"I Can Do It Myself!"

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not upon your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path."

Michael was 4 years old and was trying to tie his shoe...working hard, getting frustrated. When I asked if he needed help, he responded stubbornly, "I can do it myself!"  So, I stepped back and let him alone.  Finally, after he had gotten things really tangled up, through his tears he asked, "Daddy, will you help me?"

Wanting to do things by ourselves is normal.  Not wanting help comes naturally.  God wants us to learn how to do things, but He also wants us to know when to ask for help.  He also wants us to learn to follow His directions.

What do you do when you aren't sure which direction to go or what decision to make?  ASK (Matt 7:7-8)
Ask...Seek...Knock

Can God help us?   YES!  Eph 3:20 “And now, to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above what we ask imagine, according to His power that is at work within us…”

Does God want to help us?    YES!!  Matt 7:9-10  “…how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”

What should we ask for?

....Things we need - Matt 6:8

·       ....  Wisdom - 2 Chron 1:7-11; James 1:5

Why don't we get what we ask for?

·         ...Selfishness         James 4:2-

·         ...Disobedience    1 John 3:22

·         ...Not in accordance with His will   1 John 5:11

Lord, You know my heart.  You know my tendency to try and do things on my own.  Please help me today to depend wholly, gratefully, humbly on You.

Guard Duty...

John 19:9  "...but Jesus gave him no answer."

Jesus was standing before Pilate.  Pilate was terrified of Jesus and was trying to get Him to answer his questions.  Jesus, Creator of the Universe, Omnipotent God, had every right to open His mouth and let him have it.  But He kept silent.  What self control!  Jesus knew Who He was and what He had to do; that was His focus and I believe it helped Him restrain His words.

I am a verbal person.  I work things out by discussing them.  I sometimes speak before thinking about the impact of my words,  and I have often found myself wishing that I could stuff them back into my mouth. That's about as futile as squeezing toothpaste back into the tube!

A wiser person than I once told me, "God gave you two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you speak."  When I heed that advice, I tend to stay out of trouble.  When I don't, I usually regret it. 

I have memorized two verses of Scripture that have helped me to hold my tongue.  I pray them daily, asking for the Holy Spirit to guide my speech. 

Proverbs 10:19 "Where there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise."

Psalm 141:3 "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips."

Holy Spirit, thank You for Your faithfulness in standing guard over my mouth.  I will try not to keep You too busy today! :-)

Pulling Weeds...

Prov 27:23-24 "Know well the condition of your flocks,  and pay attention to your herds, for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure for all generations." Today I am going to pull weeds.  Not my favorite thing to do,  but necessary.  It's the price you pay for having a garden.  With the beautiful flowers come the pesky weeds.  Hopefully, at the end of the day I'll be able to look with satisfaction at a freshly tilled garden, free of unwanted growth , spent flowers, and dead leaves.  Then the process will start all over again. Whether you're a herdsman with sheep, a farmer with fields, a homeowner with a house, a commuter with a car, a husband/wife with a marriage, a parent with a child, a friend with a relationship.... everything requires maintenance.  It's a law of the the universe.  Everything winds down, deteriorates.  If it is to endure, it must be cared for, looked after, maintained. This principle applies also to our spiritual walk, our relationship with God.  The Psalmist admonishes us to "Above all, guard your heart, for it flows the issues of life."    How do we do this?  Just like caring for a garden.  It requires regular attention... feeding, watering, weeding.  I need to consistently be fed by the Word of God, watered by prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit, and I need to daily weed out the sin and bad habits through repentance and confession.   Lord, I confess that maintenance is not easy for me, but I know it is essential.  Please help me to develop this discipline in every aspect of my life.  I'll start today by pulling weeds. :-)   Amen.

"Git'er done!"

John 18:10-11   "So Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  The slave's name was Malchus.  Jesus said to him, "Put the sword into the sheath.  The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not drink it?"

Fix it.  It's a "guy thing".  It's in our DNA.  That's how we're wired.  We see a problem.  Okay, let's fix it.  As the good ol' boys say," Let's git'er done!"   

Peter was like that.  He saw a problem.  He had a solution.  Judas had just led the temple guard into the Garden of Olives and they were about to take Jesus away.  Peter's reaction?  Stop them.  Not considering the odds, he unsheathed his sword and began to solve the problem.

Jesus' response to Peter is the same for me when I rush in and try to fix things.  "Stop!  You're going to mess up My plan."  What if Peter's reaction had successfully thwarted the arrest and subsequent crucifixion of Jesus?  I don't even want to think about that!  What Peter saw as a problem was actually a key component of God's plan.

Some problems are "no-brainers".  We encounter a fire.  We put it out.  We see a mugger attacking an older lady.  We stop him.  We see a child in danger.  We rescue him.  Other problems are not quite so cut and dry. 

How can we know when to act and when to wait?  Not an easy answer.  The key is to be in constant communication with God.  Spending time regularly reading and contemplating His Word, listening and talking with Him continually, consciously asking Him for discernment and guidance... this makes us sensitive to the Holy Spirit's direction.  It helps us to sense when to do something and when to get out of the way.

Lord, I don't want to get in the way of Your plan.  Please temper my inclination to fix things with a sensitivity to Your will.  I give myself and my day to You and I will depend on You to guide my response to every situation I encounter.  

Yes or No?...

John 18:27 "Then Peter denied it again, and immediately a cock crowed."

April 20, 1999...Columbine... I, as do many, remember that Tuesday afternoon as though it were yesterday.  I was sitting at my desk at school when my secretary stuck her head through the doorway and told me the news.  Someone had shot a lot of students and teachers at a Colorado high school.

Among the dead was a young woman named Cassie Bernal.  She has become well-known as a martyr, having answered a simple question with a one-word answer in a life-threatening, pressure-filled situation.  "Are you a Christian", the gun-wielding young man asked. Looking into the barrel of his gun, she said, "Yes".  And he pulled the trigger.

Peter, too, found himself in a life-threatening position as he stood in the courtyard of the High Priest on a cold spring night  Warming his hands by the charcoal fire, he was identified as a disciple of Jesus.  Seeing what was happening to Jesus, and fearing for his own life, Peter answered, "No!"

Yes or no.  Two simple words.  One spoken courageously, the other spoken in fear.  One showing faith and hope.  The other revealing doubt and dread.  I often wonder how I would have responded in those situations.  What would the pressure reveal in me?  I like to think I would respond like Cassie did.  I pray that I would say, "Yes!"

While we're not often thrown into life or death choices, we find ourselves daily having opportunities to express or deny our faith in Jesus.  It's how we respond to these "lesser" challenges that prepare us for the "big" ones.

Lord, please help me as I navigate this day to say, "Yes".

One habit I don't want to kick...

John 18:1-2  "When He had finished praying, Jesus left with His disciples and crossed the Kidron valley.  On the other side there was a garden, and He and His disciples went into it.  Now Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place because Jesus had often met there with His disciples."

I am a creature of habit.  I get used to a routine and I tend to stick with it.  I remember when my wife and I were dating, my car would "automatically" make its way to her house at dinner time.  Even today, if we are in the vicinity of that neighborhood, I have to fight the steering wheel to keep from going there!

Jesus was a man of habits also.  He habitually met with His disciples in the Garden of Olives for prayer.  It wasn't coincidence that they ended up there the night Judas betrayed Him.  It wasn't by chance that Judas knew where to find Him. 

In the Old Testament, as a captive in Babylon, Daniel habitually opened His window facing Jerusalem and prayed at the same time every day.  That pattern was what his enemies used to trap him.  They knew his faithfulness.  They could count on Him being there the same time each day.

I love my quiet time with the Word early in the morning.  While it's not always easy to get out of bed, I look forward to sitting in my chair with my Bible and cup of coffee at the start of each day.  Because it is part of my daily routine, my mind and spirit are ready to listen to the Holy Spirit; there's no need to "get in the mood", so to speak.  I need this time; I depend upon it; it sets the tone for the rest of the day.

Like everyone, there are some habits I would like to kick.  This is not one of them!  If someone is after me, there's at least one time of day they'll be able to find me...right here in my study, reading my Bible and sipping a cup of coffee.

Thank you, Lord, that no matter where I am, You are already there, ready to meet with me.  I love it that, just like with Your disciples, You habitually meet with me in my study.  It's my favorite time of the day!

Church and Kickball...

John 17:21, 23 "...that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in me and I am in You... May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me."

A key component in our sin nature, our "flesh", is self-centeredness.  We want things our way.  I see it occasionally on our playground at school.  A kickball  game is well underway, the two teams are intensely engaged in the battle, each playing as though it were game seven of the World Series.  They're working together, cheering each other on.....  until, that is, a controversial play occurs or someone messes up.  Then the yelling starts, accusations fly, tears fall, and the "team spirit" disappears.

How many churches are like that kickball game?  We toil together shoulder to shoulder, focused on our mission, and then an "issue" arises.  Hurtful words are spoken (or posted on Facebook), feelings are wounded and unity gives way to discord.

Unity isn't natural.  It doesn't occur automatically and it isn't maintained without careful attention and dedication.  It is fragile and must be nurtured or it will fall apart, dissolve. 

The world understands this concept.  That's why Jesus linked unity among Believers with the world recognizing and believing in, Him.  It was the focus of His prayer for His disciples and for us.  When Believers, both leaders and followers, put the needs of others ahead of themselves, when we defer instead of insisting on our own way, when we seek and grant forgiveness, when wounded spirits are restored, non-believers notice...and they're drawn to Jesus.

Lord, please help me today to think more of others than of myself.  Help me to have a JOY (Jesus, Others, Yourself) set of priorities.  I desperately want others to see You in me today.  Thank You!

 

Done Deal...

John 16:32  "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take courage!  I have overcome the world."

If you're a sports fan, it's an exciting week to live in Southern California!  All three professional teams are in the playoffs!  This weekend in L.A. has been dubbed, "Sports-aggedon" because of the masses who will head to the Staples Center to root for the Lakers, Clippers, and Kings.  Sports talk shows are filled with those who would predict the outcome.  I could become rich if I knew for certain who would win!!!

As a Believer in Jesus, I am blessed to know the certain outcome of a much larger, much more important contest. .. the battle for the future of this world and all who have ever populated it.  Since the beginning of time, the Enemy (Satan) has waged war, hoping (in vain) for ultimate victory.  Since the beginning of time the outcome has been settled.  Jesus wins!

Though the battle rages on and will intensify as we approach His return, Jesus tells us to be courageous.  The victory is certain.  John tells us in 1 John that the basis for you and me to experience that victory in the midst of turmoil and trouble is our trust in Jesus, our abiding in His Word, and our dependency on the Holy Spirit. (1 Jn 2:14; 4:4; 5:4)

Lord, as I begin this day, I affirm my trust in You and claim the power of Your Spirit.  Let me be bold in the face of whatever the Enemy throws at me; give me peace amid turmoil and joy when I am stressed.  Thank You for the victory!  Amen.

No Camouflage Christians...

John 15:19 "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."  (1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:8-11)

My Granddaughter loves camouflage.  It's cool.  She has "camo" pants, shirts, hats.  She's even talking of having a prom dress made of camouflage fabric! 

For what purpose camouflage? Soldiers wear it to blend in with their surroundings, making it harder for their enemies to spot them.  Without it they would stand out and be easy targets.

When we responded to Christ's call and became one of His; we also chose to become an enemy of the THE ENEMY. There is no alternative, no other option.  One cannot be friends with Jesus and friends with the Devil.  Jesus Himself said it, "No man can serve two masters.  Either He will love the one and hate the other or he will be devoted to one and despise the other..."

Too many of us are trying to be "camouflage Christians".  We try to blend in, to avoid making waves, to steer clear of controversial issues.  We don't want the enemy to spot us; we fear becoming targets.  In so doing, we disappoint and disobey our Commander-in-Chief. 

Let's stand up with Jesus!  Instead of wearing camouflage, let's choose to put on "the armor of Christ" (Eph 6) and stand shoulder to shoulder, ready to engage the Enemy in the power of Jesus Name!

Lord help me to stand with You and for You today. Please give me discernment, wisdom, and boldness as I discard my camouflage garments. I have put on my armor and am ready to do battle wherever and whenever You say  Amen!

Joy...

John 15:11 “These things I have told you so that My joy may abide in you and that your joy might be full.”

I saw joy on Saturday.  Not happiness.  Joy.  Joy in the midst of tears, sadness, separation.  Hundreds of us gathered to remember our friend Trevor and to celebrate his life.  We laughed, cried, prayed, sang, worshiped.  We were immersed in the joy that transcends all other emotions.  

Unlike happiness, joy is independent of circumstances.  It flourishes in times of grief; it is the radiant, brilliant lining of the darkest cloud.  It is a gift from God, produced by His Holy Spirit.  It stems from a deep, settled, peaceful understanding that we are “right” with Him and that He is in control and knows what is best.

I saw joy in the countenance of Trevor’s family.  It was there, clothed in faith and hope.  It is joy that will carry them (and us) through the difficult days ahead.  It is joy that will keep us from being overwhelmed by the waves of grief that will most certainly wash over us as we deal with the separation of death.  It is joy that will keep our focus on Jesus and the certainty of the blessed reunion we will experience when He comes to take us Home.

Joy.  I don’t understand it, but I thank God for it.  I rest in it, rejoice in it, abide in it.

Thank you, Lord!

Glimpsing th invisible....

1 John 4:12 "No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us." As his dad looked on, a little boy was busily drawing a picture of an old man with long hair and a long, grey beard.  When he finished, his dad complimented him on the drawing and asked who it was.  "It's God", his son replied.  "But, no one knows what God looks like", his father objected.  "They do now", the little boy stated matter-of-factly. God, our Heavenly Father, the Creator of all, is essentially spirit and, as such, is invisible.  Scripture is clear in stating that He is unseen.  Yet, John tells us that in us others can see the invisible.  As we consistently demonstrate His love and care toward each other, He lives in and through us, and we provide a glimpse of God to those we encounter. I wonder who people see when they observe me.  Am I getting in the way?  Am I obscuring their view of the Father? Lord, thank You for abiding in me.  Please help me today, by my actions and reactions, to provide others a clear glimpse of You.  Amen.

"Ta ta for now!"

John 14:1-3 "Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.  In My Father's house are many dwelling places.  If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also."

I said goodbye for now to a dear friend this week.  He has moved and he has left a forwarding address.  I don't know the house number, street name, or even the zip code, but I do know the city and the country.  He's enjoying a brand new home in the city of "New Jerusalem" in the country of Heaven.

Trevor Owens, friend to many, fought a valiant nine month battle with cancer.  Early this week, His Saviour, Jesus, gently took him by the hand and led him Home.

Saying goodbye to a loved one is tough.  It stirs up a variety of conflicting emotions.  On the one hand is the pain and sorrow of separation that washes over us like huge ocean waves.  It gradually subsides and diminishes, but never really goes away. On the other hand is the deep, abiding, sustaining joy and peace that come from the sure knowledge that the separation is only temporary; that Trevor is at last fully healed, truly free, and enjoying the intimate fellowship with Jesus for which each of us longs.

I am so thankful to have been numbered among Trevor's friends.  He knew/knows how much I treasured his friendship, but didn't have a clue how much he impacted me.  His positive, "we'll figure it out", enthusiastic attitude was contagious and has helped me to be a better leader.  I learned a lot about integrity from Trevor.  Everything about him stemmed from his deep love of Jesus and his desire to honor and please Him. 

Praise God that "goodbye" isn't permanent; it is really more like Winnie the Pooh's "Ta ta for now".  It's only a temporary separation.  Thank you, Trevor, for a life well lived, a friendship much treasured, and a worthy example to follow.