Monday, May 27, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Once more...
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7
Once more I visit this amazing passage. Once more I need it. Once more I repent for my anxiety, my fear, my worry. Once more I stumble to the throne of grace...what an interesting description...throne of grace...a place where love, compassion and a wonderful God awaits. Once more I turn away from my fears and look at the face of the God who made me. Once more I need his provision, his care, his peace. Once more he gives it.
And, once more I sigh with regret for my fears when I realize he was waiting the whole time to comfort me....if I would have only trusted him. Once more I find the peace that escaped me in the early hours of this morning. Once more I remember that I am a son of the living God! How could I ever worry or fret, but I do.....and so I know another day awaits when once more.....
Once more I visit this amazing passage. Once more I need it. Once more I repent for my anxiety, my fear, my worry. Once more I stumble to the throne of grace...what an interesting description...throne of grace...a place where love, compassion and a wonderful God awaits. Once more I turn away from my fears and look at the face of the God who made me. Once more I need his provision, his care, his peace. Once more he gives it.
And, once more I sigh with regret for my fears when I realize he was waiting the whole time to comfort me....if I would have only trusted him. Once more I find the peace that escaped me in the early hours of this morning. Once more I remember that I am a son of the living God! How could I ever worry or fret, but I do.....and so I know another day awaits when once more.....
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Thankfully remembering
Millions of men and women have willingly paid the highest price to provide the freedom we enjoy. This weekend we remember, we say thank you, we enjoy the results of the price they paid. If you have served our country in the military, thank you for your sacrifice.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
The Christian life is like chocolate
What was interesting was that the process of refining cocoa beans is not intuitive, not really what you would expect. In fact the raw bean is rather bitter. Even the roasted beans are bitter. The whole process of refining from a raw bean to luscious chocolate is difficult, takes time and does not produce a product you would want to enjoy until the very end. Who could have imagined that chocolate would be the result of this ugly, bitter bean?
It's a lot like the Christian life.
We begin as raw, rough, bitter people as God begins to refine us. It takes time. It's not always done the way you would imagine. It takes a lot of work to deal with the bitterness and begin to taste some sweetness. There is a lot of work to do to get the smoothness needed to make us tasteful.
It's a process of refining in the life of a person that yields a result you could have never imagined when you started....much like chocolate. It's a great analogy...the Christian life is like chocolate. It works for me!
Picture of the day
Among all the photos of the tornado in Oklahoma this one stands out to me. In the midst of disaster the human spirit is ever hopeful, ever looking to rise above the tragedies of life. This photo is one of the best I've seen from the hundreds taken of this terrible disaster.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Counter-culture living
There is a truth about our culture that most of us are subtly unaware of, but it affects our thinking and our living. It's the truth, or more accurately, the reality that taking care ME is the most important thing.
We have, through our focus on advertising and personal fulfillment, created a narcissistic culture. For me it's a constant battle to think well in the flood of others going the opposite direction, thinking differently. To live counter-cultural to this narcissistic mindset is extremely difficult and I far too often fail, but a passage of scripture draws me back to clarity time and again. Here is the passage that has become, for me, a road map away from this narcissistic mindset,
Luke 6:27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
In these few thoughts I want to focus on verse 36. With amazing clarity Jesus challenges his followers to live others focused, giving and not taking, extending grace when it's undeserved, but in 36 he calls us to the highest calling of all, "Be merciful, JUST AS your Father is merciful." In those eight words I find my greatest challenge....the challenge to extend mercy when it's often the last response I have.
Mercy is not giving what is due. It's overlooking an offense, being kind when the other person is mean, being sweet when the one you're with is horrible, loving when you are hated. It's how God treats us...with an undeserved mercy. Even now, in the shadow of the horrible tornado in Oklahoma, some are writing that this is a judgment of God on the "sinners" in Oklahoma. Shame on them! This is not the heart of God, this is not his judgment. He is the mercy giver, the grace extender, the lover of the lost, the forgiver of the failed, he is now and will be until he returns the mercy giver.
His challenge to me is to live that way in the narcissistic world around me. It's counter-cultural. It's often hard, but it's constantly my quest...to be a mercy giver like my Father.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Beginning a new day
It's the beginning of a new day. A night of rest and once more we begin our lives.
In the last 24 hours much around us has changed. In Oklahoma more than 50 people are dead from a terrible tornado. The day before that storm they awoke to their new day having no idea what was ahead for them in just 24 hours.
Our lives are lived in 24 hour moments....a day at a time. Each new day is an opportunity to live for God because it may be the last of your days.....today may be your final morning on planet earth!
So, how to use it...how should we spend our days as if they were our last? Many face that as they hear the news of cancer with only weeks to live. As one friend wrote yesterday, "when death is imminent life becomes much sweeter."
So in the beginning of a new day resolve to do two things well, 1. love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and 2. love people.
If you will make that your "to do" list for the day, even if it might be your last day, you will do well.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Our example
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." -Ephesians 4
"Just as God...."
We aren't challenged to big things by God without his leadership showing us how to do it. In Christ we have the example we are called to imitate, the model for our lives. Paul challenges us to kindness, compassion, and forgiveness of others not because they deserve it or are good enough, but simply because it's what God has done in Christ.
The call has nothing to do with the performance of the one we are called to love, to forgive, to extend kindness to....it has everything to do with imitating Christ. The truth is that most of the people around us will let us down. If our kindness, love and forgiveness was based on their deservedness no one would have it, but it's based on the model of Christ....loving the unlovable, being kind to those who hated him, forgiving those who crucified him.
We are called to look at Christ as our example and not the person we are to love, forgive or be kind to....honestly it has to be done as a decision of the will apart for any worth on their part...the very same way Christ loves us!
He is the model for a life of compassion and forgiveness that changes the other person. When others experience the love of God through us, even if they have done nothing to deserve it, they are changed....and isn't that what God is all about....loving the unlovable, forgiving the offender, being kind to people who don't deserve it?
"Just as God...."
We aren't challenged to big things by God without his leadership showing us how to do it. In Christ we have the example we are called to imitate, the model for our lives. Paul challenges us to kindness, compassion, and forgiveness of others not because they deserve it or are good enough, but simply because it's what God has done in Christ.
The call has nothing to do with the performance of the one we are called to love, to forgive, to extend kindness to....it has everything to do with imitating Christ. The truth is that most of the people around us will let us down. If our kindness, love and forgiveness was based on their deservedness no one would have it, but it's based on the model of Christ....loving the unlovable, being kind to those who hated him, forgiving those who crucified him.
We are called to look at Christ as our example and not the person we are to love, forgive or be kind to....honestly it has to be done as a decision of the will apart for any worth on their part...the very same way Christ loves us!
He is the model for a life of compassion and forgiveness that changes the other person. When others experience the love of God through us, even if they have done nothing to deserve it, they are changed....and isn't that what God is all about....loving the unlovable, forgiving the offender, being kind to people who don't deserve it?
Friday, May 17, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Passion, purpose and possessions
My wife just finished a book for her discipleship group, "Kisses for Kate". We talked about it last night. It's the story of a young woman who had a passion for giving everything up to serve God in Africa and trusting him while doing it. It is an inspiring story and quite amazing.
The topic for us last night was this- What is our passion? Have we lost it? What drives us? What are we to be about? AND, what are we willing to give up to do it?
Kate's story is one of giving up everything to serve God. To be honest I haven't done that. I have a lot of "stuff". I know possessions are not really the issue, but rather our grasp of them is. So for us the whole discussion came down to this- what has God called us to do and what will we give up to do it?
We are still working on this. The discussion is not over yet. I think we are both at a place in our lives where possessions have become more of a burden than a blessing. We are both wanting to rediscover what God has put us here for....our passion, vision, purpose and the role of possessions in it all.
I'm not sure where this will all end. We may sell everything, get an apartment and see what God does. All of that is up in the air. What we both want is what God wants....whatever the cost.....what an exciting place to be......
The topic for us last night was this- What is our passion? Have we lost it? What drives us? What are we to be about? AND, what are we willing to give up to do it?
Kate's story is one of giving up everything to serve God. To be honest I haven't done that. I have a lot of "stuff". I know possessions are not really the issue, but rather our grasp of them is. So for us the whole discussion came down to this- what has God called us to do and what will we give up to do it?
We are still working on this. The discussion is not over yet. I think we are both at a place in our lives where possessions have become more of a burden than a blessing. We are both wanting to rediscover what God has put us here for....our passion, vision, purpose and the role of possessions in it all.
I'm not sure where this will all end. We may sell everything, get an apartment and see what God does. All of that is up in the air. What we both want is what God wants....whatever the cost.....what an exciting place to be......
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Focus
"So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”" -Jesus
Focus. We all have one. Each event, each day focuses our attention on something. These words from the gospels give focus to those living in the end of days. When the events around us begin to unravel, when everything begins to come apart....look up.
This focus, this instruction is intentional. It's anticipatory....it's an action of faith. When you look up at the sky in a crowd others around you will look up as well....what are you looking at? We don't normally look up...our normal focus is horizontal....we look around...at the events, the economy, the world in chaos. It's at a time like this, when everything around us brings fear, when God invites a different focus, a different look....look up.
Why look up? Jesus answers the question. When the world is falling apart our salvation is near and it will come from above, from heaven....it will be the return of Christ. When fear and anxiety overwhelms you begin to weave into your life a new habit...the habit of the upward look. A look of trust in the promise of Christ's return. When fear rises, when all seems lost...look up. Jesus is coming!
Focus. We all have one. Each event, each day focuses our attention on something. These words from the gospels give focus to those living in the end of days. When the events around us begin to unravel, when everything begins to come apart....look up.
This focus, this instruction is intentional. It's anticipatory....it's an action of faith. When you look up at the sky in a crowd others around you will look up as well....what are you looking at? We don't normally look up...our normal focus is horizontal....we look around...at the events, the economy, the world in chaos. It's at a time like this, when everything around us brings fear, when God invites a different focus, a different look....look up.
Why look up? Jesus answers the question. When the world is falling apart our salvation is near and it will come from above, from heaven....it will be the return of Christ. When fear and anxiety overwhelms you begin to weave into your life a new habit...the habit of the upward look. A look of trust in the promise of Christ's return. When fear rises, when all seems lost...look up. Jesus is coming!
Monday, May 13, 2013
Making a difference
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." -1 Peter
"The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." -Solomon
"The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." -Solomon
In a culture busy about making plans, being a success, accomplishing something....being significant...whatever that means, the Bible invites us to sit in the back seat and let God oversee all of that. In other words you need to know God's not interested in you being significant...he's interested in you finding your significance in HIM.
Our plans, our successes, our accomplishments are only of value when we surrender them and turn them over to God. It's only when we are no longer interested in "making a difference" that we really will.
There is a wonderful book that puts this in perspective. It's one every Christ follower should read. It's titled, "Embracing Obscurity" and it deals with the conflict between God and culture, between success in this world and in eternity.
Making a difference really has nothing to do with what you do, but everything to do with who does it. It's a fascinating discussion I will be continuing in the days ahead, but for today this is more than enough to challenge your perception of reality and what really matters.
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