Sleep well, my friends

The saying is true: Bad dreams come from too much worrying, and too many words come from foolish people. (Ecclesiastes 5:3)

Are you a dreamer? I don't have many dreams I can recount when I awaken. Most of the time I simply have a slight memory for a short period of time and then as I fully awaken, those memories fade away as quickly as the day dawns. Yet, I have dreams - mine are just 'daytime dreams'. I think on things at night when I awaken, mulling them over and over in my mind until I find a solution to the thing I am contemplating. If I need to make something out of this or that, I think on the many 'solutions' to the 'making'. I don't create the thing while I am asleep, but rather when I am fully awake, firmly committed to the design I imagine will work, and committed to beginning to put the idea into motion. 

Bad dreams - do we have these on occasion? Some people suffer from traumatic circumstances that leave them with haunting 'nightmares' of the events. Imagine never being able to go to sleep without the 'fear' of reliving the worst event of your lifetime. Most of us would resist the tiredness of our bodies and minds in hopes we'd never drift off into that state that would allow those images and memories to haunt us. We'd fight sleep because we would know the 'fight' of our sleep. I am not referring to these type of 'terror' dreams today, though. I am referencing the 'bad dreams' that come through what Solomon aptly referred to as 'too much worrying'. The type of 'dreams' that surface because we mull over things best left 'un-mulled'. 

Do you know that the term 'mull' actually means more than to turn something over and over in our minds? It also carries the meaning of making a mess or failure out of something - probably because the more we ruminate on something that causes us anxious worry, the worse we imagine the outcome will be. We actually bring on the 'mess' by all the 'mulling'. Bad dreams come to those who are continual 'mullers'. I used to kid with my mom on occasion, telling her she'd worry about not having anything to worry about. Sometimes we 'mull' over the things that we have little control over - thinking our worrying would somehow change the circumstances. The truth is - if we don't 'own' the issue, we the ones to 'fix' the issue. 

When we begin to 'give over' ownership of the issues in our lives, the one who takes control of those things begins to settle our minds and hearts. Jesus doesn't look lightly upon us 'owning' what we cannot fix. He makes a way for the 'fix' even when we don't know we don't own the problem! Once he shows us we aren't the right 'owners' of the issue, and we let it go, he takes it into his hands. There is much to be learned in letting go, but perhaps the best lesson we can learn is how to get the best night's sleep of our lives! Just sayin!

Who's your #2

Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together. If one falls down, the other can help him up. But it is bad for the person who is alone and falls, because no one is there to help. If two lie down together, they will be warm, but a person alone will not be warm. An enemy might defeat one person, but two people together can defend themselves; a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

There was a day I would try to put together all that box furniture - big stuff - all by myself. I'd get someone to load it into my vehicle, but when I got home, I'd take a box cutter, slice open the box and take piece by piece into the house. That stuff was heavy! Then it would be strewn all around the living room, and I had the task of putting all the pieces together - a feat daunting in and of itself! Side one put with back one, shelf A inside side and back, wheels attached here, and stabilizing bracket attached somewhere between instruction 52 and 94! Then I'd get to the point I had to lift the stuff up to go onto the next step. Ever been there - seeing clearly what needs to be done, but knowing very well the ability to lift that gigantic piece is beyond your ability? What I did next matters, but not as much as what I should have done to begin with - asking for help doesn't make us weak - trying to lift beyond our strength does!

We all need a "Number Two" in our lives - not just for the box furniture, but all of life. There will always be moments when we fight against things way beyond our ability, but if we don't have our "Number Two" alongside of us, we are standing there weakened and facing things beyond what we should face alone. Solomon realized it was BAD for a person to be alone - not just because there will be 'falls' and 'trips', but there will be work beyond our expertise, times when we aren't able by ourselves, and seasons when we feel the 'coldest' in our lives. He isn't just referencing a 'chilly night' there, but times when our spirit is 'cooled down' and we need to see it ignited once again. Times when we need to experience God afresh. Moments when we are about to battle something that will fill us with fright. Standing alone is not an option in those moments!

Two together can defend themselves - one alone is open to attack. Two together - stop for a moment to think that one through. Who is your "Number Two"? What has "being together" with that individual done to help you create a defense in your life? Look at that last verse again - three are better than two! God in the midst of you and your 'Two' makes a pretty doggone powerful cord that cannot be broken! Defenses are best when they are 'threefold'. Just sayin!

P.S. Happy birthday to my "Number Two"!

One honestly fearful step

Light, space, zest—that’s God! So, with him on my side I’m fearless, afraid of no one and nothing... I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with God! Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with God. (Psalm 27:1, 13)

Begin with God, and we will surely end well! I wonder what could happen within our days if we'd make a conscious effort to begin with God and then at the end of the day begin to recount the things of our day in the light of what he brought us through, showed us, and even kept us from experiencing some harshness just because of his awesome oversight? Beginnings often differ from endings, do they not? Some of us begin quite well, ending with less than stellar performance. Others begin on a little bit of a shaky footing but somehow end pretty well considering how we began. One thing I believe God wants for us is the certainty of beginning well AND the reward of ending well. If we consider there is a whole lot of "in between" wedged in the middle of the beginning and ending, we might just get a little discouraged with the process, but the truth is, begin well and we stand a whole lot better chance of dealing with the "in between" within a different frame of reference!

One of the things which frequently keeps us from even beginning is the fear of what lays ahead. When we know who protects our life, we have less grounds to fear the unknown we call the "in between". We are more likely to take the first step when we feel well-protected and what better way to feel well-protected than to put our hands in the one who commands the Angel Armies! The goodness of God is what keeps us as we face the "in between". His nature is always what we call good - meaning his plans will be nothing but good, making his actions consistently good toward mankind, and declaring his outcomes overwhelmingly good. Most of us get hung up with the "bad" we see in this world, thinking God must be "handing out" bad stuff. Truth is - bad exists because we have a free will - we all have the opportunity of choice, and we don't always make the right ones. Mankind can choose to either live out the "in between" by making good choices or determining to make all the ones which result in nothing but bad outcomes. When we choose the latter, we see the worst in people. When we choose the former, we have the opportunity to see little bits of God's goodness on display.

We know things about our choices that we honestly think no one else sees - we think we have insulated those choices so well that they are never on display for others to see. Try as we might, little "hints" of our choices are constantly creeping through. We can say we are not fearless - stepping out in what seems like boldness and extreme courage - but wherever choice exists, there is always an element of fear. It is human nature to experience "fear" whenever faced with the unknown. It may only be a little apprehension manifest on the surface, but deep inside, there is something pretty overwhelming about the unknown (the in between). This is why it is so important for us to begin well. God already knows our uncertainty and the deeper sense we have of feeling overwhelmed with our "in between". Since he does, isn't it pretty comical for us to try to convince ourselves, others, and even HIM that the unknown doesn't bother us? I'd like us to accept a challenge today - to begin to be honest with God about what it is we fear the most. This is a pretty big challenge for those who like to "put their best foot forward", even with God. I think there is great wisdom in admitting we are afraid of the "in between" - especially to God! What we are willing to bring to him he stands at the ready to accept as an opportunity to reveal something about himself which we might not experience otherwise. God does more with an honest confession and an open heart than he does with false confidence and prideful first steps! He can do more with an honestly fearful first step than hundreds of prideful ones!

If we read the "in between" of this Psalm, we will observe many "ups and downs" of the writer's heart, mind, and spirit. Bullies are bearing down on him, but he will play it cool. The world around him is bombarding him with all kinds of noise, but he will choose to filter it out by contemplating the goodness of the one he serves. Others are trying to pull him down, but he chooses to march ahead, rise above, and allow praise to carry him through the opposition. The temptations around him have "loud voices", but he will respond only to the "whisper" of God's which comes from deep within him. Family doesn't even appear to be loyal, but he has never experienced abandon from the one to whom he has committed his life. He is dogged by enemies on every side who spout words of taunting and terror, but his determination is to allow God to answer their taunts and threats. I am sure he feels a little like the "in between" wants to keep him from making the first steps but look at his response each and every time. He is confident in the one who stands above the rest - he knows the one in whom he has placed his trust - and he stands determined to face the "in between" with the confidence of one who is protected on all sides. Looking at these few verses, we see he addresses the things which affect his mind, heart, will and emotions. Why? Simply because these are the areas of attack where we face the greatest fears of the "in between".

Your "in between" may not be clear today, but if you choose to begin well, you will surely end well. In the "in between", choose to listen to the whispered voice of a good God, instead of the taunts and terror of the enemies of your soul. In the "in between", rest on the shoulder, close to the heart of the one who will carry you when you are weak, lift you when you fall, and treasure you when no one seems to exhibit any concern for your well-being. He who began a good thing in you will be sure to take you through to the end. Begin well and you will end even better than you began! Just sayin!

Pause for interruptions

Patience is better than strength. Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city. (Proverbs 16:32)

Most of us recognize patience is a virtue, but many times we forget just how patience is learned - through trial and tribulation! It takes a little bit of the "troubling of the waters" in our lives to teach us the infinite lessons of patience. When you pray for patience, you are actually praying to have the waters stirred up with even a few waves added! That revelation might just change the course of your prayers! We have those moments when the thing we are expressing is the furthest from what we might label as the virtue of patience. Learning how to respond in patience is what some call conforming your conduct to some moral or ethical principle. I call it the divine work of the Holy Spirit in us in any area where he did not previously exist or have access! Most of us pray for strength and patience in the same breath, don't we? Yet, patience is better than strength. Strength might give us the stamina to accomplish the task, but patience gives us the emotional fortitude to actually endure till the end. 

Fortitude is the combination of the mental and emotional strength we will need to face difficulty with some pretty extreme courage at times. I think patient people are very courageous - when faced with adversity, danger, and even temptation, their response is one of waiting on the Lord to lead them through the tough spot they are in. It might do us all well to recognize waiting is part of patience and waiting requires a whole lot of courage at times! There are times when it is hard to be patient - especially when we don't understand the other person's perspective. If you have ever found yourself waiting in line behind someone who is trying to dig for their pennies at the bottom of their purse, or perhaps the cashier has to go through the tall stack of coupons they have, you probably have been faced with a little bit of this thing called "impatience". If you stop for just a moment, taking in the possibilities of the other person's perspective, you might change how you are responding in that moment. The one digging for coin in the depths of the purse may be on their last few cents, trying hard to get together just enough to make it through till payday. The one cashing in on the coupon deals may need to save those dollars because it is the way they help bless others with what they are able to buy "extra" when they coupon. Putting ourselves in the shoes of another often changes our perspective of the situation - and it changes our perspective of the wait!

A warrior sees the battle ahead - narrowing their sights on the nearest target and then taking it on with all the ability they have. A leader of warriors sees the battle from a different perspective - they consider the strategy of the entire battle - not just the immediate battlefield. I think patience requires us moving from just doing battle, to learning the strategies of the battle as a whole. The warrior might know how to take the city - the leader knows when the timing is right, the conditions are in their favor, and the importance of waiting for both! I can make pretty quick decisions and take pretty prompt actions - but are they always the best? In case you don't know the answer - it is "no". Sometimes we avoid the "best" for the pursuit of the "quickest". Guess what? As long as we are always going for the quickest, we will never learn the lessons of patience. Waiting is only one part of patience. The other part which seems to trip us up on occasion is this whole idea of getting interrupted when we are in pursuit of something. Have you ever been interrupted by the need of another? It is THEIR need. MY need might differ. I have to change my perspective to recognize their need. Part of dealing with the frustration of interruptions is the "quickness" by which we can put ourselves in the other person's shoes. I have come to appreciate interruptions as God's way of revealing something to me I would not have otherwise seen or keeping me from something I would not have wanted to experience. When we begin to see interruptions as "divine" rather than "unwanted" and "frustrating", we might just appreciate them as times of protection, opportunities for learning, and moments of connection.

Jesus had a whole lot of delays in his time on this earth - waiting for others to "catch up" to where he was. His disciples, closer to him than most others, didn't even really "get" what he was doing on this earth, right up to the very end. He endured a whole lot of interruptions - not once concerned for how it would affect him. He was showing us how to look beyond our OWN need to see the need of ANOTHER. See past the evident into the probability of the hidden. He focused not on the immediate issue as much as the importance of keeping in mind the strategy of the bigger picture. I don't know your exact circumstances today, but I do know you will be faced with opportunities to need both strength and patience in what it is you are dealing with. Remember to keep in mind the idea of "perspective" - look beyond the obvious, there may be more hidden just beneath the surface. You might need to seek out another to help you bring clarity and to sort out the conflict of emotions, indecision, and frustration you are facing - their perspective could just give you a new one yourself. Just sayin!

A little 'parenting' lesson

The Lord shows mercy and is kind. He does not become angry quickly, and he has great love. He will not always accuse us, and he will not be angry forever. He has not punished us as our sins should be punished; he has not repaid us for the evil we have done. As high as the sky is above the earth, so great is his love for those who respect him. He has taken our sins away from us as far as the east is from west. (Psalm 103:8-12)

I find it very good news that God does not punish us as our sins should be punished. As a parent, I often considered the ill-behavior of my children and found myself in a quandary as to how to 'punish' the ill behavior. There were even times I'd ask the offended party to name the punishment for the offending party - as though a brother or sister who was angry with the other was the right one to pick the punishment! I even tried asking the ill-behaving child to pick their own punishment on occasion. I guess I was out of options at that point - sorry kids. God doesn't relish punishing bad behavior any more than we did as parents. In fact, he would rather we just listen closely, obey the first time, and avoid the need for any 'corrective action' within our lives. Doesn't that sound familiar? The amazing thing about our 'heavenly parent' is that he doesn't need to seek advice on what to do when our behavior isn't quite up to snuff. 

God knows very well that our own consciences can be the greatest 'punishment' any of us can endure. We act incorrectly, realize our behavior was directly the opposite of what God would have desired, and we begin to 'feel' the pain of our choices. Why? Our conscience begins to 'condemn' us. We begin to feel the 'inward disapproval' of our actions caused by the tugging of our conscience. The good news is that we don't have to wallow in our condemnation - we can bring our misguided deeds to God and lay them out before him. As we do, we begin to find an easing of those feelings of 'internal disapproval'. Why? God is restoring us inwardly. Confession is really a means of inward restoration - the renewing of our minds. The feelings may take a while to follow, but what God sets in motion is sure to come to fruition.

When I asked one of my children to determine the 'right punishment' for something their sibling had done against them, such as breaking one of their favorite toys, it usually ended in a good outcome. I guess I am fortunate this way because they were more reasonable and forgiving of each other than I would have wanted them to be at that moment of frustration in my life as a parent. I was caught up in the emotion of their adverse behavior - they were caught up in doing what I asked them to do - forgive one another and show each other the love and respect of siblings. As I witnessed how 'lenient' they were toward one another, I began to realize just how 'lenient' God has been with me, as well. My bad behavior throughout the years could have 'deserved' much worse 'punishment', but somehow God's grace provided for a much 'lesser' punishment. 

We don't 'deserve' forgiveness - but it is rendered all the same. We don't 'deserve' leniency - but it comes our way time after time. We don't 'deserve' to be loved - but love involves risk and God risked it all to show us how much we are each loved so very much. Bask in his love today - let your conscience be healed - and then begin to embrace him fully. Restoration begins in realizing just how deeply we are loved. Just sayin!

Buried treasures

Invest what you have, because after a while you will get a return. (Ecclesiastes 11:1)

I have frequently heard people say they have nothing to give - nothing to bring into a circumstance that THEY feel will be of any value. Instead of giving what they have and allowing God to INCREASE the value of what they bring, they just stand idly by. If we want to ever see an increase of what we have been given, we must invest it. As a young adult, raising wee kiddos, my financial circumstances were not the best. I had a hard time making ends meet from time to time, but never went without. I trusted God to bring the increase, but I invested what I could into the process. What I had was my two hands, a strong back, and a will to work. That is what I could invest. It might have meant long hours of picking weeds for $3/hour at times and rising way before dawn to deliver papers in the dark of night, but we never went without.

There are times we feel what we have won't really matter - it isn't 'significant' or 'earth-shattering'. If you have ever tried to raise a wall alone, you know the value of 'spare hands'. If you have ever tried to move 15 tons of gravel into your yard by nightfall, you know the value of a few extra wheelbarrows and a couple of strong neighbors. What we 'have' may not seem like much, but when employed as God gave us the ability to employ those talents and treasures, there will be a profound multiplication of what we have been given. It is easy to sit on the sidelines and say we 'can't', but it is likely we are saying we 'won't' instead. Learn to use what God created within you and you might just become the biggest blessing to another.

Invest wisely - this is a principle we must each learn. Do you remember the story in scripture of several men entrusted with a sum of money by their master? One invested the five bags of gold and yielded an additional five bags, while another invested the two bags he had been given and yielded double for his master. The one who had been entrusted with one bag of gold merely hid it, too scared to invest what he had been given. All he had to offer upon his master's return was one bag of gold. The master was disappointed because he had entrusted the servant with this gift, and it was not used. Whether we are entrusted with much or little, we are to use what we have been given. We know not the 'yield' that will be realized, but if we just 'bury' what we have been given, we will never realize any greater yield. Just sayin!

A little arithmetic for you

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings. (Eric Hoffer)

Those who gather crops on time are wise, but those who sleep through the harvest are a disgrace. Good people will have rich blessings, but the wicked will be overwhelmed by violence. Good people will be remembered as a blessing, but evil people will soon be forgotten. (Proverbs 10:5-7)

Have you ever stopped long enough to think about your blessings? When you engage in this process, you will likely realize many of those 'blessings' came through very hard work. It wasn't that you 'achieved' those blessings on your own, though. God gave you both the ability and know-how to achieve them. Blessings come in the form of accomplishments, people, and even physical things we can see and touch. The greatest of blessings may just be the peace we experience each day as we settle into the arms of Jesus and enjoy just a little time in his presence.

It may feel like life overwhelms us from time to time - leaving us thinking all of God's blessings have left our lives. This is the furthest thing from truth - for many of God's greatest blessings seem to come through the hardest of times. Why might that be? If we are truthful with each other on this one, we might just have to admit the 'hard times' actually bring us to our knees. They cause us to reach out to God in new ways, with greater tenacity, and in increasing measure. It isn't that God wants us to endure hard times - it could be that he allows them on occasion because he knows they will drive us deeper into his arms.

What drives you into the arms of Jesus? Is it the 'not knowing' of uncertain times? Could it be the 'not feeling loved' moments when you realize you are alone and without companionship? Might it be the 'disgusted times' when you knew you should have made another choice, but followed your feelings instead of the prompts of the Spirit of God within? Regardless of 'what' drives you into the arms of Jesus, it can be the place of our greatest blessings. We need those moments, but sometimes we don't take the seek them on our own. If we are challenged into his arms, it is okay. If we come willingly and with great delight, it is better! Just sayin!

A little self-seeking leads to greater things

Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” (Matthew 27:37-40)

I did a "Google" search to see how many times "love" appeared in the Bible, figuring it was probably somewhere in the thousands, right? You might be surprised to know that the King James Bible has the word "love" printed only 314 times - a whole 594 times if you throw in all the lovest, loveth, loving, and lovingkindness terms. As important as this "fruit" is, I thought it would likely be "cited" far more in the scriptures. Love is probably the most significant of the fruit we can bear in life - as all the other fruit which may become apparent are really founded on the basis of love. Don't believe me? Try being long-suffering if you have no foundation of love in the relationship. Try finding joy in difficult circumstances if love is not the basis of what holds your head up and gives you hope. The other fruit simply are built upon this foundation of love - a peg upon which all other fruit are hung.

Love is the outflow of the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Apart from the Holy Spirit's activity in my life, the choices I'd make would be pretty self-centered and self-seeking. Let him into the mix and the choices I make are tempered by his presence - they tend to shift from what pleases just me and they take into consideration what might affect another. Love gives evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives - it is the outflow of his having taken up residence! We can do a whole lot of things to "appear" to have this thing called "love" evident in our lives, but when it is the "real deal", worked into the fibers of our being by the presence of the Holy Spirit, there is nothing which speaks louder, nor clearer to those around us of God's activity within.

The sad thing is how many "places" people go to look for "love". In society today, people seek love in relationships - many failing to find what they pursue because no man or woman is meant to bring this "fruit" into our lives. People think loves come from parents - so if we don't feel "loved", it must be a parent's fault. They do have a responsibility to be good role models for us, but parents are just people like us - they get things wrong, have some pretty mixed-up priorities, and sometimes just don't get this thing we call "love" very well connected in families. Truth is - we all fall way short of "love" until the Holy Spirit begins to bring forth the fruit of love in our lives. No one has it all together apart from his action within - plain and simple. I have spoken much about what takes root in our lives. If we don't look at the root, we cannot impact the fruit. 

Things which get rooted sometimes don't belong. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to begin this uprooting process, but it is also his work to begin to lay down the seed which will take root, producing the "fruit" we call love. Does the sprouting of a seed look for all it needs for its growth "under the soil" or inside the seed? It sends a shoot to the surface, to break free of the confines of the darkness of the soil into the light of day. Why? Light brings resources it did not have when it remained buried under the soil. Love is kind of like this in our lives, too. It is planted there as a tiny seed by the Holy Spirit. It begins to germinate within, changing into something which no longer resembles the seed - sending out roots and a tiny shoot. The shoot of love seeks light - when it finds it, it begins growing in exponential magnitude. Love is meant to be brought into the light - so it can grow and multiply.

Love is first of all "self-seeking". Let me explain. We embrace what we think will benefit us in some way - even the bad stuff we embrace in life we think has some benefit to us, right? We "seek" love because we have a space in our lives where love belongs - a barren place within until it is filled with love. Seek love in the right place and your "love tank" will be filled with the best love possible - the love of God. Seek it in all the wrong places, and your tank will constantly return to empty! God doesn't mind that our need to love is a little self-seeking at first. He makes us this way so we will desire to be filled with all which produces life and godliness. He just hopes we will use this desire to be "filled" to turn to him for the filling! God never intended for us to remain "self-seeking" forever - he wanted us to begin to allow his love to grow within, breaking through into the light of his grace and presence, until we one day begin to recognize what he is "growing within" is meant to touch the world around us.

Love is really an important "fruit" with the capacity to "fill us up" and to "spill over" into the lives of all the many we will touch. It is time for us to begin to ask ourselves if there is evidence of the Holy Spirit's activity in our lives. If not, it may just be time to allow a little uprooting, replanting, and "light-seeking" to encourage the growth of love within so that it can spill to the outside of our lives, as well. Just sayin!

Be watchful over your seed

You will know these people because of what they do. Good things don’t come from people who are bad, just as grapes don’t come from thornbushes, and figs don’t come from thorny weeds. In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, and bad trees produce bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. (Matthew 7:16-18)

If you have ever had something begin to grow in your garden and then wondered what it might be, you may have left it grow a little longer because you think it resembles a flower or perhaps a plant that may produce some type of "fruit". As it grows, you can begin to tell if it is what you thought it might be or not. When it no longer resembles what you thought it was, you pluck it up because you now recognize it as not being the "fruit-bearing" plant you imagined. I feed birds - this produces a variety of "undergrowth" in my flowerbeds because they fling seed everywhere. There is also a whole lot of stuff in there I don't recognize. I just pluck those out right away because I have no idea what they will produce. A whole lot of "seed" gets "flung" in life, doesn't it? Much of it can begin to grow wherever it is "planted" - but not all of it is beneficial. Some of the fruit produced may not be as helpful or beautiful as others.

When I first take notice of these little sprouts in the garden, I am being an "inspector" of this growth. I am looking for evidence of two things - I need to recognize what it is, and if it is beneficial to leave it where it is planted. These are two very important points for us to keep in mind in our own lives as these two principles can guide us in relationships, spiritual pursuits, and emotionally charged times. We need to be able to recognize the "seeds" for what they will produce, and we have to know if what is produced will actually be of any value to us in the long run. Some call this being "inspectors" - I call it being wise. Much of what is offered to us today in life is in the form of "short-cuts". We have all kinds of ways to produce something which "resembles" the "real deal", but it really falls short of the original. We have instant mashed potatoes. Add water or a little milk, heat in the microwave, and we have mashed potatoes, right? Nope, we have reconstituted powdered potato flakes. They look similar to the real deal, and even taste a little like fresh mashed potatoes, but they lack something in the consistency and appearance. What we have produced is "close" to the original, but truthfully, it is only a substitute for the original produced through a series of short-cuts.

Things produced in life are a result of what takes root. Fruit comes because there was first a root. You cannot have one without the other. These things which sprout up quickly in my garden take root easily. They are flung on the surface and don't need much depth to take root. When something doesn't need much depth to take root, it usually is a weed and the "fruit" produced will oftentimes give you more headache than heart-peace! Things which matter - producing luscious fruit - are things which take a little longer to root and are almost always planted more "purposefully". 

Short-cut "fruit" is rarely as rewarding or satisfying as that which is "purposefully" produced by being planted, nurtured, and harvested in season. Fruit is often a key indicator of what has been taking root. I don't make my own mustard, so a tiny mustard seed taking over my garden with one sprouting plant may look nice for a little while, but it will soon crowd out the rest of what I have growing there. The birds may like it, but it produces nothing I can actually "use" in my life. What we allow into the garden of our hearts and minds begins to take root in our inner man. How do we begin to analyze what has taken root. Usually the "behavior" is the evidence of what has taken root on the inside. Some behavior is to be trusted at "face value" while other behavior is a cleverly produced "imitation" of what we think is going to produce good fruit. Becoming clear on what is "good fruit" and what is not will help us accurately judge what might be at the root of the behavior we are producing.

Remember we have to both recognize what is planted and know whether it is good for us. Recognition comes with a little help from some tools we have at our disposal - the Word to guide us into truth, the Holy Spirit to prompt us when "truth" isn't accurate, and our conscience to assist us in weighing the "truth" in response to the values God is working into our hearts. Knowing if something will actually produce worthwhile fruit takes a little practice. The instant mashed potatoes will put dinner on the table quickly, but they don't provide nearly the nutrients as the ones I peel, boil, and mash with milk and butter. They aren't as rich in flavor, and they aren't as satisfying to the palate. Sometimes I have to taste a little of the fruit to really become aware of what has been produced! This is a little sad really because some of the fruit produced in my life has been a little bitter! Yet, when I get a good taste of the bitter fruit, I know it doesn't belong and I seek to get it out. I think all God wants for us is to become a little more proficient at recognizing the fruit of what is taking root. Shallow roots may produce fast growth, but will it be lasting and fruitful? Not too likely. Do more than just accept the "fast growing" and begin to allow the "purposeful planting" of what God knows will produce "good fruit". It isn't in the "short cuts" we produce our "best" fruit - it is in the tender-loving care of his watchful eye. Just sayin!

Today will be different

God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet... God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love. He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins. As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we’re made of mud. Men and women don’t live very long; like wildflowers they spring up and blossom, but a storm snuffs them out just as quickly, leaving nothing to show they were here. God’s love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him, making everything right for them and their children as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever he said. (Psalm 103:6-18)

Memory is a powerful tool - learning how to use it to our advantage can be one of the most difficult tasks we can undertake, for we remember what we'd be best to let go, and we don't remember some of the most awesome moments God provides for our growth and restoration. If you have ever caught yourself bemoaning where you ARE, you have probably forgotten where you came FROM. We have selective memories, at best. Focusing too intently on one thing keeps us from seeing the things we might just need to hold a little closer to our hearts. We can be a little guilty of yearning for the "good old days". We want things to be the way they used to be - not because things were all that much better, but our memories paint the picture of those bygone times being way cooler or better than our present circumstances. One thing I have learned to do when I am hit with a sudden bought of "good old day" yearning is to run things through my memory again, but through a different "filter". I ask the Holy Spirit to make clear what it is I recall - not relying upon my "translation" of what I recall as the way it was. Even the "good old days" were riddled with some pretty heavy stuff and challenges I almost thought would break me. I just choose to remember the good stuff and shut out the bad and I don't believe I am alone in this "memory" issue.

What does asking the Holy Spirit's help do for our "memory"? He helps put into perspective the things we went through to get where we are now. In essence, he helps us remember things from our past which we've "worked through" - things we'd probably rather not go through again. We recall the "good stuff" - he helps us remember the "hard stuff". Remembering the "hard stuff" helps keep us from repeating mistakes, making unwise choices, and having to "relearn" lessons. Another thing the Holy Spirit does by refocusing our "remembrance" of events is help us define who we are - God's kids, cared for by his hand, and made right because he has watched over us through all of life's circumstances. As we go through stuff in life, he is there to help us process "through" them, keeping us from muddling through by our own efforts. We sometimes forget this important "companion" we have on our journey - thinking we have to make it through on our own because in our mind we think we ought to be able to handle stuff. We often formulate this belief of having to "handle stuff" we go through because it is kind of familiar to us - like we have been through something similar in the past. If there is one thing I know for sure, the thing which seems vaguely familiar to me may look and sound a lot like something I have walked through before, but there are all different players, I am at a different point in my life, and the event is only "similar", it is not the "same". We need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to show us the similarities, but to also help us see the uniqueness in the circumstance.

The important thing to keep in mind is the work of the Holy Spirit in helping us with our "filing system". You see, he is a "master filer" - he knows what will be needed again and what is okay to just "shred"! If you are anything like me, you have a pile on the top of your desk right now - old mail, notes, and idea sheets. Some needs to be discarded while others are important. Very few of the items in the pile actually need to make it to the filing cabinet - because they need to be saved for future reference. The Holy Spirit is attuned to the "right stuff" to save for "future reference". He can guide us in "shredding" the stuff which is just junk and the stuff which really doesn't matter once processed. Then he leaves us with the things which really need to be "filed away" for future reference. Since the work of the Holy Spirit is to both help us remember correctly and to file away what really matters, isn't it important to consult him when we might just be experiencing a little "recall" problem? When we allow him to help us with recall, we often get a different perspective on the matter. My "memory" of the way things were doesn't always match "reality". We "file away" things which don't always "translate" into reality in quite the same manner! The next time we get a little too focused on wishing for the "good old days", we might just do well to ask the Holy Spirit to help us recall the "truth" about what we filed away! He will help us see the work of God in our lives a little clearer and keep us on track today. We only need to ask. Just sayin!

Sweetness just beneath the surface

By this time the crowd, unwieldy and stepping on each other’s toes, numbered into the thousands. But Jesus’ primary concern was his disciples. He said to them, “Watch yourselves carefully so you don’t get contaminated with Pharisee yeast, Pharisee phoniness. You can’t keep your true self hidden forever; before long you’ll be exposed. You can’t hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. You can’t whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day’s coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town. (Luke 12:1-3)

Give people enough to "gawk" at and they will congregate quicker than ants on honey. I fondly refer to them as "looky-loos" - they are there for the "show", not really for much else. They come interested in what they might get, not in what they might give away. What draws a crowd? Isn't it the spectacular, the unexpected, and the unusual? Jesus was all of these things. Spectacular - dramatically daring as he went against the Pharisees and dared to challenge their "religiosity". Unexpected - surprising those who least expected his touch or care with the deepest expressions of his love. Unusual - shocking them with the extraordinary and the uncommon display of power, grace, and wisdom. He was a crowd "gatherer", but he was also a crowd "divider". The same things drawing many to him also set many against him. These spectacular, unexpected, and unusual things Jesus said and did got the dander of the Pharisees up. His disciples may have been drawn in by the same things, but in time, they came to understand him as those in the crowd did not and this was Jesus' greatest joy - someone looking past the spectacular, unexpected and unusual to connect with his heart.

Although the Pharisees were ever-present in the crowd, their intent was not to find the truth in what Jesus was saying, or to support the work he was doing. Their intent was to discredit, taking the attention away from the "good" he was doing and bringing some type of dishonor to him. Their main concern was the amount of attention he was getting and the little bit of attention they themselves were now attracting. To this end, Jesus calls the attention of his disciples to their actions - not so much because they were a real hindrance to his work, but because he wanted to protect the disciples from the "phoniness" of the Pharisees. They saw themselves as so spiritually mature - above the crowd in their pursuit of all things holy - educated above the rest, but really not all that wise. Jesus knew the shallowness of their "holiness" and his point in calling attention to them on this day was to simply point out the foolishness of trying to "appear" mature when you really are anything but mature.

I guess we could all kind of admit we have done this on occasion - trying to make ourselves look a little more "all together" and "spiritually mature" than we really are on the inside. It has been a common practice of putting forward some type of "rule-keeping" facade to make oneself look 'holy' and 'spiritually mature'. This type of "religious phoniness" is not going to get us anywhere in God's kingdom. I think this is why Jesus had such great concern for his disciples recognizing this up front. It would have been easy for them to get a little confused - seeing the example of the Pharisees as the "ultimate" experience when it comes to religion. It may be the ultimate experience when it comes to "religion", but not as it applies to relationship. Jesus' primary concern was, and always will be, for our relationship with him and his heavenly Father.

Look closely at some church-goers today and we might just find there are those who actually practice as modern day "Pharisees" - their lives are pretty shallow under the facades of the religion they sport with such pride. You can watch hours and hours of every teacher and preacher on the Christian television stations, but still be shallow. You can read author after author, ingesting all kinds of spiritual self-help books, but be devoid of any real learning. You can speak with all kinds of eloquence and still say nothing. The image is there, but the heart vault is empty. Relationship is the only thing which fills the heart vault! 

The warning to us is against the preoccupation with title, regulations, rules, and rituals. Sometimes we "sport" the title of "Christian" as though it gives us some special privilege or "import" to the world around us, all the while with empty "heart vaults". The heart vault is only filled through deep, lasting, and intimate relationship with the one who helps us move beyond the rules, focusing less on the rituals and more on the genuine sharing of our heart with him. You have probably heard the term "legalism" used in modern day churches. If so, what is being described is the modern day practice of Phariseeism. The pursuit of all the rules, but the lack of focus on the heart. The crowds are always drawn by the "show". The Pharisee delights in putting on the "show". The disciple delights in the "connection" created when you get past the "show". 

Jesus warns against being more concerned with the "show" and what you "know" - being aware of what you "experience" while nuzzled right up to his heart. Our heart vault is only filled when we nuzzle! You know what it means to "nuzzle"? Animals "nuzzle" while rooting for food. They have to push through a whole lot of inedible stuff before they get to the sweetness of what lies just beneath the surface. I think Jesus had this in mind when he was speaking with his disciples - getting past the stuff that hides the sweetness he desires for us to experience. I am thinking I'd rather engage in a little nuzzling to find the sweetness he has prepared than spend a whole lot of time protecting the image I could "prepare" for the world. I am in pursuit of that which fills the vault of my heart. Maybe we'd all do a little better if we "nuzzled" more and "masked" less. Just sayin!

Are you paying attention?

Has it ever occurred to you to actually watch the road signs on your journey home from somewhere you frequent, such as work, a visit to the family, or the trip to the theater? Most likely, you just go there, and then head back the same way. You don't even consider those road signs along the way. Why? You know the way! You have made the trip so many times you don't even have to pay all that close attention. You probably navigate by landmarks instead. If someone were to change one of those landmarks, would it be possible for you to miss your turn? Maybe, but not likely. Change your route home because there is a major traffic snafu or significant road repairs underway and you have to pay closer attention, don't you? You likely follow the traffic - you go where you see them going because they must know the way, right? Having followed a few lines of traffic through winding neighborhoods only to end up further away from my destination than I was to begin with, let me assure you following the most traveled path is not always the best choice! 

“Enter through the narrow gate. The gate is wide and the road is wide that leads to hell, and many people enter through that gate. But the gate is small and the road is narrow that leads to true life. Only a few people find that road." (Matthew 7:13-14)

Imagine someone who is curious about Christ, but really doesn't know the 'way' into his presence. They know there are 'signs' and 'landmarks' to guide them into that relationship, but the only road they see is the one that seems to be traveled the most frequently by the most people. They follow others because they believe they must know the way. Sadly, if you are a person genuinely seeking Christ and come into many a church this weekend looking for Christ, you may be disappointed to find there is little more than 'religion' there. The road 'looked right', but it didn't lead you into genuine relationship with him. Maybe that statement seems a bit harsh to some, but it is true. Pew upon pew is filled by people who are little more than 'Sunday Christians' - the rest of the week is spent living as they like and Christ is the furthest thing from their thoughts. 

Do you recall the conversation Jesus had about believers and those who do little more than give 'lip service' to God? “Not all those who say ‘You are our Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do what my Father in heaven wants. On the last day many people will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, we spoke for you, and through you we forced out demons and did many miracles.’ Then I will tell them clearly, ‘Get away from me, you who do evil. I never knew you.’" (Matthew 7:21-23) It is quite possible to be a mere 'lip servant' and not have our heart in that service at all. Jesus asks for our heart - that means we take the road less traveled, and we pay attention to the 'signs' along the way that help to guide our travels in this walk with him. There will always be the need to be 'paying attention' as long as we are walking with him. When we begin to just 'glide along', it could be we have actually begun to just 'follow the crowd' and not been paying close attention to where he is guiding us. Just sayin!

Be the one

It was Theodore Roosevelt who reminds us: "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Too many times we bemoan the fact we don't have 'enough', so we don't even start. We think we cannot, so we don't even try. We believe we are not in the right place to do something, so we just sit back and watch. Where you are, what you have, and what you are able to do are all perfectly correct when God is backing your every move!

I pray also that you will have greater understanding in your heart so you will know the hope to which he has called us and that you will know how rich and glorious are the blessings God has promised his holy people. And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from the dead and put him at his right side in the heavenly world. (Ephesians 1:18-20)

The power of God is very great in ALL who believe in him - did you hear that? ALL who believe in him. The exact same power and strength God used to raise Christ from the dead is resident within you! The EXACT SAME - not just a fragment or measly bit - the ENTIRE SAME power and strength! Some of us need to hear that and really begin to latch onto that truth because we have been listening to the lies of our enemy long enough. We are not powerless - we are powerful.

Do what you can. What is it you are able to do? Even a shut-in has things they can do - so do them. What is it you have at your disposal? Talents, time, energy, finances - whatever it is - put it to use. Where are you right now? That is exactly where God wants to use you. This past week has been challenging for my daughter's family with three of the four in the household each coming down with COVID. What could I do? I could make soup! I could pick up prescriptions. I could listen and respond as they asked questions and sought medical solutions. I could pray for their healing.

What could you do today? Who could you be Jesus to today? Where could you put your talents and treasures to use? The strength of Jesus that lies deep within you isn't there to be dormant - it is meant to be used in ways that you may not even dream possible. Don't limit God's ability by not being available to him. Let his strength come through you - even when you don't think you are the one he will use. Just sayin!

The root of many evils

I Timothy 6:6-10 reminds us: "Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." Let that one sink in for just a moment. We probably have all heard someone misquote this passage from time to time, telling us that money is the root of all evil. It is not what it says, though. It says the 'love of money' is A ROOT of all kinds of evils - one root, not the root - and not all evil, but many kinds of evils that can enter into a person's life.

Taking this apart, Paul is really saying godly content is to be desired - to be satisfied and appreciative with the 'basics' of life - such as food and clothing. To desire more is not sinful, but to desire or crave more and more can lead us down a destructive path - one that allows the root of discontentment to take root. The desire for more can sometimes be senseless and lead us into harmful pathways. Take for example a desire to live outside of our budget - to make purchases that must be placed upon credit because we simply cannot afford them. Sometimes we need to put something on credit, such as a visit to an emergency room for much needed treatment. This is not what is meant here - but rather to buy that 75-inch TV on credit card when the 55-inch one we have is working just fine. We wanted 'better' or 'bigger' and that is something that can lead us down a destructive or harmful path. 

If we read on in this same chapter, Paul tells us to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. Why? These are the things that keep us from being caught up in the 'more and more' syndrome. We learn to seek first righteousness (things and activities that lead to right living) - then there will be great contentment with the things God brings into our lives. We pursue godliness and faith because they are a natural outcome when we are putting God first in our lives. We enjoy deeper aspects of God's love as we keep him first in our lives and this leads us into places of 'surety' of foundation - steadfastness in his ways. In turn, we begin to live in such a way that our actions are 'gentle' and 'kind'. 

Paul wasn't telling us it is wrong to desire a new car - but to focus so intently on getting it at the cost of godliness and contentment may just open the door to greater evils in our lives. Satisfaction is not the result of being full - it is the result of learning how to curb our desires. The desire for 'more' is not wrong - as long as the 'more' we desire is more of God's character in our lives. Just sayin!

Reconnecting

Loneliness is proof that your innate search for connection is intact. (Martha Beck)

We all search for connection - some of us just don't want to admit it. We want to relate to others, but the effort takes us by surprise, and we just don't want to go that far at times. We settle for being lonely, walking without companionship or support. I have to ask - how well are you doing with that? God knows we will face fears along the way, and those fears will seem to be a little too daunting at times, but he never expected we'd face them alone. 

So don’t worry, because I am with you. Don’t be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you. (Isaiah 41:10-11)

If you are 'with' me, I usually know you are there, even when you aren't immediately by my side. You could be at your own home, and I would still know there is a connection we have made acting as a support to me as I go through whatever it is I am facing. How is that? We have 'connected' and that connection is not broken by time or space. If we have made this connection with God, it is not broken by time or space, either. In fact, he never leaves us - he is there even when we don't realize he is.

Being 'alone' is not the same as being 'lonely'. Many live alone yet are very well connected with others - but no connection is as significant as the one we make with Jesus each day. We may have tons of people around us and be the loneliest of individuals. People are important, but the connection we make with Jesus is THE MOST important one we can make. If you are feeling a little lonely at times, one of the best antidotes is to take some time to be alone with Jesus. Then, as he leads, venture out to see others. Him first, others second. Just sayin!

Light + Light = Bright Light

So encourage each other and give each other strength, just as you are doing now. (I Thessalonians 5:11)

In what ways do you need encouragement today? Maybe your family has been under attack by the enemy of God - sick family members, cats acting badly, appliances breaking down, cars demanding repairs you didn't budget for, and kiddos acting out at the worst of times. You just want to utter those words of the old TV ad: "Calgon, take me away!" Remember this - today's worries and problems are best handled in the strength of God, not in yours alone.

We get our strength at the feet of Christ, but did you also consider just how much strength we get from each other? If you are like me, you have a great friend who is always there for you whenever you need that encouragement and strength. If you don't have that special relationship with anyone yet, that is where you begin - by prayerfully asking God to bring that person into your life. God never wants us to count on their strength over his, but he brings them alongside because he knows we need their arms!

Worries will come. Anxieties will weigh heavy upon us. This is part of life on this earth. Disappointments will attempt to drive us into despair. Tragedies will cause us to question why these things can happen. What do we do in those moments? We turn our eyes upon Jesus, keeping his face fully before us. Why? It is where we find our strength. When our eyes are on him, they are not on the worries and disappointments - they are on the one who can turn even the worst day into a 'redeemed day'. 

Just before penning these words to the Thessalonian church, our writer reminded the believers that they no longer belonged to the 'night' - their life was now one of 'light' and 'freedom'. The thing we need to realize is that darkness abounds all around us, but we don't have to be caught up in it. We are 'light' and as we come together 'in light', the light grows brighter and brighter - dispelling the darkest of places we could ever experience. Be light in a dark world today - someone needs that light to help their darkness dissipate. Just sayin!

Hearing? or Listening to Learn?

The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds. (John F. Kennedy)

The mind of a person with understanding gets knowledge; the wise person listens to learn more. (Proverbs 18:15)

I would like us to consider if we are listening to just 'hear', or are we listening to 'learn more'? The first option is a very common occurrence in society today - someone talks, we listen, but do we really hear their heart, understand their turmoil, or experience their grief? When we listen to 'learn more' there is an investment of ourselves in the life of the one we are actually 'hearing'. 

God wants to be the first person we listen to 'learn more' from in this walk we undertake each day with him. He also wants us to develop this sense of 'learning more' when we engage with others who come across our path each day. It is good to hear but hearing alone doesn't really require that much effort. We get 'knowledge' as we hear, but we don't see knowledge convert to wisdom until we listen to 'learn more'.

As Kennedy indicated, knowledge might just increase, but it never ensures wisdom as a result of that increase. In fact, if what he says holds true, just gaining knowledge (hearing alone) may actually reveal just how ignorant we are as a society. God's plan is that we actually take time to invest in the actions of 'hearing in order to learn more'. Yes, it requires time and effort. Yes, it means we might actually have to lay down our own agenda a bit to truly 'hear' what is being said. In so doing, we might just learn more than we bargained.

God asks us to stop and listen. Why? Ceasing the actions of our day might not always be the easiest thing to do, but when we set aside that time to actually listen to him, we find our hearts begin to 'assimilate' the knowledge he brings into the conversation. This is why I set aside each morning to 'listen' and to 'learn more'. If you have not made a special time to just be quiet and listen, do so. You will be delighted to know just how much God wants to you 'learn' at his feet. Just sayin!

Can and Will - Be Patient

 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Can God do whatever it is you need done in your life? I bet almost all of us would say, "Of course he can!" I have to ask the follow-up question - do we really believe that about everything in our lives? I think there are a whole bunch of us (me included) who say those words, but they haven't made it into our hearts and minds totally yet. We 'trust' God for the big stuff, but then we diddle around with bringing him the 'small stuff' we think really isn't all that 'significant' in his eyes. The truth of the matter is that we cannot find one portion of scripture to back up the 'belief' that God isn't going to handle the small stuff!

Whatever it is you need done - think upon those words a bit longer today. Allow them to ruminate in your mind and heart as you go through the routine of whatever it is you have planned for this day. As you get a chance to just stop for a moment, ask God what it is you have been 'holding out on' with him - those things that you really haven't brought to him because you think you have it handled, or that it is too insignificant to bring to him. Then bring it! All that you can imagine, God can do. All that you can ever request, he has the power to accomplish. So, don't hesitate to bring it!

By working within us, through his Spirit, the things we imagine or request - they are done. Will the answer always be as we imagined? No, but if we really step back and take a look at what he accomplished when we gave that thing to him, we might just be surprised to find it was 'handled' a whole lot better than if we imagined! God CAN do anything - so why is it he seems to NOT do that one thing you have been trusting him for in your life? Sometimes we need to have that thing we are trusting him for 'adjusted' a bit. At others, he is taking time to allow something within us to be ready for his actions. There can also be a bit of 'waiting' on his answer because someone else is being 'readied' by God as an instrument who will be involved in the answer to our request. 

We don't always know he is working, but we can trust he is. We don't always know what it is we really want or need, but he does. We don't always understand the wait, but he is working on the inside long before he reveals the thing on the outside. That is probably the hardest part of it for us - trusting him to do the work on the inside when we are so focused on what we want to see on the outside. We don't 'become' overnight - it is a process. Just sayin!

What have you prepared for us today?

Consider just how emotionally "starved" we are as a society - especially in what should be some of our closest relationships. In most relationships, there is such a tremendous amount of emotional "hunger" which goes totally unmet because we don't take the time to meet the need, we fail to recognize the need exists, or we just simply spend more time looking at our own need. Starvation is simply the feeling of a strong need or desire. When our emotional needs go unmet long enough, we begin to feel a little "starved". Sometimes we use other means to satisfy a genuine emotional hunger than what will really satisfy the hunger. Perhaps we turn to the pursuit of some pleasure - but the pleasure only lasts for a while and then we are back to the hunger again. It may be we pursue something we can possess - such as a new car, new home, or the like - but in time, the "newness" and pleasure produced in the acquisition just leaves us all hungry again. No pursuit of pleasure, possession or even profession can help really satisfy the hunger emotionally - it just dulls it for a season. In just a short course of time, we go from being "emotionally high" to being on the "emotional low" all over again. We need to figure out what really satisfies the hunger within and then get after that, not just flit from this or that pursuit with the "hope" it might meet our emotional hunger.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

It should come as no surprise to you that your hunger and thirst, two very powerful "motivators" within, were actually created by God. It was not by accident we were given these "emotional drivers" - they are to serve a purpose. Physical hunger and thirst motivates us to seek out food and drink - in order to replenish our physical bodies. Emotional hunger motivates us to reach out to another. Spiritual hunger motivates us toward worship, praise and prayer. All types of hunger exist - as do all types of thirst. Two motivators - multiple reasons for them. What trips us up most is not recognizing the "type" of hunger or thirst we are experiencing. When we fail to recognize what is really making us hungry, we pursue the wrong stuff to "fill us up"! When God created hunger and thirst, he had in mind the "increasing of capacity". Hunger and thirst take us from an "empty" status toward a "full" or fuller status. These two motivators are then designed to increase our capacity for "more".

This is what makes these two motivators so dangerous - especially when we don't get them figured out very well and pursue the wrong kind of stuff to fill us up! As we well know, satisfaction is sometimes just beyond our reach. We may ask why God created us with emotional motivators that are just a bit outside of our reach in getting them fulfilled. Maybe it is to cause our capacity to be increased! Did you ever stop to think about it that way before? When we attempt to satisfy those emotional desires with something which will "be a close second" to what we really desire and need, it never increases our capacity - in fact, it diminishes it! Whatever doesn't drive us to increase will eventually cause us to shrink in our capacity! Anytime we "settle" for something outside of God's best for us, we are falling just short of the thing he has prepared specifically for us. We "settle" in life a lot - spiritually, emotionally, and physically. In relationships, in life-choices, and in investment of the things we value the most like time, talent and our treasures. It is this idea of "settling" which brings "second-best" into view. I had to get to a place where I was thoroughly disgusted with "second-best" in my life! In reaching that spot, God was able to take the desires of hunger and thirst to a new level. It is often just barely out of reach until we begin to resist the urge to satisfy our hunger and thirst with anything short of what God has in store for us.

Satisfying our hunger and thirst with anything less than what God intends causes us such emotional upheaval, does it not? Why do we still pursue these things? Maybe because we just haven't developed a "trust" in the purpose for our hunger and thirst. We don't "trust" the hunger and thirst to drive us toward the right stuff - so we settle for what we figure will be a good or suitable substitute. Anything less than God's best for us will always be a poor substitute - as hard as we try, nothing quite satisfies like the things he has prepared ahead of time for us. All he is waiting for in bringing those things into our lives is for our capacity to be increased a little. Instead of getting the "quick fix" the next time, maybe we'd do well to ask God to give us the capacity to handle what he has prepared for us! Just sayin!

Taken in

"Things start out as hopes and end up as habits." (Lillian Hellman) There are a lot of 'habits' we accumulate over the years, some of them better than others. The ones we really want to develop may be a little harder to develop, though. We developed the habit of brushing our teeth regularly - a fairly simple habit, easily adopted, but as a kiddo, we resisted it. Some of us resist the habit of reading our Bible - a fairly simple habit which could easily be adopted, but we resist it because it takes time, some of the stuff in there doesn't make sense, and we have lots of questions about the content we read. It seems to me this is the kind of habit we may actually need most in our lives - the reward being worth the effort it takes.

Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

There is nothing like the written Word of God to open one's eyes to the possibilities all around you. We may not always understand what we are reading, nor understand the reason some of the content is included (like those long geneologies), but every word has importance. All scripture is 'useful', but it must be put to 'use'! How many of us have a spare tire in our vehicle? I daresay we probably all do these days. How many times have you put it to use? If you are like me, it wasn't used in most of my vehicles, but it was there. Did it serve a purpose by being there? Yes, I had assurance I could use it to replace a flat tire if I had one. Just because I didn't use it doesn't mean it had an undesirable or meaningless purpose.

All scripture has a purpose - some we will understand right off, while others we will see in time. If we want to grow strong in our spiritual lives, we begin by taking in what God has provided. If we want to grow strong in our earthly relationships, we allow the Word of God to bring us together on common ground, helping us to grow stronger together. Truth is revealed, rebellion is exposed, and things we have no idea why we are doing them can be overcome. We don't just have a spare tire in the car and feel secure when we get a flat tire. We take it out of the tire well, undo the lug nuts of the flat one, replacing it with the spare. We don't just let the Word of God sit on a shelf - we take it off the shelf, dust it off, and open it up. Then we read it! As we take in the Word, we are taken in by it. Watch out - a habit is about to be formed! Just sayin!

Stone upon stone

God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home. (Ephesians 2:20-22)

Irrespective of how we got here. Some of us got here by searching for something of significance in our lives, while others got here at the end of a long rope, just about to hang themselves out to dry. Regardless of 'how' we come into the family of God, we are a family and a family needs a place to dwell. We dwell in the presence of God - each of us making up 'one stone' in this great building. I used to think I could stand alone, but one stone does not make a building!

Built by God - not by human hands or schemes. This is important for us to recognize because our pride would want to make us think we were the ones doing the building. We think we are the ones doing the changing, coming into conformity to the principles taught by God. The truth is the lessons that lead to change in our lives are taught by him, but the 'practical lab' portion of the teaching is just us finding out he intends to give us the power to live by those same teachings.

All of us built into it - not one of us who calls upon the name of Jesus is left out of the building process. We have a place - we belong specifically where he places us. We may want to be the cornerstone, or even the stone that everyone sees first, but each stone is equally as important. I think this is a good lesson for us to learn - none of us stands out as 'more important' or of greater value than another. We are all equal in God's house - the thing God does in us make us all equal.

God is quite at home in this temple - how about you? Are you comfortable in what God is building? Have you settled into the place he has made for you? Are you secure in your placement? If you are, you find all the other stones around you are wondrous stones - each fulfilling their role in this great building. There is no more competition or need for 'one-upmanship' in this family. No middle child syndrome here! He is the firstborn - no one usurps that position. We are one of many - too numerous to count. Each perfectly joins with the other. We don't 'fit' because a few chips get knocked off here and there - we fit as we are. Just sayin!

Gotta make a course change now

Some years ago, I saw this sign: God allows U-Turns. Profound statement, right? So many times, the roads we travel upon are marked with all kinds of restrictions - U-Turns being one of them. Isn't it good to know in God's grace, he allows U-Turns? Sometimes we don't pay as close attention to the things God tells us to focus on, getting ourselves down a road or two which don't "fit" the plan as well as we'd hoped. When we find ourselves traveling in the wrong direction, I wonder if we are bold enough to do a U-Turn? When the road is wide and no traffic seems to be coming, this seems a whole lot easier, does it not? But...get a little bit more traffic, take that road down to a two lane narrow passageway, with no shoulder or "wiggle room", and you might find a U-Turn a little more difficult. Why? Maneuvering room is limited! This is the way it is sometimes - we get ourselves on paths which allow very little maneuvering room! When we need to make a U-Turn, we find ourselves almost hesitant because the room needed is not always apparent to us.

You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. (Ephesians 4:20-24)

Why do we find ourselves requiring the U-Turn in the first place? Isn't it because we either missed something we intended to find in the first place, or we totally went the wrong way? Considering the two reasons for U-Turns, I guess we'd do well to avoid both - so why don't we? In the first instance, it is because we weren't paying close attention and something we were aiming for totally got missed along the way. In the second, we just made bad "turns" in life. Both are equally as frustrating - but the most frustrating part is how long it takes for us to find we missed our mark in the first place! Once we get that figured out, then we have to find the "appropriate" place in the road we are on where we figure we can make a "successful" U-Turn maneuver. Did you ever notice how hard those are when you are looking to make one? There just doesn't seem to be the right spot - so we find ourselves traveling just a little bit further out of our way because we need "maneuvering" room.

We can never assume that we are all paying close attention. We get to the destination, not because we paid close attention, but because God's grace "looped us around" to where we needed to be! We get good instructions, sometimes moment by moment, like from our little GPS units on the car. If we are at all distracted by the plethora of choices we have to choose from at certain intersections, it is easy to bear right, just not far enough right! We find ourselves going in the wrong direction because the directions were good, we just didn't follow them to the "t". We don't have any room for excuses. God makes a way for U-Turns, but it is quite clear in scripture he leaves no room for excuses when we need to make them. It is part of growing up to own up to our mistakes and to admit we have been going the wrong way or just plain not paying attention. It is also part of growing up to recognize the U-Turn doesn't really require all that much maneuvering room. Even in the tightest of spaces, it is possible. It may not be easy, but it is possible! This holds true when we need to make life changes which aren't easy. What we fail to recognize is what the sign says: God ALLOWS U-Turns. He has already made "provision" for the U-Turn! It is already "mapped out" for us - we just need to listen to his voice carefully as to when, where, and how to accomplish it!

God's grace provides the "maneuvering room". It also provides the "instruction" to help us through the turn. It is like he is out there directing the turns in our lives - hand signals carefully directing us into those tight and uncomfortable maneuvers which will get us back on track again. Conduct changes because there is a course change. Plain and simple. Conduct does not change because we stay on the wrong course, or completely ignore all the stops put in our path. In fact, conduct goes from bad to worse whenever we ignore the advice to make the U-Turn! A U-Turn is really a 180 degree turn. You head from where you are going into the completely opposite direction. This is the definition of repentance in scripture - a "180". To maneuver is to take the action to change direction. Therefore, a U-Turn is really a series of actions which change the direction of our lives. Repentance is often a series of actions which completely and radically change the direction of our choices. Considering this, maybe it is time we accept the wisdom of the words: God ALLOWS U-Turns. Just sayin!

Give of one's self

The most satisfying thing in life is to have been able to give a large part of one's self to others. (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin)

Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who lie to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don't get tired of doing what is good. don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters. (Galatians 6:8-10)

How satisfied are you with life right now? If you can answer that one with a 'pretty doggone satisfied', then you are likely liking life right now. If the answer is 'not so well', you are probably in the process of trying to make some changes to your life. Since we all go through seasons of making change in our life, it is likely we have hit this wall on occasion. We get tired of 'doing good', only to find our plans to 'do good' weren't appreciated, didn't accomplish what we hoped they would, or just weren't all well 'implemented'.

It is hard NOT getting tired when we 'do' and 'do', only to find all our 'doing' isn't making much headway. Truth be told - we want to do good and see great things happen, don't we? We don't want to wait for the results of continually doing good - we want immediate results. Things in the spiritual realm don't always happen quickly - they take time - time we seldom want to allow. It is easy to get discouraged, so this is where we each need to come alongside each others, building one another up.

Giving a 'large part' of oneself to another is quite a fulfilling thing, but even in giving of one's time, talents, and treasures to another, we can find there is not always 'instant' feelings of having 'done good'. We know what we have done is right, but we just don't get those 'warm fuzzies' from the experience. The instruction given is to keeping 'doing' - regardless of the feelings. Feelings always following obedience - not the other way around. Just sayin!

No expiration date

I don’t care about my own life. The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace. (Acts 20:24)

On occasion I am asked why I write this blog and I have to answer pretty much the way the Apostle Paul did in this passage. I want to tell people everywhere about the grace of God - in my life, available for theirs, and thriving in spite of all the evil around us. Do I always exhibit this grace in my life? No, I am far from perfect and don't always have the greatest of consistency in my walk. Do I desire my testimony of God's grace to be rock solid? You betcha! Do I know his grace is renewed each and every day? Most certainly - for me AND for you!

Now I am putting you in the care of God and the message about his grace. It is able to give you strength, and it will give you the blessings God has for all his holy people. (Acts 20:32) We all mess up from time to time - some of us more frequently than others. This is all we can do sometimes - putting each other in the care of God and trusting that the message of his grace will do what needs to be done. Does this mean we don't want to help someone out of their muddle? No, it means we know who can undo the muddle the best!

I came across this little thought today and wanted to share it with you: "My trust in God flows out of the experience of his loving me, day in and day out, whether the day is stormy or fair, whether I'm sick or in good health, whether I'm in a state of grace or disgrace. He comes to me where I live and loves me as I am." (Brennan Manning) If you don't hear the truth in this statement, read it again. Day in and day out - trust in God. Where you live - he loves you as you are. That may seem like an impossibility when we stand in the midst of our muddle and in such desperate need of his grace to wash us clean once again, but it is never truer than we recognize our need.

Grace isn't God loving us because of who we should be, but because of who we are. We are his creation - his beloved children. As such, he loves us into grace and then he takes us from grace to grace until we are filled to overflowing with that grace. Grace never 'expires' - it keeps on keeping on until all who need it have received it in abundance. Just sayin!

Did I see that before?

Back in the day when I took cruises, there was one man who will stick in mind because of the importance of what he did for all the passengers on board. You may think it was the Captain, since he steered us clear of all kinds of seas which would upset our stomach due to the waves, or kept us on course just by keeping us out of certain currents. The man was a meek, mild mannered individual stationed outside the doors of the buffet each meal. His words were the same: "Washy, washy! Happy, happy!" His mission: All passengers dining within would wash their hands prior to entering. Why? To ensure the journey of all traveling on the ship would be safe, enjoy their trip and avoid the exposure to unwanted food-borne diseases. Now, that is an important job, is it not?

God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. (Psalm 19:11-13)

Each day God stands in front of us simply saying: "Washy, Washy!" He knows the "dirt" we acquire as we go through our days - taking in this influence and the next without realizing the potential for damage they cause if allowed to take "hold" of us. He stands there to direct us to the hidden treasures he has prepared for us. The gentleman at the door of the buffet could not tell us where the hidden treasures were that meal, but he prepared us to dine. God prepares us and he brings us to the hidden treasures that await. Our part is to dine.

We get all confused with what to do next because we cannot sort things out quite as well as we'd like to think we can. God cleans the slate - giving us a fresh day to start. Then he keeps us from "stupid sins" we'd like to pick up along the way! Lest we think God doesn't know our folly, he is the one who created us with the ability to choose! He knows we will not always choose wisely, so he prepares a way for us to wash away the grime caused when we have not! This is what we call grace. God keeps us from totally "fouling" our lives for good - providing a means for our protection and our provision.

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. (vs. 7-9) The Word of God - pulls us together and makes us whole. His Word is the way to see clearly when circumstances befuddle our minds and cloud our thoughts. It opens us up to clarity quicker than any other source of "wisdom" or "advice". How? Because it is alive and breathing, sharper than any two-edged sword, knowing right were to get at the root of what is bothering us and causing us such turmoil.

His Word points out the right path to take much as a signpost does for the driver of an automobile. In this day and age of GPS to help us travel from one point to another, we find ourselves reliant upon technology instead of the good old foldable maps of days gone by. There was something to be said about studying that map though. The main thing I see with the map versus GPS is the ability to see where we have come from and where we are headed. It gives us perspective. We can clearly see the journey - marked out for us. His Word points out the places of joy along the way. The journey may be riddled with all kinds of difficult places, but interspersed in the journey will be places of joy and healing. God provides "physical" places of joy for us along the way - just as carefully as he prepares the spiritual!

His directions should not be burdensome for us. He may not take us the quickest route, but he takes us by the one that will produce the greatest opportunities for our "intake". His directions are never burdensome, my friends. They bring us to places we need to be and times we need to enjoy. As we close this morning, let us not skip over the insight of "chewing on God's Word all through the day". It is important to mull-over these words again and again, allowing them to sink in deeply, washing over us with freshness each time we do. God's Word never gets old. His signposts are often needed more than once in the journey. Just sayin!

Not behind - nor forward - but now

What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

I expect and hope that I will not fail Christ in anything but that I will have the courage now, as always, to show the greatness of Christ in my life here on earth, whether I live or die. To me the only important thing about living is Christ, and dying would be profit for me. (Philippians 1:20-21)

What lies within you if you are a Christ follower? Good things, indeed. How many of us really live with the knowledge that Christ is revealing his greatness through us? Most of the time we bemoan that we aren't living as we know we should be - focusing more on what lies behind and what lies in front of us. We are a bit weird that way, neglecting to live in the moment while we dwell on the past or get hyper-consumed by what is in our future. Christ asks us to settle down right here, where we are today, so he can reveal bits and pieces of himself to the world through our living.

Do you have the courage to live in the 'here and now'? Yes, I asked you if you possessed the courage because it can be tough to handle whatever it is that we are 'not dealing with' in the 'here and now'. If we are honest here, we will all likely admit there are things in our lives today that are a bit challenging. Words will need to be said that may be hard to hear. Chores will need to be accomplished that have been put off way to long, making day-dreaming impossible if they are to get done. Relationships that have been neglected for a bit too long will need some fence-mending. Do we possess the courage to face these challenges TODAY?

Christ in me - the hope of glory. That is what Paul was saying here - if we possess Christ within, putting our faith and trust in his ability, we are going to see his grace and power revealed. Grace to overcome the stuff we have been putting off for way too long - power to deal with the stuff that is harder than our own ability to deal with alone. Courage is required for the present - not just our future. What needs 'doing' today may not be what we planned. We may have to put aside our plans and embrace God's. When we do, we find that one step of faith - embracing his plans - helps us make it through grace-filled and powerfully. Just sayin!