I am reading through Jeremiah... man, that dude had it tough! He was chosen to tell a stubborn and obstinate people that they had better start paying attention or they were going to be destroyed, and they were stubborn and obstinate, so they didn't listen. Ever. So they were destroyed. Jeremiah also wrote Lamentations - basically, "The Weepings". He was known as the weeping prophet. I don't think I will ever complain about my circumstances ever again.
Before I get on to the topic, I do want to a little side trip to address the concept of reading the scriptures continuously. It is closing in on the end of 2010, and I am reading Jeremiah for the second time. I started in Genesis in January, reading the Amplified version and read through the entire Bible. Then, I bought the English Standard Version (large print ;-) and started back in Genesis... And I intend to continue to read it through, then again, and again. I honestly have lost count on how many versions I have read, and how many times I have read through the Bible from cover to cover. I have also spent periods of time studying a particular book, and have memorized many scriptures. At one time, I had the book of James and Ephesians memorized. I am not saying this to shame you, but hopefully to help you see that it just isn't that hard to commit to reading God's Word. All you need to do is do it... And I guarantee that diving into God's Word with reward you beyond your expectations. Studying what God has already said is absolutely essential to knowing Him and growing closer to Him. If you are not spending some concerted effort reading His Word, I really do not see how you could be growing. I could be wrong, but I don't really think so.
Okay - back to the point: For His Glory. In Jeremiah 13, God said, "'For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me,’ declares the LORD, ‘to be my people for my renown and praise and honor. But they have not listened.’" I have read this many times, but for some reason today, it struck me: God chose us for the express purpose of bringing renown (notoriety) praise and honor to Himself. I know He loves me; I know He has the hairs of my head numbered; I know I am forgiven because of the work Jesus did on the cross... and I know I cannot earn anything from God. He did it all. So I guess that it never occurred to me that He did have a reason that He saved me beyond His inexplicable love; to bring glory and honor and praise to Himself. Wow. That sheds a lot of light on what my life should look like.
As Christians, we always wonder, "what does God want me to do?" We even have bracelets, "WWJD"... We talk about straining to understand God's will in a particular situation, and we often wonder what the heck is going on and what could God possibly be thinking, especially when so much stuff looks messed up and just wrong. The way to deal with these strivings is strikingly clear to me now: "What can I do in this situation that would bring glory, and/or honor, and/or praise to my Father?" If we can answer that, we have our answer even to the toughest of questions.
For instance: Let's say I have a job that is very difficult, and my direct supervisor is a horrible person who treats me inappropriately. I know that my reaction would be to quit... I know this from experience. But, since I know without any doubt that every single thing in my life is to bring honor and glory and praise to God, I need to evaluate the situation a bit more. As I pray, I would ask for clarity and direction: "What would bring You, God, the most honor, glory and praise in this situation?" If the answer is to quit, so be it... But, what if standing up to the boss in a respectful manner is more appropriate, because maybe God wants this man to witness how a follower of Jesus handles conflict? Maybe he had negative interactions with Christians in the past, and my willingness to look him in the eye with love and be honest about what God is doing in my life might surprise him enough to consider that maybe God is real. Maybe he has some bad things going on in his life and he is just lashing out because he doesn't know how to handle it. Maybe the door will open for real ministry if I look him in the eye and love him through the hurt... What if just being submissive is more appropriate? Maybe the silence will catch him off guard and he will observe my godliness in the face of oppression. The point is, maybe God is doing something to bring glory to Himself, and my rash reaction to the situation would cause me to miss on an opportunity for God to be glorified. Yes, that is a heck of a lot of "maybe"s but if we use the lens of "bringing God glory and honor and praise", perhaps our answers might be easier to find.
I am still trying to process all of this, because even though I have read through the Scriptures many times, this is the first time I have really considered this idea. It seems basic, in some sense, and yet to me, today, it is profound. Which brings me back to another reason we are to continue seeking God in His Word: He is so deep, so complex, so amazing... we can spend our entire earthly life reaching for Him, straining for Him, and we will never get to the end of Him. This, too, brings Him glory, and honor, and praise.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Highest and Best Use
In the Real Estate Profession, there is a term, "highest and best use." The term specifically refers to value of a property; that it's worth is directly related to it's usage. For instance, a residential home in a neighborhood of residential home would best be valued according to the recent sales of similar homes in the same neighborhood. If that same home was located on a busy street, and surrounded by commercial property, the value as a home might be considerably lower than it's value as a commercial storefront.
I was thinking about the condition of my heart, and this term popped up in my mind... "highest and best use." Am I operating my heart in it's highest and best use? If yes, what does that look like? And, if not, why?
I think we could agree that the highest and best use of our heart is to love God. In fact, Jesus stated this truth quite clearly: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). In effect, Jesus was saying, the highest and best use of your heart is to love God first... above everything else. The Scripture is filled with similar references, and even Jesus was quoting the Old Testament when He made this statement. "Seeking the kingdom of God first" is a similar New Testament command, simply setting us straight on what is to be our priority. If we love God first, every thought and every action would be tempered by our love for Him. What we do with our time and our treasures would be directly affected by this love that is first in all things. Those who love God first ACT like they love God... it fleshes out in acts of kindness, humility, goodness, and the other fruits of the Spirit.
Jesus continued, "The second (commandment) is like it: Love others as yourself." This sets the next two priorities: love others, then love yourself. And I'll finish it off by saying everything else comes after those three priorities. Let's expand those two a little...
Love others. I think if we are honest with ourselves, we know what that looks like: Treat others better than ourselves. Lend without expecting in return. Be generous with our time and talent and treasures. Give a lot. Listen closely. Pray unceasingly for others. Be encouraging. Always hope for the best, and celebrate the successes of others. Easier said than done, I know, but we know what it looks like. That doesn't mean we should allow others to abuse us and just be a "doormat"... even Jesus said, "Do not cast your pearls before swine." (Matthew 7:6) The implication is that we need to be discerning about where and what and how we give. I personally give to my family first, then other believers, then others as they cross my path, and not without prayer. I would rather err in giving than withholding though... but I confess I do struggle at times determining where the end of loving is...
I was talking to a young man the other day. He is a youth minister who is a godly young man making a difference in his church and community. Having had a pretty rough week, he was wondering if maybe he cared too much. I quoted a song from Switchfoot: "If it doesn't break your heart it isn't love... If it doesn't break your heart, it's not enough." Sometimes (many times) loving others is painful, and most of the time it is simply inconvenient. Bottom line is this: we love God first, then we love others... that is our highest and best use... it is what we were created for. If that is true, why would we want to do anything else?
Oh, the Love Yourself thing... I think it is worth discussing. Many people have no trouble with this, other than putting it before the other two commandments...If we are honest with ourselves, I think we would admit that we do far too many things because we simply WANT to. We buy stuff for ourselves we don't need, we spend time doing things for ourselves instead of others far too often.. and I could go on. Don't get me wrong, we should take care of ourselves, that is what loving ourselves means. But, taking care of ourselves means we feed our souls by going to church, reading the Bible, and things like that. We should exercise and eat properly. We shouldn't indulge in things that are harmful to us (drugs, excessive alcohol, or anything excessively, for that matter.) We should consider what the Highest and Best use of our free time is and be careful not to simply fall onto the couch and watch brainless television all of the time. Sometimes we do need that... but maybe a nice walk in the evening would be better? If we are really loving God, then loving others, then ourselves... what would our lives look like?
Lastly, love everything else that is good.Philippians 4:8 says, "...Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
That sums it up. The Highest and Best use of us is to Love God, Love Others, Love ourselves, and always think about excellent things.
As in a real estate transaction, there is an appraisal done on any property that is under contract. An assessment is done to be sure that it is valued at its true value. Your true value is this: That God so loves you that He sent His One and Only Son to die for you. He is the Grand Appraiser. When you go to your final "closing", at the end of your life, will you have lived up to His assessment of how incredibly valuable you really are? You cannot do anything about yesterday, but you have today. What will you do?
(Note: Danny Thompson is a Realtor in San Antonio, Texas. Saved in 1991, served as Family Minister at Evers Road Christian Church from 1998-2001. Currently serving at River City Community Church as one of the Worship Leaders, and a Life Group Coach.)
I was thinking about the condition of my heart, and this term popped up in my mind... "highest and best use." Am I operating my heart in it's highest and best use? If yes, what does that look like? And, if not, why?
I think we could agree that the highest and best use of our heart is to love God. In fact, Jesus stated this truth quite clearly: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). In effect, Jesus was saying, the highest and best use of your heart is to love God first... above everything else. The Scripture is filled with similar references, and even Jesus was quoting the Old Testament when He made this statement. "Seeking the kingdom of God first" is a similar New Testament command, simply setting us straight on what is to be our priority. If we love God first, every thought and every action would be tempered by our love for Him. What we do with our time and our treasures would be directly affected by this love that is first in all things. Those who love God first ACT like they love God... it fleshes out in acts of kindness, humility, goodness, and the other fruits of the Spirit.
Jesus continued, "The second (commandment) is like it: Love others as yourself." This sets the next two priorities: love others, then love yourself. And I'll finish it off by saying everything else comes after those three priorities. Let's expand those two a little...
Love others. I think if we are honest with ourselves, we know what that looks like: Treat others better than ourselves. Lend without expecting in return. Be generous with our time and talent and treasures. Give a lot. Listen closely. Pray unceasingly for others. Be encouraging. Always hope for the best, and celebrate the successes of others. Easier said than done, I know, but we know what it looks like. That doesn't mean we should allow others to abuse us and just be a "doormat"... even Jesus said, "Do not cast your pearls before swine." (Matthew 7:6) The implication is that we need to be discerning about where and what and how we give. I personally give to my family first, then other believers, then others as they cross my path, and not without prayer. I would rather err in giving than withholding though... but I confess I do struggle at times determining where the end of loving is...
I was talking to a young man the other day. He is a youth minister who is a godly young man making a difference in his church and community. Having had a pretty rough week, he was wondering if maybe he cared too much. I quoted a song from Switchfoot: "If it doesn't break your heart it isn't love... If it doesn't break your heart, it's not enough." Sometimes (many times) loving others is painful, and most of the time it is simply inconvenient. Bottom line is this: we love God first, then we love others... that is our highest and best use... it is what we were created for. If that is true, why would we want to do anything else?
Oh, the Love Yourself thing... I think it is worth discussing. Many people have no trouble with this, other than putting it before the other two commandments...If we are honest with ourselves, I think we would admit that we do far too many things because we simply WANT to. We buy stuff for ourselves we don't need, we spend time doing things for ourselves instead of others far too often.. and I could go on. Don't get me wrong, we should take care of ourselves, that is what loving ourselves means. But, taking care of ourselves means we feed our souls by going to church, reading the Bible, and things like that. We should exercise and eat properly. We shouldn't indulge in things that are harmful to us (drugs, excessive alcohol, or anything excessively, for that matter.) We should consider what the Highest and Best use of our free time is and be careful not to simply fall onto the couch and watch brainless television all of the time. Sometimes we do need that... but maybe a nice walk in the evening would be better? If we are really loving God, then loving others, then ourselves... what would our lives look like?
Lastly, love everything else that is good.Philippians 4:8 says, "...Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
That sums it up. The Highest and Best use of us is to Love God, Love Others, Love ourselves, and always think about excellent things.
As in a real estate transaction, there is an appraisal done on any property that is under contract. An assessment is done to be sure that it is valued at its true value. Your true value is this: That God so loves you that He sent His One and Only Son to die for you. He is the Grand Appraiser. When you go to your final "closing", at the end of your life, will you have lived up to His assessment of how incredibly valuable you really are? You cannot do anything about yesterday, but you have today. What will you do?
(Note: Danny Thompson is a Realtor in San Antonio, Texas. Saved in 1991, served as Family Minister at Evers Road Christian Church from 1998-2001. Currently serving at River City Community Church as one of the Worship Leaders, and a Life Group Coach.)
Monday, October 11, 2010
Joy in Brokenness
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
My dad said that so many times to me, because I was always messing with stuff. I always wanted to know how things worked, and why they didn't. Whenever something broke and he replaced it, he would let me have the old, broken one, and I would take it apart and mess with it until I understood why it broke, and either fixed it, or acknowledged it was unfixable. I love to fix things... and I rarely admit I can't fix something. The heart, though, is a total mystery to me. The things people do, the things I do, because of the heart... I'll never understand. But there is one thing I have noticed: it's the broken heart that runs to Father, that is never denied the comfort of His arms.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:17-18
Somehow, Father is motivated is some deeper way to respond to the call of one whose heart is broken. The scriptures says, "He is close..." oh, my, that is so amazing, but disturbing in a way...
Let's take a look at why this might be. I really find it a bit hard to believe God just wants us to have a broken heart and hurt all the time. I know God is good, and that just does not sound good at all. I have had my heart broken severely several times, and I will confess, I do not like it one bit. My brother died when I was 19, my son died when he was 16 months old, and my dad died a few years ago... add to that the many failures, disappointments, etc... My heart has been broken into so many pieces at so many different times, I fail to believe it is God's will that I suffer such deep heart ache.
If you have children, think about how you feel when you see them struggle, and when their heart gets broken. I have two beautiful, passionate, amazing girls... and I have seen both of them working through pain and heartache. Oh, how it hurts to even think about them hurting. I wanted to run to them, wrap them in my arms and make everything better. And I would do that, with the exception of the making everything better. In our closeness, we talked about the hurt, I listened, and offered small snippets of encouragement and hope. It didn't fix anything, but after some time, they were able to see a bigger picture and move through the pain to the other side. I have seen that they have grown through these times.
Perhaps God gives us children so we can see what He sees; so we can feel something close to what He feels. When we hurt, I think, in some sense, He hurts. His passion and compassion for us motivates Him to run to us, comfort us, and lead us to see the bigger picture. Most of the time, I believe, He didn't cause the heartache, but He was always there to pick up the pieces. And maybe sometimes, He is the instigator of the hurt... but if you know He is good, then you can also know that He is working things out for the good of His plan (Romans 8:28). He takes no pleasure in the pain of His children - not anymore than you do. But He has immense Joy to see us grow through our brokenness and heartache... when we get to the other side and we are stronger, and have a more real sense of the truth. Oh, yes.. He loves when we are closer to the Truth, as He is Truth. And He wants to be close to us, so much so that He wants to live in us!
If you have placed your faith in Jesus, and trust that His sacrifice on the cross for the sin of the world included your sin, and you are trusting Him now, you are a child of God. Father loves you. He knows your hurt, your struggles, and your brokenness. He even knows your sin, your secret sin no one else knows about. (Think about that for a moment.) And still, He loves you more than you can ever imagine. He wants to heal your hurt, strengthen you through your struggles, replace your brokenness with wholeness, and then fill you up to overflowing. He is the Perfect Father, who knows just what to do to help you become all that you were created to be. Don't be afraid to call on Him, even if your brokenness is your own fault... He doesn't care where you have been but only that your brokenness is bringing you to Him. He is able to forgive you, to heal you, and to help you see the reality of this life, and of the next... I promise that you will sense His great Love if you only call on Him. You will be changed.
There is Joy in brokenness, because Father runs to those who are broken, and Joy comes with His presence.
My dad said that so many times to me, because I was always messing with stuff. I always wanted to know how things worked, and why they didn't. Whenever something broke and he replaced it, he would let me have the old, broken one, and I would take it apart and mess with it until I understood why it broke, and either fixed it, or acknowledged it was unfixable. I love to fix things... and I rarely admit I can't fix something. The heart, though, is a total mystery to me. The things people do, the things I do, because of the heart... I'll never understand. But there is one thing I have noticed: it's the broken heart that runs to Father, that is never denied the comfort of His arms.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:17-18
Somehow, Father is motivated is some deeper way to respond to the call of one whose heart is broken. The scriptures says, "He is close..." oh, my, that is so amazing, but disturbing in a way...
Let's take a look at why this might be. I really find it a bit hard to believe God just wants us to have a broken heart and hurt all the time. I know God is good, and that just does not sound good at all. I have had my heart broken severely several times, and I will confess, I do not like it one bit. My brother died when I was 19, my son died when he was 16 months old, and my dad died a few years ago... add to that the many failures, disappointments, etc... My heart has been broken into so many pieces at so many different times, I fail to believe it is God's will that I suffer such deep heart ache.
If you have children, think about how you feel when you see them struggle, and when their heart gets broken. I have two beautiful, passionate, amazing girls... and I have seen both of them working through pain and heartache. Oh, how it hurts to even think about them hurting. I wanted to run to them, wrap them in my arms and make everything better. And I would do that, with the exception of the making everything better. In our closeness, we talked about the hurt, I listened, and offered small snippets of encouragement and hope. It didn't fix anything, but after some time, they were able to see a bigger picture and move through the pain to the other side. I have seen that they have grown through these times.
Perhaps God gives us children so we can see what He sees; so we can feel something close to what He feels. When we hurt, I think, in some sense, He hurts. His passion and compassion for us motivates Him to run to us, comfort us, and lead us to see the bigger picture. Most of the time, I believe, He didn't cause the heartache, but He was always there to pick up the pieces. And maybe sometimes, He is the instigator of the hurt... but if you know He is good, then you can also know that He is working things out for the good of His plan (Romans 8:28). He takes no pleasure in the pain of His children - not anymore than you do. But He has immense Joy to see us grow through our brokenness and heartache... when we get to the other side and we are stronger, and have a more real sense of the truth. Oh, yes.. He loves when we are closer to the Truth, as He is Truth. And He wants to be close to us, so much so that He wants to live in us!
If you have placed your faith in Jesus, and trust that His sacrifice on the cross for the sin of the world included your sin, and you are trusting Him now, you are a child of God. Father loves you. He knows your hurt, your struggles, and your brokenness. He even knows your sin, your secret sin no one else knows about. (Think about that for a moment.) And still, He loves you more than you can ever imagine. He wants to heal your hurt, strengthen you through your struggles, replace your brokenness with wholeness, and then fill you up to overflowing. He is the Perfect Father, who knows just what to do to help you become all that you were created to be. Don't be afraid to call on Him, even if your brokenness is your own fault... He doesn't care where you have been but only that your brokenness is bringing you to Him. He is able to forgive you, to heal you, and to help you see the reality of this life, and of the next... I promise that you will sense His great Love if you only call on Him. You will be changed.
There is Joy in brokenness, because Father runs to those who are broken, and Joy comes with His presence.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Wondering Aloud...
I do not know if it is age, or lack of caloric intake, but I have been a bit melancholy lately. My usual exuberance has taken a backseat to a seriousness and reflection... I know... Your thinking that I probably just need some sleep. But, I am pretty sure I am feeling some shift of mindset as I fast approach the Big 5-0... With at least half of my life over, I have been turning more and more toward how I want to be remembered. Wow... I actually said it out loud.
So, here are a few things I have come up with:
1. I want to be remembered as a Giver. Therefore, I must give. I must leave every situation, every encounter, every event, having given something away. Whether that is money, food, or other tangibles, or wisdom, humor, empathy, or compassion. I think this is probably one of the easiest on this list, because you can measure this in some manner. However, you cannot give to be noticed... hmmm... that's gonna make this a bit more interesting...
2. I want to be remembered as one who was full of Joy. Therefore, I must be joyful. So, where does Joy come from? I believe joy is a knowing, a secure hope in something unchangeable and ever true. Happiness is fleeting, and circumstances sway the happy easily. To be full of Joy is quite different. There is a Joy that I know (most of the time) that is rooted in the Truth that I know God is for me (1 John 4)... and that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28) Since I know these truths (among many others) then I CAN have joy unspeakable all the time, knowing that God has "got my back" and that He has a fantastic plan for me and my life, and NOTHING can mess that up.. not even me. Now, if I can just remember that all the time....
3. I want to be remembered as a man of integrity and honesty. I always tell my children, "You want to be trusted? Be trustworthy." It is that simple. I have to choose to be honest and choose to do the right thing even when no one is watching...always. I will say that this has always been important to me, and I have been striving to be this man a long time. I am optimistic that I might live up to these ideals... some day ;-)
4. I want to be remembered as a man who loved his family. Most of the time, this one is easy. I really love my girls... My wife is mind-blowing awesome. She drives me crazy, frustrates me, excites me, challenges me - all at the same time. God really knew what He was doing when He hooked us up! And the girls... never in the history of women has there been two females more easy to love. I would have to get right down to bragging if I were to explain the countless ways that my two jewels are so amazing, unique and special. They are so different in who they are, but they are both happy, secure, strong-willed, smart, and fun. I am so blessed - I think this one is the one I have got down... Everyone knows, including my girls... I'll stop the world to answer their call.
5. I want to be remembered as a man who loved His God. I think this one is the one I have to be the most careful with. It is too easy to act like you love God, but in the depths of our hearts, we can actually be cold and untouched. It like the difference between singing a worship song, and worshipping. It's a matter of the heart that no one but God and me can see. Only He truly knows the realness of my worship. Only He knows if I am opening up to Him, to let Him have His way with me, or if I am going through the motions and playing the part. And since only He knows, the praise and attention from others can mask the truth of the hurt and the distance inside. I must be real. I must face my demons and have someone else who I can tell my hurts and struggles to, so that I don't deceive myself into thinking I am already the godly man God wants me to be. Let's face it... until I look just like Jesus (Romans 8:29-30) God is not done with me. Am I gentle? Am I humble? Will I lay down my life for my brother? Excuse me while I remove this plank from my eye...
I believe these things I have been thinking about will continue to haunt my waking hours, and I can only pray that God will answer these pleas in an affirmative manner. I am confident that these things are good, and that they are in line with His plan for me. I am equally confident that I have a great capacity to complicate them and convolute them as I long to be this man. I strive to continue to pour myself out, to make room for His Spirit to overcome me, that I may disappear into His presence. And the knowing... the knowing that He is near, and He is for me... I remain in His Joy unspeakable.
So, here are a few things I have come up with:
1. I want to be remembered as a Giver. Therefore, I must give. I must leave every situation, every encounter, every event, having given something away. Whether that is money, food, or other tangibles, or wisdom, humor, empathy, or compassion. I think this is probably one of the easiest on this list, because you can measure this in some manner. However, you cannot give to be noticed... hmmm... that's gonna make this a bit more interesting...
2. I want to be remembered as one who was full of Joy. Therefore, I must be joyful. So, where does Joy come from? I believe joy is a knowing, a secure hope in something unchangeable and ever true. Happiness is fleeting, and circumstances sway the happy easily. To be full of Joy is quite different. There is a Joy that I know (most of the time) that is rooted in the Truth that I know God is for me (1 John 4)... and that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28) Since I know these truths (among many others) then I CAN have joy unspeakable all the time, knowing that God has "got my back" and that He has a fantastic plan for me and my life, and NOTHING can mess that up.. not even me. Now, if I can just remember that all the time....
3. I want to be remembered as a man of integrity and honesty. I always tell my children, "You want to be trusted? Be trustworthy." It is that simple. I have to choose to be honest and choose to do the right thing even when no one is watching...always. I will say that this has always been important to me, and I have been striving to be this man a long time. I am optimistic that I might live up to these ideals... some day ;-)
4. I want to be remembered as a man who loved his family. Most of the time, this one is easy. I really love my girls... My wife is mind-blowing awesome. She drives me crazy, frustrates me, excites me, challenges me - all at the same time. God really knew what He was doing when He hooked us up! And the girls... never in the history of women has there been two females more easy to love. I would have to get right down to bragging if I were to explain the countless ways that my two jewels are so amazing, unique and special. They are so different in who they are, but they are both happy, secure, strong-willed, smart, and fun. I am so blessed - I think this one is the one I have got down... Everyone knows, including my girls... I'll stop the world to answer their call.
5. I want to be remembered as a man who loved His God. I think this one is the one I have to be the most careful with. It is too easy to act like you love God, but in the depths of our hearts, we can actually be cold and untouched. It like the difference between singing a worship song, and worshipping. It's a matter of the heart that no one but God and me can see. Only He truly knows the realness of my worship. Only He knows if I am opening up to Him, to let Him have His way with me, or if I am going through the motions and playing the part. And since only He knows, the praise and attention from others can mask the truth of the hurt and the distance inside. I must be real. I must face my demons and have someone else who I can tell my hurts and struggles to, so that I don't deceive myself into thinking I am already the godly man God wants me to be. Let's face it... until I look just like Jesus (Romans 8:29-30) God is not done with me. Am I gentle? Am I humble? Will I lay down my life for my brother? Excuse me while I remove this plank from my eye...
I believe these things I have been thinking about will continue to haunt my waking hours, and I can only pray that God will answer these pleas in an affirmative manner. I am confident that these things are good, and that they are in line with His plan for me. I am equally confident that I have a great capacity to complicate them and convolute them as I long to be this man. I strive to continue to pour myself out, to make room for His Spirit to overcome me, that I may disappear into His presence. And the knowing... the knowing that He is near, and He is for me... I remain in His Joy unspeakable.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Psalm 107:23-32
Some of you set sail in big ships;
you put to sea to do business in faraway ports.
Out at sea you saw God in action,
saw his breathtaking ways with the ocean:
With a word he called up the wind—
an ocean storm, towering waves!
You shot high in the sky, then the bottom dropped out;
your hearts were stuck in your throats.
You were spun like a top, you reeled like a drunk,
you didn't know which end was up.
Then you called out to God in your desperate condition;
he got you out in the nick of time.
He quieted the wind down to a whisper,
put a muzzle on all the big waves.
And you were so glad when the storm died down,
and he led you safely back to harbor.
So thank God for his marvelous love,
for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.
Lift high your praises when the people assemble,
shout Hallelujah when the elders meet!
I was reading through the Psalms the other day and this passage stood out to me... I have read it many times before, but for some reason, it has be echoing in my heart for the last three days since I read it. When I read the first verse of this section, "...to do business...", I thought, "that's me." I mean, I make plans to do business, and set goals, prepare, and then set out "to sea". My guess is that most of us do this in some fashion. Whether it is making plans to buy something (like a large building and 100 acres) or to sell something, (another building) or to effect something in our lives.. to achieve something... to gain something... We all do these things. I am not saying that is bad - don't get me wrong. We need to set goals, make plans, and move forward. If we don't, I think they call that a "couch potato". That's certainly not good.
So, are we all in agreement? We all make plans - good, bad, indifferent - we "set out to sea." And then... God!
All kinds of crazy happens. Storms, waves, rain, ad nauseam (literally).
So, what do we do? In this text, the "sailors" cried out to God. And God met them, and saved them. What kind of sailor are you? I imagine it could go another direction, and have experienced this on more than one occassion - the "sailors" (us) complain about the situation, moan and regret how their plans have gone awry. They can cast judgment and blame on others. They can even complain directly to God, because He did not bless their plans. "Woe is me... Why God, why me?" Yeah... I've heard it before. Truth be told, I might have been one of these forelorn sailors a time or two. What about you?
The sailors in this text realized something either sooner or later, but ultimately, they cried out to God. They realized their position as "passengers" on a boat that they really had no control over. Rudderless in a storm, they needed something.. some ONE more powerful. The Surrendered Sails caught no wind as they bowed low in submission. The only strong act of men was to cry out to a Holy, Powerful God, and asked for salvation. In that act, they gave up all sense of control, real or imagined. And God answered. "In the nick of time" God quieted the wind, muzzled the waves, and led the crying ones back to safe harbor. Their response: praise.
The last few verses of this text show clearly that these "planners" saw the great mercies of God, and were grateful. Their plans were changed, the outcome was not what they planned, and they may have even lost their cargo (their down payment on the above referenced property?) and yet they had a new perspective... that God saved them, and they were overjoyed by His goodness and love.
It is amazing what a little storm can do to our perspective. I think the two paths of response are pretty universal at all crossroads following a "storm". We can choose to complain, or we can acknowledge that our plans just aren't as important as our relationship with Father. If He chose a storm for us, rather than our well thought out schemes, we must have needed that storm to gain correction in our perspective. God is not fickle or wishy-washy -- He desires a deep, intimate relationship with Himself, and He is jealous when we place anything in front of Him.. especially a PLAN. We must, if we truly belong to Him, state clearly and with commitment at every crossroad, "not my will but Yours Father." That is the only realistic perspective.
All is Yours God. I am Yours. My plans are Yours God... It's all Yours.
Some of you set sail in big ships;
you put to sea to do business in faraway ports.
Out at sea you saw God in action,
saw his breathtaking ways with the ocean:
With a word he called up the wind—
an ocean storm, towering waves!
You shot high in the sky, then the bottom dropped out;
your hearts were stuck in your throats.
You were spun like a top, you reeled like a drunk,
you didn't know which end was up.
Then you called out to God in your desperate condition;
he got you out in the nick of time.
He quieted the wind down to a whisper,
put a muzzle on all the big waves.
And you were so glad when the storm died down,
and he led you safely back to harbor.
So thank God for his marvelous love,
for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.
Lift high your praises when the people assemble,
shout Hallelujah when the elders meet!
I was reading through the Psalms the other day and this passage stood out to me... I have read it many times before, but for some reason, it has be echoing in my heart for the last three days since I read it. When I read the first verse of this section, "...to do business...", I thought, "that's me." I mean, I make plans to do business, and set goals, prepare, and then set out "to sea". My guess is that most of us do this in some fashion. Whether it is making plans to buy something (like a large building and 100 acres) or to sell something, (another building) or to effect something in our lives.. to achieve something... to gain something... We all do these things. I am not saying that is bad - don't get me wrong. We need to set goals, make plans, and move forward. If we don't, I think they call that a "couch potato". That's certainly not good.
So, are we all in agreement? We all make plans - good, bad, indifferent - we "set out to sea." And then... God!
All kinds of crazy happens. Storms, waves, rain, ad nauseam (literally).
So, what do we do? In this text, the "sailors" cried out to God. And God met them, and saved them. What kind of sailor are you? I imagine it could go another direction, and have experienced this on more than one occassion - the "sailors" (us) complain about the situation, moan and regret how their plans have gone awry. They can cast judgment and blame on others. They can even complain directly to God, because He did not bless their plans. "Woe is me... Why God, why me?" Yeah... I've heard it before. Truth be told, I might have been one of these forelorn sailors a time or two. What about you?
The sailors in this text realized something either sooner or later, but ultimately, they cried out to God. They realized their position as "passengers" on a boat that they really had no control over. Rudderless in a storm, they needed something.. some ONE more powerful. The Surrendered Sails caught no wind as they bowed low in submission. The only strong act of men was to cry out to a Holy, Powerful God, and asked for salvation. In that act, they gave up all sense of control, real or imagined. And God answered. "In the nick of time" God quieted the wind, muzzled the waves, and led the crying ones back to safe harbor. Their response: praise.
The last few verses of this text show clearly that these "planners" saw the great mercies of God, and were grateful. Their plans were changed, the outcome was not what they planned, and they may have even lost their cargo (their down payment on the above referenced property?) and yet they had a new perspective... that God saved them, and they were overjoyed by His goodness and love.
It is amazing what a little storm can do to our perspective. I think the two paths of response are pretty universal at all crossroads following a "storm". We can choose to complain, or we can acknowledge that our plans just aren't as important as our relationship with Father. If He chose a storm for us, rather than our well thought out schemes, we must have needed that storm to gain correction in our perspective. God is not fickle or wishy-washy -- He desires a deep, intimate relationship with Himself, and He is jealous when we place anything in front of Him.. especially a PLAN. We must, if we truly belong to Him, state clearly and with commitment at every crossroad, "not my will but Yours Father." That is the only realistic perspective.
All is Yours God. I am Yours. My plans are Yours God... It's all Yours.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Nearness of God
Sean Azzaro, my pastor of River City Community Church, upon delivering a message about the vision for 2010 at our church, challenged us to fast one day a week. The challenge was not the main point... in fact, it was more likely a side point, maybe even an after-thought. His message was to the point that perhaps we focus too much on the peripherals of faith, and forget that the most important aspect of Salvation is the Presence of God... Yes, we are saved from the punishment of Sin, and we are no longer slaves to sin... that's very, very good. Yes, God gave us the Church where we are called to fellowship, teach, reach, and grow spiritually. All these things are good, too. But the main point of the cross is the "tearing of the curtain", "the renting of the veil"... The Nearness of God.
God became man... He started it. He came near to us. And then Emmanuel paid the price so we could "approach the throne of grace in boldness." (Hebrews 4:16) As amazing as that is, we far too easily get distracted by the things of this world, and the peripherals of faith (my description of all things not directly relating to the nearness of God.).
Fast. As in, "don't eat"... Once a week. Stop for a second and think about how you reacted to that phrase as you read it. Was there this slight tinge of fear? I am (almost) ashamed to admit that I first thought, "How will I go one whole day without food?" When you think about it, it's not really a big deal at all, unless you literally have a physical disability that won't allow you to do so. (Diabetes, and other such diseases.) I am pretty much mocking myself when I describe my reaction -- I actually had a plan just in case I couldn't make it... an energy bar within reach, just in case. So I thought the whole thing through, and even though I really didn't understand what might happen if I were to fast, I simply accepted the challenge, as I am prone to do. (I am slightly competitive...challenges motivate me.)
So, as I work out at the gym six days a week, I determined that I needed to fast after Saturday morning workout (I do not work out on Sunday), starting after I have a protein shake.. which I have each morning. I then would not eat for 24 hours. I decided I would spend mealtimes praying. I also determined that every time I felt hungry, I would simply stop, and pray. I did not predetermine what to pray, just that I would stop what I was doing and give God my undivided attention. Okay? Ready.... Go!
The first Saturday, I was very busy with work, and I made it to lunch quite easily. Piece of cake... okay, not cake.. but easy, anyway. As the day rolled on, I felt the need to pray fairly often. As it got late, I was praying almost continually, but I was feeling this sense of satisfaction in the praying times. About 9:30 PM, I decided going to bed was my best bet. (Night time snacks are my weakness.) I got up early as I was leading worship and had to be at practice at 7 AM. I prayed all the way to church, and I really starting feeling this sense of God's presence. I then noticed that I wasn't hungry at all. I was excited about worship, and before I went into the auditorium, I sat in my car and worshipped intimately, just me and Father. Way cool. All three services, I felt an intensity of intimacy with Father... the Starfield song, Reign in us, caused my heart to nearly break. I felt full. Full of Father. Full of His presence. It was amazing. I didn't even think about food until I went home and had lunch.
Here are some thoughts I had that day: The urges we call hunger that we so often satisfy with some type of food product... maybe they are not food urges at all. Maybe over time, we have confused those urges... maybe, just maybe, those urges are actually a hunger for the nearness of God. Maybe we are overweight because we keep stuffing our faces when we really ought to fall on our knees. Maybe we don't sense the presence of God as much as we should because we are misdirecting our hungers. We might be confused about the things that truly satisfy. Stuffing food in our bodies is sort of an analogy for us: satisfying ourselves, fixing it ourselves, handling the problems ourselves. Perhaps if we would identify those urges as "hunger for God's presence" first, asked God to satisfy us as He would chose to, then we might find ourselves standing in His presence more often... and as a result, we find ourselves walking in His will more often, and eventually, continuously.
I am not advocating "not eating". I am not saying everyone who is overweight is not godly. I am very simply saying: Fasting for Father will rock your world. I am challenging you to fast once a week. Do not do it to shed pounds, but to shed some of the trappings of this world. I fasted for the second time a few days ago, and it was as awesome as the first time, and I am planning to keep this up until I find myself in the presence of God every moment of every day.
Let me know if you take this challenge and what your exeriences are, if you care to do so. I am still working through the things that Father is leading me through, but I'll do you a favor and stop here... The Nearness of God is our good. (Psalm 73:28)
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