Taking the Hard Road

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  (Romans 8:18).

I just spoke with the wife of a friend who had a freak accident this week.  In the midst of simple lawn work, my friend fell and fractured a vertebrae in his back.  Though the doctors believe he will have a "full" recovery, right now, he is in an exceptional amount of pain and few pain relievers are working for him.  He knows in the midst of this challenging time that he is not alone--God has not left him.  He also knows that God was not "caught off guard" by this situation.  Even with this faith, he is going through an extremely tough time emotionally (and physically) right now.

Through this, I am reminded that God is continuing to work in the tough and the uncomfortable.  And, when I really think about it--the times that God has truly shaped me and shown me the full extent of His awesome love for me have been times that were absolutely touch and uncomfortable. 

I am not one that generally prays for these tough times.  More than likely, my prayers are more in line with "get me out" or "remove these tough situations" during these times.  By God's amazing grace, we can approach these tough knowing that He is working something beautiful out of the times that just shake us to our core.  In these times, I encourage you to look beyond the immediacy of the situation you are in, and seek to trust the one who orchestrated every moment of your life before you even showed up.   

May you enjoy His Peace,

Dave

It Just Works

Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. (James 2: 26 NLT).

This section of scripture (James 2: 14-26) is theologically dense and strongly contested. Many writers have focused on James' emphasis on deeds. They believe this emphasis runs contrary to the Apostle Paul's writings (Romans 3:28) against those who try to be saved by their deeds. James' and Paul's writings are not at odds.

God's word is clear--we cannot earn salvation through our good deeds. In fact, we cannot earn salvation at all--it is a gift from our Heavenly Father. At salvation, our old life was exchanged for the true life of Jesus Christ. His spirit fills our formerly dead spirit, making it alive--alive to the things that God desires. And, this exchanged life, the life of Jesus Christ in ours, results in good deeds.

These deeds are an expression of this genuine, exchanged life. A faith that is alive shows love--it is joyful, it is at peace, it is patient, it is kind, it is full of goodness, it expresses faithfulness, it is gentle, and it is under self-control. (See Galatians 5:22).

Father, I pray for a faith that is real--a faith that lives-out the truth
that my life is hidden in yours. I no longer live, but I know that You
live inside of me. Produce in me and through me Your fruits.
Amen!

Stay Strong (in Him),

Dave

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch; if he's thirsty, bring him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness, and God will look after you. (Proverbs 25:21-22 Msg).

Buy him lunch? Bring him a drink? In my flesh, I do not want to do anything that could be perceived as good to those who have hurt me. Many times, I think--if I do something good to them then I am somehow letting them "off the hook." After all, shouldn't they be punished for what they did?

This passage makes it clear what God's standard is. He wants me to reach out to them. This standard even goes beyond forgiveness--He wants me to love them. He is asking me to meet a need of my enemy.

But, my emotions scream--"no way." My emotions, however, do not govern my behavior. That's the job of my will. And, I can set my will on the truth of God's word and realize--I don't have to worry about my emotions or how I feel. After all, "God will look after [me]." He has my back. He has things under control exactly as He wants them. What is going on is no surprise to Him.

God has called me to "love my neighbor." (Mark 12:31). He has not asked me to judge. That is not a responsibility that He has delegated to me. And, I am thankful that He has not. I can accept those I come into contact with just as they are--regardless of how they have offended me. That is freedom. That is peace--God's peace.

Thank you, Father, for your peace. And, thank you that it is not
about me. You are in control. Guide me to set my mind on that
fact. So many times, I try to take on responsibilities that you have not
given to me. In this, I end up frustrated. Which I know brings me to
the point of surrendering again.

There are those that I come into contact with Father that I cannot love on my own. I know that you can, and your Word says that you will. Please do, through me. I love you, Father. And, I thank you for loving me. Thank you also for working your plans through my life. Amen!

Stay Strong,

Dave

What Do You Have to Worry About?

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let
petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful
what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
(Philippians 4:6-7 MSG).

Very simply, this passage tells us not to worry. Simple in theory, but difficult in application--right? Can you even imagine not worrying about anything? What would occupy our mind throughout our day if the worries of life did not consume our thoughts? You know the worries that seem to take center stage--family concerns, job security, financial well-being--to generally name a few. These things concern us, and, at times, we wonder what would life be like if one of these general areas was knocked off center.

The good news--God understands our concerns. So much so, He empowered the apostle Paul to write these words in a time when Paul had, from a wordly perspective, a great deal to worry about. To Paul, these were not just hollow words written on paper. These were words poured out by his own flesh and blood. God gave Paul His grace and strength to not worry. He does the same for you and I.

Rather than worry, God's word tells us to pray with a heart full of thanks. In doing so, He offers His peace. This is not some shallow peace found in the moment based upon positive thinking, absence of conflict, or in good feelings. God's peace defies our understanding. It is based upon the absolute fact that He is in control, that He is completely trustworthy, and that He is completely in love with you.

What do you have to worry about? I encourage you to allow His life, which is living through yours, to meet your worries at their source. And, allow His truth to show you that He is working everything together for good--your good. In this, you have His peace.

Enjoying His Peace,

Dave

Perfect Timing

These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely,
the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day. (Habakkuk 2:3 TLB).

What is going on? I have prayed and prayed--and nothing seems to change. It seems that what I am asking is within your will. I don't think my motives are selfish. Have you ever felt this way? When your prayers seem to just hit a "glass ceiling", many times, we start to wonder.

I bet Zacharias and Elizabeth started to wonder. Remember, they were the parents of John the Baptist. He was born to them very, very late in life. In fact, it was at a point where having children was highly improbable, if not totally impossible--from their perspective.

Scripture is silent on this--but, I find it hard to believe that they had continued to pray to be blessed with a child at this stage of their life. I bet they had given up long before the angel Gabriel came to Zacharias and said. ". . . your prayer has been heard." Can't you just hear the dialogue; Zacharias:"Uh, what prayer?" And, Gabriel responds, "The one you prayed years ago. Don't you remember? You asked for a son."

We pray on our time, and God answers on His time. God encourages us in this time, "[d]o not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks." (Philippians 4:6 NIV). When we do, He further promises that "[a]nd God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (v. 7).

While we are waiting "on His time", He offers us His peace. In my life, I get anxious, at times. I want things to happen right away. But, I am learning to trust God that His time and His plan is always perfect. And, in the process, I have peace, His peace.

Stay Strong,

Dave

The Strawberry

Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to this life. . . . Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6: 25-26; 34).

This is Jesus' encouragement to His disciples and those gathered around Him during what is known today as the Sermon on the Mount. As applicable as these words were then, they may be even more applicable today. Jesus knew that we would tend to worry about things around us. Things and circumstances, that many times we have very little if any control over, that absolutely weigh us down. Jesus does not want us to be burdened with these thoughts. Instead, He desires that we place our trust in Him. Sometimes, this is easier said than done.

Recently, I came across a story that really hit this point home for me.

There was a man out for a walk in the country. Soon, he caught sight of a ferocious tiger racing through the brush straight at him. Terrified, the man began to run, and soon was closing in on the edge of a cliff. As he neared the edge, he glanced back to see the tiger about ready to pounce. The man then noticed a rope dangling over the edge of the cliff. This rope was tied securely to a sturdy tree. So, he grabbed the rope and began climbing over the edge of the cliff--just out of the reach of the tiger. The man then looked down and saw a quarry of jagged rocks five hundred feet below. He looked up and saw the tiger poised atop the cliff. Just then, two mice began to nibble on the rope. What was he to do? Just then, he spotted a wonderful, ripe strawberry that had grown on the edge of the cliff. So, he plucked the strawberry, ate it, and exclaimed "that was the best strawberry I've ever tasted."

If this man would have been preoccupied upon the rocks (the future) or worried about the tiger (the past), he would have missed the strawberry (the present). Since my accident on May 11, 2008, God has taught me to appreciate the moment. There is little I can do about the past, and the future is unknown. I desire every day to trust God in the moment He has me in. Does this mean I never worry? No! But, His life is transforming my life moment by moment. Through His strength, I am learning to look for the strawberries. It is amazing how many there are around!

Stay Strong,

Dave

The Source of Frustration

After this presentation to Israel's leaders, Moses and Aaron went and
spoke to Pharaoh. They told him,"[t]his is what the Lord, the God of
Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the
wilderness." "Is that so?" retorted Pharaoh. "And, who is the Lord?
Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don't know the Lord, and I
will not let Israel go." (Exodus 5:1-2 NLT).

The Israelites had been slaves to the Egyptians, but now was the time that God would show His glory and in that--bring the Israelites into the land that He had promised their forefathers. But, immediately, Pharaoh would flex his perceived muscle by punishing the Israelites for what Moses and Aaron had asked. Previously, Pharaoh had provided straw to the Israelites, which they added to the items used to make bricks. Making bricks was a major task Pharaoh had assigned to them. Now, they had to find their own straw and continue to make the same number of bricks each day.
This was a curve ball the Israelites did not expect. Like their
days were not already hard enough--now, they were made to do the same workload
plus more. If they did not meet their daily quota, they were subject
to beatings. Soon, even Moses became upset with God. Then Moses
went back to the Lord and protested. "Why have you brought all this
trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? Ever since I
came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your
people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!" (Exodus 5: 22-23
NLT).

Things were not happening as Moses expected. He expected
faster results and fewer problems. I think I can relate to
that. When things do not go as we expect, how quick do we get
frustrated! The major source of frustration is unmet expectations.

In the life of the Israelites and in ours today, God uses challenges
(aka unmet expectations) to develop our patience, character, and faith. In
these situations, I encourage you to:

(1) Trust God to do what is best for you;
(2) Look for ways to honor God in the present situation;
(3) Remember that God will not leave you or forsake you; and
(4) That God has a plan for you.

Doing this, I feel we will see God in our challenges. With
that, He offers us a peace, His peace in those challenges. Enjoy
Him! He loves you and is drawing you closer to Him.