Are you a pebble?

Rough diamonds may sometimes be mistaken for worthless pebbles. (Thomas Browne)

Many of us have dealt with or continue to deal with some manner of 'self-worth', feeling somehow that our 'worth' is really not all that great at times. It might be because we have been told that for so long that we just believe what we are told. I was watching a reality show about Alaska 'bush people' yesterday and what caught my attention was the repeated statement a young man made that basically said if a stupid guy like me can learn this stuff, anyone can. Why do you think he kept referring to himself as stupid or dumb? It is probably because somewhere down the line, he has heard it repeatedly and come to believe it as truth about himself. The 'worth' we have is really never determined by human opinion - it is a God determined fact!

But God’s mercy is great, and he loved us very much. Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life with Christ. You have been saved by God’s grace. And he raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavens. He did this for those in Christ Jesus so that for all future time he could show the very great riches of his grace by being kind to us in Christ Jesus. I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it. God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. (Ephesians 4:4-10)

I believe many have been overlooked throughout their lifetimes as 'worthless pebbles' - no one really seeing the beauty of the diamond just beneath the surface in their lives. Today, may God begin to reveal to you the intensity of the beauty he sees in you. We have been given new life in Christ Jesus - our worth has been declared as superior to all created things. Nothing pleases God more than for one of his children to rise up in full display of his goodness, grace, and strength. We may want to belief we are 'worthless', but God sees diamonds within those pebbles!

We should never allow another individual determine our worth. We each are uniquely made by the Creator and as such, we are a thing of beauty. Yes, we may be a little 'rough around the edges', but trust me on this one, when we follow Jesus long enough, those edges begin to be refined by his continual touch, until one day all anyone sees is a diamond. Just sayin!

In the past...

But you are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. At one time you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. In the past you had never received mercy, but now you have received God’s mercy. (I Peter 2:9-10)

A chosen people - chosen for a purpose. The purpose? To tell the world about the wonderful acts of God - especially his 'action' of redemption. The 'righting' of the world through the grace we find in Christ Jesus. Whether we are willing to admit it or not, we all live in a 'dark place' without Christ. We make decisions that are self-directed, and we don't always make wise ones. With Christ at the center of our lives, we are called to live lives that reflect the light that comes when his grace enters our lives. That 'telling' is our role - but even the empowerment to 'tell' is given by God himself.

Scripture does much to point out the 'before and after' of life with God in control vs. life without him in control. Numerous examples are given of the 'with and without' experience. Either you have entered into his mercy, or you have not. There is no middle ground on that matter. Notice that there is also this 'past' and 'present' condition of heart that is referenced. The moment we receive grace, there is a past. The more we invite Christ into the present, the past is put behind us.

We are called - chosen to live a life where Christ is enthroned in the very center of it. Christ cannot be on the 'fringes' of our lives. That isn't where he belongs. As long as we attempt to keep him at the 'fringes', we will never know fully what grace has done for us. We only experience the depth and breadth of those actions of grace when he is at the center of our lives. If we want to see real and lasting change within our lives, it begins with the invitation to come to him. Then it continues on with us allowing him to be the center of our thoughts. As our thoughts begin to be affected by grace, all the rest of the stuff we find to be a part of the 'past life' will begin to drop away. Just sayin!

Do our choices matter?

You, Lord, are my choice, and I will obey you. With all my heart I beg you to be kind to me, just as you have promised. I pay careful attention as you lead me, and I follow closely. As soon as you command, I do what you say. Evil people may set a trap, but I obey your Law. Your laws are so fair that I wake up and praise you in the middle of the night. I choose as my friends everyone who worships you and follows your teachings. Our Lord, your love is seen all over the world. Teach me your laws. (Psalm 119:57-64)

The concept of choice is all around us. With so many choices existing today, no wonder we have such a hard time deciding things on occasion. Nothing is harder than making selections when you have so many choices, even when we know exactly what we want. Isn't it good to know the choices in terms of our salvation and daily existence are clear - there is but ONE way to God and that is through his Son, Jesus. There is but ONE God we must obey. There is but ONE God who asks for our worship. Don't get me wrong - the world puts a whole lot of choices out there for us - but there is only ONE correct choice! All others are "look alike" choices, but they just aren't the real deal!

When we make God our first and ONLY choice, the natural outcome is the desire to obey what he asks of us. It may seem a little contrary to what comes naturally to us, and that is because it is contrary to our tendency to look for the "variety" in choices we have all around us. God's way is clearly marked out, and it is a pretty defined way - one way in, one way to stay on course, one way to our destination - eternity spent in his presence. The idea of obedience is more than just doing what you are asked, though. It is doing what you know to be right - even when no one is asking or watching!

Obedience begins in being careful to direct our attention away from all which distracts us and maintaining our focus. Sometimes we need to rely upon "running the list" in our minds a little in order to focus on the stuff God wants us to keep in the forefront of our minds. What is in the forefront is often what we give focus to - so figuring out how to keep what he wants there and limiting the input he doesn't is paramount to obedience. Obedience is aided by those we select as companions in our journey. When we choose friends wisely, the journey is made easier. Why? The choices also concern them - they want to make the right choices, as well. We act as "reminders" to each other as to the determination to make the right choices. Maybe this is why so many groups exist to help people stay "focused" on their goals such as losing weight as a member of Weight Watchers, staying sober as a part of an AA group, or even staying physically fit by being part of a spinning class.

What do we choose to get into our minds? God's plan is for us to be rightly related to him first, rightly related to others second, and then to allow the Word to get into us so we know how to live "right" within our relationships. You will always hear me commenting about the importance of getting the Word of God into our lives. It is the ONE thing which will help us maintain focus and be there when we are faced with choices to veer off-course. It is the ONE thing which can settle the troubled mind. It is the ONE thing which can guide our decision-making when so many choices exist for us in this world today. Obedience is a matter of choice. Choice is a matter of clarity - knowing our focus. Have the right focus - make the right choices. Just sayin!

A new standard

 But the wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest. People who work for peace in a peaceful way plant a good crop of right-living. (James 3:17-18)

What 'crop' are you planting today? Are you planting actions that reveal a heart 'working for peace'? In today's world, we can see all manner of tensions and upsets. We need godly individuals who will rise up, live peaceable lives, being godly examples that reveal how God's presence in our lives helps us live in peace and with peace. We cannot live 'in' peace with each other until we are 'at peace' with God. 

God's presence in our lives brings a new standard for living, but it is far from just living a 'religious life'. As we begin to be affected by the peace of God within, we begin to operate in the realm of his wisdom and purpose. That 'change in operating standards' is what some might call 'religion', but it is really a change of leadership in our lives. That change of leadership brings with it an influx of the wisdom of God that affects us in many ways.

His wisdom is pure - bringing a change in our inner man that moves from leaning toward crass and harsh interactions with each other to considerate and kind actions. Where there is a purity in thoughts, actions are bound to change for the best. Peaceful and gentle actions are an outflow of a changed heart. Mind, will, and emotions all being affected deeply by his grace-filled presence within.

When the 'within' is right, the 'without' is better! The actions we reveal toward others are going to exemplify the grace of God that has affected us on the inside. The more we allow his wisdom to point out areas where there is any impurity, a lack of his peace, or any harshness in our character, the more we will begin to live 'at peace' with others. Why? His peace becomes our new standard for living - with ourselves and with others. Just sayin!

Do I really want that?

It’s better to enjoy what we have than to always want something else, because that makes no more sense than chasing the wind. (Ecclesiastes 6:9)

I enjoy a really good meal, quality time with a close friend, and hugs from my grandsons. I also enjoy rainy days, a good book, and a happy movie. You could probably make a list of things you enjoy, like a sporty car able to zip on down the road with wind blowing wistfully through your hair, or perhaps a long walk on the beach at sunset. Some of what we enjoy is because of where we are or what we possess - the car or beach make the occasion. For others, it is about who we are with that gives us the greatest enjoyment factor. The company I keep makes all the difference in how much I enjoy the moment! I am "single again" - meaning I was married but have been without a spouse since the divorce. These years have done more to "cement" my relationship with Jesus and brought me much enjoyment in the process! I am not advocating divorce, but if you find yourself in the situation of being "alone again" in this world, you can choose to bemoan the fact or you can allow God to turn your moaning into dancing!

Always wanting something else is a dangerous habit we sometimes fall into in this life. I know I run into this in my own life as it applies to food! I have fruit, veggies, and the like in the refrigerator, but when I get the munchies in the evening hours, I want "something else"! You know what I am talking about, don't you? We have hamburger in the freezer, but want steak. We drive a Ford, but want a Ferrari. We live in a comfortable house, but we want a mansion of sorts. What we don't recognize is what Solomon was trying to reveal to us in the Book of Ecclesiastes: Life is filled with choices - choose wisely and you will enjoy life much more than if you make the choices of a fool!

I Timothy 6:6 reminds us "Godliness with contentment is great gain". Nothing is farther from the truth than the idea that God wants us poor or "impoverished" in any manner. In fact, he wants us to know all he has is at our disposal - for we are his kids. What Paul was telling Timothy was that when you enter into this relationship with Jesus (what some call religion, but I call relationship), you find yourself learning true contentment. The things which once held such an appeal to you begin to take on lesser importance - the shiny sports car is fun to drive, but it isn't all we live for anymore.

Learning to enjoy what we have - not what we could have, should have had, might someday have - but enjoying what we have. Why is it we come into adulthood so conflicted with this lack of contentment? Maybe it is because we have this little thing called "eyes" - what the eyes see long enough, the heart somehow comes to want! In time, we learn that some things (like God's Word) can be taken in ad infinitum, while things like some of the reality shows on TV we are better off not to take in at all! Learning to control what comes in the "eye gate" goes a long way in determining how content we will be in this lifetime! Just sayin!

Do you need more trust?

 Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are his wisdom and knowledge and riches! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his methods! For who among us can know the mind of the Lord? Who knows enough to be his counselor and guide? And who could ever offer to the Lord enough to induce him to act? For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory. To him be glory evermore. (Romans 11:33-36)

When was the last time you stopped to consider the awesomeness of God's protection and intensely focused care over your lives? If it has been a while, today could be a great day to just 'stop' and 'ponder'. There is nothing we do that 'induces' him to act - there is nothing we do to 'keep things in motion' within our lives. All that exists within our lives is the direct result of his overwhelming love and care for us.

We partake of his wisdom - through the study of his Word and the excellence of solid biblical teaching. We enter into the knowledge of God as we apply the Word and take each step of obedience. We are blessed to experience the riches of God -beginning with grace and continuing on with each physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational blessing we enjoy. We worship him for is goodness, celebrate him for his care over us, and exalt him for the many blessings we have received. 

Have you ever tried to 'induce' God to act on your behalf? Some might refer to this as 'bargaining' with him. We get a frightful bit of news, and we immediately tell God if he intervenes, we will do this or that. God isn't 'bargained' into blessing our lives. He asks us to bring our concerns, but he never asks for us to 'bargain' our way to the answer we desire. In fact, sometimes the answer we 'desire' isn't that answer we so desperately need to receive.

Everything draws breath from him. All exists because of him. If we truly believe this, why do we insist on this 'bargaining' relationship with him? Why do we insist there must be 'more' we need to do in order to receive his blessing? God has done it all in Christ. Perhaps what we need more of in our lives is trust. Just sayin!

Wound Up?

I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. (Romans 7:24-25)

Many of us live 'lives of contradiction' - wanting to make right choices, but finding ourselves at the mercy of who knows what making all the wrong ones. If there is one thing I know it is this - the harder we 'try' to live right, the more we find ourselves decisions that are not always right. Why? This walk with Christ isn't meant to be us 'trying' - it is meant to be him empowering us through his Spirit and his Word to make the right decisions. 

If we are constantly making wrong moves, does that mean we haven't really invited Christ into our lives? No, it just means we haven't stopped trying to be the ones to make our lives line up with what scripture teaches. We are still holding onto control - 'trying' is not the same as 'trusting'. The good news is that we are guided into making the right choices the more we 'settle into' this new life with Christ. The more we discover how he speaks to us and what he wants us to do, the more we find our desires changing. Changed desires make it a whole lot easier to change our actions.

I stopped asking God to help me do things right a long time ago. Instead, I ask his to make my desires different. It is like when I attempt to change the way I am eating from a not very healthy lifestyle to a healthier one. At first, I desire all the wrong stuff, but as I rid my house of the wrong stuff, my desires change little by little. When I made the choice to 'be healthier', I needed to make a shift in the way I bought groceries. One action led to another, until I eventually began to consistently make wiser choices. The same is true in our spiritual, emotional, and relational struggles - the actions change little by little.

I think we get ourselves all wound up when we don't see change coming quickly into our lives. We want to pray once, seek answers once, and then see immediate change. The truth of the matter is that spiritual change (the deeper inner struggles we all have with who will be in control in our lives) come slowly. As one principle is learned, we begin to put it into practice in our lives, and that leads to another principle (truth) being learned. No builder erects a building in one fell swoop. It takes planning, preparation, and consistent 'steps'. The same is true in our spiritual lives - plan to live right, prepare to live right, and then allow God to help you take the consistent steps toward right choices. Little by little, line upon line, precept upon precept. That's a biblical thing, you know! Just sayin!

Inner Rest

 If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, I’ll go to sleep each night trusting in you. Point out the road I must travel; I’m all ears, all eyes before you. Save me from my enemies, God—you’re my only hope! Teach me how to live to please you, because you’re my God. Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland. (Psalm 143:8-10)

The sound of God's voice - do you know what that is? Do you recognize his still small voice? When we learn to recognize God's voice, there is a certain sense of peace that settles into our hearts. We begin to 'operate' on a different level because we know his guidance will establish our path. All God asks of each of us is that we be 'all ears' when it comes to his voice, and 'closed ears' when it comes to listening to the voice of temptation or evil. 

God's greatest delight is for us to desire to live in a manner that pleases him - allowing him to help us through difficult moments when we might not even recognize that we are being tempted to say or do something that wouldn't bring him honor. In turn, it doesn't bring us any honor, either. The simplest prayer for us to lift to his ears is the one that asks him to teach us how to live well - it can also be the hardest one to utter.

If we begin to pray that prayer on a regular basis, imagine what God could do in our lives. We might just see doors that have been tightly shut to us open up and unseen pathways become clear. There is just something about God being invited to show us where to step, how to take those steps, and when we should move forward that delights his heart. If we struggle with finding true 'rest' in our lives, it could be that we haven't really allowed God to become our 'resting place'. 

Trust is established where there is open and honest communication. If we lack trust in God, perhaps it can begin to be established by us opening up our hearts, sharing our inner struggles, and then just listening. As we await his guidance, we might just begin to feel the release that leads to that 'inner rest'. Just sayin!

Creator - Creation

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. (Psalm 139:13-14)

How we come to realize the complexity of our body's structures and systems differs for everyone. Some may discover the uniqueness of their body, how it works, and why each 'part' is so important for the other parts because of illness, while others just discover it through the normal aging process. Bones that moved silently at one time are now creaky and crackle like a bowl of rice cereal. Muscles that once existed on the top of your arms are now like bat wings, jiggling about as you motion with your arms. A heart that once beat without notice may now pound out of your chest with each stair you climb. God made all the 'parts', but the most important part of our body is really our spirit - for it is the place he communes with us.

His workmanship is indeed marvelous - nothing compares to the majesty he puts on display in each and every one of us - each uniquely created to resemble him. The 'inner parts' of mankind are meant to commune with him - in prayer, meditative thought, and even in times of just enjoying the splendor of all he has created around us. Our psalmist opens this psalm with the reminder that God knows everything about us - helping us to know when to take action, and when to be still before him. When we fail to recognize the Creator, we may just be failing to fully appreciate the majesty of his creation.

"How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!" (v. 17-18) God doesn't sleep when we sleep, zone out when we zone out - he stays ever vigilant, always alert to our every need, and in tune with our every heartbeat. We are continually a matter of his 'undivided' attention. I don't have to understand that God is all-knowing and ever-present to know fully that he cares for my every need. I just have to trust the Creator that he will ALWAYS take care of the creation! I may not always like the way my body responds, but I know my body is continually in his care. Our lives are always in his focus, and we will never 'do life' alone. Just sayin!

A true and straight path

God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you. So trust the Lord always, because in the Lord you have a place of safety forever. Honesty is the path good people follow. They follow the path that is straight and true. And God, you make that way smooth and easy to follow. At night my soul longs to be with you, and the spirit in me wants to be with you at the dawn of every new day. (Isaiah 26:3-4, 7, 9)

Some of us might equate dependence to some 'bad' way of living in which we cannot do or think anything on our own. Dependence requires more thought and determination than you might first imagine. What some consider to be dependence is nothing more than passive complacency and apathy. What God considers to be dependence is actually a place of active submission and obedience. Obedience requires forethought and continuous thought - passive complacency does not. Obedience requires trust and truth - passive complacency is satisfied with the status quo or the easiest route possible. This life of truly trusting God and living in total dependence upon him is something which requires active thought, leading to active participation, and ending in active renewal. The key to dependence is then action, not passivity.

To those who are actively choosing to trust in him instead of their own strength or self-performance, God provides true peace. Dependence really starts at the point of trust. Trusting God's truth revealed in his Word rather than our own thoughts about matters is something we learn over the course of our time walking with Jesus. Trusting God's provision for our salvation as the sole means by which we are saved and placed in "right standing" with him requires us to embrace truth. Trusting God to give us the direction we need when we are walking in unfamiliar territory in this journey begins in embracing the truth he reveals in the wise places we seek his truth. If you don't see the pattern here, let me point it out: It all begins and ends with TRUTH. Depending upon God begins and ends with TRUTH. God is TRUTH - therefore, all we receive from him is truth. All we stand upon is truth. All we rely upon is truth.

Without truth, all other foundations are simply unreliable and capable of crumbling at some point. Trust is "placed" - we choose to rely upon another. Trust is not forced upon us - it is something we make a conscious decision to give. When we walk across a shaky structure, we choose to believe it will support our weight despite its shakiness. We are making a conscious decision to move from one side to the other, depending upon (relying upon) this structure to get us there. It matters not that it appears less than reliable, because we are choosing to place our trust in it. This is where many of us get into a place of difficulty in our daily walk - we are choosing to place our trust in things, people, and circumstances which are at best a little "shaky" and probably not entirely trustworthy.

If we recognized the truth before we took the first step of depending upon all that is 'shaky' in our lives, we probably wouldn't venture out! There is unnecessary danger when we come to believe what we see rather than relying upon what we know to be consistently true. God's Word is consistently true - to rely upon anything which gets added to it or taken away from it is like whitewashing a lie. It appears to be reliable, but it will fall apart under careful scrutiny! This is why I so consistently remind us of the importance of getting to know God's Word for ourselves - not just relying upon what another man or woman tells us the Word says. 

A true and straight path is the result of knowing and embracing truth. If we want our path to be well-guided, secure, and filled with God's peace which passes all understanding, we need to allow that path to be guided by his truth. This means we submit our decisions to his truth - what does the Word of God have to say about what we are about to do? If we don't know, we may be going out on some pretty shaky ground! When the Word doesn't come right out and make it "plain" as to what we should do (as can be the case with some of the things we might encounter in this life like whether we buy and iPad or a Windows tablet), we just need to trust the consistency of God's principles taught throughout. Our decisions should not violate God's principles of truth. 

Anytime we confuse truth with a lie, our path gets a little rocky. Obedience is burdensome to those who are expecting truth to be easy stuff! Truth is learned - believed in our minds, confirmed in our hearts, trusted in our emotions. Truth is not a "thing" - it is a person - Christ Jesus! As long as we understand this, we will be more open to examining all "truth" in light of what he says, does, and is. We rely upon a whole lot of things in this life - some out of our control, others quite easily under our control. God expects that we will take both and place them under his control. In turn, we are "trusting" him to guide us down straight and smooth paths which are outlined by him. Nothing makes dependence easy - but learning to trust God begins in the moments of submitting our thoughts, actions, and emotions to his careful oversight. Dependence is active obedience. All our actions should be leaning heavily upon truth. Just sayin!

Who's Fighting for Me?

It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God’s willing servant, but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin. So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free. (Romans 7:21-25)

A fact of life...that I want to do what is right...but I choose what is wrong. Sound like anybody else's life story? There is a constant struggle of the 'will', isn't there? We find ourselves pulled this way and that, all the while wanting to go just one way - the right way. We actually hear this still small voice within telling us to do right, but then we listen to the louder voice within (our sinful nature) telling us to do something that will 'please' our sinful nature. The struggle is real, and it is constant for some, infrequent for others.

The multitude of times we have given into our sinful nature is probably too innumerable for any of us to list, but the truth of the matter is that we are likely choosing to respond to our sinful nature less and less the longer we are serving Jesus. How does that happen? There is a subtle, but consistent shift in our focus. We begin to see how much our sinful nature is pulling us 'off-center' in life and we focus more on what will keep us 'on-center'. How? Through prayer, time in the Word, good teaching, and solid relationships that build in accountability.

The one who struggles with these conflicting desires really needs to remember that our freedom isn't a 'wish' or a 'dream' - it is an accomplished fact through Christ Jesus. We are 'set free', not by our own willpower, but by the 'will of God' resident within us in Christ Jesus. That still small voice that is telling us to do 'right' isn't just a whim. It is the very voice of his Spirit within - helping us to choose the things that will honor him, in turn bringing honor to our lives. 

Freedom isn't fought for in our own strength or self-effort. It is accomplished in Christ Jesus, but we need to 'enforce' that freedom in our lives. When those taunting and 'pulling' voices want us to go one way, and we clearly hear it is the other way we are to choose, we need to rise up in the power of Christ to resist. That may look a little like us taking a moment to pray because prayer drives back the forces of wickedness. That may take on the form of us recounting a scripture we have read earlier in the day because the Word of God causes the devil to flee. Remember, we are given the tools to overcome sin's pull, we just need to use them when the struggle gets real! Just sayin!

Positive Change

May God who gives patience, steadiness, and encouragement help you to live in complete harmony with each other—each with the attitude of Christ toward the other. And then all of us can praise the Lord together with one voice, giving glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-6)

Harmony is not achieved by our own merits, for no set of humans actually 'live in harmony' with another set of humans without some form of conflict from time to time. As long as atoms keep crashing together, there will be some form of conflict, BUT...God can bring patience where conflict seems to abound, steadiness where the foundation has begun to crumble, and tremendous encouragement to keep moving toward agreement and peace. 

How is complete harmony ever going to happen? Those who have embraced Christ as their Lord and Savior will be at the forefront of peaceful actions. They will bring a steadfastness into the most difficult of circumstances - a peace and assurance that stands when all else is crumbling in around them. What will this peace and assurance serve to do when chaos abounds? It brings encouragement that there is a way out of the hardness of the moment.

Where does harmony begin? It begins within our own heart first, then it begins to affect those around us. Are you are harmony with God? What does a heart in harmony with God look like? If you are making choices that are in accord with the truths he lays out in scripture, you are on the right path. If you have a desire to see his will done more than your own, you are on the right course. In other words, our actions begin to reflect less of a 'me, me, me' attitude and more of a 'whatever your will is, Lord' purpose.

Some would believe harmony is the absence of chaos entirely, but we grow best within a certain amount of chaos. Harmony is merely a 'congruence' of the parts - not that all parts are the same, but that they 'fit' and 'work' together. Harmony is going to be the place where we see 'conflict' and 'chaos' leading us onward to what is true and lasting positive change. The challenge is there, but we must not bow to the desire to let it defeat God's desire to see patience, steadiness, and encouragement developed within our hearts. Just sayin!

Just sayin...

When I felt my feet slipping, you came with your love and kept me steady. And when I was burdened with worries, you comforted me and made me feel secure. (Psalm 94:18-19)

On ice, the small steps you have to take to avoid having your feet go out from under you, or the slower speeds you must drive in order to avoid a spin-out are "precautionary measures" you PERSONALLY take to keep yourself from loss or injury. There are clearly times when all you can do personally is just not enough to keep you upright and on course, though. Your reliance upon another to be there to catch you when you begin to slip, or the street sanding being ever vigilant is something outside of yourself you are hoping will keep you in a position of safety. We use both internal and external sources to aid in keeping us safe. What we may fail to recognize is the two most important "internal and external" sources of safety at our disposal - the presence and power of God. God expects us to have a certain amount of "precautionary measures" in place in our spiritual, emotional, and intellectual lives, but when our defenses are less than ideal in any of these areas, he is at the ready to keep us from harm.

Have you ever noticed that you don't just "slip" - you somehow "know" you are slipping, but you may not be cognizant of the fact you need to catch yourself before you do! God's ability to keep us steady when we begin to feel our "standing" slipping away is unparalleled. What is it God uses to "steady us" in our walk? Nothing less than his love! If we can just get a picture of this, we may face our "slips" a little differently - perhaps not as though they were the biggest blundering we could have done us having to find some way to "get back up" all on our own. It is his love which comes to our rescue - his unconditional, "I will ALWAYS love you", never late love. God comes with his love - it is this love which keeps us steady. Most of us long for love of this kind while we are here on this earth but forget how much we already have this love! We just need to be embraced fully by it and then rest secure in it.

Being burdened with something we weren't meant to carry on our own is one of the places we can 'slip' very easily. The issue is not that we "can" carry these things, but that we weren't designed to carry them "alone". I "can" carry heavy bags of cement - but I am no longer going to do it. Why? I value my knees and my back! I will ask for help if there is a project involving me needing cement to be mixed around my home. I "can" carry lots and lots of stress, with multiple challenging issues pressing in around me - but I choose to share the load with others. Why? I value my sanity! What we value will begin to get our attention. If we come to value the "load bearing shift" God asks of us, we will begin to give this some attention in our lives. God helps us deal with the difference between "I can" and "I choose" when it comes to the burdens of worries in our lives. We "can" determine to bear up under their load. We "choose" to allow him to carry them on our behalf. 

We might not want to let go at first, but he helps us recognize the "efficiency" of allowing the one who knows the end from the beginning to bear the load which will ultimately trip us up if we choose to say, "I can do this on my own". You are not in this alone, for all of us have to come to the place of laying down our "I can" and picking up our "I choose" moments. Even those "I choose" moments are made possible because God comes to us with his comfort and his ability to soothe our feelings of guilt we might encounter by not carrying these burdens all by ourselves. Everything we need to let go is at our disposal - all it takes is us opening up our hands and releasing what we have been holding onto in our frustration, pride, and fear! Most of us need more of God's comfort and care than we openly choose to admit, but when we finally take the first step of admitting this to ourselves, heaven's gates are opened on our behalf. This is where God can connect his resources with our need - his love with our slips, his comfort with our burdens, and his treasured peace with our "feelings" of guilt, anxiety, and fear. Just sayin!

Beyond Words

So there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit—and this power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death. We aren’t saved from sin’s grasp by knowing the commandments of God because we can’t and don’t keep them, but God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours—except that ours are sinful—and destroyed sin’s control over us by giving himself as a sacrifice for our sins. So now we can obey God’s laws if we follow after the Holy Spirit and no longer obey the old evil nature within us. (Romans 8:1-4)

Obedience is never by our own effort, but we are told to 'follow after' certain things. There are things we need to leave alone, while there are others we need to fully engage in. What do we 'leave alone'? Most will say we leave behind things like smoking, chewing, running with those that do, but it is more than just giving up 'bad habits'. We also need to leave alone those tendencies we have to over-indulge the human desires we might have. We are to leave alone the constant fear of the unknown, our mistrust of others or God, and things like following our own lustful thoughts. What are we to engage in? Those things the Holy Spirit leads us into, such as loving one another, looking out for the needs of another, and listening with an open heart.

Obedience begins with belonging - we move into relationship with Jesus. We belong to a new family. It moves on when we realize we have been given a new power to live by - not our own self-will, but the resurrection power of Christ within each of us. We grow in obedience, not just by 'keeping commandments', but by coming into an understanding of the purpose of those commandments and then following the leading of the Holy Spirit to 'keep them'. Obedience is never self-effort - it involves following. What is one key characteristic of a follower? Submission. That is a hard word for some, because they see it as being under the thumb of someone else, always doing whatever they desire and never getting to do what one might desire themselves.

Submission in a spiritual sense if not 'obligatory', or burdensome, for that matter. It is liberating in every sense of the word because we are no longer under the control of a task-master that entices us to do what we know is wrong. We are actually willingly placing our faith (trust) in someone who doesn't leave us feeling 'pressured' to do something, but rather free to enter into the things that will actually liberate our lives. It may be hard to understand that at first, but following Jesus isn't a burden, it is a privilege. The 'control' shifts from us to him. The liberty that comes when the control is shifted is beyond words. Just sayin!

The cost of grace

But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him, on him. (Isaiah 53:4-6)

As my pastor read this passage from the NIV yesterday, I was reading along in The Message translation and these words just popped out with such meaning. Read them a couple of times, if you will, and see if God doesn't just speak a bit louder to you about the tremendous gift of grace he has given each of us through the finished work of his Son, Jesus. A couple of things really spoke to me:

- It was OUR pains he CARRIED. If the cross wasn't heavy enough, he carried another load to the cross - our pain. All the things which 'disfigure' our lives - more than crooked bones, cancers, and diseases galore - EVERYTHING that 'disfigures' our lives was upon his shoulders. Everything that defiles our lives was taken to the cross. However short or long that journey was for Christ, he bore not only the weight of the timber cross, but the burden of our disfigurement.

- We might have thought we were the ones being punished for our sins, but all that defiled us was put upon him. He bore the TOTAL punishment. Not just physically, but emotionally, and I daresay spiritually, as well. Remember, there was that moment in time when he prayed and it was as though all of heaven was 'closed' to him. He felt alone, isolated, and the pressures of all that 'punishment' was fully upon him. 

- All of us have done our own thing, gone our own way. No matter how good we think we might have been, nothing we have done will ever do what has been done for us already in the work of the cross. EVERYTHING we have done (even those unrealized sins) were placed fully upon him. Stripped, beaten, hurting beyond measure, he bore those things without complaint or anger. Did he want to be out from under the burden? It may come as a surprise to you, but when he asked his heavenly Father if there was any other way, he was maybe facing a bit of fear over what would come next for him. Even our fears were part of his walk to the cross.

We might not realize perfect healing in our physical bodies until we reach heaven's gates, but trust me on this one - we HAVE healing. We may not realize the depth or breadth of our need for a Savior - our 'sin' may not seem that big. We ALL needed that finished work - we ALL can say we deserve way more punishment that we do grace. Grace is a gift, but that gift had a steep price! Just sayin!

Open to Discover

 A fool thinks he needs no advice, but a wise man listens to others. (Proverbs 12:15)

Are you a listener? Do you really 'mull-over' advice when you receive it? Or are you someone who acts impulsively? I have been both, but I find my life is a bit less complicated, with a whole lot less 'mop-up moments' when I listen then act! Some treat God's Word as merely advice, not really giving it the respect it deserves. A wise man will listen to others but will always take the advice received and compare it to the principles taught in the Word. Why? Man's advice may not always 'hit the mark' - we need to ensure that it aligns with God's truth.

A fool thinks he has it all figured out, while the wise man will quickly acknowledge it would be foolhardy to just trudge ahead without God's wisdom. Reckless, impetuous, and rash decisions will certainly bring us much woe. Wouldn't it be better to avoid all that heartache and chaotic mess? If we are to act wisely, we need the tools wise men use. What are the tools I often speak about? The Word of God, the confirmation of the presence of the Holy Spirit within, and the wise counsel of others. They all go hand-in-hand. You cannot separate one from the other. I have learned to ask questions such as, "Will God be dishonored by this action?" or "Will this violate my conscience?" Always consider your actions in light of what God says and what your own conscience is warning you against - you might just be duped into doing something contrary to one or the other if you are 'foolhardy' in your planning.

It took me a while to learn to 'listen' to the Word of God. After all, I was reading it silently, so 'listening' wasn't really one of my sensory responses. The type of listening God requires is for the heart to be so 'in tune' with what he is saying that we are prompted to act, convicted because of our actions, or realize the choice we are about to make is likely not the best one. We don't listen to our hearts alone because they are a bit fickle and self-centered. We allow God to 'speak into' our hearts through time in the Word and then we store those truths up for the moments when we need them down the road. Decisions will be required, but we will have 'stored up' the knowledge of how to respond by taking in his Word little by little each day.

There is no greater thing we can do than to explore the Word of God, embracing what we discover there. We may not always know how or when we will use the truth contained within, but we can be assured of this - every example set out, all the truths revealed within, and each 'exposure' of God's heart is a valuable asset. We only need to be open to discover it - he does the rest. Just sayin!

Let's Serve

Christ encourages you, and his love comforts you. God’s Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others. (Philippians 2:1) 

Most of us love to receive notice for the hard work we are doing - even if it is not "out loud", we want someone to actually recognize our accomplishments. I enjoy seeing someone take the work I have done and put it into use in their own particular situation. It gives me pleasure to see the work utilized. In our Christian walk, we want to be recognized, have our work serve some purpose, and know what we have done really makes a difference. We don't "do good deeds" simply because we desire the accolades, but we are "serving God" in our deeds, knowing he will receive the ultimate praise in the end.

In our daily walk, we receive some accolades from Jesus, and we give them right back. It is like he encourages us by giving us a high five or giving us a pat on the shoulder, as though we have done our job well. It may not be a "physical" thing, but when we have connected well with the purposes of God for our lives that day, we know at the end of the day the deep satisfaction of having "served well". This gives us encouragement for the new day, doesn't it? I think God's kids thrive in a world of encouragement - if not outwardly, at least internally! We need to know what we are doing matters - truly eternally.

Until three things are in alignment within our lives, we will not be serving as we should. Our service will be a little too self-centered or lacking in the sincerity required. These three things act as a balancing effect on the actions of our service. They are Christ's encouragement, his love, and the presence of his Spirit within. Encouragement is really this thing most of us associate with courage - the confidence to do something because we know the help of another who comes alongside. Confidence is "bolstered" when the words and actions of encouragement are spoken deep within the places of our spirit where we commune with God. Encouragement stimulates us within, allowing us to know our actions are approved - they are "on track" with what God wants for his kids.

We won't always do things "right" every time, will we? Sometimes we miss the mark no matter how hard we were trying. We need the comfort of knowing his grace transcends our "misses". Each and every time I miss the mark, I need reassurance I can get up, take the steps forward I need to take, and find the right way in it all. His love does this not only for me, but for you, as well. All manner of service is really just a conglomeration of various individuals putting their skills and talents into use - but when they are done "individually" without an over-arching purpose, they are merely nice talents on display. Put them together under the direction of the Spirit of God, innervating us within to move in the same direction (toward the same mark), and we have a symphony of talents. Unity is the force by which God's church becomes a beacon of hope to the lost and dying.

In our service, where there is encouragement and love, there will be unity. They go hand-in-hand. We cannot serve without encouragement. We will not continue to serve if there is no comfort when it seems like our service has not gone well. We will live lonely lives until we are united in one purpose. Over and above all our service is this one thought of serving not only God, but others in the grace and love of Christ - so they may be encouraged, comforted, and drawn into the unity Christ desires of his kids. Just sayin!

Stable Homes and Cities

If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. (Psalm 127:1-2)

Just a couple of thoughts today as we break down this passage a bit - God must be central in all we set out to accomplish and he must be central in all our relationships. We can 'build and build', all the while not really building of any long-term value. I was able to get some free pallets a while back and decided to break them down into usable pieces that I could build some raised gardens with. They lasted about four years before decay began to make them no longer useful. I had to replace all that hard work with block beds because of the decay. They looked good for a while, but as time went on, the wood didn't hold up to the elements. 

There are times when we 'build and build' in our relationships, thinking what we are 'building' is strong and stable, only to find they aren't as 'stable' as we had hoped. There are things we do to feel secure and 'whole' in our homes, but in the long run they don't really make us any more secure or 'whole' than we were before we put them there. That video doorbell won't stop someone from breaking in, but it could deter a porch pirate. That gun in the safe isn't going to stop a thief, but you may feel a bit more secure knowing it is there. Relationships must be built on solid ground if they are to mature and stand the test of time. Homes and cities are only as 'secure' and 'stable' as the relationships maintained within those walls!

So, how do we build relationships that will stand the tests that come their way? I think we can see plainly that if God isn't at the center of these relationships, all the building is really with 'inferior materials'. Just as the beds made from wood began to decay with the elements, the relationship without Christ at the center will also face 'decay' and 'pressure' from the elements of life that challenge its stability. We might think it has to be that we grow with God 'together', but all growth begins individually, and that somehow 'spills over' into the type of growth that binds us together. We might want to focus on the other person in the relationship, thinking they are to 'blame' for the instability in the home or city, but it could just be that 'stability' begins with us! Just sayin!

The memory needs to go

 If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshiped. (Psalm 130:3-4)

I am more than grateful that God is in this 'habit' of forgiving, how about you? It is more than a 'habit' for God, though. It is part of his internal character - he loves so deeply and without compromise - it is like forgiveness is in his DNA. I am a record-keeper - I like to know what is happening, when, and where. I used to spend a great deal of time 'calendaring', recording, and taking tons of notes. Since I have retired, it is a bit different, but when one is a 'recordkeeper', the chances of something being missed or forgotten are far less likely than when one is not. Scripture doesn't say God doesn't notice, or that he forgets our wrongdoings - it says he doesn't keep a record! 

If God kept 'records' on you and me, what might we find recorded there? From a personal perspective I can recount numerous times I stretched the truth, didn't adhere to the set-out rules, or engaged in things I knew were completely outside of God's will for me. We all have our 'record' of wrongdoings that our minds like to hold onto, even way beyond the time they have been confessed and God's grace has thoroughly covered them! Our brains are 'recordkeepers' and that means we can recall things whenever we are feeling a bit down about how we are behaving right now. We begin to recount the number of times we have done something pretty similar in the past and how miserable we begin to feel as a result of remembering our woes.

God isn't into remembering our wrongdoings - he is focused on our present circumstances and how we will respond to his grace as it is applied to the present set of 'missteps'. Will we embrace his grace, turn away from the path we have taken that seems to be drawing us into all manner of wrongdoing at the moment, and set our focus squarely on what he tells us to do? It may take us a longer time to let go of the 'memory' of our wrongdoing, but God wants us to get to the place we 'remember no more' the things we have done wrong and focus squarely on the things he is helping us do 'right' in our lives as a result of having confessed and turned away from those 'wrong' actions. When we begin to focus on the 'right' rather than the memory of the wrong, we are going to begin to celebrate his grace a lot more in our lives. Just sayin!

So that's what you are planning!

Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always. (Romans 12:12)

How many times are we less than delighted with the plans we see being laid out before us? We might be a little 'okay' with them, but in the long run, they aren't what we really 'wanted', so we end up going along with them, but not whole-heartedly. God isn't always going to lay out plans we are going to jump with joy about. Some of the stuff he asks us to walk through will give us an opportunity to develop trust in his direction, while other stuff will be easy-peasy. It is the stuff we walk through that will eventually develop our character and a deeper trust in his ways that we struggle with the most.

Why? It requires us to be patient and that isn't always the easiest reaction to things that give us a little 'trouble' along the way. In fact, we want to either bypass the trouble, or get some kind of instant 'faith boost' to make it through without much effort. Unfortunately, those 'instant faith boosts' don't always come - sometimes we just need to walk through that hard stuff before we really begin to 'feel' or 'appreciate' that our faith has actually been increased. Prayerfulness in the midst of the trouble is always God's recommended plan. It is how we develop the patience to walk it out. 

I have sometimes begun my prayers in those times with complaint - telling God just how 'uncomfortable' I am in the midst of the trouble, how much I want 'out' of it, and what I believe HE should do in order for me to be relieved of it. Ever been there? In rather short order, I usually find God changing those complaints into more of a discussion - showing me where I need a bit of change, how much he is caring for me as I go through the challenge, and what steps to take next. In essence, he is helping me embrace the trouble with less complaint and more trust. How about you? Have you started out with complaint and ended with thankfulness, not really understanding how you got from 'crankiness' to 'joyfulness'?

It is only by God's hand that we walk through those troubles. We can be glad in the midst of troubles, but it may take some honest 'unloading' of our feelings and frustrations before God in prayer to get us to that point. Never be afraid to express yourself to him - he knows what is in your heart, but sometimes he just needs to hear us express it to him. In so doing, we open the door for him to bring peace in the midst of anxiety, hope in the midst of what seems to be unlikely, and freedom when it seems like we are being 'boxed in' by some force beyond our understanding. Just sayin!

In line?

And we are sure of this, that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we really know he is listening when we talk to him and make our requests, then we can be sure that he will answer us. (I John 5:14-15)

Yesterday we looked at taking our worries to Christ and allowing him to intervene (taking the weight of those worries as his own). One of the key components of actually allowing this 'transfer of weight' is talking with Jesus about what it is that has us all muddled up on the inside. We have to be open with him in prayer, letting him know specifically what it is that burdens us, and then allow him the opportunity to settle our spirits, minds, and souls. Today, we continue with the thought that he actually listens when we ask him to take on those burdens. Unlike humans, he can shut out the distractions all around him, focusing solely on what it is we are bringing to him in our times of prayerful conversation.

Things in line with his will seems a bit restrictive, doesn't it? I have heard people pray, "If it be your will, then..." I don't actually see anything wrong with asking for God's will, but I do see something wrong with putting everything we want to happen out there with a blanket, "If it be your will..." at the end of it. To ask God to reveal his will to us is to ask him to do more than just do what we asked. It is a prayer to begin to be open to what he wants us to do or have in this life. We may want a new car, knowing that our older model is giving us troubles and we are putting good money after bad into it. We may ask God to help us find the solution to our car issue - either with a trustworthy mechanic who will do honest and much needed repairs or show us where to obtain a new vehicle. 

Talking with him about the need for a reliable form of transportation is great, but to think it will be in line with his will for us to purchase a sports car that carries a payment two or three times greater than what our budget will allow is not 'in line with his will' for our lives. We might be led to believe we can ask for anything in his name and receive it, but truth be told, God expects us to exercise wisdom and use our common sense. We must be sensitive to the will of God - the principles he teaches us in scripture. If we want to have peace in our lives, we must live within the boundaries of his teachings - for living outside of those boundaries is certain to bring upset, chaos, and worries greater than we can handle. 

We aren't going to go to God with a bucket list of requests, far outside of what we actually know his will to be. We can go to him for clarity, asking him to reveal his will when we have absolutely no idea what it might be. We must be open to hearing his will, trusting him to show us how we should act in particular circumstances, what doors should remain totally closed to us, and when it is we should just stop what we are doing. If we want to live within his safety and protection, we ask, listen, then take steps to obey. If we want to know his will, we need only ask - but there will be times when we already know his will and we are just asking because we don't like what we have heard! Just sayin!

Toiling or Trusting?

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Philippians 4:6-7)

If you are anything like me, you have those moments of worry or doubt that plague you from time to time. As much as you want to trust God for the outcome, you just find it hard to let go of the worry. You mull over the stuff until it is a constant nagging in your brain and your heart. A sense of God's wholeness is the furthest thing you are experiencing at that moment, but it is the one thing you long for more than anything. So, how do we go from being so overwhelmed by the circumstances of life to the place where we sense his wholeness in our lives? Maybe it comes when we are finally willing to let God know our concerns, not holding them so close to the breast, and really 'get real' with him about the things that give us so much anxious concern.

I looked at this passage in many different translations this morning, but one thing stood out to me from The Living Bible: "6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. 7 If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus." We are actually supposed to tell God our needs - not just stew in them. We are to follow our asking with our thanksgiving, because God has never once failed to be concerned about what concerns us. The thing I realized that this is a conditional passage - there is that "If you do this..." portion that makes it conditional. If we bring our concerns to him with an attitude of thanksgiving for the answers, we experience his peace. It isn't thanksgiving for what he has done, but what he will do. In other words, we thank him in advance of the answer.

Is that kind of foreign to some of us? We were likely raised to thank someone when they did something for us, but to thank them in advance of the answer...do we do this that often? If we bring God our concerns, believing he will answer, we find thanksgiving in ADVANCE of the fulfillment of the need comes naturally. Why? We have learned to trust that God is as concerned about what concerns us as we are! He wants to deal with those concerns and we can know his peace, as a result. What this does for us is keep our hearts and minds at rest - we no longer 'toil over' those plaguing thoughts any longer. We allow God to do the 'toiling' while we stand 'trusting' him to do so. Just sayin!

Aimlessly running?

Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Most of us like the 'finishing' better than the 'starting' part. Why? It means we have reached an end and if the starting was hard, the finishing could be a reward of sorts. We view the finish line as somewhat of a relief, while the starting line can be filled with all manner of anxious thought, fears about what isn't known, and hard steps. We might not be ready for the 'starting line' today, but when we 'begin' something with God, we are sure to appreciate the reward at the 'finish line'.

The parts in between the start and the finish are what require us to have patience. Maybe that is why it makes the start so hard for us at times. We don't want the 'middle part' of the journey as much as we want the 'finishing part'. The stuff that happens in the middle part of the journey is what makes the journey worthwhile, though. It isn't just the finish line - because all the stuff we learn along the way is found in the middle part - the finish line just marks the 'reward' of the journey.

Some have said reaching the finish line is good, but it is what we do AFTER we finish that matters more than anything. I would like to challenge that a bit because it is what we do IN the race that matters. The steps we take 'within' the race determine our finish - either with grace and well-being or with unfulfilled dreams and purposes. Steps taken in obedience 'within' the race will not be easy, nor will they be overwhelmingly clear at times. Yet, those steps of obedience will help us finish well.

We aren't always cut out for the race ahead of us, but when we step up to the starting line, we had better be ready for the entirety of the race. A runner prepares for the race. What we do today in terms of our quiet time with Jesus, time in his Word, and moments of contemplating his purposes for our lives can be viewed as our 'preparation time' for the race he calls us to run. Without this all-important preparation, we run without purpose, and aimless running is not a race! Just sayin!

Kneel First, Stand Second

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!" (Job 19:25-27)

One of my favorite worship songs is "My Redeemer Lives" by Hillsong Worship. Some of my favorite words in those lyrics are, "My shame, He's taken away, My pain is healed in His name", as they speak volumes about how God works in our lives. Job was plagued by the loss of family, livestock, worldly possessions, and even his own health. Yet, in the moments of his greatest external and internal conflict, he stands assured his Redeemer lives and all will one day be well again in his life. He has been buffeted by everything that should have 'taken him down', but he stands! 

We might find ourselves buffeted by what life throws our way, but we can stand strong in the knowledge that nothing we 'lose' is going to 'do us in'. We have the living, breathing God of the universe within us. As children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we stand in the face of adversity, buffeted, but not beaten. God's greatest desire is for us to 'see with our own eyes' his grace and goodness. He doesn't want us to just experience him through 'second-hand' religion. As the worship song continues, "You lift my burdens, I'll rise with You. I'm dancing on this mountain top, to see Your kingdom come..." This sounds a bit like Job's declaration, doesn't it?

There are going to be those moments when we feel like life is crumbling in around us and we just might not want to go on any longer but remember this - your Redeemer stands stronger than whatever is buffeting you at this moment! We may not fully understand the burdens we are bearing right now, but he knows exactly how to lift them. We may not understand why we are in such a pit of despair, but he has the power to put us on mountain tops once again. Our stance in the midst of the darkest places should be to stand, but before we stand, we may have to kneel a bit! Just sayin!

Not ignored

Long enough, God—you’ve ignored me long enough. I’ve looked at the back of your head long enough. Long enough I’ve carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me. Take a good look at me, God, my God; I want to look life in the eye, so no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face. I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms—I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers. (Psalm 13)

Most of us have some capacity for endurance, whether it be with the distance we walk, the amount of waiting we can tolerate, or the pain we are willing to experience before we resort to a means of relief. "Long enough" is not a measure which is the same for each of us, but rather is a unique measure based on where we are emotionally, physically, spiritually, and even "relationally". Sometimes our "long enough" is shortened because of emotions being on edge - too much coming at us at one time and stress building up within. At other times, the same things could roll off our back without an issue, just because we were more "in balance" with our emotional stressors. There is nothing more disheartening, though, than to come to the place of "long enough" when you are waiting on God to answer some need in your life. In those times of "long enough", we want immediate relief, so any amount of waiting seems like an eternity and carries with it a huge "weight" of pressure.

One of the first places our minds go when we are at this place is that God is somehow ignoring us. Somehow we equate waiting, or even what we think is the slightest delay in relief, as his "ignoring us". The furthest thing is the case, though, for it is totally inconsistent with God's character to "ignore" his children. He cannot "ignore" issues we create, nor those we face because others have created them for us. He can be silent for a period, and this is probably where we get the impression he is "ignoring us". Silence is not ignorance - it is simply God waiting to speak! How do you know if you have reached your "end" point? There is not a cut and dry answer to this question. There are "hints" we might be at that point, though. One such hint is the tendency to "feel" like we are "talking to the hand" when it comes to our times of conversation with God. If you are not familiar with that saying it means we think God has erected some barrier to our being heard - we are talking to his hand - totally missing his ear and definitely not affecting his heart! Again, this is the furthest thing from his character, because God's intensity of love for his creation could never allow him to turn a deaf ear or be unmoved in his heart by their need.

Another hint of reaching our "end" is the tendency to have "frazzled" emotions. When we are at the end of our rope, emotions are kind of like live wires. We just don't know what will set us off the next time, and we cannot seem to move beyond those raw emotions. Emotions are definitely "real" and cannot be denied. We may find ourselves at our "end" point with emotions ranging from rage to depression, fear to apathy, or even sorrow to the depths of unyielding grief. The further we go "into" our emotions, the worse the "long enough" appears to us. There is a sensitivity to our situation which almost gets "blown out of proportion" simply because of the magnitude of our emotions. This doesn't mean the circumstances aren't real, important, or specific to us. It just means we may be unable to move out of them because our emotions are too frazzled to "deal" with them any longer.

Perhaps one of the most "telling" hints we have come to this place is feeling like the circumstances will never change - this is the way it is always going to be. Some might call this losing hope. All expectation is gone - there is no reasonable solution to the issues at hand, so we interpret this as being "hopeless". This may be the easiest place to begin to bring change into the circumstances, though. For every moment of "hopelessness" is a moment whereby we can begin to change our focus. A lack of hope is oftentimes based on our focus - focus on the issue(s) long enough and they become insurmountable (a mountain in our path incapable of being scaled). Focus on the next step in front of us one by one and the mountain becomes nothing more than a path we travel to get to the other side!

Regardless of why we might be at our "end" point today, we have the opportunity to express ourselves to the one who actually cares about our moments. God is not put off by our admittance of this feeling it has been "long enough" for us to be dealing with whatever it is. In fact, he is probably just waiting for us to bring him our "long enough" and let him become our "more than enough". Just sayin!

Where is that foundation?

In considering events in the lives of those who have known fame and fortune, we also must consider just how fame and fortune has left them wanting so much more than it ever promised or provided. Fame and fortune are elusive - they keep those who pursue either of them running toward them as if under their spell. They are also disappointing - leaving those who finally "achieve" their end wanting more, but not really satisfied with what they have! Sound familiar to anyone other than me? Wanting more that what we have, chasing what seems to have us under some "spell" or external "control"? We may not be pursuing fame in the sense of the movie stars, but we may be pursuing something with as much tenacity - something which will not truly bring us any satisfaction once attained.

A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst. (Proverbs 11:4)

Life WILL fall apart at some point. Whatever we place our trust in today will become the force we reckon with then. We may not realize when or where our "tipping point" may come, but there is a tipping point. As a kid, I would work for hours on those little domino experiments. Sometimes I would encounter a particular point at which I just could not get anymore of the dominoes to fall. Most would have fallen, but at this one point (either a turn or because the height was different), no more would fall. What made the difference was either the variation in the height or the distance between the last domino to fall and the one which remained upright. Sometimes it was the slight variation in angle at which the domino was erected. Regardless, they wouldn't fall beyond that certain point. I think our lives might be a little like this when we get our focus off where it really should be. We go along "erecting the dominoes" in a good path for a while, then we get a little variation in where we are headed, causing us to be at risk for "falling down" in rather short order. It is good to know that the slightest "variation" is all it takes to set us in a course which can come tumbling down in a moment's time, though. I think it keeps us humble!

We all have "tipping points" in life when we are at our greatest risk for life crumbling or tumbling down. The "trick" is to allow the space between what could take us down and what has become our foundation to be great enough to keep us from being knocked down when those things we have been focusing on might just come tumbling down! If our foundation is laid correctly, we are not going to be totally wiped out by a wrong pursuit! We may suffer some loss, but we won't be totally taken out by it! This may not seem like a very "spiritual" thing to say, but it is truth. We are the kind of creatures who will (on occasion) pursue a path which is not really the best for us to pursue. Those paths are what place us at risk of succumbing to the "tipping point". At that moment, what might just be the slightest difference in distance between our "firm foundation" and that wrong path makes all the difference in keeping us on our feet!

Think of the dominoes as "principles" upon which we build our lives. Domino number one: Serve no other God but the One True God. Domino number two: Love him with all your heart, soul, and mind. Domino number three: Love others as he has loved you. Domino number four.... You get the idea. As we surrender to the one who wants to set the "dominoes in order" in our lives, we are assured a good foundation. It is when we begin to take on the work of building our own "domino path" that we get a little off-course. The dominoes we erect will eventually produce a tipping point which can set us at risk of loss, but only to a certain point! That which was erected by the Master's skillful hand will remain standing - that which was erected by our own lusts, greed, demands, and warped perceptions will eventually be knocked down by whatever it was we were pursuing in the first place. Just sayin!