I Gotta Take This Off

O

ne Monday morning, I entered the Modern Language Department as usual and greeted my colleagues with a hearty, “Hello."  Needless to say, the response I got on a Monday morning prior to coffee being made was less than enthusiastic.  So, I made my photocopies and went downstairs to the little room that four of us shared as our office.  After a few minutes, I returned upstairs in search of that ever-necessary first cup of coffee.  One of our secretaries was checking messages and I asked her how her weekend had gone.  She said one word that immediately told me that her weekend had been overly hectic.  That one word was prom.

For those Tidbitters who may be unfamiliar with the American custom of a prom, I'll briefly fill you in.  It is a formal dance attended by high school students in their last two years of school.  It is the social event of the year and most students spend a considerable amount of time preparing for it.  Such was the case with our secretary's daughter.  She had a wonderful time, she went to a fancy restaurant, she wore a lovely black gown, and she came in very late.  That is the standard ritual and it does make for a hectic weekend.

As a former high school teacher, I remember chaperoning seven proms myself!  The most amazing thing about the evening was watching the great metamorphosis that had occurred in my students.  They all looked wonderful and so very grown up.  The girls wore beautiful gowns and the guys looked extremely dashing in their tuxedos.  However, by the end of the evening, the guys had removed their ties and the girls had taken off the high-heeled shoes.  When asked why they had done this, the reply was one word, comfort.

Today's tidbit is about David, the shepherd boy who would become king.  He, too, knew what it was like to wear uncomfortable clothing to an important event. In this particular passage, David has volunteered to face Goliath, the mammoth Philistine champion.  King Saul, reluctant to let David go at first, decides to dress David in his own armor.  David is outfitted with a bronze helmet, a coat of mail, and a large sword. 

Now, all of these things are necessary for battle, and they all have their purpose, but a soldier, who cannot move, is a dead soldier.  Look at David's response to Saul's generosity. In 2 Samuel 17:39 he says, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” It wasn't that David didn't appreciate what Saul had done for him, nor was it that David rejected Saul's offer.  David was a shepherd boy; he knew the armor would prevent him from accomplishing his goal.  Therefore, he took it off. This may seem like the most illogical thing he could have done, but it was actually the wisest. 

Too often, we find ourselves in Saul's position. We know what God has called us to do but we equip ourselves with weapons of our own making.  We approach the day or the situation at hand with a preconceived plan of attack.  We think we must have a certain kind of experience, or that we must use a certain vocabulary, or that we must act a certain way in order to accomplish our goal.  What we end up doing is encumbering ourselves, weighing ourselves down so that instead of becoming effective witnesses and ministers of the gospel we become sitting ducks and easy targets for the enemy.  David's claim must become our own.  We must go forward, like David, in the confidence and comfort of our loving Heavenly Father.  We must remember David's own words as we go out to meet the day:

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

Only by claiming this truth can we ever hope to defeat the Goliaths in our path. So, what are you wearing into battle today?

I Don't Know How That Happened

J

ust inside the backdoor of my parents' home hangs a set of house rules. The rules are simple, straightforward, and few, just the way good rules should be.  A quick perusal of the list indicates the type of behavior that is expected from those living in the house.  No one reading this list has any doubt of what he can and cannot do.  There are no suggestions on the list, only specific does and don'ts.

As I read that list recently, it brought back several moments from my childhood.  Like the list, my parents had few rules, but the ones they had, were simple, straightforward, and to the point.  I don't remember mom ever suggesting I pick up my clothes and I don't ever recall dad suggesting I be in at a certain hour.  They both stated exactly what they meant so there would be no confusion.

As a growing boy, however, I decided that the rules should be tested.  After all, that's exactly what rules are for, right?  We lived only three houses down from my dad's funeral home.  We could see it from our backyard and would walk by it on our way to the neighborhood candy store.  My dad had some very precise rules about playing around the funeral home, especially when a funeral service was being conducted in the chapel.  Under no circumstances was I to go near the place!

Now, one of my favorite things to do was to climb behind the wheel of the hearse and pretend to be driving.  When they weren't busy, my dad used to let me climb in and hold the wheel.  However, I had been told never to get into the vehicle unattended and under no circumstances was I to play with the siren!  Yes, the hearse had a siren.  Before the advent of the local rescue squads, funeral homes ran ambulance service for their communities.

Now, you know what happened one day, don't you?  I was around three or four years old.  I went up to the funeral home and climbed into one of the hearses.  It felt really neat to be behind the wheel, pretending to be an ambulance driver.  All of a sudden, I spied the siren button.  I knew I shouldn't, but I just had to do it.  I pushed the button and the siren sounded.  There just happened to be a funeral service in progress.  The back door of the funeral home opened and my dad came out.  I crouched down in the seat, thinking he'd have no idea where the sound came from!  I heard him approaching, and when he opened the door, I just looked at him and said, "I don't know what happened.  I was just sitting here and it went off!"  Then my dad went off, and I got a much-deserved spanking. 

Later in life, I learned I wasn't the only one to give such an inadequate explanation for my actions.  Exodus 32:24 records Aaron's explanation to Moses for his creation of the golden calf in the wilderness of Sinai.  Look at Aaron's words, “And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.”  Can't you just see Moses' face?  What a ridiculous explanation and inept excuse for his actions.  In essence, Aaron said, "The people just brought me their gold, I threw it into the fire, and presto, a golden calf emerged.  I have no earthly idea how that happened!"

Moses didn't buy it and God didn't either.  In fact, just after this event, Moses went back to the mountain to intercede on the people's behalf.  However, we must understand something about Aaron's statement.  There is something we need to see because it applies to all of us on a daily basis.  It concerns the decisions we make and how we arrive at them.

The making of the golden calf was a terrible event in Israel's history.  In blatant defiance of God's laws, they constructed for themselves a graven image and worshiped it.  However, the decision to make a calf of gold was not sudden, but involved several smaller decisions along the way.  Almost from the outset, the people mumbled against Moses, complaining he had led them out into the desert to die.  At every turn they continually questioned God and tried his patience. He performed miracles and they doubted.  He fed them, and they complained.  He protected them, and they rejected him. 

The golden calf was the result of smaller decisions made all along the trail to Sinai.  Even after God became angry with them over this incident, they continued to focus on everything other than God's provision and plan for them.  Eventually, they wandered in the desert forty years until the generation that left Egypt died in the wilderness.

The same scenario still happens in the life of today's Christian.  We get our eyes off God's plan for us, we become less and less content to live in his provision, and we begin to make decisions that take us out of his chosen path for us.  The decisions appear innocent at first and seem to have very few consequences.  However, the culmination of these small decisions leads to results that can be devastating to our relationship with God.

My dad punished me not only for blowing the siren that day, but for breaking several rules leading up to that decision.  I knew right from wrong, but with each small decision, the next one became easier to make until I was in well over my head.  Once caught, I, like Aaron, gave the most lame excuse possible, "I don't know how that happened!"  But I did know, and my dad knew as well.  It happened because I disobeyed.

God has set rules in place for us because he loves us.  They are for our good, to keep us close to him, and to nurture and grow us up to spiritual maturity.  Today as you go about your daily routine, pay close attention to the decisions you are making.  What may seem small and innocent by itself can lead to an unpleasant trip to the woodshed!!

Hammered, Cut, and Beaten

M

y dad is a jack-of-all-trades.  When I was a little boy, I could always take my toys to him if they weren’t working and he would repair them.  It didn’t take long and he would give them back to me in top working condition.  He also made sure we had the things we needed, even if he had to make them himself. 

I remember one of his projects that turned into a family affair.  My brother and I shared a room and we needed storage space and somewhere to do our homework.  Spreading our work out on the kitchen table was becoming less and less of an option.  So, my dad decided to build us a desk and a set of shelves where we could do our homework and keep our “important stuff.”

I arrived home one spring afternoon to the sounds of hammers smacking against pieces of wood.  When I discovered the source of the noise, I found my dad sitting on the steps, hammer in hand, effectively beating a piece of wood into submission.  He looked at me, told me to grab a hammer and a piece of wood and get started.  I jumped right in beside him, swinging as hard as I could.  When my brother got home, he started as well and we spent the afternoon beating up pieces of wood, poking holes in them with the tines of a fork or a meat tenderizer.  It was a great way to relive stress and it was fun!

My dad wanted the shelves to look old and worn.  He intended to take the beaten pieces of wood, sand them, stain them, and then mount them on our wall. I will never forget seeing him as he took his pocket knife and whittled away sections of the wood, creating a decorative border for each shelf and for the desk.  I can still see the blisters on his hands and the cuts he sustained while working with that wood.  With each blow of the hammer, with each cut of the knife, and with each pass of the sandpaper, the wood took on character and was transformed from an ordinary plank into something both beautiful and useful.

God uses this same process in our lives on a daily basis.  He knows what he wants to make of our lives and he knows the tools necessary for accomplishing the job.  Sometimes he uses a hammer to make deep dents in our character.  At other times, he takes a knife and cuts deeply into our hearts, removing everything that is unnecessary or harmful until we take on the shape he intends.  In addition, he pokes holes in us and he sands off our rough exteriors until we are smooth and can drink in the grace and love he so desperately wants to pour into our lives.

The prophet Jeremiah captured this image of God molding his people in his visit to the potter’s house.  In Jeremiah 18:6, God makes the following statement to Israel: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”  Stop and think just a moment about the potter and his relationship with the clay. 

The potter knows what type of vessel or decorative piece he wants.  The clay, however, has no form, no shape, no function, and no purpose.  The potter takes a lump of clay in his hands and beats it down to remove all the air from it.  He knows that if any air remains, it will explode when placed into the fire.  So, the potter beats the clay, then he wets his hands and begins molding and shaping the vessel he wants.  Although he pulls, pushes, digs, and presses the clay, it never leaves his hands.  As long as the clay remains in contact with the potter, it will achieve its end and will become what the potter desires.

This is the way God wants us to be with him.  We are clay.  Without his touch, without his molding and shaping, we are useless, formless, having no function or purpose.  When God makes dents in your life, when he digs deeply into your heart, when he applies pressure to the breaking point, he only does so out of love.  He knows what you can be and he will not stop until you become the vessel he envisions.  When he is finished, you will be a vessel he can use to serve his purpose.  Are you yielding to and trusting his hand today?

Giants In The Land

I

t had been a long, tiresome journey from Egypt.  For centuries, the Hebrew children had awaited this day, the day when they actually learned first-hand what the Promised Land looked like.  All of Israel knew the story of Father Abraham and the promise God made to him so long ago.  They had told their children of Isaac and Rebecca, of Jacob and Esau, and of Joseph and his coat of many colors.  According to his wishes, the people had exhumed Joseph's body and had brought his bones to be buried in the new land. 

Forty days before, a band of twelve men entered the land with instructions to spy on its inhabitants and to seek out and bring back some of its produce.  Excitement and tensions mounted as the people eagerly awaited word of the spies' arrival back in camp.  Everyone's imagination conjured up vivid scenes of vast tracts of fertile land, oases laden with palm and date trees, and all types of exotic produce succulent to the eye and to the taste.  What had they seen?  What would be their assessment of the land and its people?  What advice would they give Moses for entering the land?

Finally, the word came that the twelve had returned.  Everyone pressed in close to hear the report and to learn about their new home.  Not a sound was made as the twelve recounted their findings.  Two men, Joshua and Caleb, displayed a large cluster of grapes that required a large pole and two men to carry.  Surely, they had found the land to be truly flowing with milk and honey, just as God promised. 

But suddenly, the excitement vanished and fear gripped the people.  Several of the spies gave vivid descriptions of the land's current inhabitants.  Everyone listened intently to the report and one word sent fear and despair through the crowd.  That word was GIANT.  Yes, there were giants in the land.  Of the twelve, only Joshua and Caleb felt they should proceed.  The other ten, were not so enthusiastic and their opinion carried the day.  The people refused to move forward.

What a tragedy this was for Israel.  For over 400 years, they served as slaves in Egypt, longing and praying for the day of their deliverance.  God brought them out of their bondage with a mighty hand and led them to the border of the land he promised Abraham.  All they had to do was to enter it and possess it.  However, they stopped short of enjoying God's provision and experiencing his deliverance because they chose fear instead of faith.

Numbers 14:9 records the faithful words of Caleb as he tried to persuade the people to take the land, “Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”  Like the other spies, Caleb had been in the land for forty days.  He had seen the giants and their fortified cities; he had observed their technology and their standard of living.  He knew their strengths and he also knew their ability.  But Caleb also knew God's promise.  He believed God's word to be true, that the land was theirs, that all they need do was take it.  

The reports of the other spies focused on the giants in the land.  They compared themselves with the giants and became afraid. Numbers 13:33 records their reaction with the following words, "There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

Like the children of Israel, we all face difficulties and challenges.  There are always giants in the land that strike fear in our hearts.  Some of these giants come in the guise of health problems and some giants strike at the very hearts of our families.  The giants of self-doubt and discouragement loom on several horizons as well as the giants of failure and guilt.  

Today's scriptures present us with two different perspectives on God's promise.  We, like the ten spies, can look at our present situations and concentrate on the giants in our paths.  When we do this, we become grasshoppers, small, weak, and incapable.  Or, like Caleb, we can focus on God and his promise to be with us in all circumstances no matter what.  When we do this, our problems become bread for us, because God is with us.  In the first circumstance we yell, "Retreat!"  In the second scenario, we yell, "Attack!"

Whatever your circumstances are today, remember that God never intended for the children of Israel to stop short of his provision.  He never intended them to enter the land by themselves nor to conquer it by themselves.  Instead, his plan was for them to possess the land by fighting their battles and routing their enemies before them.  And God intends us to live the same way.  He is waiting for us to decide whether we will attack or retreat.  The choice to attack is ours; the battle is God's!

Go Fish

L

ike most guys, I have at least one good fishing story that just happens to be true! No, I mean it! This really happened! Honest! When I was about three years old, my dad took me on my first fishing trip. We went to a small pond near home and he gave me specific instructions on how to catch fish. When the bobber went under the water, which meant fish were on the line. My job was to watch the bobber and let him know when it went under. As usual, I did everything but watch the bobber and when he finally noticed it had gone under he pulled the hook out of the water. There were three, count 'em, three fish on one hook. Not too bad, huh? It was a long time before we went again. Personally, I think his ego was bruised because he didn't catch anything.

Our scripture lesson today is about a fish story and comes from Luke, chapter 5. Jesus meets the people at the Sea of Galilee. There are so many people surrounding him that he gets into Peter's boat and has him put out a little from the shore. He teaches the people from there. He then turns to Peter and tells him to "put out into deep water and let down your nets" (verse 4). Peter, who has been fishing all night with his partners, reluctantly agrees to the Lord's command. They row back out, drop their nets, and then catch such a load of fish it almost sinks two boats.

There is a great lesson here for us today. Jesus taught two distinct lessons from the same boat. The first was for the large crowd that was following him. It occurred in shallow water, just a few yards from the shore. This teaching was for everyone within hearing distance and addressed the crowds at large. The second lesson was for the disciples alone and it involved launching out into deep water. You might say they were in over their heads but this is where the large fish were. Although they had been fishing all night and had caught nothing, they obeyed Jesus and went out one last time with nothing to believe in except his word. Peter says in verse 5, "Master we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."

Here is the lesson. We are simply to take Christ at his word. No matter how hopeless the circumstances may seem, no matter how utterly ridiculous the command may sound, no matter how deep the water is, we are simply to "put out into deep water and let down [our] nets." When we do this, when we obey simply because Jesus says so, then we receive the blessing far above and beyond anything we can imagine.

The disciples had to put out into deep water because that's where the fish were. We have to launch out into the deep to receive all that God has for us. Remaining close to the shore is safe, secure, and convenient. God's best, however, does not come to us in safety, security, or convenience. It is reserved for those who will launch out into the depths of his love and faithfulness where the great fish of blessing wait to fill our nets to overflowing.  As the psalmist says "Deep calls to deep!"

So are you fishing with a pole from the shore or are you casting a net on the deep? It can make one "whale" of a difference in receiving God's blessing for you today.

Give Me Your Hand

W

hen was the last time you were on your knees?  Now, I don't mean in prayer, or scrubbing the kitchen floors.  When was the last time you were on your knees, viewing the world as a small child would see it?  The perspective is very different, indeed!  Everything looks so big, so far away, and so impossible.  If you haven't done this in a while, I encourage you to do so, especially if you have small children.  It will give you a greater appreciation for them and for the way in which they view the world.

I remember seeing the world from this perspective and it was frustrating.  Everything I wanted to do or touch or play with seemed to be out of my reach.  In order to experience anything, I had to have assistance; and this assistance was provided by my parents. All I had to do was raise my arms and they would lift me up and carry me wherever I wanted or needed to go.  However, there was one thing I particularly enjoyed doing with my dad.

 

My dad used to have this unique way of making me feel very special.  I would run to him and he would lift me up, using only the index finger of his right hand.  He would dangle me and jostle me and spin me in circles as I kept a death grip on that one finger.  I wasn't frightened, worried, or concerned about anything bad happening.  Instead, hanging on for dear life to his finger was one of the most fun things I ever did.  As long as daddy held me, it was all right.  I knew he wouldn't let go and I wasn't about to.  There was a bond forged between us that we mention even to this day.  However, it is now quite impossible for my dad to lift me with one finger anymore, but his desire to do so is still evident as is mine.

Have you ever considered that God wants to treat us in just this fashion?  Nothing gives him greater joy than to have his children latch on to him for dear life.  He wants us to hold onto him, to trust him completely, and to have fun in his presence.  God knows that from our perspective the world looks large, overwhelming, and impossible.  He knows that we can never reach the things we need to have and want to have without his assistance. Moreover, he stands ready to help us do just that if we will only ask him.

What parent could resist their child begging to be held?  When the little arms go up, the big arms wrap around in a hold that will not let go.  When found in such a situation, the child does not struggle against the parent, instead he snuggles, giggles, and is content just to be held.  What better picture of God is there than this?  Who better to pick us up, cradle us in his arms, and carry us than our heavenly father? He will never let us go and nothing bad will ever happen to us while we are with him.  There may be times of difficulty, but his hand is always there, holding us tightly, even more tightly than we are holding on to him.

Now, when was the last time you approached God on your knees, not in prayer but as a child with outstretched arms?  When was the last time you asked him to pick you up with one finger and twirl you around to your heart's content?  When was the last time you sat in God's lap and just enjoyed his presence?  He is ready to share that with you today.  As Isaiah 41:10 says "Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." Isn't it about time you grabbed God's hand and spent some quality lap time with your heavenly father?  Why don't you do so today!

It's Time To Come In

G

rowing up in my neighborhood was never boring.  There were kids everywhere and we always had something to do.  Whether what we did was always the best use of our time is still open for debate!  Nevertheless, we found plenty of things to do and an endless number of reasons to do them.  Sometimes we would gather at a friend's house for a game of touch football, or we would ride skateboards up and down the sidewalks on our block.  Other times found us riding our bikes, and sometimes we'd just sit around and talk.  The neighborhood was safe and we never feared anyone would harm us, or ride by and kidnap us, and no one ever worried about drive-by shootings.  Things have certainly changed!

During the summer months, we would stay outside until the last possible moment.  Our mothers knew we were in the neighborhood, which meant we were within earshot of their voices.  As soon as dark began to fall, the nightly ritual of mothers calling us home began.  There was no confusion as to whose mother was calling.  We were all attuned to the sound of our own mothers' voices and would hear and respond only to that call.  Sometimes, one of my friends would take his leave, stating he had heard his mom's voice although the rest of us hadn't heard it.  When my turn came, I stopped what I was doing and headed home.  No matter in what part of the neighborhood I was playing, I knew my mom's voice and recognized it when she called me home.  I remember the distinct sound of our back-screen door as it opened and closed.  I can still hear her voice as she called saying, "It's time to come in!" 

What a wonderful memory this is.  Her voice carried with it all the wonderful feelings of home.  There was comfort in her voice.  There was reassurance, care, happiness, love, and security in mom's voice.  Hearing it always made me happy, and listening to her voice, taught me many things over the years that I still remember and that still guide me today.  Mom's voice spoke not only to my ears, but to my heart.  Just the sound of her voice filled me with such wonderful emotion that I couldn't wait to get home.

In John's gospel, Jesus uses a very touching truth to teach this lesson.  In chapter 10, verse 27, he says, "My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me."  Jesus was exactly right about sheep.  The bond between a sheep and its shepherd is very strong.  In fact, the sheep grow to recognize the voice of their shepherd and will not respond to another.  On a hillside full of different flocks, a shepherd didn't worry about losing his sheep to another, because he knew they would respond only to his voice.  The shepherd's voice, like that of a mother's voice to her children, meant warmth, safety, love, care, and confidence for the sheep.  As long as they listened to his voice, there was no reason to fear, no reason to worry, no reason to feel threatened. It is also in this chapter that Jesus says of himself, “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me." (John 10:14)

Isn't this a beautiful picture of Jesus?  His voice is the one we listen to.  His voice is the one that calls us to safety.  His voice reassures us.  His voice sustains us.  His voice gives us the hope we need.  Although the world is full of voices, none delights the heart like the voice of Jesus.  Only his voice is the voice of one who knows us.  Who better to lead us, who better to love us, who better to comfort us, who better to call us than the one who made us and the one who knows us?  Jesus is our great shepherd.  Do you hear him calling your name today?  Do you hear him saying, "It's time to come in, to spend time with me, to learn from me, to rest in me."  Won't you answer his call today?

I Will Be With You

M

ost people who know me would agree that I am rarely at a loss for words.  In fact, they would tell you that it’s hard to get a word in, especially when I’m on a roll.  I believe that’s why I love teaching language. I get paid to talk and I make sure my employer gets the full benefit of the investment.  However, there are times when words don’t come so easily.  I receive a phone call telling me someone has experienced a death in his/her family, or someone calls because they’ve had a falling out with a friend, or someone wants to talk because they’ve received word that a loved one has an incurable disease.  How do you respond at a time like this?  What words can you say or what can you do to minister to their needs?

I will always remember the summer of 1999. I was working as a chaplain at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, located in the southwestern United States.  I was one of two chaplains on call for this particular week.  It was our duty to deliver messages, address conflicts, do interventions, and attend to the needs of both staff and campers when called upon. It was during this week that I had to perform one of the most difficult tasks of my life.

Early on Tuesday morning, my beeper sounded, requesting me to deliver a message to one of the adult advisors who was on the trail.  I took the message, wrote down the necessary information and made arrangements to locate the advisor.  The message I carried was not an easy one to relay.  During the night, the advisor’s mother had passed away and it was up to me to deliver that message.  I had never delivered a death message and I had no idea what to do or say.  In all honesty, I didn’t want to deliver that message and would have loved to pass it on to someone else.  I asked another, more-seasoned chaplain to go with me and he agreed.  On the way he told me he would help me and gave me good advice about how to deliver this news.  As a result of his counsel, the message was delivered and I was able to minister to this person’s needs.

If you’ve ever been in a similar situation where you didn’t have the “right words” to speak, you’ll be glad to know you are not alone.  Some of the greatest men and women of faith have also felt inadequate when called upon to minister to and serve others for God.  One such man was Moses.  God’s request that he return to Egypt and confront Pharaoh left Moses speechless and scrambling for excuses not to obey God’s command.  He was scared and had no idea what to say.  I mean it’s not every day a guy is called upon to walk into the throne room of the most powerful ruler in the world and demand the release of the entire labor force.  You talk about needing the power of persuasion!!!!!  But this is exactly what God required of Moses; and, in a similar way, it is what He requires of us.

Exodus 4:11-12 gives us a wonderful snapshot of Moses at the burning bush, talking with God.  Moses has given almost every excuse in the book and yet God still calls him.  But God does not intend for Moses to go alone.  He never says “Go down, tell Pharaoh to hand over the slaves, and then meet me back here when it’s all over!”  No! Look at what God tells Moses in this conversation. “The Lord said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."

Like all of us, Moses gives God every reason for not being able to carry out the assigned task.  Moses had difficulty speaking, he had murdered an Egyptian, and he was a fugitive.  Not a very impressive resume, is it?  But none of that was important to God.  He knew all about Moses and called him into service anyway.  We must understand that when God calls us to do something for Him, He always equips us and prepares us for that task.  Look at the last sentence in this passage of scripture. God promises to help Moses and to teach him the words to say.  In other words, the actions Moses would perform and the words he would speak would both come from God.  God never asked Moses to free the people, and He never asked Moses to take on Pharaoh.  Moses was incapable of both these tasks.  But God did ask him to do what he was able to do—proclaim God’s message.

There is a great lesson here for us today as well as great comfort.  God always calls us to things that are bigger than we are.  He always assigns us tasks that are out of our reach, that are too great for us to handle, and that are impossible for us to perform.  Why does it seem that God sets us up for failure?  Moses certainly didn’t feel confident about his ability to carry out his mission.  But God didn’t let Moses fail because Moses had to depend on God.  That is why He gives us such difficult tasks, so we will depend on and cling tightly to Him.  God assigns us the impossible, not to see us fail, but so that we will gain a better and more complete knowledge of who He is and His great love for us.    

Today you may be faced with sharing some difficult news with a friend, a co-worker, or a family member.  You might also be called upon to share Jesus with someone you know or perhaps a complete stranger.  The feelings of inadequacy are normal and so is a little fear.  But God has promised to go with you and to teach you what you are to say.  Go forward in His strength, in His provision, and in His love today.  You will not be disappointed and you will never, ever fail!

Get Fired Up

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n the spring of 1988, I visited a small town in the south of France known as Biot.  This small village is located near the French Riviera and is known for its glassware.  The glass is hand-blown and the artisans create everything from vases, to bowls, to glasses.  The amazing feature of Biot glass are the bubbles suspended in it.  This hallmark sets the glass apart from other forms of hand-blown glass found in different regions of the world.

The day I visited the glass shop, there were tourists everywhere.  People were buying all types of glassware for souvenirs or for gifts to give to loved ones and family back home.  At one end of the workshop, a large crowd was watching as one of the artists fashioned a large water pitcher.  As the people watched him fashion this glowing ball into a lovely piece of blue glass, no one spoke.  Instead, everyone watched in utter amazement as this mixture of different sands and heat became something new and beautiful.

As I watched this process, the words of Romans 8:29 came to mind.  In this letter, Paul says that the Christian is "being conformed to the image of Christ."  The glowing mass at the end of the iron rod was destined to become a pitcher, but it took a great deal of work on the artist's part to fashion it.  The most important element in the process was air provided by the glassblower.  At different times he would blow air in to the mixture causing it to expand.  He would then work with the glass and then blow more air in.  This air would form the bubbles that made the glass famous.   A part of the artist was visible, for all time, in the pattern of the glass.

Next, he took tongs and stretched and smoothed, and pulled and gouged until he formed the handle and the spout of the pitcher.  He also rolled the glass on a hard surface and used a blunt rod to shape the pitcher into a cylinder to hold liquid.  Every time he changed the shape of any portion of the glass, he consigned it to the fire so it would be malleable in his hand.  Finally, he placed it in the fire to burn off any impurities and then he separated it from the hollow rod and placed it on a shelf to cool, harden, and become a pitcher to grace someone's table.

This is the same process God uses to conform us to the image of Christ.  Like the glassblower, He knows what we are capable of becoming.  As the glassblower placed his breath into the glass, so God places Himself within us.  There is an unmistakable and permanent mark on God's children that makes them uniquely His.  In order to shape us into Christ's' image, God has to pull, stretch, gouge, and smooth us until we take on the exact likeness of Christ.  When there are areas that need special attention and when impurities need to be removed, He places us in the fire.  But we are never there for an instant longer than is necessary.  Finally, He removes us from the fire and places us on the shelf of life where we become His instruments, ready to grace the lives of others with the love and witness he has placed within us.  There is no greater joy than being used for the purpose for which we were made.

My prayer for you today is that you will not fight this process.  God knows what you are able to become.  His only desire is to remove all impurities from you and to mold and shape you into the exact image of Christ.  The refiner’s fire is reserved only for those whom God intends to use for His purpose.  He consigns us to the fire, and the gouging, and the stretching, because He trusts us and because He knows that without this process we can NEVER achieve the ultimate goal He has for us: to be like Christ!!  What a reason to get fired up!

All You Can Eat

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very Tuesday morning, I would meet my best friend and we would go out to eat lunch.  Now, It goes without saying that a prerequisite for being in ministry is the ability to eat often and to eat a lot.  Since both of us wanted to be good ministers and good stewards of what God has given us, we took advantage of several all-you-can-eat buffets that are prevalent in Fort Worth.  We visited everything from Chinese buffets, to Japanese buffets, to soup and salad buffets.  In fact, if there was a buffet restaurant in town, chances are we visited it. 

The idea of an all-you-can-eat buffet seems strange to those visiting our country, but to Americans it's one of those basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution.  At least it seems that way when you watch the people who visit these establishments.  Hey, I'm pointing the finger at myself as well, because I definitely get my money's worth.  In fact, my ideal situation would be for the manager to ask me to leave his restaurant!!  This is one goal I have and perhaps one day I'll realize it.

My point today is that we spend an enormous amount of time feeding our bodies but precious little time feeding our souls.  We believe that if we spend thirty minutes praying with God, or if we read our Bibles for a set period of time, that we have sufficiently fed upon Him and His word.  But it isn't long before we find ourselves hungry again.  Chinese food has this affect on me.  No matter how much I eat, my hunger returns within a few hours and I feel as if I've eaten nothing.

The sixth chapter of John's gospel relates a familiar story to us.  It's about the largest meal ever prepared and served by one person.  Yet the feeding of the five thousand has so much more to teach us than at first appears. Notice in verses 5-7 how impossible the situation looks.  The crowd is huge and Jesus asks Philip what he plans to feed the people.  Philip just drops his jaw and states the obvious "eight months wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite" (verse 7). From a human standpoint, the situation is impossible.  We are always in a position of weakness and inadequacy. God never assigns us tasks we can achieve in our own strength.  Instead, He makes sure the situation will require us to lean on Him.

Verses 8-9 tell of the little boy with the five loaves and two fishes.  Again, the resources are inadequate to meet the demands of the situation.  But Andrew brings the little boy and his lunch to Jesus.  This is exactly what we must do.  Our resources are finite, God's resources are infinite.  What looks like nothing to us, in His hands is everything.  When we relinquish our hold on what we have and give it to Christ, He then takes our impotent efforts and works miracles with them.

Notice the words of verse 11b "...and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted." Talk about your all-you-can-eat buffet!  This is always the way God works.  He not only meets our needs, He surpasses them.  That day, from a paltry meal, barely large enough for a small boy, Jesus fed five thousand men, not including women and children.  But He didn't give them just a taste, He gave them as much as they wanted.  God always intends to meet our needs to the fullest extent.  The people eating that day had their fill.  If anyone went away hungry, it was their own fault. 

The spiritual application for us today is just as real.  Jesus spoke of Himself as the bread of life, and stated that whoever ate of that bread would never hunger again.  When was the last time you let God feed you?  Were you willing to accept all He offered you to eat or did you settle for the bread crumbs?  God has prepared a buffet for us with all the trimmings.  He bids us come to His table and to eat all that we want.  His serves only the finest and choicest of foods that will nourish mind, body, and soul.  Prime rib is on the table as well as filet mignon.  Please don't ask or settle for a bologna sandwich!!

Borderline

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ot far from my hometown there is an amusement park.  It is a great place to spend an entire day with family and friends.  You can ride different rides according to how brave you are, you can visit shows, play games, and attend concerts.  The name of the park is Carowinds and is located on the border between North and South Carolina. 

I remember my first visit to the park.  I wasn't so much enthralled with the rides and attractions as I was with the bright blue stripe which ran the length of the park.  This stripe was the legal border between the two states.  Right away, my friends and I began determining which state offered the best variety of rides and attractions.  We decided that North Carolina won the contest because the majority of the food and beverage stands were on the North Carolina side.  Of course, this had nothing to do with the fact that North Carolina was our home state.  The contest was devoid of all forms of favoritism!!!!!!

As I stated earlier, I became intrigued with the border and several times during the day, I would walk with the border placing one foot in front of the other, trying my best not to touch either the North or the South Carolina side.  As long as I remained on the border, I could enjoy the best of both states without actually standing in either of them.

There is something odd about a borderline.  As long as you are on the border you are legally no where.  At the park, I was neither in North Carolina or South Carolina as long as I remained on that border.  Neither state could legally claim I was on its territory and as long as I remained there I was in a constant state of limbo.

Jesus had an encounter with several men who were walking on a border.  The border they were walking was located between Samaria and Galilee.  The men he encountered were lepers and when they saw him approaching they called out to him.  Luke records this meeting in chapter 17:11-13 of his gospel, "As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria.  As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

The border was a very appropriate place for Jesus to meet these men.  Suffering from leprosy, these men were not only on a border legally and physically; they were also on one socially and spiritually as well.  Under the law, a leper had to announce himself as being unclean in order not to infect those approaching him.  Lepers had no status, no rights, and no legal existence.  They could not live in close proximity to other people, they could not hold jobs, and they could not participate in or enjoy the every-day routine of life.  In addition, they could not hope to enter the temple and worship God because they were considered unclean, unfit to enter God's presence and worship him.

What a vivid picture this is of someone before they have an encounter with Jesus Christ.  We spend our lives walking on a border, having no direction, no purpose, no status, and no rights.  We merely drift through life, existing but not living.  Then we meet Jesus walking on the border.  Since we cannot go to him, he comes to us and meets us where we are.  Like the lepers, we cry out to him to have mercy on us and he responds.  There is no one else to turn to, no one else who cares about us like Jesus, no one else who loves us as Jesus does, and no one else who can save us from our wretched condition.  Like the lepers, we stand at a distance and cry to him in our misery, in our helplessness, and in our desperate need.  Jesus simply speaks the word and we are healed and renewed.  We now have purpose, status, rights, and direction.  We have a new life, we can leave the border, and we can venture forth into the world to share with others what Christ has done for us.

Today, you may be walking a border.  It may be physical, mental, emotional, financial, or spiritual.  You may feel forgotten and completely alone.  However, if you look just up ahead, you'll see someone approaching.  He stays on the border, heading directly toward you.  He does not change his direction, but instead adjusts his path to cross yours.  As you get closer, you recognize Jesus.  He is used to walking borders, because it is the best, and perhaps, the only place to find those whose hearts are really longing and searching after him.  Won't you walk toward him today?

Footed Pajamas

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lake, it’s bath time!” I can still hear my mother’s voice calling me to get ready for bed.  The first stage in this process was my nightly bath.  I would run to the bathroom, hop in the tub, get clean, dried, and then dressed.  I really didn’t mind taking a bath because it meant I got to put on my pajamas and watch some television before mom bundled me off to bed. 

After my bath, mom would help me put on my pajamas.  Now, I loved my pajamas, especially the ones that had feet in them.  I had two pair of these, a yellow one and a blue one.  The yellow one was my favorite because it had a duck embroidered just below the left shoulder which reminded me of Superman’s “S” emblazoned on his chest.  Once in my PJ’s, I was ready to romp around the house and save the world before going to sleep.  The pajamas gave me an incredible sense of adventure and invincibility.  Since my feet were protected, I could slide across the kitchen floor effortlessly and, like Superman, I could leap up on our couch in a single bound.

While I was wearing my footed pajamas, I was fearless.  Nothing could harm me and I could overcome any obstacle no matter how dangerous.  Even the creatures hiding under my bed and lurking in my closet wouldn’t dare threaten me as long as I was wearing my footed pajamas.  They gave me the courage and the desire to face any situation without as much as a twinge of fear or uneasiness.  My pajamas enveloped me, protected me, and gave me a wonderful sense of comfort and security.

Did you know Paul was speaking about this sense of security and adventure in his letter to the Philippians?  Did you realize that our relationship with Christ is supposed to be one of confidence and assurance?  If not, you’ve missed out on one of the most profound promises of the Christian life.  Let’s take a look at what the Apostle Paul was trying to communicate to his readers.

Philippians 4:13 records the following simple statement, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Do you feel the sense of adventure here?  Can you understand that Paul does not mean for Christians to approach life out of fear and weakness?  

Two things about this statement should grab our attention.  1) Everything is possible when we let Christ live in us.  Notice that Paul does not say he can do all things on his own.  No!  Instead, he makes it very clear that his relationship with Jesus Christ allows him to do all things.  In fact, it is only through Christ that we can do anything.  2) Paul draws his strength from Christ.  Paul realized that in his own strength he was a weakling.  We do not have the strength required to live life and face its challenges; they are too much for us.  However, when we do things through Jesus, when we allow him to be our strength, then God supplies us with all we need to face life’s challenges.

Like mom, I often hear Jesus calling me to spend some time with him.  He washes away the dirt and grime from life’s battles and then he clothes me in his own love and protection.  As long as I remain in him, I can do all things.  As long as I am in constant contact with him, as long as his love and grace enfold me, as long as his mercy and strength protect me, I am victorious.  This does not mean trials won’t come or that life will always be easy; but it does mean that no matter what the circumstances, Christ will enable me to withstand life’s most difficult moments.  So, when was the last time you put on your footed pajamas?  What are you waiting for?

Equal Installments

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he year was 1987.  I had just returned from France and had started teaching in a local high school.  For the first time since college, I had a steady job and a steady paycheck.  That’s when it arrived.  I came home one afternoon to find a small package, wrapped in a small white envelope, addressed solely to me.  I checked the return mailing address and, although I recognized the name, I wasn’t sure why I was receiving mail from this location.  As soon as I opened the envelope, however, I became painfully aware of the sender’s intent.

Inside were a letter and a booklet of coupons with my name and address printed on each one.  The letter informed me that the payment book for my college loan had arrived and that the fist payment was due!  Furthermore, the letter instructed me to flip through the payment booklet to verify that my personal information was correct.  I quickly flipped through the coupons and, as luck would have it, all the information was correct.  That meant I could start making payments right away.  The lending company had even done the math for me, dividing my entire loan into 120 equal installments!  That’s 10 years for you math whizzes!!!

I stared at that payment book for what seemed like the longest time.  How in the world was I going to pay that back?  For the next 10 years of my life, a certain chunk of my paycheck belonged to a company hundreds of miles away.  After the shock wore off and reality set in, I shrugged my shoulders, took out my pen, wrote the check, sealed it and the payment coupon in an envelope, and sent them on their way.  For the next several years, I did the same thing, finally paying off the loan with help from my parents.

I’m sure that many of you reading this Tidbit can identify with the story above.  All of us, it seems, are making payments for one thing or another in our lives.  We are either purchasing a house, a car, or furniture, and we are making payments on a monthly basis.  Our payments are divided into equal installments and we make them an integral part of our budgets, making sure our money is used wisely so we can meet all our obligations.

Do you realize that God also works on the installment plan?  That’s right!  Now, I’m not saying that God is a mortgage broker or a lending institution.  He isn’t!  However, the principle of making equal payments does apply to our spiritual lives.  Jesus addressed this in a conversation with his disciples concerning the cost of becoming one of his followers.  Luke 9:23 records Jesus’ words concerning the cost of discipleship, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Look very carefully at the fourth word from the end of Jesus’ statement.  Did you see it?  Did you take a good hard look at the word daily?  Yes, you read correctly.  He said daily! These are the terms Jesus set forth as a requirement for following him.  However, unlike a bank or savings and loan, Jesus doesn’t want us to communicate with him monthly.  Instead, he wants us to relate to him on a daily basis.  He doesn’t want just a part of our lives, he wants the whole thing!

Some people, even believers, think this is a high price to pay.  However, when it comes to buying a house or a car, they are willing to sign a contract obligating them for several years, or a lifetime, in order to buy something. Making payments becomes a way of life for them, and they diligently and faithfully meet this obligation.  If we will adjust our lives to purchase something that is not permanent, doesn’t it make sense that we would also arrange our lives in order to gain that which is eternal?  God is not selling us anything.  Instead, He is offering us eternal life and, more importantly, a loving and daily relationship with Him.

So we must ask ourselves some hard questions.  How much of our lives is God getting?  As we spend our lives, do we remember to make our daily payment to God?  Do we spend time with Him by reading His word and praying?  Are we budgeting our time and resources in accordance with His will and commandments?  Are we willing to give God the payment due Him, namely, ourselves and to do this on a daily basis?  Are we living our lives on the daily installment plan, seeking God’s will and obeying Him?  Think about it, won’t you?  Have you made your payment today

Dead Man's Curve

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here is a place, not far from my parent's current home, known by the local people as Dead Man's Curve.  The place obviously received its name because of the number of people who have lost their lives there.  Indeed, the curve is very sharp and many people have lost control of their vehicles, ending up in a field, in a ditch, or in a wreck with another vehicle, because they paid little or no heed to the sharpness of the curve. 

I have driven the curve many times, sometimes taking it a bit too quickly.  Entering the curve too quickly causes you to lose some control of your vehicle.  Driving the curve at an excessive speed will cause the driver to lose total control of the car and end up in an accident, which could be fatal.  Since my father is in the funeral business, I have known many people, young people especially, who have met an early demise because the curve proved too much for them.

Sadly, most accidents at Dead Man's Curve need not occur.  There is a warning sign posted way before the curve, indicating a driver should lower his/her speed before proceeding to drive the curve.  The speed limit drops to 30 mph in the curve at even this could be considered a bit too fast.  As long as the warning is heeded, drivers can safely navigate the curve.  However, when they refuse to pay attention to the sign, when they place total confidence in their ability no matter what their speed, then they encounter trouble and end up injured or dead.  The warning sign is there for a purpose, to alert people to the dangers of the curve and to proceed with caution in order to conduct themselves safely through it. 

The road of life is much like any highway we might travel.  There are hills, twists, turns, detours, and dangerous places like Dead Man's Curve.  The Apostle Paul knew that life held some very difficult paths for the Christian and he also knew that some roads could and would lead to our demise if we ventured down them.  So, Paul placed warnings in his writings to alert us to the dangers in our path and he told us how to avoid them.

One such warning is found in Romans 6:23 where Paul writes, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Notice the warning Paul gives us.  Continuing in the path of sin, leads to death.  The death Paul is speaking of here is a spiritual death, or total separation from God.  This is the exact same type of death God warned Adam and Eve would accompany their decision to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  They did not heed the warning signs and consequently lost the intimate relationship they had with God.

Notice that if we continue in sin, we will pay a high price.  Not heeding this warning sign, barreling ahead at full speed, refusing to slow down and proceed with caution, will cost us.  We cannot have any relationship with God, our Heavenly Father, as long as we continue in the path of sin.  We must obey Paul's warning and accept God's remedy for sin, namely the blood of Jesus Christ.

In this verse, Paul speaks of God's free gift of salvation.  Through his sacrificial death, Jesus made it possible for us to regain and maintain an intimate relationship with God.  When we choose to follow him, we heed his warnings, we follow his commands, we commune with him, we slow down and follow his directions, and we never, ever insist on taking the wheel from him.  He alone must be the conductor of our lives, sitting in the driver's seat, guiding us safely through every twist and turn and hairpin curve of life's road.

There are plenty of Dead Men's Curves out there, waiting for us.  Knowing they exist is already in our favor.  However, we must heed the warning signs God's word provides for us.  Instead of continuing down a road leading to certain destruction, let's change course.  Accepting God's free gift of salvation means we trust him to guide our paths and when we do, he will never abandon us, and never force us to go through Dead Man's Curve.  Instead, we will follow a straighter, surer road that leads directly to God.

Life's Commas

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ne of the hardest parts of punctuation for me to master was the comma.  I never quite seemed to catch on to the use of that little guy and if you read closely, (there's one) you'll begin to see what I mean.  I still haven't mastered it.  I place them where they don't belong and fail to put them where they're needed.  Every time my mother would proof read something I had written, (there's another one) she would always draw my attention to the overuse or under use (but never proper use) of commas in my writing.  Well, I'm still struggling with this little curvy line that causes so much trouble for so many people.  Please be patient and bear with me.

As I progressed in school, (there's another one) my English teachers began to stress more and more the importance of punctuation.  The comma, I learned, (double whammy) was the same as a stop sign.  It meant stop, consider what has just been said, and then continue.  Once I began applying this rule to my reading, my thinking, and my writing, I began to appreciate and understand this little punctuation mark. In time I've actually come to appreciate it and have even grown fond of it.  I can't same the same thing for its cousin, the semicolon!!  That's a whole other issue!

But the comma has spiritual as well as life applications.  In life, there are pauses that make us stop and reflect on what is happening to us at a particular moment.  Sometimes the commas come to break up the every-day humdrum of life, and at other times they are used to make us wait on something else to come.

Our scripture verse demonstrates very nicely the idea of life's commas.  Jesus said in verse 10 of John 10, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  Notice the placement of the comma in Jesus' words.  He has come that we may have life.  There is a pause here for us to reflect on what has just been said.  Before the coming of Jesus, there was no life, there was only existence!!  What a powerful truth!!  That is why Jesus says of himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the LIFE "(John 14:6).  So Jesus has come that we may have him (life).  But notice that he doesn't stop here.  After the comma, he gives us the best part by saying, "and have it to the full."  In other words, we could restate this scripture in the following way, "I have come that they may have me, and have me to the full." 

This is the true secret of life, having Jesus as our savior!  Even when life places commas in your path, the best always comes after them.  There have been many commas in my life.  Some of them have been self imposed; but most of them God has placed there.  I can tell you without any hesitation that when the pauses of my life were over, I always experienced God to the full.  He is truly wonderful and worthy of all honor and praise!

I trust you will never look at the lowly comma in the same way again.  Notice them for what they are, take time to pause and reflect.  Look forward to what comes after them because the fullness of God is worth any comma life places in your path.

Acorns Aweigh

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igns of fall are everywhere.  The leaves are changing, the air is cooler, and the days are getting shorter.  Birds are beginning their migrations south and squirrels are quickly gathering the last few nuts, berries, and acorns in preparation for the long winter ahead.  I never cease to be amazed at how animals intuitively know the seasons are changing and how they busily set about the task of gathering food to last throughout the winter months.

In addition, plants also make provision, shedding their leaves, and preparing their seeds for sleep in anticipation of waking in the spring and producing new plants.  Although their seeds lie dormant in the soil, they contain within them everything necessary to sprout new life.  I was reminded of this fact yesterday afternoon.  On the way to my car, which was parked under a large oak tree, I watched as several acorns fell to the ground.  A brief gust of wind caused the tree to shed them and they fell straight down.  Fortunately, they missed my car.  However, as I looked at the acorns, an interesting thought came to me.

The acorn is a seed, containing everything within it necessary for producing a large, sprawling oak tree.  Next to the tree, the acorn appears to have no significance or value.  In fact, unless you look carefully, you will walk right by them or trample them under foot.  However, if you stop and think about an acorn for a moment, a great truth comes to light.  The acorn, if it falls into the ground, will produce a giant oak tree that will provide shade and shelter for years to come.

This is exactly the same idea Jesus used when he talked about faith.  So often we misunderstand what faith is.  We believe that faith is the undertaking of great tasks for God. Or, we believe that faith is coming to God with a list of wants, stating them, and then claiming them, waiting for God to "ship" us our requested items.  Moreover, we seem to exercise our faith only in moments of great crises or need.  While all of these speak of aspects of faith, they don't adequately define what faith is.

In John 12:24, Jesus makes the following observation concerning faith: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."  On the surface, it may seem that Jesus required the seed to completely die.  If that were so, how could it "grow" into a living thing.  The seed grows into a living thing, by changing its form and its nature.  As a seed it contains the potential for becoming a new plant.  However, it is only when it ceases being a seed, when it gives up its old form, its old shape, its old life and begins changing, striving toward what it will become that the seed truly begins to live.  The changing of a seed into a plant is a process.  It requires the seed to change in order to grow.

The same is true in the Christian life.  Our faith only grows when we give up our old form, our old ways, our old habits, and when we cease being what we were.  When we give these up, then, by faith, we begin developing a deeper relationship with God.  The goal of this relationship is for us to grow into the image of Christ so that our lives will give evidence of his power and grace.  Just as the oak tree is proof of the faith of the acorn, so too must our lives serve as proof that faith in God leads to a strong, abiding, relationship with our Heavenly Father.

I don't believe I will ever look at an acorn in the same way again.  Faith in God is a way of life.  It is not something we haul out of the closet and use only when we need it. Instead, it must become our lifestyle, the defining element of who we are.  The Scriptures themselves tell us in the book of Hebrews that "without faith it is impossible to please him." (Hebrews 11:6).  No matter where you are in your walk with God today, below ground in the seed stage, or above ground in the growing stage, keep believing and trusting in Him.  He, more than anyone, knows how to grow an oak tree from an acorn.  Just imagine what he wants to do with you!  Will you let him?

Fat-Free Living

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 few years ago, I decided it was time to take control of my life and lose some weight.  Like most of us, I was constantly fighting the battle of the "bulge", a battle I consistently lost every time I fought it.  Deciding to lose the weight was a simple decision compared with the daunting task of selecting which diet to follow. If you've kept up with recent trends in weight control, you know that everyone has found the one best way to lose weight.  Some diets let you eat all you want for three days then they prevent you from eating anything for the next four.  Other diets encourage you to eat one piece of fruit and then drink some sort of concoction filled with all the nutrients and vitamins you need for the day.  Still other programs claim that food isn't really necessary.  All you need do is take two or three pills each day and voilà, instant weight loss!

Instead of opting for one of these fad diets, I decided to count my fat grams.  I had seen the results other people had experienced by following this method, and I decided to give it a go.  The regular foods I was accustomed to eating, however, were simply loaded with fat.  After one meal, I had completely blown my fat intake for the day.  I soon realized that something had to be done.  Enter the fat-free section of the supermarket.  As I began shopping ever so carefully, I discovered that most of the foods I wanted actually existed in a fat-free form.  The only difference was the consistency and the taste.  Fat-free cheese just doesn't do much for me on a pizza!  I need the real stuff!  However, once I made the change, I grew accustomed to it and now it has become second nature to me.

Where, you may ask, am I going with this?  What could this possibly have to do with God?  Well I'll tell you. The book of Genesis records the story of Joseph.  You may be familiar with his coat of many colors but there is an interesting part of this story that fits into today's tidbit. Egypt was in the midst of a famine.  Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and devised a plan to ration Egypt's grain for seven years so there would be plenty during the seven years of famine to follow. 

When Pharaoh learned that Joseph's family was living in Canaan enduring the famine, he commanded Joseph to bring his family to Egypt.  His words are recorded in Genesis 45:17-20, "And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. 18‘Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. 19‘Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. ‘Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

Notice Pharaoh's promise that Joseph's family would live off the fat of the land.  Fat represents the best, an overabundance.  Fat is what our bodies produce in excess of what we need to survive.  Later in the sacrificial system, God required that the fat of an animal be sacrificed to him as the best part of the animal.  So here, Pharaoh promises that Joseph and his family will live off the very best Egypt has to offer them.  They will want for nothing but will live out of the abundance Egypt has to give.

Far too many of us today are living spiritual lives that are fat-free.  Our spiritual food lacks any fat, any of the abundant blessings God means for us to have.  We are content to live with little when God means for us to experience so much more of him.  He bids us come to him and live out of his abundance.  It gives him great pleasure to provide for us, to care for us, and to meet our needs.  Even in the midst of great famine, Pharaoh promised Joseph his family would enjoy great abundance and want for nothing.  How much more will God provide for his children?  God always offers us his best.  He always meets our needs out of his abundance.  How is it we settle for less?  Why do we insist on a fat-free diet when the fat of the land is before us?