Feelings of inadequacy

I don't know about you, but I, like most people I know, struggle with feelings of inadequacy...feeling that if "they" ever really find out how inadequate I am to do this job they will fire me for sure! It's a sinful feeling I admit, because in truth I am inadequate, unable to do what I'm doing....that's why I need to trust Christ to do it through me, but when I get focused on myself I realize I am simply not up to the task, and fear sweeps in to pounce on me.

It was those feelings of inadequacy that actually drove me to the Lord in the first place. They should be my friends, not my enemies, but when they overwhelm me it's the fear I feel. If I'm quick enough I can catch myself, bow before the Lord and acknowledge my need for him....for I am indeed inadequate...and then off I go again until the next time I forget how unable I am to do any of this stuff called the Christian life.

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."

Monday's cartoon

This is an age old prayer, "God, give me a sign." They asked Jesus for a sign in the gospels, and we continue to ask today. If God would only do a trick for me, then I would believe. But it's not true...we wouldn't believe. The truth is that he has given us a sign, it's his son hanging on a cross, dead in the tomb, risen from the dead, savior of the world. If that sign isn't good enough we wouldn't believe no matter what sign God would give. Maybe this is the right sign for our time, what do you think?

Life's bad timing

Here is my second nominee to the "Finishing Well Hall of Fame." Although they haven't yet finished the race, this couple has finished an amazing trial of life in a way that pleases God. It's my honor to introduce you to Bruce and Camille, my second Hall of Fame nominee.

Not every decision we make is intentional or invited. Many times we are forced to make decisions that we would never have thought about making. We find that life has forced us into a place where we must make choices at a time when choices are the hardest to make.

Bruce and Camille were in that situation. Without notice, their daughter Ellen got sick at school one afternoon, and before the day had passed, so had Ellen. She was only 8 years old. Bruce and Camille started the day sending their three children off to school like every other day and ended it in a hospital with the death of their daughter.

How do you prepare for these times? Many of the major events in our lives arrive as unwelcome and unexpected visitors. Then, in the midst of these events we must make decisions. Often they are decisions that will determine the future course of our lives. Just as a sailboat is affected by the wind and must make course changes based on the desired destination, so must we when the storm and the winds come against us. Unfortunately, most people simply give way to the wind - they give up and let the wind do its worse. They deal with where they are when the wind subsides, but most of the time are not able to continue on course because they have lost their direction.

This day in the lives of Bruce and Camille brought a storm they never anticipated. They could “give way to the wind” or make a decision to set their sails and hold on. As a couple they made a number of decisions in that crisis, but the shock and numbness of the day and the events that had come into their lives brought them to decisions they had prepared for many years in advance.

Storms always come. Most people don’t expect them and are shocked when real trouble comes into their lives. That didn’t happen to Bruce and Camille. Yes, this was a shock. Yes, they grieved. Yes, it broke their hearts. But something else was going on in their lives too.

Bruce and Camille made decisions in the calm knowing that storms would come. They prepared for “that day”. It is clear that they had no idea what the day would look like, but they made certain decisions about their lives which made the choices of "that day" possible.

What did they decide? I asked Camille that question two years after Ellen died. She thought for a minute, and then with tears in her eyes, she said, “We decided to be thankful anyway.” That was an ultimate decision of trust in God when all that is in you wants to scream to the heavens, “WHY?”

In that time she and Bruce decided to trust God. But it didn’t happen then. For them, the decision to trust God was made years earlier. This storm just set their resolve. When the storm comes, how do you best demonstrate trust? Be thankful to the God who is sovereign over our lives! Be thankful to the God who knew this storm was coming in our lives! Be thankful to the God who loves us!

The Bible says to consider it all joy when you suffer because God allows life to happen for our ultimate good. To believe this and live according to it takes faith. The choices we make to do this are always made earlier, and are cemented into our lives during the storm.

Here is a problem we all face- decisions made in crisis, trial, pain, testing or disaster are often the wrong decisions. They are made in anger, pain, bitterness, confusion and sorrow. They are decisions that will prove to be temporary and inadequate.

How do we make decisions that will allow us to weather the storms ahead of us?

Here is part of their story in their own words to tell you their thoughts (the entire story is available upon request.)

"I guess there are countless decisions Bruce and I have made over the years to seek God. One of the most deliberate was praying for the church God wanted us to be involved in. We searched a long time for Crossroads Bible Church and of course, we can’t begin to relate how much the church body of Crossroads has ministered to us since Ellen died, as well as throughout the years before. We’ve been attending various Bible studies, including BSF courses, and I think that made the biggest difference in my walk with God - not one specific study but the extensiveness of it. There were many times after Ellen died that I clung to those facts. When your emotions are screaming, doubts of who God is can come. But I’d tell myself that everything I was taught of God was true - not just someone’s opinion or my wishful thinking - but that God’s Word is always true The statement that “we don’t need to know all the answers when storms happen but that we need to know God” is exactly what I’ve seen. When you know that God is Sovereign over all but is also loving to all, you can give everything (pain in all forms and joy in all forms) to Him. The key is knowing both - His sovereignty and His love. That knowledge doesn’t come overnight. That knowledge sinks in slowly with each small and sometimes big experience in life. We knew that we also had the choice to be thankful for what Bruce and I had been given (eight wonderful years) or bitter and angry that God hadn’t given us more. What arrogance to think God owes me! It didn’t take away the pain, but I knew God still loved me and would somehow get us through this. It is true about how the previous decisions we make effect the decisions that must be made in a crisis. It is so true. When Ellen died in that emergency room, there were few conscious decisions - mostly reactions...." --Camille

A story like this sobers us. In Bruce and Camille’s story you can hear their hearts and see what choices they made before, during and after their terrible storm.

Today, several years after Ellen's death, Bruce and Camille continue to walk with God and serve him. So, Bruce & Camille, welcome to the hall of fame.

Saturday morning thoughts

I really have enjoyed the blogging world, both writing and reading the thoughts of others. It's amazing to me that I have a "vehicle" that allows my thoughts to take flight and people all over the world read them. So, today I was just thinking....I wonder what impact each of our blogs will have on the lives of others? Some of our posts are just personal vents...full of hot air, that help us deal with life. Others are attempting to change the world from this little soap box, and still other blogs are sharing with friends and family the photos and stories of their lives.

As each of these posts take flight it's fun to see all the color it adds to the skyline, it's interesting to read about the thoughts and lives of others I may never meet. So, as I launch my multi-colored balloons of thought each day (some full of hot air), along with millions of others, I look forward to seeing where it will take me....what lives these few thoughts might influence....in fact I have already made friends I may never meet in this life who have watched my balloons fly by and waved, or have launched their own into the air, and they have caught my attention as they lazily float by.

Is it really this easy to touch other lives? I wonder why we don't do it more.....what a pretty picture it paints for those who are looking...how easy it is to connect with others, bring a smile, and touch a life....maybe we should do this more often in the real world.

Today is an important day!

Today is Joye's birthday. I surprised her last night with dinner out. I had arranged for the kids and grand kids to be at the restaurant already, and they were there waiting for us. We ate a lot of food, and had fun. It's an important day on my calendar because it's the day my wife was born, so if you have time stop by her blog and wish her a happy birthday. Happy Birthday, sweetie!

Life is painful

It's early, but I'm up (as usual) and just read an e-mail from one of our men I have been counseling. His wife divorced him a year ago, and he's still working through it all. It's still very painful for him. He's looking for the rose, but all he's getting right now are thorns.

It's painful. He's lonely, hurting, angry, frustrated and struggling. But what's been great is that he's moving towards God in his walk.....until the e-mail tonight. Tonight he made it clear he has lost hope. Tonight his note told me he doesn't see any chance of reconciliation with his wife. Tonight I read a note from a broken man.

I'm so excited for him! Now, I know you are thinking, "what?" But stay with me for a moment....After all these years I have walked with God and watched the human condition I find that God does his very best work when we have given up all hope. In fact I think he uses thorns to get us to let go! Then he can begin to work. You may have heard the old quote, "I feel much better since I gave up hope." The truth is that we do. When we give up all hope of getting the answer we want then God can work. I'm so excited for my friend because now God will begin to work....but we are at a delicate time in this walk. We are at a time when giving up hope of fixing his marriage could go all the way to giving up hope of walking with God.

Some have walked away from God entirely during these "thorny" times, not understanding they were on the very edge of a miracle. I hope my friend will not do that. It's so hard for us when the painful times come. We can't separate what's happening in a fallen world from God's work, and in our confusion we blame the situation AND God.....giving up on all of it. But those times of pain can be some of the most exciting times of growth in our walk with God if we will let them.....if we will let God work in us. There is a rose at the end of that row of thorns, don't let the pain of the thorn make you miss the blessing of the rose, the blessing God has waiting at the end of the stem.

Jas 1:2 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.
Jas 1:3 You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.
Jas 1:4 So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
Jas 1:5 If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it.
Jas 1:6 Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.

Celebration

Celebration is important! To celebrate victories. To celebrate lives lived well. To celebrate what God has done. It's important to celebrate the victories of our lives. We easily forget God's work in our lives if we don't intentionally set days of celebration. God instructed the children of Israel to do that, and to this day they celebrate the special things God has done with holidays.

As a church, we are celebrating the great things God has done in our family. He has seen us through one of the most difficult years I have ever experienced, and he's done it in a miraculous way. We are celebrating our own crossing on dry land, and it's great to see smiles on faces as we look back on what amazing things God has done.

Celebration is important! Praise the Lord for all he has done!

Twinkies and Root Beer

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of Root Beer and he started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie. The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again, the man smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. The man gave him his biggest smile ever. When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? God's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen. "Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked," Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added," You know, he's much younger than I expected. "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!

Secrets of Finishing Well, part 2

Secret #2-Get a good map for the journey



The second secret to Finishing Well is to get a good map for the journey. It's very difficult to get to the finish line if you don't know the way, so one of the most important tools for any journey is a good map.


It's important for you to know that there have been hundreds of map makers over the years. The philosophy of each map maker is important as you look for your map.


That may sound strange, but you need to know that the kind of map I'm talking about is made by those who have a definite view of the destination.


When picking your map make sure you know the philosophy of the map maker. What is his view of the destination?


Here are a few choices in map makers-


1. The "no destination" map maker- There are map makers who maintain that there is no destination, that there is no goal to live for. They believe that when your life is over it's over, so a map, for them, is just for entertainment....pick your own route, go where you wish because there is no goal...there is no destination, so the map is just for our entertainment until this life is over. These map makers can't help you with directions, because they don't know where they are going themselves.


2. The "you find your own map" map maker- These map makers have quite an easy job. They really don't have to do anything. They maintain that we each find and make our own maps. We must each find our own way, so the map they sell is a blank page. It's your job to fill in the details. This is one of the most frustrating sources of a good map because you must do all the work....you must fill in the details. How can I find my way when I must guess at the destination?


3. The "compilation" map maker- These map makers do their best to create accurate maps by compiling all the maps they get from those who travel the different ways. As each one comes back from their journeys these map makers make copies of the travelers map and add the detail to their maps. Eventually the maps they sell are a compilation of numerous traveler's journeys, but what you end up with is a map that looks like a maze. If you ever did find your way to the finish line it would be just a lucky turn in the road. Those who buy these maps will find themselves frustrated with their journey for they never really know if they are on the right road.


4. The maker's map- Imagine that the one who made everything also made a map to help us navigate the route. The truth is that this is the only map that will get you to the right destination, to the finish line. It's a map that describes the journeys of others who navigated life according to the map, and finished well. It's a map that gives direction, instruction and encouragement. It's a map that clearly tells you where to turn, when to stop and what problems to avoid on the way. It's a map that has guided millions to the right destination. In fact, it's their navigation, using the map, that is an encouragement to others to use this map as well.


Although there were more than 40 contributors to the design of this last map it has just one author. It's a map that took more than 1,000 years to draw, but it's been the chosen map for millions because it gives us hope that there is a finish line, and this wonderful map gives us the route to that goal. If you don't have a map for your journey may I recommend the map I use?


It's called the bible.

A quick retreat

Joye and I had the great pleasure of taking a couple days to be part of our church motorcycle retreat last weekend. It was a quick ride to East Texas for some good food and fellowship with this great group from our church.

We had several join us who simply like to hang out with us, but don't attend our church. It was fun to meet them, and find out about their lives.

A couple days with friends on motorcycles- priceless!

Monday's cartoon

Raise the white flag, I surrender!

Well, the war is over....the kindness war I have mentioned in the last year. The war has been one of kindness between my neighbor and I. The battle? Attempting to mow the other persons yard before they can get to it. It's been fun and rather funny as well. Yesterday the war ended, I raised the white flag...I gave up....I have lost the war. We had been gone on a retreat and just got home when we heard a mower in the front yard. I went out front to find my neighbor mowing my lawn AGAIN! She smiled when she saw me. As she came around the yard she stopped the mower to talk. I asked her, "what are you doing?" She smiled, and said, "I got a new mower, and wanted to try it out. I got one with a key start and power drive." She was giddy. I responded, "it doesn't take much to make you happy, does it?" She said, "no, not at all." So, I raise the white flag. I can't keep up with a happy neighbor with a new mower. Let me just say I'm grateful for kindness wars when they break out. We are still trying to meet with these neighbors for dinner and pursue some time to talk. I'll keep working on that. It's great to have neighbors who are just too nice....what a wonderful problem to have. So today I gladly raise the white flag...I surrender!

Quote of the day

“The long dull monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or middle-aged adversity are excellent campaigning weather for the Devil.”

— C. S. Lewis

Saturday reading

Here is a fun site for that lazy Saturday afternoon-

http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/posters.htm

It's from those guys at pyromaniacs, and it's just another fun poster project.

A good book to read

I'm reading a new book by Ravi Zacharias called The Grand Weaver. I always enjoy Ravi's work, and this one is especially good.

Let me encourage you to get a copy of this book and read it.

There are few works like this that look at the life of the Christian, and God's great plan in it and for it.

It's a book that will make you think, but more than anything it's a book that will encourage you and give you a greater vision of what God is doing in your life.