Day 1 – James 1:19

Know this my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to grow angry.

It’s interesting to see how James introduces, or shares, a principle through a pairing of contrary statements.  First we are told to be quick to listen.  It’s not a discussion about the quality, but simply an idea of when to listen – that being quickly.  He further solidifies the timeline with the contrary statement of being slow to speak.

As I look back on my adult life and examine the conflicts of which I’ve been involved, I realize that if I’d simply headed this advice and taken the time to listen to the other person, their position, and how the situation or words had impacted them physically or emotionally, how different things might have been.  Sadly, I still begin to formulate a response even from the first few words spoken.

I suspect I’m not alone in this practice. I’ve watched, and you can see people’s lips move as they formulate that response.  As Dr. Stephen Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People shares, it is in our nature to first be understood when truly, we need to seek to understand those with whom we are interacting.  As Dr. Covey indicates, we tend to listen autobiographically in an effort to understand and either validate or reject the message being conveyed by the party or group who is speaking to us.

By working to listen quickly, speak slowly, we can work to understand the other person, are less likely to run the message or situation through our personal filters for a response, and thereby fulfill the final piece of the instruction given by James: to be slow to grow angry.

Prayer: Lord God, grant me patience, strength and courage that I might abide by the instructions provided by James. That I might always seek to understand others without the prejudice of my own experiences.  Amen

So, how well do you know football? If you’ve watched even 5 minutes in your life, you will likely understand that it is important for the offensive line to work as a collective rather than individuals.  If we had the center (the person over the football) go straight ahead but the rest of the offensive line go left or right, likely the quarterback or running back would get run over by a 300+ defensive “Mack truck”.

In so many circumstances, working “as one” is much more effective and efficient to carry heavy loads, to accomplish a set goal, or to communicate an important message. Think about advertising campaigns.  They are carefully articulated in order to provide a clear message.  What’s interesting is that advertising agencies aren’t the originator of this concept.  It’s God, and in the early church  we read about just such an example.

In Acts 4:32 Luke writes, “The whole congregation of believers was united as one – one heart, one mind!…they shared everything…and grace was on all of them!”

Wait a second, the entire congregation was of one heart and one mind? How can that be?  We as a church, struggle globally to pull in the same direction on a myriad of topics (small and large), yet the early church worked together.

Take a moment right now and step away from your own objectives.  Go on, put them down and take a step back – I won’t grab them.  If you don’t see the benefit of what I’m about to ask, you can go back and pick them up and return to whatever it was you were doing.  Now, imagine (keep an open mind) if, rather than fighting for your own goals, you took up the mantle of the goals of Jesus Christ.  Then imagine that brothers and sisters in your town did the same thing, and then in the towns next to you, and the states next to you, in the countries next to you until, yep you got it – we as a congregation, as a family of God’s children, all were working as one – one mind, one heart.

What could we accomplish, as a church, as a people, if as the scripture says, we were of one mind, one heart?  What would this world look like?  I dare say we’d likely see a glimpse of the Kingdom of God.

Today I challenge you, rather than seeking the differences we share, seek the similarities.  Rather than arguing who’s wrong, agree on the common ground.  Search for the love Jesus taught us, feel the love of that Spirit surrounding us, and share the love God poured over us. With one mind, one heart, we can transform the world.

Prayer: God of mercy and God of grace, help me to open my eyes, my mind, my heart – seeking common ground with those who are near me that we might somehow transform the world.  Amen.

Luke 6:30-31 Give to everyone who asks and don’t demand your things back from those who take them. Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you.

Having a heart, and sharing a generous heart, can be an easy thing when it’s our choice.  Writing a check for offering, donating a coat or food to the needy or even dropping some change in a red kettle makes us feel good.  It’s not hard to find an hour a week to help someone learn to read or maybe open your house to a victim of a fire.

When we want to be generous with the abundance God has shown us, it comes easy.  However, what about when we’re forced to do something?  Well then, that doesn’t come so easy now does it?  Recently, I was standing in line and observed someone stepping in front of several people.  The tension surrounding that event was all but tangible, and a few folks even made comments to point out the person who had violated what was considered the norm in this public/social situation.  I’ll admit that I was a bit frustrated as well, and wished that this person would be forced to the back of the line.

Then I heard a voice saying, “Rob, do you know what’s going on in their life?  Maybe they need to get out of here a bit quicker.  Be patient!”  You see, if I’d known that they had a sick child waiting in the car who wanted to get home, or that they were running late to work and if they weren’t on time they’d lose their job, I’d be willing to be generous.  But because I didn’t have their story, my heart had become hard.  I was seeking revenge.  Our God is just, and I believe seeks justice, but our God is not vengeful.  So, the next time you’re faced with a situation in which you are forced in some way to be generous and your heart begins to harden a bit, ask yourself – am I seeking justice or revenge?  If you’re honest with yourself and open to the spirit, that little voice inside will guide you to your answer.

Pray today, “Gracious God, guide me today that I might know and understand how to be generous even when I may not want to be.  Amen”

“I’m scared of the dark”, or spiders.  “I’m fearful about taking this new job” or changing careers.  “I’m not going to answer the phone – I’m afraid of what the person calling me might say”, or “I don’t want to get out of bed, I’m afraid of what’s going to happen today”.  That list could go on forever, and I might not ever capture the thing, or things, that create the most fear in your life, am I right?

I was talking to a friend the other day about life and moving forward, and they began to share a dream that they had.  You see, they’d always wanted to work in a certain field, but they’d never stepped out of their comfort zone to explore what was necessary to move into that career field.  I gently suggested that they should at least check into it, maybe even discuss it with their spouse, to which they said, “if it’s meant to happen, it will.”

It’s so easy, as people of the world, to allow fear to direct us.  I mean, career changes or spiders or the thought of what might happen today can drive our future, but God, well God has other plans for us.  In 1John 4:18 we’re told “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear expects punishment. The person who is afraid has not been made perfect in love.”

So how can we work to conquer our fears?  Well, I think there are a few ways to accomplish this.  First, by recognition of an ever-present God, that is God’s spirit, surrounds us constantly in all that we do.  Next, by scripture, a tangible reminder of God’s grace and love.  Maybe memorize a verse or scripture that you can speak in your heart during difficult times.  God’s word can reassure a trembling heart. Finally, prayer – naming your fear or fears so that you can then work to control them through God’s perfecting love of you.  Now this isn’t a be all list of handling fear, but it might be a good start.  For some folks and for some situations, we may need to seek a professional, and if you are there, I encourage you to do so but this may be a place to start.

Pray today: “You always surround me and are there to protect and strengthen me.  God, your love is perfecting and all-sufficient.  God, with your love there is no room for name your fear in my life! Amen.”

A good friend and I were laughing about a fishing trip we took a number of years ago. We were sharing a tent with a couple of other friends and woke up to a small stream of water running through the center of the tent and the storm raging on.  The four of us ran over to the shower house and took up refuge under the eave.  With just a couple of hours to daybreak, we found it difficult to find anything positive in our situation.

Garrison Keillor, author, story teller and humorist, probably expressed how we were feeling that night when he said, “Thank you dear God, for this good life, and forgive us if we do not love it enough. Thank you for the rain.  And for the chance to wake up in three hours and go fishing; I thank you for that now because I won’t feel so thankful then.”

An attitude of gratefulness can be, shall we say… suppressed, when we walk out the door and find that there is rain falling on our life. Joshua 1:9 tells us “I’ve commanded you to be brave and strong, haven’t I?  Don’t be alarmed or terrified, because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”

A silver lining may be hard to find in those storm clouds, but we must find courage and strength in the knowledge that God is with us, holding us up no matter what we may face. There is hope and light through the darkness.

Pray today, “Thank you Lord for this rain. I trust You’re with me and that You will never leave me.  Amen!”

To maintain and grow a relationship, communication is imperative.  But when you read or hear the word “communicate” or “communication”, what’s your immediate thought?  Does your mind go immediately to talking?  If it does, you’re not alone.

For most people, as soon as someone starts talking, we immediately begin formulating a response.   Yet anatomically, we’re designed to listen twice as much as we talk, right?  Unfortunately, our mouths tend to be workaholic and our ears have turned in the retirement papers.

As you look upon the time you spend in prayer, are you consistently lifting up items that you want God to address but not allowing time to listen for God’s response?  Jeremiah 33:3 tells us “call to me and I will answer and reveal to you wondrous secrets that you haven’t known.”

Just imagine how different things might be if we just spent more time listening rather than trying to make our point – both in our day-to-day life and in the time we spending talking to God.

Prayer today, “Dear God, my mouth is closed and my ears open to you….Amen”

The story of Zacchaeus is one that makes me laugh.  I think it’s because I put some cartoon music to his actions and in my mind’s eye, I paint a picture using the artistry of cartoonists of the 1950’s like Hanna & Barbera.  Now, of course you can insert whatever cartoonist you’d insert as your favorite.  Anyway, poor Zacchaeus, he was too short to see Jesus as he walked down the street.  He was probably standing on his tippy toes, trying to catch a glimpse of this man he had heard so much about, but it wasn’t until he climbed a tree that he could finally see Jesus.

Luke 19:1-5 tells of this story, it reads “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through town.  A man there named Zacchaeus, a ruler among tax collectors, was rich.  He was trying to see who Jesus was, but, being a short man, he couldn’t because of the crowd.  So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.”

As followers of Jesus, we are a lot like that little tax collector.  We are constantly trying to catch a peek of God, regularly trying to reach that mark but falling just a little short, standing on our “toes” only to not quite make it.  We can become disappointed and discouraged, but I say there is a way.

Have you considered that we can have a conversation with God whenever we want or need?  We can seek God’s wisdom through His words by picking up the bible, and we no more have to turn to our neighbor to see and have tangible evidence of God’s love and grace.

Let me share a quick story.  I have a co-worker who is consistently positive and without fail, supportive, forgiving and helpful.  Even on some of my worst days, they are there with a positive word and helping hand.  You see, without saying it, my co-worker is exemplifying what Jesus taught and the exact reason Zacchaeus wanted to climb the tree to see Jesus.  I wonder how we can make it so that folks don’t need to climb a tree when they’re near us in order to catch a glimpse of Him.

Prayer for today “God, help me to lose myself and be more in the image of Jesus today and every day.  Amen”

The modern version of “Let’s Make a Deal” is hosted by Wayne Brady. If you’ve not seen it, it’s a game show where people are randomly selected from the audience to play games.  At some point, they have the opportunity to trade A for B, but that trade could either result in them receiving a fabulous prize or a giant rocking chair.

Have you ever played the role of the contestant with God during a prayer? You know, “God, if you’ll do this for me, then I’ll start going to church every single week, I PROMISE!”  Solomon in the first few verses of Ecclesiastes 5 warns us of this.  Verses 2 and 3 sums it up:

^“Don’t be quick with your mouth or say anything hastily before God, because God is in heaven, but you are on earth. Therefore, let your words be few. Remember:  Dreams come with many cares, and the voice of fools with many words”

When we take time to have a conversation with God, remember that He knows our heart and understand our every need and desire. So rather than trying to make a deal, share your heart with God and remain faithful instead of winding up with a giant chair that you don’t have room for.

Prayer for today: “God, you know my heart and I trust you will provide. Amen”

I used to joke about different things that a road (filled with pot holes) or a situation was (or went) as smooth as crunchy peanut butter.  I know it’s a weird analogy, but that’s just how it felt in certain situations.  I’d struggle and fight, (figuratively) and would wind up frustrated and worn out.

Slowly, the older I got and the deeper the relationship I had with God, I realized that I didn’t have to take on things by myself.  I didn’t have to struggle the way I was.  In fact, the more I removed myself and the more I let God move in the situation, the better it went.  Now, I’m not talking about being a long distance landlord, but instead of trying to push your will onto something, step back and see where God’s taking it.

Isaiah 26:7 says “ But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough.  You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them”.  So the next time you struggle, consider stepping back a little to see where God is going to take things and maybe the crunchy peanut butter can remain on the sandwich and out of the situation.

Pray today “God, You are all powerful.  Help me to rely more upon You and less upon myself.  Amen”

Pain? It seems to surround us. It could be the child next door to you whose fellow classmates are teasing or bullying them.  A neighbor who’s been told by their partner that the relationship is over. A loved one or family member that just found out they are losing their job, or it could be you that’s just learned from your doctor (or are waiting to hear from your doctor) about a test.

C.S. Lewis was once asked “Why do the righteous suffer?” He responded, “Because they are the only ones who can take it”

Peter had some commentary on this very subject as he wrote to the churches of Asia.

1 Peter 2:19-21   Now it is commendable if, because of one’s understanding of God someone should endure pain through suffering unjustly. But what praise come from enduring patiently when you have sinned and are better for it? But if you endure steadfastly when you’ve done good and suffer for it this is commendable before God.

You were called to this kind of endurance because Christ suffered on your behalf. He left you an example so that you might follow in his footsteps.

There are a couple of questions – both very similar – and I am quite sure most everybody has been asked, or has asked, one or both of them:

“Why do bad things happen to good people?”

or

Why is God doing this to me?”

I know in my lifetime I’ve asked and been asked both questions and there’s a part of me who’s always struggled with the answer. The struggle has not come from a point of faith, but the environment in which the question is asked in order to find the right words that would be heard.

God is good! He’s love and forgiveness. God is peace, understanding, healing and strength. God is refuge in a storm. God is the light that guides us through the most difficult times. There are countless examples throughout the Bible and in the people and lives that surround us.

What God is not, is hatred and unforgiveness. God is not spiteful or unjust. You need only turn a few pages into the very first book of the Bible to find the first example of suffering and pain. It has been present since the very beginning and will continue until He returns.

So if we can agree that God is good, that suffering pain are not of His hand, and finally that both have been and will continue to be a part of our world until He returns, then what is Peter trying to say in his message? What message or messages are we to take from his words?

There are a few things we can take from what he has said. The Reverend Billy Graham had some things he believed we could take or learn from these difficult times. In his message, he explained that there was a message of love and compassion.

Jesus said, “…for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (Matthew 25:35-36).

I believe that there has to be a willingness to submit to God and His mighty power. Letting go of the suffering and pain and placing it into God’s hands. Think about it – in the greatest example of pain, Christ himself suffered unjustly entrusting Himself in God. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Get down on our knees, and give to God what is weighing so heavily on our minds and hearts. That part is easy, but not taking it back, not grabbing a hold of it a minutes later – that’s the part we must learn to embrace.

There also has to be an element of learning as we traverse the rocky trail. I’ve long heard that when we make a mistake, we should learn from it, but I believe we can learn something from each trial we’ve experienced. So while we’re bowing to our Lord in prayer, ask God what is to be learned from the situation. With this wisdom, you’ll be better equipped to handle the next situation you face. It may also allow you to give a small piece of comfort to a friend or loved one if they are carrying a similar burden.

Finally, as we face these situations, and once we come through the other end, we must celebrate and give thanks to God for the love and grace God has shown us not only in the words that we share with Him but also through what we do and the testimony we give to others. In this way, we share the fruit of God’s love and God’s grace with others.

Parnell Bailey (contributor to “The Daily Bread”) once visited an orange grove where an irrigation pump had broken down. The season was unusually dry, and some of the trees were beginning to die for lack of water.

The man giving the tour then took Bailey to his own orchard where irrigation was used sparingly. The trees in this grove were healthy, tall, with branches reaching to the sky – the leaves deep green, and they were filled with fruit.  “These trees could go without rain for another 2 weeks,” he said. “You see, when they were young, I frequently kept water from them. This hardship caused them to send their roots deeper into the soil in search of moisture. Now mine are the deepest-rooted trees in the area. While others are being scorched by the sun, these are finding moisture at a greater depth.”

For us, the roots are our faith. Roots that go deep and reach the living water. They hold us strong and tall so that we can endure the pain and suffering we’ll face in our lives. They are the knowledge that no matter what we face, God is there and will carry the heavy weight laying upon us.

The branches are our arms and hands as we stretch them to the heavens acknowledging God’s presence in our lives. Celebrating God’s love and mercy. Giving Him the praise and glory.

Finally, the fruit an outward example of God’s love and grace and the example we can share with others through our lives.  Amen

Take it Vertical

It’s rather funny – it seems like only yesterday I was walking in within a few minutes of curfew, hearing mom ask if I had a good evening.  Looking back, I’m quite sure her question was just as much about reassurance that I was OK as it was curiosity about my evening.

Now, as a parent of a teenage son, I find myself sitting on the edge of my couch worried about my son and his well-being.  Oh sure, I hope he and his friends have a good time, but my primary concern is that he makes it home safe, doesn’t get into an accident or make a poor decision.

I think any parent can connect with those feelings and if you’re not yet a parent, I suspect you can look to a relationship in which you’ve had some similar concerns.  Really, it’s only natural to feel this way – to have our minds wander down the darkest, most harmful paths imaginable.

Shockingly (that’s sarcasm) worry has been prevalent as a human trait for 2000+ years!  So much so, that it is specifically discussed and noted in the Bible.  Here’s what Jesus had to say In Luke 12:25-26

²⁵“can you add even one hour to your life by worrying? ²⁶You can’t do that very little thing.  So why worry about the rest?”

What our Lord says here is right – it adds nothing to our lives.  In fact, if you think about it, it’s a huge drain of our time and sucks the energy from our soul.  You see, instead of spending our time worrying about this or that, staying earthly (or horizontal), we need to take our worries, our burdens, vertical.

There are several different passages that our God shows us His willingness to take our burdens and worries.

Matthew 11:28  “Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads.  I will give you rest.

OR

Psalm 55:22  Turn your worries over to the Lord, He will keep you going, he will never let godly people be shaken.

You see, our God who is merciful, sits upon a throne of Grace.  God wants us to talk and share our burdens – wants us to take what lays heavy upon our hearts and minds and lift them up.

Take some time to have a conversation with the Lord, give over to God the stresses that are weighing you down.  Struggles, changes, friends, family, or a combination of any, all or something totally different.  My point here is just to have a conversation with God – take that weight from the horizontal and take it vertical.

Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Hellen Keller, Pasteur, Michael Angelo, Mother Teresea, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein  ~  H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Well thank you, Captain Obvious, of course we do!  Yet it seems like the daylight fades much quicker than we thought it would, hours blend into days, and days into weeks, and before you know it, it’s next month or next year.

Modern conveniences are supposed to make our lives easier.  Easier to do our work, or prepare a meal.  It’s much simpler now to get an answer from someone across town or to catch up with a friend, but as we introduce more convenience, our days seem to get filled up with the mundane and we fail to enjoy the extra time that should be available.

We’re even sleeping less!  On average Americans sleep 6.8 hours each night, a decrease of almost an hour over the last 20 years.  So things are easier, and we have a little over 17 hours awake each day, but as the song says, time keeps on ticking…ticking.

Seriously – 17 hours, about 1,020 minutes or 61,200 seconds each day – yet if I came up to most folks or even asked myself, “could you do a little extra?” the answer would likely be, “no, I just don’t have the time”.  Now I get it, we don’t have that much time free every day. We still have to go to work and cook meals and well, the list goes on and we find activities to fill our days.

I was thinking about my wife as well as a conversation I had last week about finding time. You see, my wife dedicates a small piece of time each and every day to read her Bible as well as a couple of different devotions.  It amazes me that she manages to find time to do it…wait, 1,020 minutes…surely I could find a few minutes to spend with God each day – honestly we call could.

Roman 12:2 shares with us what some time with God each day can do for us it reads; “Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is – what is good and pleasing and mature.”

Here’s my pledge to you: each night at least 30 minutes before I go to bed, I will set aside my phone, computer, and the TV and spend that time with God, reading His word and spending quiet time in conversation. My challenge for you is to find 5 or 10 minutes with God each day.  See if it doesn’t change your life as I know the time I’m dedicating will change mine.

Boy is it Monday – sore, tired and don’t want to go to work.  Well, maybe it’s not that I don’t want to go to work, but it’s that I don’t want to go where I’m going.  Walking in, I’m faced with smiling faces and there’s a part of me that wonders if they are truly that happy or if they are putting on a good face…the old grin and bear it philosophy.

The journey to my cube, desk, cell (whatever you want to call it), takes me past a particular gentleman – a friend and brother in Christ. I stopped to say good morning and see how his weekend went.   As he turns, I can see a joy on his face.  My first question to him was, “So are you ready for the fun and games today?”  He responded by saying that fun may be a stretch of the truth, but he is ready for the day and what it has to offer.

I questioned him on that statement and his response was, “This is where God has put me today.  Clearly He wants me here for some purpose, so I’m excited to see what He (God) wants me to accomplish.”  With that sentence, my friend gave me an unarguable position, and while I’m not quite ready to accept it, (I mean, I took the time to tie the millstone on and drag it this far, I can’t give that up without some kind of a fight, right?), I can at least consider his position.

Well, I thanked him for the uplifting approach, shared that I’d need to ponder it a bit, and proceeded on to my station.  As I walked, I began to come to grips with his statement and his philosophy. You see, God establishes a path for each of us, and through our decisions and the decisions of others, our path winds and turns – goes up and down, can be covered with ice, or sometimes surrounded by the flowers in the prairie.

With each step along the path, God puts opportunities to strengthen our faith, to strengthen the faith of others or introduce Jesus Christ to someone who’s not ever been introduced to Him or His teachings. 1 Corinthians 1:9 can give us perspective as to our role each day. It reads, “God is faithful, and you were called by him to partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

While it’s easy to surround ourselves with despair or dread, if you look at each step, each day, as an opportunity to be a servant of God and a partner with Christ Jesus, how can we not be excited?

I can remember as a child going to an amusement park called Silver Dollar City and being absolutely fascinated by the huge hulk of a man heating and pounding on metal. It seemed as though there were no limits to what he could create out of the metal. Parts for wagon wheels, tools, knives, you name it and I was sure he could create it.

Now I’m quite sure a part of the fascination was simply the fire (yes I’ve always had a bit of a fascination with fire) and then the fact that he got to hit on things and make lots of noise and no one was yelling at him.

A couple of recent reality shows have had me look back on that experience with awe at the creations of the blacksmith. The shows today pit a number of talented people against one another in timed competitions that have them creating a tool or some kind of weapon.

As the block of metal begins to be formed into an instrument of precision, the metal is heated, tempered, heated, quenched and the shaping begins. It’s hammered, reheated, stretched all kinds of different stresses and trials to form and shape it, so that heavy block of metal can eventually be put to work for its intended use.

As I was reading this week I realized that God does the very same thing with us.

James 1: 2-4
My brothers and sisters, you will face all kinds of trouble. When you do, think of it as pure joy. Your faith will be tested. You know that when this happens it will produce in you the strength to continue. And you must allow this strength to finish its work. Then you will be all you should be. You will have everything you need.

At times we ask why God allows us to endure the difficulties of life. It’s my belief that God doesn’t put those things in our path but does provide us with the ability, with God’s help, to navigate through to the other side. As we grow deeper in our relationship with the Great I Am, our strength and resilience increase with an understanding that we must rely on God to overcome life’s obstacles and challenges.

The next time a chunk of metal gets thrown your way, stoke the fire of God within you and see the tools you’ll form with God’s help to carry on.

Who do you call?

I was listening to a broadcast evangelist a few days ago during my morning drive into work.  He was completing a sermon series on arming yourself for battle.  Over the course of a few days he talked about the armor, helmet and arrows God provides us, but his final sermon was on prayer.

He started by saying something no one wants to hear – the truth.  He first pointed a finger at the pulpit and said this is something that pastors don’t want to talk about, and it’s nothing you out there want to hear, but we don’t pray enough.  Instead of ignoring it, we can face it and work to correct it.  I heard it and realized that I am just as guilty, if not more guilty of this.

When faced with a layoff, I will say that the first thing I did was go to God in prayer simply asking for guidance and loving support.  This quick prayer brought about a peace that quite frankly intimidated those that were delivering the news.  That peace was soon replaced with frustration fear and some anger and for the next 2 ½ years I struggled professionally, financially, with relationships and spiritually.  My entire life felt as though it was in a tumbler being thrown about.

During this time, I’d call my brother, friends, and my pastor.  I’d dump on my wife and son in a number of different ways.  I was going everywhere and to everyone hoping to find a solution by simply talking about it.  When I wasn’t talking about it, I was like tire connected to a compressor.  The pressure kept building, ready to explode, which sadly, I did a few times.

By now you’ve probably figured out what I was doing wrong.  What had changed from when I approached this difficult part of my journey?  You’re absolutely right.  I forgot to talk to the One who could make a difference.  I’d stopped talking to God.  Now, let me say that during this time I did pray, but I’d pray, get up off my knees, (figuratively speaking) dust myself off and think, “there that was a good one”, thinking that one conversation should do it.  I’d then walk away and wonder why nothing was changing.

One day about 3 months before I received an offer from the company for whom I currently work, I realized my error.  So daily I’d life up my concerns to God, I’d thank God for what I had been given and ask for direction and guidance.  It took a week or more for me to start to find that calmness and peace I first experienced walking along this path.

A month later, my son and I were at a chain outdoor store and I was approached by a salesman.  He was there trying to get people to visit a resort in which you could buy time shares.  When he started his rehearsed speech, I laughed a bit and told him that while I was sure it was a lovely facility, in my current career and financial situation he’d be better off finding someone else to approach.  He kindly asked what I did and after I told him, he directed me to a company.  Long story short, the company he mentioned is the one with whom I now continue to work.

My point here isn’t that God will give you everything you ask for, because He doesn’t.  My point is that I began having regular conversations with my Father, and in those conversations I found more than a job.  I found a friend to talk with. I found peace and comfort in love only God can provide, and with that peace, my vision was clear, my hearing sharp and my heart open to the opportunities placed within my path.

You’d think that with the results I saw I’d be down on my knees several times each and every day but that’s not the case.  I seem to wander away as I did before, dusting my hands off, walking away like I was done.  Now, I’m better than I used to be and hope to do better tomorrow than I did today.

I guess how I’ve started to look at it is this way.  I don’t stop by or dial the number of a friend or family member only when I’m in trouble.  There are many more times that I call to check on them and celebrate the good times.  Why shouldn’t I take a few minutes to check in with God?  It can be as simple as Thank you God for today, thank you for__________   (You fill in the blank) to as complex as life may be.  The key is not forgetting who you should call!

Love Shining Brightly

This is something I struggle with a great deal and that’s exhibiting patience AND love consistently to the people in my life.  I don’t just mean family and friends, but also toward those outside that small circle.  I’m talking about the person who has 24 items in the 20 or less express lane or the person driving down the highway that cuts me off.

Instead of just smiling in a frustrating situation, I have tended to lash out, not in a physical manner but lash out still the same.  What I found was I don’t feel any better after my tirade than before I started.   That got me to thinking about a passage I’d read and heard countless times before.

John 4:7-8

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

I think without exception, we have all know love of some kind, but what I don’t think is that we display love consistently throughout our lives. I know this is true in my case.  I mentioned earlier that I struggle in situations to demonstrate love with patience, so what I’ve done is try to include a request to God that He provide me with the same patience He’s shown me.  By asking for God’s help openly I’ve done 2 things.  First, shared with Him one of my many weaknesses and secondly, made myself conscious of that weakness so that with His help I can be a more loving and therefore a better representative of His love.

Examine yourself, and the way you react to people and situations.  Is there something you need help with that might allow you to show people the love the God has shown you?  Once you’ve identified something, remember to include it in your prayers throughout the day and in no time you’ll find yourself shining brightly with His love.

Desperate Faith

Ever had a situation or a time in your life you just couldn’t explain?  A feeling that there was someone with you, protecting or directing you?  Maybe it was that something had dramatically changed, but you’re not quite sure what had happened.  I think if you look in your life you can find a time where this is applicable.

If you’ve read through some of the pages here you’ve read my story.  I was truly at one of the lowest points in my life and it’s at that point when I needed Him the most, He stepped in and picked me up.  The more I think about that day, the one thing that resonates more than anything is that I had finally stripped away all of my human pride, really all earthly things, so that the only thing left was faith.  Desperate faith.

Desperate faith?  If you think about those 2 words – especially together – they seem to contradict, but if you look a bit deeper, you know exactly what it meant to me in this situation.  I had a reckless need to be removed from the situation I was in or to have the situation change.  Once I had the faith stripped of the earthly games of the mind, a belief , no a knowledge that it was my Father, our Father God was the only One who could do it.

Since that night I’ve found myself in countless situations where I’ve stripped myself and looked to Him as a child looks to their parent – vulnerable, confused and scared.  I’ve not always gotten what I asked for, but I’ve never failed to get what I needed and that includes a heart and mind that has increasingly and more willingly let go of my fears and pride as a man.  I look to Him – to my Father, knowing He’s there form me.  He’ll be there for you; it just may take a little desperate faith.

Pray with me:  Father, I know what I want but You know what I need.   I trust you will be with me, guide me, You will never leave me.  Let my eyes open to see Your way.  Amen.

Standard Operating Procedure

Oh, the joys of commuting. Today’s drive in was interesting! On my travels north, I discovered that there wasn’t one, but two different accidents within a mile of each other.  Along the same stretch of highway, there are a couple of points of entrance. Traffic was backed up more than 3 miles by the time I reached that point in my commute.

The joys of stop and go traffic were only magnified by the truck I’d let over in front of me. It was pulling a boat, and no one wanted give him enough room to get over. What I discovered was that either he’d failed to connect the trailer lights, or the time the lights had spent in the water had affected their functionality. Not only was I dealing with stop and go traffic, but now I had to guess when to go and when to stop.

Thankfully in life we need not guess – we have been given guidelines. John Wesley summed up most of his teachings with this: “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”

Imagine a world in which the S.O.P (standard operating procedure) was as simple as that. “Gracious and loving God, thank You for all that You’ve done for me, even though ‘thank you’ isn’t enough. Give me the courage and grace to put these words into action today. Amen”

Money Talks?

Recently I had a conversation with a friend of mine. During that conversation, he was trying to convince me to work for him. He was going to be out of town on business and needed someone to fill in.

I was quite honored at the thought that he would think of me, that he would consider me to be capable of even trying to cover for him. Unfortunately, I’d already made a commitment to be somewhere else that weekend and shared with him the situation. Jokingly, he said I needed to go where the money was because, “Money talks and everything else walks!” Knowing him, I knew he wasn’t serious. It was just a way to have a laugh and transition from that part of the conversation.

Now it’s not the first time I’d heard that phrase used – heck, I’m sure I’ve personally used it a number of time throughout my life – but for some reason when he said it, a different picture came to mind and while I knew he wasn’t serious, my first response was almost:

Matthew 6: 19-21

“Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them. Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don’t eat them and where thieves don’t break in and steal them. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

That applies, but it wasn’t my first thought. My first thought was actually of some of the special times that I’ve had the opportunity to share with my son and with my wife. In the last week, I had a couple of those moments.

I decided to take a day off of work just to hang out with my son. We ran a few errands and went to the gym. This is a new process for us both, and our interactions and conversations were closer to being two adults rather than a dad and his son. While it’s hard to believe how much he’s grown, the idea that he’s becoming a good person, a good man, is very rewarding.

Over the weekend, my wife and I were able to get a couple of days away to refresh and get “back into step” with one another. We spent one afternoon exploring the countryside and were able to see some of God’s most beautiful handiwork.

In both cases, I had a choice – let the money talk and worry about what the world had to offer, or spend a few hours making memories and storing those treasures in my heart. Jesus said that where your treasures are, there too, is your heart.  Well, taking the time with them this weekend, I found some of my treasure and it filled my heart.

Work is necessary, and I get that.  Being a fan of a particular team or  following a sport or TV show isn’t a bad thing, but don’t let the trappings of this world get you so caught up that you forget what really matters. Take some time with your spouse, child, or a close friend and rediscover that treasure He’s given to you. “Loving God, thank You for a small glimpse of Your kingdom through the love You’ve put into my life. Amen”

Shine Bright

I have a friend I met during my short stent of insurance sales.  We actually worked together for a couple of different companies.  We’d both been laid off and had struggle to find a job that would make ends meet, we somewhat enjoyed, and we felt relatively safe day to day.

Over the course of the 2 ½ years we worked together, we’d talk about this prospect or that job lead.  We discussed our wives, our kids, and how our inability to secure a good-paying job was impacting those who were close to us.  We were, and are, each blessed with loving, supporting wives who try to bolster our egos to help us get through another day of no-shows and rejections.

He too, is a man of faith and struggled with where we were and wondered why he was going through such struggles.  “I do everything I’m supposed to do; I fall on my knees nightly and pray.  Pray not for myself and my needs but for the needs of others.”  He’d go on to say, “I go to Mass either Saturday night or Sunday depending on our schedule” and he’d even started going through the week.  Why is God putting me through this, he’d ask.   We’d then go on to agree with the age old adage, that God will never put more on you than you can handle.

Our discussion would usually wind up in a philosophical agreement that the Lord took care of the Israelites while in the desert.  He would provide for them what they needed when they needed it and in a lot of respects that’s exactly what the Lord was doing for us.

I realized that I’ve not talked with him in a month or so, and in that thought reflected on those conversations and it dawned on me. The difficulties have served to give us an opportunity to show to the world just how amazing He is.

These difficult times have given us the tools to deal with adversity and it’s those tools we can use to help ourselves and others during adversity.   We must remember that these tools are a gift from Him and we must always let other know of His generosity.

Perspective, both in the struggles we will face day to day, or possibly week to week.   It’s not as bad as it was and we made it through that time, or when we faced this before we overcame it by…  It also allows us to understand the situation others are in and have some idea of the emotions involved in that situation.  We can use these times to remind ourselves and others of His mercy.

There are many other examples and I could go on and on, but I think it is best defined this way, “In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven”  Matthew 5:16

Don’t hide from the difficulties of the day but embrace them.  Seek His guidance and mercy and shine so that the whole world may praise God.

He really does!

On the way to work the other day, I was listening to the radio and they were talking about an interview in 2013 of Maya Angelou done by Oprah Winfrey.  At one point Maya was talking about a time when she was reading to her mentor (the name of both the mentor and book escape me right now), but she recalled one line that she read:

“God loves me.”

He had her read it again

“God loves me”

and again:

“God loves me”

She then, like only she could, poetically and from the soul, said, “He does, the one who created the rivers and the trees, loves ME!”

The host allowed for a few moments of silence and then tried to put into words how inspired he felt by that exchange.  I didn’t listen, but instead turned off the radio and started to ponder that very statement.  Audibly I said it…God loves me….God loves me… and then I drove in silence for the next 15 or 20 minutes contemplating that statement.  With tears filling my eyes from the shear amazement of His love, I said it again…God LOVES ME!!!

Find some time today to say it out loud over and over again and then consider that statement.  Please don’t just say it and then pass over it.  Say it, mean it, know it.  God does love me and God does love you……what an amazing gift…

Oh Lord why me? Why now? Why today?

Have you ever asked this question whether it’s first thing in the morning when you’re dreading the day ahead of you or maybe as you’re going through something like this at work?  Rarely do I have this feeling, but today I woke up wanting to pull the covers over my head and hide.  As a guy, you won’t find many who will admit to this feeling but it does happen.  That feeling that something was going to absolutely fall apart and you’ll be left holding the shards of your day.

I have to imagine Judas of Iscariot must have felt that way the morning before his infamous kiss of betrayal.  Imagine waking up knowing that history is written. You’ve been given the task to not only turn your back on a man you’ve followed, believed in, spoken His words, but now you must identify him – knowing  that He will face torture and certain death.   In the end, Judas cannot face his actions and his remedy is far from ideal.

What I faced the other day cannot compare to the decisions facing him, and the outcome of my choices during the day will certainly not have the same effect on a friend, family member, or co-worker yet that does not change my thoughts.  It does not minimize my fear from what I might face.  Judas followed through with his plan, truly God’s plan.  He however, could not face the decisions that he made.  There is nothing we cannot face in our daily lives with a little help.  Some days it comes readily and others we must extend our hand up and or out and ask.

So today and every day before you pull the covers down, or up over your head start your day with this:

Lord, I don’t know what today holds for me but today I need Your help.  I reach out my hand for Yours to guide me and lead me along the path You’ve set for me to follow..  Amen

Answers

Isaiah 55: 8-9  My plans aren’t your plans, nor are your ways my ways says the Lord.  Just as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my plans than your plans.

I will be one of the first to say that we must rely on God for all things, yet there are situations that we can’t control without a thought of, or prayer to, God.  Now if you’re able to say that’s not you, there’s 1 of 2 things going on – either your faith and reliance on our maker is absolute and should be an example to friends and family, or you are lying to yourself and those around you.

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve felt like I must make a decision now or face grave consequences for myself or for others.  In fact, I pride myself on my ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently.  So when I was faced with a grave medical issue for one of my very close family members, it was difficult.  I’m very proud to say that I prayed as much during that time as I have at any other time in my life.  My prayers were for her and my family, but focused mainly on her.  I asked God to heal her, knowing that He has that power.  I wanted her out of the hospital and back the way she was just a few days before celebrating Christmas.

During the time I was praying, I also thought about things quite a bit and I began to feel selfish.  I was asking for her to return to a life that found her struggling both physically and mentally because of other health issues.  I just didn’t want to face walking in for a visit and not  finding her in her chair with a smile on her face.

As I struggle with this situation, I read or heard something (I’m not sure which) and  began to realize that my prayer would only be selfish if I held on to the concept of earthly recovery and tried to confine God with the humanistic definition of healing.  This has had me contemplating not just this situation, but the overall idea of prayer and the very narrow view we have during our conversations with Him.

We think of our immediate needs, what we can see, what we think we need and want, and focus so intently on that “brass ring” that we fail to see there are alternatives to the situation – some of which we’d never come up with.  We try to squeeze God into a tiny chute directing Him toward the solution we’ve determined best for the situation – forgetting that He is all powerful, the creator of everything, and His power is limitless.

As we kneel, bow our head and/or clasp our hands in prayer, let us remember His immense power, His loving nature and the gift of grace granted us all.  “Father, I know what I’m asking but I don’t know what Your answer will be, give me the eyes to see it, the ears to hear it and the heart and wisdom to accept it. Amen”

I was on my way home from a particularly stressful day.  From the moment my alarm went off through the point I’d gotten into my truck at the end of the day, things were just off.   My words were coming out with a bit of an edge even though that’s not how they were intended.  Things I touched wound up being like an all-white 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle or felt like jittery Jello-like soap that flew through my fingers.

Needless to say, I was feeling bad for how I’d reacted to things and feeling beat down.  About a third of the way into my trip, a song made famous by Matthew West came on.  The radio wasn’t up too loud, so the first few measures of the intro were soft but I recognized the song and turned it up.  I managed to turn it up as the he started the first lyric…”Hello, my name is Regret, I’m pretty sure we have met…”  It goes on to say…”I’m the whisper inside that won’t let you forget”.

The song managed to capture the entire experience of the day with “Hello, my name is Defeat…Just when you think you can win, I’ll drag you right back down again, ‘til you’ve lost all belief”

Yep, that was the day I was having!  By the time I was done beating myself up over what I’d said and done, I was so down I’d have had to climb up on a stepstool to look someone in the shoes laces. If the song had only these lines I wouldn’t have been surprised, but it didn’t.  It went on to remind me that I am a child of the one true King, saved, changed and set free.

The apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 3:26-27  “You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus.  All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

Weeds in the Garden

Psalm 46: 1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble. That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart, when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea, when its waters roar and rage, when the mountains shake because of its surging waves.

Last weekend was unseasonably warm for February.  It was nice enough that I was able to enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee out on the back deck Saturday morning.  As I was sitting there, I was looking at the small patch I’d cleared last year to plant a couple of tomato plants.

I’m not much of a gardener, even though I love fresh vegetables.  I have nightmares of weeding my folks’ garden, which was well over an acre.  I could, and would, spend entire days with a hoe in my hands chopping weeds, or if they were too close to the plant, pulling them. It seemed like I’d get to the end of a row, turn around and there would be a few pests popping back up.

Thinking about those weeds got me to thinking about a conversation I’d been a part of with a friend several years ago – long before I was an official card-carrying Christian. I believed, but I’d yet to accept Jesus Christ as my savior, and further, I’d yet to be washed by the water. Anyway, he was sharing with me some of the things that had gone on in the last 18 months of his life.

He shared the agonizing loss of his wife due to cancer. And because of the physical stress and demands of caring for her, he’d suffered some major health issues as well. In addition, he’d lost his job and really had no income to support himself or their kids. As he described what had been going on, I couldn’t help but be amazed at the smile on his face and the light and life in his eyes. I point blank asked him, “Are you ok? You sit there describing what could be considered the most horrific 18-months a person could endure and yet you continue to smile.

His response, “I have my Lord!” and then went on to paraphrase the passage above. He admitted that he’d not been perfect – there were plenty of times he began thinking about everything that was, or had gone on – and he would get scared and be fearful for what might come next. Then he’d remember that the Lord is his refuge, and a calm would come over him like no other.

Fear can be like those weeds, popping up over and over again and unless you actively work at it, they’ll overtake your life like weeds will the garden. As you can tell by my attitude at the beginning, I’m still not one to weed or hoe a garden, but I do weed my life. I’ve experienced some times that at best were not easy and left me fearful for what may come next. As I’d face the situation, I’d weed that fear out of my life, knowing God is my safe spot. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Put on my yoke, and learn from me, I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.”

I’d like to say that I diligently work in my garden, but there are times that I’ll miss a day or two.  I might even just sit there and let the weeds grow taller and jeopardize the work that I’ve done, but eventually I humble myself and ask for help. If you feel as though your life is overgrown with “weeds”, do a little weeding and lift up you concerns to Him. “Father God, you are my safe spot – my refuge, clear my garden of the weeds. Amen”