Don't worry....

I have a confession to make. I have to tell you about this because it's part of this story....

ok, here it is- I'm a worrier.

Ask my wife. She will tell you I can worry at the drop of hat. I have mastered the art of worry. I know how to worry about not having anything to worry about! I know it's sin, but I have done it so long in my life, even before my faith in Christ, that it's my default thought. I have to make the choice, on purpose, to not worry and trust God.

What do I, excuse me, what do we worry about? Food, clothing, a house, money for bills, cars, love, job, you name it, we will find a way to worry about it, and that's why Jesus words that follow are so haunting. They speak to my constant desire to "stock up," to "hide some away," to "keep extra, you know, just in case." The ant does it because he is storing up for the winter, but for us winter isn't in our minds, it's worry. Ok, here are Jesus' words and then I want to make one comment at the end-

Mat 6:25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Mat 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
Mat 6:27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
Mat 6:28 "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
Mat 6:29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. Mat 6:30 "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
Mat 6:31 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'
Mat 6:32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
Mat 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Mat 6:34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The imperitive from Jesus is clear for me, "do not worry!" Why? Because of two things, and these are important, 1. God cares about me, and 2. God knows what I need. Jesus says that if I know those two things I can deal a death blow to worry. It's all about knowing God, and his part in my life. If he is the sovereign God of the universe, and he is, then his care for me and his knowledge of my needs makes all the difference in the world.

Want to deal with worry? Take a good look at who loves you and cares for you and, like a child trusting his parent for all he needs, worry will disappear from your thoughts.

Signs

I love signs, especially clear ones. Signs that tell you the information that you need to know- what to do, what not to do, where to go, what to watch out for, what to avoid, warning signs, information signs, worthless signs. They all are intended to tell you something. They are all written to communicate information. Each sign has a purpose. Each sign has direction. Each sign has information.

God has the best signs. He makes them bigger, better and clearer than any other sign maker in the universe.

What do his signs say?

Psa 19:1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Psa 19:2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.
Psa 19:3 There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.
Psa 19:4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world

Cracked pots and broken lives

God uses the strangest things. God uses the strangest people. Years ago I was in southern Mexico on a mission trip with a missionary in the jungle. He took me to the little village there to show me something very special. He told me that in this village was a potter who made pottery just as they did in the time of Jesus, in first century Israel. I was excited, and looking forward to the opportunity. We went to the potter's shop and watched as he made a vase. He spun the wheel with his foot, sitting on a little stool, and molded the vase into a beautiful piece. Suddenly he said something in spanish, only a word, and with his fist smashed the vase back into a lump of clay to start all over again.

I was shocked. I asked the missionary why he did that. He asked the potter and this is what he told us, he told us it had lumps. That's the word he had used, "lumps." He explained that if the finished vase had any lumps left in the clay it would crack when he fired it, so he had to smash it down to clay and work out the lump, he had to start again.

I often feel like that clay. I know I have lumps, but it's so hard when the Lord is trying to "get the lumps out."

The work the Lord has to do in me to keep me from ending up a cracked pot is painful, but it's worth it. My goal is to be a vessel that God can use, so when the Lord is working on lumps remember the goal-


2Ti 2:20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
2Ti 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

The right words for a day like today

I could not pen better words than these.
These are the perfect words for a day like this.

Newsboys - In Christ Alone

http://music.alivefaith.com/inChristalone.wma

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

2 AM in Dallas

Psa 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psa 34:2 My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice.
Psa 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
Psa 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.
Psa 34:5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed.
Psa 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him And saved him out of all his troubles.
Psa 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.
Psa 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Psa 34:9 O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want.
Psa 34:10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
Psa 34:11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Psa 34:12 Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good?
Psa 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit.
Psa 34:14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
Psa 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry.
Psa 34:16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth.
Psa 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears And delivers them out of all their troubles.
Psa 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psa 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
Psa 34:20 He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken.
Psa 34:21 Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
Psa 34:22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

It's 2 am here in Dallas, I have slept for about two hours, and am now up. Sleep eludes me tonight for a number of reasons. Times like these make me head for the Psalms. I need the comfort of these words. The compass correction they offer. It's easy to lose your way in the mess of life, but the word of God will always get you back on the path and going in the right direction. Especially a psalm like this one. The focus on God is the key. When you lose your way, look up and look to the Lord. He is the never changing one who is watching over his people. He is the lover of my soul who helps in time of need. He is my praise and my God. He is my hope and my salvation. At 2 am in the morning he is awake and listening as I call.

Lord, I praise you and thank you for your wonderful love and care for us. You are most awesome. You are most wonderful. You are so glorious. Thank you for your care, your love, your hope. Thank you for being sovereign. Thank you for loving me at 2 am in Dallas.

The main thing

2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

A workman. I don't often think of myself this way- a workman.

I have friends who are wonderful woodworkers. They can take a piece of raw lumber and make beautiful furniture from it. I am so amazed by their abilities, but I know one thing- it didn't just happen. They have worked for years to become workmen who are not ashamed of their work. They have learned how to use the woodcrafters tools and are wonderful artisans. In fact, they are proud of what they make, and it's indeed amazing to see their work.

Paul calls us workman too.

What's our tool chest?

What's the project we are working on?

This little verse in 2 Timothy tells me that the word of God is the tool chest, and I'm the project. It's strange to be the workman AND the work of art all at the same time. As I let the word of God work in my life I'm made into a wonderful work of art to the glory of God, something I'm not ashamed to present to him.

I realize that this doesn't just happen. I must spend time in the word. I need to be in the word of God on a regular basis to become that workman who is not ashamed of his work, to be that work of art that honors God.

Fellow workman, get in the word, become artisans and present to the Lord a life that brings him glory. THAT'S the main thing.

Distractions

I'm reading a book on missions by John Piper. The book is called, "Let the Nations be Glad!" It's a very interesting read, but I must admit I'm only part way through.

John said something that caught my imagination that I want to talk about.

He said, "We are a "third soil century." In the parable of the soils, Jesus says that the seed is the Word. He sows his urgent Word of kingdom power. But instead of taking it up as our sword (or bearing fruit), we "are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful." (Mark 4:18-19)"

I thought about this, and his title, "a third soil century" really lingered in my mind. I think I agree with his observations. Distractions are a problem with this kind of soil, this kind of time we live in. We have great opportunities to do anything other than spend time with the creator of the universe- I have to watch that rerun of "Lost", I have to mow the lawn, I need to balance the checking account, I better fix that toilet, oh, and I don't want to miss that football game (it should really be good), and work, don't get me started!

These are the problem for this kind of soil. Notice what Jesus said, "but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word,"

Distractions- cares...money....desires....and all of this "enters in and chokes the word."

This morning on the way to the church I was listening to Bob Coy, pastor of Calvary Chapel in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He was preaching on the same passage and talking about the distractions that keep us from time with God.

How is it that I will abandon time with God and his word for things like cares, money, desires? Why do I let them "suck me in?" But they do. They do for all of us. And we abandon the most important things to be busy with other things that don't last and really don't matter.

Lord, in a "third soil century" help me to be a fourth soil person, investing my life and time in the things that produce real fruit for you.

Thirsty for God

Psa 42:1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.
Psa 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?


I read this passage this morning, and had to stop. I read it again. Am I thirsty for God? Do I long for him like the thirsty deer, looking for the cool water of the spring? Is my thirst for God the focus of my life?

I must admit that my thirst is often satisfied with other water. It's not nearly as good or refreshing, but I so often find myself trying to soothe my thirst with water from other sources.
It's never as good.

How do I thirst for God and long for him like that deer? Why am I so easily satisfied with other waters?

I want God, and yet so easily seek out the easy waters of the world instead of seeking after God himself, the cool waters that only he can provide.

Lord, I want to thirst for you and be satisfied with nothing else. Make me thirsty for you, and don't let me be content with anything less.

The beauty of a God-woven life

Jam 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
Jam 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Jam 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

The beauty of a God-woven life...what a thought. God, the one who loves me, working in my life to make it and me beautiful. What is beautiful to God? What is it that he's weaving together?

What is beautiful to God is a life that glorifies him. It's a life that focuses the eyes of the world on the creator.

Paul writes these words,

Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Rom 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
Rom 8:30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Rom 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

A God-woven life is one that brings glory to him because of all he's done for me, in me and through me. As God weaves your life with all it's joys, trials, problems and victories remember the goal-

A life woven in such a way that it brings him glory.

Lord, weave my life so you are glorified in me. Make me a work of art to the world done by your hands.

The battle of the gods

Isa 44:6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.
Isa 44:7 'Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place.
Isa 44:8 'Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.'"

We are in an amazing time in the history of the world. There have always been different religions, even the bible tells of that early in Genesis, but we have never seen a time like this when the battle is over whose god is the real one. Let me cast my vote so all will know where I stand- I believe the God of the bible is the ONLY God there is. All other claims to diety are false. I can already hear the cries, "you're narrow minded, insensitive, an extremist...etc."

Guilty as charged. I am narrow minded because the bible is narrow minded, and I believe the bible. I do not apologize for that. In the passage above the God of the bible claims to be the only one there is, and yes, He's narrow minded too! The very concept of God requires exclusivity, and the God of the bible claims that. I believe him.

In the passage I have quoted, verse 8, God is basically saying, "I have looked around up here, and I'm the only God there is." Not only does he claim to be the only one, he also claims to be sovereign (lord of everything.)

There is another claim made in scripture that is very important to note:

Phi 2:9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
Phi 2:10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Phi 2:11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Not only does God claim to be the only God there is, he also claims to be one God in three persons and has elevated the second person of the trinity to the highest place of worship. One day everyone with knees will bow them to Jesus Christ and confess that he is Lord and this very action will bring glory to God the Father.

The whole purpose of man is to give glory to God the Father. He tells us what will give him glory in this time- it is to bow our knees to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives.

One day we will all do that- Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Voodoo, atheist, communist, American, French, Russian. We will all bow our knee to Jesus Christ as Lord, and in that action God will be glorified.

I'm so glad I have already bowed my knees, asked Christ to be my savior and am daily allowing him to be my lord. One day we will all do it, I'm glad I have done it early. I am practicing it daily, I pray for those who are bowing to other gods, who are not gods at all. I pray that they will find the only God, the God of the bible, and his son and will bow their knees to him as savior and lord.

The most important thing to God is his glory, and it glorifies him when I bow my knee to Christ, when we all bow before him, invite him to be savior and call him lord. Take some time today and glorify God, bow to the Lordship of Christ in your life.

Jesus loves the little children...

Jesus loves the little children...

All the children of the world...

Red,

and yellow,

black,

and white,

They are precious in his sight,

Jesus loves the little children of the world....

An old song from years ago came to my mind tonight. The song has been long forgotten, but the message is wonderful. There is a savior who loves and cares for each one of us. I think it's the personal relationship with Christ that is so attractive to me. That God would love ME, and care about me. What an amazing thought. The one who made me really does care about me and loves me.

We are all so blessed by this fact- Jesus does love us little children, all of us.

And all we have to do to respond that that love is accept the gift of salvation he has provided.

I'm not who I used to be

2Co 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
2Co 5:18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
2Co 5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
2Co 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
2Co 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

I'm not who I used to be, I'm a different man because of my faith in Christ. I am, as Paul writes, "a new creature." Now, I'm not a superman, I don't have special powers that I can suddenly use if only I took off my "suit." But I am a different man. I am now indwelt by the very spirit of God, I have his Holy Spirit in me, his very presence giving me the ability and power to live the life I can't live on my own. In some ways I am like superman- there is something others can't see, there is a power available to me that I can depend upon. It's God's power, working in and through me, to conform me to the image of Christ.

Now here is the secret that most people don't know- my old man, my sin nature, NEVER gets any better. No matter how hard I try the me who needed Christ so badly is still in desperate need of him every moment. I am always going to be a fallen man in need of a savior.

I am only different as I allow the Spirit of God in me to live HIS life through me. It's God in me, living through me, that makes me different. Only as I "unzip" me and allow HIM to live through me will people see God in my life.

It's encouraging to me that He is all I need for life and godliness, and makes it available to me whenever I allow him to be Lord in my life.

I don't look like him yet, but every day he is working in me, and soon, one day, perhaps I will hear it......someone will say, "Hey, you looked like Jesus when you did that! Well done!"

Remember

5 Years ago:

Today:

Looking like the Father

Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
Eph 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

These words have always been challenging to me- "be imitators of God." The proper lifestyle for a christian is to imitate God. It's hard if you don't know what he would do in a situation, and then he helps us understand how to do this by saying, "and walk in love, just as Christ..."

Ah, now we have the example to follow, now we have the model. Christ is the one to watch, he's the father in flesh living out life as God on planet earth, imitate him.

That's why in my daily readings I am always somewhere in the gospels. It helps me. It's the life of Christ that not only shows me God's character, but it shows me how I'm to live.

I can't imitate someone I don't know, so I watch Jesus in the gospels, I listen to him, I get into the stories with the disciples, and I learn.....I learn about God, I learn about me, I learn how I'm to live, I learn who it is that I'm to imitate.

Be imitators of God...just as Christ.

The invitation is extended.

The example has been lived.

The resources are provided.

Do you look like the Father?

The people God uses

This is Alicia. She's a member of the church we visited in Tula, Russia in June. Alicia is a wonderful young Christian lady, a real treat to be around. You find yourself smiling as you watch her interact with others. She's a real joy!

Why am I introducing you to Alicia? I want you to meet someone that God uses. She's not rich, not highly educated, she's not famous, but she is available.

I was reading 1 Corinthians 1 this morning in my devotions and I love the picture that Paul paints of those God uses. Read these words slowly, it should be an encouragement to you.


1Co 1:26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
1Co 1:27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
1Co 1:28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
1Co 1:29 so that no man may boast before God.
1Co 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
1Co 1:31 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

God uses those who are available, like Alicia, to serve him. We don't have to be beautiful, educated, rich, powerful, or popular. God is not impressed in the least with those kind of people. He's looking for available people....those who will be used so God can be glorified.

In fact all the skills we need, all the gifts that are required, all the abilities needed for serving God COME FROM HIM. We bring nothing to the party except for being available for him to use us, he furnishes all we need to do the work.

So, when you feel inadequate in your desire to serve God, rejoice...YOU ARE INADEQUATE, isn't that great? It's an opportunity for us to pray, "Lord, I'm available, use me, equip me, work through me FOR YOUR GLORY."

You will be amazed at what God will do. I have seen him do that in my life, and he's always faithful to glorify his name if we will let him.

Inadequate for the task? Yes, rejoice in that, and be available. God loves people like that, people like Alicia.