Friday, June 4, 2010

Waiting

How could it be Gods will for an army of Egyptians to die drowning at the bottom of the Red Sea, but not his will for one Egyptian to die buried in the sand? I don’t know if this question ever occurred to Moses, but it has occurred to me. I’ve often felt, as Moses did, that something had to be done now and reacted in anger or frustration. I’ve also learned as he did, that my hasty decision was ill-advised and did not help my cause.

I would offer an answer to the question. The difference is God’s timing. Just because something needs to happen, or will inevitably happen, does not mean that it is supposed to happen right now. God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours… he also sees from a different view in that he can see us for what we will be as opposed to what exactly we are. Moses did what God would eventually do, but it cost him. The timing wasn’t right. God will not establish things in our lives that we are not ready for. As demonstrated by the Hebrews crossing of the Red Sea… What he brings you to, he’ll take you through!” Moses was not ready to confront the Egyptians yet and would not be for a long time… However, when that time came, he was formidable. He was wiser, more rational… heh – and he had help… The time was right…

Consider this one last thought. When we try to do things in our time we choose the hard way. Like Moses, we fight our battles one at a time. Moses ,out of step with God's timing, began with one Egyptian taskmaster and failed; in step with God's time faced the entire Egyptian empire and succeeded! Wait on God; prepare yourself, and when his time is right he’ll fight our battles all at once

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Strength Training

What makes you stronger? Resistance. Consistently exerting yourself with force or pressure against resistance develops your strength. Weightlifters and bodybuilders maintain a daily regimen of alternating forms of resistance, targeting specific muscle groups daily.
What an incredible message to everyone who is stressed or going through a trial. You will find strength in your struggle!

Okay, okay, okay… I know. Sounds so “cliché” doesn’t it? You’ve heard ’em all… “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”, etcetera; etcetera; etcetera. There is a lot of truth there, but not something you haven’t heard before; not something that can really help you dig out of the seemingly bottomless pit of despair, distress, and depression. So, let me share something that is new to me that may help us with our strength problem.

An often quoted passage of scripture found in Nehemiah 8:10 ends in these familiar words “… for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” I have always interpreted this to mean joy that comes from the Lordthe joy that you have in serving the Lord… or the joy that you receive via a “God” atmosphere… I think all of these are true statements… Consider this point however… What is the joy of the Lord? What makes God happy?

Luke 15:7 describes a state of joy in heaven whenever one lost sinner repents! Verse 10 re-emphasizes this statement, saying there is joy in the presence of the angels of God. Incredibly this joy is over just one lost soul. The God of all creation; the source of all life, is thrilled at the thought of just one soul turning away from sin. This is the Joy of the Lord! The ramifications of this truth being, when you do what makes God happy, you become stronger!

Pleasing God is a powerful concept. Consider that Enoch was taken from this world; literally removed! The word Hebrews Chapter 11 uses was translated. And this would happen so that he would not see death. Why? Before his translation he pleased God. He pleased God and God took him!

Ponder for a moment the last words Jesus said before leaving this earth. You’ll find them in Matthew 28:19 and Acts 1:18 Go… Teach. Baptize. Be Witnesses unto me. His last words express his first purpose for us in the church.

When we as individuals involve ourselves in helping others to find God we please him. (We are ambassadors... II Corinthians 5:20) When we take time to contribute to the restoration of a soul we are participating in an act that ultimately brings God Joy. That in turn gives us strength. When was the last time you saw someone who was an active soul-winner walk away from God? Rarely, if ever.

Need Strength? Get involved in HIS work. Be a witness. Love souls. Their salvation is HIS joy. HIS joy is our strength.

BE the link...

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Prisoner of the Past

I visited a man in Prison today who showed me another perspective of the meaning of words like Faith, Hope, Dream, and Humility… I was pleasantly refreshed to hear someone place emphasis more on their walk with God than their present circumstances. After over 3 years behind bars, my friend has every opportunity the lash out, blame God, withdraw and fall in with the “regular” crowd he’s surrounded by every day. During the hour and a half that we talked I found myself wishing to know more people with such an optimistic and “faith” filled attitude.

I was reminded of Joseph and David, as well as other biblical heroes that overcame the overwhelming temptation to fall into the deep chasm of BLAME, JUSTIFICATION, PITY, and other similar attitudes. Whether we are innocent or guilty, sometimes “fault” is not the question…


Joseph was a dreamer naive to the concept of discretion… his only fault was that he expressed his dreams in what he thought was a “safe” environment. David was a psalm singer and sheep sorter… his only fault was recognizing when things were not in order - “Who is this Philistine… defying the armies of the Living God?” To which he was accused of pride, and in the hilarious words of his brother, a “naughty” heart!(Typical older brother stuff huh?) Pride and naughtiness aside, David recognized that things were not in order and persisted until he was given the chance to set it right… to which he was rewarded by years of life lived on the lam… If ever a person had the right to cast blame and point fingers, Joseph and David probably hold first dibs on the index and the thumb…


Seriously though, most people don’t recognize David as a cave dwelling criminal, scrounging around the countryside for a safe place to sleep and a bite to eat… David is King, Giant Killer, Psalm Writer, and Worshiper! Joseph is not memorialized as a victim convict, two-time loser who was spared by the meager mercies of only one brother… No, he’s a savior, an Egyptian Aristocrat, and a shrewd bargainer whose keen intellect saved many nations from starvation.

We all have reasons to complain at times. We all have failures and burdens and storms and hurts… I would not venture to be the judge of who’s got a right to rant or a reason for rage; but I will say this… Nothing negative nurtures is a necessity! Lose that negative spirit and attitude. There is nothing to be gained from it… For Joseph, David, and my imprisoned friend, it is attitude that defines our destiny… and by the way; attitude is not a "prison issue" accessory; it’s our choice to have a good one!
James M. Barrie (best remembered for creating Peter Pan) once said: “We are all failures; at least all the best of us are.” There you have it. Romans 3:23 “All have sinned; and come short of the glory of God.” Read the scripture following this famous verse…
God has made provision for that prison called past… he has plans for your present. Walk in it… Escape into his purpose.

Be the Link...

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Bring me a Minstrel...

Have you ever thought seriously on the power of music? Surely you have seen the affects that it has on our modern culture. Each generation is marked as much by its songs as by its historical events. Ever heard "I love that 70's sound..." or other such comments? Have you ever been walking through a department store and the "elevator" music they played just sent you back? Heh Heh Heh! We've all been there... and that's the power of music!
Now, just think of how that concept could work for you in a positive way... In the setting of II Kings Chapter 3, although the three Kings were desperate, the Prophet Elisha was indisposed towards helping them! He just wasn't interested in it. In fact, he stated, If Jehosophat wasn't with you, I wouldn't even look in your direction! That's just cold! However, having the foresight to know the repercussions of inaction (he was a prophet remember...) he made this statement; "bring me a minstrel..." which is what we would call a musician in our day... As the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him and he spoke an incredible prophetic word of deliverance! Never underestimate the power of good Christian music to encourage, enthuse, and edify your spirit!
Tip for tunes: Only listen to music that influences you to worship or pray and you can't go wrong!

Be the Link...

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Be the Link

Have you ever noticed that in the cyberspace world, the "link" is always so emphasized? Click this link; quick links; recommended links... it's an internet directionality term. When explaining how to get from here to there... go to this "fill in the blank"and click the link...

Life is much like this twisted techno-tease... you find someone you think has the answers, only to be sent to somewhere or someone else. Am I the only one who sometimes senses that people just want you to move on?

I have a word for believers like myself... stop sending people somewhere else... BE the LINK. You have the answers. Well, maybe you don't know the answers... but you have them. How do I have them? Because you have HIM! God has given you the word of reconciliation! (II Corinthians 5:19) He reconciled the word unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and has given you that same redeeming, restoring, replenishing word! He has made you his ambassador to this world. An ambassador is a person sent from one sovereign power to another; and is supposed to represent the person of the sovereign by whom he is deputed. You speak on his behalf and on his authority!

Can I say that God does not need you to send someone to the church...(link) If you have been filled with his spirit and are living the lifestyle that he has laid out for us in scripture, then you are the link! Not to say that the church doesn't have the answer, because I believe that and Apostolic church does... however, will that person try another link before they log off...The person in front of you needs a place to stop... they have clicked through all the links already... the rehab link, the AA link, the gratuitous relationship link, the money link... they are tired of opening doors into another roomful of doors... take them to your church, introduce them to your Pastor, but don't wait for that to happen before you introduce them to Jesus...

BE the link...