I called a friend this week to check on him. He recently made a transition in his life and ministry. After decades of serving as a student pastor and over two decades in one church, he felt God's call on him to walk away from his comfort zone to start a ministry of planning youth camps and doing inner city ministry. He walked away from a steady salary, a comfortable home, and stable ministry for the unknown.
Before making this transition we talked extensively about living by faith. He asked me questions about living by faith. I told him of the necessity of taking extra faith vitamins but reading books and listening to messages to build his faith. I also warned him he would be tested. I counseled him that while the life of faith looks glamorous for those on the outside looking in, it is a tough journey testing our resolve and what we believe about God. We have to trust God in the tough times and not give into doubt.
I had not talked to him in awhile until I phone this week. When I asked how he was doing he responded saying, "I am hanging on by my fingernails." As we talked further I got the picture of a man with feet dangling over a cliff hanging on desperately by this finger tips. He is in a desperate situation. He confessed that he is learning he has never truly had to live by faith before. He has no choice but depend on God now. He is desperate.
So are many of you. You too are hanging on by your fingernails wondering how you will make it over the next set of finical hurdles. Kids driving. Insurance payments. Car repairs. Unforeseen dental costs. The financial burdens are oppressive and you are barely hanging on. You are desperate.
Some of you are barely clinging to your sanity. The mental battles are tortuous. The mental strain of coping with life can be crippling. Darkness sets in crowding out the light of hope. It may feel like you are barely holding on to your grip on reality.
Some of you are barely hanging onto a marriage that started with great promise but has ended in unmet expectations and shattered dreams. You still live under the same roof but you do not enjoy one another. There is no sizzle, no romance, little communication, and few snap shots of the heart taken while making special memories. At times you feel like the marriage will not survive. You too are barely hanging on by your fingernails.
There are a few of you reading this that are barely clinging to your faith. The lure of sin draws you further and further away from Christ. The temptation is so strong you feel powerless to resist. As you tumble over and over again into sin, then shame, followed by remorse and repentance you wonder if you will ever be free again. At times you feel like giving up on Jesus and giving into the path of least resistance. You feel like a hypocrite and cannot continue living the way you are. You are hanging onto your faith in Jesus by your fingernails.
I have a word of hope for all. God has not given us the spirit of shrinking back. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to persevere. [Heb 10:39] He gives us faith to persevere. He empowers us to not only hang on but to climb back on top and stand on solid ground. When we think we can't hang on another moment He gives us the endurance to cling tenaciously.
I wish I could tell my friend his difficult times will end soon. I do not know that for certain. What I can tell him is this. I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction out of the miry clay, and he set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord. [Ps 40:1-3]
While you are hanging on by your fingernails do not think God lets you go. If you are hanging on by all your strength remember this. God wants you to let go in trust. Rely on Him. Depend on Him. Rest in Him. Believe Him. Have confidence in Him. As you let go you will see God is there to catch you and to hold you. We were never meant to hang on by our fingernails. Our strength will fail no matter how hard we try and how determined we are.
If you are hanging on by your fingernails I want you to know God hears your cry. He can and will put your feet back on firm ground. In the meantime you have to do two things. You have trust Him. You also have to wait on Him. He is working even when it does not feel like it. If you are barely hanging on dig those fingernails into the promises of God and trust Him.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Salute To The Working Men And Women
Some people make a living with their minds behind a computer screen, in an air conditioned office, managing people, and designing cutting edge technology. While those people have a necessary place in society this blog is not a tribute to them.
This is written in tribute of those men and women who make a living by the sweat of their brow day in and day out. They work in factories, weld and fashion metal in hot warehouses in the summer and brave bitter cold temperatures in the winter. There are farmers who battle the dust as they plow, sow, and reap the harvest. There are ranchers who get their hands dirty working cows to supply America with meat on the table. Both farmers and ranchers have learned to fix anything constantly needing to work on tractors, farm implements, and hundreds of other things that break down.
I salute the women who stand on their feet all day long providing goods and services. They stand behind a hot stove cooking and cleaning for demanding and ungrateful customers. They hustle all day long waiting tables for small tips often. They treat patients scurrying from one room to the next on the night shift. After working all night long they come home to a messy house, needy children, and a waiting husband.
Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, and decade after decade these hard working men and women keep showing up for work. They keep toeing the mark. They continue to stay the course through grueling summer days and brutal winter temperatures. They drag themselves out of bed even whey their bodies ache and steam out for more sleep. Even though the sleep does not seem to produce the long needed recovery to the body work beckons and duty calls.
Their work is hard. The days are long. The wages are often small. These tough men and women do what they have to do to survive. They hustle. They grind. They pinch pennies. They do what they have to do to make ends meet.
Often their labors are taken for granted. They seldom get a thank you. Though the mechanic works countless hours coming home grease stained late again to get the car repaired, the client only gripes because they had to be inconvenienced so long.
To all the men and women who work hard to make a living I salute you. Remember you labor for the Lord and not just for men. [Col 3:23] He sees your work. He knows your sacrifice and your craft. He is the source of your strength and He is your provider. Turn your heart toward Him in reverence and keep trusting Him to help you endure. It may not mean a great deal but I salute you hard working men and women.
This is written in tribute of those men and women who make a living by the sweat of their brow day in and day out. They work in factories, weld and fashion metal in hot warehouses in the summer and brave bitter cold temperatures in the winter. There are farmers who battle the dust as they plow, sow, and reap the harvest. There are ranchers who get their hands dirty working cows to supply America with meat on the table. Both farmers and ranchers have learned to fix anything constantly needing to work on tractors, farm implements, and hundreds of other things that break down.
I salute the women who stand on their feet all day long providing goods and services. They stand behind a hot stove cooking and cleaning for demanding and ungrateful customers. They hustle all day long waiting tables for small tips often. They treat patients scurrying from one room to the next on the night shift. After working all night long they come home to a messy house, needy children, and a waiting husband.
Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, and decade after decade these hard working men and women keep showing up for work. They keep toeing the mark. They continue to stay the course through grueling summer days and brutal winter temperatures. They drag themselves out of bed even whey their bodies ache and steam out for more sleep. Even though the sleep does not seem to produce the long needed recovery to the body work beckons and duty calls.
Their work is hard. The days are long. The wages are often small. These tough men and women do what they have to do to survive. They hustle. They grind. They pinch pennies. They do what they have to do to make ends meet.
Often their labors are taken for granted. They seldom get a thank you. Though the mechanic works countless hours coming home grease stained late again to get the car repaired, the client only gripes because they had to be inconvenienced so long.
To all the men and women who work hard to make a living I salute you. Remember you labor for the Lord and not just for men. [Col 3:23] He sees your work. He knows your sacrifice and your craft. He is the source of your strength and He is your provider. Turn your heart toward Him in reverence and keep trusting Him to help you endure. It may not mean a great deal but I salute you hard working men and women.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
The Life of Faith
We never know how much or how little faith we have until we are tried and tested really needing it. In those moments we discover the difference in true trust and decades of head knowledge that never reached the heart. The life of faith looks glamorous from a distance but for those who have traveled that path they know the path is strewn along the way with heartache, trials, and THE OVERWHELMING FAITHFULNESS OF GOD. The life of faith is not an easy one but it is the only one if a person hopes to please God. [Heb 11:6]
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Will You Trust Him?
Sorrows, suffering, and seething pain eventually touch most every life. When it does will you still trust God? While driving to the office this morning I thought about Paul and Silas. After being beaten with rods, imprisoned, and fastened in stocks they had a choice to trust God or doubt His faithfulness. How did they respond after such tortuous treatment? But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God and the prisoners were listening to them. [Acts 16:25]
Some of you are in your own midnight of hardships. It would be easy to abandon the faith but where else could you go? Where else could Paul and Silas turn in their plight? God was their only hope and is your only hope. So you pray. You pray for strength and faith to trust Him. You also sing praise to God. With a broken heart and often with tears streaming down your cheeks you praise.
Many years ago I was preaching a college retreat in a very difficult of time of life. I heard a song at that retreat I had never heard before that struck a chord with me. To be more specific it was just a line out of that song that echoed the pain I felt in my soul during that season of life and ministry.
The line that most ministered to me that night was the one, "Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering though there's pain in the offering Blessed be Your name." Many of you reading this are traversing down roads marked with suffering. For many every time you step foot into a worship service and pour your heart out in song there is pain in the offering. You still trust Him even when it hurts. You still cling to Him even when life is blowing against you like a hurricane. You still trust Him even when what you see in front of you tells you continued trust is foolish.
As I made the twenty minute commute to the office this morning I began to sing. I had the radio turned off. I started singing an old old song by Rich Mullins. "Step by step You will lead me. I will follow You all of my days. I will seek You in the morning. I will learn to walk in Your ways. Step by step You will lead me and I will follow You all of my days." There was a little pain in the offering of praise this morning. Just like so many of you when you sing. I sang and I prayed. I determined to trust God no matter what. I really have no other viable options. Neither did Paul and Silas. Neither do you.
Paul and Silas prayed. They praised. God heard. God did a miracle. So today we must pray. We must continue to praise. We must trust God to move our mountains. We also need to trust Him with the future. Let us trust Him for endurance on the road marked with suffering from time to time.
Some of you are in your own midnight of hardships. It would be easy to abandon the faith but where else could you go? Where else could Paul and Silas turn in their plight? God was their only hope and is your only hope. So you pray. You pray for strength and faith to trust Him. You also sing praise to God. With a broken heart and often with tears streaming down your cheeks you praise.
Many years ago I was preaching a college retreat in a very difficult of time of life. I heard a song at that retreat I had never heard before that struck a chord with me. To be more specific it was just a line out of that song that echoed the pain I felt in my soul during that season of life and ministry.
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
The line that most ministered to me that night was the one, "Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering though there's pain in the offering Blessed be Your name." Many of you reading this are traversing down roads marked with suffering. For many every time you step foot into a worship service and pour your heart out in song there is pain in the offering. You still trust Him even when it hurts. You still cling to Him even when life is blowing against you like a hurricane. You still trust Him even when what you see in front of you tells you continued trust is foolish.
As I made the twenty minute commute to the office this morning I began to sing. I had the radio turned off. I started singing an old old song by Rich Mullins. "Step by step You will lead me. I will follow You all of my days. I will seek You in the morning. I will learn to walk in Your ways. Step by step You will lead me and I will follow You all of my days." There was a little pain in the offering of praise this morning. Just like so many of you when you sing. I sang and I prayed. I determined to trust God no matter what. I really have no other viable options. Neither did Paul and Silas. Neither do you.
Paul and Silas prayed. They praised. God heard. God did a miracle. So today we must pray. We must continue to praise. We must trust God to move our mountains. We also need to trust Him with the future. Let us trust Him for endurance on the road marked with suffering from time to time.
Jesus Upsets The Status Quo
Jesus went into the Temple and threw everything topsy turvy. He ran people off and turned over tables. He upset the status quo. He was offended by the things taking place in His Father's house. It was not their house anymore than the churches we attend are ours.
We treat church like it is ours. People fight and manipulate for control no matter who gets hurt in the process. People like control and Jesus does not share control of His house. He alone is the one and only Head of the church. Not the pastor. Not the deacons. Not the elders. Not charter members. Jesus is the head of the church. The church is His bride.
After turning over the tables and running people out of the Temple Jesus began to teach. "It is written My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations but you have made it into a robber;s den. " [Mark 11:17] The first thing I notice in that verse is the phrase "My house." My is the possessive case of the word I. It means belonging to. It is God's house. He owns it. He can do with it what He pleases. It belongs to Him.
On this day He chose to upset the status quo. He became offended that people were profiting over the sell of scarifies and changing the Roman money into the right money to buy the sacrifices taking advantage of the people financially. I wonder if Jesus is ever angered by what takes place in church today? Is the Holy Spirit grieved and quenched by what passes as worship today? Is He offended by what we do in our private lives? It is easier to go along with the mainstream and not make waves or rock the boat. It is easier to simply go along. Yet what if Jesus is not going the same direction. What if our direction angers Him and He wants to cast that direction out? Shouldn't someone ask these questions and pose this possibility?
Jesus upsets the status quo. The chief priests and scribes wanted to destroy Jesus after He taught from verse seventeen and upset things in the Temple that day. In fact, we learn in verse eighteen that they were afraid of Jesus and the multitudes were astonished by His teaching. The chief priests and scribes were losing control. It scared them they were losing influences with the people.
Is it really any different today. People are still scared to let Jesus have His way in worship or in our lives. Jesus upsets the status quo and we like to keep our lives manageable. We want to be in control of worship so we plan it and keep a firm grip on the order of worship. I love it when Jesus upsets the status quo of an order of worship and throws it out the window. He has done this with me more times than I can count changing the message at the last minute. I cannot tell you how many times I have set on the front row in church with my head buried in my hands wrestling in prayer over a new direction of a sermon. One night I could not get up to preach and the worship pastor continued to sing one song after another unplanned while I agonized in prayer in the pew. Finally God settled in my heart what I needed to preach. The status quo got upset for all of us that night. There have been times when He did not let me preach at all like on one Sunday morning. The special music moved me that morning and when I went to the pulpit to pray and preach my words felt empty. I could not say anything that did not sound cheap. I stood there for a long time with my head bowed unable to say anything. Finally I returned to my seat in prayer. People eventually left and I received some ridicule over that day. It did not matter then nor does it matter today. Jesus upset the status quo that day. There have been times when I felt prompted to give an evangelistic invitation before I preached the sermon. I have seen true and authentic worship through old hymns and modern songs last for hours. At a college retreat we began singing around 11:00 p.m. one night and let God His way. The worship leader did not stop until around 7:00 p.m. the next morning. I went to bed around 5:00 a.m. Nobody was forced to stay but many chose to do so. The worship leader had swollen hands the next day from playing the piano for eight straight hours! That definitely upset the status quo in some lives.
I want Jesus to upset the status quo in my life and the church I serve. I want Him to cast out those things that offend Him and to set things right. I want Him to be in control even when that means I lose control of my future, my ministry, my plans, and even the sermons I preach. I long for Him to have His way even when it means the status quo gets upset. Do you long for this too?
We treat church like it is ours. People fight and manipulate for control no matter who gets hurt in the process. People like control and Jesus does not share control of His house. He alone is the one and only Head of the church. Not the pastor. Not the deacons. Not the elders. Not charter members. Jesus is the head of the church. The church is His bride.
After turning over the tables and running people out of the Temple Jesus began to teach. "It is written My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations but you have made it into a robber;s den. " [Mark 11:17] The first thing I notice in that verse is the phrase "My house." My is the possessive case of the word I. It means belonging to. It is God's house. He owns it. He can do with it what He pleases. It belongs to Him.
On this day He chose to upset the status quo. He became offended that people were profiting over the sell of scarifies and changing the Roman money into the right money to buy the sacrifices taking advantage of the people financially. I wonder if Jesus is ever angered by what takes place in church today? Is the Holy Spirit grieved and quenched by what passes as worship today? Is He offended by what we do in our private lives? It is easier to go along with the mainstream and not make waves or rock the boat. It is easier to simply go along. Yet what if Jesus is not going the same direction. What if our direction angers Him and He wants to cast that direction out? Shouldn't someone ask these questions and pose this possibility?
Jesus upsets the status quo. The chief priests and scribes wanted to destroy Jesus after He taught from verse seventeen and upset things in the Temple that day. In fact, we learn in verse eighteen that they were afraid of Jesus and the multitudes were astonished by His teaching. The chief priests and scribes were losing control. It scared them they were losing influences with the people.
Is it really any different today. People are still scared to let Jesus have His way in worship or in our lives. Jesus upsets the status quo and we like to keep our lives manageable. We want to be in control of worship so we plan it and keep a firm grip on the order of worship. I love it when Jesus upsets the status quo of an order of worship and throws it out the window. He has done this with me more times than I can count changing the message at the last minute. I cannot tell you how many times I have set on the front row in church with my head buried in my hands wrestling in prayer over a new direction of a sermon. One night I could not get up to preach and the worship pastor continued to sing one song after another unplanned while I agonized in prayer in the pew. Finally God settled in my heart what I needed to preach. The status quo got upset for all of us that night. There have been times when He did not let me preach at all like on one Sunday morning. The special music moved me that morning and when I went to the pulpit to pray and preach my words felt empty. I could not say anything that did not sound cheap. I stood there for a long time with my head bowed unable to say anything. Finally I returned to my seat in prayer. People eventually left and I received some ridicule over that day. It did not matter then nor does it matter today. Jesus upset the status quo that day. There have been times when I felt prompted to give an evangelistic invitation before I preached the sermon. I have seen true and authentic worship through old hymns and modern songs last for hours. At a college retreat we began singing around 11:00 p.m. one night and let God His way. The worship leader did not stop until around 7:00 p.m. the next morning. I went to bed around 5:00 a.m. Nobody was forced to stay but many chose to do so. The worship leader had swollen hands the next day from playing the piano for eight straight hours! That definitely upset the status quo in some lives.
I want Jesus to upset the status quo in my life and the church I serve. I want Him to cast out those things that offend Him and to set things right. I want Him to be in control even when that means I lose control of my future, my ministry, my plans, and even the sermons I preach. I long for Him to have His way even when it means the status quo gets upset. Do you long for this too?
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Setbacks
I had lofty plans as a child and grandiose dreams,
Some dreams have come unstitched at the seams,
There were plans to go and play college football,
Some dreams were realized - others were stalled,
There were dreams to preach and also to write,
Some dreams opened while other doors shut tight,
There have been bumps and bruises on this track,
More than once dreams halted by various setbacks,
Setbacks have stood in the way to achieving the goal,
Some small - others large testing the limits of my soul,
At times the dreams seemed way beyond my grasp,
They did not come when I sought, knocked, or asked,
Yet the setbacks never kept me down and losing heart,
Each day I've prayed and trusted God for a fresh start,
All these years later I still dream and have my plans,
Trusting God through the setbacks for His helping hand.
Some dreams have come unstitched at the seams,
There were plans to go and play college football,
Some dreams were realized - others were stalled,
There were dreams to preach and also to write,
Some dreams opened while other doors shut tight,
There have been bumps and bruises on this track,
More than once dreams halted by various setbacks,
Setbacks have stood in the way to achieving the goal,
Some small - others large testing the limits of my soul,
At times the dreams seemed way beyond my grasp,
They did not come when I sought, knocked, or asked,
Yet the setbacks never kept me down and losing heart,
Each day I've prayed and trusted God for a fresh start,
All these years later I still dream and have my plans,
Trusting God through the setbacks for His helping hand.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
A Herd
While preaching from Eph 5:22-24, about wives submitting to husbands and husbands loving and cherishing their wives, I told a story Brenda shared with me recently.
A business man traveled to another country for work. While there he kept hearing the locals refer to one man in their region over and over again as being the most astute businessman, the wisest man in the area, and the richest man in the area. The American businessman noticed every time Johnny, the local man, was mentioned after his list of successes people would chuckle. This took place for days and finally the American had to know why people always chuckled about Johnny.
In this country when a man wanted to marry a young lady it was customary to pay the Bride's father a cow. Many fathers got one cow for their daughters. On rare occasions a father got up to three cows for an exceptionally beautiful daughter. Johnny paid his father in law eight cows! The locals laughed because they thought the father in law was the one person who bested Johnny. The catch is the girl was an average looking woman.
The American decided one day he had to go and meet Johnny. When he did a beautiful woman was introduced as Johnny's wife. The American asked Johnny if he knew the locals laughed at him behind his back for paying eight cows for his wife. Johnny knew and this is how he responded.
He said he noticed before he got married the women who were married and had one cow paid for them. He saw how they felt inferior. He also noticed those girls that were paid for with three cows and it boosted their self-image.
When he fell in love he decided he never wanted his wife to feel inferior. So he bought her with eight cows. This demonstrated how much worth he gave her. He valued her. She in turn blossomed.
At the end of the service after telling this story, I stood in the back talking with people as they exited. One wife told me she was an eight cow wife with her husband standing beside her. Soon another woman told me the same thing. Later a man that has been married to his wife for 33 years was asked how much he thought his wife was worth. He thought for a second and then answered, "A whole herd." WOW! How does that wife feel when she hears her husband say things like that.
I applaud husbands who go the extra mile to make their wives feel special, love them with more than words but also with deeds, and give value and honor to their wives. Their are plenty of wives who feel like one cow wives. Maybe a few that feel like a three cow wife. How many eight cow wives are out there? How few who feel like they are a herd wife?
O husbands may we love our wives like Christ loved the church. May we love with more than empty words. May we add value to them, edify them, and serve them. Thank God for those husbands who treat their wives like eight cow wives and herd wives.
A business man traveled to another country for work. While there he kept hearing the locals refer to one man in their region over and over again as being the most astute businessman, the wisest man in the area, and the richest man in the area. The American businessman noticed every time Johnny, the local man, was mentioned after his list of successes people would chuckle. This took place for days and finally the American had to know why people always chuckled about Johnny.
In this country when a man wanted to marry a young lady it was customary to pay the Bride's father a cow. Many fathers got one cow for their daughters. On rare occasions a father got up to three cows for an exceptionally beautiful daughter. Johnny paid his father in law eight cows! The locals laughed because they thought the father in law was the one person who bested Johnny. The catch is the girl was an average looking woman.
The American decided one day he had to go and meet Johnny. When he did a beautiful woman was introduced as Johnny's wife. The American asked Johnny if he knew the locals laughed at him behind his back for paying eight cows for his wife. Johnny knew and this is how he responded.
He said he noticed before he got married the women who were married and had one cow paid for them. He saw how they felt inferior. He also noticed those girls that were paid for with three cows and it boosted their self-image.
When he fell in love he decided he never wanted his wife to feel inferior. So he bought her with eight cows. This demonstrated how much worth he gave her. He valued her. She in turn blossomed.
At the end of the service after telling this story, I stood in the back talking with people as they exited. One wife told me she was an eight cow wife with her husband standing beside her. Soon another woman told me the same thing. Later a man that has been married to his wife for 33 years was asked how much he thought his wife was worth. He thought for a second and then answered, "A whole herd." WOW! How does that wife feel when she hears her husband say things like that.
I applaud husbands who go the extra mile to make their wives feel special, love them with more than words but also with deeds, and give value and honor to their wives. Their are plenty of wives who feel like one cow wives. Maybe a few that feel like a three cow wife. How many eight cow wives are out there? How few who feel like they are a herd wife?
O husbands may we love our wives like Christ loved the church. May we love with more than empty words. May we add value to them, edify them, and serve them. Thank God for those husbands who treat their wives like eight cow wives and herd wives.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
God Given Assignment
In Mark 11 Jesus sent two of His disciples on an assignment. At first glance the assignment appears both illogical and insignificant. They were instructed to go into a village and find a colt tied up and bring the colt to Jesus. If anyone questioned them on this assignment they were told to say, "The Lord has need of it and will return it immediately."
Totally illogical. This assignment involved two disciples in essence taking a donkey colt that did not belong to them. It did not make sense. That would be like you and me going into a neighborhood and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle that does not belong to us and taking it saying Jesus has need of it. It does not make sense to human rational.
When teaching on this passage recently I asked people if Jesus had ever assigned them to do something illogical. One lady commented that the Lord has been waking her up and laying it on her heart to help a neighbor clean her house for thirty minutes for four straight days. In her mind it did not make sense but she is going to follow through.
God often assigns people to do illogical things. I have read stories of people giving up lucrative careers to go and be missionaries. Illogical. I read the story about a successful model that got saved. She became convicted about photo shoots of lingerie and selling provocative clothing that promoted sex. Eventually she felt God calling her out of the modeling business. Illogical from the world's perspective. Once God called me to give away a vehicle when I did not have another one or the means to buy another one. Illogical. Brenda and I recently visited with a lady that told us she and her husband have a dream and desire to one day be able to give someone a house. They are blessed financially and extremely generous with their money. Illogical. Who gives people a house?
Be careful that you do not talk yourself out of God's assignment just because it does not make sense. It will come down to trust. Those two disciples had to trust that there would indeed be a donkey tied up and they would be given permission to take the donkey. It did not make sense but they believed anyway.
Jesus' assignment also appeared to be insignificant. In the big scheme of things going to get a donkey did not seem like a big deal. The truth it was a big deal. It was the fulfillment of several hundred year old prophesy about jesus from Zechariah 9:9. We do not always know the significance of our assignments.
There is the story about a snowy morning long ago when the preacher could not make it to the church to preach. The crowd was small but a guest showed up. One church member stood up to preach in the pastor's absence and low and behold the guest prayed to be saved. That guest turned out to be the famous pastor Charles H. Spurgeon.
I taught this message to a small crowd on a Wednesday night. There were a dozen people present. I knew the crowd would be small. I thought back to times when God's assignment called me to preach before hundreds and even over a thousand. His assignment on that night called me to teach to a dozen people. He still wanted my best. [Col 3:23] We only see in part. We do not know the full implications of God's assignments. I God assigned the task to us there is significance in it.
In the end God expects our completion of the assignments He gives us. He demands our obedience. [I Sam 15:22] It does not matter how illogical or insignificant the assignment may appear. We must obey and complete the task. What is God calling you to do? What decision are you going to make? Will you trust Him and obey or rebel?
Totally illogical. This assignment involved two disciples in essence taking a donkey colt that did not belong to them. It did not make sense. That would be like you and me going into a neighborhood and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle that does not belong to us and taking it saying Jesus has need of it. It does not make sense to human rational.
When teaching on this passage recently I asked people if Jesus had ever assigned them to do something illogical. One lady commented that the Lord has been waking her up and laying it on her heart to help a neighbor clean her house for thirty minutes for four straight days. In her mind it did not make sense but she is going to follow through.
God often assigns people to do illogical things. I have read stories of people giving up lucrative careers to go and be missionaries. Illogical. I read the story about a successful model that got saved. She became convicted about photo shoots of lingerie and selling provocative clothing that promoted sex. Eventually she felt God calling her out of the modeling business. Illogical from the world's perspective. Once God called me to give away a vehicle when I did not have another one or the means to buy another one. Illogical. Brenda and I recently visited with a lady that told us she and her husband have a dream and desire to one day be able to give someone a house. They are blessed financially and extremely generous with their money. Illogical. Who gives people a house?
Be careful that you do not talk yourself out of God's assignment just because it does not make sense. It will come down to trust. Those two disciples had to trust that there would indeed be a donkey tied up and they would be given permission to take the donkey. It did not make sense but they believed anyway.
Jesus' assignment also appeared to be insignificant. In the big scheme of things going to get a donkey did not seem like a big deal. The truth it was a big deal. It was the fulfillment of several hundred year old prophesy about jesus from Zechariah 9:9. We do not always know the significance of our assignments.
There is the story about a snowy morning long ago when the preacher could not make it to the church to preach. The crowd was small but a guest showed up. One church member stood up to preach in the pastor's absence and low and behold the guest prayed to be saved. That guest turned out to be the famous pastor Charles H. Spurgeon.
I taught this message to a small crowd on a Wednesday night. There were a dozen people present. I knew the crowd would be small. I thought back to times when God's assignment called me to preach before hundreds and even over a thousand. His assignment on that night called me to teach to a dozen people. He still wanted my best. [Col 3:23] We only see in part. We do not know the full implications of God's assignments. I God assigned the task to us there is significance in it.
In the end God expects our completion of the assignments He gives us. He demands our obedience. [I Sam 15:22] It does not matter how illogical or insignificant the assignment may appear. We must obey and complete the task. What is God calling you to do? What decision are you going to make? Will you trust Him and obey or rebel?
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
The Victorious Road
While much is written about living the victorious and overcoming life that road often leads to some hardships. If we truly set our minds to make a difference in this world we can rest assured that we will face opposition.
Religious people will oppose us in the same way they opposed Jesus. People who love control, who appear righteous on the outside but on the inside are like dead men's bones, and those that teach the traditions of men as if they were the doctrines of God will stand in the way in the church often to following Jesus on the victorious road. Such people oppose zealous followers of Jesus. They oppose upsetting the status quo. They oppose a fresh work of God calling the church to repentance and revival. Such people are content with religious routines and rituals.
You can also rest assured the world will oppose any attempts to promote Jesus Christ. Thel world will not only turn a deaf ear to that message but will do anything possible to silence the messenger through intimidation and at times persecution.
After church last Sunday I met with three young adults who are taking Is 6:8 seriously. They made themselves available to God to go anywhere He wanted to send them and God took them up on the offer. God has called them to go to three closed, hard, and dangerous countries to proclaim the name of Jesus. These young adults are in love with Jesus and bold in their faith. Places most Christians do anything to avoid are the very places these three are running to in response to the call of God on their lives. They have counted the cost. They know it is dangerous. They fully understand the risks involved and are more than eager to lay their lives on the line. They inspire me. They challenge me to be more bold for God and keep trusting. I to pray [Is 6:8] and make myself available to wherever God might want to send me. Their road to victory is leading them to some of the most dangerous countries in the world. Only God knows where my road will lead.
I guarantee if you want the victorious life you will be opposed by Satan. Fiery carts will be hurled in your direction in the forms of discouragement, criticism from others, and resistance to the work God has called you to do. We are called to stand firm and resist the wicked schemes of the Devil. [Eph 6:11].
It is so much easier to live in defeat. It is the path of least resistance. I should know. I have spent my fare share of days on that road. I have also been convicted and repented. The life of faith is not an easy life. It is a life filled with trials and setbacks. It is also the life God wills and a life of thrilling adventures if we trust God to move mountains. The testimonies keep coming.
Which road do you want to travel. The road to victory that will lead through spiritual attacks and ambushes? Would you rather walk the road of defeat and give in to the resistance of religious people, a pagan world, and Satan?
It is time to renew our resolve to follow God down the path of victory. It is not an easy road to walk but is the road we are called to walk. We are not to give up, give in, or give out in defeat. We must keep proclaiming the name of Jesus, advancing the kingdom of God, and shining the light of Christ in the darkest corners of the world. When we get knocked down we must get back up again. When we face resistance and opposition we need not give up. Jesus and many of His followers faced similar resistance and opposition. We must stay the course on the road to victory.
Religious people will oppose us in the same way they opposed Jesus. People who love control, who appear righteous on the outside but on the inside are like dead men's bones, and those that teach the traditions of men as if they were the doctrines of God will stand in the way in the church often to following Jesus on the victorious road. Such people oppose zealous followers of Jesus. They oppose upsetting the status quo. They oppose a fresh work of God calling the church to repentance and revival. Such people are content with religious routines and rituals.
You can also rest assured the world will oppose any attempts to promote Jesus Christ. Thel world will not only turn a deaf ear to that message but will do anything possible to silence the messenger through intimidation and at times persecution.
After church last Sunday I met with three young adults who are taking Is 6:8 seriously. They made themselves available to God to go anywhere He wanted to send them and God took them up on the offer. God has called them to go to three closed, hard, and dangerous countries to proclaim the name of Jesus. These young adults are in love with Jesus and bold in their faith. Places most Christians do anything to avoid are the very places these three are running to in response to the call of God on their lives. They have counted the cost. They know it is dangerous. They fully understand the risks involved and are more than eager to lay their lives on the line. They inspire me. They challenge me to be more bold for God and keep trusting. I to pray [Is 6:8] and make myself available to wherever God might want to send me. Their road to victory is leading them to some of the most dangerous countries in the world. Only God knows where my road will lead.
I guarantee if you want the victorious life you will be opposed by Satan. Fiery carts will be hurled in your direction in the forms of discouragement, criticism from others, and resistance to the work God has called you to do. We are called to stand firm and resist the wicked schemes of the Devil. [Eph 6:11].
It is so much easier to live in defeat. It is the path of least resistance. I should know. I have spent my fare share of days on that road. I have also been convicted and repented. The life of faith is not an easy life. It is a life filled with trials and setbacks. It is also the life God wills and a life of thrilling adventures if we trust God to move mountains. The testimonies keep coming.
Which road do you want to travel. The road to victory that will lead through spiritual attacks and ambushes? Would you rather walk the road of defeat and give in to the resistance of religious people, a pagan world, and Satan?
It is time to renew our resolve to follow God down the path of victory. It is not an easy road to walk but is the road we are called to walk. We are not to give up, give in, or give out in defeat. We must keep proclaiming the name of Jesus, advancing the kingdom of God, and shining the light of Christ in the darkest corners of the world. When we get knocked down we must get back up again. When we face resistance and opposition we need not give up. Jesus and many of His followers faced similar resistance and opposition. We must stay the course on the road to victory.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
I am Finally Back
Back in April I wrote a blog and posted it. I sat my computer down to go and do something and came back thirty minutes later. I immediately noticed the computer was not acting normally. Soon there was a blank screen with a folder on it. A call to a friend revealed the sad truth. I lost my hard drive and everything on that computer. That was nearly a month ago.
I began praying for God's provision of a new computer. I prayed and waited. I prayed some more and waited some more. Studying became difficult. I had to go back and do it the old fashioned way with books. I missed my Bible study software. My greatest sorrow was not being able to write these blogs. All I could do was ask God for His provision and continue to wait in faith.
The whole matter was out of my hands. This past week I made a trip to Seminole where I did a book tour to promote my new book Weeping For A Night. At my last event I explained to a lady who regularly reads the blogs why I had not posted any new ones. Another lady was standing next to her and the next thing I knew God moved. The second lady overheard the conversation, wrote a check, and gave it to Brenda with the following comments. "This is for Matt to buy a new computer. Tell him to keep writing those blogs. They are important to my family. We need them. They are important to a lot of people." Just like that God not only heard but also answered our prayers.
Today I drove to Fort Worth and spent the majority of the day visiting three different computer stores researching, comparative shopping, and asking questions. Finally I made the decision and bought a new computer. They helped me get it set up and I just got home a few minutes ago. The first thing I did after typing in the security code for our internet wifi was to go to this site. Then I logged in and started typing.
I am humbled that once again God used someone to bless me and stand with me in ministry. Her sacrificial gift enables me to keep writing and to keep ministering to people all over the world with the written word. I am humbled that God loves me enough to entrust me with this ministry. It is a ministry I take seriously.
There are three points to this blog. First after a delay I am back writing and doing what God has called me to do. Second, be encouraged that God answers prayers even when it seems like the answers are delayed in coming. Never give up trusting God. [Luke 18:1] [James 5:16] [Gal 6:9] I know there are many of you reading this and you are still waiting on God. You are waiting for direction, for a new job, for a burden to be lifted, a mountain to be moved, and for the rain to come. God does hear and his timing is perfect. Don't give up on God. He will come through. It may not be when you want it or the answer may not come in the way you expected. He will do it in a way that most glorifying to His name.
What are the chances that I would be explaining to that lady about why I had not posted any new blogs while another lady just happened to be listening. The second lady is a busy business owner who took off work to come to the Bible study and book signing. God ordained that she be standing at that table at that exact moment. God moved in her heart prompting her to give to meet a need in my life. God worked out the answer to that prayer that had been weeks in the making. I am humbled and encouraged to keep praying and to keep trusting a powerful and faithful God.
There is a third thing I want to communicate. God has called and entrusted me to this writing ministry just like He has called me to preach. I MUST WRITE! I am compelled to do so. So expect more blogs to come in the days ahead. I set a goal earlier in the year of how many blogs I wanted to write. I did not know I would lose nearly a month in that process. I have lost precious time but I trust God to make that up with inspiration. By God's provision I am back.
I began praying for God's provision of a new computer. I prayed and waited. I prayed some more and waited some more. Studying became difficult. I had to go back and do it the old fashioned way with books. I missed my Bible study software. My greatest sorrow was not being able to write these blogs. All I could do was ask God for His provision and continue to wait in faith.
The whole matter was out of my hands. This past week I made a trip to Seminole where I did a book tour to promote my new book Weeping For A Night. At my last event I explained to a lady who regularly reads the blogs why I had not posted any new ones. Another lady was standing next to her and the next thing I knew God moved. The second lady overheard the conversation, wrote a check, and gave it to Brenda with the following comments. "This is for Matt to buy a new computer. Tell him to keep writing those blogs. They are important to my family. We need them. They are important to a lot of people." Just like that God not only heard but also answered our prayers.
Today I drove to Fort Worth and spent the majority of the day visiting three different computer stores researching, comparative shopping, and asking questions. Finally I made the decision and bought a new computer. They helped me get it set up and I just got home a few minutes ago. The first thing I did after typing in the security code for our internet wifi was to go to this site. Then I logged in and started typing.
I am humbled that once again God used someone to bless me and stand with me in ministry. Her sacrificial gift enables me to keep writing and to keep ministering to people all over the world with the written word. I am humbled that God loves me enough to entrust me with this ministry. It is a ministry I take seriously.
There are three points to this blog. First after a delay I am back writing and doing what God has called me to do. Second, be encouraged that God answers prayers even when it seems like the answers are delayed in coming. Never give up trusting God. [Luke 18:1] [James 5:16] [Gal 6:9] I know there are many of you reading this and you are still waiting on God. You are waiting for direction, for a new job, for a burden to be lifted, a mountain to be moved, and for the rain to come. God does hear and his timing is perfect. Don't give up on God. He will come through. It may not be when you want it or the answer may not come in the way you expected. He will do it in a way that most glorifying to His name.
What are the chances that I would be explaining to that lady about why I had not posted any new blogs while another lady just happened to be listening. The second lady is a busy business owner who took off work to come to the Bible study and book signing. God ordained that she be standing at that table at that exact moment. God moved in her heart prompting her to give to meet a need in my life. God worked out the answer to that prayer that had been weeks in the making. I am humbled and encouraged to keep praying and to keep trusting a powerful and faithful God.
There is a third thing I want to communicate. God has called and entrusted me to this writing ministry just like He has called me to preach. I MUST WRITE! I am compelled to do so. So expect more blogs to come in the days ahead. I set a goal earlier in the year of how many blogs I wanted to write. I did not know I would lose nearly a month in that process. I have lost precious time but I trust God to make that up with inspiration. By God's provision I am back.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)