I don't know how many times the question of why I do what I do crosses my mind.
When I think of how I spend my days starting at 4:30 am in the gym followed by a devotional time with God at 6:00 am. Then off to work by 7:30 am until nearly 5 p.m. Only to go back to the gym but this time with my wife who attends another location for exercises classes. This 5 day loop is exhausting! On Sunday there's the ministry obligations to serve up to 2 services. The time, expense and effort to get to the city and sometimes the long hours between services leaves me less refreshed and more frustrated and weary.
I understand there is no such thing as greener pastures. Erma Bombeck, the late humorist, said it best, "The grass is always greener over the septic tank." True that often we learn and lean into God more in the hard times rather than moments of bliss and peace. Our spiritual lives become well nourished by the fertilizer of daily living.
Just because we are active and seem to accomplish much does not make us at rest. Often what we do masks or distracts us from the troubling heart and mind that yearns for a deep soul felt rest.
Perhaps that is why David said, "He makes [italics mine] me lie down in green pastures, he leads [italics mine] me beside quiet waters" (Psalms 23:2).
Only God can cause our hearts to be at rest. He knows how best to interrupt the grinding circle of activities and running here and there even if obligations and commitments must be fulfilled.
Remember it's only in quietness and rest is our confidence in God restored (Isaiah 30:15). So if your day comes to a crashing halt by illness or some other event or your calendar suddenly is empty - take time with God.
And take a deep breath.
And let Him lead to you to greener pastures and quieter waters. Your soul will be restored and your strength to face the day will be in greater measure.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Compassionate Fellowship
I found myself this morning asking God to help me to love Him more truthfully and deeper than I've experienced. He then directed to read the book (or rather letter) of John.
One of the repeated themes in 1 John is the extent we claim to love God is to the measure we love one another.
This is the litmus test of our sincerity to walk in right relationship God and with others. We can't claim to love God while despising our brother and sister (1 John 4:20).
Our love for God and that same love expressed to our Christian brothers and sisters matter for our growth and maturity.
More importantly for the health of the community of believers to be unified especially considering this present dark and confusing age.
In other words, our personal communion (or fellowship) with God will impact not just the church but non-believers. How we treat one another matters for the world is watching us. How we respond in love may tip the balance of eternity for those on the outside desiring to see an authentic Christlike experience.
Consider how the early church responded when the Grecian widows were neglected (Act 6). It matter for those in the church and the lost to see God's love in action. Think of the church eating bread for communion on any given Sunday. What if those same widows took communion in church but went home to empty cupboards?
I must admit that I don't like to connect on a deeper level with those in church. Perhaps it's my introvert nature or I'm exhausted at the end of the week from work. Truth be told there have been some painful experiences that shut me down and made me overly cautious. Sure I can be cordial to shake a hand and greet someone kindly. But if it's the fellowship that John describes in his letter then I'm completely at loss. I'm certain that I have some odd habits. So this is not a criticism on any particular individual but it can be a challenge with differences in cultures, personalities or way people behave that I rather much avoid.
Beloved, we must ask God to increase our capacity to love beyond our self imposed borders. True love demands understanding which means listening and engaging with another brother or sister despite the differences. It's too easy to isolate and insulate ourselves.
In closing, remember the words of John: "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3:17, KJV).
One of the repeated themes in 1 John is the extent we claim to love God is to the measure we love one another.
This is the litmus test of our sincerity to walk in right relationship God and with others. We can't claim to love God while despising our brother and sister (1 John 4:20).
Our love for God and that same love expressed to our Christian brothers and sisters matter for our growth and maturity.
More importantly for the health of the community of believers to be unified especially considering this present dark and confusing age.
In other words, our personal communion (or fellowship) with God will impact not just the church but non-believers. How we treat one another matters for the world is watching us. How we respond in love may tip the balance of eternity for those on the outside desiring to see an authentic Christlike experience.
Consider how the early church responded when the Grecian widows were neglected (Act 6). It matter for those in the church and the lost to see God's love in action. Think of the church eating bread for communion on any given Sunday. What if those same widows took communion in church but went home to empty cupboards?
I must admit that I don't like to connect on a deeper level with those in church. Perhaps it's my introvert nature or I'm exhausted at the end of the week from work. Truth be told there have been some painful experiences that shut me down and made me overly cautious. Sure I can be cordial to shake a hand and greet someone kindly. But if it's the fellowship that John describes in his letter then I'm completely at loss. I'm certain that I have some odd habits. So this is not a criticism on any particular individual but it can be a challenge with differences in cultures, personalities or way people behave that I rather much avoid.
Beloved, we must ask God to increase our capacity to love beyond our self imposed borders. True love demands understanding which means listening and engaging with another brother or sister despite the differences. It's too easy to isolate and insulate ourselves.
In closing, remember the words of John: "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3:17, KJV).
Saturday, March 11, 2017
If It Seems Evil
After a string of victories in conquering the Promised Land, Joshua makes a strong statement to the people of God.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD (italics mine), choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15 KJV).
If it seems evil to serve the Lord?
Another translation uses the word "undesirable" and in the original language it means evil or bad. How can it seem to a believer that serving the Lord is evil?
Keep in mind if serving the Lord is perceived as evil then it follows the understanding of God's character (yes, His very nature) is perceived to be equally evil.
We see this twisted perspective in the man who hid the talent of gold in the ground. His response to the master is very telling. Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. (Matthew 25:24 NIV).
How many believers view God as harsh, mean spirited or vindictive?
Beloved, we live in a generation that has inverted that which good as something wicked and evil as somehow being right. This deformity or rather perversity in thinking has influenced the believer's understanding of God.
It's not a question of why God permits suffering or why innocent lives get in the cross fire of wars, diseases or some other horrific event. No, the question is a matter of faith. Do we trust His nature (and His very heart) when we have more questions than answers. Or when there is unexplained pain and nothing seems to make sense.
To see God through natural eyes is to fall short of understanding His heart. When we compare to what we have or don't have we can quickly fall into the enemy's trap that God is not good (at least to what we define goodness). Or that He is holding back the best from our lives. Sadly, there are so called ministers preaching wealth, health and blessings that many of us don't experience and we can form a view of God as mean, harsh and unfeeling.
We need to see Him through the eyes of faith so our prayer should be open my eyes to see You - past the natural and my perspective, attitudes and misunderstandings - and God will remove the cataracts of unbelief.
God is a good Master.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD (italics mine), choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15 KJV).
If it seems evil to serve the Lord?
Another translation uses the word "undesirable" and in the original language it means evil or bad. How can it seem to a believer that serving the Lord is evil?
Keep in mind if serving the Lord is perceived as evil then it follows the understanding of God's character (yes, His very nature) is perceived to be equally evil.
We see this twisted perspective in the man who hid the talent of gold in the ground. His response to the master is very telling. Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. (Matthew 25:24 NIV).
How many believers view God as harsh, mean spirited or vindictive?
Beloved, we live in a generation that has inverted that which good as something wicked and evil as somehow being right. This deformity or rather perversity in thinking has influenced the believer's understanding of God.
It's not a question of why God permits suffering or why innocent lives get in the cross fire of wars, diseases or some other horrific event. No, the question is a matter of faith. Do we trust His nature (and His very heart) when we have more questions than answers. Or when there is unexplained pain and nothing seems to make sense.
To see God through natural eyes is to fall short of understanding His heart. When we compare to what we have or don't have we can quickly fall into the enemy's trap that God is not good (at least to what we define goodness). Or that He is holding back the best from our lives. Sadly, there are so called ministers preaching wealth, health and blessings that many of us don't experience and we can form a view of God as mean, harsh and unfeeling.
We need to see Him through the eyes of faith so our prayer should be open my eyes to see You - past the natural and my perspective, attitudes and misunderstandings - and God will remove the cataracts of unbelief.
God is a good Master.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Reckoning
Reckoning is one of those words we don't often use in every day speech. It means settling accounts or a person's judgement or opinion. Reckoning can be mean punishing misdeeds or sin. We understand there will be a day of reckoning when we all stand before God to give account of our lives (2 Corinthians 5:10).
I'll turn 50 next year. At the start of what is considered middle age, it seems this word is turning my perspective to deeper things when I considered how I lived and what life remains ahead.
What will I say and what will I present to Christ on that day? Will it be the souls brought into His kingdom using all the resources He provided to make it possible? Or will my life prove wasted by indifference and doing just the minimum? A life that never reckoned that all the power of God is in me to make a difference.
So often my life was marked by heightened experiences and feelings followed by sinking into a mire of depression. During these times, I questioned and argued with God when I felt disconnected and abandoned. I reckon that I failed to trust Him in the bad times not just in the good moments.
Apostle Paul urges us, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:11 KJV).
There's a time we must reckon that whatever we sinfully pursued or persisted will never bring us life but destruction. It's time to stop toying and rooting around in the ruins of places and things God had once delivered us. That challenge is true for me as well.
As we mature in Christ, our understanding of Him and what glory lies before us will grow sharper and more defined. Along the way we have to stop long enough to ask God not only to reconcile our hearts but to reckon us - settle any open accounts - in our lives that may interrupt our fellowship with Him.
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8 NIV).
I'll turn 50 next year. At the start of what is considered middle age, it seems this word is turning my perspective to deeper things when I considered how I lived and what life remains ahead.
What will I say and what will I present to Christ on that day? Will it be the souls brought into His kingdom using all the resources He provided to make it possible? Or will my life prove wasted by indifference and doing just the minimum? A life that never reckoned that all the power of God is in me to make a difference.
So often my life was marked by heightened experiences and feelings followed by sinking into a mire of depression. During these times, I questioned and argued with God when I felt disconnected and abandoned. I reckon that I failed to trust Him in the bad times not just in the good moments.
Apostle Paul urges us, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:11 KJV).
There's a time we must reckon that whatever we sinfully pursued or persisted will never bring us life but destruction. It's time to stop toying and rooting around in the ruins of places and things God had once delivered us. That challenge is true for me as well.
As we mature in Christ, our understanding of Him and what glory lies before us will grow sharper and more defined. Along the way we have to stop long enough to ask God not only to reconcile our hearts but to reckon us - settle any open accounts - in our lives that may interrupt our fellowship with Him.
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8 NIV).
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