Is this the right thing for me?

Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get. (Proverbs 20:18)

Most of us don't get up in the morning and set out aimlessly on our day. Even that cup of coffee you are drinking is made with purpose - you wanted it! Purpose can also be described as determination - being directed toward a certain point and then doggedly making every effort to get to that point. Our "purpose" is to be found in Christ - his life within us is to give meaning to our steps and a sense of determination to our actions. Some of us don't feel like we understand our purpose in life - having been shot down a few times when we tried to step out to do something or having believed for way too long that our actions don't matter or make a difference. We can come to Christ with our feelings of being "aimless" and "purposeless" - asking him to bring clarity, give us direction, and to bolster us for the journey ahead.

We come to a place of understanding our purpose knowing how purpose is 'formed' within us. You might liken it to what someone who does ceramics uses in creating the item they desire. They use "molds" or "forms" into which they pour the "raw, runny clay". It cannot hold any form apart from being placed into the mold and fired. The "mold" is a way of bringing the "raw stuff" into a particular "form" which once subjected to the heat will become hardened and able to be painted and glazed, in order to be fired once again. This might just give us a little hint as to how our purpose is "formed" - not all at once, but with repeated steps which make it clearer and clearer until we see the finished purpose come to pass within our lives.

We form our purpose by asking for counsel. Asking might make us appear as though we don't think for ourselves, or that we are "weak" in some particular character trait. This may not always be clear to us - so wise counsel is important to assist us in knowing how it is our purpose is 'formed' within us. We have to beware though of those who might want to make us fit into a mold which we were never intended to fill. This is where we also need the confirmation of the scripture and Holy Spirit to help us "clarify" any counsel we might receive. The important part of this is that we "ask" for help when we don't actually know what next steps to take.

Sometimes our aim in life doesn't come out as we would have liked - but it doesn't make those steps we took toward fulfilling that purpose any less special to our heavenly Father. He will put on display every faithful step, even when it turns out less than we might have imagined! Purpose doesn't end with knowing it - it is something which never ends because we are perpetually clarifying and acting upon what we discover. I have "acted upon" some things I thought God may have been directing me toward. I sought counsel from wise friends, read the scriptures, and felt I was moving in the right direction for my life. In the end, I found I wasn't finding much fulfillment in those pursuits, so I abandoned them. They weren't the right "fit" for my life. Was God "mad at me" for having pursued them? Not at all. In fact, he used even those "flops" as opportunities to clarify my purpose in life. This is what we do in life - step out, sometimes stumbling a little in the process - then get up again and step on.

I used to do this all alone - thinking I had it all together. Now, I recognize how much my "all together" was really nothing more than pride and arrogance. We cannot be too caught up in wanting to do things all on our own to actually ask another for help. When we are, we might "fit a mold", but we might be too blind to know it wasn't the right "mold" for us in the first place. Just sayin!

God's sense needed

Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it; the open-minded find it right on their doorstep! (Proverbs 14:6)

There are people in this world who believe that selfishness motivates people to do things. There are probably more than a few individuals like this, but once someone invites Christ into their lives, it is almost impossible to live that way any longer. A cynic has to believe every action has some underlying "ulterior motive". As we come INTO Christ, the "motivations" of our life begin to change - moving from being a little too self-centered to being "other-centered". The result of becoming more Christ-centered is that we also become more and more "other-centered". This is a good thing since our ego gets us into more scrapes than we might like to deal with in this life! Wisdom is only truly found when we are able to embrace it and as long as we are embracing everything that focuses on and pleases self, we will not be able to open our arms to embrace wisdom.

Egocentric individuals have little regard for the beliefs or interests of others, appearing quite self-absorbed. The "self-absorbed" have little to no room to absorb anything else! It is like being a saturated sponge - you can try to make the sponge hold more water, but it just has no more capacity! Perhaps this is why when some seek wisdom, they have such a hard time holding onto it! It may not be that they don't encounter wise principles and practices in this lifetime, but they just don't 'absorb' them. All of us have a tendency to be a little too self-absorbed on occasion. As Christ begins to take our eyes off of ourselves, turning them fully toward him, we begin to see there is a world outside of ourselves. At first, Christ needs to help us maintain our focus because we don't realize how much our focus determines the direction we will take in this life. As we grow in our relationship with him, it becomes easier for us to recognize when that focus is turned a little off "center".

No man or woman who fully beholds the magnificence of his majesty can ever walk away unchanged. Wisdom takes the form of exchanged priorities, deeper expressions of love and caring toward others, and a little less need to have the world rotate around us. Wisdom is not only the knowledge of what is true and right, but the judgment to act upon it. The cynic's judgment is self-based. They have no "center" outside of themselves, so every action they take is based on how they will appear, what will benefit them from the experience, or 'what's in this for me' kind of focus. The wise embrace the fact that God's work is best revealed when the transformation occurring within is expressed outwardly in the way we treat others, the opportunities we find to elevate another, or 'how can I be a blessing to another' kind of focus.

The cynic may act upon "common sense" in much of what he or she does. The wise act upon "God's sense". It is the enlightenment God brings which helps us to make solid decisions and to take steps forward when it seems like we don't have all the answers up front. The cynic will weigh things out to see if the cost is too great for them. The wise will realize that all "God things" come with a cost - a little less of our self in the mix means we get the best out of the circumstance! Just sayin!

A favorable wind

If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable. (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this. (Proverbs 3:5-12)

I have been guilty of 'setting out' before considering the 'destination' - how about you? We might do this more often than we think. It may not be us setting out for a physical destination as much as going places in our minds we should not be going, spending without considering the expense, or even just lollygagging around the house when we know there is stuff we should be doing. Destinations matter - they should not be taken lightly. Trying to figure out 'how' we got somewhere AFTER we are already there is harder than considering the way we are headed BEFORE we set out on the journey. Give God the first and the best - this seems like it should be easy, but what 'first' was the last thing you gave to God? What 'best' was dedicated to him and not to ourself or someone else? Time, talent, finances, and even our thoughts - the best and the first - they belong to him.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart - the journey made with him is better than the journey made without him. The journey 'back to him' simply because we did not consider his direction FIRST is harder than the one we take with him. In school, the firefighters came and taught us what to do when there was a fire in our home. They taught one simple thing that has stuck with me through the decades - stop, drop, and roll. You probably have heard it, said it, and maybe even seen it save a life. One thing - considered for just a moment - made an impression that was enduring. I wonder what God might do in us with just one moment of wisdom we receive at his feet. Could it make a 'life-long impression' in our souls and spirit that would keep us throughout all our decades?

We aren't kept on track by happen-chance. We are kept on track because we considered the direction we should take with our time, talent, finances, and thoughts by ask God's wisdom BEFORE we took on the first leg of our journey - and kept on seeking his direction as the journey progressed. Have you ever had that 'check' in your spirit that makes you a little unsettled with whatever you are doing? That is God, my friend, telling you the destination is compromised, not exactly right for you, or pursued in the wrong timing. We need to heed God's 'little checks' as well as we heed his bigger ones! It could be the thing that keeps us from heading into disaster. Just sayin!

Do you ask for directions?

Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word. Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. I am only a foreigner in the land. Don’t hide your commands from me! (Psalm 119:17-19)

Have you ever heard the saying, "You have not because you ask not"? In reality, many of us spend very little time asking God to open his word to us. We go right to it, open it up, then start reading. When nothing seems to 'pop off the pages' at us, we get a little concerned. We ought to! We neglected to ask God to open the truths hidden deep within those words. Sometimes they are quite obvious, but at others, we need help understanding how they apply to our lives right now.

When the psalmist (King David) said he was a 'foreigner in the land', he wasn't applying that term to a real strip of land. He was saying he was a foreigner when it came to understanding God's word. There are lots of times we probably feel like 'foreigners' in God's presence, but nothing could be further from the truth. What does someone who doesn't know the lay of the land need to do? They need to ask for directions! If we want to make the most out of our 'quiet time' with God, we need to ask him to help us get the most of it!

Richard Evans reminded us: "The undertaking of a new action brings new strength." If your times with Jesus have been less than stellar, leaving you feeling a little 'depressed' because you didn't seem to get much out of them, then maybe it is time to 'undertake a new action'. It is time to ask for his help - for his direction! If we want all the strength that comes from spending time with Jesus - in his word, mulling it over and over until it sinks in, and then taking it along with us throughout the day, we will want to begin by asking for him to assist us. Just sayin!

Looking and Feeling Our Best

You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. (Psalm 119:4-8)

To what or whom do your compare your life's actions? God charges us with the responsibility and "goal" of keeping his commands - with consistency and dogged determination. We are actually reminded that the 'comparison' we need to make is with his commands - how well are we measuring up to what he asks of us? How consistent are we in making right choices? How much does 'obedience' out-trump all the other choices we could make?

Did you ever stop to consider that your life of obedience is actually an offering of 'thanksgiving' to God? Our passage reminds us that when we live as we should (obedience), we are actually lifting thanks to God with each 'right action' that aligns with his commandments. If we don't know his commandments, how can we live by them? If we don't take time to know the one who gives us those commands, how can we understand the heart behind each one? To know God is more than attending church and hanging around with other church folks. To know God means we take time to actually form a relationship with him.

As relationships are formed, we get to know each other - feeling free to point out something that isn't just right with the other person. My BFF helps me see those tiny wayward 'chin hairs' that sometimes escape my glances in the mirror. They catch her eye at just the right moment, and she is able to point them out to me so I can 'deal with them' when I get home. I want that kind of relationship with God, too. I want him to be able to 'point out' those 'wayward' things in my life that don't bring him honor - choices I have been making that don't reflect his holiness in me. When those things 'catch his eye', it isn't by accident - it is because he is the perfect light, and they NEVER escape him. 

Some think commandments are 'laws' or 'rules' that make it hard to live the way we want. Could it be that the 'way we want' isn't actually the best way for us to be living? Could it possibly be that a loving, all-knowing God sees the end even before we begin down that path? Might it be he loves us too much to see us hurt ourselves with unwise choices? I think all of us need a little time with Jesus each day - to get to know him and to allow us to see just how much he already knows all about us. In that 'sharing' of time, don't be surprised if he points out some 'wayward' choice that needs your attention. It isn't to shame you, but to make you look and feel your best! Just sayin!

A prevailing wind

 Take good counsel and accept correction— that’s the way to live wisely and well. We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails. (Proverbs 19:20-21)

Good counsel is to be sought, not because we need someone else to do our thinking for us, but because we sometimes need to get a clarifying perspective on things. God never asks us to allow others to think for us - to make choices for us that we should be making for ourselves. He asks us to use the wisdom he grants through is Word, wise counsel of others who know his Word, and the best 'knowledge' we have at the moment. Sometimes that 'knowledge' is just the tiny nudges we feel in our spirit - but even these 'nudges' need confirmation through what we find in the Word and what we know to be true about our God. Wise counsel is 'taken' - it is crammed down our throats, nor is it 'happened upon'. There is an active participation in finding truth, adopting truth, and then living by it.

Good counsel is linked to correction here. Why? There are times when the way we have been seeing a particular circumstance may not have been the most accurate observations. We may have formed opinions that have us all muddled up inside and keep us in a place of 'unease' over the issues at hand. When we seek wise counsel, through the study of his Word and the wisdom of another who also studies his Word, we are on the path toward 'correction' of anything that isn't quite true - anything that is not in alignment with the way God sees the matter.

It is true - we spend a whole lot of time brainstorming options and making plans. God may not even be consulted in the entirety of this planning and brainstorming! It is amazing to me how 'well' some of these things turn out when we don't seek God's plans and purpose in the matter. We can never forget that God's grace has probably protected us from great danger. God has a purpose we may not really have appreciated when we plunge ahead in our own schemes and plans. Anytime we exclude his purposes, we are on dangerous ground. This is why he reminds us to seek counsel and accept correction. A word of caution, though....don't seek it if you aren't going to be willing to listen to that counsel. It is like knowing the bridge is out up ahead and then barrelling across full-speed ahead when we don't accept that counsel and act upon it. It is a little too late to seek counsel as we are plunging to a quick immersion in the rushing waters below!

God's purposes prevail - I think this says it all for us. There is nothing in our schemes and plans that is assured of success in the end. When we wait to understand God's plan, then act upon it, we find there is a lasting outcome that otherwise may not have been there. A 'prevailing wind' describes the wind that more consistently than not comes from one particular direction. God's wisdom prevails - it comes from one direction - that which will produce the best things for our lives. Just sayin!

Let's hang out, or maybe not

Right now many of us have gone through periods of extended isolation because of COVID-19 and the need to 'stay-at-home' in order to reduce the likelihood of spreading the disease. Hanging out with each other hasn't been all that simple, has it? We miss those interactions and almost crave them a little. Who do you "hang out" with? You probably have a pretty "routine" group of acquaintances who you associate with more than others. Sometimes, we have groups at work or school, others at home and at church. They can overlap a little, but seldom are they all the same. When we have all these groups to associate with it is easy to be one person with one group and quite another with the other, isn't it? There is not a great deal of consistency between the members of the groups, so being a little different with each group usually doesn't present a problem. Until....one day, you find a member of one of your "groups" crossing-over into another! Perhaps you find yourself a little conflicted because you "act" one way with the present group, but quite a different way with the other - how will you hand the 'cross-over' knowing your 'two sides'. The truth about associations is the tendency we have to "blend" to their way of acting. We become like those we hang out with, don't we? Yeah, we hold onto some of the uniqueness of who we are, but we have a tendency to adapt to the "norms" of the group we are in.

Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious—don’t get infected. (Proverbs 22:24-25)

The "group norms" are the unwritten, often unspoken, "rules" that govern our behavior while within the group. It are the "norms" that help us to understand how to act. For example, if you come into a boardroom of well-dressed business men and women, wearing blue jeans and a polo, you might feel a little "out of place". The norms of the group dictate a different attire as appropriate for the boardroom setting. There are no written rules, but there is an understood rule of "presentation" - you are to display a professional image. If the norms of the group allow for a free-for-all kind of work environment, such as might be found in a creative business like an art studio, a man in a business suit would feel just as "out of place". I think God might just have understood "group norms" a little. He understands the idea of "conforming" to the group values. If the group values are good, this is not so much of a problem, but if they represent something less, we might find ourselves getting wrapped up in a type of behavior we'd be best to avoid. "Keeping company" with anyone who sways us away from upright behavior is always risky business. If our values "morph" to the values of the group we are in, isn't it important to understand the values pretty early on?

"Don't HANG OUT with angry people; don't KEEP COMPANY with hotheads." Here are two very important distinctions - hanging out and keeping company. Hanging out is really the casual kind of companion interaction - friends just being together without any real purpose or intent. Keeping company is more of a consistent kind of attention to the relationship, so as to associate with or consort with them.
If we "hang out" with angry people - having no real purpose or intent in our relationships - we might find it very easy to have our norms morphed just a little by those we are "hanging out" with, huh? It is equally as dangerous to form lasting relationships with these individuals (keeping company) - there is a tendency to partner with (come into agreement with) those we associate with over long periods of time. Whereas "hanging out" is casual and without any great intention, "keeping company" declares some type of commitment. God warns us against both the casual association with those who have an issue with anger and the committed relationship with one who had issues with being impetuous and short-fused. Anger is a long-term problem - temper is short-lived, but equally as devastating to the one on the receiving end! When we "hang with" or "commit to" others who display these tendencies, we both place ourselves in their direct path, AND we have exposed ourselves to the tendency to "morph" our actions to theirs.

The angry have made their violent rage a lifestyle. The hothead is probably more dangerous because you never really know what will "trigger" the next outburst! Either way, we are to be very cautious about entering into relationship with these individuals. Both can lead us down paths we'd probably never want to travel! The "rub" comes in being "affected" or "infected" by their actions. There are a whole group of "sins" that affect the one doing the sinning - there are others that affect others, as well. Anger and hotheadedness are two of the ones that are never content unless others are caught up in their "fray". So, it really does matter who we associate with, both in the casual sense, such as at the lunch table at work, and in the more permanent sense, such as a life-long companion. To be unaware of the damage of their anger or hotheadedness is to be naive. To this end, God warns us to avoid their company - to not purposefully place ourselves in a position to be affected by their "norms". Just sayin!

A little change in direction may be helpful

Mom had a saying when she couldn't find something. She'd say she "put it away so carefully, so as to find it the next time," only to find it was nowhere to be found when she needed it! Have you ever been looking so diligently for something only to find that what you sought with such great earnestness was right there in front of you all the time? When you finally realize that the object of your search was just within your reach, didn't you feel a little silly having spent all that time and energy in the seeking? It's kind of like you just have to say, "Duh! Here it is!" and give yourself a little knock on the head!

Somehow, though he moves right in front of me, I don't see him; quietly but surely he's active, and I miss it. (Job 9:11)

A process in the business world known as "building shared vision" is usually facilitated by bringing a group of people together for a period of time to tap into what it is that they imagine for the success of the group. Get the right people at the table and this can be a very good exercise. Get a mixed group at the table and you might find it a little more of a challenge. Get the wrong group at the table and who knows what you will get. It is all about getting the people in the group to bring their thoughts and ideas into play as they "vision" the work they do as a group, or what they see as the outcome of their work. It opens communication, gets people on the same page, identifies some barriers to "being on the same page", and can help a group see the steps necessary to move forward in a full "team approach".

In the end, the group will be asked the telling question: "How do we get there from here?" I think this is a question that we often ask God in our daily walk. We see ourselves in some present circumstance, imagine what we'd like to see come out of that circumstance, and then we stand there wondering what steps we will have to take to realize the end that it is we are hopeful of achieving. We stand at an intersection - one path leads to one outcome, the other to quite a different one. At the moment of decision, we stand there asking "WHY" do we choose one or the other - often deliberating to the point that we don't move at all. The goal of a good group "facilitator" is to give people the chance to talk things out. In other words, the "facilitator" asks the "who", "what", "where", "when", and "how" questions with skillful tact. The ones in the group answer while the facilitator "pulls out" common themes. I think Jesus does this with us. We stand at that decision point in our lives, he spends a little time with us "pulling out" the common themes of past choices we have made that got us in our present circumstance (and others like it), then allows us to figure out that choosing the path in that direction will just lead us into the same muddle again!

I often hear believers say, "I just don't know what God wants me to do!" To that I simply answer, "He has probably facilitated this conversation with you multiple times already - you just did not recognize it was him facilitating that discussion!" We've probably uttered the words, "Somehow, though he moves right in front of me, I don't see him; quietly but surely he's active, and I miss it." We are so focused on the intersection of familiar choice vs. best choice that we don't see him moving down the path of best choice ahead of us. The path of best choice is often the one we have never been on before! I have a pastor friend that says it this way: "If we always do what we've always done, we will always get what we've always gotten!" So, think that through today. Ask yourself this question: "What path have I settled into a little bit of a comfort-zone while traveling?" It may very well be that God will bring you to an "intersection" moment soon. In that moment, let God "facilitate" that discussion that "pulls out" the common themes of past choices that may not have been all that helpful to you. In that "discussion with God", stop long enough to realize his movements - then ask yourself, "Can I get THERE from where I am traveling today?" If the the answer is "probably not", then perhaps it is time for a change of course! Just sayin!

What? Go Where? Now?

Ever feel like a stranger some place you are not all that familiar with? I know when I travel to another state, the highways and even how the streets are laid out are different from the ones around home, so I feel a little like a duck out of water. When I must drive those roadways, I rely a lot on my co-pilot and navigator - my BFF. She tells me to turn, merge, and where to get off (in a nice way!). We have missed exits, gone out of our way, and even been lost a few times, but we eventually get situated again. She is generous with me - giving me a little grief for missing the turn-off, but then nudging me with a little giggle that tells me it will be okay - she will help me find my way back onto the right course. I am so grateful I have someone in my life to help nudge me back on course when I get a little wayward, but I am most grateful for God's continual direction and oversight in my life. Not for one minute does he take his eyes off my course - and not one minute does he fail to keep me safe!

Be generous with me and I’ll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road. Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders. I’m a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions. My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!— insatiable for your nourishing commands. And those who think they know so much, ignoring everything you tell them—let them have it! Don’t let them mock and humiliate me; I’ve been careful to do just what you said. While bad neighbors maliciously gossip about me, I’m absorbed in pondering your wise counsel. Yes, your sayings on life are what give me delight; I listen to them as to good neighbors! Psalm 119:18 MSG

While I'd like to say I have never taken my eyes off the road I am traveling with him, it would be unfair of me to say something so far from the truth. The times I have taken wrong turns are innumerable, and the times he has had to 're-navigate' my path so I'd get back on course with him have been numerous. Thank goodness his love never gives up and never runs out! I am one 'needy' gal when it comes to grace, but he is one faithful grace-extender! When we recognize we need a navigator to keep us on course, that is the moment we begin to listen a little closer to the directions given and we pay a little more attention to those instructions. We are 'on alert' because we don't want to take another wrong turn!

Being on alert is not a totally bad thing - but we all know it can be a little exhausting at times. The more we have to 'pay attention', the more we find ourselves 'using up' energy reserves we have stored up by 'intake' at some point in the past. We need renewal of those energy reserves - time alone with God to renew and regenerate. We need time in his Word. We also need the submission of our will to just rest once in a while when we think we should be 'doing', 'doing', 'doing'. The rest we take actually allows us to re-center. Yesterday, I was faced with a challenge in some data that was not doing what it was supposed to do when I put it into the report format I wanted it to be in. You know what helped me? A bit of lunch with my BFF, a few laughs, and a short walk to re-energize my body!

The times we think we have it all under control are probably the times we most need to relinquish control! The moment I stepped away from the problem at hand, there was a 'clearing of the mind' that occurred. This is sometimes the very thing we need to be open to see the problem from a different vantage point. To see things differently, we often need to stop seeing them as we have always seen them! The simple fix to the problem at hand was really not all that hard once I could re-focus on what was causing the problem. The course we take sometimes isn't all that complex - it just requires us to be opened up to see it from the perspective God has of that course!

When we choose to listen, believe, and really begin to take action in a different direction, the solutions to whatever has been problematic in our lives can often be 'fixed' quite quickly. As with my BFF's urging to take the next exit, make a u-turn and re-enter the highway to return to the exit I missed previously is quite clear. The choice to act upon that voice is another matter. I can just stubbornly go on in the wrong direction, or I can merge over, take the next exit and find the new course she is setting out. Life is full of choices - maybe the hardest is just to listen and rest in the answers we are receiving. Just sayin!

Two by Two by Two

Direction, condition, and focus - what do these three have to do with each other? Direction is often thought of as the path one will travel - the way we are headed. When the condition of mind, body, and spirit are well, it is much easier to follow along that course. If the condition of the mind, body, or spirit is out of alignment (not clearly focused), there will be a little drift that occurs in the direction we maintain!

Grow a wise heart—you'll do yourself a favor; keep a clear head—you'll find a good life.
(Proverbs 19:8)

Within these two sentences, two words give us direction, two describe a condition that should be met, and two reveal the focus we must maintain. The two words that give us direction are "grow" and "keep". The two that describe the condition we are to maintain are "wise" and "clear". The two indicating the focus we are to keep are "heart" and "head".

• Grow - the first thing that comes to mind when we consider growing is the natural outcome of development in which something or someone increases in size or capacity. As we consider this in light of our Christian walk, we see growth as more than "natural" development - it also encompasses "supernatural" development. That is the increase in our capacity that comes simply from spending quality time with Jesus. One of the least common definitions of "grow" is that of attachment. It is a process of attachment that occurs by close association with that which you attach yourself onto. A gardener will tell you this process begins with "grafting" one branch or stem into the "parent" tree, vine, or bush. Jesus reminds us that he is that vine - we are the branches - grafted into him. By close association to him, we begin to grow through that attachment.
• Keep - we usually gravitate to the idea of holding onto something when we consider the meaning of "keep". Yet, it also carries the idea of continuing a given course, action, or state. When we are "keeping" something in this sense, we are involved in actively ensuring the course is consistent and focused. It means that we refrain from departing from a specific path - there is an element of restraint that is utilized in order to remain consistent in our focus.
• Wise - the first condition addressed deals with discernment, judgment, and discretion. The "condition" is directly connected with growth. Discernment is the ability to evaluate two options and choose the best - often the result of what we have been exposed to and who we associate with in life. Since our growth is directly correlated with our choice of "attachment", it is important to choose the best attachment. Judgment affects our actions because it is associated with the matter of acting upon what we believe to be correct. It is associated with growth because it deals with discretion - choosing those things that produce right actions. 
• Clear - the second condition is frequently described as the absence of that which clouds - in other words, it is that which gives transparency. As it applies to the idea of being kept, there is a great deal of "path-finding" that is clouded with all kinds of uncertainty, potholes of pride, and pitfalls of emotional upheaval. The condition of transparency is associated with us being kept - refraining from certain courses of action that will produce certain "road hazards" along the path of our walk. 
• Heart - we often gravitate to the "nebulous" meaning of heart - that which describes our capacity for sympathy, the ability to connect with others, etc. We need to look a little deeper at "heart" in order to understand the importance of this word. It is the seat of all that gives us personality - our emotional make-up. The heart is to be growing and it is to do so in a wise manner. In other words, all that gives us our "internal make-up" is to be intimately connected (associated) with Jesus so that we learn to discern well. Our emotions are unreliable - our "spirit" is not enough to keep us on track at times. We form wrong attachments at a whim - stunting growth completely. Our passage reminds us that we are to "grow a wise heart" - in so doing, we are avoiding those things that do us "dis-favor" in life.
• Head - we associate "head" with the mind or thought life. The "head", or rather, what is contained in the head (our brain), gives us the capacity to reason, rationalize, and rehearse. We are reminded to keep our minds clear. That includes learning to reason things out as Christ would - utilizing the "tools" he gives (the Word, the Holy Spirit, and our conscience). It also includes the idea of being able to be rational in thought - able to proceed in a course because reason has proven a path to be best. The often overlooked "capacity" of the mind is that of rehearsal. We use this capacity to both reminisce about the good and continuously remember the bad. The head is associated with being kept clear - in turn producing a good life. Thoughts lead to action - that is why the focus is on clarity. Clear thoughts lead to more transparent actions.

Two words, two conditions, describing two aspects of focus in our lives. Consider them well - they will keep your path clear! Just sayin!

Which way do I go?

Have you ever been lost? There have been times when I am heading to a particular destination along an interstate or back road somewhere and find I am all 'turned around' in my way-finding. I missed some sign somewhere along the way, or just plain didn't judge the distance correctly. I find myself back-tracking, looking again for the right way to go, or I might just give up on ever finding what I was looking for in the first place because it was just impossible for me to find without help! Much of the time in life we are on some kind of journey. We find ourselves kind of 'lost' sometimes, not because the way wasn't explained to us, or that we hadn't consulted the plan for how we'd get their several times, but because we misread, missed, or just plain didn't acknowledge the signs along the way.

You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.  You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him.  That’s right – you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set.  You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it.  Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel.  I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.  I’m going to do what you tell me to do; don’t ever walk off and leave me.  (Psalm 119:1-8)

It is a comforting thing to understand the direction we are headed – to clearly know the paths we are to follow, the things to avoid. There are even times we head off in directions unplanned for us, venturing out on our own completely unaware of what lays in wait along the path we chose. It is a God-honoring thing to await his course direction – it is even more honoring to choose that course above any other. It is one of the hardest things to allow another to set our course, especially when we have created a 'picture' of the way we believe our course should be going! There is a sense of deep satisfaction when we stay on course – a deep sense of pleasure and contentment awaits us as we walk “steadily” on the road revealed by God. Happiness is a very elusive thing – it is conditioned on so many 'unknowns' along the way - things such as circumstance, the people in our lives, timing, and even the attitude of our heart at the moment. We seek happiness in the most amazing ways – through the pursuit of fame, fortune, or position; in some type of what we believe to be a meaningful relationship; and even in giving away all we possess because we heard this could bring us to a certain 'level' of happiness in life. All the while, true happiness appears to evade us and we are left empty, frustrated, and perhaps even filled with despair or disappointment.

The advice set before us is one of “walking steadily” on the course outlined by our God - a little harder than we want to admit when we have this thing called "self-will" to reason with along the way. The word used for God in this text is that of Jehovah – the God of divine compassion, who stands unchangeable in his promises, permanent in his tender care, and righteous. The course we choose in life is established, overlooked, and guarded by this very God of divine compassion and unchangeable character. We can walk steadily when we understand the care that has gone into preparing the course before us and the caring oversight that is ours as we traverse that 'established' path. To “stay” on course implies that we are continuing on, standing firm, and remaining in consistent pursuit of the course outlined by God. I think there is an even deeper meaning that we need to consider – that of enduring. Happy is the man or woman that “stays the course” or “endures” in the way. There is a great sense of inner satisfaction to have remained consistent under suffering without yielding to its pressures – to not give in to the hardships along the way - and each road has its own hardships, regardless of how small. Our consistency comes not in our own effort, but because of the power of our unchanging and consistent God. He is the one that gives us the ability to be firmly fixed in place, to be unfaltering in our movement. There is a resolute assurance that the course we walk is designed at the hand of our God - we have a direction established by God, but we need to choose to stay within the guidance of those directions. It is our fortune to stand with him along this course constant in our emotion, principled in our actions, and stable in our thoughts.

Along the path, we are commissioned to “do our best to find him”. What is our “best” – what does that look like? Some would describe “doing our best” as giving our maximum effort – I’ve even heard some describe it as giving 110%! To be painfully truthful here, I am not inclined to believe that I actually have more than 100% to give – so I am not going to stress that we somehow find an additional 10% to reach some “stretch goal” in our pursuit of God. Rarely do we even get to the 100% mark, let alone find an additional 10% we can muster up to go 'above and beyond'. I am challenged daily to be productive, to excel in some way, but rarely am I able to say that I have given “my all” in the pursuit of God. I daresay that most of us would find ourselves in that same condition if we were to truly analyze our walk with God. It is encouraging to realize that God only requires our attentiveness to his direction – that is how we “do our best” in serving him - we pay attention. We “pay attention” when he speaks, we “focus our will” on his, and we choose to be engaged in this course he has established for us. In so doing, we are placing ourselves on a steady path. What is God really asking you to "pay attention" to along this path you are travelling on presently? What is he asking for you to focus your will on - to be determined in effort and mind's focus? Until we can answer these questions, we probably will wander around pretty doggone aimlessly, even getting a little lost along the way. Just sayin!

Which way do I go?

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there." (Lewis Carol)  I think I just might fit into the category of the one who doesn't always know where she is going!  At times I can be the best of planners, being patient to wait for all the pieces to come together in just the right timing.  At others, I just want to plunge ahead, forgetting that perhaps the timing isn't right, or the planning isn't quite up to par yet.  "Getting there" is quite different from just "getting somewhere".  Too many times we allow ourselves to be duped into thinking movement, regardless of the direction we are headed, is really all that matters. 

For everything that happens in life—there is a season, a right time for everything under heaven... (Ecclesiastes 3:1 VOICE)

I have said it before, but it bears repeating - God's timing isn't always the easiest to figure out!  It isn't that he doesn't reveal it to us, it is just that we choose to not pay attention to the signs he provides, or move without even consulting him if it is the right direction for us to moving.  I guess one of the hardest things for me to understand is that God's timing is on a "different scale" than ours.  Don’t imagine, dear friends, that God’s timetable is the same as ours; as the psalm says, for with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. (2 Peter 3:8 VOICE)  That means that while today is like the blink of an eye to him, it could very well be the longest 24 hours of our lives - all because we are waiting on his timing to reveal the direction we should be going.

A couple of things we can do when we are waiting on God's timing and direction:

- Be thoughtful and in prayer.  I don't always think we have to be on our knees to pray, as most of my prayers are simple conversations I have with him in my thoughts.  As a matter of fact, most people don't even need to know I am praying or asking for his wisdom - it is a "mind conversation" with him occurring unbeknownst to them.  This differs from frantic worry or frenzied planning.  That also takes place in the mind, but really has the focus on what it is we need to do or can do to get us past this moment in time.  Thoughtful prayer is when we "mull things over" with God giving us clarity as he helps us sort those things out. We aren't heading down the road - we are simply looking at the road map ahead of us, seeing all the various routes that could get us to where we think we want to go, and then allowing him to point out the best route to take!

- Be honest about your worries.  God already knows when you fear something in the road ahead of you, so why cover it up?  He can deal with our worries if we are honest enough to confess them to him rather than keeping them bottled up inside.  Some of us think it is kind of wrong to admit we are worrying about something because Christians aren't to be anxious about stuff.  Truth be told, we all worry!  What we do with our worry is what matters - for when we hold onto it, thinking we can sort stuff out or muddle through somehow, we limit God's ability to settle in with his peace so we can finally see what he is doing.

- Be watchful and attentive.  Too many times we head down the wrong path, just because it opens up before us, but find we are on a pretty bumpy ride when we get just a little bit down that path.  Part of waiting is definitely watchfulness.  As I was in the military, we'd practice our accuracy with firing our weapons on ranges where targets were both stationary and those types which pop up all over the place without any real rational pattern to them.  The latter ranges were designed to hone our skills at being attentive to subtle movement and sudden changes in our environment.  We'd lay there on the ground, poised for action, attentive to our surroundings.  If you weren't, you'd miss your opportunity to "hit the target".  Many of us lack attentiveness in waiting - because we are looking everywhere trying to find out where it is we are headed.  Sometimes the best plan is to just settle in, relax, and then let the "target" reveal itself to us!

- Be satisfied in the moment.  If we are always chatting at the bit to move, move, move, we miss the moments.  When those moments are gone, they are gone.  We don't get back time. We don't get back missed opportunities.  We need to learn to invest in the moment, finding satisfaction in just being present in the moment.  To always be "looking ahead" causes us to never really reach a place of satisfaction in the present.  We might all learn a lesson here, for the present is irretrievable once it is passed!  Just sayin!

Be still, get calm, really see, & finally understand

“Be still, be calm, see, and understand I am the True God. I am honored among all the nations. I am honored over all the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 VOICE)

Stillness isn't always part of our days, is it?  In fact, most of us don't take time to recognize that the trees have grown absolutely still, without any evidence of even the slightest breeze ruffling their leaves. We don't even miss the sweet songs of the tiny birds until someone calls it to our attention. In the stillness of those moments there is usually something "brewing" - hence we get the term the "calm before the storm".  Ranchers, farmers, and those who work in the outdoors have learned to pay close attention to a change in the weather which comes with a very eerie stillness simply because they know it could be building into something they will be having to do significant clean up after if they aren't adequately prepared.  Maybe we'd do well to pay attention to the times God purposefully "stills" the things in our lives just before he is about to break in upon them in a pretty big way!

As a kid, when the big monsoon winds would begin to blow, we always knew we had a little time before the lightening would start, so we still had time to play, despite the sudden increase in the wind and dust.  We had a "build up" till the worst part of the storm would be upon us, so we didn't become alarmed by the increasing winds.  Usually one good crack of lightening and clap of thunder would send us scurrying into the nearest home and then off to our respective homes if the downpour was just a little delayed. In real life, we don't always get such good "warning signs" that the skies are about to open up and pour down on us, though. It is often the "calm before the storm" which we miss that was our "warning" something was about to happen.

Our writer records four things God wants us to know.  First, we are to get very, very still.  Stillness differs from calmness in that stillness is the absence of any motion - we don't continue any longer in whatever it was we were doing, but stop dead in our tracks.  Second, we are to get into a calm place.  Stopping is one thing, but remaining calm is really the evidence of slight movement, just not big steps.  Sometimes I think we get ourselves into a place of being "still" and then don't take any further steps in any direction because we don't know what to do.  Calm waters are those without a lot of turbulence or waves - but they aren't motionless.  Those are still waters and if they remain still too long, the waters grow a little stagnant.  In stillness, we cease from the major movements so we can refocus. In calmness, we begin to order our steps again in the direction which seems to carry us forward as we need to go.

This is where the importance of the last two reminders come into play - seeing and understanding.  As we stop the rush of movement in our lives, we begin to allow a calmness to settle which will make it easier to recognize the subtle changes about to happen. In essence, we are able to "see" the subtle changes and in so doing, God brings us into a place we begin to comprehend what he is doing.  God wants us to understand his movement in our lives - he isn't trying to put "one over on us" all the time!  He engages us in his plans and purposes for our lives when we get still and calm, allowing our spiritual vision to be focused on him and our minds to be open to his instruction.  We often don't get to this place until we have accomplished both the stilling of our busy-ness and the calming of our internal drive.  Just sayin!

No, No, No....Cut!!!!

There are times for each of us when we just lose sight of things in our lives - things which are more important than other things.  In these times, what we do to regain focus is what will make all the difference.  Wouldn't it be much easier to just remain focused?  Of course, but it is hard to maintain focus - it requires us to take action when we might not feel like taking action, redirect our attention when we are becoming distracted, and dig into the Word of God when the answers just don't seem to come.  

Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth; engrave them on a pendant, and hang it around your neck; meditate on them so they are written upon your heart. In this way, you will win the favor of God and others, and they will think well of you. (Proverbs 3:3-4 VOICE)

The basic thing I believe we need to see in our study today is this idea of being directed - one way or the other, the direction we choose is because either we are directed from some desire within, or we have a desire planted from another which motivates us to take some particular course of action.  Where the desire originates from is probably the most important part of us taking any step of action, as we discussed yesterday.  If the desire is from within and is selfishly based (to feed some craving or desire of our flesh), then we will be taking steps, but they may not be in the right direction.

To be focused is to be directed.  In acting, actors and actresses assume a place on the stage. In the beginning, they are looking for the oversight of someone we call the director.  They are very attentive to his words, requirements, and "advice".  As they become more and more familiar with their roles, something happens - they begin to ad lib a little, thinking it "adds to" their role.  As long as this doesn't veer too much from what the director wants to see, he may allow it.  If the times comes where they get too much into this realm of ad lib, the director will stop the production and "re-direct" them.  

Why does he do that?  Isn't it because he has a story to tell and by remaining true to the script, the story will be told in the way the author intended?  Now, in life, God has a story to tell through each of us - one he has authored and wants told pretty close to the original intention of the "script".  We are more than actors and actresses on a stage, but think of life as a stage for a moment.  As we receive our direction from God himself, we are to remain true to the script - following the lead he gives.  Veering too far "off-script" is what gets us into the realm of needing to be "re-directed".  

The "script" of life is filled with words and actions of mercy and grace.  As long as we are remaining true to the script, our lives illustrate what the author intends through our lives. As soon as we get caught up in some self-directed "whim or fancy" which comes from our selfish motives, we drift into this place of "being off-script" (we are "filling in" with a whole lot of ad lib).  The stage of our life is filled, but the quality of what is being shown to others is not at its optimum!

I think we get a little mis-directed on occasion - either because we are listening to some inner voice telling us there is a better way to live life, or because we are caught up in the misdirected "ad lib" of another's actions.  Either way, we will hear the director of our lives (Jesus) tell us to stop and get redirected.  In acting terms, it is when the director tells every one to "cut".  It is understood that the actions come to a screeching halt when this word is spoken.  Why?  They all know they are about to receive some "direction" which will better tell the story.  

Maybe we need to approach redirection in our lives a little more like that - knowing no redirection is meant to criticize or tear us down, but to help us remain "true to the story being told" through our lives.  If we did, maybe we'd be more in tune with the "script" and less willing to accept "ad lib" in our lives.  Just sayin!

Wrong way drivers

If you have ever gone the wrong way, missed the turn-off on the highway, or found yourself turned around in some situation, you know that moment of "how'd I do that" which occurs.  You know what I mean - that moment of sheer panic or rise of stress level within which signals you have just done something you are so sorry you did!  Over recent weeks, there have been various accidents reported on local TV about several "wrong-way drivers" on the freeways around town.  In most cases, lives have been lost because of the "wayward" driving of some motorist heading the wrong direction, often for miles and miles.  What happened to get them on the freeway going in the completely wrong direction, and at what point did they recognize they were maybe headed against traffic? In most cases, there might not have been any warning to the drivers who were so impaired they chose the off-ramp instead of the on-ramp to enter the freeway. It wasn't for the lack of signage announcing they were going the "wrong way" clearly emblazoned on glow in the dark signs with bold white letters against a red background.  It wasn't for the lack of opposing traffic trying to get their attention with horns and lights flashing.  It wasn't for the lack of police officers trying to "catch" the driver to get them to stop.  All these warning signs and alerts, but none of them stopped without either doing serious damage to themselves, physical property, or even the taking of a life.  Some may ask what went wrong, while others might just simply jump to the conclusion they were all impaired drivers.  I cannot comment on either of these conclusions, but I can say this - something very wrong happened regardless of all the warning signs and attempted "advice" to turn back or just plain stop.  Life is kind of like that for us once things get "rolling along", isn't it?  We get so far down the road in some of our moments of wrong decision and find we are just "too far gone" to turn back!

He who is right in his walk is sure in his steps, but he who takes the wrong way will be found out. (Proverbs 10:9 NLV)

We thought we were "sure" in our steps, regardless of what they might have been, only to find we were facing "opposing" traffic in our lives!  We might not have even recognized we were going the "wrong way" until we came up to the place where we recognized we were actually "injured" in the process.  Wrong way decisions are eventually going to leave a mark in our lives - if not physically, there is the emotional and spiritual toll to be considered.  Most of these are compounded because we also hurt relationships we once valued and held so close to our heart.  Then in a moment's "wrong way" pathway we find ourselves bringing what appears to be irreparable harm.  The good news is that no pathway takes us to a place of total "non-repair" in God's hands.  What man may not be able to put together again, his hands have the power to restore and heal.  It would just have been easier to not have taken the path in the first place!

The same things hold true in our lives when we find ourselves walking paths which lead the wrong way.  It isn't because we don't get some kind of warning signs to avoid the "merging" into traffic which is totally opposed to the direction God wants us to take in life.  There are probably more warning signs than we might want to admit - we just block them out of our view or find we are distracted by other things and don't recognize them as they pass us by.  The same is true of all the warnings others attempt to give us.  We hear them talking to us much like the wrong way motorists hear the horns honking, but we just don't "connect" those "sharp blasts" of warning words as meaningful for our lives.  We may even hit a few hazards along the way, slowing us down a little like when a motorist careens into the center divider, but then just keeps on driving.  The vehicle is a little worse for the wear, but they limp along with the damage.  We aren't much different once we get going down the wrong way.  We somehow justify if we got this far there is no turning back.  Oh, we could not be more wrong!  If we'd just stop right there, we might find ourselves a little disoriented and surely in the middle of a muddle, but we often gain perspective if we just stop long enough to notice our dilemma!

Wrong way drivers eventually get "found out".  It is almost impossible to drive the wrong way and not encounter some form of "oncoming resistance" in our path.  Even when we try to row a boat upstream, we find the resistance makes the course we want to take a little more challenging, right?  Going with the flow is easiest most of the time, but trust me, we don't always find ourselves with the "bow of our boat" facing the right direction either!  What we cannot delude ourselves into believing is this idea that our course is too "determined" or "settled" to turn around.  We possess what we need to get back on course, we just have to give up on struggling to stay on course going the totally wrong way!  Often the thing which keeps us on the wrong course is our stubborn pride. We don't want to admit we have noticed we are going the wrong way!  We think this will make us look foolish.  Well, let me just assure you - it looks more foolish to be the only set of headlights headed south when all the other sets are headed north on that road!  Just sayin!

Principle 24: Don't Let Crisis Overwhelm

By definition, a crisis is a "turning point" in a set of circumstances where the future outcome is determined.  As such, the point of crisis in any issue we face is pivotal to where we will end up.  So, understanding how to hold up in the midst of the "turning point" can be the most important part of actually making it through.  Most of us just think of a crisis as something ugly happening to us at the moment and it is a little difficult to endure.  If we begin to see it as a "turning point", we might just handle it differently.

If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place. (Proverbs 24:10 MSG)

As we face crises, the things we focus on make all the difference.  For example, if all we see is the insurmountable odds, we will tend to see only the difficulties and not the possibilities.  Even insurmountable odds have possibilities.  We think of crisis as a point of instability in our lives - when things are just about to cave in around us and take us down with them.  In fact, the upheaval created in the midst of crisis is sometimes what keeps us from being able to focus on anything other than the issues at hand.

It takes a lot of practice to see crisis as a "turning point" in our lives.  It begins when we begin to take a step back from the issue, just breathe a little, and then settle into the peace God provides so that we can begin to focus not so much on the upheaval as on the point where victory is determined.  When we are able to step back a little, we get things in perspective.  God's perspective is found at the point of stepping back - there becomes a little clarity in the midst of a whole lot of muck and mire.

A turning point is a place where we actually slow down, consider the direction we are heading, and then take the necessary steps to reposition ourselves in a totally new direction.  As we traverse a highway, we watch the signs which mark our way.  At the right sign, we merge into a totally different flow of traffic, or take an abrupt turn to get us going in a new direction.  Most of life's challenges come complete with "signs" which we must either heed, or find ourselves going in a totally wrong direction.  Learning how to read the signs before we actually need to make the "redirection" actually helps us to be ready for the necessary repositioning of our steps.

We actually learn to read the signs long before we set out on the journey, don't we?  In considering life's challenges, we often learn more about dealing with the uncertainties of these challenges in the quiet times of our lives when we are able to hear and incorporate learning best.  Trying to figure out the signs and how to read the road map while barreling ahead at life's fast pace is not the best methodology for getting to the best destination!  This is probably why I emphasize the importance of time with Jesus everyday.  Not so much out of obligation, but out of necessity - for it is in this quietness and connection where we learn to read the "turning points" in our lives.

Want to face crises like a champ?  Learn to see them not as hurdles to jump over, but as turning points to help steer our lives in a direction which will bring growth and increased wisdom.  As long as we are with Jesus in this journey, each turning point can be just that!  Just sayin!

Lessons we probably all need to learn

The end of the day has come, labors have all just about ended, and you are envisioning a nice bit of sea bass cooked over the fire with a side of some freshly harvested vegetable from your garden.  Then all of a sudden, you vision is broken in upon by an "outsider" almost putting himself upon you to get you to back at work.  At first, it doesn't seem like much - he only wants to use your boat - not too far from shore - so dinner will be a little delayed, but you can soak up a few rays and enjoy the gentle rocking of the boat as it drifts on the still waters.  So, why not?  After all, he is quite popular and he tells stories people really like to hear.  As you lay there gently lulled by the slight lapping of the waters against the side of your boat, your ease is interrupted by another request - this time a little harder to take than his first. At first, you complain a little - something we all are given to at times.  Then you go about explaining how this request is a little unreasonable - something we also engage in whenever we think the request is just a little bit beyond what we'd really like to be doing.  What we do in response to the hard requests makes all the difference, though!  We can reject the request as unreasonable and a little too much for us, or we can make excuses for why it won't work for us to do what is asked, but either way, we miss out on some pretty significant blessings when we do!

Once when he was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the crowd was pushing in on him to better hear the Word of God. He noticed two boats tied up. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets. He climbed into the boat that was Simon’s and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Sitting there, using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the crowd.  When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, “Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch.” Simon said, “Master, we’ve been fishing hard all night and haven’t caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I’ll let out the nets.” It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch. Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. “Master, leave. I’m a sinner and can’t handle this holiness. Leave me to myself.” When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee’s sons, coworkers with Simon.  Jesus said to Simon, “There is nothing to fear. From now on you’ll be fishing for men and women.” They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him.  (Luke 5:1-11 MSG)

A couple of thoughts from our passage this morning:

- The crowds push in to better hear what he is saying.  I don't know about you, but I think nothing is worse than to be at the back of the crowd, wanting to hear what is being said, but despite all your straining to hear, you still cannot make it out clearly.  When someone finally picks up the microphone and asks if we can hear them now, I am relieved to not have to "press" so hard to hear what is being said.  Yet, in the pressing in there is something which I want each of not to miss - the urgency to hear, to make out what is being said, to make that connection with the one speaking.  Sometimes I think "taking up the microphone" is okay - because it makes it a little easier to hear, but it also lessens the intensity I must exert in order to hear!  Maybe pressing in is not so bad of an idea.

- Jesus always used what he had at his access.  We don't find stories of Jesus supernaturally creating a pulpit so he could preach, or having manna rain down from heaven so the crowds could eat.  In fact, we repeatedly observe him using what was made available to him - what others placed at his disposal. He used the water in the jugs which someone already drew from the well to make the wine.  He makes a little mud out of dirt and spit to anoint the eyes of the blind man.  He gathers the few fish and loaves to feed the multitudes. He uses the fisherman's boat and the gentle waters of the lake to provide a pulpit and amplify his voice for the crowds.  What is put at his disposal will be put to gracious use by this one we know as Jesus - Savior, Creator, and Lord.

- Even when we think he is finished teaching, there is always another lesson just waiting to be learned.  This might be the hardest thing for us to grasp, but the lessons he teaches are everywhere - we just need to be open to the opportunities.  There is "formal" teaching - more like what we get from the pulpit on Sundays.  Then there is this "informal" teaching - much like the lessons we learn when we are "at work" doing what it is we normally do. Yesterday, my older brother was kind enough to give up his morning to help me assemble a shed.  I had many of the pieces already put together, but just needed his extra set of hands.  As we struggled getting some of the pieces to interlock as they should, we tried numerous things to try to get the connection to occur as the manufacturer had designed.  Yet, in all our struggling, filing, drilling, shaving away, and pounding, nothing seemed to work.  In a moment of almost giving up, I looked at him and suggested we undo the screws holding the floor together.  He doubted it would work, but low and behold, as soon as four tiny screws were let loose, the structure could shift that 1/8" to allow the piece to glide into place.  He looked at me in amazement and asked how I figured that one out.  I told him I just saw it didn't look "plumb" on the edges, so I thought maybe the little shift could make the difference.  It did! Sometimes the lessons come in the "regular" stuff of our lives - like putting together a shed.  It doesn't take much for us to be "out of plumb" - but it also doesn't take much for us to "re-align" to plumb!  When we do, the plan God designed "fits" perfectly!

- We don't expect much, but are frequently dazzled by the greatness of our God.  It shouldn't surprise any of us that we set our eyes and hearts far below the greatness God designs for us.  He sees the harvest before us, even when we think nothing exists.  When we take even the first step toward responding to what he asks, the "haul" begins!  We cannot always see what is just beneath the surface in our lives, but he can.  When he asks for us to "cast our nets", the excuses have to go!  We need to remember he is the Lord of the Harvest and he knows what he has in store for us.  Cast those nets and see his goodness!  I don't honestly believe any of us will be disappointed!

- His greatness and goodness often humble us.  There is a difference though between being humbled and feeling shame.  Shame is not from God - it puts us down and keeps us bound by the past.  Humility recognizes the need for God to touch what we are powerless to fix.  Humility allows the past to be put in the past and opens us to receive the direction for our future.  Peter didn't know what was in store for him that day, but humbled by Jesus and opened to receiving something new, he took the bold steps into his future.  We might just need to do the same.  Just sayin!

Are you aspiring or ambitious?

Have you ever experienced one of those "empty-head" moments when you just do something and then look back and say to yourself, "Now why'd I do THAT"? I think we probably all have at some point.  We just plunge right in and then in retrospect, we kind of wonder how we ever got as "messed up" as we did. It was probably because we had one of those times when we just didn't stop long enough to consider the consequences of what we were doing - the scripture calls this being "empty-headed".  These empty-headed decisions are really not built on a solid foundation, therefore they will not turn out well. Our conduct may be fun for a while, but eventually empty-headed decisions catch up with us.  Mindful decisions are marked by attentiveness, awareness, and great care.  These types of decisions make for a much better outcome - their foundation is a lot stronger and more enduring.

An empty-head thinks mischief is fun, but a mindful person relishes wisdom. The aspirations of good people end in celebration; the ambitions of bad people crash.  The speech of a good person clears the air; the words of the wicked pollute it.  (Proverbs 10:23, 28, 32 MSG)

I have to ask - are you a planner?  If so, would you say you lean more to the side of being a "schemer" or a "developer"?  A schemer leans to the side of embracing the impractical - they have a plan, but it may not be well thought out.  The developer leans to the side of development - allowing one piece to build upon another until they see the result of the finished work.  Scripture promises the planner a much better outcome than the schemer.  Why?  There is a tendency for the planner to stop long enough to get God's perspective on the matter, while the schemer just takes off, hoping God will back them in their plan.  I have to admit, I have been on both sides of the fence on this one!  I can be the best of planners and the worst of schemers!  So, I speak from experience on this one.  I have had some of those empty-headed moments - but I'd like to think I have come full circle to becoming more mindful.  A mindful person really has their "mind full", but with the right stuff!

The godly rest secure - because they can do so when their plans are made and acted upon in God's sight.  The fool might just make a few of their decision under the cover of "darkness" - kind of like they hope to "fly under the radar" on some of them!  It took me a long while to realize God doesn't need the radar!  His powers of observations far outdo the radar - so there is really no "flying under the radar" with him!  Mischief - ever stop to consider this word? It dawned on me it could be written as "MIS-Chief".  In other words, the control (chief) in our lives is "misplaced".  We determine to be "chief" instead of keeping God at the center.  Anytime we do this, we are open to some pretty empty-headed decisions and actions!  Mischief is really anything which will bring hurt or damage - getting anything but God at the center of our decisions is sure to produce both.

Aspirations - the goal or objective of your focus.  The goals or objectives of a godly man or woman end in celebration - because the desire, longing, or aim of their hearts is to please only one.  The godly are contrasted to the foolish who don't have aspirations, but ambitions.  Ambitions are some pursuit which will result in a distinguished honor, power, fame, or even wealth.  Some might think aspirations and ambitions are closely related - they wouldn't be wrong, but it is the "intent" behind each which determines if they are right for a child of God.  The focus of our minds, hearts, and spirit is what is brought into question here.  If it is God and no other (including ourselves), then we are likely pursuing aspirations born in our heart by God himself.  If we really have no idea where God fits into the picture of whatever we are pursuing, it is likely an ambition and might just be one of those "empty headed" moments!

Aspirations and ambitions come across in our speech.  What we are entertaining in our minds eventually comes across in what we are saying.  The godly lean toward speech which is helpful and productive - the fool tends toward the speech which really sounds good, but isn't backed by anything of real value.  The wise offer words of good advice - the fool cannot help but deceive others because he is deceiving himself by his own empty-headed decisions.  The wise will speak what ends in blessing to the hearer, and ultimately even brings blessing into their own lives.  The fool will speak what tends to corrupt, ending in destruction to those who hear and embrace the fool-hardy advice of the empty-headed.  Our words are good indicators of the condition of our soul and emotional well-being.  If pure, then our words are usually reflective of a heart right with God.  

I want to end with another verse from the same portion of scripture this morning:  When the storm is over, there’s nothing left of the wicked; good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren’t even fazed.  (vs. 25 MSG)  Putting this all together, here's what we can observe:

- When we allow our minds to be governed by the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we make better decisions.  The "quality" of our decisions to act are based on a solid foundation.  The result of the "well-planned" actions which are the result of having the right focus will end in better outcomes.

- We can have a lot of ambition and still totally miss the mark in the end. Ambition alone will not stand the test of time, or the challenge of testing. We need the desires of our heart to be filtered through the mind and heart of Christ. Until this occurs, we are just seeking ambitions - we never really move into aspirations.

- What stands the test of time is not the empty-headed decisions, but the well-rounded decisions of a heart willing to wait on God for his direction. Getting his perspective makes all the difference when the storms challenge our decisions.  Just sayin!

Autopia Trivia

Oh, that my ways were directed and established to observe Your statutes [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]!  Then shall I not be put to shame [by failing to inherit Your promises] when I have respect to all Your commandments.  I will praise and give thanks to You with uprightness of heart when I learn [by sanctified experiences] Your righteous judgments [Your decisions against and punishments for particular lines of thought and conduct].  (Psalm 119:5-7 AMP)

How many times do we pray something like this to God?  We cry out to him, asking him to set our ways straight again because somehow we have managed to stray from the path we should be on.  David's plea - direct and establish my ways - not to live as I want, but to observe your Word in its entirety.  A "directed" life is one which both guided and regulated, so the course is certain.  It is like when I used to ride the "Autopia" ride at Disneyland as a child - I had no idea the metal bar which ran between the two tires actually was keeping me on my course!  It was there for my safety - but I just rode along like I was mastering the road and watching the world pass me by as I maneuvered the twists and turns.  I thought I was driving - directing the course of the vehicle.  In fact, someone with a whole lot more common sense than to give control of a vehicle to a child had my safety in mind!  The same is true of our lives in Christ - sure we don't have a metal bar between our "tires", but we full the pull and tug of veering from course, don't we?  

The metal bar on the car ride was there to act as a mediator - it pushed me back on course when I turned to sharply to the right or left.  It "established" the course of the vehicle in which I was riding.  I wonder if we actually realize how much God is "establishing" the course of our lives, not with a metal bar, but with his Word?  As we hear the Word, taking in its richness and promise, it forms the basis for our travels in life.  As I drove that tiny car along a designated track, unlimited power existed - but only as long as I stayed on the track!  I could not operate those little cars off the track - there was something about the track which gave them the "structure" in which they were designed to be operated.  Disney envisioned the ride as the freeway of the future - but kids just saw it as plain fun!  God envisions the "track" he provides through the intake of his Word as providing the "freeway" for each of our future endeavors - wouldn't it be great if we saw his Word as just plain fun for our lives!  

The little cars on that track also had one other feature designed for safety - they were "one-wheel" drive.  In other words, one wheel actually moved the vehicle forward.  Interestingly, God has the same vision in mind for us - that we be "one-wheel" driven!  He is the one who is designed to turn our wheel - not just the one who designs the course upon which our lives will travel.  The "drive" of our lives would be ugly if there were two wheels each pulling in opposite directions.  Imagine the wear and tear on the other wheels!  Not to mention the other working parts of the vehicle!  No wonder God requires there be just one wheel driving!  I don't know about you, but when he drives, I get to my destination the first time!

There was one other little feature in these cars which says something to me about how God's Word, taken in regularly, applied consistently to our lives, affects how we arrive at our destination.  The feature - the pedal.  To someone unknowing, this pedal resembles the gas pedal of the sports car.  To the designer, it is both the accelerator AND the brake.  The Word of God is kind of like both in our lives - accelerating us into times of growth, holding us back when the next movement would cause us harm.  As you pushed on the pedal of these little cars, they moved forward, under the drive of one wheel.  As you took your foot off the pedal, they stopped - not gradually, but immediately - because the "drive" was disengaged.  God's Word gives us this kind of protection - something we lack on our own.

So, not a real "spiritual" lesson today, but thought maybe you could see the importance of the regular and consistent intake of the Word as it applies to keeping us on track in life.  What we take in becomes important in determining the path it will lead us.  Just sayin!