Just stand

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (I Peter 5:7)

All, not just some. Give them all to God. Seems easy enough, right? Nope! It isn't all that easy because we have this tendency to 'hold onto' just a few more worries than we should. The trouble with that is we aren't allowing the one who can 'take care' of them to handle them. Taking on the burden of those cares is not our 'duty' or even our 'privilege'. It is sin! God tells us to give him all our cares, so when we hold onto them so tightly, worrying them along, we get buried under a load of weight, some of which is the guilt we experience by not letting them go. 

Our shoulders weren't meant to bear that burden. All we can do in life is our 'best', then we leave the rest to Jesus. If we have done our part, we need to allow him to do his. The issue comes when we think 'our part' goes way beyond where it should go. Our 'best' is done now, then Jesus does his best as things unfold. The obedience we manifest today might not solve all the problems we are facing, but that tiny bit of obedience today leads to God's big interventions tomorrow and on down the road. We need to learn that God really does care about us - these are more than mere words that sound good. They are truth and we need to allow them to become reality in our lives.

I have frequent spoken of roots - deep roots find what they are after - nourishment and refreshment. God's plan is for troubles or worries to drive our roots deeper, but too frequently we focus on the problem and forget that we could tap into something much greater than the problem if we just keep ourselves 'rooted' in Jesus. Truth is that we rarely get life 'perfect', right? If we do our best, then give God the ability and 'permission' to actually do what he does best, we might just find ourselves a little less anxious, more at peace with our circumstances, and deeply 'solid' in our faith. 

When we have done all God asks, then we stand. We stand in faith, stronger than we look, and even stronger than we may feel at times. God will work out the rest, but we have to give him the chance to do 'his thing'. It is likely time we all learn to trust God with what we cannot do, what we might have tried to 'overdo', and just stand. 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!

Enduring within

Let me introduce you to Peter - a brash, outspoken leader who sometimes didn't get it all right, made impetuous decisions, too afraid to admit his association with someone others didn't exactly like, and who acted rashly on more than one occasion. Even though he wasn't all that 'perfect' in many of those day-to-day decisions, he was one of the founding fathers of the New Testament Church. Nero was the ruler of his day, and his reign didn't exactly leave those who followed Christ in a comfortable position. In fact, he'd as soon persecute them than support them. He often used them as scapegoats, blaming them for some vile action he had taken himself. Toward the end of Peter's life, he pens the letters to the Church at Rome and the 'aliens scattered abroad'. Being scattered leaves one feeling a bit disconnected from others - from the 'roots' one had formed and the protections one had enjoyed.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. (I Peter 1:3-5)

As Peter opens his letter to the church, we find him emphasizing the extreme goodness of God's grace. What better place to begin than at the cross? We sometimes need to be reminded of our great inheritance in Christ Jesus. We see the commotion of the day, listen to the reports of one bad event right after another, taking in images of all manner of destruction, and we get a little despondent, don't we? Peter's reminder should ring out - we have been given much in Christ Jesus - an inheritance that is pure and undefiled by all this world can do to us or bring into our lives. So, stand strong in the midst of persecution; hold fast in times of great trial; and look ever upward when doubts assail. 

When our focus is on what is happening around us, on the worldly affairs that threaten our peace, we lose perspective. We will feel disappointment and dismay. When our focus is on whose we are, what we have been given within this relationship, and the protection that we enjoy because of this deep connection, we rise above the frightful things of the day. Christ did the impossible - he endured the cross, the agony of death, and the cold grave. He rose on the third day, ascended into heaven, returned to his disciples and sent his Holy Spirit to indwell them. He promised to come again, in the fullness of time and with the strength of all of heaven behind him. When our focus is on him, we have a different perspective of the problems at hand, don't we?

If today's issues seem like they are too big, tragic, or beyond your control, they probably are! BUT...they aren't beyond his! We might not see beyond the tragedy of the moment, but God sees the glory he has prepared for all those who endure it 'within' his presence. Just sayin!

Will it really matter in the long run?

Are you easy to get along with? The "characters" within the groups we interact with each day make it a little harder for us to score a perfect ten in this "getting along" category at times. According to what James tells us, a holy life is characterized by getting along with others. Uh oh - now I have gone to meddling! If we can 'get along' consistently, it must be because we are embracing this life of God's wisdom, and not living by the whim or fancy of our mood or someone else's attitude! 

Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. (James 3:17-18)

"Getting along" with others doesn't mean we always go along with what the other person proposes, following along in a subservient manner, does it? No, but it does mean we work together for the common good and strive to reduce the "points of friction" within our relationships as much as possible - even when it means we give a little on the things which really don't matter in the long run. Notice I did not say we "give a little" on the things which make up the minimum standards of right living God requires - such as adhering to the truth, keeping Christ at the center, and denying self. 

There are some "grey areas" we can agree to spend less time fretting about, though. For example, one of the controversies in the teen population vs. parents and pastors might be the topic of tattoos. Try as I might, I could not find any specific passages that actually dealt with tattoos. There were vague passages about not defiling the body, and of course, treating it as a temple of the Holy Spirit. We could go back to the Levitical Law and see that Israel was instructed not to make any cuts in their body or tattoos on their body. So, scripture did declare tattoos off-limits for Israel - because they were part of ancient cultic practices, not because they were tattoos. It was related to a practice of the times linking the marking of one's body as a sign of your allegiance and dedication to a cult. Today's tattooing practices may not have the same significance. My daughter has one - my son several. Did I really approve of them having them? No, but could I compromise on their desire to have this artwork on their body? Yes. Why? They weren't doing it to mark themselves for Satan or some cultic leader. Would I get one myself? I really don't think so, simply because I don't like pain!

I knew their heart wasn't to mark themselves for demonic practices - so holding hard and fast to some Old Testament rule would be going against the principles of grace Christ proclaimed in the New Testament. Did I delight in their tattoos? No, but I delighted in the kids and valued the relationship with the kids above all. This seemed to be what God wanted me to understand and hold onto when this subject came up in our own home - so although it would not have been my choice, I wouldn't allow a wedge to be driven between us because it was theirs. Sometimes we know something is clearly wrong and that is when we take a stand. On those other areas where we sense there is not really any danger of this "thing" they desire moving them away from God, I think we would do well to "not sweat it".

I think this is what God has in mind for us in treating each other with dignity and respect. As long as the choices aren't compromising truth, we can allow them. God doesn't care if we eat pork, beef, or are vegan. He doesn't care if we worship on Saturday or Sunday. He doesn't fret about whether we wear dresses to church or jeans. He doesn't care if we read the original King James Version of the Bible or a paraphrase. He DOES care about us knowing truth, adhering to it, engaging with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and doing everything to help each other grow. Maybe some of the stuff we stress about, which ultimately makes us a little less than agreeable with each other, is really not worth the stress! Just sayin!

Stop bullying me!

Has it been one of those seasons where no matter how hard you try to move one step forward, you feel like you are taking two steps backward? No matter what you do, you just cannot seem to break free of whatever it is that is keeping you in the muddle and trials you are in. Sometimes I think this 'muddle' is just my own doing - because I have bitten off way more than I can chew. My plate is overloaded and the only way to be clear of the pressure is to get some of the stuff off my plate which really doesn't belong there in the first place. There are other times when I just cannot tell you why I am feeling a little oppressed and pushed down, but it happens more than I'd like to admit. I think those times might just be when the enemy of my soul wants me to get distracted from what is important in life - adding muddle and mess wherever he can. How about you? Sometimes you just need to push some of the stuff back off your plate, other times you might just need to push back against the one who is "bullying" your soul!

God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. (Ephesians 6:10-12)

The devil beats us up unnecessarily for he is already defeated - he is just doing his best to convince us otherwise! If we'd learn to put on the full armor we are given and actually use it to resist the attacks of the enemy of our souls, we might just be able to hold our ground against his attacks! Lest we think he doesn't know where to attack us in our lives, be assured of this - there is nothing "uncommon" in our struggles that others have not already struggled with. He just knows how we ALL struggle - so he uses these "common" areas as a means to get us focused on the stuff that gets us down and under the weight of life in general. Lest we think our enemy has no plan of attack - let me assure you, we probably give him some "hints" about how it is we can be attacked! Hints like us not being very kind in our responses when we are tired, or like when we don't plan ahead well and leave late for a specific appointment, then get all bogged down in traffic. We sometimes like to blame him for these events, but in actuality, these are common struggles for all of us, so if he can use them to his benefit, he will! He doesn't necessarily make us tired, nor does he send the traffic - but he will use them to get us to take our eyes off what really matters.

He will often get us to focus on what more can be added into our day, and this gets us into our trouble. If someone does something that we may not normally react to, but in our tiredness, we somehow "read more into it" than we should, we might respond with the feeling a bit of stress added to our day. We "add into" the situation because of our own interpretation of the circumstances viewed through already overextended and over-tired eyes! We know we need to spend time within our relationships - "quality time" - while not being distracted and focused intentionally on each other. Then we get this genius idea to just combine a little work with the pleasure and we somehow no longer have this non-distracted, intentional focus in the "quality time". He will get us to considering the "alternatives" to the way we know we should go, and we get duped again. We could do something this way, OR we could do it another way, often presented as the easier way. We could sweep the floor, or just kick the crumbs under the throw rug! The alternative which seems so much easier is presented to us, usually in such a way that suggests we were entitled to have it be this easy in the first place. Just a little advice here - what appears too easily accomplished or obtained is usually not the best plan!

Adding things into our day adds complications we didn't need. Taking the easy way presents short-cuts which really do little to simplify our lives and usually just delay the original plan. Since the Garden of Eden, our enemy has been using the same two tactics. If we become aware of how he operates, we might just be able to resist his attacks a little easier. God is strong and he wants us strong. What we do with the wisdom we are given will ultimately determine how strong we will stand. What are we given? "Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out." (Ephesians 6:13-18)

Be prepared. The only attacks which are successful in our lives are when we don't prepare well. If we did a little "up front" consideration of what we put on our plate, or what will impact our ability to finish well, we might take a little less into our grasp! We cannot handle this alone. We need others who will come along side, especially the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We want relationship, but we don't take the time to invest in it. We are robbed of one of our greatest weapons against his attacks whenever we attempt to stand alone. The value of well-developed relationships is best understood in the times of our deepest personal need. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation - weapons in their own right. Truth sets us straight, so we aren't duped into believing our own vain imaginations. Righteousness helps us stand upright when all of our enemy's hosts would want us to look backward at our failures. Peace determines the steadiness of our walk and gives us the assurance we don't walk alone. Faith keeps us directed on what we cannot see, but what we have come to accept and stand on as true in our live. Salvation is the anchor which holds us when we might want to drift.

We need to talk WITH God. Prayer is more than talking TO God - it is talking WITH God. Two-way conversation - open to receive what he gives. We sell ourselves short when all we come to do is TELL God and never stop to LISTEN TO God. Most of the time, it is in these listening times where we discover we have been giving into the "AND" and the "OR" tactics of our enemy. In these moments of being WITH Jesus, we discover we didn't need the "AND" and we cannot count on the "OR". Time to stop being 'bullied' into believing otherwise! Just sayin!

Not every stone is a stumbling block

While Samuel was offering the sacrifice, the Philistines came within range to fight Israel. Just then God thundered, a huge thunderclap exploding among the Philistines. They panicked—mass confusion!—and ran helter-skelter from Israel. Israel poured out of Mizpah and gave chase, killing Philistines right and left, to a point just beyond Beth Car. Samuel took a single rock and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it “Ebenezer” (Rock of Help), saying, “This marks the place where God helped us.” (I Samuel 7:10-12)

Israel had allowed the unthinkable to happen - they had compromised their stand with God by taking on the worship of idols and the practices of the lands around them. This was something God had warned them not to do. As a result, they lost the help of God in the midst of their battles - to those who don't know this portion of the Old Testament, it was the Ark of the Covenant - the 'place' of God's presence. The armies of the Philistines were known for their superior weaponry, often causing great fear or panic in all those they faced in battle. The Israelites were facing this huge army of Philistines - not having done so well without God's presence, they hoped the return of the ark might have "changed their fortunes". Samuel addresses them, seeking to see if the Israelite's jubilation over the return of the ark was just surface deep, or if there was some root of repentance which went way deeper. He hears the solemn plea of the leaders - we want to return to our first love - God! Nothing rings clearer in the ears of God than a plea to return to his presence! Samuel instructs them to "clean house" - to get rid of all their foreign gods, their false idols, and to ground themselves firmly in God. Most of us can associate with the people of Israel. We have our own "false gods" that attract so much of our attention and seem to make us oblivious to the fact God is no longer central in our lives. We may not be worshiping some carved pole with images of the false gods on them, but we do worship something other than God. 

Hear the cry of God's heart - he is calling us to get rid of whatever takes our attention away from him and to ground ourselves firmly in his presence! Israel's commitment to get rid of their idols - to "clean house" - resulted in a fear in the hearts of the Philistines. The centering of the hearts of God's people on him and him alone put more fear into the hearts of the Philistines than the mighty weapons of Israel's greatest enemy put in theirs! I don't know about you, but whenever I have my focus on the enemy and not squarely on God, I have a tendency to fear whatever it is the enemy is wielding in my path! When I squarely center my focus on God and God alone, my perception changes entirely! The enemy is still there - the Philistines didn't move away from Israel. In fact, they watched from the periphery as Israel went through the process of "cleaning house"! Don't ever think for one moment that your enemy doesn't see your change in focus - he knows when your eyes are firmly fixed on the one true God. He doesn't know when he should turn tail and run. What happens next should not be missed - Israel begins to pursue the Philistines instead of them pursuing Israel!

What our enemy fails to recognize is the potential and power of a people who have God central in their lives. It might enrage him a little to see us make a move toward "cleaning house" and getting our lives "centered" again, so be on the lookout for the attack. Israel may not have seen it coming - but God did! When the Philistines see the change in Israel, they get enraged and go on the offensive. They are ready to come down hard on Israel, but...God is prepared to come down harder on the Philistines! Guess what invoked fear into the Philistines? It wasn't some mighty weaponry wielded by the Israelites, or massive forces beyond number. It was thunder! Thunder-claps from heaven sent them running! When God sets the enemy in motion running AWAY from us, it is time to give chase! We may want to just stand there and relish the moment of relief having the enemy finally out of our face for a while, but God's plan is quite different - he expects us to give chase! To pursue so as to overcome and "take no prisoners"! This is exactly the opposite of what most of us do - we choose rather to accept the thunder-claps of God as our "intervention" and our "deliverance", but we fail to make an end to the enemy's attack by pursuing him when he is on the run. Silly us! What better time to overcome him than when he is confused by the power of our God?

As Israel pursued the Philistines, striking them down in massive numbers, Samuel does something interesting. He took one single rock and set it up. Not a pile of rocks, not a pillar of massive proportion, but one single rock. One rock - maybe it speaks of what Israel was called to remember - there is but one rock upon which we stand - Christ and Christ alone! Maybe it was a symbol of what Israel had done - getting grounded in God again. I am not quite sure what symbolism it has for you, but these two thoughts come to mind for me this morning. I don't know what your "Ebenezer" stone will be, but I do know this: God's not content to have us stand on anything other than his grace. It is the firmest foundation upon which we can face our enemy. Just sayin!

Help our unbelief

Some stand on the cliff-edge today - fearing the doom that awaits with just one misstep. The darkness of the vast expanse below brings swells of fear and apprehension. They might even feel a little 'hemmed in' because there appears to be no way to turn back safely. It seems like the footing once secure and rock solid is slipping away, small pieces cascading over that cliff-edge, never to be seen again.

Some find the winds and waves of present circumstances rocking them to and fro, unable to sail a straight course because there is nothing but opposition in your sails. The harder they attempt to choose the correct course, the more the swells seem to pitch them this direction and that, until they are so unsteady and fearing the capsizing of all that they have come to know as their place of protection.

Others feel the ground beneath them trembling, rumblings coming from deep within spaces they have never seen. The ground beneath seems to open up, separating them from what they once knew as 'solid relationships' - huge rents coming between those they have once found such joyful experiences with. There seems to be no warning - just tiny rumblings, leading to much greater rumblings, shaking them to the core until what was once solid is now left in ruins.

Before the rush and roar of the oceans - God stands firm and steady. Beyond the cliff-edge darkness - God's light shines bright. Behind that renting relationship - God stands strong and mighty. The supernatural power of God's presence can bring the dead to life, the hurting soul into places of grace, and the tumultuous relationships into a place of health and unity once again. 

God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in sea storm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us. (Psalm 46:1)

God is a SAFE place to hide - not to escape, but to be made whole, secure, safe, and able to stand when all else says there is no way for your to every make it through what you are going through right now. God protects - he fights for us. Not against us - FOR us. All the world may fight against us - edges crumbling away, tossing us to and fro, rending what was once rock solid. All the grace of God fights FOR us. 

God-of-the-Angel-Armies --- this is who pulls us back from the crumbling cliff-edge. He is the one who stands just beyond the winds and waves, ready to bring us safely to shore. He is the one stronger than any rending influence our relationships might encounter. With the amassed armies of angels, he comes swiftly to our side - there we are secure and protected. We may not see them around us right now, but they are there - because he is there! Just sayin!

A little prep now makes sense

The training a soldier receives is for one purpose - to be prepared for the battle. Not to be prepared just in case there might be a battle someday in the distant future. It is training to be prepared - regardless of the battle, foe, or challenge. There is a great deal of attention that must be paid in "being prepared" - it involves mind being ready, body being physically prepared, and gear all being in solid working order. Another important part of the soldier's training is that of learning how to use the gear and when it is the appropriate time for each piece of gear. I was issued so much stuff - winter and summer gear - combat and survival gear. Each had a purpose and I had to learn how each piece functioned. If I didn't know how to dismantle my weapon and put it back together perfectly, it could mean the loss of life! Scripture describes the fact that we must learn how to apply the various weapons / pieces of armor we are provided in this Christian walk. It s something we must learn - it does not come naturally to us.

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. (Ephesians 6:13-18)

Here we find the reminder we are up against way more than we can handle on our own. Mark my words, we may try repeatedly to handle what life throws our way without ever seeking God in the midst of it, but we won't handle it well when we do! We need God's help - and he stands at the ready to do just that. God has "issued" us certain weapons - things we have at our disposal that we must become proficient at using. I was issued a rifle as a soldier. I learned how to handle that weapon - everything from zeroing its sights, cleaning its many parts, and actually firing it with expert proficiency. It became a tool in my hands that was to be used, if warranted, in the defense of my life and the life of my peer. So it is with the weapons of warfare that God has given us - the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, Prayer, abundant Faith, and even everlasting Peace. Regardless of the "weapon", each serves a purpose in our "arsenal" of defense against the enemy of our souls.

Paul reminds us that these are more than mere words on a page - they are true life "tools" we must become skillful in implementing. We need to learn how to pray - not just pouring our hearts out to God asking for his help, but in supporting each other in prayerful battle. We must get truth into our minds so it effects our daily walk - keeping us steady when the enemy tries to offer deceptive tactics. There is stability in learning what it is to stand in the peace of God - unwavering because we know that we are in Christ and he is in us. Regardless of the "tool" provided, if is never used, the tool is useless. Every weapon / tool provided for both our defense and our offense are necessary. The skill of learning how to use each of them is often best learned from others who have already learned - just like I learned to fire my rifle on the firing range with a group of instructors who were expert marksmen. Yes, we will learn much on our own, just us and God. Yet there is much to be learned from each other - so come alongside one who has walked through many a battle and learn how they have used the weapons of our warfare in their lives. The fact remains - we need to learn how to apply the weapons (utilize the tools we have been given) because we will need them all our lives!

We are not exempt from learning how to use these weapons - there is a command in this passage to learn them and learn them well. Where a command exists, there is implied obedience as an expectation. Therefore, it is imperative that we don't take for granted what we have been given for our defense. Preparation is a process of making ready. Are you ready for the battle? Are you ready to stand strong? Are you ready to stand for another when they can barely stand alone any longer? The invitation is to be prepared - not just for yourself, but for the guy or gal next to you, so learn how to use your weapons of warfare well! Just sayin!