If you have visited or lived in New England you will experience sharply defined seasons.
Spring comes with the return of birds singing and blooming flowers. The temperature becomes increasingly warmer to welcome summer. Cool breezes on the shore and sipping ice tea make for glorious, bright summer memories. Then just as the temperatures reaches its apex, it falls as October marches toward autumn. The leaves burst into gold, red and rustic brown before the wind sweeps them away. Winter comes with its chilly breath, freezing everything in its path.
Scripture says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:" (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV). While there are natural seasons we too experience spiritual seasons.
Seasons when we feel close to God while other times He seems to have disappeared off the earth. We experience fresh and wonderful revelations from His Word only to have bouts of dryness and boredom when we seem to have heard it all before.
If there's any time or season we need more of is times of refreshment.
Peter preached on the day of Pentecost saying, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord," (Acts 3:19 NIV). Likewise, God promises to quicken our mortal body (Romans 8:11) regardless to the season we find ourselves.
When we have season we feel far from God faith tells we are nearer to Him than we first believed.
Times of refreshment begin with repentance. A renewal of trusting God. We don't always get it right especially when we are in tough seasons that tempt us to fall back on our way of doing things which only make it worse.
And times of refreshment come when we reach out to another in need of comfort (2 Corinthians 1:4) with the same measure God has comforted us in our own seasons of grieving and mourning.
Times of refreshment start with the Lord pouring in and pouring out of our lives a river of life (John 7:38) or we can chose to isolate ourselves and soon we will become a dry river bed - parched and thirsty - with no lush green shade in our lives for others to rest and be refreshed.
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Forget Not All His Benefits
Perhaps the road to repentance begins not so much with "I'm sorry," but remembering God's kindness. Romans 2:4 says, "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" (NIV).
Our sin contaminates our thinking about God. Our failures speak condemnation to us. We are racked with guilt and shame. But God remains the same before and after we had sin. He is still just, holy, kind and patient. He's our advocate and helper and this truth will never change.
Psalms 103:2-3 tells us, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases," (ESV). If God forgave us in the past we can be certain that He will do it again. The consequences may remain but He gives greater grace for us to walk upright and free from our bondage.
Israel's sin was that of unbelief. Even at the crossing of the Red Sea, they did not believe God was able to make a way out. It was only a short time ago when they were in Egypt and witnessed all the terrible signs and plagues that fell on Egypt. It was as if they suffered some form of memory lapse. All those plagues in Egypt was a witness that God was for His people and desired their freedom. This was to build their faith in a God who can do the impossible.
Still they were warned not to forget. "Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:" (Deuteronomy 8:11).
So why do have spiritual amnesia? Loss of memory about all the good things God has done and will do? Why does the present seem so much more tangible while the past acts of goodness are like sand slipping through our fingers?
I could only think of thing - bitterness. We see the blessings of others which seem so much greater and better than our own. We mistakenly believe God has favorites that He bestows blessings. Those who entertain, perform on a platform or have some talent is seen as gifted while we feel like some defect.
Beloved, it starts with saying to God aloud: "This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High." (Psalms 77:10 KJV).
When we remember Him we are aware of our state and how great His mercy is toward us.
And once glance in His eyes and the prodigal is home.
Our sin contaminates our thinking about God. Our failures speak condemnation to us. We are racked with guilt and shame. But God remains the same before and after we had sin. He is still just, holy, kind and patient. He's our advocate and helper and this truth will never change.
Psalms 103:2-3 tells us, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases," (ESV). If God forgave us in the past we can be certain that He will do it again. The consequences may remain but He gives greater grace for us to walk upright and free from our bondage.
Israel's sin was that of unbelief. Even at the crossing of the Red Sea, they did not believe God was able to make a way out. It was only a short time ago when they were in Egypt and witnessed all the terrible signs and plagues that fell on Egypt. It was as if they suffered some form of memory lapse. All those plagues in Egypt was a witness that God was for His people and desired their freedom. This was to build their faith in a God who can do the impossible.
Still they were warned not to forget. "Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:" (Deuteronomy 8:11).
So why do have spiritual amnesia? Loss of memory about all the good things God has done and will do? Why does the present seem so much more tangible while the past acts of goodness are like sand slipping through our fingers?
I could only think of thing - bitterness. We see the blessings of others which seem so much greater and better than our own. We mistakenly believe God has favorites that He bestows blessings. Those who entertain, perform on a platform or have some talent is seen as gifted while we feel like some defect.
Beloved, it starts with saying to God aloud: "This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High." (Psalms 77:10 KJV).
When we remember Him we are aware of our state and how great His mercy is toward us.
And once glance in His eyes and the prodigal is home.
Saturday, October 14, 2017
And When He Was Old
The bible says, "For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been." (1 Kings 11:4 NASB).
This was a man who had everything from wisdom, power, fame and wealth beyond imagination but became weak and indifferent to the things of God when he was old. It appears from the early days, he kept God in remembrance in his youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1) but then came the attractions and the entanglements of many relationships.
Most agree David wrote these lines and the truth should have been lived out in his son's golden years. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come (Psalms 71:18, NIV).
David's passionate heart for God never diminished and believed no matter his age God's purpose for him remained, even outlasting his days.
Those who are older must be careful that patterns and habits of living doesn't weaken us. Perhaps the temptations of youth are long over and you can barely stand to your feet. Still there's a temptation to believe the best years are over or that God is looking for the next youthful David to take down Goliath.
God used an old woman to prophesy over Christ (Luke 2:36-37) and Caleb was eighty years old when he conquered a mountain full of giants (Joshua 14:12).
Sadly, most church culture is influenced by worldly standards along the lines of gender and age. The young and the attractive show case a particular "me generation" ministry. The middle age family may be teachers or mentors. The older congregants seem regulated to a Wednesday night prayer meeting or helping with church potlucks.
Maybe one day an eighty-year Moses and his brother Aaron just might upset the balance. Older men and women who declare freedom where things have grown cold and dusty. Where constrictions of age and ability are overturned.
The passionate love of a man or woman of God will always transcends age and ability (or disability).
Let's announce in our 50s, 60s, and perhaps right up to our 100th year (if God so permits) - that His fire will not go out in my life but it will consume me and those around me until the next generation sees the power of God. Not a sniveling old man or woman in a rocker bemoaning that the best days are over!
There's a mountain of giants waiting for you - go and conquer!
This was a man who had everything from wisdom, power, fame and wealth beyond imagination but became weak and indifferent to the things of God when he was old. It appears from the early days, he kept God in remembrance in his youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1) but then came the attractions and the entanglements of many relationships.
Most agree David wrote these lines and the truth should have been lived out in his son's golden years. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come (Psalms 71:18, NIV).
David's passionate heart for God never diminished and believed no matter his age God's purpose for him remained, even outlasting his days.
Those who are older must be careful that patterns and habits of living doesn't weaken us. Perhaps the temptations of youth are long over and you can barely stand to your feet. Still there's a temptation to believe the best years are over or that God is looking for the next youthful David to take down Goliath.
God used an old woman to prophesy over Christ (Luke 2:36-37) and Caleb was eighty years old when he conquered a mountain full of giants (Joshua 14:12).
Sadly, most church culture is influenced by worldly standards along the lines of gender and age. The young and the attractive show case a particular "me generation" ministry. The middle age family may be teachers or mentors. The older congregants seem regulated to a Wednesday night prayer meeting or helping with church potlucks.
Maybe one day an eighty-year Moses and his brother Aaron just might upset the balance. Older men and women who declare freedom where things have grown cold and dusty. Where constrictions of age and ability are overturned.
The passionate love of a man or woman of God will always transcends age and ability (or disability).
Let's announce in our 50s, 60s, and perhaps right up to our 100th year (if God so permits) - that His fire will not go out in my life but it will consume me and those around me until the next generation sees the power of God. Not a sniveling old man or woman in a rocker bemoaning that the best days are over!
There's a mountain of giants waiting for you - go and conquer!
Saturday, October 7, 2017
His Voice
There's no doubt God speaks to His people and calls out to the lost.
The only question is are we willing to listening?
God can speak in any number of ways from an audible voice to a soft whisper (I Kings 19:12). His voice commands the storms to cease and breaks the thick cedar trees of Lebanon (Psalms 29:5).
When He speaks to us, there is weight and authority in His voice that makes our heart race and we find ourselves trembling in His presence. Sadly, many assume He will point out some hidden sin to judge and shame us. Their ears become dull and closed.
But as a good Father, He's trying to get our attention to something destructive which we don't know or we rather ignore and hope it will go away.
Those who listen and obey have a Samuel spirit. At an early age, this man heard God's voice and did not withhold a word of God's strong warnings to the high priest of the day. Yes, Samuel may have been afraid or tempted to say nothing of what God spoke to His heart. However, in a time God's word was rare and visions nearly non-existence, Samuel valued God's voice and feared His name.
Unlike today.
We drown ourselves with news programs and music that don't promote holiness or faith in Christ. We bury our face into novels and magazines that say a lot of nonsense and provide no substance. We rush to doctors but leave little room to ask the Great Physician for help. Most go to church to hear moving worship songs and a passionate speaker rather than hearing God talk directly to them. He longs to speak and be heard especially in a community of believers that call on His name.
So many of us have no expectation of God speaking as we have grown accustom to brass heavens. But what if the Lord thundered His voice that Sunday morning that shakes the room and hearts of those who have grown cold and indifferent?
Still God speaks in a holy hush.
It's that same voice the prophet heard when we still our souls.
Can you hear Him now?
The only question is are we willing to listening?
God can speak in any number of ways from an audible voice to a soft whisper (I Kings 19:12). His voice commands the storms to cease and breaks the thick cedar trees of Lebanon (Psalms 29:5).
When He speaks to us, there is weight and authority in His voice that makes our heart race and we find ourselves trembling in His presence. Sadly, many assume He will point out some hidden sin to judge and shame us. Their ears become dull and closed.
But as a good Father, He's trying to get our attention to something destructive which we don't know or we rather ignore and hope it will go away.
Those who listen and obey have a Samuel spirit. At an early age, this man heard God's voice and did not withhold a word of God's strong warnings to the high priest of the day. Yes, Samuel may have been afraid or tempted to say nothing of what God spoke to His heart. However, in a time God's word was rare and visions nearly non-existence, Samuel valued God's voice and feared His name.
Unlike today.
We drown ourselves with news programs and music that don't promote holiness or faith in Christ. We bury our face into novels and magazines that say a lot of nonsense and provide no substance. We rush to doctors but leave little room to ask the Great Physician for help. Most go to church to hear moving worship songs and a passionate speaker rather than hearing God talk directly to them. He longs to speak and be heard especially in a community of believers that call on His name.
So many of us have no expectation of God speaking as we have grown accustom to brass heavens. But what if the Lord thundered His voice that Sunday morning that shakes the room and hearts of those who have grown cold and indifferent?
Still God speaks in a holy hush.
It's that same voice the prophet heard when we still our souls.
Can you hear Him now?
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