Trusting God is a stabilizing experience

Trusting God is a stabilizing experience

We can’t know for sure, but from every indication David didn’t have the jitters when he went into battle. Why? Because he was stabilized by his trust in God. Again, no matter what situation we face in life, it always starts with where our eyes are fixed. Back in July, Nik Wallenda walked across Niagara Falls. Of course this is something that takes much training. However, there is another important factor in being able to complete this feat. He was able to complete this feat because no matter what issues he faced his eyes were fixed on one thing. I think this thought can also be illustrated by storms. A lot of times when it storms and rains, all we see are a sky full with clouds, rain, and lightening. However, if we took time to imagine seeing through the clouds, rain and lightning, we would see the sun shining. It is the same with the storms in our lives. All we see is the storms that are going on. However, if we look past the storms, the sun is always shining on the other side. Do we see as the world sees? Or do we see as God sees? Like David, we also stabilized by our trust in God.

"Garden Somethin'..."

I called my mom on Mother's Day. 

I had rushed to the post office on Thursday morning to mail the greeting cards for my mother and grandmothers, hoping that they would get there in time (and they surprisingly did!!). 

Regardless, in our phone conversation, one of the things I asked her was, "did you get my card?"  To which she replied, "yes, and so did both of your grandmothers." 

She then went on to tell me about her recent visit with her mom and dad.  Apparently, she and my sister-in-law had taken all the kiddos up to see their great-grandparents a few weeks back. 

Now, my mom's parents always plant a huge garden every year.  Whenever I call to catch up with them,  there's always lots of talk about what's growing, how much they planted this year, and what things don't seem to be doing too well. 

So as you can imagine, when they all arrived that afternoon, there were gardening tools and plants laid out on the front porch as Papaw had apparently been working in the garden that morning.  Mom goes on to tell me that when they got out of the car, Luke, my little nephew, says to his great-grandpa, "Papaw, I want to garden somethin'!  Can I help you garden somethin'?" 

To my grandfather's delight, he led the whole bunch of great-grandkids down to the garden to plant a few vegetables and such. 

Of course, little Luke didn't do much "gardening".  He more or less just played in the dirt and messed up the rows and mounds that his great-grandpa had meticulously worked on.  But, I'm sure Papaw was still smiling from ear to ear as his little "helpers" did more harm than good as they attempted to "garden something". 

Sometimes, I bet that's how it is with our heavenly Father.  When we look at our own efforts, it seems to that we don't accomplish much.  Sometimes, it might even seem that we do more harm than good. But God Almighty desires that we join Him in His work.  It's not about whether or not you make mistakes...  It's just about joining Him in the work that He's already doing....

Jesus reminded us that there is a need for more gardeners to help:
...so pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.  Matthew 9:38 NLT

Maybe we should all be asking, "I want to garden somethin'!  Can I help you garden somethin'?" 

Lessons from Children

The old expression (which actually originated in the Bible), states,  “Out of the mouths of babes.” Art Linkletter used a similar phrase when he stated, “Kids say the darndest things.”  The expression recognizes that children often surprise us with things they say, particular insight, honesty, and perspective.  

 

We adults would do well to listen to what kids are saying during this year’s VBS. Over and over this year, they will proclaim, “ Facing Fear, Trusting God!” From the life of Paul, they will be challenged to Dare to Change, to Speak up, to Believe, and to Stand Strong.  This theme and focus are each based on 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”

They will sing songs that remind us that NOBODY is greater than God, that we should not be afraid, and that we should tell everybody about Jesus. They will recite the ABC’s of salvation…to admit, believe and confess. And, they will find reminders of God even in the crafts they make.  

Certainly God will speak through all the adults involved in Bible School as we share the love of God with children, but perhaps we as adults should listen to the children, too….and to be reminded that we are commanded in Matthew 18:3 to  become like little children. After all, He Himself came as a little child when He came to save the world!

Weather....hmph!

The weather has been so unpredictable these past few weeks.  The temperature has been up, and then down,… and then we’re up again.  Weather can be such a fickle thing.  You never know what to expect from one day to the next.  Reminds me of a group of guys who found themselves in an unexpected bout with the weather. 

In Matthew 14 it says:  (After feeding the five thousand), “He (Jesus) made the disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.”  I bet when the winds began to come and the waves began to beat upon the boat, the disciples must have felt a little abandoned.  Even wanting to blame Jesus. “He made us go before Him in the boat to the other side.  Now, we’re going to perish!” 

Then, Jesus comes to them in the storm.  He tells them: “Take heart!  I am here!  Don’t be afraid!”  After Peter and the disciples are reminded that their faith is too small, the wind ceases.

Sometimes, I think that we need to be reminded that our faith is too small and we need to listen to him say, “Take heart!  I am here!  Don’t be afraid!”    

The world is just as unpredictable as the weather.  But Jesus is certainly always there! 

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Doing Battle is a Lonely Experience

Lessons Learned: David vs. Goliath Part 2

Doing battle is a lonely experience

All David was there for was to take some things to his brothers and make sure they were ok. However, as Goliath taunted the armies of the living God, the men fled from Goliath and were greatly afraid. Even King Saul, who out of anyone should have been willing to stand up and fight, did not want to fight. He even makes an offer to anyone who will fight Goliath. A pretty HUGE offer. Yet no one takes the offer. Finally, David says I will go. He knows if he is going to go, he will have to physically go alone. (Although God was with him).

It’s no different in our lives as Christians. As we go into battle as Christians, seeking to become Christ-like, witnessing, taking a stand, etc. , sometimes we have to go alone. As we go into battle, people will discourage us in words and action, people will doubt us, and people will attack us. Sadly, the discouragement, doubt and attacks may come from other Christians. So what do the discouragement, doubt and attacks amount to? Satan uses these to throw us off our game. When we are thrown off our game, we lose our focus of what is important, and what God has asked us to do. May the following prayer help keep our eyes fixed on God.

"Father, I want to know Thee, but my coward heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide from Thee the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but I do come.
Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that Thou mayest enter and dwell there without a rival. Then shalt Thou make the place of Thy feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall be no night there."

                                    --- From The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer:

SURPRISE!!

New tires…yuck! I’m thankful we have a reliable vehicle for transportation, and grateful we could purchase the needed tires…..but tires are EXPENSIVE! And, they’re not pretty….I will not hurry home to get comfortable and sit enjoying my newly acquired tires. I can’t cook with them, invite visitors to come over and play cards around them, nor do they match the items in my house. But we NEED them! A ride through town has recently become like a turbulent ride on an airplane – without the pretzels!

Next, I found that in order to get these new acquisitions, I needed to be way across town early in the morning, and be shuttled back to work by an unknown person. (To say I am not a morning person is like saying a raindrop can fill an ocean.) But, that’s what needed to be done, and so we scheduled the appointment, I put on my best happy face, and headed across town.

Before I got out of the car, I made sure that my radio was left on the Christian station I listen to, and at an ‘acceptable’ level, hoping that God could use it to touch the person or persons who had to drive our car during the service appointment. I filled out the necessary paperwork, and requested the shuttle ride back across town. As I climbed in the shuttle vehicle, the first thing I noticed was that the radio was on the very same Christian station as I had just left on in our car! I mentioned it to the driver, which led to a most enjoyable conversation about God, our churches, and the paths of our lives.  It seemed like the trip across town lasted only a very short time, and I was actually a bit sorry to see it end. 

I was immediately struck by God’s little surprise. What I thought was going to be a rather negative start to the day turned out instead to be pleasant and refreshing! God often shows up that way, so why don’t I look for it more often and actually expect it? Just a small investigation led me to MANY articles about people being surprised by God, and further affirmation of how much He delights in His people, wants the very best for them, and wants to spend time with them. The pages of scripture are filled with such surprises. THANKFULLY, God tells us that His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. His plans are far above ours. The most amazing surprise of all is that the never-changing, omnipotent God loves us with an eternal love. I want to see more surprises from Him…and I vow to be looking and expecting them more!

Getting new tires didn’t transform me into a morning person, and the price still pinches, but now I appreciate my tires a little more, and smile to think God gave me FOUR reminders of Him that I’ll see and use daily! The service car for our vehicle turned out to give ME a little tune-up, too! J

Repaired vs Resurrected

I just spent two hours with a HVAC repairman. The outcome: he will come back tomorrow when he has had a chance to research our unit. The problem: the unit won't turn on. That's a pretty important thing. When there is snow on the ground, it's nice for the heat to actually work.

Fortunately, it's in a part of the building that isn't being used today, and I'm sure our able repairman will discover the answer and have it working soon, but I also realize another reality. Even after he repairs it, our unit will one day break down again. Eventually, it will quit altogether, only to be replaced by another unit that will one day break down. This is why there will always be HVAC training schools.

Easter does not celebrate repair. Christ has not “fixed” our life only to have it break down again. We celebrate the Resurrection, not the Repair. What Christ accomplished that first Easter morning is nothing less than the defeat of death itself. That's worth celebrating!

2 Corinthians 4:13-14 (NIV)
¹³ It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.