Energized by His Plan

This time of year can tend to add pressure to your schedule. Christmas events such as your kids' Christmas programs or "Holiday" parties are good examples. Add to these, the urgency to finish your shopping, wrap the gifts, bake your family's favorites treats, prepare and send the Christmas cards, and you name what else--and your schedule seems to be a bit fuller this year than what you remember in the past. Please, do not get me wrong--these are all wonderful things per se. But, are they taking your focus off of the true meaning of this time of celebration.

For me and my family, the true meaning is Christ's birth. Don't get me wrong--we do all sorts of the items noted above. But, my hope and my prayer is that we consciously are focused on not the stuff, but the person at the heart of all that we do.

At times, God, in His amazing, loving way, re-focuses your attention upon what He wants. Yesterday, my schedule was full. And, I had full intentions of trying to add just a bit more as my day went along. Needless to say, I added a bit of self-imposed pressure to "get things done." But, God had other plans. A large weather system of freezing fog and snow has come through our beautiful area. So, guess what I got done? Not much, and that is ok. I got home on-time to have a wonderful dinner with my family and to enjoy a wonderful night with them. Isn't it amazing how peaceful a change in plans can be!

So, this time of year take some time to just step back and enjoy the plan that God has for you! Be open to His leading, enjoy just being in His presence--allow Him to energize you by His plan. He loves you--just rest in Him.

Merry Christmas.

Dave

How Much is Enough

"For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith--and this
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can
boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

Recently, I was reading the label on a container of orange juice. On it, the bottler noted that one 8 ounce glass contained enough Vitamin C to meet the "recommended daily allowance" of this particular vitamin. (I felt like I was catching a cold, so I felt I should drink some orange juice.) So, I thought, "[w]ow, that is easy, just one glass at breakfast and that is all I need all day."

As Christians, sometimes, we wish the things we perceive we "have to do" were that easy. Questions such as:

• How long should I read my bible each day?


• How often should I go to church?


• How many people should I witness to each week?

The list could go on and on. Don't get me wrong--these are good things. But, Christ's death on the cross freed us from the bondage of "have to's" and "shoulds". Our relationship with Him is not contingent upon what we do; instead, it is His gift to us called grace.

To me, that is freeing. It frees me to spend time in His word, to go to His church, and to witness to His people--not because I have to, but because I want to. There is a huge difference. Think about it--wouldn't you rather spend time with somebody because that person wants to spend time with you, not because they have to. God is no different. He wants our hearts engaged with His. But, He does not force it. It is an act of our free will through faith in Him.

So, what "should" you do? Let your loving God guide you throughout your day and allow your love for Him to place in your heart and mind a desire to walk with Him. I think you will be truly amazed at what that may look like. Enjoy your time with Him.

Father, I do desire to not focus on what I perceive are the "have
to's" and "shoulds" of having a moment by moment relationship with you.
Instead, Father, please put in me a desire to spend time with you
throughout my day because I want to. I want to know you
more. I want just spend time worshipping you, not just on
Sunday, but throughout each day. Father, thank you for living your life
through mine. Amen!

Stay Strong.

Dave

God's Timing

"God has given them a desire to know the future. He does
everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing." (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NCV).

Solomon, the author God inspired to write the book of Ecclesiastes, notes that God has an absolute plan and a purpose for all He does. Though we do not always understand (or agree), God's plans are always "just right and on time."

When those plans suit us, we have no problem declaring God's love and His absolute sovereignty. But, how about those times when His plans are painful or not so timely? Maybe it is an "unplanned" sickness or a job loss or a _______ (you fill in the blank). How quick do we start to question God's plan?

As a believer, our life is not always easy. Even with God as our very life, our experience in this world is, at times, painful and frustrating. Think about Joseph. Not the Joseph in the New Testament, but Joseph the son of Jacob in the Old Testament, beginning in Genesis 37.

Throughout Joseph's life, he maintained a deep understanding that, regardless of the circumstances, God is good and does good. God's plans are perfect and his timing is impeccable. All things happened at just the right moment.

At just the right moment, his brother's despised him.

At just the right moment, they threw him in a pit.

At just the right moment, a caravan came by.

At just the right moment, Joseph was sold into slavery.

At just the right moment, Potiphar's wife came to him.

At just the right moment, she accused him of inappropriate sexual advances.

At just the right moment, he was thrown into prison.

At just the right moment, he was given watch over the other prisoners.

At just the right moment, Joseph was brought in front of Pharaoh.

At just the right moment, he was put in charge of whole land of Egypt.

At just the right moment, his brothers came to him to buy grain.

At just the right moment, Joseph was united with his family.

Satan would like nothing more than for us to start to question God's timing. He tries to deceive us into thinking that God has forgotten about us. But we can take comfort in the fact that we never leave His presence. The circumstances around us may be painful, but we can also know that God is working all things for our good. (Romans 8:28).

Trusting God gives us peace. It certainly gave Joseph peace. He maintained his focus and trust on the One who is completely trustworthy, regardless of the challenges he faced. Everything God does or allows to happen is "just right and on time."

Stay Strong.

Praising God Even in the "Bad" Times

At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ to God the Father. (Ephesians 5:20 AMP).

"Life is not always that good." These were words angrily spoken to me by a former neighbor. We were deep in a discussion on the challenges that we all sometimes face. I had tried to encourage him that the frustrations that he currently faced were not insurmountable. But, I think I frustrated him with my "glass half full" perspective on life. After this discussion, I believe we simply accepted each other for who God has created each of us to be.

When times are challenging, when life is not going that well, do you still believe that God is praiseworthy? Your answer to that question will speak a great deal as to your level of trust in Him. God promises us that we will experience trials and tough times in our life. And, in the midst of these times, God further promises us that He will never leave us. When we are walking through the valley, and we feel deserted and alone--the truth of the matter is--our feelings are lying to us--we are not alone.

Isn't that a comfort knowing that He is always with us! On top of this, He always has our good in mind. (Romans 8:28). I believe His peace comes from knowing that I am never alone and that He always has my good in mind--even in those situations that I perceive as bad. This peace gives me boldness to know that whatever comes my way today--the good, the bad, or the unbelievably bad--I can handle it. Because it is not me handling it--it's US--Jesus and me. That peace allows me to be thankful in all situations.

Let me close with this question--are you seeing the good that God intends in those situations that you perceive as bad? Seeing the good in all situations gives us a thankful heart ready to praise Him always.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I hope that you will see the good that God intends in your life.

I wish each of you a blessed time for giving thanks.

Stay Strong.

How are You Doing with Humbleness?

But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes
the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6 NIV).

Your answer to the challenge question in the title may indicate a great deal about your attitude towards humbleness. Throughout Scripture, God continually encourages us to "be humble", and to "have a humble heart". And for those who are not humble, He promises to bring humility into their lives--at times, with some painful reminders. God loves a humble heart. But let's just cut to the chase--you may try to achieve humbleness on your own, but YOU cannot do it.

If you have placed your trust in the saving blood of Christ, you have His indwelling spirit. Jesus Christ lives inside of you. And what does He say of Himself--"I am gentle and humble in heart." So, guess what--you possess those same characteristics. All that Christ is lives inside of you. You and He are one. So, why don't I always allow those characteristics to show in my behavior?

Because they are completely contrary to the way I was before trusting Christ. By my old nature, I wanted things my way; I wanted to show people that I was in control; and I wanted people to pay attention to me. But now, my old nature is gone--it has been crucified. It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives inside of me. (Galatians 2:20). Those old ways of doing things no longer have control over me. Now, it is Christ's life and all that He is that has taken over.

So, when I exhibit those old habits--it is completely contrary to who (and whose) I now am. When I am proud and self-focused, I am living a lie. When I am focused on drawing attention to myself, I am believing something that is just not true.

God does give His grace to those that are humble. But, His opposition falls in the way of those who lift up themselves. Personally, I prefer His grace. How about you?

How Much is Too Much?

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT).

Many times, I have heard people say, "God will never give us more that we can handle." This is usually said in an attempt to comfort one who is wading through deep waters. I am sure the comforter's intentions are completely pure. And, at times, these words are comforting. But, I think the words can have an even deeper comfort when we understand God's plan for us-especially when the waves of life come crashing in.

We serve a loving, amazingly awesome God. Not only has he provided a means of spending eternity in His presence, but also, today, offers those who have placed their faith in Him the promise of an abundant life. (John 10:10). This abundant life does not mean a life without challenges. And some of these challenges are extremely painful. I think of the mother and father experiencing the untimely death of young child; or the rejection felt by an unsuspecting spouse dealt by a soon to be ex-husband or wife. My heart absolutely bleeds in these unfortunate times. And, today, it seems they happen all to often.

Sometimes, God does give me more than we can handle in our own strength. His purpose, I believe, is to bring us to end of our self. A place where we no longer rely upon our own means to "get through." In that spot, He takes over. His life, being lived out through ours, means we can do all things--not on our own, but by relying upon Him. It means we have a hope. A hope we so desperately need.

We can place our trust that God is not surprised or caught off guard with what is going on. Please know when you go through tough, tough times you have never ever left His presence. He has not forgotten about you. His plan, though we don't understand it, is designed to draw us closer to Him so we can experience His love in a much deeper way. Please rest in that.

Father, we know full well that we never leave your amazing presence. Though there are times we feel apart from you, please allow us to know that our feelings, at times, deceive us. We know your words says that you will never leave us or forsake us. Allow us to rest in that truth. There will be times in our life when the waves come crashing that are especially painful. In these times, we know that you are working for our good. We trust you. We love you. Thank you for the hope and peace that can only come from you. Amen!

Stay Strong,

Dave

The Little Things Do Matter

With the Lord's authority let me say this: live no longer as the
ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their closed minds are full of darkness they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against Him. They don't care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed.

But that isn't what you were taught when you learned about
Christ. Since you have heard all about Him and have learned the truth that
is in Jesus, throw off you old evil nature and your former way of life, which is
rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there
must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must
display a new nature because you are a new person, created in
God's likeness--righteous, holy, and true. (Ephesians 4:17-24)(emphasis
mine).

In this passage, Paul, the writer of Ephesians, lays out the difference between our old self and the new person we are after placing our faith in Christ. By the world's view, this new person is really quite uncommon today. Webster's dictionary defines the word uncommon as unusual; or not ordinarily encountered.

Prior to placing my trust in Christ, if someone were to describe me as uncommon, I would have been a bit offended. I would have thought, I want to be just like every one else--I want to just blend in. After all, I was not that different.

Now, to be called uncommon, is a compliment. As a believer, we are called to be different. After all, we do have the living Christ living inside of us. And because of His presence, we are no longer the same--in fact, God's truth declares that "we are a new creation." (2 Corinthians 5:17). As a new creation, God empowers and strengthens us to live by and in His truth in all of the things we do and say. Living this way is the way God designed us to live. In this, we have His peace and joy. It is all His gift of the abundant life.

And as an added bonus to this gift, He does not just leave us to fumble around to "live out" our life as a new creation. He does not leave us to fend for our self. God declares that "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13). That is--"all things"--big things and little things. Rest in this truth! Allow it to permeate deep inside of you--allow it to transform all of your thinking and all of your actions.

Enjoy living in Him and with Him in you.