Challenge Accepted?

He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! (Isaiah 53:3-4)

We often hear this passage quoted on Easter. It carries the message of a Messiah - the rejection of the one who would come to save us from our sins and restore our relationship with God the Father. Yet, do we hear the real message of this passage? "And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God..." We thought...just how many things do we get wrong when we think one way, all the while forgetting there could just be a different perspective we aren't privy to at all? God gave this prophecy so many years before the Messiah came, yet many missed it because they 'thought' one way and refused to see Jesus as the redeemer of all mankind.

Our weaknesses he carried - our sorrows weighed him down. He didn't go to the cross because he was evil, or there was any guilt with which he could be condemned. He went to the cross carrying a burden too great for any one man and more misery than any of us could ever endure. In the most literal sense, he took our place that day. He stood in for us as the perfect sacrifice for the most awful of sinners - bearing all our sins and weaknesses - none of his own. Probably the saddest part of this passage: "He was despised...and we did not care." We were being given the greatest gift of all time and we didn't care!

We may try to look the other way, but Jesus stands before us today and asks us to look his way. To see the tremendous gift of his love and grace. To do more than 'note it' as a nice thing to do, but to acknowledge our need of both his love and his unending grace. What will you do with the message of Easter today? Will you embrace it, or will you remain 'uncaring' and 'untouched' by it? The choice is yours, but I challenge you to embrace it! Just sayin!

Enjoying life?

“If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” (2 Peter 3:10-12)

Notice this promise to enjoy life and see many happy days begins with keeping our tongues under control. Why? An out of control one is like igniting a can of gasoline! There is little it won't touch, leaves very little unaffected by its attacks, and creates a bunch of havoc that is difficult to get under control once it has done the work of ignition! Search for peace and work to maintain it. More than ever, this is a time when we need to be working toward peace, not moving further and further away from it by driving out own agendas, creating divisions amongst groups, or telling each other untruths of any kind. It takes work to attain peace and much more to maintain it. Why? We humans always find ways to mess with peace - thinking we know best, have a better plan, or can get it done quicker.

I want God to be open to my prayers, don't you? I want him to have his eyes on me and his ear attentive to my need. Why would God turn a deaf ear to our prayers? Maybe it is because we are so busy seeking our own agenda that we don't see he isn't 'with us' in it! Truth turns back evil, peaceful reactions stump someone bent on stirring up trouble, and wisdom turns to God when things seem 'unwell' in the situation. Wise people actually turn away from evil - they don't pursue it, run it down, and tell it off!

It may come as a surprise to you, but it took me a long time to admit I didn't like confrontation. I would pull into my shell and try to avoid it all cost. Do you know what that made me? Miserable! Why? I was always trying to please everyone, no matter how insane their actions were, or their demands could become. While God wants peace, he doesn't want us to be curled up in our shells, either. He wants us to live peacefully with each other, so others may learn from our example. God will watch over the circumstances, give us wisdom, and help us navigate successfully through difficulties, but we won't do this inside our shell! Just sayin!

Shepherded much?

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. (Psalm 23:1-3)

We might equate this psalm with funerals, but I tend to equate it with normal, everyday life. Why? Read it again and you will see it speaks of provision, protection, and passages - something 'dead people' no longer require! As the Lord 'shepherds' our lives, we have all that we need - nothing is outside of his provision - all good things come from his hand.

All that we need - nothing that is needed lacking, but maybe not every 'want' met. I know I have said this before, but there is a huge difference sometimes between what I need and what I want. I want the chocolate bar - I need the piece of fruit. I want the shiny new truck - I need reliable, practical transportation. Need and want are sometimes a bit hard for us to differentiate, but when God is trusted to be our provider, giving us all we need, it becomes a bit easier to separate the two.

Led into rest - nothing is more frustrating to us than to be in dire need of rest than to find we are unable to shut things off in our minds or emotions. There have been times when I have gone to bed so 'keyed up' that I found it hard to shut it all down. Emotions were running high, thoughts were whirling every which way in my mind, and there I was, tossing and turning, trying to rest, but unable to do so. Why? I wasn't letting him 'lead' me into rest. There are more than times when we need his leading in this area than we might imagine. Ask for his rest, trust him with the unsettled emotions, and let his Word invade your mind instead of all that other stuff and see how quickly rest comes.

Renewed strength and right paths - we don't need strength for the new day if we don't plan on walking down the path he lays out before us, do we? There are times when we all are bewildered about where he is leading, but I know this for sure - no path that he directed me down has ever been the 'wrong one'. The strength to walk down it wasn't even my own - it was his within me. How about you? Needing a bit of 'leading' today? Feeling like you are about to go down a path that will require 'supernatural' strength? Then just lean into him - he has already prepared the path, scouted out the best course to get us from here to there, and even gives us the strength to take each new step. Just sayin!

Pulling those ears?

Interfering in some else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears. (Proverbs 26:17)

If you have ever caught yourself ‘putting in your two cent’s worth’ in the middle of some else’s disagreement with someone, you know how quickly that might have backfired. You just thought you were ‘helping’, but somehow the disagreement just got worse, or the tables changed, and you became the focus of the issue. Not a pleasant place to find oneself. Much better to remain silent, lift a few prayers for each to see wisdom in the matter, and allow God to intervene – not you!

Arguments happen, but we don’t have to act as the arbitrator for all of them. Sometimes the other parties just need to work it out themselves – more being learned in the ‘working it out process’ than if you shut it down with your advice or meddling. Most of the ‘learning’ that comes when two people disagree comes when each one examines their own heart and finds any place where they might have been ‘at fault’. Arguments are rarely deemed ‘no fault’, but it is not uncommon to want to ‘find fault’ with the ‘other guy’ in the disagreement.

If there is an important reason for us to be involved, God will make it clear. Prying into the affairs of others is always deemed unwise unless God leads. Wise people don’t intrude into the conflicts of another. Intervening when someone is being grossly attacked or abused might be okay, but the everyday conflicts that occur within relationships rarely require our intervention unless they are our own conflicts! Beware of ‘butting in’ where you are uninvited. It will always backfire on you! Just sayin!

A thing no longered marred

You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
“Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” (2 Peter 2:9-10)

Too many of us overlook the "as a result" in this passage. Because we are chosen by God, made into a holy body of believers, we can show others the way to find grace. There are times we feel like God could never use our story or talents, but nothing is further from the truth. We all have been called to move away from darkness into the light of his grace. We may not occupy a pulpit, but we have a story to tell and it begins with grace.

Once we had no identity worth speaking of, but that all changed the moment we said yes to Jesus. What did mercy change in your life? How did God's grace make a difference in your choices? There is a message in the answers to those questions. A message you are uniquely fitted to share right there in your circle of influence. If you don't tell it, who will?

Many times we think God will use the beautiful, but I have found many a thing someone else labeled as junk and brought it back to a thing of beauty to be used in a totally different way. Maybe this is what God does with us. He takes what has been labeled as junk and remakes it by grace. Then the thing that once had a somewhat marred and stained past becomes a thing of beauty to be used anew in his hands. Perhaps we should see ourselves as he does. Just sayin!

Done in by what is brought in

We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:18-21)

Sometimes we hear or read the same passage time and time again, thinking we already know what it says. The times we 'discount' what God has to say to us in any passage of scripture are times we miss out on God showing us afresh what he has to say, or somehow revealing something we might not have discerned when we were exposed to that same scripture earlier. Either way, we miss out. God's 'ask' of us is that we 'pay close attention' to the Word of God - each and every time we read it, hear it, or recount it from memory. Why? It is powerful - it gives us light, pushing back darkness in every aspect of our lives.

No prophecy in scripture is of 'man's own understanding'. In other words, those words we find in scripture aren't there by accident, or because someone thought they'd make a delightful story for our reading pleasure. They are there 'on purpose' - because God wanted them there for our learning, protection, and encouragement. Do we have confidence in the Word of God - that it is inspired by God, recorded by human hand, but divine in its integrity? If we don't, we ought to! God's Word isn't trivial - it contains promises to bolster our faith, instructions to protect us from devastating sinful acts, and wisdom we didn't even know we'd need.

If you read the Word of God on a regular basis, you may not be aware of how much the 'light of God's Word' is pushing back the 'darkness of Satan's lies' in your life, but it is. There is no more powerful weapon than the Word of God. It does more than just 'stay' the attack - it dispels it and has Satan on the run! Light pushes darkness away - it repels darkness. You cannot bring light into a dark cave and have darkness remain. Wherever the light goes, darkness dissipates - it is 'done in' by the light you 'brought in'. So, bring in a little light today and see just how much the darkness is 'done in' by what you 'bring in'. Just suggestin!

Groaning a bit?

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. (Romans 8:26-27)

Do you always know how to pray for whatever the need is that is set before you? There are times a friend will ask me to pray with them, but they aren't specific about their need. At other times, I know I 'need' something to change, be different inside me, or transpire, but I have no clear idea what that should be. When those times of prayer become 'difficult' because we 'don't know', it is time to trust the Spirit of God within us to lift our need to God's ears. Scripture says God even knows the meaning of our groans and sighs, so is it too hard to believe he would give us assistance in our prayers?

Prayer is probably one of my 'weaker' areas in this Christian walk. Yes, I pray, but am I always confident in my prayers? Not always, but I know God hears them, knows what is needed, and goes to work even before I ask. I know the Spirit of God within me is 'in tune with' the will of God and helps with expressing the need. It is true - there are times when words are just not sufficient to express the urgency, depth of a need, or the challenge to our faith that particular prayer is right now. God's plan was always to give us the Spirit to help us when we are not able to find 'sufficient words' to express it.

Have you ever 'put off' praying because you just didn't know what to pray for? You are not alone on that one, but we might want to reference this passage from time to time whenever that happens. I have actually said to God that his Word says I would have help to pray for the need before me. I have quoted back this scripture as my prayer - trusting that God 'gets' what I am saying and knows I am having trouble putting it into specific words. Why? He knows all hearts - yours and mine! He 'gets it' because he knows the depth of our heart's need and wants nothing more than to help with it. When we don't know what to pray, maybe we should remind God that we are trusting him to know our heart and hears its groanings. Just sayin!

No silver platter

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him... And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-8)

Some of us expect everything on a silver platter. Others of us expect to work for everything we get in life. Somewhere in the middle are the rest of us, doing a little to get what we need, while hoping we might get a bit more without having to work too hard to get it. Which of us is doing life correctly? Just turn to scripture to find the answer. We are given EVERYTHING we need for living a godly life - receive all of this by coming to know him. All we are asked to do is to make every effort to respond to God's promises, but how can we do this if we don't ever get to know his promises?

We are given the faith to believe, then God asks us to supplement it by living according to his high moral standards - the standards he provides for us in his Word and by having observed those standards lived out in Christ's life. We learn of him and then from him. As we incorporate more and more of what he teaches us through his Word, we find our faith growing - not because we make it so, but because his Word helps us set down solidly growing roots. The rest we find in be solidly planted allows us to endure every challenge life throws our way. In time, we begin to observe fruit - fruit we did not produce but which came as a result of responding to God each and every time he speaks to us.

Most of us desire to live productive and useful lives, so we 'do' or 'try' certain things that we equate with productivity. God's view of productivity is responsiveness to him! We respond to his request to change certain attitudes and preconceived ideas of how we should make choices in life, and we soon find our 'moral compass' begins to change direction toward moral excellence. In time, we add a bit more knowledge as we spend time with him, leading to just a bit more self-control when we are faced with familiar choices that weren't the best for us and make new ones. Little by little, we see our faith growing and our 'spiritual endurance' increasing - what gave us so much difficulty in the past seems like a piece of cake now. 

There is no magic in achieving moral excellence, but there is always God's grace and his tender prodding that drives us on. Just sayin!

Drive them all out

Perhaps you will think to yourselves, ‘How can we ever conquer these nations that are so much more powerful than we are?’ But don’t be afraid of them! Just remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all the land of Egypt. Remember the great terrors the Lord your God sent against them. You saw it all with your own eyes! And remember the miraculous signs and wonders, and the strong hand and powerful arm with which he brought you out of Egypt. The Lord your God will use this same power against all the people you fear. (Deuteronomy 7:17-19)

As the small nation of Israelites was about to inherit the land God had promised to them, he gives them the instruction to destroy all the inhabitants of the land, one by one, and even destroy their places of worship. Many of these nations had much more advanced military might, strong leaders of their armies, and ruthless kings. Yet, God's instruction is clear - destroy them all, one by one, until none remain - and remember - remember the way God intervened to bring your deliverance from Egypt. As we face some of our toughest enemies it is good to 'remember'. To recall the things God has already done for us and recall the promise he gives to be with us always. It seems like God is saying there will be times when everything in front of us looks bigger than life, but when we take time to remember all he did when we faced things 'bigger than life' in our past, we might just find the courage to move forward in his powerful presence.

Just remember... Remember the moment he stopped your car from spinning out of control on an icy roadway. Remember the time when your finances seemed to be smaller than your need, but every need was met without ever missing even one payment on one bill. Remember the time your child's fever was so high and you prayed so long through the night to find them well, hungry, and ready to face the day with smiles the next morning. Remember the struggle with that one sin you indulged so often and the moment you realized it had no pull on you ever again. Remember... God isn't done yet - whatever lies ahead is not greater than what has come before. He was with you then - he is with you now - he will be with you with each new challenge you face.

Memory is a powerful thing when it is used as God intends - to recall the times he has revealed himself more powerful than our worst fears, bigger than our worst nightmares, and stronger than our toughest enemies. Maybe this is why God tells us to remember - because we want to remember the power of our enemies and not the supreme goodness and care of our great God. When we shift the focus from what we remember as fearful and intimidating toward what is gracious and good, we begin to see that God goes before us, stands united with us, and surrounds us with armies mightier than any we face that he commands us to 'drive out'. So, don't just stand there - start driving them all out! The tougher they are, the harder they will fall under God's mighty hand. Just sayin!

Teach us to pray

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”... And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:1, 9-10)

Teach us to pray. These are words of gold to our heavenly Father. They are words that will bring down the warriors of heaven on our behalf and send the enemy of our soul running in fear. Prayer is more about coming into connection with God has for us than it is us telling God what it is we need from him. We might think it is all about the request, but God knows in the request comes the opportunity to change things within our hearts and minds that need change. Yes, we express our concerns and bring our needs to him. Yes, we are free to express our fears and hopes. But...as we do these things, God begins to work in our hearts in ways we might not have even known we needed his work!

Boldness to come before God with our needs - even when we aren't quite certain what to ask, or what specifically we have need of at the moment. This is the privilege of his children - to come to their heavenly Father, opening up to him, and then pressing into him until we receive our answer. Will our answer always be exactly as we believed it to be? Not hardly! God's answers oftentimes come in the timing and ways we didn't count on. Keep on knocking, asking, and seeking - don't be afraid to be the 'pesky' kid who just keeps bringing their need before him. Why? For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Stop for a moment to consider the sequence of events Jesus shared here. Knock - there will be an answer. Ask - what we have need of is going to be fulfilled. Seek - for what is sought will be discovered. Did you ever stop to consider the answer we so desperately need might just be hinging on us having knocked, asked, or sought with this type of tenacity? James 4:2 reminds us we have not because we ask not. Don't be intimidated by the 'door' you see in your full view right now. Instead, pound hard upon it. Seek to have it opened. Ask and keep on asking. Perhaps that door isn't really blocking your answer - it might just be helping you to realize how much you need it and are willing to go after it! Just sayin!

Have you ever...

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” (Romans 1:16-17)

Have you ever been 'ashamed' of something you have said, done, or believed? I have and it didn't leave me feeling all that good! Why? Shame has a way of 'eating at you'. You feel 'guilty' all the time, and your emotions range from embarrassment to inferiority. Somehow, the enemy of our soul is delighted anytime there is this fear of dishonor, a sense of disgrace, emotions of disappointment, and feelings of extreme condemnation. This is not the way God wants us to live. He wants us to shed our shame as we come to him for when sin has been erased, shame has no place. 

There might be times when we feel a bit 'ashamed' to admit that Christ has been at work in our lives. It is as though we don't want to be 'judged' by others when God has pinpointed something in us that he wants to work on and heal. Why do we do this to ourselves? God's plan was always to have us in relationship with other believers - as support, encouragement, and advisors to live a godly and wholesome life. When we fear what they will think of us, how they will treat us 'differently' once they 'know' what God is working on, we give into Satan's plan to keep us isolated and without that support that comes within community.

The thing we must keep in mind is that salvation (saying yes to Jesus) was just the door opening to a dynamic way of living. Shame has no place there, but sometimes it takes a bit to convince our minds that the work begun in our hearts by Jesus is changing the way we see ourselves, how others see us, and most importantly - how God the Father sees us. There should never be shame in telling others the joy we have found in our salvation. We don't hesitate to tell others about the latest fads or diets, so why do we hesitate to tell others what God has been doing in our lives. It is likely a pride thing - because when we 'cop to the plea' of sinner, we fear others will see us in a different light.

When we say yes to Jesus, the 'difference' seen isn't anything we should be ashamed of - it is life, light, and goodness expressed in the totally undeserved grace of God within our lives. Satan my try to make us feel the shame of our past, but God's good news is that there is no condemnation (shame) for those who are in Christ Jesus. Just sayin!

At the end of my comfort zone

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

Have you ever wondered why we go 'through' troubles instead of avoiding them all together? Jesus went through a lot of stuff while he fulfilled his ministry on this earth, not avoiding even some of the worst things a person could endure. If he didn't, what makes us think we should? Maybe the reason for going 'through' those troubles is so we can do what Jesus did - help others as they face similar troubles. It is quite possible God is making a way for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others as they face similar trials and troubles.

Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us to consider where a man stands 'at times of challenge and controversy', not so much where he stands in times of comfort. I believe where we turn, who we look to, and where we find our strength in times of trial or testing is evidence of how deep our dependence is upon God, ourselves, or others. C.S. Lewis told us that if we are only looking for 'comfort', we won't find it, but if we look for truth, we will find comfort in the end. It is a bit strange to think we abandon our 'comfort zone' only to find in the midst of life's chaos comes some of the greatest comfort mankind can find.

We may not want to admit it, but God isn't finished with us yet. There are more troubles ahead that we need to walk through, but he's waiting for us at the point of our need. God's comfort may not come in the form of 'deliverance from' as much as it comes in the form of 'deliverance within'. It is 'within' the trial that we find our own comfort disturbed and miracle of his comfort surrounding us. Maybe that is the reason for the trial - to disturb our comfort and to fill us with his. Our comfort is rarely sufficient to meet the needs of another in their time of trial, but his comfort within us is always sufficient for not only our own need, but that of another, as well. Just sayin!

Who may?

Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. (Psalm 15:1-2)

Who may worship in the presence of a holy God? Those who lead blameless lives - who do right and speak the truth they have been given by their loving heavenly Father. The first time I read this passage, I thought there was absolutely no hope for me because I was a sinner, not living blamelessly and not speaking God's truth, much less my own truth! Yet, as I read it time and time again, I found God reminding me of his grace, pointing me toward his finished work on the cross, and assuring my doubting heart that there is hope for the one who gives God access to their heart.

Blameless lives are more than just living 'above suspicion'. I made some pretty questionable choices in my younger life, no one really pointing the finger at me, but I was not blameless - I was just 'above suspicion'. Blameless lives are guilt-free. There might be questionable stuff that occurs within those lives, but because of the grace of a merciful and loving God, there is the ability to confess and live 'guilt-free'. As a teen, I struggled with acne, usually with large red blotches developing into 'Mount Vesuvius" on my face or the end of my nose. Those areas 'cleared up' in time, but not before they became quite obvious and embarrassing. Our sin is a bit like that - it develops and eventually exposes some ugly stuff - but it needs more than a 'clear up' to be totally gone. It needs an excision!

It is indeed a blessing to live 'unblemished' than it is to deal with the 'blemishes' of sin in our lives. The good news is that the blemish of sin doesn't have to remain. There is a way to excise it once and for all. We need the truth of his Word washing over our lives daily. We must listen to the still small voice of his Spirit within prompting us to make right and wise choices. We also must relinquish control of our willful pride and ask God to do within us what we have been unable to do within our own strength or 'will-power'. When we finally do that, we realize we are living what God calls 'blameless lives'. We have entered into fellowship with him and value the 'cleanliness' of living guilt-free under his grace. Just sayin!

Ruthless people are no threat to us

But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall, or like the relentless heat of the desert. But you silence the roar of foreign nations. As the shade of a cloud cools relentless heat, so the boastful songs of ruthless people are stilled. (Isaiah 25:4-5)

A tower of refuge to the needy in distress. The more we read of God's power to protect his creation, the more it should drive us into his arms. Why? We live in a world where 'oppressive acts of ruthless people' can get us down quicker than we know. We need the protection of God's presence, but we also need the protection of his Word. The Word is a powerful tool to combat the lies of the enemy and to expose all manner of deception - the deception 'ruthless people' seem to operate under.

Ruthless people operate in a realm where they take no pity on anyone. All are up for grabs - everything is fair game to them. They are cruel and merciless. There is no middle ground where they are concerned. As much as they are unrelenting in their attacks, they are also as unforgiving in their attitude. They have a tendency to be rather barbarous in their behavior. We might find them a bit too 'callous' for our liking. There seems to be no end to their cold-hearted attacks on the innocent and weak. 

We cannot always avoid difficulties or the threats of difficult people. We live with them, work with them, and find them while standing in line at the supermarket. They are just 'there'. What we must do is learn how to use what God gives us to stand strong in the midst of their attacks. His Word reminds us he is stronger than anything that comes against us. It bolsters our waning faith with the reminder he never leaves us or forsakes us. When we feel abandoned, that is a lie straight out of the pit of hell.

A refuge is a safe place. We are not to fear individuals or things that threaten our well-being in either a physical or spiritual sense. While we might all want to live within the shelter of 'refuge' every minute of every day, we all know the reality of being 'vulnerable' to attack. We actually might find ourselves in 'difficult situations' that try our faith and create a sense of 'unease' in our lives. Even in the midst of these 'difficulties' God is our refuge from whatever 'storm' rages around us. We just have to learn within the shelter of his arms. Just sayin!

Bad habits are hard to break, so...

And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

Benjamin Franklin said, "It is easier to prevent bad habits than it is to break them." Maybe this is why God encouraged his people to commit themselves to getting into God's Word every day. Recalling his Word on occasion is okay, but 'rehearsing' it until it gets inside of you and begins to affect what you are doing is much closer to what he commanded!

Bad habits form a whole lot easier than good ones - at least, that is what I have observed in my own life. The good ones seem to be more difficult because of how I view them - as hard, requiring a 'whole lot of change'. If we didn't form them in the first place, the struggle wouldn't be there! The more we commit to making God's Word a 'normal part' of our daily life, the more we will 'crave' time in it. 

At first, the study of his Word may be a little onerous. If you get yourself a good translation, one that makes it easier for you to read and comprehend, then you might not find it so hard to 'get into'. Once you begin, you won't want to stop, but the enemy of your soul will do everything he can to stop you. Why? He knows that God's Word gives us power - truth bringing all of his lies into the light. 

There is something powerful in repeating God's Word - in rehearsing it time and time again. I sometimes think I go to the same passages a lot, kind of like they are my 'favorite' places to explore in his Word. There is nothing wrong with that process, though. God's Word resonates with us in different ways at different times - depending on the circumstances we are facing at that moment. All of his Word is powerful, but there are times when we will find he draws us back to something we already studied, knowing that we need whatever light that rehearsal will bring into the present darkness we face. Just sayin!

Pray because of who he is

"Never limit your prayers because you think you are sinful or undeserving. You're not praying because of who you are - you are praying because of who he is." (Missional Women Facebook) 

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

We cannot let the 'hugeness' of our sin, impending disaster, or difficulty stand in our way of coming to God with our need. If we waited until we were 'worthy' of his grace or goodness, we'd wait an eternity. God's grace makes a way of approach - his goodness makes provision for our biggest need - PERIOD.

Be strong and courageous may seem like an odd verse to consider when thinking about approaching God with our need, but I think it fits the bill entirely. Why? God isn't after timidity - he is seeking to make us bold in his power, strong in his might, and ever certain of his presence with us. Our 'condition' means we need to be in his presence. Our 'need' means we need to seek his grace and goodness.

Wherever you go - whatever you face. God isn't just a God for the difficult times - he desires for us to approach with this boldness each and every time we enter into prayer. If we limit our prayer time to those times when we find life too difficult, we are likely trying to live life on our terms, in our own strength, and within our own abilities. There is no more desolate place than that wilderness known as 'self-assured'!

God's instruction is clear. "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." (Hebrews 4:16) Come boldly, come as often as you need, don't be afraid to ask this time and the next. There is no limit on his grace. There are no set words we must use. We just come, talk things out with him, and let him speak to us. Just sayin!

Nothing like grace

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. (Isaiah 55:6-7)

Three thoughts for us to ponder this morning: 1) Seekers find God; 2) Those who seek also ask for what it is they have need of; and 3) Those who turn to God find he is generous beyond measure. How is it possible to receive what we did not have a means to find on our own, or have our prayers heard in the heavens? Maybe God answered that one for us in the next verse: "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine." Beyond anything you could imagine - seekers find, those with needs find them met, and forgiveness abounds where it is the least deserved.

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Does this mean we could miss the opportunity that is presented to us today by not seeking with an intensity that indicates our determination to find what it we need so desperately? I think there are times when we are 'more open' to receiving from God than at other times. It is as though the intensity of our search is magnified because of some external force exerting pressure upon us, or the internal struggles we find so overwhelming driving us to find a solution to our turmoil. Seekers know they have need of something and they search with the determination to find it. Those external or internal forces merely magnify the intensity of the search.

Call on him while he is near. Does this mean God goes away at times? If we are honest here, we probably just didn't see that he was moving us on from where we had become so comfortable and now we feel like he isn't all that 'near' to us anymore. God is always near to those who call upon him. We may not 'sense' his nearness at times, but that doesn't mean he isn't ever-present with us. So, call on him - he is nearer than you may think.

Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. Does this mean we might not realize how much we need his forgiveness? It is possible we don't realize how wicked our ways have become until we turn fully into his face and behold the depths of his grace. When we finally behold him, we see the filth of our sin and fall at his knees seeking what we most need - mercy. Turn toward him and you will always find exactly what you have need of - even when you didn't realize how much you need what he offers. Just sayin!

Tried and True

But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands,
but have treasured his words more than daily food. (Job 23:10-12)

There are probably more times when you don't know exactly where your life is headed than there are the times you are 100% certain where everything will work out as planned. The good news is that God knows where we are headed, and he has prepared the path we walk upon. Stay on the path and you will come out the other side of this present journey tried and true.

Following God's ways in the midst of 'not knowing' is harder than it sounds. We want certainty, but God isn't always going to show us the end from the beginning. We just need to stay the course and trust him even when it doesn't seem like 'all is well'. Job didn't have a great perspective from the top of a dung pile, but he remembered to constantly seek God regardless of where life put him!

Is faith tested when all is well in our lives? Not usually. It takes a bit of a challenge to 'test' anything, doesn't it? You fill the inner tube with air and dunk it under water to see if it is 100% sealed. You rev the engine to a certain amount RPMs to see if it will endure the expansion heat and friction causes. Testing involves a certain amount of pressure - the very pressure we may not want or welcome!

Predetermine to stay the course - even when you don't have 100% certainty about what you will encounter along the way. You can know this for sure - God prepares the path, sets the course, and maintains us along the way. We just need to press in, remember what he has said in his Word, and allow it to sustain us as we traverse the 'testing ground of faith'. Just sayin!

Whom have I?

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. (Psalm 73:25-26)

How's your health? If you are anything like me, you answer that one with 'fair to midland' - you aren't ailing really, but you have a few aches and pains that get you down from time to time. Physical health may fail, our bodies may grow weary, and our minds fatigue with age, but God's gift to us is that our 'spiritual heart' will never grow weak or weary.

When the desire of our heart is God first and everything else after that, our hearts are going to be pretty 'healthy'. God's spiritual strength can abide with us even when our physical strength wanes. We might not be up to winning any hundred-yard dashes at our age, but one thing is for certain - we aren't going to succumb to the pressures of our enemy, either! We have God on our side and that makes us stronger than anything that stands in our way.

Whom have I? That is a telling question when you answer it honestly. If we are truthful on this one, we may not be looking to heaven for our help at times. We look everywhere BUT heaven! We try things in our own strength and that seems to lack what it takes. We look to others around us, thinking some relationship will be the strength and hope we need, but find those fail us. There is no other place to find our strength than 'in heaven'. In other words, within relationship with God himself.

God remains the strength of my heart. Maybe that would be a good reminder to put on a small card at various places around the house for us to see and ponder when we are about to do something in our own strength or turn to some other source of 'strength' to 'make it through'. We aren't going to find any strength like his, nor do we need to look further than his Word for answers. Just sayin!

Nothing good comes from it...

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

God has given us his favor, love, and ultimately, deliverance from judgment - all through Christ Jesus. Our part is belief. Take credit for much more than that and you have elevated the importance of what you have done over God's free gift of grace. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done - it isn't about the good works - it all about his embracing a sinful people made completely right through the work of the Cross of Christ.

We are created anew - not by our good works, but because Christ dwells within us. We can do good works because he creates a new desire within us to no longer follow the deeds of the flesh or our sinful nature. It is that new desire that has us pursuing actions that were once 'foreign' to us. Some equate this new desire to do good works as us 'working our way to Christ', but this is not the case. It is because Christ has worked himself to us that we even desire to see these new choices take root in our lives.

Yes, Christ changes our heart. Sure, he changes our desires. Nothing good comes from our old nature, so when Christ gives us a new nature through believing in him and his finished work on the Cross, we desire to do the things God asks us to do. If we want to say these are 'good works', that is okay, because all that is good, true, upright, and holy come from God, not us. These 'good works' are an outflow of his grace active within our lives.

Do good - it is how we are all called live after saying 'yes' to Jesus. These 'good works' don't earn us anything in God's kingdom, though. They are merely the 'fruit' of being transplanted from very bad soil into the soil of God's grace and goodness. We are called to bear fruit - good fruit - not just some pretense of 'goodness'. The change God works in our desires reveals a change in 'life fruit'. We cannot produce that fruit apart from union with him. As hard as we might try, our 'goodness' is nothing compared to his. Just sayin!

Press on to possess

Edmund Burke said, "You can never plan the future by the past." The more we count on the past to define us or our life's path, the harder it will be for us to move forward. Why? The past cannot be relived, and the present is ever-changing. Burke also reminds us, "He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper." Our antagonist is our helper. Could that mean that the 'negative stuff' in our past is actually helping us to grow closer to Christ in our present?

I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:12-14)

Press on to possess. That really sums it all up. We need to 'press on' if we are ever to 'possess'. Notice - it never says we are to continue to do things the way we have always done them. As I have said before, to do what we have always done will ensure we will always get what we have always gotten. If we are to be vital Christians, we have to be willing to let go of what 'we have always done' and embrace what God may be asking us to do now. Possession requires action. Even a gift is received. 

When a course has been established, we move on within that course. Does the movement forward change what we now have in our rearview mirror? Of course it does, because the stuff behind us is now in our past and we have a new vantage point from which to see that 'stage of the course'. What God may desire from us today is to stop gazing so fondly into that mirror. When I drive, I don't constantly focus on what is in my rearview mirror, but what is right ahead of me. Why? The path before me is what presents the obstacles I must be ever aware of, not the places I have just been. 

Possession is realized when we are able to keep our focus on what is front of us, not what is behind. Press on to possess - make forward movement, let go of the past, dwell upon the present, and learn to trust God to bring you into all he has for you in the present. The present prepares us best for the future. Just sayin!

Walk in it

And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us. (I John 3:23-24)

We must believe - there is no other way into a restored relationship with God the Father than through Jesus Christ, his Son. This truth sometimes gets a little tweaked in religious circles - wanting to add some manner of 'works' to the simple belief God requires of us. No amount of us 'doing' will ever measure up to what Christ has already done. Simply believe that Jesus is the Son of God, died on the cross to make us free from the guilt and shame of our sin, and stop adding to the simplicity of grace. Grace is given, never earned. It is based on a finished work - that of Jesus and not on what we will ever be able to do in 'addition' to what has already been done.

Love one another - another very pointed command involves us living at peace with each other, giving of ourselves to one another, and removing the 'obligation' to love us in return. Those who do not have this deep, growing relationship with Jesus have a great deal of difficulty loving in such a manner. Why? There are strings attached to their love. They want something in return. Love as though you have received everything you need in Christ Jesus because you have! We cannot receive more than we have already been given - all we need is found in Christ Jesus. When we love one another, we are just sharing bits and pieces of his grace, goodness, and kindness that has been extended to us.

Remain in fellowship with him - engaging in an ongoing, continually growing relationship with him. As we do, we find loving one another is a 'natural offshoot' of having experienced his tremendous love. Relationship is always a two-way street. We don't just talk to God; we listen to him. We don't just receive from God; we share what we have received. We don't just get to keep; we receive to give out until other lives are overflowing with his grace and love just like ours. Those who 'remain' in fellowship have a special privilege - the Spirit of God lives within them. We no longer 'walk out' our salvation alone because we have God's Spirit to guide our choices and influence our actions. Believe, love, remain - three very specific actions on our part. God's grace and love backs each of these very specific actions. All we do is walk in that grace and love. Just sayin!

More on my side than yours

So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city. When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. (2 Kings 6:14-17)

More on our side than on theirs. Those words should echo within our brains, resound within our hearts, and bolster our spirit. Why? God doesn't ever leave his kids to stand on their own - he goes before, prepares us for what it is we will face, and stands with us as we do. Troops, horses, and chariots everywhere? That describes a pretty intimidating force, does it not? Yet God is there and with him we always have more on our side! The moment we begin to see the 'armies of our enemy' instead of the ARMIES OF OUR GOD, we give into the intimidation of our enemy. It might be hard to appreciate this one, but when the 'show of force' is huge on our enemy's side of the battle, we need to remember the 'number' on our side is even greater!

The enemy's tactic has always been to attempt to 'bully us' into believing he has a better plan than God, an easier way to follow, or a more thrilling path to explore. Whenever the enemy 'shows up in mass' within our lives, he is more intimidated of us than we are of him. He sends his masses because he knows the 'rattling of those sabers' might cause us to falter a bit. Keep in mind that God doesn't just 'rattle sabers' - he pushes back every force that opposes us, taking captive all that stand in the way of our growth, and assuring that we are safe within the confines of his carefully laid out boundaries. 

The armies may amass, but God's presence shuts down all their saber rattling. We must train our minds to listen for God's still small voice amidst all the saber rattling of our enemy, though. We might be tempted to focus on all the chaos he brings with his armies, but when we listen intently, we hear what they don't - God's presence. Aram's armies were huge, but God's presence brought a peace to the heart of his servant and showed just how 'powerless' they were as they stood before the presence of God. As the army advanced, do you know what happened next? Elisha asked God to blind them - to literally make them blind. In their blindness, they were led astray, right into the midst of Israel's armies.  

When the enemy cannot 'see' his path to advance, we have the opportunity to turn him away without his even knowing he is being led right into the hands of our might God. Just sayin!

Ballsy People

Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.” “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.” As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress. (2 Kings 2:9-12)

Have you the faith to ask the difficult things? Some might see Elisha's request as 'ballsy' - maybe even a little 'prideful' since he asked for a 'double portion' of the faith and power Elijah had exhibited while he was alive. Sometimes 'ballsy' individuals put others off - their simple faith and trust in God making them a little uncomfortable. That's okay because 'ballsy' people aren't afraid to ask God for what is needed, when it is needed, for whom it is needed!

Later on, Elisha would stretch himself out on a dead boy and ask God to restore his life. He would petition with all his heart and trust God to do the rest. He would see the cruse of oil in the widow's house multiplied time and time again. He would see hungry people around him and tell the woman offering twenty loaves of bread and a sack of grain to feed all one hundred of them. She'd question the 'sanity' of that request, but there were leftovers to be enjoyed! Ballsy people ask for the impossible because they know God is the one who is able to do what we see as 'impossible' or 'improbable'.

Ballsy people ask not only for 'one share' of faith, but a 'double share'. They aren't afraid to ask God to make them instruments he can use and to give them his 'backing' as they go forth in service to him. As difficult as it may be to imagine God giving greater faith and trust in his power, ballsy people ask! Why? They know their God and they trust him to be there in them, working through them, meeting the needs of a people who need to come to know him, as well. Elisha wasn't intimidated by the impossible - he knew the God of the impossible and trusted him to be there whenever the need arose. How about us? Do we trust God enough to be 'ballsy' in our faith? If not, maybe it is time we ask God for that 'double portion' and see what he will do. Just sayin!

Committed, but cheating?

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

What does 'wholehearted' devotion look like? It is more than just being 'committed'. I can be 'committed' to a diet and still 'cheat' on occasion! My 'commitment' may only go so far and then I need to satisfy some craving! When God asks for a wholehearted commitment to him, it doesn't make room for 'cheating'. 

There is a sense of 'abiding' that is involved. We don't look to the right or left or behind. We focus on what is right in front of us - Christ Jesus. We 'abide' - remain and are loyal to him alone. We don't 'take leave' from our relationship for any reason. It is as though the 'attachment' we form with him is 'life-giving' and cannot be broken.

There is a 'steadiness' that comes when one is 'committed' in a wholehearted manner. There is no shallowness, but deep-rooted connection. Those deep roots actually lend a much-needed stability to our lives that makes it easier to endure even the toughest of trials without wavering in our attentiveness to the relationship. 

Some have a 'cordial' relationship with Jesus. They know him, have likely even asked him to forgive their sins, but they really haven't determined to follow him with any intensity or integrity. They are 'casual' Christians - something that is much like the 'lukewarm' church goer. They attest to faith, but their lives are not centered on Christ at all.

God's promise to those who make a 'wholehearted' commitment to follow him is that they will find him. As a matter of fact, they have fellowship with him, so the 'finding' is really not a 'physical' thing as much as it is a heart thing. Their emotions, mind, will - all of their inner being is connected to him in a living, vital relationship. They have a passionate steadfastness in their walk that reveals the depth of their connection with him. Are you in such a relationship? Just askin!

Planning to do good

Woody Allen always quipped, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans." So true, isn't it? We plan one thing but find something totally different unfolding. Some fool-heartedly believe we are the makers of our own destiny. We are indeed the 'makers' of our own consequences, but are we really the makers of our own destiny? Plans change as life happens. Life choices bring either good, or not so good consequences. A consequence is just the outcome or 'output' of something that was 'input' earlier. You've likely heard the saying, "Garbage in - Garbage out". Nothing could be truer about the plans we conceive and then try to bring to fruition without God's oversight and intervention.

If you plan to do evil, you will be lost; if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness. (Proverbs 14:22)

Plan to do evil - lose it all in the end. The consequences may not be immediate, but they will come eventually. Plan to do good - unfailing love and faithfulness are your reward. I don't know about you, but I would rather receive a reward more than a consequence! The more we plan, the less we focus on listening. Don't believe me? When was the last time you listened to someone else's input into YOUR plans? You might not realize it, but the more you plan one thing, the less likely you are to consider anything else. This isn't good when God is trying to get you to a place where he can move you into something new. Your 'plans' may actually keep you rooted in the present, unwilling to consider the freshness that will come when we move away from that plan and toward God's.

Planning to do good doesn't happen by accident. It is a purposeful action on our part, taken time and time again, with a set goal in mind. We want to embrace what God has for us, so we make him the first part of our day. We want to listen to what he has to say to us, so we get into his Word and ask him to show us what he has for us within those pages. We want to have meaningful relationships, so we make the effort to focus on them. If we want a meaningful relationship with God, we must focus on it, as well. Planning to do good means we make active choices all day long to keep God front and center in our lives. When we find our planning takes priority, we need to refocus so he is once again at the center of our plans. Just sayin!

God's plan is...

If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.  

(Romans 12:7-8)

God has a plan for each of us, even though some of us think God isn't able to use us, or that we have no 'calling' on our lives. We might be 'gifted' in ways that aren't really obvious as 'God's calling' on our lives, but just because it isn't something obvious such as preaching from the pulpit doesn't make the gift any less needed or important. Are you a giver? Do you equate that to a 'calling'? If we read this passage correctly, it is indeed a 'calling', especially when one has learned to give abundantly and without selfish purpose. All of God's gifts are meant to be used - but have you stopped to notice all of God's gifts are for others, not ourselves?

Serve one another - do it well. Teach well, so others begin to understand what has been difficult for them to comprehend any other way. Encourage so as to build up, challenge, and create a drive to accomplish whatever is at hand. Give so generously that the blessing is multiplied many times over, but leave no strings attached to your gift. Lead in a way that honors those you are leading instead of assuming the honor belongs to you. Be kind in ways that produce goodness in others. Gifts that just seem to keep on giving are indeed God's calling - they are all because he has an anointing on our lives and uses us as he sees fit.

The willingness to be used by God is paramount. The condition of heart that leads to obedience regardless of where or when our gift is called upon to be used is critical. God's plan is to have a body of believers willing to be poured out exactly as he sees fit to use them to meet needs all around them. The one who thinks they are useless or of little worth in God's kingdom has probably not realized God's calling is real and backed by his grace in their lives. We may not 'feel' called, but when we finally begin to operate within the calling he has placed upon our lives, in ways he directs, we see great things accomplished in his name. Just sayin!

A little too enthusiastic?

Have you ever blamed someone else for something you really should have taken responsibility for? It is like you know you initiated the matter, but then it escalated out of control, and you don't want to step up to take responsibility. Have you ever done this with God? We forget that he knows the intention of our hearts and sees the foolishness of our actions, but it as though we want to shift the blame to him. It is that person you brought into my life, God. It was because you didn't intervene sooner, God. It was that circumstance, God. Anything or anyone other than us - even God - is to blame. People ruin their OWN lives by their OWN foolishness, but that doesn't give them the privilege to blame God or others for THEIR foolishness.

Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes. People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord. (Proverbs 19:2-3)

Do you know what 'enthusiasm without knowledge' really is? It is doing, THEN thinking things through! We might not realize it, but when we jump at this opportunity or that one, THEN think about the decisions we have made, it could be we are already reaping the consequences for the 'wrong choice'. I don't take a lot of time to make a grocery list. I just find the items we need and purchase them. I get a few things that look good in the ad and save a little money. When I buy a car, that is an entirely different matter. I take time to research the basic price, package price, taxes, fees, and cost of insurance. I might look a bit 'wishy-washy' by taking so much time to purchase the vehicle, but I have made hasty decisions in purchasing one before and regretted all the repairs I had to put into it. Haste isn't our best friend - it almost brings chaos and unnecessary complications into our lives.

I take responsibility for my decisions rather than blaming God or others for my 'hasty choices'. It isn't always the easiest thing, but I know it is the right thing to do. My life got way too complicated by MY compromises, not God's. My relationships got messed up by MY choices because of my actions, not God's. Did anyone else play a part? Maybe, but when we take responsibility for our actions, listening to what God tells us led to the chaos or consequences, and then learn from those 'hasty decisions', we are less likely to make them again. Don't blame others when at least some of the blame belongs to you. Don't accuse God of 'allowing' you to make mistakes when you clearly didn't consult him in the matter. Own up to those mistakes, allow correction to come, and then take note of how to avoid them in the future. You are doing yourself a great favor when you do! Just sayin!

Forgive and Restore - it is God's way

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. (Proverbs 17:9)

I know forgiving someone when they have said or done something to hurt you is hard - we all struggle a bit with this one. We might want to say something in return that returns wound for wound, but that rarely works out too well for either of us. We might want to just 'cut them off' and forget about the one who has offended us, but that also doesn't work very well. Probably the last thing we want to do is extend grace, but it is the most effective and godly way for us to deal with one who has offended us. Love prospers when a fault is forgiven. Allow that one to sink in for just a moment. Read it again and let it really grip you. Love - sacrificial, peace-loving, kindness - actually grows out of forgiveness. It is as though forgiveness is the fertilizer that helps the relationship grow. This type of love does not dwell on the wrong - although that may be our first instinct. Remember, that instinct is 'human' and God asks us to see the other person through his eyes - with grace being the very 'lens' by which he views us.

This type of love does not rehearse the wrong, although it may be hard in a 'human sense' to allow God to replace the way we think about the offense with the way he sees the other individual. This type of peace seeks to maintain relationship rather than forsake it. Forgiveness has no room for broken relationships - it works to remove any distance that is created when hurts are allowed to interfere with the closeness God intends for his children. Does this type of love forgive even when the other individual doesn't seek forgiveness? It might be hard to accept, but there are just times when the other person has no clue how much they have offended you. The shoe could the on the other foot tomorrow, and you won't know how much your actions offend someone else. How would you want them to treat you? I imagine you want forgiveness, to be restored, and to have the relationship flourish, not flounder. Grace is desired. Dwell on God's goodness and grace, not on the offense or the offender.

To keep bringing up the offense is to allow a separation to come within the relationship. Maybe this is why God reminds us to not let the sun go down on our anger. Get right with God, then get right with each other. As long as God's children dwell upon this earth, there will always be a call for forgiving action. As long as there are offenses, real or imagined, there will be a call to forgive and restore. It is God's way. Just sayin!

Listening yet?

Some people refuse to bend when someone corrects them. Eventually they will break, and there will be no one to repair the damage. (Proverbs 29:1)

I became a good typist pretty quickly while in high school and this was probably because dad had an old manual typewriter I could practice on at home. Yet, no matter how "good" I became, I made mistakes which required correction. Not only because of key-strike errors, but in my posture! I remember my teacher coming up behind me, putting her fingers between my shoulder blades and poking me. Why? I was supposed to have excellent posture - somehow making me type with proficiency and speed! I was frequently corrected on keeping both feet on the ground while typing - as though the stability this gave would keep the typewriter and me firmly planted on good old terra-firma! Despite all the correction I received in my three years of office machine classes, guess how my feet are today. You got it - crossed, lazily slung under the desk - and my posture isn't much better! The "correction" just didn't "stick". Sometimes we are like that - we just don't understand or accept the value in the correction, so we don't "stay corrected".

It probably doesn't matter a hill of beans that my "typing posture" is poor these days (even though my typing teacher is probably rolling over in her grave). It probably doesn't improve my typing for me to sit up straight and firmly plant the feet on the ground - but on occasion I still find myself "correcting" my posture as I remember the "rules" I was taught. It just doesn't stay "fixed" - it is like those 'rules' are teflon. It matters when I cut corners in my relationships, getting sloppy in the relationship "posture" I assume within them. It matters when I don't see the value in listening to the still, small voice prompting me to avoid some hazard in my life. It matters when I refuse to listen to the sage counsel of a good friend who is really looking out for my best interest when advice is offered. Some correction is just meant to "stick" and to have this "teflon-experience" where it really matters is just not going to cut it in the long run.

The saddest part of refusing correction, or thinking it just won't make any difference to do something a different way, is that we miss out on things we just don't realize we miss. It is like when I saw this viral video about a guy on his sailboat out in the ocean, focusing so intently on what was on his smart phone that he missed the whales breaching right in front of him. Now, mind you, I may not be this "unconscious" of my relationship posture, but it is close to that at times! One day we may be so caught up in what seems important at the moment and miss the stuff which really matters. This is the danger of not receiving the "little corrections" along the way. In the course of time, the little corrections rejected become the big mistakes made!

To refuse correction is a dangerous thing. It is like being in the territory of a hungry alligator with nothing more than a bag of dried peas and a large straw. You might be able to propel a few peas toward the hungry beast, but all you are doing is annoying the heck out of it! Eventually all your best effort to ward off its attack will be for naught. The thing will likely rise up and do you some serious harm! Things we refuse to correct in life are kind of like the hungry alligator in our lives - they will eventually get the upper hand. When they do, it is sometimes the hardest thing to walk away from "unaffected". Most of the time we suffer significant injury or loss. If we want to refuse advice and counsel, we must be prepared for the consequences which will come. Sometimes the smallest of corrections gets us a whole lot closer to ending up where we wanted to be in life than refusing these small corrections. It is much easier to correct things before they become habit, but it isn't impossible to make those corrections of a habit - it just takes a little more effort and determination. Just sayin!

The old new wasn't all that bad, was it?

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19)

The 'old' may have seemed pretty awesome, but have you ever considered what God may be doing when he is beginning something new in you? There have been times when I have been so comfortable with the 'old new' that God did in me that I resist his moving me on into something 'new' again. I want to look back instead of forward, making it harder for him to keep me focused on what he is about to do. God may be laying out some pretty awesome change right ahead of us, but as long as we are constantly looking back and longing for the 'old new', we aren't going to fully embrace the 'new' he has in store.

I have noticed that God begins something 'new' and then he kind of 'wraps up' the 'old new' for us. It is like he is repainting the walls of our lives. The old was good for a time, but it doesn't quite 'measure up' to what he wants to see displayed in our lives now. So, he prepares us for the new by calling us, challenging us to see what he is doing, and then entering into it. We may not have realized how much of a 'wasteland' our 'old' had become until we see how he is transforming it. Hold onto the wasteland and eventually you will become crusted, dry, and hardened.

We get to the new from the old by following the pathway God provides. He has already made the pathway, but we might not see where it leads yet. His promise is that it is 'through' the wilderness of the 'old' and into the freshness of the new. To be entirely truthful with you, there have been times when I have known God is moving in my life but have had no idea what he was doing. As hard as I tried to understand what he was doing, where he was leading me, or what the need was for the 'move', I just didn't see it. God isn't finished and we need to trust him even when all we see is the wasteland around us. The path is THROUGH it! 

Give God the reins. Let him reveal the path, then set out to see where it leads. The 'old new' was pretty awesome when we came into it, but what God is about to do may be even more awesome. God doesn't want crusty Christians - he wants living, vital ones. Just sayin!