Sometimes we find it hard to obey. We have difficulty submitting to a parent, teacher, coach, boss, law enforcement officers and at times even to God. Why is this? What is it within us that stirs disobedience over obedience.
In the Garden of Eden God required Adam and Eve to obey Him by not eating from one single tree. You know the story. They disobeyed and every generation since them have felt the consequences. The Bible is filled with stories of people who disobeyed God and of those who chose to obey.
I think disobedience really could come down to our being deceived that disobedience will bring the greater reward, comfort, security, and pleasure than obedience.
This morning while having my time with the Lord I felt impressed to do a simple act. I cannot say I really wanted to follow through but I felt deeply impressed by God that the whole issue came down to obedience. So just seconds ago before I started this blog I obeyed. I followed through on what I sensed the Lord wanted me to do. At the end of the day it may not make a big difference but at least I know I followed through. I did what I was supposed to do. I obeyed.
This happened again earlier in the week. This time the prompting required us to make a financial sacrifice. I debated but in the end knew I had to obey. I felt extreme joy in the obedience. I had a choice. I could have ignored God's prompting. I would have suffered the consequences. I chose to obey and now have peace and joy from obedience.
To obey means to follow the commands or to comply with something. God is in the business of speaking to and leading His followers. He gives out instructions He expects will be obeyed. When God instructs us we are to follow through and to comply. Often in the church His instructions are ignored or rejected. People continue living their lives pretending they never really heard God's instructions. Some choose to disobey end of story.
I praise God for those few who live to obey Him. I know a shy lady who obeyed God by going on a mission trip to Africa though she was scared. She did not let fear hold her back from obedience. I know a man who gave a multi-thousand dollar gift for a mission project. He gave out of sacrifice and did so in obedience. I know people who have gone to people privately to confront them about a sin in obedience. Those people would have rather ignored such a conversation but in the end were glad they obeyed. I have heard stories about people who gave up their careers and financial fortunes to follow God into ministry of missions. I know pastors who have preached the hard sermons few others wanted to preach in obedience to God's leadership.
To obey is not always easy. I would have rather not followed through this morning. The whole thing put me in an uncomfortable position. Sometimes obedience can make you look foolish in the world's eyes. Many people thought that about George Mueller running an orphanage on faith.
Today I have a simple challenge. I challenge you to obey promptly in whatever God commands you to do. If you are to forgive extend forgiveness. If you are to give open your wallet. If you are to love express it tangibly. If you are to do something do not delay. Don't put off obedience. You never know how God is going to use your obedience. Big doors swing on little hinges. Likewise, big movements of God often swing on simple acts of obedience.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
God Is With Me
While reading about the life of Joseph this morning something really struck me. Several times as Joseph had to cope with harsh realities we are reminded that God was with Joseph. He was with Joseph when he was sold into slavery. He was with Joseph when Potiphar's wife accused him of sexual harassment. God did not forsake Joseph when he was thrown into prison. God remained with Joseph after the cup bearer forgot all about him for two full years.
In the end God put Joseph exactly where he needed to be to fulfill God's plan to preserve his family during the years of famine. It might not have looked like God was at work but not one time did God ever leave Joseph. God was with Him and working the whole time.
This all set me to thinking about all the times in my life when I God has been with me. God was with me the day they called to tell me my mother died back in May of 1998. God strengthened me to preach her funeral.
God was with me during the lean years of being a traveling evangelist. He sustained me through severe bouts of depression. He empowered me to preach in backwood small churches as well before crowds of a thousand. He was with me when I wrote my first book in a small makeshift office that had formerly been used as a prayer room.
God remained with me through the confusing time of starting CentrePointe Community Church. When the church disbanded God did not forsake me. He sustained me through daily quiet times. He strengthened my faith through the darkest nights of weeping. He was with us as Provider during eighteen months when I had no salary. God stayed with me when He moved us to Paradise the first time. He kept us in the palm of His hand for four years as we loved and served the First Baptist Church.
God remained with me when He bid me to leave. Time and time again He counseled me my time at FBC Paradise had come to an end as He led me to FBC Seminole. God was with me through the transition. He blessed us to be able to buy a home out there. He was with all of us during the twenty-three glorious days of revival. He was with me during tragedy and the loss of a young mother at Family Camp. He was with me day in and day out as we learned to love that flock and community with all our hearts. We all thought we stay there forever.
The Lord was with me in a quiet time when He first told me to follow Him. For seven months He was with me reiterating that message over and over again. He was with me in my office one Saturday morning when He made it clear that His new call on my life would lead me away from Seminole and that it would also mean returning to Paradise to start a church.
He met with me that same Saturday afternoon as I went home to an empty house and prostrated myself on the living room floor in tears wrestling with God over this issue. He sustained me in the days following when I resigned with nowhere to live and not knowing what my salary would be.
God stayed with me during the month I lived apart from Brenda and the three younger boys as Taylor and I transitioned into life back in Paradise and at Faith Community. God was with me in those dark and lonely nights in the RV. God remained with me even after Brenda and the boys came here living in the home of a friend for three months while I stayed in the RV.
God sustained me during the up and down attendance of the first six months of Faith Community Church. God kept us as we moved into a rent house and closed out our lives at 2112 NW Ave B in Seminole, TX. God kept us financially as He sent His provision each time we had a need.
God remained with me as we moved into lease space as a church and I finally got an office again. He has met with me in this place in ways I could never put into words. He is with me this morning as I have sought Him in scripture reading and prayer. He has always been with me and ever shall be. He is with you too.
You may not can trace what He is up to but rest assured He with you through the joys and sorrows, triumphs and the trials, as well as the laughter and the tears. He is with you this very moment as you read this. He is available to comfort, strengthen, to hold, to reassure, to console, to counsel, and to sustain you through the hardest times. I pray you take comfort in that truth today as I have. He is with you.
In the end God put Joseph exactly where he needed to be to fulfill God's plan to preserve his family during the years of famine. It might not have looked like God was at work but not one time did God ever leave Joseph. God was with Him and working the whole time.
This all set me to thinking about all the times in my life when I God has been with me. God was with me the day they called to tell me my mother died back in May of 1998. God strengthened me to preach her funeral.
God was with me during the lean years of being a traveling evangelist. He sustained me through severe bouts of depression. He empowered me to preach in backwood small churches as well before crowds of a thousand. He was with me when I wrote my first book in a small makeshift office that had formerly been used as a prayer room.
God remained with me through the confusing time of starting CentrePointe Community Church. When the church disbanded God did not forsake me. He sustained me through daily quiet times. He strengthened my faith through the darkest nights of weeping. He was with us as Provider during eighteen months when I had no salary. God stayed with me when He moved us to Paradise the first time. He kept us in the palm of His hand for four years as we loved and served the First Baptist Church.
God remained with me when He bid me to leave. Time and time again He counseled me my time at FBC Paradise had come to an end as He led me to FBC Seminole. God was with me through the transition. He blessed us to be able to buy a home out there. He was with all of us during the twenty-three glorious days of revival. He was with me during tragedy and the loss of a young mother at Family Camp. He was with me day in and day out as we learned to love that flock and community with all our hearts. We all thought we stay there forever.
The Lord was with me in a quiet time when He first told me to follow Him. For seven months He was with me reiterating that message over and over again. He was with me in my office one Saturday morning when He made it clear that His new call on my life would lead me away from Seminole and that it would also mean returning to Paradise to start a church.
He met with me that same Saturday afternoon as I went home to an empty house and prostrated myself on the living room floor in tears wrestling with God over this issue. He sustained me in the days following when I resigned with nowhere to live and not knowing what my salary would be.
God stayed with me during the month I lived apart from Brenda and the three younger boys as Taylor and I transitioned into life back in Paradise and at Faith Community. God was with me in those dark and lonely nights in the RV. God remained with me even after Brenda and the boys came here living in the home of a friend for three months while I stayed in the RV.
God sustained me during the up and down attendance of the first six months of Faith Community Church. God kept us as we moved into a rent house and closed out our lives at 2112 NW Ave B in Seminole, TX. God kept us financially as He sent His provision each time we had a need.
God remained with me as we moved into lease space as a church and I finally got an office again. He has met with me in this place in ways I could never put into words. He is with me this morning as I have sought Him in scripture reading and prayer. He has always been with me and ever shall be. He is with you too.
You may not can trace what He is up to but rest assured He with you through the joys and sorrows, triumphs and the trials, as well as the laughter and the tears. He is with you this very moment as you read this. He is available to comfort, strengthen, to hold, to reassure, to console, to counsel, and to sustain you through the hardest times. I pray you take comfort in that truth today as I have. He is with you.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Surrendering a Dream
He had tears in his eyes when he walked through the door. He came unexpectedly, a teenage boy with a lot on his mind and heart. He needed to talk so we walked to the front of the church and sat on the steps of the stage. He could barely get the words out. Tears cascaded down his cheeks as he tried to manage the words.
I had talked to him earlier in the week. This young man loves God and has been a strong witness for Christ on his campus and teams. In recent days I had noticed something different about him. His countenance seemed different. I pulled him aside one day to ask him about it. After some discussion it finally came out. He did not want to surrender his dream to God for fear God would take it away from him.
My challenge to the young man earlier in the week had been to fall on his face before God and repent and surrender all to Him. I reminded this troubled teen that his dream would not come true without God's help in the first place. I know he mulled this over for some time.
When he walked through that church door Saturday night he told me he had come looking for me because he needed to talk. I saw the brokenness that only God can bring all over this young man. As he cried he finally managed to blurt out, "I repented. I gave God my dream and surrendered everything." Getting those words out released a torrent of tears in this guy.
We talked for a bit and then I told him all the talking in the world would not be better than our praying together. The room felt hot as the programmable thermostat would not kick on to cool the room off for the morning worship service for hours. He sweat right through his shirt and so did I. Despite sweat dripping from our faces we knelt at the altar and I prayed a prayer of blessing for that teen.
When our prayer time ended we got up and hugged. I felt so proud of him for even the willingness to surrender his dream. I felt honored to be this young man's pastor. I have witnessed him leading his teams in prayer and devotions before games. I have heard him speak in public. I am proud to be his pastor and friend. I am more proud to be his father.
Yes, that young man that walked in the back of the church turned out to be one of my sons. It does not matter which one. He had a real encounter with God. He and I both have big dreams. I know what it is like to have to surrender a dream. I had to do that at FBC Paradise and FBC Seminole. It is painful to surrender your dreams and give God complete control. It can be a scary proposition if you do not know down deep God can be trusted.
I reminded my son of the story of Abraham and the test God gave him to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22. In the end God did not want Isaac. He wanted all of Abraham's love and loyalty. I think that is what God is doing in my son. I know that is what God did in me when he called us to leave Seminole. To this day many people still think I left because something bad happened and I needed to leave or had to leave. Nothing could be further from the truth. That church compensated us well. They blessed us continually. A remnant in that church hungered for God's word. All of it. Those people loved us and accepted us. We had favor in the community. We still have close contacts with many people out there. If you have kept up with these blogs you know God blessed us with a house. We considered that house our miracle house. God called me to lay all of that down to follow Him to start a church. I know what God told me to do even though I did not understand it then and I do not understand it now.
I counted the cost before we actually left Seminole but it has proven to be more costly than I first considered. I have wept countless tears for the people we had to leave behind. I do not understand. When I think of them even writing this I am moved to tears again. It has been a year since we left. The pain of not getting to minister to those people and fellowship with them pains my heart still. They have a new pastor and I have a new flock but a part of my heart will always remain in Seminole just like a part of my heart remains at FBC Paradise.
I had to surrender my dream, especially the dream of owning our own home again. Though it has been painful I know you can't go back. I can only follow God in faith and trust Him to make my paths straight. True, I had to surrender a grand dream in Seminole. In recent days God has been planting a grander dream in my heart for Faith Community Church.
It is almost comical. I spent Saturday night sweeping cob webs out of our drafty warehouse make shift sanctuary. It gets so hot in there that people say I sweat through my shirt and pants while preaching. The floors are bare concrete. The walls are made of metal panels. There are gaps where dust blows in through two bay doors. There are spiders and bugs galore. I contrast that with churches I have served in the past with beautiful sanctuaries, stained glass, baptismals, and luxurious offices. We baptize in a hot tub or swimming pool depending on the weather.
Yes, I too had to surrender a dream. I am still surrendering the dream of home ownership in the near future. What I know is that I am as fully surrendered and consecrated to God as I have ever been. He has given me a quiet contentment in where I am. I no longer stand to preach before hundreds. We have not had over a hundred in attendance but two or three times. What I do have is the peace of God that I am doing exactly what he called me to do even if everyone does not understand. I am also watching God build a church right before my eyes.
God called me to surrender one dream so He could give me a bigger dream. I sit here humbled by the new dream. His plans are best even though they are not easy and often have a great price tag. In recent days I have dreamed about Seminole and the people I love there. I miss them terribly but I know I cannot go back. I am laboring toward a new dream.
Yesterday we baptized 11 in a swimming pool! I am not sure that I have ever baptized that many on one day before. One teenaged girl who trusted Christ for salvation back at youth camp came even though she had played in a volleyball tournament until 3:00 a.m. She would not be deterred from holding back. A father and his two sons were baptized. A brother along with his two younger sisters were baptized. Two young men followed in baptism after years of their mother's praying. One little boy followed in baptism bringing to mind how his older brother had been saved first. Next came their dad followed by their mom and yesterday we celebrated the new birth of baby brother. In that pool baptizing one after another, hearing the applause and cheers of the people despite the 103 temperatures, made sacrificing the other dream worth it.
I looked around yesterday morning in our sweltering building and thanked God for the swelling attendance. We have had our best attendance since back in January during the summer months in a warehouse. I am talking about people who had not been involved in church a year ago. I made eye contact with several men who have been saved. I see people I am growing to love more and more each week. This is home.
God required me to give up one dream before He entrusted me with a new dream. He is faithful. I can trust Him with not only my dreams but also with my life, my family, and my future. So can you. I am thankful this is a lesson my son is learning as well. We can always trust God with our dreams and our lives.
I had talked to him earlier in the week. This young man loves God and has been a strong witness for Christ on his campus and teams. In recent days I had noticed something different about him. His countenance seemed different. I pulled him aside one day to ask him about it. After some discussion it finally came out. He did not want to surrender his dream to God for fear God would take it away from him.
My challenge to the young man earlier in the week had been to fall on his face before God and repent and surrender all to Him. I reminded this troubled teen that his dream would not come true without God's help in the first place. I know he mulled this over for some time.
When he walked through that church door Saturday night he told me he had come looking for me because he needed to talk. I saw the brokenness that only God can bring all over this young man. As he cried he finally managed to blurt out, "I repented. I gave God my dream and surrendered everything." Getting those words out released a torrent of tears in this guy.
We talked for a bit and then I told him all the talking in the world would not be better than our praying together. The room felt hot as the programmable thermostat would not kick on to cool the room off for the morning worship service for hours. He sweat right through his shirt and so did I. Despite sweat dripping from our faces we knelt at the altar and I prayed a prayer of blessing for that teen.
When our prayer time ended we got up and hugged. I felt so proud of him for even the willingness to surrender his dream. I felt honored to be this young man's pastor. I have witnessed him leading his teams in prayer and devotions before games. I have heard him speak in public. I am proud to be his pastor and friend. I am more proud to be his father.
Yes, that young man that walked in the back of the church turned out to be one of my sons. It does not matter which one. He had a real encounter with God. He and I both have big dreams. I know what it is like to have to surrender a dream. I had to do that at FBC Paradise and FBC Seminole. It is painful to surrender your dreams and give God complete control. It can be a scary proposition if you do not know down deep God can be trusted.
I reminded my son of the story of Abraham and the test God gave him to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22. In the end God did not want Isaac. He wanted all of Abraham's love and loyalty. I think that is what God is doing in my son. I know that is what God did in me when he called us to leave Seminole. To this day many people still think I left because something bad happened and I needed to leave or had to leave. Nothing could be further from the truth. That church compensated us well. They blessed us continually. A remnant in that church hungered for God's word. All of it. Those people loved us and accepted us. We had favor in the community. We still have close contacts with many people out there. If you have kept up with these blogs you know God blessed us with a house. We considered that house our miracle house. God called me to lay all of that down to follow Him to start a church. I know what God told me to do even though I did not understand it then and I do not understand it now.
I counted the cost before we actually left Seminole but it has proven to be more costly than I first considered. I have wept countless tears for the people we had to leave behind. I do not understand. When I think of them even writing this I am moved to tears again. It has been a year since we left. The pain of not getting to minister to those people and fellowship with them pains my heart still. They have a new pastor and I have a new flock but a part of my heart will always remain in Seminole just like a part of my heart remains at FBC Paradise.
I had to surrender my dream, especially the dream of owning our own home again. Though it has been painful I know you can't go back. I can only follow God in faith and trust Him to make my paths straight. True, I had to surrender a grand dream in Seminole. In recent days God has been planting a grander dream in my heart for Faith Community Church.
It is almost comical. I spent Saturday night sweeping cob webs out of our drafty warehouse make shift sanctuary. It gets so hot in there that people say I sweat through my shirt and pants while preaching. The floors are bare concrete. The walls are made of metal panels. There are gaps where dust blows in through two bay doors. There are spiders and bugs galore. I contrast that with churches I have served in the past with beautiful sanctuaries, stained glass, baptismals, and luxurious offices. We baptize in a hot tub or swimming pool depending on the weather.
Yes, I too had to surrender a dream. I am still surrendering the dream of home ownership in the near future. What I know is that I am as fully surrendered and consecrated to God as I have ever been. He has given me a quiet contentment in where I am. I no longer stand to preach before hundreds. We have not had over a hundred in attendance but two or three times. What I do have is the peace of God that I am doing exactly what he called me to do even if everyone does not understand. I am also watching God build a church right before my eyes.
God called me to surrender one dream so He could give me a bigger dream. I sit here humbled by the new dream. His plans are best even though they are not easy and often have a great price tag. In recent days I have dreamed about Seminole and the people I love there. I miss them terribly but I know I cannot go back. I am laboring toward a new dream.
Yesterday we baptized 11 in a swimming pool! I am not sure that I have ever baptized that many on one day before. One teenaged girl who trusted Christ for salvation back at youth camp came even though she had played in a volleyball tournament until 3:00 a.m. She would not be deterred from holding back. A father and his two sons were baptized. A brother along with his two younger sisters were baptized. Two young men followed in baptism after years of their mother's praying. One little boy followed in baptism bringing to mind how his older brother had been saved first. Next came their dad followed by their mom and yesterday we celebrated the new birth of baby brother. In that pool baptizing one after another, hearing the applause and cheers of the people despite the 103 temperatures, made sacrificing the other dream worth it.
I looked around yesterday morning in our sweltering building and thanked God for the swelling attendance. We have had our best attendance since back in January during the summer months in a warehouse. I am talking about people who had not been involved in church a year ago. I made eye contact with several men who have been saved. I see people I am growing to love more and more each week. This is home.
God required me to give up one dream before He entrusted me with a new dream. He is faithful. I can trust Him with not only my dreams but also with my life, my family, and my future. So can you. I am thankful this is a lesson my son is learning as well. We can always trust God with our dreams and our lives.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Celebration of Baptism
I just witnessed via You Tube my friend Jase Waller baptizing a man named Edguardo in Honduras. This on the same day I am preaching on the baptism of Jesus and we at Faith Community will celebrate the baptism of eleven people today.
I am awed by the power of God. Last night I came up to sweep the warehouse. I had a teenage boy come looking for me. In brokenness he told me his story of repentance. He had just offered God all of his life. He has been saved for sometime but through tears he told his testimony of repentance and not holding anything back from the Lord including his dreams. We knelt down to pray at the altar. I will not forget that moment.
Less than thirty minutes later after the teenaged boy had left in walked another man. He said he had been looking for me. He had a feeling he could find me at the warehouse. He needed to talk. He told me he had trusted Christ to save him years ago. He had never been baptized. He wanted to talk about it. He said he had been under conviction for the past couple of months. This is the exact time period I had been burdened to pray for him. Night and day I lifted that man and his sons to the Lord.
To make all of this better is the truth that he and his two boys will be celebrating baptism all at the same time. Hallelujah. Baptism is the outward celebration of the inward transformation Christ makes in a person's life. It truly is a celebration.
Whether it be in Honduras, west Texas, east Texas, here at Faith Community Church or to the far ends of the earth many will celebrate new life in Christ through baptism. We rejoice. Praise to God for his great salvation.
I am awed by the power of God. Last night I came up to sweep the warehouse. I had a teenage boy come looking for me. In brokenness he told me his story of repentance. He had just offered God all of his life. He has been saved for sometime but through tears he told his testimony of repentance and not holding anything back from the Lord including his dreams. We knelt down to pray at the altar. I will not forget that moment.
Less than thirty minutes later after the teenaged boy had left in walked another man. He said he had been looking for me. He had a feeling he could find me at the warehouse. He needed to talk. He told me he had trusted Christ to save him years ago. He had never been baptized. He wanted to talk about it. He said he had been under conviction for the past couple of months. This is the exact time period I had been burdened to pray for him. Night and day I lifted that man and his sons to the Lord.
To make all of this better is the truth that he and his two boys will be celebrating baptism all at the same time. Hallelujah. Baptism is the outward celebration of the inward transformation Christ makes in a person's life. It truly is a celebration.
Whether it be in Honduras, west Texas, east Texas, here at Faith Community Church or to the far ends of the earth many will celebrate new life in Christ through baptism. We rejoice. Praise to God for his great salvation.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Lord, Help My Unbelief
Life is hard. There are trials around every turn of every season. Small trials are manageable and we step through them easily. Others rock us to our knees. We can't physically get through. We can't reason our way through them nor can we buy our way through them. As we sink to our knees with no other hope but for God to do a miracle we find ourselves saying, "Lord if you can help me through this trial I beg of you to move mightily. I plead with you to will to help us. I urge you with all that is in me to come to our rescue."
Have you ever been there? Your emotions are so raw and frayed. You are bone weary from the battle of just trying to survive. You try to maintain faith because God is the only hope you have. It is easy to become discouraged especially as you see what only your eyes can see. When everything visible to you tells you there is no hope, faith can begin to leak giving room for despair.
There is a story in the Bible about a desperate father with a sick son in [Mark 9:14-29]. A very sick son. In his desperate condition he brought the boy to the disciples for help. The boy had an evil spirit that often threw him into convulsions. At times the evil spirit tried to kill the boy throwing him into both water and fire.
Sadly, the disciples proved to be of no help. When Jesus arrived on the scene he heard the whole story. It offended Jesus that the disciples had such little faith. They seemed to be the object of the statement when Jesus called them an "unbelieving generation." That phrase means a faithless and unfaithful. The disciples had witnessed many miracles. They did not have the faith to believe when Jesus was not present.
When Jesus arrived they brought the boy to Him. The father formed the only prayer he could think, "If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." That is a pretty good prayer. We want Jesus to take pity on us and help in life's most difficult moments. We want His compassion and strength leveraged on our behalves.
In [Mark 9:23] Jesus responded, "If you can? All things are possible to him who believes."
The father altered his prayer in the next verse, "I do believe, help my unbelief."
Unbelief is a formidable opponent. It is easier to doubt than to trust. It is easy to give up and give in than to believe God for a miracle. It is far easier to lose hope and think Jesus does not care. On this side of the computer there is no way for me to know all the things that fight to dethrone faith in your heart. I know what I face. I know what I see and both lend themselves to unbelief. Unbelief is the sure arch enemy of faith.
The wrong part of the father's prayer lies in the phrase, "If you can." With God there are no "if you cans." There never have been. With God there is only, "If He wills." Meaning if He purposes. Many times in my life I have pleaded for God's immediate intervention and God willed for me to wait. Jesus has compassion. He does care. He also has all the power to help. Sometimes I scratch my head as I wonder why He delays in sending the needed the provision, closing the doors on the job, and not providing the healing asked for. Brenda was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis eight years ago. I have pleaded with God to heal her. I know He can. The question is never, "If you can God." He always can. To this point He has chosen not to. Her joint ache. Nobody sees the struggle she has when she gets out of bed. Nobody hears the moans in the middle of the night. Nobody notices when she can barely move her fingers. She continues to smile, serve God, work, and offer joy and help to others. Why doesn't God heal her. It is not due to unbelief. I believe. I know He can. For now we continue to wait.
Jesus made a bold statement to that father, "All things are possible to him who believes." All things encompasses a lot. You cannot conceive of scenario that does not fit into the realm of "all things." I have seen people manipulated at the point of their belief. Some people have deeply damaged the souls of desperate broken people by saying your miracle has not come because you did not believe enough. That a guilt laden trip from the pit of hell. Not everyone doubts. Many believe. Many pray in faith. Many have stood strong in confident petitions.
Unbelief did not put Lazarus in the grave in John 11. God willed it to be so in order that He could bring greater glory to His Son when Lazarus came walking resurrected out of the grave on the fourth day. True belief trusts God no matter what. I have found it much harder to keep believing when my prayers were not answered in the time I wanted nor according to how I wanted them answered. If I truly trust the Lord I trust Him no matter how long the delay or what form the answer takes.
It is never a matter if Jesus can. The true question is what does He will and purpose to be done. For Lazarus that meant death. Yet it was not death. To be absent with the body is to be present with the Lord. Lazarus lived more in the four days he remained in that tomb than he did at any other point in his life. Jesus willed a greater miracle. Lazarus came back to life. He walked out of the tomb. He lived to praise and serve Jesus for another day. That did not mean he was more alive. More believed because Lazarus died and rose than would have if he had just been healed. I wonder how Lazarus coped with rest of his life. How did he cope with life down here compared to eternal life with Jesus? Did he ever get homesick for heaven? Did he ever talk about life over there compared to life down here.
The ways and purposes of God are beyond my comprehension. All I know is I want to pray, "Lord I do believe and help my unbelief." Unbelief is just little faith or lack of faith all together. I want to grow in maturity and believe when the miracle comes right away for when the miracle is delayed. I want to believe everyday and all day.
What are you up against today? Things may look bad, real bad, to the naked eye. I ask you to forget what you see and let me ask you a different question. What do you believe? What do you believe God can do in your situation? What do you believe God is purposing?
O Lord, I plead with you to help our unbelief. Many of us need nothing short a miracle and I know you are in that business. Please take pity and come help us. I know you can. You are strong enough. Nothing is impossible with you. I ask you to move our mountains. Move the mountain of cancer. I ask you to move the mountain of the housing market. I ask you to move the mountain of wayward loved ones. I ask you to move the mountain of despair that gobbles up our assurance in you. I ask you move the mountain of impossible. All things are possible to him who believes. I did not write that. You did. It is straight from your word and now for all those reading this, who's faces I cannot see and who burdens I cannot know, I ask you for miracles. I ask you to let them flow from heaven like a river. I pray for provision, peace, open doors, healing, restoration, repentance, revival, and whatever else is needed. All things are possible for the one who believes and I choose to believe for those readers today who struggle. I ask you for all of this in Jesus name. Amen.
Have you ever been there? Your emotions are so raw and frayed. You are bone weary from the battle of just trying to survive. You try to maintain faith because God is the only hope you have. It is easy to become discouraged especially as you see what only your eyes can see. When everything visible to you tells you there is no hope, faith can begin to leak giving room for despair.
There is a story in the Bible about a desperate father with a sick son in [Mark 9:14-29]. A very sick son. In his desperate condition he brought the boy to the disciples for help. The boy had an evil spirit that often threw him into convulsions. At times the evil spirit tried to kill the boy throwing him into both water and fire.
Sadly, the disciples proved to be of no help. When Jesus arrived on the scene he heard the whole story. It offended Jesus that the disciples had such little faith. They seemed to be the object of the statement when Jesus called them an "unbelieving generation." That phrase means a faithless and unfaithful. The disciples had witnessed many miracles. They did not have the faith to believe when Jesus was not present.
When Jesus arrived they brought the boy to Him. The father formed the only prayer he could think, "If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." That is a pretty good prayer. We want Jesus to take pity on us and help in life's most difficult moments. We want His compassion and strength leveraged on our behalves.
In [Mark 9:23] Jesus responded, "If you can? All things are possible to him who believes."
The father altered his prayer in the next verse, "I do believe, help my unbelief."
Unbelief is a formidable opponent. It is easier to doubt than to trust. It is easy to give up and give in than to believe God for a miracle. It is far easier to lose hope and think Jesus does not care. On this side of the computer there is no way for me to know all the things that fight to dethrone faith in your heart. I know what I face. I know what I see and both lend themselves to unbelief. Unbelief is the sure arch enemy of faith.
The wrong part of the father's prayer lies in the phrase, "If you can." With God there are no "if you cans." There never have been. With God there is only, "If He wills." Meaning if He purposes. Many times in my life I have pleaded for God's immediate intervention and God willed for me to wait. Jesus has compassion. He does care. He also has all the power to help. Sometimes I scratch my head as I wonder why He delays in sending the needed the provision, closing the doors on the job, and not providing the healing asked for. Brenda was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis eight years ago. I have pleaded with God to heal her. I know He can. The question is never, "If you can God." He always can. To this point He has chosen not to. Her joint ache. Nobody sees the struggle she has when she gets out of bed. Nobody hears the moans in the middle of the night. Nobody notices when she can barely move her fingers. She continues to smile, serve God, work, and offer joy and help to others. Why doesn't God heal her. It is not due to unbelief. I believe. I know He can. For now we continue to wait.
Jesus made a bold statement to that father, "All things are possible to him who believes." All things encompasses a lot. You cannot conceive of scenario that does not fit into the realm of "all things." I have seen people manipulated at the point of their belief. Some people have deeply damaged the souls of desperate broken people by saying your miracle has not come because you did not believe enough. That a guilt laden trip from the pit of hell. Not everyone doubts. Many believe. Many pray in faith. Many have stood strong in confident petitions.
Unbelief did not put Lazarus in the grave in John 11. God willed it to be so in order that He could bring greater glory to His Son when Lazarus came walking resurrected out of the grave on the fourth day. True belief trusts God no matter what. I have found it much harder to keep believing when my prayers were not answered in the time I wanted nor according to how I wanted them answered. If I truly trust the Lord I trust Him no matter how long the delay or what form the answer takes.
It is never a matter if Jesus can. The true question is what does He will and purpose to be done. For Lazarus that meant death. Yet it was not death. To be absent with the body is to be present with the Lord. Lazarus lived more in the four days he remained in that tomb than he did at any other point in his life. Jesus willed a greater miracle. Lazarus came back to life. He walked out of the tomb. He lived to praise and serve Jesus for another day. That did not mean he was more alive. More believed because Lazarus died and rose than would have if he had just been healed. I wonder how Lazarus coped with rest of his life. How did he cope with life down here compared to eternal life with Jesus? Did he ever get homesick for heaven? Did he ever talk about life over there compared to life down here.
The ways and purposes of God are beyond my comprehension. All I know is I want to pray, "Lord I do believe and help my unbelief." Unbelief is just little faith or lack of faith all together. I want to grow in maturity and believe when the miracle comes right away for when the miracle is delayed. I want to believe everyday and all day.
What are you up against today? Things may look bad, real bad, to the naked eye. I ask you to forget what you see and let me ask you a different question. What do you believe? What do you believe God can do in your situation? What do you believe God is purposing?
O Lord, I plead with you to help our unbelief. Many of us need nothing short a miracle and I know you are in that business. Please take pity and come help us. I know you can. You are strong enough. Nothing is impossible with you. I ask you to move our mountains. Move the mountain of cancer. I ask you to move the mountain of the housing market. I ask you to move the mountain of wayward loved ones. I ask you to move the mountain of despair that gobbles up our assurance in you. I ask you move the mountain of impossible. All things are possible to him who believes. I did not write that. You did. It is straight from your word and now for all those reading this, who's faces I cannot see and who burdens I cannot know, I ask you for miracles. I ask you to let them flow from heaven like a river. I pray for provision, peace, open doors, healing, restoration, repentance, revival, and whatever else is needed. All things are possible for the one who believes and I choose to believe for those readers today who struggle. I ask you for all of this in Jesus name. Amen.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Jesus Rescued Me
It has been nearly thirty years since Jesus rescued me. He looked on my utterly helpless estate as a teenage boy back in the piney woods of east Texas. I had endured sexual and a little physical abuse. I never knew the love of a father. One side of my family lived in generation after generation of sin. Out of that squalor God looked down on my helplessness and rescued me. He brought me out of the pit of destruction.
I have been thinking on that today after reading Luke 1:52, "He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted my humble estate." I came from nothing. Parts of my family still used an out house. I can recall my grandfather plowing with a mule. We were poor and I looked like a ragamuffin when I went to school. We lived for a season in the backwoods. When I say the backwoods I mean you had to drive down a long dirt road that dead ended into family land. Nobody but family went down that road. Suspicious cars would be met with the Edwards clan and loaded guns. There were awful things that happened down that road. Sexual abuse. Alcoholism. Incest. Physical abuse.
Out of what most assuredly looked like a dead end road to disaster Jesus Christ rescued me. He loved me, sought me, saved me, and rescued me to a whole new life. Nobody thought I would amount to much. God had other plans. He placed in me a passion to love and follow Him and a desire to be available to Him. He exalted me to a place of preaching His word and writing to minister to the hearts of people.
As I sit in this office I am pretty stunned at how God changed the whole trajectory of my life one cool October night back in 1983. I have never been the same. Sure I have sinned and strayed from the Lord. Even in those times He has sought me and rescued me all over again.
Where would I be if I had not met Jesus? I would not be in church. I would probably not have finished college. I would not still be writing and even if I did I would not have anything worthwhile to say. I would not have Brenda, Jennifer, Taylor, Tanner, Tucker, or Turner. Everything I have good in my life I owe to Jesus Christ. Everything bad in my life that God turns for good I owe to Jesus Christ. I feel like Paul when he wrote, "Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." [Gal 6:14]
Out of my humble estate Jesus found me and rescued me. He has exalted me to a place of honor. He has given me a purpose. He has blessed me with a family like I never knew. He has guided my life for these past near thirty years. All I can do in return is say, "All I am is yours Jesus. Every single breath. Every dream. Every desire. Every day for the rest of my life is yours poured out like a drink offering." That is my offering of worship.
I have been thinking on that today after reading Luke 1:52, "He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted my humble estate." I came from nothing. Parts of my family still used an out house. I can recall my grandfather plowing with a mule. We were poor and I looked like a ragamuffin when I went to school. We lived for a season in the backwoods. When I say the backwoods I mean you had to drive down a long dirt road that dead ended into family land. Nobody but family went down that road. Suspicious cars would be met with the Edwards clan and loaded guns. There were awful things that happened down that road. Sexual abuse. Alcoholism. Incest. Physical abuse.
Out of what most assuredly looked like a dead end road to disaster Jesus Christ rescued me. He loved me, sought me, saved me, and rescued me to a whole new life. Nobody thought I would amount to much. God had other plans. He placed in me a passion to love and follow Him and a desire to be available to Him. He exalted me to a place of preaching His word and writing to minister to the hearts of people.
As I sit in this office I am pretty stunned at how God changed the whole trajectory of my life one cool October night back in 1983. I have never been the same. Sure I have sinned and strayed from the Lord. Even in those times He has sought me and rescued me all over again.
Where would I be if I had not met Jesus? I would not be in church. I would probably not have finished college. I would not still be writing and even if I did I would not have anything worthwhile to say. I would not have Brenda, Jennifer, Taylor, Tanner, Tucker, or Turner. Everything I have good in my life I owe to Jesus Christ. Everything bad in my life that God turns for good I owe to Jesus Christ. I feel like Paul when he wrote, "Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." [Gal 6:14]
Out of my humble estate Jesus found me and rescued me. He has exalted me to a place of honor. He has given me a purpose. He has blessed me with a family like I never knew. He has guided my life for these past near thirty years. All I can do in return is say, "All I am is yours Jesus. Every single breath. Every dream. Every desire. Every day for the rest of my life is yours poured out like a drink offering." That is my offering of worship.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?
Lately it seems as if God is sitting right next to me in my devotions. For the past few days He has been using the life and faith of Abraham to encourage me. Here is the short of it. Abraham is old. Sarah is so old she is past her child reproductive years. Despite this God has promised them both a miracle child. Time ticked by and no miracle child came.
One day God appears to Abraham outside his tent. The basic conversation goes like this. Abraham offers his guests food. After eating the Lord says, "I will surely return to you about this time next year and Sarah your wife shall have a son." [Gen 18:10]
Here is the challenge. "Now, Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah." [Gen 18:11] Next, Sarah laughs thinking of the impossibilities of her giving birth to her own baby at her age and Abraham siring a child at his age. There was no way.
I wonder how many of you reading this feel the same way. Your situation may be different but how many of you have something so hard in front of you that you see no way to overcome it. For you it might be trying to pay off a mountain of debt. It might be trying to put the pieces of your life back together after a painful divorce. It might be just trying to keep your head afloat day in and day out as you pay bills and try to put food on the table. Maybe you have a dream or several dreams that look so far out of reach you see no way to make them ever come true. Maybe like Sarah you have longed to have a child but that door has been shut to you. Maybe you hold out hope that you will find the love of your life and get married after living alone for so long. Maybe your impossible situation is none of the above but is just as impossible as all the rest.
While reading this morning I let my eyes rest of [Gen 18:14], "Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son."
Is anything too hard for the Lord? That is a question all of us must answer at some point. Is cancer? Is a broken heart that won't mend? Is a shattered faith that no longer can believe? Is a rebellious child? Are long lost dreams? Is a failing marriage? Is putting together a full and abundant life after divorce? Is having a child when the doctors have said it is impossible? Is climbing out of the financial pit of destruction of a failed business and economic wipeout too hard for the Lord? Seriously, is what you are facing right now, as you read this article, too hard for the Lord?
Is your situation too difficult for God? Is it beyond His scope or strength? Are the trials you are facing so hard the Almighty cannot summon the power and resources to aid you?
God asked Abraham that question and then told him Sarah would have a child even though it seemed to be a medical impossibility. He also said all of this would occur at the appointed time. Sure enough at the appropriate season Abraham and Sarah held their miracle child. Yes, it took a little time (about a year) but the promised child came.
Lately I have seen the Lord move in some extraordinary ways. A family I know wanted to buy a business but did not have the capitol to put down for a small business loan. They prayed and God moved someone to give them the needed money for the down payment. Today they own and operate the business. I had the privilege of going there to pray with them for God's blessing on the business a few days ago.
A few days ago my family needed God's help. Money had gotten really tight and we had not bought the boy's school shoes or cleats. It looked like we would not have the money. Brenda both prayed and asked the Lord to help us. God used a business man whom I had not talked to in months to be the source of provision for us as he sent money to the office. When you see my boys in cleats or shoes at school know God did that. I could tell many other stories. You get the point.
It is my firm conviction nothing is too difficult for God. Nothing is too hard for Him. What is hard is for us to trust Him. What looks like a mountain to us is a mole hill to God. He is the Almighty. You can read this and dismiss it. You could, on the other hand, read this and believe God to help you. Your response will answer the question, "Is anything too hard for the Lord." I serve a God who has never had a hard day, faced a hard problem, or been taxed in His ability. Nothing is too hard for Him.
One day God appears to Abraham outside his tent. The basic conversation goes like this. Abraham offers his guests food. After eating the Lord says, "I will surely return to you about this time next year and Sarah your wife shall have a son." [Gen 18:10]
Here is the challenge. "Now, Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah." [Gen 18:11] Next, Sarah laughs thinking of the impossibilities of her giving birth to her own baby at her age and Abraham siring a child at his age. There was no way.
I wonder how many of you reading this feel the same way. Your situation may be different but how many of you have something so hard in front of you that you see no way to overcome it. For you it might be trying to pay off a mountain of debt. It might be trying to put the pieces of your life back together after a painful divorce. It might be just trying to keep your head afloat day in and day out as you pay bills and try to put food on the table. Maybe you have a dream or several dreams that look so far out of reach you see no way to make them ever come true. Maybe like Sarah you have longed to have a child but that door has been shut to you. Maybe you hold out hope that you will find the love of your life and get married after living alone for so long. Maybe your impossible situation is none of the above but is just as impossible as all the rest.
While reading this morning I let my eyes rest of [Gen 18:14], "Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son."
Is anything too hard for the Lord? That is a question all of us must answer at some point. Is cancer? Is a broken heart that won't mend? Is a shattered faith that no longer can believe? Is a rebellious child? Are long lost dreams? Is a failing marriage? Is putting together a full and abundant life after divorce? Is having a child when the doctors have said it is impossible? Is climbing out of the financial pit of destruction of a failed business and economic wipeout too hard for the Lord? Seriously, is what you are facing right now, as you read this article, too hard for the Lord?
Is your situation too difficult for God? Is it beyond His scope or strength? Are the trials you are facing so hard the Almighty cannot summon the power and resources to aid you?
God asked Abraham that question and then told him Sarah would have a child even though it seemed to be a medical impossibility. He also said all of this would occur at the appointed time. Sure enough at the appropriate season Abraham and Sarah held their miracle child. Yes, it took a little time (about a year) but the promised child came.
Lately I have seen the Lord move in some extraordinary ways. A family I know wanted to buy a business but did not have the capitol to put down for a small business loan. They prayed and God moved someone to give them the needed money for the down payment. Today they own and operate the business. I had the privilege of going there to pray with them for God's blessing on the business a few days ago.
A few days ago my family needed God's help. Money had gotten really tight and we had not bought the boy's school shoes or cleats. It looked like we would not have the money. Brenda both prayed and asked the Lord to help us. God used a business man whom I had not talked to in months to be the source of provision for us as he sent money to the office. When you see my boys in cleats or shoes at school know God did that. I could tell many other stories. You get the point.
It is my firm conviction nothing is too difficult for God. Nothing is too hard for Him. What is hard is for us to trust Him. What looks like a mountain to us is a mole hill to God. He is the Almighty. You can read this and dismiss it. You could, on the other hand, read this and believe God to help you. Your response will answer the question, "Is anything too hard for the Lord." I serve a God who has never had a hard day, faced a hard problem, or been taxed in His ability. Nothing is too hard for Him.
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