On Your Way Home...

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Friday, February 26, 2015 

Today's Title: On Your Way Home… 

Today's Scripture: Matthew 28:19

Warm, sunny, summer afternoons were perfect for riding a bike.  This was one of my favorite past times in the off-season from school and I spent hours riding around with my brother, my friends, or just by myself.  Since our town was small and relatively safe, I was free to explore all its different areas and visit with friends and acquaintances. Sometimes I would leave in the morning and spend the entire day on my bike, returning home only for lunch, dinner, and bedtime.

We lived on Main Street and my jaunts usually took me toward town.  I would ride my bike up Main Street, passing Cone Street (named for my paternal grandfather), Depot Street, Pink Street, Jacob Street, Oak Street (where I would eventually buy a home), Mountain Street, Mulberry Street, and making a left turn onto Elm Street.  My rides usually took me in this direction because my mom’s parents lived at the end of this street. Their home was the next-to-the-last house on the left.

Elm Street was (and still is) a beautiful street lined with huge trees, nice houses, sprawling yards, and very little traffic.  On my way to my grandparents’ house, I crossed over Academy Street, Carroll Street, Ballard Street, and Old Post Road.  The last stop was grandmother’s house where a cold drink and plenty of cookies, ice cream, and candy were just waiting to be eaten.  I always loved going to grandmother’s and spent quite a bit of my free time there just visiting, talking, and being with my grandparents.

It wasn't uncommon for my mom to call me while I was visiting my grandparents and tell me to pick up a few things at the grocery store on my way home.  I made sure I left in plenty of time and stopped in to pick up the items she needed for dinner.  The grocery store was on the way home so I didn't have to exert any special effort or alter my route.  Stopping by the store, while requiring a little of my time, did not affect my destination and it didn't cramp my style. It was just part of the trip home.

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus makes the following statement, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” This is a very famous passage of scripture and is usually referred to as the Great Commission. Most of the time we view this passage as Christ’s command to do foreign missions, citing his directive to take the gospel “into all the world.”  But there is also another application, one that is closer to home and one that applies to every believer and follower of Christ.

One possible rendering of the Greek in this passage could be “As you are going…”  Now let’s stop and think about that.  What exactly does that mean to me and to you today?  Simply this, we are to take the good news of Jesus Christ with us everywhere we go.  As we are going to work, Christ should be with us.  As we are going to school, Christ should be with us.  As we are going to lunch, Christ should be with us. As we are going to these places, we are to make disciples.  In other words, we are to teach others what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

That makes it a little more personal doesn't it? Jesus didn't say to make disciples while we were on our way to Borneo or to the outer reaches of Mongolia, did he?  No!  He said for us to make disciples while we are on our way to the office or simply to the grocery store.  We will meet people everywhere we go who need to know Jesus Christ and we will teach them about our savior by our words, actions, and thoughts whether we want to or not. This means the way we live becomes the message of what we believe about Christ!

The Great Commission of Christ is given to all of us, whether we are going to the far reaches of the globe or riding our bike to the grocery store on Main Street.  Where are you going today and what message will you send to the people you meet along the way?  Are you stopping along life’s path, picking things up on your way home?  Think about it today?

Just Five More Minutes!

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Thursday, February 26, 2015

Today's Title: Just Five More Minutes!

Today's Scripture: Proverbs 24:33-34  

The noise of the alarm clock at 5:00 in the morning is anything but a welcoming sound.  Just a few seconds on this side of the alarm, everything is peaceful, quiet, ordered and serene.  I am not aware of the world outside.  I’m not even aware of the fact that my eyes are closed and my mind registers absolutely nothing.  All is blank, all is calm, and all is just as it should be. Then it happens!  Out of nowhere a piercing, screaming, sound shatters the silence. On the other side of the alarm, there is chaos, noise, confusion, and regret! Yes, I said regret because every time the thing goes off I regret having purchased my alarm clock! 

This particular morning was no exception.  The alarm kept its appointed rounds, waking me at precisely five o’clock.  Only this time, I hit the off button, thinking I’d catch just five more minutes of sleep and serenity before facing the day ahead.  Boy was I wrong!  The next sound I heard was the clock in the den chiming out six bells!  Those five minutes had turned into sixty and I now found myself racing against the clock, steaming full speed into the day ahead.  If I had just gotten out of bed when that alarm clock rang, all would have been different.  However, I chose to remain in bed and now it was time to play “Make Up Those Minutes.”  I am a frequent contestant on this show but I never win any more minutes, I just lose more in the end!

Now, all of us have been in my situation.  In fact, I would venture to say that every morning, more than a few of us go through the exact same battle with our alarm clocks.  Our intentions are good but we just can’t quite put them into action.  We have every intention of jumping out of bed at the first chime of the alarm and starting our day in grand fashion.  The reality, however, is that we find that snooze button or the off switch, hoping to grab just five more minutes of sleep.  Those five minutes invariably turn into fifteen, thirty, or sixty and we spend the rest of the day in an attempt to make up for lost time!

Our spiritual lives are no different.  In fact, they are sometimes worse!  We fully intend to spend time in God’s word.  We aim to spend time in prayer, talking to God about His plan for the day ahead, seeking His will and His guidance for all the situations we face in life.  But something invariably happens!  Our spiritual alarm clock goes off and we opt for just five more minutes of whatever we are doing. The result is that those five minutes always get away from us.  Before we know it, the entire day has passed by and we’ve taken no time to spend with our Heavenly Father.

There is a sobering reminder for us in Proverbs 24:33-34.  Solomon reminds us, “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.  Solomon is not saying that sleep is wrong and he is definitely not against Sunday afternoon naps!  But there is great truth in this proverb.  There are always consequences that accompany our decisions and our actions.

The resulting condition from resting too much and sleeping too much is poverty.  While it is true that not working will definitely result in having no money, no job, and mounds of unpaid bills, there are other ways to be poverty-stricken.  I believe there is also a good spiritual application of this passage as well.  When we fold our hands, when we decide to put off God’s work until a later time, when we spend five more minutes in another activity rather than spending it with God, we become spiritually poor.  Our relationship with God suffers and we find it difficult, if not impossible, to enjoy the rich benefits of a daily walk with Him.

So, did you jump right out of bed this morning when the alarm rang or did you opt for just five more minutes?  Did you ease yourself into the morning or are you still trying to regain the time you lost after you rolled back over for a few more winks?  If you’re like me, and I feel sorry for you if you are, you find yourself constantly chasing those five minutes throughout the entire day!  At some point today, however, your spiritual alarm clock will go off, reminding you to spend some time with God.  When it sounds, get up from whatever you are doing and talk with God.  It doesn't matter where you are, stop, get up, and get alone with Him.  The worst thing you could do would be to ignore that alarm for just five more minutes! Have a good day!

I'm Scared!

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Today's Title: I’m Scared!

Today's Scripture: 2 Kings 6:16

Dear Tidbitters,

The voice was very soft, but even in a deep, sound sleep I could hear someone calling my name.  Just then I felt a hand on my shoulder, shaking me awake and that same soft voice called my name again.  I woke up and saw my little sister, Heather, standing beside my bed.  I quickly glanced at the clock and noticed it was 3:00 a.m., far too early for this kid, or anybody for that matter, to be awake.

 

I asked Heather if she were sick, and she said no.  I asked her if she were cold, and she said no.  Then I asked the million dollar question.  I wanted to know if she were scared and she said yes. She had had a bad dream and decided she would be safer with me. So, she got out of bed, came to my room, walked over to my bed, and woke me up.  She wanted to know if I would lie down with her while she went back to sleep.  Although I was barely awake myself, there was no way I was going to send this little girl back to her bed to face alone all those things that go bump in the night.

I threw back the covers, took her by the hand, got her something to drink from the kitchen, went to her room and lay on her bed while she went to sleep.  It didn't take long until she was in a deep, sound sleep, curled up against me.  I listened to her breathe as she lay there sleeping.  She was completely relaxed, secure in the knowledge that her big brother would keep anything from harming her during the night.  With me there, she didn't worry about anything at all; she slept through the rest of the night.

All of us have been in Heather’s place at one time or another.  During the darkest part of the night, we have a bad dream, the phone rings unexpectedly, or we hear something that calls us to immediate attention, nerves on edge, with a thousand thoughts racing through our heads.  We can’t go back to sleep and it seems that every shadow and every noise indicates something is lurking in the darkness, waiting to take us hostage.  We have an overwhelming sense that we are surrounded and that there is no way out.

This was exactly the feeling experienced by Elisha’s servant.  The King of Aram was at war with Israel and Elisha (referred to as the man of God), through divine guidance, informed Israel’s king of all the places where Aram’s king was planning to ambush him.  The King of Aram was frustrated and sent soldiers to find and capture Elisha.  The prophet was in the city of Dothan and during the night soldiers from Aram surrounded it.

The next morning, Elisha’s servant went out and saw all those soldiers and chariots.  I imagine he pinched himself and found out he was awake. This was no dream, it was a waking nightmare!  The man told Elisha about the soldiers.  Essentially, he told the prophet he was scared, that he didn't know what to do, and could Elisha do something about it.

Elisha opened his mouth and said, “Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  (2 Kings 2:16) This man probably thought Elisha was nuts!!  All he saw were those soldiers surrounding the city.  He saw no allies, he saw no cavalry rushing to his assistance, and there was seemingly no one to help.  Where did Elisha get this idea that an army was ready to take up arms and fight on their behalf?

That’s when Elisha prayed and asked God to open the young man’s eyes.  God answered Elisha’s prayer and the young man saw Aram’s army completely surrounded by horses and chariots of fire.  Elisha knew that God was his protection in all the circumstances of life.  He knew that God always takes care of His own, especially during the dark moments of life.  When his immediate circumstances looked hopeless, the hills all around him were filled with the mighty hosts of heaven.

Today, I want you to take encouragement from Elisha’s response.  It may be you are going through a very difficult time.  It may be that all around you seems hopeless and lost or you may feel you are completely surrounded with no one to help.  Like my sister, you are afraid of things lurking in the dark and don’t know if you can have peace.  Rest assured; you can!  At moments like this, we need to call on God’s name and ask Him to help us.  We need to let Him take us by the hand and provide comfort and shelter in times of trouble. 

When He comes along side us, we are at peace because nothing can harm us as long as we are in His presence.  God’s provision, His faithfulness, and His watchful eye are the same for us today as they were for Elisha.  There is no situation too desperate or too threatening for our God.  He is always in full control and, even when we don’t see evidence of His presence, He is there.  The hills around you are completely filled with God’s protection.  Walk confidently with Him along the pathway of life today.  You won’t have to be scared ever again.

            

Up And Down And All Around

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Today's Title: Up And Down And All Around   

Today's Scripture: Mark 12:28-31     

Dear Tidbitters,

One evening I was reminded just how dependent we are on elevators.  My office at the university was in the basement of our building.  The main office and many of our classrooms are were the second and third floors.  To gain access to any of these, I would walk down the hall and join the long line of people waiting for the elevator to arrive and whisk us to any floor of our choosing.  The elevator usually took its own precious time.  This was especially true when I was in a hurry and needed to get to a classroom or the restroom!  The elevator provided an invaluable service but I definitely had to put myself on its schedule!  Rarely, if ever, did it put itself on mine!

When the elevator finally arrived and the magical doors opened, I stepped inside and pushed the button for the second floor.  The doors slid shut and the elevator began its upward ascent, carrying me to the second floor so I could make photocopies, visit with the secretaries in the main office, and check my mailbox.  While locked in the elevator, I came to the realization that my movement was taking place in only one direction.  The elevator could only transport me vertically; any horizontal movement had to be done on my own.  The elevator could take me to the correct level but it could not take me around the building or down the hall.  For that, I had to walk through the building and from side to side.  But one thing was sure: without the vertical motion, the horizontal motion wouldn't have been possible.

Jesus found himself presenting the same truth to a teacher of Jewish law.  The teacher had asked a very important question and eagerly awaited Jesus’ response.  The teacher wanted to know Jesus’ opinion of the most important law on the books.  This was not the only time this question was put to Jesus and it was not the only time he gave the same correct answer.  Let’s take a look at Mark 12:28-31 to see the exchange between the teacher and the master, notice the profound difference in the titles!

“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. ‘There is no commandment greater than these."

Please notice that Jesus’ answer contains both vertical and horizontal movement.  The command to love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength was the greatest commandment.  God wants and expects nothing less than for his people to love Him completely, with every fiber of their beings. But Jesus does not stop here.  After securing the importance of the horizontal relationship between us and God, he ventures forth on the horizontal plane.  Jesus continues by requiring us to develop the horizontal relationship with those around us, those people who Jesus identifies as our neighbors.  So not only is it necessary to have a right relationship with God (vertical) it is also required of us to have a right relationship with those around us (horizontal).  Jesus concludes by stating that there are no greater commandments than these two.

The next time you have the opportunity to take the elevator, think about the application of its motion to your spiritual life.  The up and down relationship we have with God (vertical) is essential.  We must spend time locked inside this relationship so that our lives reach the level of spiritual maturity God intends for us.  He invites us to rise from the basement of our relationship with Him to the top floor, growing and maturing as we ascend.  But God also expects us to get out of the spiritual elevator and minister to those around us (horizontal). 

We are to love our neighbors, those around us, with the same love we have for ourselves.  We have a responsibility to those around us to share the good news of Jesus Christ and to minister to their needs.  God expects us to spend our lives on both the vertical and horizontal planes.  However, we must keep these actions in the proper order.  Vertical relationship, the one between us and God, is the most important.  Without the vertical relationship, the horizontal relationship, the one between us and our neighbors, isn't possible.  Listen carefully as you enter the elevator and you just might hear God whisper to you, “What floor please?”  Are you ready to leave the elevator and love your neighbor today?

False Advertisement?

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Monday, February 23, 2015

Today's Title: False Advertisement?   

Today's Scripture: Galatians 2:14 

Like most people these days, I have a collection of musical CD’s.  My tastes in music are varied, ranging from classical to James Taylor to easy listening piano selections by Jim Brickman. I love listening to my collection and find it very entertaining and relaxing to peruse my CD’s and select a series of albums to listen to while I work around the house, study, or write.

Selecting a CD is easy. I simply thumb through the different discs, looking at the pictures in the front of the case as I make my decision.  I know what songs are on each CD and depending on my mood; I either select a CD or go right past it.  This system usually works flawlessly but, as I found out a few days ago, the CD cases can’t always be trusted.

I was in the mood for a particular kind of music, something upbeat and snappy that would spurn me on as I cleaned.  After thumbing through two rows of CD’s, I finally came upon one that exactly fit the moment.  I opened the case, inserted the CD into the player, hit the play button, and got ready for some “cleaning-the-house-like-you-love-it” music!  I had the cleaning supplies all laid out and I was ready for that first note to provide the necessary mood for the task ahead. 

The very first note I heard, however, was not what I expected.  The music was more like a funeral dirge than a “grab-that-vacuum cleaner-and-go-like-mad” kind of song.  I just stood there dumbfounded, not believing what I was hearing.  I stopped the CD player, ejected the disk and compared it to the tile found on the case.  The CD was something completely different than the advertised artist.  I located its case and, sure enough, the CD I was searching for was inside.  I had switched them at some point and didn't realize it until I placed the CD into the player.  The player read the information on the CD and reveled what was written on it even though it contradicted the cover.

There is a story in the New Testament that goes right along with my experience today.  It involves a conversation between Paul and Peter during Peter’s visit to Antioch. Let’s take a look at Paul’s comments about Peter and this occasion where what was advertised on the cover didn't match up with what was on the inside.

Galatians 2:14 gives us a brief overview of this conversation:  “When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?” At first, it’s difficult to understand what Paul’s meaning is here.  A little background would help, wouldn't it?

The believers in the Galatian churches were under intense pressure to conform to the law and customs of the Jews.  Since the first converts were Jewish, some of them insisted that the Law of Moses had to be followed in addition to faith in Christ.  Paul was very much against this notion and said so throughout his writings. 

Paul’s difficulty with Peter stemmed from the fact that Peter was being inconsistent.  While in Antioch, he ate with the Gentiles and acted as they did. But as soon as a delegation arrived from Jerusalem, Peter changed his tune.  He distanced himself from the Gentiles and reverted to Jewish customs and ritual.  Paul would have none of this so he confronted him.

Peter’s actions did not line up with the truth of the Gospel.  What he portrayed on the outside was not compatible with the truth that lived inside him.  When Paul saw it, he was dumbfounded and immediately wanted to compare Peter’s life with what Paul knew to be the truth.  Peter’s life did not give forth the witness that Paul was expecting. Essentially, Peter was practicing false advertisement; and he was doing so willingly.

This should lead us to examine our own lives today.  When we are placed into many of life’s situations, does the music we produce line up with what we claim to know about Jesus Christ.  Does the cover advertising our claim to be Christians measure up when we are put to the test?  Are we giving those around us cause to enjoy and consider the gospel of Jesus Christ or do they stand dumbfounded, mouths agape because what they see and hear from us doesn't match what we claim to be?  Does the music of our lives match the cover art we show to the world? Are we practicing false advertisement today?

            

Covered Parking

 Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Friday, February 20, 2015

Today's Title: Covered Parking 

Today's Scripture: Psalm 91:1-2

Searching for an apartment complex in which to live proved to be both an enjoyable and a somewhat daunting task.  After spending five years in the men’s’ dorm at Southwestern Seminary, I was ready to have a place of my own with just a little more room to maneuver than my existing arrangement.  I began flipping through the newspapers, real estate magazines, and catalogs just to see what the area offered.  I got in my car and drover around town trying to decide what areas I liked and disliked.

Finally, I settled on an area of town and I began earnestly looking for apartments that had the features I desired within the price range I could afford.  Someone told me about several sites on the Internet that would prove beneficial so I began surfing the web, searching for that perfect apartment.  After several weeks of looking through ads, visiting apartment complexes, and listening to several PR pitches, I came across the complex where I currently live.

The location was perfect, the apartment had all the things I was searching for and the price was right on target.  In addition to all the things I was looking for in a home, the complex had one other feature which really peaked my interest.  Over 95% of the parking spaces in the complex were covered and the price of this parking was included in my monthly rent.  Most other complexes provided covered parking at an additional charge but this complex didn't charge extra for it and that was the deciding factor.

Now, I didn't have to worry about my car during bad weather.  The hailstorms here in Fort Worth did no damage to my car. In fact, no hail hit the car because it was safely parked underneath the shelter.  In bad weather, the car was safe. When it rained, the car didn't get wet. When it was windy, there was very little danger of something falling and hitting my car, and during the summer months the car remained cool because the sun’s rays didn't penetrate the covered area.  As long as the car remained underneath the shelter, it was safe and protected.  This was a great comfort to me and gave me one less thing to worry about.

Did you know that the Bible speaks very clearly about God providing shelter for those who trust Him?  In fact, the Scriptures state categorically that God, Himself, serves to shelter all those who know Him as their Heavenly Father and who have placed their hope and their trust in Him.  Psalm 91:1-2 reminds us of this wonderful truth, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Notice the words the psalmist uses to describe God.  His is a shelter, He is a shadow, He is a refuge, and He is a fortress.  The shelter and the shadow provide rest and safety from the elements of heat, wind, rain, and snow.  To hide or rest in a shadow means that you are hiding or resting in the shadow of something that is bigger and stronger than you are.  Not only is there rest in the shadow, there is also peace and contentment.

But God is also a refuge and a fortress.  The refuge is a place you go to escape your enemies and in the Christian life we have our share.  The enemies of doubt, fear, worry, anxiety, as well as all forms of temptation and harm have no power over those who take refuge in the Lord.  Moreover, God is a fortress, an impenetrable stronghold that safely and securely protects all those who place their trust in Him. There is, however, a part that we play in this relationship.  If we are to enjoy the peace and cool of the shadow, if we are to escape from our enemies and experience the safety of the refuge and the fortress, we must put ourselves in God’s hands. 

The psalmist says that only “he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High” can experience these things.  Dwelling means staying put, setting down roots, to make a permanent residence.  What a wonderful image for us and what a powerful lesson.  When we take God seriously, when we make Him our dwelling place, when we let Him become our protection, our provision, and our sustenance, then we will enjoy all the benefits of covered parking.  Is your life safely and securely parked under the covered parking of God’s protective mercy and grace?  

Constantly On The Move

 Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2015

Today's Title: Constantly On The Move

Today's Scripture: 2 Chronicles 27:6

Every evening when the lights are out and all is quiet, I lie in my bed listening to the sound of the ticking clock that hangs on the wall in my living room.  All through the day and night, this vigilant sentinel keeps watch over my home, faithfully marking the passing hours.  While the pendulum swings back and forth, the hands move around the clock, marching through the hours with a determined and steady cadence.  This dance of time occurs whether I am present or not.  The clock continually fulfills its purpose, no matter what!

Clocks have always been a part of my life.  Our house was filled with them because my dad loved, and still loves, listening to a ticking clock.  What continues to amaze me is the precision with which these wonderful instruments work.  The most important part of the clock is the pendulum because without its faithful back and forth motion, the clock would not function.  As the pendulum swings through space, it causes the hands of the clock to move around the dial at a steady pace.  Each swing of the pendulum results in the forward motion of the hands as they mark the passing seconds, minutes, and hours.

The real secret of the clock lies in the fact that its parts are constantly on the move.  The visible motion of the hands and pendulum belie the intricate dance of the clock’s wheels, springs, and gears.  Yet the very fact that the hands move with such devotion indicates that the steadfast march of time moves forward from one passing moment to the next.

The Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles reveals the importance of being constantly on the move in God’s service.  2 Chronicles 27:6 is a brief passage about a man named Jotham, King of Judah, who walked in a manner pleasing to God.  “Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God.”  But who was this Jotham and what do we know about him?

Jotham’s name appears 28 times in the Old Testament.  His father was King Uzziah who had leprosy.  Uzziah could not enter the Temple and he lived in a separate house, relieved of his responsibilities.  Jotham represented the people and ruled for his father.  When his father died, Jotham became King of Judah.  He rebuilt the Upper Gate of the Lord’s Temple.  He was 25 when he became king and he reigned for 16 years.  He conquered the Ammonites and they paid a tribute to him for 3 years.

But what we know historically about Jotham does not compare to our scripture passage today.  Notice that there is a direct correlation between Jotham’s power and his walk before God.  In the Old Testament, walking before the Lord meant to please Him on a consistent basis.  Like a clock’s pendulum swinging back and forth, walking also requires constant movement, placing one foot in front of the other. The goal of walking is to move forward, to go from one place to another in a methodical and determined pattern.  Walking before God is a commentary on a person’s life and Jotham’s life was pleasing to God.  We know this because the Scriptures also say that Jotham increased in power and that his walk was steadfast.

This is always true of a man or woman today who walks with God.  The word steadfastly means determined, continually, and consistently.  God wants us to walk with Him on a daily basis, always looking to Him for all our needs, always communicating with Him in every situation, and always walking forward with Him as we mature in our faith.  When we walk with God in this fashion, we find that our spiritual lives become more powerful, that our relationship with God grows ever deeper, and that our faith and trust in Him grow ever stronger.

What do the hands of your spiritual clock tell you about your walk with God today?  Is your pendulum swinging, marking out a constant rhythm, making the spiritual gears of your life turn?  Are the hands of your spiritual clock indicating that you are moving forward, growing and maturing in your walk with God?  Or do the pendulum and the hands show no movement, showing that your forward momentum and your walk with God have stopped?  If this is the case, don’t rest until you talk with God and have your clock rewound.  Remember, in order to please God, you must spend time with Him.  Are you constantly on the move today?

You Sound Just Like Your Dad

 Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Today's Title: You Sound Just Like Your Dad

Today's Scripture:  Matthew 10:24-25

 “Hello.  No, this is Blake.  May I help you?” 

            “Blake, you sound just like your dad on the phone….”

This conversation takes place on numerous occasions when I am visiting my parents in North Carolina, usually for one of the holidays.  So many people call our house looking for my dad that naturally they just expect him to answer the phone.  What a surprise they get when they realize that it’s someone else on the other end of the line.

Sometimes, I have been engaged in a whole conversation before I could stop the other person to convince them I wasn't my dad.  To the person, everyone says we sound alike on the phone.  Personally, I don’t get it.  My dad and I sound nothing alike.  Our voices are different, our mannerisms are different, and our personalities, while similar, are not exactly alike.

However, there are some indisputable facts about the relationship I have with my dad.  I belong to him even though I am now 49 years old.  I am his biologically and genetically.  His genes are a part of my make-up and he gave me life 49 years ago.  I am his emotionally and relationally.  We share a bond and a closeness that no one else shares.  There is no other tie in the world, nor has there ever been, like the one I have with my dad.  I am his volitionally.  He chose to have me; he was certainly under no obligation to have any children. I am his forever, as long as I live.  No matter where I go, no matter what I do, no matter how far away we are from each other, I am his son and he is my dad.  Frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

So, when people mistake me for my dad on the phone, it is a real compliment to me.  Although I am different from him, people always think that he and I are the same person when they hear our voices.  That is amazing isn't it?  That means I have a great responsibility to speak very carefully because I represent my father to so many people.  The words I speak, the tone of my voice, the quality of my speech, all reflect on him.  As far as those on the phone are concerned, they are speaking to him directly and they take the words from my mouth as though they were coming from his.

It is not a far stretch to apply this to the Christian life.  While it is obvious that we are not God; we are His representatives.  Jesus reminded his followers of this fact in Matthew 10:24-25, “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.”  Instead of the student being the teacher—which is impossible by the way—he is to be like the teacher.  The teachings of the master should be evident in the student and those who learn from the student should in fact be learning from the master.  The student’s words, actions, thoughts, and example should mirror those of the master exactly. 

This can only happen in the Christian life when we remove “self” from the equation.  We must share God’s word with those around us.  By God’s word, I mean just that.  We are not to water it down, sugar coat it, or alter it in anyway just to please or appease those around us.  The words we speak should reflect the very truths of the Scriptures.  Those who hear us should be hearing what God has to say instead of the message we want to get across.  We can in no way improve upon God’s word; we must simply share it with all those we meet.

 In a few months, I will be home again for a visit.  No sooner will I be home than the phone will ring.  I’ll answer it and someone will accuse me of being my father and we will start the conversation all over again. It will be a good feeling.  As a Christian, are people confusing you with your father today?  Does the sound of your voice convey His love, His grace, His mercy, and His truth to all those who hear you?  Do you sound like your father today?

Tell Him I Sent You

 Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Friday, February 13, 2015

Today's Title: Tell Him I Sent You

Today's Scripture: John 14:13-14

When I was a small boy, I was forever breaking things.  It seemed at times that everything I touched ended up in need of repair.  You might say I had the “other” Midas touch.  Instead of everything turning to gold, however, it turned into a disaster.  That’s usually when I took whatever needed repair to my dad, confident he could restore my bike, my toys, anything I had, to its original condition.

My dad didn't disappoint me.  Although he was busy, he would take the time to repair my broken toys.  This usually required some kind of replacement part or a tool that daddy didn't have.  So he would send me uptown to Ferguson’s hardware to get the things necessary to make the repairs.

Mr. Ferguson owned a large hardware store downtown.  It was located at the corner of Main and Mountain streets, right on the town square.  Each time daddy sent me there, he gave me the same set of instructions.  “Go to Ferguson’s and ask for such and such an item.”  I always protested just a little, saying Mr. Ferguson wouldn't listen to a little kid and I never had any money of my own to pay him.  Daddy always said the same thing, “Tell him I sent you and to charge it to me!”  This was a magic formula and when I used it, I got exactly what I needed to get the job done.

Over two thousand years ago, Jesus told his disciples essentially the same thing.  However, he wasn't sending them to Ferguson’s Hardware to buy parts to fix things that were broken.  Instead, Jesus shared a wonderful truth concerning prayer and the right way to ask God for the things needed to live the Christian life.  In John 14:13-14 Jesus tells his disciples, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”  

At first glance, it seems that Jesus has given us a blank check to ask for whatever we wish and, unfortunately, many Christians believe just that.  They see God as the owner of a huge warehouse ready to dispense whatever we want as long as we ask for it in Jesus’ name.  This is a very dangerous understanding and use of the name of our Lord.  God hears and honors our prayers because of our relationship with Jesus but He does not simply fill out material requests whenever the mood strikes us.  The name of Jesus means so much more, it is above every name, and is the name at which every knee will one day bow.

Please notice in today’s passage a very interesting condition that Jesus places on this statement.  Jesus says he will answer requests made in his name so that “the Son may bring glory to the Father.”  This means that requests made in Jesus’ name must be requests that will glorify God Himself.  Since this is the condition, we have to ask ourselves if asking God for a new car will glorify Him.  It is not the car that is the problem but the reason for which the request is made.  When we come to God in Jesus’ name we must do so understanding just how precious that name is to God.  It is not a credit card used to purchase everything our hearts desire; it represents the very Son of God, the one who died for the sins of the world, the one whose every thought, action, and word glorified the Father.

When I went to see Mr. Ferguson, it was because of a legitimate need.  The store was filled with all types of things people needed to make repairs.  Since I had no money, I simply told Mr. Ferguson my dad had sent me and that he would pay for whatever I needed.  This was enough for Mr. Ferguson to give me what I needed to get the job done.  Mr. Ferguson never once gave me anything I didn’t need when I used my dad’s name.  You see, my dad was paying the bill so I had a great responsibility to obtain only the items necessary for the job at hand.

Do you see the parallel today in the Christian walk?  God has promised to meet all our needs according to His riches in Christ.  He is concerned and has obligated Himself to attend to our needs and to provide for them.  This is a wonderful promise and one that should give us much encouragement today. But we must also realize that using the name of Jesus in prayer carries with it great responsibility on our part.  Coming to God in Jesus’ name with a legitimate need is exactly what we are supposed to do.  Anything more is presumptuous; anything less is not biblical.  We must ask ourselves if our use of Jesus’ name is bringing glory to God today.  

When Will I Be Fluent?

 Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Thursday, February 12, 2015

Today's Title: When Will I Be Fluent?

Today's Scripture: Romans 10:17

It is a question every foreign language teacher expects to hear and dreads to answer.  It is a question every foreign language student asks and is disappointed when the answer comes.  What is it?  I’m glad you asked.  The question is quite simply, “When will I be fluent?”

Students asking this question usually fall into one of two camps.  Either they are on their way to a foreign country and believe they will be able to walk off the plane and communicate as well in a foreign language as they do their own or they earnestly want to learn the target language for further study or as a means to make themselves more marketable as they search for employment.  Either way, the response to both of these groups is the same.  Fluency will be achieved only after much work, much study, much practice, and much listening.

I always tell my students that I have been studying the French language for 37 years and one day I hope to be fluent.  I do not say this to burst their bubbles nor to discourage them.  I just know after many years of hard work, more than my share of mistakes, and countless hours listening to French tapes, French music, and native speakers, I still am not as fluent as I would like to be.  One day I hope to be there but until that day comes, I’ll just keep working at it.

Of all roads leading to the wonderful land of fluency, the best and most effective is the road of total immersion.  Those choosing to walk this road break with their familiar surroundings and plunge headfirst into the language.  This is most often accomplished by leaving home and spending an extended period in a foreign country.  The ability to communicate in a foreign language greatly increases when you have to find a place to stay, get something to eat, make travel arrangements, and find the restroom!!  Believe me, you learn quickly, especially in that last situation!

There is also a burning desire in the Christian’s heart to be fluent in the things of God and this means spending time with Him, listening to His voice, understanding His ways, and seeing things from His perspective.  Far too often, we expect to open our Bibles, read a verse, send up a quick prayer, and expect the answer by 5:00 p.m.  When this doesn't happen, we find ourselves frustrated beyond belief because we are convinced we did everything correctly.  We need to understand that the fluency of our relationship with God is based on the amount of time we spend listening to and learning from Him rather than speaking at Him.  When I was in France, I learned far more by hearing and listening than I ever did when I tried to monopolize the conversation!!

This is exactly the essence of Paul’s message to the church in Rome in the tenth chapter of his letter to the Romans.  He goes to great lengths in this section of scripture to underscore the necessity of listening to what God has to say in order to understand what He wants to communicate to us.  Romans10:17 simply says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  In this passage, Paul writes concerning the Jews and why they didn't accept Jesus Christ.  The Scriptures spoke of him, evidenced by Paul’s reference to many great prophets in their history.  But notice that he says that faith comes by hearing and that this hearing comes directly from God’s word.

In order to hear God, we must listen to His word.  We must read it, study it, think about it, and make it an integral part of our lives.  Like a good language student, hotly pursuing fluency, we must immerse ourselves in God’s word if we ever hope to have the type of faith that will make us fluent in the things of God.  Immersion means that everything we hear, everything we see, everything we say, everything we do, and everything we think is in the target language and for the Christian that language is the language of God’s word.

How fluent are you today in the things of God?  How fluent do you wish to become?  This process will not happen overnight, in a few months, or even a few years.  I know many people who have been walking with the Lord for years and they still desire to be more fluent tomorrow in the things of God than they are today. Is this your desire?  Are you willing to spend a lifetime walking, talking, listening, and learning from God?  I hope so.  It is the most wonderful thing in life to learn the language of God; please don’t miss out. “When will I be fluent?” you may be asking.  It all depends on your hearing, doesn't it?  Are your ears tuned to the message God has for you today?

Insurance vs. Assurance

 Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Today's Title: Insurance vs. Assurance

Today's Scripture: Romans 8:15-17

Trying to decide on insurance policies is tantamount be being in a candy store with only a dollar in your pocket.  All the candy looks good, it all has wonderful wrapping paper, and all of it is sweet and tempting.  I had the same experience when I decided to change automobile insurance policies.  The decision to change was the easy part, selecting the best deal, now that was the challenge.

I called at least six companies requesting information about their policies and received quotes from them on the monthly cost of insurance for my car.  All were helpful, promising me their company offered the best deal and the best coverage.  I came away from some of those conversations convinced the person on the other end of the phone never had a math course in his or her life.  For the same coverage, some companies were at least $200 higher than their competitors—go figure!  I finally settled on a company that offered me better coverage at a lower price and the company was well-known and had an excellent reputation.  Not only did they sell me insurance for my car, they also included the assurance they would be there if and when I needed them.

These two words, assurance and insurance, are so close in pronunciation but so far apart in meaning.  I can send a package in the mail and insure it in the event that it is lost or stolen which means there is no assurance the package will arrive.  Likewise, I can assure the state of Texas I’ll be an excellent driver but they require me to carry insurance in order to drive a car.  The difference is simple, in order to have insurance you place your money into someone else’s bank account; in order to have assurance you place your trust in someone else personally.

As Christians, we need to decide how we approach God in our daily walk with Him.  Do we see the Lord as an insurance agent, merely providing coverage as long as we go to church, say a prayer each day, serve on a committee, give help to the needy, or teach a Sunday school class?  Are we trying to pay for His services through works and actions?  People who maintain such a relationship with God live in mortal fear they will do something wrong or fail to do something important and the policy will lapse and God will no longer provide coverage for their lives.  This is a terrible burden to bear and one God never intended for us to carry.

The other approach to God is to place absolute trust in Him and receive the assurance in our hearts that He cares for us.  God loves you and He wants to provide for you, to care for you, and to have a relationship with you.  When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior, God gives you the assurance you are one of His children and that you receive the full rights and privileges of a relationship with Him.

This is the point the Apostle Paul was making in his letter to the Romans.  Paul wanted his readers to understand that God was not in the insurance business but in the assurance business.  God wants His people to have the assurance, the confidence, the knowledge that He loves them and that they belong to Him.  In Romans8:15-17 Paul writes, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

Do you see the assurance in this verse?  The Spirit of God does not make us slaves to the fears and cares of this world.  On the contrary, He gives us the full right to approach God, to call him father—Abba means daddy in Aramaic and Hebrew—and to have the assurance in our hearts that we are His children.  The coverage for our needs is guaranteed not by what we do but by the relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ.

Wherever you are in your walk today with the Lord, take a moment and consider your relationship with Him.  How do you view your Heavenly Father?  Is He someone who just provides insurance for your life?  Do you feel as if your policy with God could lapse if you fail to some particular task or if you do something you shouldn't?  Or, do you know that God is your God, that He loves you, and that He wants to relate to you, that He wants you to have a perfect union with Him?  Do you have insurance or assurance today?

Everything Is Upstairs

 Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Today's Title: Everything Is Upstairs

Today's Scripture: John 5:39-40

Nothing tests a family’s mettle more than going through a remodeling project.  I should know because I survived three such projects at our home on Main Street.  Every time our family grew, the house grew right along with it.  We added rooms, divided rooms; carpeted, painted, wall papered, enclosed porches, and added a driveway.  For the twenty five years I lived there though, no change was more dramatic than our last remodeling project.

This project involved enclosing a carport to make a den, enclosing our sundeck to create a sun room, installing a bay window in our living room, installing a spiral stair case to connect the upstairs and the downstairs, and remodeling the front room of our basement into a bedroom for me.  The house also received new carpet and new paint from ceiling rafter to floor joist.  Nothing, and I mean nothing, was overlooked.  This was a complete overhaul of our home and when we were finished it looked much different from the house I grew up in.

Finally, after twenty-five years, I had my own room and my brother had his.  We shared a room through college but when this last project was completed, I had control of the downstairs.  The front room of the basement, converted into a bedroom, was mine and the new den was adjacent to it.  The backdoor provided me with my own entrance and with the exception of a bathroom and a kitchen; I had my own little apartment.

The novelty soon wore off, however, because every time I needed something, I had to climb the stairs.  If I wanted to eat, I had to go upstairs to the kitchen or the pantry.  If I wanted to see my parents, I had to go upstairs to their room or to the sun room to talk to them.  My brother’s and my sister’s rooms were on the main floor so I had to climb the stairs to pay them a visit.  When I needed a shower, I went upstairs and so on and so forth!

You get the picture don’t you?  Everything I needed was upstairs and I spent the vast majority of my time working out on that spiral staircase.  It really wasn't that bad.  I enjoyed my time downstairs but several times during the day, I had to go upstairs in order to take care of all the necessities of life.  Food, relationships, and provisions were all upstairs which meant I spent a lot of time there!

There is a great lesson to be learned from my childhood home.  It is a direct parallel to life and the relationship we have with our Heavenly Father.  Far too often we are content to live our lives on the ground-level of existence, comfortable and content with the circumstances life has afforded us.  The sad part is that everything we need, all our necessary provision, the need for relationship, and the very staples of life are to be found upstairs!

Our Heavenly Father wants us to live life on a higher level than the ground floor.  His plans for us are so much larger and greater than we can ever imagine.  The provisions He has for us are far beyond our ability to imagine and the relationship He longs to share with us is far deeper and richer than anything we have ever known before

Jesus spoke of this in Chapter 5 of John’s gospel.  In one of his many conversations with the Pharisees, Jesus stated very plainly that he had come to bring life but that men refused to come to him to receive it.  In John 5:39-40, Jesus says the following, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” 

There is a determined sadness in this statement.  The Pharisees were the religious leaders of their day. No one knew the Scriptures better than they and no one should have been more aware of the Messiah than these learned men.  Yet for all their searching of the Scriptures, for all their knowledge of God and His ways, they completely missed the boat.  They searched the Scriptures diligently, looking for signs of the Messiah’s coming and all the while he stood before them. 

The real tragedy here is that these learned men refused God’s invitation to have life.  They were content to live on the ground floor while God had so much more waiting for them upstairs.  With the coming of Jesus, God installed a staircase which allowed them direct access to all His provisions.  All they had to do was climb the stairs but they refused to do so.  All they needed was standing there, staring them in the eyes, and they refused to accept God’s invitation.

My mom and dad have built a new home and moved away from Main Street.  However, when I am home, I ride by the house and look through the windows.  The people living there don’t know me and I don’t know them.  Yet I wonder if they ever stop and think how important that spiral staircase in the back of the house is.  I wonder if they realize that without it they would have no access to any of the provisions necessary to life in that house. 

Then my thoughts turn inward and I ask myself if I understand the importance and the significance of the staircase God has provided in Jesus Christ so that I can have direct access to the throne of grace.  Am I content to live on the ground floor of life or do I understand that everything I need is on the next level?  All I have to do is climb the stairs.  

A Good Look Around

 Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Monday, February 9, 2015

Today's Title: A Good Look Around

Today's Scripture: Psalm 19:1-3

Working at a major university is a very humbling experience.  At any given moment, in various classrooms all over campus, men and women stand in front of students and spew forth knowledge that spans the whole of human learning.  Courses are taught in all subjects ranging from ancient Greek literature to evolutionary psychology.  I have no idea what this last field of study entails.

But then again, that’s the way it is on every campus the world over.  There is so much to learn and so much to consider that it would take several lifetimes just to scratch the surface.   Every day on my way from our classroom building to the parking lot, I walk past the main library.  This building is several stories tall.  Inside is a wonderful collection of books, journals, newspapers, magazines, and computers.  It is indeed possible to access the whole of human knowledge in this one building.  What a daunting and humbling task that would be!

The seminary too has its own library.  It is a large building filled with books, articles, journals, magazines, and computers.  It represents the sum of knowledge written about God’s word.  As with the university’s library, it would take a lifetime to go through every book and article written on the various aspects found in the Bible.  On more than one occasion I have found myself overwhelmed as I perused the stacks, looking for a particular commentary or article about a specific idea found in the Scriptures.

All of this learning and knowledge can be, as I said, overwhelming.  It can also lead us to believe that without an academic degree we aren't truly educated and without a seminary degree we can’t fully understand God’s word.  Nothing could be farther from the truth, especially where this last statement is concerned.

The vast majority of the men and women in the Bible had no seminary training.  Abraham never studied theology, King David never took a class in Greek, Moses didn't study homiletics (preaching) and none of the twelve disciples had the credentials to be considered a serious candidate for the pastorate of a church by any present-day search committee.  However, their knowledge and understanding of God’s word was decidedly profound.  Their classroom was life and their library consisted of the things around them and in their history.  All they needed was a good look around to see God and to understand His work.

David speaks directly to this point in Psalm 19:1-3, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.”  David reminds us today that all creation speaks to us about God.  Every tree, every plant, every star in the sky, and the face of everyone we meet remind us of the great God we serve.  Study is important, spending time delving into God’s word is essential, but God makes Himself known to us everyday is so many different ways.

Wherever you are today in your walk with God, I trust you will take time to stop and take a good look around.  You will see Him at the office, you will see Him at lunch, you will see Him at the grocery store, and you will see Him in the night sky before you go to sleep.  God is the creator of all you see and He is constantly aware of where you are at any given moment.  Have you taken a good look around today?  Perhaps you should!