and then the next. As we grow in small ways we are growing in larger ways than we might imagine. Grow, learn, grow again, and then relearn it all anew. We aren't going to ever be finished with this spiritual growth until Jesus comes and takes us home with him! Just sayin!

The good worked in is about to become the good worked out

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. (Romans 8:28)

If you are anything like me, you get a little tired not knowing what God is doing, why it is taking so long, how he plans to take the next steps in your life, or if he is even paying attention. It is always good for me to recall this verse, reminding myself there is no distance between God and ME at this moment or at ANY moment in time. He is right there alongside and his 'role' is to help us along. That suggests to me there is always some action God is looking for from ME. It is usually some form of obedience or trust step. I have to do as he asks - he does as he promises. I have to lean in when I don't see the evidence - he does as the rest. 

Wordless sighs - do you ever 'utter' those types of prayers? I do a whole lot of the time. Usually it is because I am so confused by the circumstances, or overwhelmed by the speed at which things are happening, and I just 'utter' that deep sigh that clearly lets God know I am out of juice. I don't have the energy - spiritually, physically, or mentally to take on another thing. I find myself 'undone' and utterly at his mercy. Ever groan a little in those moments when you know something is about to break loose and you are standing right in the middle of it? I do! I know there is an avalanche of something coming my way and I am far from prepared to take it on.

It is indeed good news that God knows us better than we know ourselves. Every detail of our lives is ordered, worked out, perfectly orchestrated - even when it seems like the avalanche is coming, there is order about to come out of what seems like nothing more than a big load of chaos! Chew on that one for a moment - what looks like nothing good is really about to become the 'medium' by which God creates something good within us. Just as a potter has the 'medium' of clay from which he creates something that doesn't even remotely resemble the 'blob' of formless mess he starts out with, so God takes the 'mess' of our chaos and forms something beautiful in us.

Every detail is ordered. Don't miss that one - EVERY detail - not just the bigger stuff, but the tiniest and seemingly most 'insignificant' detail in that chaos is about to be used for something good. When something good is worked into our lives, do you know what comes next? We get to share that 'goodness of God' with others. The good worked in is about to become the good worked out. Just sayin!

A little spring cleaning?

Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be—you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean. Count yourself lucky—God holds nothing against you and you’re holding nothing back from him. When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans. The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up. Then I let it all out; I said, “I’ll come clean about my failures to God.” Suddenly the pressure was gone—my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared. These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray; when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts we’ll be on high ground, untouched. God’s my island hideaway, keeps danger far from the shore, throws garlands of hosannas around my neck. Let me give you some good advice; I’m looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight: “Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule that needs bit and bridle to stay on track.” God-defiers are always in trouble; God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around. (Psalm 32)

As I grew up, there were times when I backed myself into a few corners - lying to cover up something I did, but didn't want my parents to know I did. You may not have ever felt 'cornered' before, but I can recount one such occasion when I got into my grandma's stash of 'All-Sorts' licorice candy. That may not seem like a big deal to you, but it was one of her favorites so it was not really for my consumption. I was encountered by mom as she returned home, asking why I had been in the candy. She hadn't even stepped into the room where it was kept, nor opened the drawer in the hutch - so how on earth had my 'sin' been discovered? That saying about parents having eyes in the back of their heads took on a whole new meaning that day! She kept asking me over and over again why I had eaten my grandma's candy. I kept maintaining I had not, but somehow she knew I had! I was cornered. Little did I know it didn't take eyes in the back of her head to tell - the smell of licorice on one's breath is a dead give-away - let alone the tell-tale black tongue! I laugh at that now, thinking how ridiculous it was to maintain my 'innocence' when the truth was all so apparent. I wonder how many times we maintain we are 'innocent' when we are clearly in the wrong - just not really feeling like we want to admit our 'wrong-doing' for fear of the consequences?

The good news for all of us is that God doesn't 'back us into a corner' just to make us squirm. He knows our sin is eating away at us - guilt weighing heavily on our hearts - all the while looking for a way of 'escape'. We are the ones that back ourselves into that 'guilt corner', my friends! God is just there to do what any good parent will do - help us find a way out of the corner and back into the good graces of his arms. Mom didn't ground me, nor did she give me extra chores. My 'way out' of the corner was to go to grandma and let her know I had consumed nearly half of her favorite candies. Do you know what grandma did? She hugged me, thanked me for my honesty, and warned me I might not want to be far from the restroom for the next couple of hours! I had no idea what that much licorice would do to a gal!!! God's forgiveness is there - we just get 'cornered' by our sin and we think there is no way out, so we keep attempting to cover up what is so very obvious. Silly us - trying to conceal what is so apparent. We are indeed like the 'ornery horse or mule' that needs the bit and bridle - almost needing to be 'drug out' of the corner in order to realize how liberating the freedom from our sinful shame can be.

Keep sin bottled up inside - allowing that guilt to eat away at you over and over again - inventing one more cover-up to attempt to conceal it and you will find yourself in a truly miserable place. The 'corner' is no place to dwell. What goes to the corners in your rooms? Look closely - there are dust bunnies, gathered tufts of fallen hairs, perhaps even a few dead bugs that found their way into your home. Does light get into the corners very well? Not usually - but when it does, we see all the 'mess' there. The corner is no place for 'good people' to dwell - it is filled with all manner of yucky stuff. Isn't it about time we allowed ourselves a little 'breathing room' from our guilt and shame? We won't find it buried under the dust of our sin - we find it as the corners are swept clean. Just sayin!

Fill your tank first

Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take. (Joshua 1:9)

Have you had those moments of what I'd like to call "blankness" - those moments when you are going from one room to another, obviously for some reason, but when you get into the next room, you come up 'blank' trying to remember the reason for the journey? I have them more than I probably should admit! Most of the time it is because I 'get off track' - distracted by something else I hear, see, or even smell along the way. There are leaves crunched into the tile at the entryway of the house, so I go get the little broom and dustpan to take care of that problem....now, why was I going to the den when I noticed the leaves? The dryer sends off the friendly tune signaling the clothes are ready to be hung and folded, so I stop to do that....now, why was I headed to the garage before I stopped to fold those clothes? We all could cop to the plea of "blankness" from time to time - I know I am not alone! To 'get off track' is easy at times - to retain focus is far easier than trying to regain it!

I guess this is why God so frequently reminds us about 'staying the course' - not getting off track. He knows our intentions are good, but our heart and mind get bogged down with the crazy stuff of this world that shouldn't have distracted us, but indeed it did. Moses has died, Joshua is being commissioned to take the people of Israel into their promised land, and we find God giving this tender reminder to 'not get off track'. You see, Israel has been wandering around the same territory of ground for about forty years! That is quite some distraction! God tells Joshua to avoid the distractions because they will keep him from realizing the goal. How does he avoid the distractions? He ponders and meditates upon the Word of God - what was referred to in this passage as the Book of the Revelation - the message given to Moses which comprises the first five books of our Bibles. Don't let that escape you - spend time in the Word, let the Word get inside your heart and mind, and you will be 'armed' with the very thing that helps you to avoid the distractions that aim to pull you off course.

The more we realize there is to be intention behind our actions, the more we realize we might just face obstacles to those intended actions. It is inevitable that the obstacles will come - leaves will track in, laundry will need to be folded, but we don't have to abandon the purposeful movement toward another action to embrace the one that seems to be staring us in the face at the moment. I think that is how we get off course so easily - we figure the most 'evident' thing in front of us must be the thing we attend to at that moment. If truth be told, we might just find the thing we purposed to do when faced with the distraction serves a greater purpose than the distracted actions ever do. My dryer will keep circulating those clothes beyond the initial chimes of being done - so no worries there. My feet will likely track in a few more leaves after my walk today, so no worries there, either. Our time in the Word can be stolen away from us by distractions of this sort, but nothing will prepare us more for the day ahead than some purposeful time filling our tanks to the full with his Word, his presence, and his peace. Just sayin!

Adorned with victory

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Master sitting on a throne—high, exalted!—and the train of his robes filled the Temple. (Isaiah 6:1)

In the times King Uzziah reigned, Isaiah is given a vision of the heavenly realm -imagine it - heavens open and you have full view of the most awesome things you have ever experienced. He is escorted into the "throne room" of the Most High - the very place of God's presence. What catches his attention first? It is the "robe" of the King of Kings - God's 'clothes'. This robe is so long it fills the Temple! That is quite some robe - it fills the very space God's presence is felt and experienced! Even the longest wedding veil I have ever seen did not fill more than the aisle of the church! I have admired some of the most beautiful quilts over the years. Depending on the occasion for which the quilt was created, there have been the traditional patchwork types with pieces of varying colors and fabrics stitched close together in no particular order. Then there are the others which show a beautifully pieced pattern, with great care taken in placing each piece so as to continue the pattern with each new row of material pieces. The traditional wedding ring patterned quilts show the concentric rings intertwined, symbolizing the joining to two into one. Regardless of the "pattern", they are a thing of beauty. Even the most beautiful of quilts I have seen must have paled compared to what Isaiah experienced that day.

I think we may not understand the significance of the kingly robes, so I think it may help us to understand just a few things about the robes of old. Each king had a robe. Often, these robes would be very unique - not like the mass-produced clothing of today. They were made of only the best of materials, such as twisted linen. This is a quite dense and enduring material - considered to be one of the finest materials for the base of the robe. They were dyed with the dyes of the region - deep blues, purples, crimsons, and even golden hues. They were decorated in all types of fashion - embroidered, or possibly emblazoned with emblems of gold and silver. They were quite the 'fashion statement', but they usually had a much deeper meaning. The robes "defined" the King. In other words, he could be quickly recognized by the robe he wore. This is much like the current military uniforms we see today. The highest ranking officer has the greatest amount of braiding, color, adornment, and often even 'medals' of honor or distinction. It is easier to recognize the "rank" by the "markings" on the uniform. These robes helped to mark the 'rank' of the one wearing them.

What we may fail to realize is the 'incorporation' of what might see as nothing more than a 'patchwork quilt' of sorts. Each robe had an "original" form which was "transformed" after each battle. The robe started out as one form, but after each victorious battle, a new piece was added. In keeping with the customs of the day, the victorious king would go over to the defeated king, remove a section of his robe, and in turn, this section would be sewn onto the train of the victorious king's robe. In time, the more victories a king won, the longer (and more colorful) his robe became! His 'patchwork quilt' became a symbol of his military might and his ability to rule. Isaiah sees the Most High God seated in the throne room. He is adorned in a great robe - so great that its train fills the Temple. I think Isaiah was being given the opportunity to see just how many "battles" our God has been victorious in! Did you ever stop to think of each new battle you face as being an opportunity for another "patch" to be sewn onto the Most High's robe? He marches right up to each of our "enemies", places his foot squarely on their necks, declares us victorious, then carefully takes a piece of each "victory" robe and weaves it into the train of his heavenly robe!

When I think of the "beauty" of the patchwork he has added just by the battles which have been fought in my own life, I know there are MANY patches which have been added on my behalf! Battles I didn't even know were fought on my behalf have been incorporated into that robe - battles you didn't even realize were being fought on your behalf, as well. Each victory is an "adorning" addition to his robe! As he admires each of these "patches", he can recount each "battle" - the start, the enduring middle portions, and the final victorious outcome. I find pleasure in imagining him running his fingers over each "patch" - taking in the "feel" of each victory taken on our behalf. I see his face, as his fingers pass over the patchwork, eyes filled with excitement, heartbeat picking up with each remembered victory. Imagine the patches added with each new victory in your life. It should give your heart a thrill! Just sayin!

A fresh perspective

For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:9)

I almost glossed over this verse today, but a seed thought sparked as I read it a second time. Have you ever given grace to someone BEFORE they even knew they would need that extension of grace? I daresay many of us have given grace in the moment, but have we really just extended it without any strings attached long before we even know what the individual will require grace for or way in advance of the individual realizing they stand in the need of our grace. God extended grace from the beginning of time - before we were even walking this earth. In advance of our many mess ups - way before we even took our first breath. No 'mess up' makes his grace any less available - it was already provided way in advance of us ever taking that first step toward sin!

The verse just before this one encourages us to 'never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord'. We don't need to be ashamed of God's grace - embarrassed by our feelings of guilt because we have acted in foolish ways. When we are ashamed of his grace, we are saying we are afraid of disapproval - we aren't confident in that which we stand upon. If you stand upon a foundation of grace you can be assured there is no firmer foundation from which to live life! The verse just after this one reminds us the power of death has been broken in our lives - all because of the death of Christ. In fact, Jesus 'illuminated the way of life and immortality' for each of us - another pretty 'solid' foundation upon which we stand. I don't know about you, but when I consider all I have received in this action of 'extended grace', I am brought to my knees.

As this passage goes on, the Apostle Paul says he will not be ashamed of the fate he has endured by being imprisoned for preaching the gospel of Christ. He knows 'the one in whom he trusts, and he is sure that he is able to guard what he has entrusted to him.' That is what grace does within our lives - it gives us the hope and peace that exceeds the expectations of others. Most would expect prison to break a man. Paul stood strong, continued to share the gospel message, and trusted his Lord for both the strength and wisdom to endure this season of captivity. He knew the grace he had received outweighed any worries of his presence circumstances. Maybe when we feel a little overcome by life what we need is not more of this or that, but a fresh perspective on God's grace already given to help us overcome those things that seek to overcome us. Just sayin!

Share that blessing, please

 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Have you ever stopped to consider your 'comfort' may be something you need to not just relish, but give away to others who desperately need that same 'comfort'. God's comfort isn't ours to keep - it is meant to be given away. We all experience troubles, but we don't have to be troubled. We all have the means by which to understand and enjoy 'comfort' in the sense that God is on our side, he knows our troubles better than we do, and he isn't about to abandon us to our own devices in those troubles. 

Comfort is really the reassurance that we aren't alone. We can also think of it as having one stand with us that will bring 'agreement' again to all the parts and pieces that trouble brings into our lives. If you hadn't realized it before, trouble actually brings a bunch of 'mismatched' pieces into our lives and then we are left with a jumble of mess to attempt to figure out. We can attempt to go it alone, madly trying to form those jumbled pieces into something makes sense, or we can take them to God and let him begin the work of sorting them out for us.

Do you know what it means to be 'troubled'? It carries the idea of a disturbance of our mental 'calmness'. Our contentment is disturbed and we begin to worry, get a little agitated, and even get ourselves into a place of deep distress. Trouble isn't something we really want in our lives, but it doesn't have to be the 'undoing' of our mental peace. God is more than capable of sorting out the thoughts that enter into our minds and begin to creep into our hearts - thoughts that are going to do little more than disturb our peace.

Comfort is to be embraced - fully experienced and deeply felt. Comfort isn't an idea - it is more or less a 'feeling'. I have often reminded myself that I am not to live by my 'feelings', but when my comfort begins to be disturbed, that 'feeling' that something is troubling me is a clear indication I need to take all that seems wrong at that moment to God so he can take it from me. Sometimes our 'feelings' are our first indication something isn't quite right with our lives. We need to recognized our 'disturbed comfort' is not a permanent condition, but a momentary reminder we aren't doing life alone.

There come those moments when we can actually help another understand how to achieve 'comfort' again in their spirit, soul, and mind. We must be bold enough to recognize their peace is disturbed and then reach out to bring God's 'comfort' into the moment. We give away God's grace, filling their 'spiritual tanks' with love, and then help them realize God's plan is to bring right order to the crazy mixed up pieces once again. Comfort isn't a privilege - it is a blessing and God's plan for blessings was always to share them! Just sayin!

Are you believing a lie?

There is a part of our mind that goes into a panic mode without us even having to think about something. That part of our mind needs the help of the other parts of our brain to not always being in the panic mode. We panic because of the amygdala, but we can get control over panicked thoughts because the prefrontal cortex can bring reason into the situation. There is always a 'trigger' with any form of panic, anxiety, or fear. Our minds can go do the 'panic highway' and take us to the point of being overwhelmed by the thing we are keeping on our minds the most. If it is on our mind - remember it is in God's heart. He wants our mind's burdens to be given to him, so he can restore our minds to a place of peacefulness.

Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things. Do what you have learned or received or heard from me. Follow my example. The God who gives peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

It is the peace of God that guards our minds. The brain can continually be renewed - we don't have to always think the same way we have a tendency to think. We can change the way we think through a very powerful technique we refer to as 'prayer'. Prayer actually changes the neural responses of our brains in a positive manner. If we want peace to reign in our lives, we might need a little more time in prayer allowing our brains to be changed and renewed. Anxiety is the result of a racing, irrational amount of thought on some issue. The part of our brain that causes this panic response is 'taking over' all the emotions we can muster.

Worry is saying we don't trust God. We perseverate over the thought we make the most dominant and we begin to question if God will actually help us out of the predicament we are in. We choose to place our trust in God by an act of our brains - we begin to think upon the holy nature of God, the true and pure things. We stop thinking about the things that damage the spirit, embracing the things that bring life and peace to our spirit. We take every thought - allowing our irrational part of our brains captive - by choosing intentionally to allow the Holy Spirit to direct our thoughts.

Worry is taking back the thing we gave to God. Our God is too small and our worries are too big. So we think we have to hold onto those worries because we have trouble trusting God to take care of those worries. We need a bigger God - it is time to change the way we think about God. Prayer can do a lot to change the way we think about him - the way we trust him. We begin to share our cares in our prayers. That wasn't just a catchy slogan to live by - it was truth! Let those worries out of your mind - stop trusting in them and start trusting in God to take care of those cares. 

Worries are irrational - we invest an irrational amount of time and energy into those things that are really not worth the investment. We lay those worries down in prayer. Peace is the replacement of our worries with God's presence. We need to let our worries be swallowed up in his peace - it begins in prayer, grows in prayer, and is rooted in prayer. Trust God - because of who he is, his nature of love and grace, and his promises of goodness toward his children. It may not come immediately - worry is likely a lifetime problem for us, but whenever we share those worries in even short prayers, we are allowing our thoughts to be changed about those things that worry us the most. 

Take control of your worries - this is a lie we have been told. God takes control of our worries as we lay them down in prayer. Then we take truth into our lives in place of our worry. We allow our minds to be filled with the newness of his peace. Worry is gradually displaced because we are growing closer to Jesus each day. We are being changed (renewed) and his peace becomes the dominant thought in place of those repetitive thoughts of worry and panic. Peace isn't us taking control of worry - it is us giving our worries to the one who will take control of them and deal with them once and for all. Just sayin!

Doubt isn't a bad thing

I would like for you to consider for a moment what this journalist was attempting to share in his words: "Who never doubted, never half believed. Where doubt is, there truth is - it is her shadow." (Ambrose Bierce) Have you ever doubted? Then it is suggested you were at least at the place of some form of belief. Have you ever considered what your doubt was attempting to reveal to you? Perhaps doubt is not a bad thing because it points us to consider the truth of a matter. Where doubt is - - - there truth is. It may be in the shadows, but it is there! We need only look a little closer and we will find truth has never been far from us. 

The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. (Psalm 19:7-9)

Truth - that which conforms to fact or reality. That is a pretty basic definition of truth, but if we elaborate a bit, we might realize truth is really that which is authentic, legitimate, and certain. Can you think of any better way to describe God's presence in your life? He is indeed authentic - he is real, able to be experienced in the most profound ways. He is legitimate - the absolute authority above all other authority. He actions in our lives are certain - sure and firmly founded actions on our behalf. God isn't discontent when we only 'half-believe' because he knows we are on the path to coming to 'full-belief', my friends!

There are times we might think our doubt is a bad thing - because God tells us we should not doubt. I honestly believe our doubt brings us into a 'search' of sorts. We seek truth in the midst of our doubt - what could be wrong with that? Some might assume doubt exists because one is questioning God's authority, but I suggest doubt may exist because one is coming to terms with his absolute and undeniable authority. The moment our doubt is recognized is the moment we can begin to explore the evidence of truth that exists in the revelation of God - his Word. 

The Word of God actually begins to dispel doubt - bringing to light any untruth that exists in our 'half-belief' and illuminating further the truth that has remained in the 'shadows' within our life until that moment of revelation. What God's truth does within us is 'pull our lives together'. Where doubt exists is an opportunity for God show clear signposts that point us down the right path. Rather than get down on yourself because you are searching for answers, continue the search. God knows you are searching to discover and he is pleased to allow that discovery. Embrace your doubt and begin to talk about it with God - he is ready and waiting to reveal truth in all its fullness to your today. Just sayin!

We or He

If we are to look at the life of King David, we will observe how he reminds us no king succeeds by his own doing. Big armies and lots of loyal servants does not make one successful - indeed, it gives an "appearance" of success, but it is nothing compared to the glory of being anointed by the Most High God. It is noteworthy to mention how many times he points out the futility of thinking a warrior's strength is his own. This is often a struggle for us because we see our "strength" as something we possess, but in truth it is something we are "granted". David lays out the silliness of thinking having more "horsepower" or "brute strength" will win battles. When we "count on" the wrong stuff, we often don't really "win" the battles - sometimes we don't even make it through them at all!

Watch this: God's eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He's ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together. We're depending on God; he's everything we need. What's more, our hearts brim with joy since we've taken for our own his holy name. Love us, God, with all you've got—that's what we're depending on. (Psalm 33:18-22)

As I speak with many of my friends these days, I hear one common theme - the battle is tough! This pandemic has 'kicked us in the butt'. Not to mention that the struggles with life-debilitating disease processes almost overwhelms families in the throws of a world in chaos. The constant changing environments within work, home, and community seem to be pulling us in all different directions - oftentimes quite stretched beyond capacity. Grief doesn't seem to pass because the losses are so great; despite the passage of time, seeing loved ones go from vital and strong to being ushered into heaven's courts is just plain too much for some to bear. In short, the outlook might not seem to "clear up" for some who are battling so much - it continues to be a little more than challenging!

Watch this! This is a call to pay attention to what David is going to lay out that we all need to hear and understand fully. He has taken hold of something that has been able to take him through similar tough times and he is calling us to pay attention to what he has to share with us - things that he has learned in his times of experiencing the greatness of God in the midst of the worst the world has to offer. Wouldn't it be a shame to have the answer to our "need" right there in front of us and miss it totally? God's eye is on us! Our part is to respect him and look for his love. Now, don't get this wrong - respect is more than just holding God in "high regard". It is giving him the foremost part of our being - our attention focused on him above all else. Too many times, we think we can be "casual" with God - just holding him in "high esteem", but his instruction is clear - have no other god before him. When he has the right focus in our lives, it is natural for us to actually look for his love - with expectation and hope. We begin to "count on" his love. What excites me most about this is the "face-to-face" contact we have with the one we honor! His back is not to us - it is his face! You cannot "eyeball" someone with your back toward them! When seeking God, holding him in the center of our focus, we are completely in his! 

He is ready! God doesn't delay - although we may think the answer is slow coming! Bad times and lean times come - there is never any assurance in scripture of these being totally avoided by service to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Too many times I think we have a little bit of warped belief here. I think we believe God should "keep us from" these bad and lean times. I challenge this. In the lean times, I have come to appreciate how little I have and how much I need what he has! In bad times, I have drawn closer to his heart - just to hear it beat a little faster when I draw near! Going back to God's eye being on us - his hands are also ready to intervene for us. Look at the outcome - body and soul are kept together. In the bad times, doesn't it feel like we are being "ripped apart" by the struggles we are in? This is another word picture to show us how much God is the "cement" which holds us together even in the midst of forces who'd like nothing more than to see us "undone"! We can depend on him! The instruction here is not one of living "independent" of God - it is one of relinquishing our control and giving it to him. In the times of challenge - don't we always want to "fix" whatever we can first, then ask God to help us with the rest? Or is this just my struggle? I think I might be in good company here - we try the best we can to "fix" the leanness or change the outcomes of the bad stuff. When we just can't get it done - then we turn to God. Oh, what a warped sense of importance we give ourselves! We try to live independent of God while all the while he is saying he is the one we can depend upon!

I associate with David - he wanted nothing more than to serve his God well. He struggled with the "real stuff" of life and yet each time he found God utterly and totally faithful in his life. He leaves us with this thought - "God, love us with all you've got!" Now, isn't it interesting - he doesn't close with, "So, God I am going to love you with all I've got!" Instead, he brings us back to what brings us through the challenges unscathed, stronger than we went into them - God loving us with all he's got! It is good to keep the right perspective! We "make it through" or we are "brought through" each battle- which would you prefer? Quite honestly, I'd prefer the latter! Just sayin!

Fuel the Right Fire with the Right Fuel

Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses. (Proverbs 10:12)

Another way to say this is that hatred actually 'fuels' dissension - it becomes a sometimes unrecognizable 'energy source' for the discord that ensues. It actually creates the 'material' that allows a situation to become 'combustible'. Dissension is just a fancy word for bickering, controversy, or disunity. If we want to stop any 'dissent', we must begin to chip away at the 'fuel' that it is being fed. There are many types of 'fuel', but allowing continual negative communication about the subject matter can actually begin to allow those words to take root in one's heart until there become enough 'fuel' to throw another log or two on that fire of discontent. Quarrels aren't always going to stop on their own - the fuel that allows them to continue has to be removed.

Love calms the rebellion - not just in the visible sense, but also deep within the heart of man. The more love has an impact on the one who is discontent, the less fuel there will be to continue to allow the rebellion to occur. If you have ever struggled with a rebellious child or teenager, you know very well there is some form of 'fuel' deep within them that just continues to stir up the embers of rebellion that is just beneath the surface most of the time. One of the toughest things a parent has to do is figure out what is fueling that rebellion. One of the easiest things a parent can do is love that child so deeply that they don't stop until they see the child's heart begin to change as a result of that continual love. Sounds like what God does with us, huh?

Rebellion is what some call disobedience, but it can also be outright defiance - the desire to continually be confrontational, oppositional, and spiteful. I am rebellious at times - disobedient to what I know to be right, but choosing to respond in another manner in that moment in time. When rebellion crosses the line into defiance, this is a dangerous place. Most teens go through the phase of needing to figure out how to make life choices, wanting more privilege than they want the corresponding responsibility, and thinking they know way more than they actually do. It is part of growing up, but when 'testing the waters' of one's own choices it sometimes creates an environment 'ripe' for quarrels and arguments.

While these 'quarrels' and 'arguments' are not harmful at first, with continued 'fueling' of them they can turn from simple rebellion (choosing to make one's own way in life - bending the rules a bit) into defiance (determining to live outside of the rules totally and continually). Counter the rebellion with love, as God does with us, and we often see the one given to rebellion begins to see less and less enjoyment in the rebellion. Eventually the love wins their heart over to obedience. God doesn't beat us with a stick - he lavishes love upon love upon love upon our hard and rebellious hearts. In turn, we stop 'fueling' the fires of rebellion within our hearts and allow that love to create a true desire to 'fuel' the fires of obedience. Just sayin!

Changed course through changed heart

For people who are stumbling toward ruin, the message of the cross is nothing but a tall tale for fools by a fool. But for those of us who are already experiencing the reality of being rescued and made right, it is nothing short of God’s power. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

A survivor is one who has 'beaten the odds', coming out on the other side of something they had a hard time enduring. If God is the one who fights with us, helping us with our 'survival skills' in the midst of whatever it is we have been called to endure, then we can be assured that we will come out on the other side. Will we have 'war wounds' of some sort? Probably. We aren't guaranteed to be 'wound free', but we are promised to be 'held together' and 'put perfectly together' in the presence of Jesus. There are a great many of us that can proclaim we have been 'redeemed' - made new through the power and grace of God in our lives. We have undergone a process of transforming our hardened hearts into something that resembles and gives back a little bit of the grace we have received. Our 'survival' wasn't our own doing - we played a part in getting into the mess we were in, but the way out of that mess wasn't in our hands alone! God took us to the place where we'd recognize that thing we were struggling to survive within was really going to be our undoing if we continued in that course. In time, we called out for help and acknowledged how foolish it was to attempt to continue in our own self efforts.

There are still others who are aimlessly attempting to just 'survive' life. Their life is hard - it isn't joy-filled, or even exciting - it is just one tough day after another sometimes even tougher one. They cannot hold their heads up because the weight upon their shoulders is so heavy they are just totally weighed down under the stress of it. If this is you today, I have a little hope for you - God's forgiveness and restoration is what awaits you at the end of that tough road. It isn't far off - it is as close as your lips. It only takes your acknowledging you aren't doing things very well on your own - that you need him to step in and change your course. Look at what the course of the 'challenged' is like - it is a place of stumbling. There is but one person who can keep us from stumbling - Christ Jesus. We don't avoid everything we could stumble upon in life in our own efforts. That attitude of despair will creep up unless God keeps our heart at peace. The frustration of things continually going in the opposite direction as we would have desired will bring repeated pain until God adjusts our focus to see each frustration through his eyes. He 'frames' those things in a manner that helps us see how those 'frustrating things' are acting to refine us - they are like sandpaper that brings out the beauty of the grain deep within the wood.

One other thing to consider today - some of us want God to change the course rather than stepping into the course he intends for us. We want him to change the challenging circumstances - not our 'challenged' heart, our responses, or our faith. God isn't going to change the challenging course until we are willing to let our heart be changed first! Instead of continuing to stumble toward ruin, perhaps it is time to just halt in our path and ask God to turn us toward the place of our victory - to the place in him where we will overcome our frustration, set aside our fears, relinquish the need to be constantly controlled by our circumstances. God isn't going to force himself into our 'battle', but he stands ready to help us to become more than just 'survivors' through his power, peace, and presence. We choose to stumble on, or walk strong in him. Just sayin!

My feet in his footprints

 There are times we view God's Word as 'good advice' to be consulted much as a person might consult the weather report or financial pages of the paper. We go to the Word because we need some answer, but are we merely consulting the Word of God as a 'source' we consider, or as THE source we consider to be the most reliable and trustworthy of all sources? I read the Morninstar Research reports on how well a fund may be performing when considering to invest, but it isn't my only 'source' of information. I may consult my owner's manual about how something operates on my washing machine, but when I sense a foul odor, am not pleased with the cleanliness of the clothing, or hear a strange sound I am haven't heard before, that 'one source' isn't the end all of sources. I need an appliance repair person to help me diagnose the problem. The Word of God is indeed 'good advice', but we all know advice is meaningless until it is embraced.

“But he knows where I am and what I’ve done. He can cross-examine me all he wants, and I’ll pass the test with honors. I’ve followed him closely, my feet in his footprints, not once swerving from his way. I’ve obeyed every word he’s spoken, and not just obeyed his advice—I’ve treasured it." (Job 23:10-11)

 Have you ever tried to walk in the exact footprints of someone ahead of you? I have discovered there are some whose stride is much longer than mine, making the task a little more challenging. I have also discovered that some people don't walk in straight lines! They tend to be all over the place, as though they were distracted by something. When I am walking with my BFF, I can get so distracted by the horse in the field, the goat at the fence, or the crane flying above us that I momentarily lose the 'straightness' and 'evenness' of my steps. I veer to the side, miss small tripping hazards in the roadway, and sometimes just plain stumble. The exact footprints of God are pretty clearly laid out in scripture - try walking in his footprints and you may discover our 'stride' is quite different from his. He isn't trying to make it harder for us to follow in his footsteps, though. He just sets the course and asks for us to follow closely.

 God knows where we are even before we know for sure. That may seem a little 'under-stated', but let me just point out that God is all-knowing. He isn't caught off-guard by our distractedness. He isn't going to change his stride just because we are lolly-gagging around, gazing at who knows what, totally distracted by life. He sets the pace, leaves clear tracks of his presence, and then expects us to do our reasonable best to walk within those footprints. Even when we think we have done well at following his steps, I bet we don't even see the one or two times we were slightly outside of those steps. He does and he helps us make course corrections even before we know we need to make them.

 The Word of God isn't going to just jump up off the page, roll around in our brains for a while, and then magically change our course of action. Wouldn't it be nice if it did? The Word of God needs to be studied, embraced, and then we need to pay close attention to the 'prints' laid out before us that we are to 'walk within'. Treasure those steps - they aren't just put there on accident. God knows the steps we need to take even before we take them. He lays out the steps we are to 'walk within', all the while knowing where we are at, where we need to go, and what it will take to keep us on course as we make the journey. Advice is a recommendation - we can choose to follow the recommended path or choose one of our own. Obedience is really just us putting our feet into his footprints. Just sayin!

Mirror Moments

You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth! When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful. Look! Those who left you are falling apart! Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again. But I’m in the very presence of God— oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord God my home. God, I’m telling the world what you do! (Psalm 73:25-26)

Got some saggy skin or brittle bones? My skin isn't as 'taut' as it used to be and there are a few more wrinkle lines that have come with age. I am pleased to say there are a whole lot of smile and 'laugh lines' there, too! By bones aren't what they used to be, but if I'd stop stubbing them on immovable objects, I would be less 'bruised' and 'bunged' up! We all feel a little 'exposed' sometimes, don't we? Exposed isn't a bad thing because we are all messed up people on a journey toward being 'not so messed up' people! The most important thing I look for when I look in the mirror is how much of Jesus I see today, but I am not using the reflective mirror on the wall - I am using the Word of God. In the presence of God, we are refreshed - those saggy skin and brittle bones we may see in the wall mirror just fade in comparison to the beauty we behold about ourselves whenever we look deep into the mirror of his Word.

I know most of us get dressed each day and look into the mirror at some point. There also comes a moment when we say, "That's good for now", and move onto the rest of our day's routine. Some mornings my hair may go up in a pony tail - while others will see me put a little more effort into it. The most important thing is that I am ready for the day and that doesn't really begin at my bathroom mirror. It begins wherever I am when I am looking into God's Word, enjoying his presence, and allowing it to begin to prepare me for the various events of the day. If the basis of day's beginning is on a firm foundation, how can the day's journey go wrong? Those 'mirror moments' make all the difference, don't they?

We are refreshed when we look into his 'mirror'. I know I am far from refreshed at times when I look into that mirror on my bathroom wall. My hair is askew, my eyebrows have sprouted in all directions, the grey hairs on my head protrude in unyielding wisps, and my eyes revealing the weariness I feel in my bones. At those same moments, I can settle for that image of myself, or go to God's Word for the refreshing and renewal my weary bones so deeply desire. How about you? Do you settle for the weariness and disheveled life, or do you go into God's presence for the renewal you hunger for? When we make God's presence our starting and ending place, we will never be disappointed. Just sayin!

Reframing Life

The facts are the same, the filter is different. What we filter out or allow to filter 'in' within our minds determine how we will respond to information presented to us. We call this a cognitive bias - the filters we apply within our minds based upon our experiences and/or our preferences. The facts will be the same in how we see things, but we can see it quite differently, can't we? The frame of our thought or situation defines how we see the situation. We change the 'frame' of our day and we can change the way we interpret the events of that day. The filter or frame are dependent upon us - we choose the filter we apply or the frame in which we see things in life. We cannot control what happens TO you, but you can control HOW you see it.

I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the followers of Jesus here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah. (Philippians 1:12-14)

We oftentimes have expectations that form in our minds. Those expectations set a 'frame' by which we interpret our lives. If that frame is based upon something we really wanted, but we don't have it now, we might be seeing life through a 'frame' of disappointment or regret. Expectations are important - we need to understand how they affect our filters and frames by which we interpret life's events and moments. We often want the exact OPPOSITE of what we are framing our events as right now. So, why don't we change the frame? The frame is part of our 'experiential cognitive bias'. We 'frame' life in either a negative sense, or choose to reframe it in a positive sense.

Our frames shape what we experience. We can see life differently because of a different frame. What frame do you most need to change in your life? There are times we choose the wrong frame for our day, event, or relationship. As an amateur woodworker I have learned there is a benefit in preparing the frame for what I am creating long before I set out to create it. We call it a blueprint or plan. The plan helps to determine the outcome. I have started a few projects with NO plans at all. They didn't end up as nice as the ones with the 'frame' prepared ahead of time. 

We might just need to decide the meaning of an event or situation before we enter into it - that is cognitive reframing. We let Jesus frame the meaning of an event or situation. How? We seek his 'view' of the day even before we begin that day. It is why I study the Word each day - to cognitively reframe my day even before it begins. Prayer also reframes our day - moments spent just sharing what we are going through or anticipating we will go through in the presence of God. The frame might need to be different - because we cannot control the circumstances - but we can see the blessings in the moment when we apply the right frame! Just sayin!