Finishing in the black...

Romans 4:22-25 "Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,  He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification."

Joan and I are in the process of building a house in southern Utah.  Although we're still in the foundational stages (literally) of this adventure, we have already experienced a slew of emotions.... excitement, frustration, doubt, hope, joy, to name a few.  While there are many stressors in a project like this, one that keeps recurring is the need to watch the "bottom line".

The first step in our journey was to develop a construction budget.  We researched websites, spoke to local homeowners and contractors, conferred with city building officials and determined a basic "per square foot" cost.  With that in mind, we put together a design for our new home.

We've moved forward through all the preliminary phases and have now started the construction process.  I've also started writing checks, and I'm keeping a close watch on my Excel spreadsheet.  My hope and expectation is that by the end of the process, the credits will balance with, or exceed, the debits.  Not knowing the "bottom line" wakes me up at night.  I need to finish "in the black".

In my morning time with God, I've started reading through Romans.  I love Paul's repeated emphasis of salvation by grace through faith.  No matter how hard I try, I can't do enough, be good enough to deserve Heaven.  If my life were to be expressed as a spreadsheet, the debits would far outweigh the credits.  There's no way that the bottom line would qualify me to spend eternity with my Heavenly Father.  And I'm not alone.  Paul echoes the Old Testament writer's words, "There is none who is righteous, no not one..." (Rom 2:10) 

I am so thankful for the truth of Rom 4:22... as with Abraham, God has credited our faith in Jesus (Who He is and What He did for us) as righteousness.  Jesus' words on the cross ("It is finished!") declared it, "sealed the deal", finalized the transaction.  By His death and resurrection, He erased the debits, declared my account "Paid in Full", and guaranteed a positive bottom line on my life's balance sheet.

Dear Lord, words cannot express my gratitude for Your mercy and grace.  I cannot fathom the depth of Your love; it doesn't make sense to me that You would allow Your Son to take my punishment, to suffer in my place.  You know me intimately and   You, above all, know that I don't deserve it.  I love You, I trust You, and my heart's desire is to honor and serve You.  Please work in and through me today.  Use me to bless others as You have blessed me.  Amen.

Winning souls - Whose job is it?

Acts 16:13-14  "And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul."

The year was 1972; the place was Mira Mesa, a newly developed suburb in San Diego.  The Lord had led my wife and me to start a church in this rapidly growing area.  I spent my days knocking on doors, sharing God's Word, inviting people to church.

Those were exciting days, but the more I shared the Gospel, the more discouraged I became.  The people I encountered were nice enough, but most of them politely declined my invitation to receive Christ.  What was I doing wrong?  Why didn't they respond?

During that time Joan and I attended a conference on evangelism at Arrowhead Springs, headquarters for Campus Crusade for Christ.  God used one simple sentence in a message to change our lives.  The speaker was talking about sharing our faith and I'll never forget these words: "Success in witnessing is simply sharing the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God."  

A light bulb flashed in my mind; it was an "ah-hah" moment!  In that instant, the Lord took all the pressure off my shoulders.  He told me that my job was to be a faithful witness.  It was His job to open hearts to the Gospel.  

That was 41 years ago.  Since then I have endeavored to do my part and I have rejoiced to see God do His. It is still frustrating at times to have people reject the Message; it's hard to patiently wait for God to open the hearts of ones I love.  I occasionally struggle with my inclination to "close the sale", but God is faithful to keep reminding me that it's not my job.

Dear Lord, thank You for clarifying my job description.  Thank You for reminding me that You are the only One who can open hearts to Your Word.  Please help me to ready at all time to share Your Gospel with those I encounter.  Give me the sensitivity and boldness I need, and let me trust You for the results.  Amen.

I love it when Your Plan comes together...

Acts 16:6-9    "They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;  and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.  A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."

I love to make plans and I'm pretty good at it.  I love it when my plan comes together, but I get frustrated when things don't go the way I laid them out.  I should know better.  As a teacher, I was accustomed to making detailed lesson plans for the coming week.  They looked great on Monday morning, but by Tuesday afternoon there were lots of "cross-outs", circles, and arrows.  When plans intersect with people, plans change.

It's that way in my walk with God... like Paul on his second missionary journey.  He and Silas had a plan to go back and visit the churches of Asia, encouraging and strengthening the Christians.  They set out from Antioch, itinerary in hand, sure of where they were headed.  Then the Holy Spirit intervened, and their plans went out the window.  God had a bigger plan in mind: to take the Gospel to Europe.

I love Paul's response to God's change in direction.  Like a good teacher, he had a "Plan B".  But God nixed that one, too.  What did Paul do then?  He didn't fret or throw a temper tantrum; he didn't pack up and run home in frustration.  He waited to hear from God, and when The Lord spoke, he immediately swung into action.  God's plan became Paul's plan.

I want to be like that.  I'll never stop being a planner.  It's part of who I am.  I am learning however, that while they organizes my thoughts and give me a sense of direction, my plans must be subject to change.  I'm trying to consciously turn them over to God for a "plan check", asking for His direction and correction.  Like Paul, I am learning that my plans are often short-sighted, that God has something bigger in mind.  

Father, thank You for being so patient with me.  It must frustrate You when I plow ahead with my agenda, despite Your attempts to adjust my course.  Thank You for caring enough to intervene and "close doors" when my plan doesn't line up with Yours.  Lord, please help me today to hear You and respond.  I do love it when Your plan comes together!  Amen.

I love my job!

Luke 18:16 "But Jesus called for them, saying, "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

I'm the principal of a Christian school (K-8) and, like most educators, our jobs can become quite a grind.  I've been around long enough to observe how kids, parents, family structure, discipline, etc. have changed over the years.  Quite frankly, much of the fun has gone out of being an educator.  That's the tired, old part of me talking after a frustrating series of conferences, discipline issues, and phone calls.

Then there are days like today.  This morning I had a 3rd grade visitor to my office.  This young man has a very highly defined, very narrow sense of "fairness".  When something doesn't go his way, or he is called "out" in a game, he reacts inappropriately, to say the least.  That was the case today.  After our session, I sent him, still a bit teary-eyed, back to class, and I asked my secretary to watch him on our security monitors to be sure he made it safely.  Here's what she saw.  Two 7th graders walked past my little friend and then, the larger of the two turned back to check on him.  He approached the little guy, got down on one knee and talked with him.  My secretary couldn't hear the conversation, but from the body language and facial expression, it must have been encouraging.  The brief encounter ended with the two boys bumping knuckles and going their separate ways.  That little vignette nearly brought the two of us to tears.

A little later, on my way to visit a class, I passed the kindergartners at the lunch tables.  As I walked by, a little boy ran after me, anxious to get my attention.  "Guess what, Mr. Brown", this 5-year-old exclaimed excitedly.  "Last night I asked Jesus into my heart!"  Wow!  Two tear-jerkers in one day!!

That's why I do what I do.  I'll let you in on a little secret.  It's not the academics that get me out of bed in the morning.  Yes, academics are important; after all, we're a school.  But the reason I keep coming to the office is much bigger, much more important than that.  We are in the business of building foundations, helping children to have something solid, eternal that will help them make wise decisions as they mature.  We're in the "fruit tree planting" business.  We keep planting and watering seeds of Truth, hoping someday to see the fruit of godly character, growing from an intimate relation with Jesus.

As in any vocation, there are ups and downs, good days and bad days.  It's days like today that remind me why I love my job!

Dear Lord, I am so blessed to be able to share Your truth with children and young adults.  Thank You for days like today when I catch a glimpse of what You are doing in their lives.  Thank You for re-energizing me.  Amen.

Lessons from the Wheelhouse

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

I just returned home from a wonderful week of oceanography/marine biology experiences with our 7th graders.  While crossing the channel from Catalina Island to Long Beach, I had the privilege of taking the helm of our ship, The Wilderness Explorer.  Standing in the wheelhouse, I received instructions on how to safely pilot her towards port.  In front of me were a variety of instruments that informed me where I was and in what direction I was headed.  They also warned me of potential dangers.

So... my job was to focus on the compass and to keep the ship headed on a bearing of 31 degrees.  Sounds easy enough.  Not so.  Although the sea was relatively calm, there was a strong current from the northwest which, along with the winds, kept pushing the ship southeast.  I was constantly adjusting our course, and, unlike a Sea Doo, our ship didn't respond immediately.  She came about gradually and it was easy to over-correct.  I'm sure our wake showed a dramatic zig-zag pattern.

Fortunately for me, there was a GPS that illustrated our position and course.  There was a lever that rotated, showing me the position of the rudder whenever I turned the wheel.  It was important to keep the rudder pointing in the right direction.  There was a radar screen that pictured traffic in the area, and there was a sonar readout that showed the ocean depth.  Positioned right in front of me, in the center of the dashboard, was a large compass.  It was my primary focal point, for it informed me of my heading, and helped me to know which direction to steer when I needed to make a course correction.  In addition to paying close attention to the instruments, I had to continually scan the horizon, watching for approaching traffic.

Piloting a ship is not as easy as I thought it would be.  Fortunately, an experienced helmsman was standing at my shoulder to provide instruction and encouragement.  As I stood at the helm, wheel in hand, I saw a striking parallel to my walk with Jesus.

I am on a voyage to a specific destination: Heaven.   The Bible is both my chart that sets the course, and the compass that informs me of my "heading".  The Holy Spirit is my GPS, my sonar, and the experienced helmsman who stands at my shoulder to direct me.  My fellow Travelers warn me of approaching dangers.

Though the course is set and the vessel is seaworthy, the voyage is not simple.  Keeping the ship on track and avoiding danger is not an easy task.  I am constantly buffeted by winds of doubt and fear, pushed off course by tides of the cares and temptations of this world.  Thank God for His "navigational instruments", the constant reassuring presence of His Helmsman , and the accountability and fellowship of my fellow passengers!  With God's help, I will reach my destination safely.

Dear Lord, I am so thankful that You have not left me to navigate this voyage by myself.  Without You, I would end up crashing on the rocks or capsizing in the waves.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for standing at my shoulder.  I will keep my eyes on the course and listen carefully to your instructions.  What a beautiful day for a voyage!  Amen.

J.O.Y. - the secret to a Mega-Church

Acts 4:32-34     (32) "And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.  (35) And with great ("Mega") power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant ("Mega") grace was upon them all.  (36) For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales..."

I want my church to be a "Mega-Church", full of "Mega-Christians".  Not "Mega" by the world's standard, but "Mega" like the early church.... like what verse 35 describes... full of "mega-power" and "mega-grace".  You can go to any Christian bookstore and find scores of "how to" books that claim the secret of building a successful church, but save your money.... I'll show You God's plan.

I remember learning in Sunday School as a young boy, that the secret to a joyful life was keeping my priorities straight.  Our teacher taught us an acronym for joy: Jesus, Others, Yourself.  He said that if we live each day with those things in the right order, God will fill us with joy and with a sense of His Presence.

When I look carefully at the context in Acts 4, the description of the "mega-church" in verse 35 is sandwiched by J.O.Y.  The Believers had given themselves completely to Jesus and also to each other.  They were truly living out Paul's words in Philippians 2:2-5  "... make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,.."

So, how do I build a "mega-church"?  It starts with me and my priorities.  If I wholeheartedly give myself to the "J.O.Y. Principle", God will work in and through me to impact other people with His grace and mercy.  He will transform them and they, too, will become propagators of J.O.Y.  Before too long, we will resemble the church in Acts 4.

Dear Lord, I fully embrace the concept of J.O.Y.  Please, Holy Spirit, make it a reality in my experience today.  Live through me and let me be an example of Your power and grace.  Help me to be a "Mega-Christian" today.
Amen.

Boldness or Bravado?...

Acts 4:13 "Now as they observed the boldness of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus."

Acts 4:29 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all boldness,"

Acts 4:31 "And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness."

Peter and John had been dragged from the Temple and found themselves in the center of a room, surrounded by a hostile group of Jewish leaders - the same group who had condemned Jesus on the night Peter denied the Savior just a few months earlier.  Why the drastic difference in Peter's response?

This was not the same Peter as the one who routinely seemed to speak before he engaged his brain.  His bravado had been replaced by boldness.  It began on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit baptized, filled him and his fellow disciples, and it became a signature descriptor of his ministry.

I want that!  I want to be so controlled by the Spirit that my words and my actions reveal that I, too, have been with Jesus.  How do I do it?  It's simple, really, but it's not easy.  Simple because all it requires is for me to trust Him and yield my will to His. Difficult because that's not how I function naturally.  My natural tendency would be to go through my day, making decisions with no thought of God.  Yes, I pray to start my day but, as the day progresses, I tend to slip into "auto-pilot".

Fortunately, The Lord also wants me to be controlled by His Spirit, and He doesn't leave me to my own devices.  He has a way of interrupting, of catching my attention and pulling me back on course.  I am so thankful for that!

So, here's my test for today.  The Lord woke me up earlier than usual this morning with a multi-item "to-do" list swirling in my head.  As I groggily typed them into my iPad reminders, He kept adding more tasks to my day.  Now, as I sit in my study, I am going over the "impossible-to-accomplish-in-one-day" accumulation, and I am consciously relinquishing control of each item.  I am asking the Holy Spirit to schedule my tasks to intersect with His "Divine appointments" and to keep my spiritual eyes and ears alert to His leading.  Wow!  I can't wait to get started!

Dear Father, I am really looking forward to what You are going to do in, through, and for me today.  Thank You for transforming today's task list from "daunting" to "do-able"!  Thank You for changing my attitude from "dreading" to "daring".  Please, Lord, reveal Your boldness in me.  I want people to notice that I've been with Jesus this morning.  Amen.

Expect More...

Acts 3:3-6 "When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.  But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, 'Look at us!'  And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.  But Peter said to him, 'I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene--walk!'"

Over the years I have read a few books that have radically impacted my spiritual life.  One of the first was a little volume written by J. B. Phillips, "Your God is Too Small." He helped me realize that I had "compartmentalized" God.  I had tried to squeeze the eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, infinite God into a finite, convenient, comfortable, controllable "box".  How foolish and presumptuous I was.

Similarly, I keep discovering how limited are my expectations of Him.  I'm too much like the lame beggar in Acts 3.  When Peter got his attention, he expected a "handout", a few coins.  Little did he know that God had a much greater gift for him.  God gave him a "hand up"... Instead of a temporary fix, he received a total makeover.

I wonder if my limited expectations of God hinder my enjoyment of Him.  I ponder my prayer life and can't help but think that I have tunnel vision.  I see from my limited perspective what I think I need, what I perceive God to be doing, what I believe He wants from me, and where I sense He's directing my steps.  He obviously sees these same things from a much broader point of view!

I want to see things more from His perspective than from mine.  I don't want to settle for a "few alms" when God has planned so much more.  I want to raise my expectations so that what I expect is more in line with what He has in mind.  I can't do that by myself.  That's a job for the Holy Spirit.  I need to listen carefully to His voice and see with His eyes today.

Dear Lord, You know me inside out.  I know that You have plans for me, both short and long range.  I pray that You will keep my spiritual "bi-focals" clean today so that I will have a clear vision of both the details of today and the broader view of tomorrow.  I don't want to miss anything You have planned for me.  I can't wait to get started!  Amen.

Hopelessly devoted...

Acts 1:14  "These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers."

Acts 2:42 "They were continually devoting themselves to teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Colossians 4:2 "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving..."

Each of us is devoted to something or someone.  As a husband and father, I am devoted to my wife and family.  In the movie, "Grease", Olivia Newton-John's character, Sandy, poured out her heart as she sang "Hopelessly Devoted to You" to the love of her life, Danny.

What is it to be "hopelessly devoted"?  It  means to be so committed to someone or something that nothing can diminish your passion; it is to be single-minded, entirely focused, making it your highest priority, giving it your undivided attention.

That word is used 10 times in the New Testament.  Half of those verses deal with our attitude toward prayer.  It describes Jesus' habit of continual communication with His Father and it pictures the priority of the early Christians.  As I ponder this, I have to ask the question, "Does it describe me.?"

What does "devotion to prayer" look like?  I don't think it means that we have to spend hours at a time on our knees, although sometimes that will happen.  It's more of a constant conversation with God, a continual awareness of His presence, actively listening for His voice, seeking His advice, counsel and direction throughout the day.  That's what Paul meant when he advised us to "pray without ceasing."

That's what I desperately want and need today... and tomorrow... and the next day.

Dear Lord, I am so amazed and thankful that You would want to carry on a conversation with me today.  I don't understand why, but I gladly, wholeheartedly accept your offer.  Please, Holy Spirit, help me to listen carefully, discern Your voice, and follow Your lead throughout this day.  I am hopelessly devoted to You!  Amen.

Oh, what a good boy am I ... or am I?

2 Chronicles 32:22 -25  "So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side. And many were bringing gifts to the LORD at Jerusalem and choice presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter.

"In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill; and he prayed to the LORD, and the LORD spoke to him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud; therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.

"Even in the matter of the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone only to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart."

Hezekiah is described in Scripture as having been one of Judah's godliest kings, a man who, like David, served The Lord wholeheartedly.  As a result, God blessed him beyond measure.  Because Hezekiah was humble of heart, he was the recipient of miraculous intervention by God.  Even though he foolishly sought help by allying himself with Egypt, God rescued Jerusalem by destroying the Assyrian army overnight.  When Hezekiah became mortally ill, God healed him and extended his life by fifteen years.

How did Hezekiah respond to God's miracles?  The king of Babylon heard how The Lord had blessed Hezekiah and sent envoys to learn more about it.  Rather than simply giving God credit, Hezekiah pridefully displayed all of the treasures in his kingdom, thus setting the stage for the coming Babylon invasion.  After being miraculously healed, he didn't even say thank you.

It reminds me of a nursery rhyme I learned as an infant.  "Little Jack Horner sat in a corner eating his Christmas pie.  He stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum, and said, 'Oh what a good boy am I.'"

How many times is it like that with me?  It is so easy for me to take God's blessings for granted and to assume credit for what He has done.  I don't want to be like that.  I need to be like our students on the playground when they hear the supervisor's whistle.  They're trained to "stop, drop, and listen".  I need to do that periodically throughout the day.  Periodically I should hit the "pause button", direct my attention to the Holy Spirit, and thankfully reflect on what God is doing in and around me.

Dear Lord, I confess to You that I too often get so caught up in my goals and busy-ness that I completely ignore You.  When You answer prayers and bring unexpected success, it is easy to receive the credit rather than to direct it towards You.  I pray that You will develop within me a heart of humility and gratitude.  Remind me today to pause and recognize Your hand in the day's events.  I do love You.  Let my attitude, words, and actions demonstrate that today.  Amen.

I can do it myself!...or can I?

2 Chronicles 18:1     "Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and allied himself in marriage with Ahab."

2 Chronicles 19:2    "And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, 'Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate the LORD, and so bring wrath on yourself from the LORD?'
Nevertheless there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land, and you have set your  heart to seek God.  And Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem: and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers."

I remember driving on the 710 Freeway one foggy night in the 1960's with my cousin Johnnie.  The fog was so thick, we could barely see the road, and we became disoriented.  I was sure we were headed north.  As we proceeded ever so cautiously, Johnnie had his head out the window so he could help me navigate.  He was able to make out some of the offramp signs and, according to them, we were headed south, not north.  I was so sure of myself that I argued with him, saying the signs must be wrong.  How foolish!  I finally got off the freeway and drove back in the opposite direction.

It's like that in life sometimes.  King Jehosophat had a heart to serve God, and God blessed him abundantly.  After awhile, Jehosophat became full of himself, "disoriented", and made some poor choices, one of which was to depend upon a military alliance rather than to depend on God.  And, to make matters worse, he allied himself with the most wicked king in history.

After a battle in which God rescued Jehosophat and punished Ahab, a man of God reprimanded the king for his foolishness.  Fortunately, Jehosophat took the confrontation to heart and once again led his people back to The Lord.

Like Jehosophat (and many others in Scripture), I find it easy to take God's provision and protection for granted.  As my sense of dependence and my gratitude wane, a deceptive feeling of self-sufficiency arises.  That's when I get in trouble.  I think I can fix things, handle situations, solve my own problems, chart my own course. And, of course, I can't. That's when God steps in.

How thankful I am that God looks beyond my foolishness and sees my heart.  He knows that I love Him and want to serve Him.  Because of that, He chooses to discipline me rather than to destroy me.  Hebrews 12:3-13 speaks of the process.  God disciplines us "for our good" and as we respond humbly and obediently, it "yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."

Dear Lord, I am so grateful that You see beyond my sometimes foolish choices and reactions, and you look at my heart.  Thank You that You don't allow me to  continue in a wrong direction.  Thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit and for surrounding me with a wife and good friends who help keep me in check.  I do love You with my whole heart.  Please let my words, attitude, and actions reflect it today. I can't do it myself.  I need You!  Amen.

Faith, Obedience, Provision...

1 Kings 17:1  "Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.'"

1 Kings 17:2-4  "The word of the LORD came to him, saying, 'Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.  It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.'"

1 Kings 17:8-9  "Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 'Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.'"

1 Kings 17:13-16 "Then Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son.  For thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.'"  So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days.  The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah."

Matthew 6:33  "Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."

Have you ever been at the end of your rope, your resources exhausted, your hope having nearly faded away?  To say the least, it's a frightening, uncomfortable place to be.  It can also be a place of great blessing and renewed faith.

I was reading about Elijah this morning.  He appears abruptly in 1 Kings 17 and makes a startling proclamation to Ahab, the most degenerate, evil king Israel would ever have.  He proclaimed an impending draught (and subsequent famine) that would last years.  Then he left town.

Over the next few years Elijah's faith was tested to the breaking point;  he became so discouraged that he just wanted to die.  Have you been there?

God's commands sometimes don't make sense.  He told Elijah to go to a stream in the desert where some ravens would bring him food twice a day.  Then, when the stream dried up, he sent him to a poor widow who was about to starve to death, and said she would feed him.  Elijah found the widow preparing her last meal and asked her to feed him first.

Each time, as Elijah, and then the woman, trusted God's word and obeyed, God miraculously provided for them.  In faith they ignored common sense and did what God said to do, and He kept His promise.

Oh, how that encourages me!  Even though I have experienced the truth of these words many times over the years, I need to hear them again.  Every time I encounter a similar situation, it feels like its the first time.  The Enemy tries to get me so focused on the present crisis that I don't remember His faithfulness in times past.  Fortunately, the Holy Spirit gently brings to mind those previous experiences and uses them to strengthen my faith enough to trust my Father today.

Dear Lord, thank You for telling me about people like Elijah and the desperate widow of Zarephath.  Thank You for using them to renew and strengthen my faith.  Please, Holy Spirit, keep reminding me of the Father's faithfulness in my life; keep me ever thankful and trusting.  Help me to follow You today, one step at a time.  Amen

It's a matter of heart...

1 Samuel 16:7  "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Acts 13:22 "After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.'"

1 Kings 15:5 "...because David did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite."

1 Kings 9:4 "As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances..."

Lately I've been spending time in the Old Testament, reading through Samuel, Kings and Chronicles.  In all six of those books, one name stands out among all others... David.  The second of Israel's kings, he is the standard against which all who follow are measured.  They either walked in the way of David or they didn't.

What was it about David that set him apart, that caused God to esteem him so highly?  It was his heart.  From his youth through his old age, David loved God wholeheartedly.  His heart revealed humility, dependence, and trust; it produced obedience, courage, and faithfulness.

I was encouraged by the description in 1 Kings 15:5 where David's life was summed up as one of integrity of heart, uprightness, and consistent obedience.  The only sin mentioned was his murder of Uriah.  But that wasn't David's only misstep.  As I read about his reign, there are numerous times when he doesn't get it right, when he acts presumptuously and is disciplined by The Lord. Yet, in his description of David, God seems to overlook them.

What was it about David's heart that set him apart from all others?  I believe it was tenderness.  Yes, David sinned.  But when his sin was revealed, he was heart-broken and repentant.  Just read Psalm 51 and you'll see.  It was that tenderness and transparency before God that kept David's relationship with Him strong and vibrant.

How that encourages me!  David's life is a living testimony to the truth of 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

When The Lord summarizes my life, I hope He will say that I walked in the way of David, in integrity of heart and uprightness.  It's all a matter of heart!

Lord, I am so grateful that you have given me a new heart, one whose sole purpose is to honor You.  Please, Holy Spirit, protect my heart today from anything that would distract me from that goal.  Help me to listen carefully for Your voice, to discern it from all of the others that vie for my attention.  I want to be a "man after God's heart."  Amen.

I know, but...

1 John 5:20  "And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.  Little children, guard yourselves from idols."

1 Thessalonians 1:9  "... you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God..."

Proverbs 4:23  "Guard your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life."

John uses the phrase, "we know..." quite often in his Epistle.  In this verse he uses three different words that give different shades of meaning to the concept of "knowing".  The first ("we know that the Son of God has come") carries the sense of acquiring information; it has the idea of certainty, of conviction.  The second word ("understanding") literally means "thinking through", and speaks of how the pieces of information (knowledge) relate or fit together.  The third word ("that we may know Him") has to do with relationship, the idea of getting to know someone.  It has a sense of progression; of a deepening intimacy through personal experience.

All three words together describe a Believer's life of faith.  We have come to a settled conviction regarding the Gospel Message.  The Message rings true, makes sense, as the Holy Spirit helps us think through the various aspects of Gospel Truth.  This conviction and understanding lead us into a relationship with Jesus and, as we walk in faith and obedience, we get to know him better every day.

John describes our relationship with our Lord eloquently, but then he concludes his letter with a caution that troubles me.  He warns us to guard ourselves from idols.  How could I, knowing, understanding, and experiencing the Grace of God, turn away to an idol?

The Holy Spirit knows me all too well.  He knows my inclinations, my weaknesses, my vulnerabilities.  And He is not the only one with that knowledge.  Satan sees them too, and he is constantly seeking opportunities to distract my attention, to turn me towards other things.  Anything that turns me from God, that shifts my focus and pulls my allegiance away  becomes an idol.

An idol can be a person, a passion, a position, a problem, or a possession.  It can vary from person to person and from one stage of life to another.  The point John makes is that idols are all around us, vying for our attention.  Resisting them requires vigilance.  It takes me back to Moses' charge to his successor, Joshua: "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." (Joshua 1:8)

Dear Father, thank You for living in me through the Holy Spirit.  Thank You for His promptings, warnings, and encouragement.  Please help me to keep alert today, that I might recognize the enemy's ploys.  I want my focus to be fixed on You and Your will for me.  I want to know You more!  Amen.

Speak up!

Acts 4:8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of the people..."    13... Now as they observed the boldness of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.

Acts 4:29 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all boldness"... 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness....

Acts 28: 31  Paul was preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unhindered.

Ephesians 3: 12 in whom (Jesus) we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

Ephesians 6:19-20.  And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Philippians 1:20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Hebrews 4: 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence (boldness) to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 10: 35 Therefore, do not throw away your boldness, which has a great reward.

1 John 2:28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have boldness and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

1 John 3:21 -22 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

1 John 4:17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.

1 John 5:14  This is the boldness which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Let me introduce you to Chris.  Chris was a 2nd grader who, like many boys his age, had difficulty with self-control.  For awhile he was a frequent visitor to my office, usually after a playground scuffle.  He would shuffle in, head down, his eyes averted from mine, and he would respond to my questions with a timid, barely audible mumble.  I always had to tell him to speak up.  One Friday  (Chris having been sent to my office five times that week) I left for lunch, telling Him that I didn't want to see him in the office again unless it was good news.  Upon my return, there was Chris.  He was seated on the office bench with another little boy.  I walked past them and, when I reached my office door, I turned and asked, "Tell me Chris, is it good news or bad news?"  He looked up, his face brightened, his smile beamed, he pointed to the other boy and boldly, cheerfully proclaimed, "It's good news, Mr. Brown!  It's him!"  Chris was there as a witness instead of the perpetrator and it made all the difference in his demeanor.  No need to remind him to speak up.

Boldness, confidence, the ability to speak freely.  The New Testament writers use that word 33 times.  It describes Jesus as He interacted with His enemies.  We're told that it should describe how we share the Good News with others and how we approach our Heavenly Father, both in prayer and when we stand before Him face-to-face "on the other side."

Unfortunately that word doesn't consistently describe me in either situation.  So, what makes the difference?  Why do I sometimes mumble like Chris-in-trouble and other times speak boldly?  According to Scripture, it has to do with my being controlled by the Holy Spirit.  When I purposefully begin my day in prayer, conversing with my Father, asking for His guidance, yielding my will to His, the Holy Spirit responds by transforming timidness into confidence, fear into boldness.  That is when others notice, as with Peter and John, that I have been with Jesus.

Dear Lord, I want to speak up for You today.  I know that's Your plan, so I confidently ask You for boldness as I interact with those whom You lead  across my path.  Holy Spirit, please guide my conversations so others can see Jesus in me. Thank You! Amen.

Overcoming... Simple, but not Easy

1 John 5:4 - 5. "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

"Easy to assemble". "No tools required". "Assemble in minutes!"  I tremble with frustration whenever I read those words.  I remember the hours it took to assemble a Christmas toy for my children.  The step-by-step instructions were simple, but following them wasn't easy!

I sometimes find myself feeling that way regarding my walk with Jesus.  The message is simple.  All I need to do is believe Who He is and What He has done on my behalf.  That makes me an "Overcomer".  It opens the door to all of those glorious promises John referred to in the Book of Revelation.  It assures my place in Heaven with my Savior (1 John 5:13).  Simple.

Believe in Jesus and receive eternal life.  How hard can that be?!!  It's all wrapped up in the word "believe". That simple concept involves every aspect of my life.  It's not merely intellectually assenting to the truth of a statement.  The word implies complete, total trust in the Person of Jesus.  It means turning over the control of my life - my hopes, ambitions, desires, decisions, lifestyle... everything - to Him.  That's not so easy!

There is a constant power struggle raging in my soul.  Although I long ago relinquished control of my life to the Holy Spirit, my self-will still tries to wrest it from Him.  It is usually not a conscious decision on my part.
I simply move forward with my daily plans, forgetting to "check in" with Him.  Sometimes He tries to get my attention and I ignore Him.

So, how can I be an Overcomer today?  How can I consistently live out my faith over the next 18 hours?  It's simple.  Really!  I just do what I'm doing right now.  Start the day with Him.  Read, think about, meditate on the Word of God. Open my calendar and consciously turn it over to Him, asking the Holy Spirit to make me sensitive to unwritten appointments He may have scheduled.  Beginning my day on my knees helps me to walk the path Jesus has already marked for me.  Simple, but not so easy.

Thank You, Jesus, not only for what You have done for me, but for what You promise to do today.  Thank You, Holy Spirit for Your promptings, Your guidance.  Please help me to listen well and check in with You often.  I can't wait to get started!  Amen.

Overcomers...(Part 1)

1 John 5:4-5 "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

1 John 4:4 "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."

“Overcome"... A powerful word, an emotional word, a hopeful word, an encouraging word.  Embedded within its DNA is danger, threat, conflict, suffering, loss, struggle, victory.  It is associated with disaster, disease, distressing environments, desperate conflicts.  It invokes visions of courage, strength, determination, perseverance, resiliency.

The Apostle John uses the word throughout his writing to describe Christians.  He applies that moniker to you and me!  Although I love the idea of being a victor, I really don't relish the requisite conflict.  Nonetheless, God (through John) tells me conflict is unavoidable.  Aligning myself with Jesus sets me in direct opposition to Satan and the society under his control.  Like it or not, we are at war, a war that will last a lifetime.

The bad news is that with war comes suffering and loss.  The great news is that ultimate victory is a sure thing! The key to being an overcomer is trusting Jesus completely, every day, in every aspect of my life.  He is the Commander-in-Chief.

Not until this morning did I connect Johns words in his Gospel and Epistle with what he wrote in the book of Revelation. Here John describes the rewards that will come to Overcomers, and for some reason I did not identify myself with them.  As I look at these promises with fresh eyes today, I am blown away by what I read.  I can hardly wait to delve more deeply!

Revelation 2:7 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'

Revelation 2:11 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'

Revelation 2:17 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'

Revelation 2:26-28 'He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. (cf. Rev 22:16)

Revelation 3:5 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Revelation 3:12 'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.

Revelation 3:21 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Revelation 21:7 "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

Dear Father, THANK YOU, not only for these awesome promises, but also for the sure victory that comes through trusting Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.  I am overwhelmed by Your mercy and grace.  I trust You to overcome through me today. Amen.