God in the Surprises - Part 2

God provides hope even when life takes a surprising turn.

God in the Surprises - Part 1

God's constant presence even when life takes a surprising turn.

Stay At Home Matters - Part 5

A quick look at Proverbs 4:23-27

Stay At Home Matters - Part 4

A quick look at James 4:13-15 and James 1:2-4, 5

Stay At Home Matters - Part 3

A quick look at Ephesians 4:17, 22-24 and Colossians 3:1-2

Stay At Home Matters - Part 2

A quick look at Philippians 3:12-14

Stay At Home Matters - Part 1

 

A quick look at Romans 5:3-5

Reminders

A couple of weeks ago, we had the privilege of gathering to worship with many friends at a previous church ministry. We always enjoy returning "home" to see familiar faces and catch up on what is going on in the lives of others. As the service closed, a particular song was sung...a well known, well traveled classic..."Be Still My Soul".

Sometimes, the road that God allows us to go down is challenging...that would describe our road lately. But the truth remains that God is still at work and He is with us each step of the journey. As I listened (because I could not get anything to come from my mouth without tears), I thought on the powerful concepts contained in the words of this song. Concepts like "the Lord is on my side"; "patiently wait in difficult times"; "leave to God to order and provide"; "He will remain faithful"; "He guides in the future as He has in the past"; "don't let anything shake your confidence in Him"; "on the dark path we understand better His love and His heart"; "someday a better time and place is coming"; "praise needs to begin now and be directed to Him". Great concepts that I needed to be reminded of and hold tightly to.

Read (and maybe sing) these words for yourself right here:

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. 

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
 
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
 
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
 
Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

Public Domain

Making Much of Him

These days I am enjoying some quality quiet time in my car during my lengthy travels back and forth to work.  It has given me the opportunity to listen to some great talks, podcasts and music.  The other evening as I made my way home I was particularly struck by a very familiar song from one of my favorite artists.  With my mind focused on this time of the year I sang along with Steven Curtis Chapman's "Much About You" and the words seemed to shine in a little different light.

As many of you may know, right about now my wife loves to have each member of our family set some goals for the new year (typical A-type)!  I always tend to hold back some, not because I don't want to accomplish anything in the coming year and not out of fear that I might possibly fail in completing my stated goals.  No, I think its simply because I am not an A-type!  I do want to have purpose in the upcoming year.  I do want to see all that God has for me.  I do want to accomplish some amazing things...but why?

I think for this coming year, more than other years in the past, I want to make much of God.  I want Him to be seen in my life (John 3:30).  I want to give Him more credit for what He is doing (Luke 5:26).  I want to be busy at the work He has given me to do, but not with the goal of bringing the attention my way, but rather His way.

So, as you read through the words of this song below, may your mind and heart be captivated as mine were and together, may we offer our lives to be taken and used to "make much of Him" in 2013.

Much Of You
"How could I stand here
And watch the sun rise
Follow the mountains
Where they touch the sky
Ponder the vastness
And the depths of the sea
And think for a moment
The point of it all was to make much of me
Cause I'm just a whisper
And You are the thunder and

I want to make much of You, Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You

And how can I kneel here
And think of the cross
The thorns and the whip and the nails and the spear
The infinite cost
To purchase my pardon
And bear all my shame
To think I have anything worth boasting in except for Your name
Cause I am a sinner
And You are the Savior

I want to make much of You, Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You

This is Your love, oh God
Not to make much of me
But to send Your own son
So that we could make much of You
For all eternity

I want to make much of You Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You
I want to make much of You
Much of You Jesus"

Lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapman
© 2004 Sparrow Song (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) Primary Wave Brian (Chapman Sp Acct) (Admin. by Wixen Music Publishing, Inc.)

Getting Ready - 2

Day 5
Deuteronomy 18:15-19 speaks of the promise that was to come. God promised that He would raise up a prophet that would come from among his own brothers. God also said that He would place His words in his mouth and that he would teach them all that God had commanded. This prophet to come is Jesus...He was born among His brothers (the Israelites) and He taught as no other man (He spoke as one who had authority).

Moses reminds his fellow Israelites (and us) that we are all "to listen to him". What a thought for this Christmas...that the reason Jesus came to earth was for us to listen to him. Not to question or critique or argue with what He said, but to listen to and to obey what Jesus taught us.

May we be good listeners this year.

Getting Ready - 1

Well, Christmas is almost here again. We prepare for everything...so, how is the preparation going for Christmas? I'm not talking about the decorations or the shopping, but rather, the heart...getting ready for the real reason...the Savior coming to earth in the form of man, a baby.

I, and others, are using a little guide to help us prepare this year. Its called "Christ in Christmas - Advent Devotionals". A simple Scripture reading for each day leading up to Christmas. I want to share my thoughts as I go through this process.

Days 1-4:
Genesis reminds me of the need for it all. Mankind was wonderfully created by God. We were to know Him and be known by Him. We were to enjoy an intimate relationship with Him, but that was all wrecked by sin. The sin had to be punished and that punishment is still with us all today. In the midst of God's dealings with Adam and Eve, hope is still evident...a promise is made...reconciliation is available.

As Isaiah said, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned...For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given...and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

WOW...in the midst of my sin, God still offers me hope, a promise and reconciliation. The God of the universe loves me so much that He would send His Son, His ONLY Son, to bring me back to Himself.

What a great moment in time, when God stepped into our existence to rescue us!

Best Day

A week ago Monday, I had one of the best days in a long time. It didn't even take the whole day...it was just a small portion of the day...but, it made it the best day. The activity was really quite simple, not something that may seem earth-shattering to you. What was it, you ask? Well, after dinner I simply spent time wrestling with my boys on the floor of the family room...rolling around together, letting them get out all that "manly" energy, allowing them to pin me down (that's right...I said "allow" them), laughing together, and just plain being silly and crazy! It was worth it to see their faces and especially to see my wife's face. There was a relaxing sense afterwards that this is what life should be about. No rushed schedule, just some moments alone as a family...spending time just having fun together and showing each other how important they are to us.

Life does get busy...but, as a Dad, I need to take those moments and enjoy them. And then, build in more opportunities to make them happen again and again and again.

My Responsibility

I just finished reading Raising a Modern-Day Knight by Robert Lewis (see it under Recent Reads to the right and click to check it out). Wow, what a great reminder and challenge. My job as a Dad is to help my two boys to become men. I love his definition of manhood: "A man is someone who rejects passivity, accepts responsibility, leads courageously, and expects a greater reward". That is what I want to be and what I want to pass on to my boys, who are fast approaching the time to become men.

Impacting Someone's Eternity

We can become very self-absorbed. Be focused on self and not on others. Look to make ourselves feel good and be happy at the expense or neglect of those around us. Jesus tells the parable in Luke 15 of the shepherd who owns 100 sheep and loses just one of them. He drops everything and goes out to find that one. Once that one is found, the party begins! Friends and neighbors join the celebration for that one sheep that was lost but is now found. The party is not for the other 99 that didn't wander away and get lost...NO...it is for the one that was lost.

Our greatest effort should be to impact the lives of others. We spend so much of our time throwing a party for the already found, when we should be out and seeking those that have wandered away and are lost. Bill Hybels, in his little book, "When Leadership and Discipleship Collide" says this, "What we work for in ministry leadership is the single most important endeavor on planet Earth - the building of the kingdom of God. The potential of this kingdom is greater than any other, and the stakes involved in realizing it are higher. When we get it right, and especially when we don't, we impact people's eternities (emphasis mine)."

WOW...I had to stop after reading that and put the book down...in the quiet of that moment, I had to ask myself...is what I am doing really impacting someone's eternity...really helping them toward the kingdom of God?

What a sobering thought for us all.

So You Had A Bad Day

Have you had one lately??? No, not a V8, but a bad day. How did you respond to it? Do you look forward to those or do you avoid them at all costs? Some bad days are our own fault...others just happen.

In Genesis 37-50, Joseph has many bad days -- Daddy's boy, great clothes, hated by his brothers -- brothers want to kill him, but instead sell him to a passing caravan -- falsely accused by the wife of his boss and thrown into prison -- tells some friends the outcome of their dreams and they forget him in the prison once they get out. But instead of sitting and having a pity party for himself, he does something unique - he views these days through the lenses that God is looking through. He views each of these as part of the plan that God has for him.

When he finally tells his brothers who he is, he says, "...do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you...but God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance" (Genesis 45:5 -7).

Then after his father dies, he assures his brothers again, "...don't be afraid...you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:19-20).

The thought we need to remember is this, "...whatever the circumstance, whatever the testing, whatever the pressure, I'll keep myself useable to God". I will view my bad days through the lens that God is viewing my days through...He is using them to prepare me, so I will keep myself useable for Him.

Understanding God's Timing

In the book of Genesis we read of the man known as Abram (or Abraham). At the age of 75 he is given a promise by God to be a great nation. God calls him to leave his home and go where He leads him (Genesis 12). Abraham willingly follows and does as God has commanded him. But time moves slowly and the great nation doesn't materialize as quickly as Abraham may have expected. He questions God and God reaffirms the promise (Genesis 15). Again, time moves slowly so Abraham and Sarah take matters in their own hands and Abraham has a son by Hagar (Sarah's maidservant). Now, once again, God comes to reaffirm the promise He had made to Abraham (Genesis 17). Abraham laughs at God, as does Sarah, when they hear of God's plan to begin to fulfill the promise when they are both old. Finally, at the age of 100 years old, Abraham and Sarah have the promised son, Isaac (Genesis 21).

Promise made...25 years of waiting...promise kept. In those years Abraham had his ups and downs of believing and obeying the God who made the promise. He even tried to help God out along the way.

Aren't we the same??? Don't we often question the plans of God and the timing of God in our lives? Don't we expect God to move faster or move the way we think He ought to? Don't we step in and try to give God a helping hand every once in a while?

I am struck by the phrase in Genesis 21:2, "Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him". God is never late...He is never forgetful in keeping His promises...He is never too far from us to see us and gently remind us of all that He has promised.

So the question is, will you and I believe the promises of God and wait for Him to accomplish what He wants in our life? Will we put our own timeline aside and allow God to work "at just the right time"?

Doing The Difficult

I've been reading Genesis 6-8 and have been struck by this man called Noah. He was asked by God to do some very difficult things...things that I would consider almost impossible. Build an ark (how big? - it seems like a pretty large boat)...collect two of all the animals (how many different ones are there?)...climb into the ark with those animals and his family and go for a ride (how long will it be?). In all of the above, the questions are the ones that I would have asked. I could also add that famous statement that many in churches say, "(I) We've never done it this way before". But not Noah.

Noah was different. The Scriptures do not record any questions from the mouth of Noah. No ideas of how things might be done differently. No suggestions or other options. Scripture simply makes these statements regarding him: 1) "Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God" (Genesis 6:9) and 2) "Noah did everything just as God commanded him" (Genesis 6:22).

That is what God is calling us to be like. Righteous men and women, standing out in the generation in which we live, doing all that God commands us to do. May God help us to be that generation of people that will make a difference in the time in which we live.

Sovereign One

There is the series of commercials that remind us that "life comes at you fast". And, oh boy, does it! What your status is right now could change in the next moment. The plans you have could be altered instantaneously. You've got to be prepared. You've got to know where you stand and where your feet will land. So what are you holding on to? For me, I will continue to choose to hold on to the hand and the plan of the Sovereign One. God is in control...He never sleeps...He is not surprised or caught off guard...He has my best interests and my good at the very heart of all He does and all that He allows. In my feeble, human thinking I may have my plans and opinions, but they are weak at best and are no match for the thoughts of my God. I will choose to submit to Him and allow Him to do His good work in my life. Read Psalm 50 for more.

Temporary vs Eternal

I am always in a battle with myself when it comes to "things" or "stuff". I struggle with the need to have the newest, the best, the coolest or simply more of whatever. Reading today in Psalm 49, I am reminded that I can't take all this stuff with me (v17), because it will simply be left to others (v10) or will just waste away and rot...it's temporary. However, there is something to go after and that is the eternal stuff...it is "seeing the light of life" (v19)...it is understanding that my relationship with God is eternal. It is striving after God...to know Him...to know that when I die, I will be in His presence forever (v15). That's what I want to be going after today!

I Put My Hope in God

In reading through Psalm 40-43 in my quiet time, I am struck by the struggles that David is going through. And yet his confidence is in God, his hope is in God and he chooses to praise Him in the situations that he finds himself in. So why do I not do the same...why wish to have everything go so smooth in life...why wish that the difficult would pass quickly...why complain instead of rejoice? The writer of the devotional book said this today, "Without affliction, it is not possible to experience the sufficiency of God's grace. Without oppostion, it is not possible to exercise faith." May I view my life through God's lens...in all that He allows me to go through, He wants me to put my hope in Him, to exercise my faith and to experience His amazing grace!