Thursday, August 31, 2017

An Exact Number

“A
n exact number,” that’s what my mom had said.  She knew that in a few moments the phone would ring and my grandfather would be asking about the number of quarts of green beans she had canned the night before.  This was always his routine.  No matter what the season, grandpa always called every morning at 6:45, checking to see how we were doing.  But during the summer months, when we were putting up vegetables in the pantry or freezer, he always asked about the number of pints, quarts, or bags of vegetables my mom had prepared.

Whenever he asked, he expected an exact number; approximations were not good enough for him.  Grandpa wanted to know the exact count.  I was never sure whether he was keeping his own tally but it wouldn’t have surprised me to learn that he was.  He always wanted to make sure we had enough of everything we needed and if the count was less than he thought it should be, he would find more vegetables for us to preserve.  He didn’t stop until he was satisfied we had enough food to last us through the winter.

Such love and concern always amazed me and made me feel very special.  No matter what was happening our lives, grandpa’s call was always a sure thing and his desire to make sure we had everything we needed provided great security and stability to my own life.  I could always count on that call and that meant a great deal to me, especially as a young boy.

Jesus’ disciples must have felt this way as he taught them.  His teaching was filled with examples of God’s love and concern for His children.  He took every available opportunity to show them how much God loved them.  His parables were filled with examples, a father looking for his wayward son, a shepherd searching for the one lost sheep, and a man who stopped by the side of the road to help a wounded stranger.  All of these stories reassured his listeners that God loved them, that he cared for them, and that nothing escaped his notice.  Whatever happened to them, he knew about and whatever they needed, he was aware of.

But perhaps one of the greatest statements Jesus ever made about the love of God and His concern for us is to be found in Matthew 10:30.  In this one sentence, Jesus communicates just how much God knows about us and just how closely He maintains watch over our lives. Jesus said, “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”  

Wow, what a statement!  Three small words, veryall, and numbered should make us all feel loved and secure.  By the word very, Jesus means that the least detail of our lives doesn’t escape God’s notice.  By the words all and numbered, Jesus tells us that God’s concern for us isn’t approximate, it is total.  God doesn’t know the approximate number of hairs on our head but he knows the exact number!

If my grandfather wouldn’t settle for anything less than the exact number of jars of vegetables in our pantry, how much more do you think God cares for you?  How much more attention does he give you on a daily basis?  Lots!  In fact, God gives you his full attention, not just at 6:45 a.m. but at every waking moment of the day and every sleeping moment of the night.  You are never out of his reach, never out of his view, and never out of his mind!   What a wonderful and awesome God we serve.  What a privilege to be called his child!!”

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Go Back The Way You Came

T
oday we take a look at a brief moment in the life of Elijah.  We find him in a cave where he is in hiding, fearing for his life, because Jezebel has threatened to kill him.  While in this cave, God speaks to Elijah and teaches him a great truth.  God is always near and is always aware of Elijah’s circumstances.  When God speaks, it is often in the tones of a gentle whisper instead of mighty, supernatural acts.  It is always God’s still small voice that strengthens, reassures, and encourages all those who follow him.

After his experience in the mouth of the cave, Elijah receives new instructions from God. These instructions were difficult words for Elijah to hear and, I am sure, caused some concern on his part.  1 Kings 19:15-18 records God’s plans for Elijah as he prepared to leave the cave: “The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.  Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel-all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."

Look at the very first sentence of this passage.  Can’t you just imagine that Elijah’s mouth dropped open!  Had he heard the Lord correctly?  Perhaps, he was mistaken.  It seemed that the Lord had just told him to go back and to go into the desert!  Surely, the Lord didn’t mean that! Back there, his life was in danger.  Back there, people wanted him dead.  Back there, he had no friends, no support, and no one he could count on.  But God’s words were clear, “You will go back there!”

Have you ever been in this situation?  You have just experienced a wonderful display of God’s power in your life and you are ready to move forward but God says, “Go back!”  Sometimes, that is the hardest thing to do.  God is asking us to retrace our steps, to walk over ground we have already covered and to buy the same piece of real estate twice.  This may mean staying on a job when you are ready to move forward, it may mean going back to a place where people reject you, or it may mean returning to a relationship which is painful.  Whatever the situation, God asks us to return to it, even though it may be a desert.

But there is also great hope in this passage.  Let’s not leave Elijah standing in the cave, his mouth opened, wondering what has happened to his world.  God continues by telling Elijah to anoint two new kings and a new prophet.  Although Elijah will return by the same road, he will not be the same man.  The message he carries and his life’s purpose have both changed.  God is at work and Elijah is now part of that plan.

You see, Elijah felt he was all alone, that he was the only one left to do battle for God.  Yet, the Lord tells him very plainly that Jehu and Hazael, whom Elijah will anoint as kings, and Elisha, who will succeed Elijah as prophet, and seven thousand others have not bowed the knee to the pagan God Baal.  Elijah is not alone and as he leaves the cave, everything has changed!  Notice that Elijah took the same way back but he did not go back the same way he came.  Think about that for a moment.  The road was the same; the man was not!

Today you may be identifying with Elijah.  God has asked you to go back the way you came, back to the desert, back to a dry and lifeless place.  But God does not intend for you to go alone.  Although you walk a familiar path, your message and purpose are new and fresh.  God is at work ahead of you.  He knows where you are going and he knows the best way to get you there.  The road may be the same, the people around you may not change, and your present circumstances may seem dry and hopeless.  Rest assured and take courage my friend.  God never gives us an assignment, no matter how difficult or challenging, but that he gives us his own divine presence for comfort and his own strength for the journey.  Go back down that same road confident that God goes with you.  Sometimes the greatest blessings in life come when God tells us, “Go back the way you came!”

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Just Add Water

 I
t hardly seems possible but I have been living in my house for eleven years now.  A while back, I was thinking about the moving process and all the wonderful people who helped me either by moving boxes, by carrying furniture, or by sending something to eat.  I was so blessed to have people willing to sacrifice their time, effort, and money to help me move.

As I was unpacking the myriad boxes I used during my move, I came across a small gift bag that one of my students had given me at the end of the summer.  Inside were things to snack on, a book mark, some neatly shaped paper clips, and a triangular box containing something really special. Inside this box was a foil pouch filled with enough ingredients to make a rather large pot of three-cheese mushroom soup.  I love mushrooms so I was eager to prepare the mix according to the directions and sit down to a piping hot bowl of soup.

Everything was included in the pouch except water.  When I poured the contents into the pot, it didn’t look very appetizing.  All I could see was brown powder with bits, pieces, and chunks of dehydrated mushrooms.  It didn’t really make my mouth water as I looked at what was supposed to become a delicious and nutritious bowl of soup.  The process, however, was not complete because I had not supplied the most essential ingredient—water!

I opened the cabinet, took down my measuring cup, held it underneath the faucet, and filled it with the required amount of water.  As soon as I added the water to the soup mixture, a wonderful metamorphosis took place.  The powder completely dissolved and the mushroom pieces grew to several times their size.  I put the pot on the stove and in just a few minutes I had my soup, all piping hot and very delicious.

As I thought about this the story of the woman at the well came immediately to my mind.  Here was a woman whose life, like my soup mixture, was dry and unappetizing.  Her soul was all dried up, her life was filled with shriveled chunks of meaning, and she lacked the essential ingredient that would give her life purpose. 

Day after day, she went to the well to draw water for her needs and when the water was gone, she went back to do the same thing over again.  All her efforts and all the water in the well could not satisfy the longing thirst in her soul.  Society couldn’t fulfill her needs, her many relationships could not fill the void in her spirit, and every day was an endless search to slake the parching thirst of her soul.

One day she met Jesus sitting beside a well.  He was thirst and asked her for a drink. She was surprised that Jesus, a Jew and a man, would speak to her.  Jesus, however, continued speaking with her and he offered her a drink of water.  The woman found it hard to accept water from Jesus because he had nothing with which to draw water.  However, Jesus was not speaking of well water, he was speaking of the water of life, the water that cools the thirst of the most parched soul and gives life from within.  Listen to what he told her as recorded in John 4:14, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

This was the water she had longed for, the water she had searched for all her life.  She took Jesus at his word and quenched her thirst forever.  One taste of living water and the dried recesses of her soul came alive, the shriveled areas of her life were filled with new meaning, and her life took on meaning and purpose.

All of us are just like this woman at the well and the soup mix in the packet.  Without the water that Jesus offers, our lives are just powder, dry and useless.  There is nothing appealing, nothing nourishing, and nothing appetizing about them.  But when we add Jesus to the mix, life takes on a whole new outlook.  We have a purpose and we can be used to refresh, nourish, and strengthen others. 

The ingredients on the back of the soup package said, “Just add water.”  That’s exactly what we must do spiritually as well in order to be all that God wants and intends for us to be. We are wrapped inside containers of dust, longing for the one thing that can bring us to life. What we need is Jesus Christ and the life-giving water her offers.  Have you added this living water to your life?  Don’t you think it’s about time you did?

Monday, August 28, 2017

Just Keep Looking

“I
 know it’s here somewhere, it’s has to be!”  These were the words I kept repeating over and over to myself one Saturday morning as I sat in the barbershop waiting for my turn on the chopping block.  I was thumbing through a children’s magazine and became enthralled with a section containing an artist’s drawing of a particular scene.  What made the drawing so fascinating was that cleverly drawn into the picture were approximately a dozen items that were hidden.  The opposite page listed the hidden items and included a picture of each one so the reader would know what to look for.

I had successfully located eleven of the twelve items but the last one was eluding me.  I honestly could not find it, no matter where I looked and no matter the angle at which I held the magazine.  Each time I thought I had located the missing picture; it turned out to be part of the background.  My imagination, as well as my eyes, played tricks on me, leading me to believe there was something where there wasn’t’ and nothing where something definitely was.

The time was rapidly approaching for me to have my haircut but I didn’t want to leave that picture.  I was determined that no kid’s magazine was going to get the best of me.  I doubled my efforts and began searching more diligently, looking over every inch of that magazine, turning it every way but loose.  Finally, just before utter frustration set in, I found the image.  I had looked at that very spot several times, I just hadn’t noticed the special way the artists had placed the image in the picture.  With a great sense of satisfaction, I closed the magazine, went to the back of the shop, and received a nice haircut.

We are all familiar with this process, aren’t we?  We lose our keys, we lay aside our ink pen, we put down a book for just a minute, and then it’s gone.  We know it’s there somewhere; we just have to find it.  We become very determined, tearing up every part of the house or car until we find it.  Usually, it’s right there under our noses, we just didn’t see it because we weren’t looking for it!

We can also apply this situation to our daily walk with God.  The writer of Hebrews addresses this idea of searching for God in chapter 11.  This chapter is famous because it speaks about the role of faith in the Christian life.  The opening of the chapter contains a list of some the great heroes of our faith.  But not very far into the chapter, we find a profound statement, one that hits us right between the eyes and causes us to stop and consider its truth.

In Hebrews 11:6 we read the following statement, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  Read that once again, very carefully.  We often quote the first part of the passage to the exclusion of the second part.  We all know that we must have faith in God in order to have a relationship with him.  We must believe in his existence to claim to be his children.  But look at what the last part of the verse says.  In order to receive anything from God, we must diligently seek him!!!

Don’t take that word, diligently, too lightly.  Remember your search for your lost keys or my search for that hidden picture.  I was determined not to relinquish my death-grip on that magazine until I found that last image.  This is exactly what the writer means here!  We are to seek after God with full vigor, determined to find him no matter what the cost, no matter how long it takes, and no matter from what angle we have to approach him.  God promises us he will be found but only if we search for him—diligently!

Far too often we pay lip service to God.  We believe in him and affirm this to our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family.  But when was the last time we wrestled in prayer, seeking his face?  When was the last time we poured over the Scriptures looking for more of our Heavenly Father?  He is there among the words.  His truth is embedded in the pages of our Bible.  He is waiting for us to open it and to diligently seek his face in everything and at all times. Are you earnestly, diligently, consistently seeking him today? 

Friday, August 25, 2017

In His Own Tent


O
ne Saturday, a few friends and I spent the day exploring the quaint little community of Granbury, Texas, just forty-five minutes southwest of Fort Worth.  Since coming to Fort Worth in 1997, I had been meaning to make the trip to this little town.  Everyone had recommended it to me as a “must see” but I had simply never found the time to go.  On that Saturday, however, I took the time and I am so glad I did.

Granbury is a neat little place with shops, restaurants, shops, bookstores, and more shops. Are you beginning to get the picture? The whole town is laid out in a perfect square with the courthouse as its centerpiece.  Most of the shops are small businesses that sell everything from home-made fudge to books to knickknacks.  There were several bookstores and, true to Texas, at least two coffee shops, selling gourmet and flavored coffees that would make your mouth water.

Some people had come from several miles away, arriving by chartered bus, to shop in the stores and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere the community offered.  Everywhere, people were purchasing all types of gadgets, books, coffees, household items, and souvenirs.  Every store, no matter its specialty, seemed to have a section dedicated to items promoting the town.  There were tee-shirts, key chains, mugs, glasses, bumper stickers, license tags, hats, etc, anything to remind them of their visit to Granbury.

This fascination with souvenirs intrigues me.  In my own home, I have several items that I acquired from my visits to other countries and places in the world.  Occasionally, I glance over to one of them and a flood of memories rushes back; and time stops just for a moment as I find myself in Paris, Rome, Munich, or Sydney, Australia.  The point is, we buy souvenirs to remind us of places we’ve been, people we’ve met, conversations we’ve had, and events we want to cherish.  The word “souvenir” itself means “to remember” and from the looks of some of this Saturday’s shoppers, Granbury will be a permanent memory for them.

But this notion of souvenirs goes back to Old Testament times and plays a part in the life of one of my favorite characters, David.  Who hasn’t fallen in love with the story of David and Goliath?  From childhood, this story is told and retold and each time it just gets better and better.  Little boys love to think of themselves as David and each time they take a slingshot in hand, they relive the story and once again, Goliath of Gath meets his doom.

This story, however, was very real and one that David remembered all his life.  1 Samuel 17 records the story of David’s fight with the giant and gives us a very important insight into a good spiritual practice.  In 1 Samuel 17:54 we read, David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put the Philistine's weapons in his own tent.” Did you pay attention to this passage?  David collected a souvenir, namely Goliath’s weapons.  He placed them in his own tent as a decoration and as a reminder of that momentous day when God stood beside a young boy and felled a giant!

I am sure David spent many hours looking at Goliath’s sword, spear, and shield.  Countless hours of reminiscing must have been part of his life.  Whenever he felt discouraged, whenever he felt defeated, whenever he wondered if God was still his help, those souvenirs comforted and reassured him.  David had something to remember God by, something concrete to remind him of God’s faithfulness in the face of overwhelming odds and great trial.

Do you have a souvenir collection the workings of God in your life?  Is there a particular moment, a particular event, or a particular place that reminds you of God’s steadfast love for you?  Whenever you are faced with life’s difficult challenges, when you feel as if you are all alone, and when you wonder if God hears you, can you return to a moment and remember that God was with you?  I’m sure you can and I encourage you to continue gathering souvenirs of the times God talks with you, walks with you, and proves himself to you over and over again.  Place them in the tent of your heart as ever-lasting testimonies to God’s faithfulness to you.  There is nothing like a good stroll down memory lane, especially when you walk with God!

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Good To See You!

S
everal years ago I was walking down Main Street in my hometown, looking in the windows at what the various downtown shops had on display. Some of the shops were selling their wares at discount prices and others were displaying new merchandise that had just been added to their stock.  The street was unusually crowded and everywhere people were coming in and out of stores or craning their necks to see the window displays.

I moseyed down the street, continuing my window shopping when I heard someone call my name.  The voice was unmistakable.  I had heard this voice since I was a little boy and it had always proved a source of encouragement, security, and joy.  Now, it wasn’t this particular voice that made me stop and turn around; rather, it was the voice’s owner that stopped me in my tracks.

The voice belonged to Mrs. Ozelia Gingles, a lady who kept house for my grandfather and who took care of me when I was just a little tike.  Ozelia would come to our house in the morning and she stayed with me while my parents were at work.  She cooked great meals and she spent quality time with me, telling me stories and rocking me to sleep for my afternoon nap.  Whenever I needed her, Ozelia was always there and she always wore a smile.  But Ozelia’s smile was more than skin-deep, it was heart-deep.  She loved me and I loved her and we had a wonderful relationship.

So, on this particular afternoon when she called my name, I stopped everything and ran to see her.  Ozelia always greeted everyone the same way.  She would always say, “Good to see you!”  Unlike most of us who say such things in passing, Ozelia meant exactly what she said.  She was glad to see you and her smile and great hugs proved it.  Her voice always made me happy and it served as a great source of encouragement and strength.

In 2 Corinthians 7:6, Paul writes about the comfort provided by one of his fellow workers, Titus. “But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus…” What a wonderful testimony this is about the life of this man named Titus.  His very presence served as a great source of encouragement and comfort for the Apostle Paul.  This passage, though short, tells us something wonderful about Titus.  His was a ministry of comfort.  The Apostle Paul had many times of distress and difficulty in his life.  He was imprisoned, beaten, rejected, and deserted by friends all because of his faithfulness in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

No doubt there were times when he was lonely, dejected, and he needed encouragement and comfort.  Paul knew that God provided comfort in life’s most difficult moments and he learned that sometimes God’s comfort comes in the form of friends and fellow laborers along the Christian pathway.  That is how he describes Titus.  God comforted Paul by sending Titus to him in times of great difficulty and challenge.  Titus, like Ozelia, could have easily greeted Paul with the words, “Good to see you!”  Such a greeting spoken in love and genuine concern can profoundly touch another person.  Paul experienced this from Titus and was forever grateful.

Do you have an Ozelia Gingles in your life who serves as a source of comfort and encouragement to you?  Is there someone whose mere voice can change your outlook and perspective on your situation?  If so, thank God for them.  However, we can carry the question one step further and ask ourselves if we are serving as a source of comfort for someone else.  Are we being Ozelia Gingles to those around us?  Are we bringing comfort to those we meet?  Are we letting God use us to help others as He used Titus to comfort Paul?  Have you said, “Good to see you” to someone today? 

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Here Are A Few Things You'll Need

T
he pictures were hung, the floors were mopped, the carpet was cleaned and vacuumed, the bed was made, the clothes were hung in the closet, the dishes were washed and stacked, and all the last little touches were completed.  My first apartment was now ready to become my home.  Well, not quite.  You see, now I had to maintain the apartment and that meant stocking up on cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, paper products, and all the little things you need but don’t really think of when you’re moving from one place to another.

My parents, however, were one step ahead of me.  They took my car one morning and went shopping.  They weren’t gone very long when I heard a knock at the door.  My mom entered with her arms full of paper towels and told me my dad was downstairs requesting my assistance in unloading the back of the car.  By using the word “requesting” I knew she meant he needed my help pronto!

When I got to the car, I found my dad unloading all types of goodies onto the sidewalk.  The car was completely filled with hand soap, dish detergent, fabric softener, laundry detergent, a mop, a bucket, cleaning supplies, shampoo, cleaning products, napkins, and an ample supply of toilet tissue.  It was like Christmas!!  I couldn’t believe my eyes or the overwhelming feeling of gratitude that filled my heart.  All of these things I needed but I didn’t have the wherewithal to purchase all of them at once.  That is when God taught me a wonderful lesson about supplying all my needs.

In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul boldly and confidently assures his readers of God’s ability and desire to provide all of their needs.  Philippians 4:19 stands as one of the great bedrock promises of the Christian faith“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  Read this passage again very slowly and you will notice two distinct truths embedded in Paul’s words.

First, God will supply not some of our needs but all of them.  So many times in our walk with the Lord, we believe He will supply some of our needs or perhaps most of our needs but we find it difficult to believe that all of our needs will be met.  But look at what the passage says.  Paul states categorically that God will meet all of our needs.  That means every single one of them, no matter how large or small, and no matter how insignificant we think they are.

Second, God provides these needs according to his riches, not according to ours.  My mom and dad purchased the supplies for my apartment from their own personal finances, not from mine.  This was a good thing because my bank balance resembled the widow with two mites.  The same is true with God.  God does not use our resources to provide for us because we simply have no resources to pull from.  But God’s riches are in Christ Jesus.  This means that God has an endless supply of resources and according to those riches, he can and will supply every need we have today. 

When my mom came into the apartment with her arms full of supplies, she looked at me, smiled, and said, “Here are a few things you’ll need.”  However, when we emptied the car, the apartment was filled and actually overflowed into the storage unit.  What a picture of God’s grace and provision this is!  God not only meets our needs, he surpasses them!  He says to us, “Here are some things you’ll need.”  He fills our lives with things we didn’t even consider and always makes sure we are fully stocked with all the wonderful things he has for us in Christ Jesus.  Are you well stocked today?

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

The Lesson of the Sponge


O
ne perk of owning your own business comes from all the samples of neat stuff various salesmen try to sell you.  They enter your place of business—unannounced I must add—open their brief cases—which look more like suitcases—and pull out all types of nifty little samples of their wares.  I remember some of the things my dad used to receive on consistent basis at work.  There were pens, notepads, calendars, refrigerator magnets, you name it. 

Once in a great while, however, a salesman produced something out of the ordinary, an item that was so unique and unusually captivating that you couldn’t help but be mesmerized by it.  I arrived home from school one day to find just such an item sitting on our counter top in the kitchen.  Mom was busy cleaning the kitchen sink and right beside her was a small plastic package filled with a long yellow strip.  Mom picked up the package, tore open the plastic wrapping, and removed the slender material. By now, my curiosity was peaked.  I had no idea what the material was but I rushed to the sink to find out.

Mom threw the strip into the water.  There, right before my eyes, the yellow material began to move and grow.  What was a strip of yellow a few seconds earlier began changing into something two to three times the size.   Finally, it stopped and in the sink was a new sponge, sopping wet, fully loaded, and ready for action.  Mom reached into the sink, took the sponge, wrung out all the excess water, and began using the sponge to clean the cabinets.

I have never forgotten the image of that sponge or the lesson it taught me.  What I learned from that sponge many years ago was one of the greatest of life’s lessons.  The sponge is no good until it is plunged into water, allowed to swell to the bursting point, and wrung out, removing all the unnecessary water.  A sponge that is too dry cannot clean and sponge that is too full just makes a mess.  In order for the sponge to be effective, it has to be both soaked and wrung out.  The soaking part is the fun part but the wringing out process requires work and isn’t terribly exciting and wonderful from the sponge’s perspective.

Perhaps no one in the Bible understood the plight of the sponge better than Noah.  After all, he was plunged into a great sink of water and left there for over a year before he was allowed to exit the ark.  Sometime after his 500th birthday, God called him to build a boat, better known as the ark.  This is proof that retirement at age 65 is NOT biblically based!!  For years Noah labored building the ark, preparing it for the day the first drop of rain would fall.  This was the soaking up part of Noah’s life.  Although he was working hard on the ark, he was gathering strength for the long journey ahead, a journey that would wring out everything but the most necessary element of his life—his faithfulness and obedience to God’s calling.

Genesis 7:23 provides an interesting window into Noah’s life after the rain had stopped. “Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.”  Thus began the wringing out process in Noah’s life.  The account of the flood in Genesis 6-9 tells us that Noah was in the ark for over a year.  During that time, Noah worked, caring for all the animals on the ark, tending to their needs, fulfilling the purpose for which God called him. 

The last sentence of this passage tells us that Noah and those with him were the only one’s left.  Can you feel God’s fingers squeezing the last bit of water from the sponge?  Noah must have felt alone, isolated, and forgotten.  While the waters were soaking the earth, God was wringing him out.  While the tide continued to swell beneath him, God’s purging of his life continued.  While everything else perished, Noah remained alive.

This is God’s way with us.  There are times when we bask in his presence, soaking up all that he has to teach us.  At times such as these, the journey is easy, the spiritual lessons we learn seem so evident, and the presence of God is so near and so real to us.  But there are times when God chooses to wring us out in order to use us for his purposes.  Like the sponge, this means God will remove all but the most essential elements of the spiritual life so that he can use us for his purposes.  At times you may feel abandoned and pressed beyond all measure.  But nothing could be farther from the truth.  God knows where you are, he understands your situation, and he is using it to wring from your life everything that keeps you from being all that he knows and wants you to be. 

Have you experienced the lesson of the sponge in your life?  Are you soaking or are you being wrung out today?  Where ever you are in this process, take heart from another statement from Noah’s life, found in Genesis 8:1, “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.” God always remembers where you are! Have a great day in him today!

Monday, August 21, 2017

Roadside Assistance


L
ast Friday, I got up as usual, made breakfast, made sure Trixie, my cat, had all she needed, made the bed, and got ready for work.  I was ahead of schedule and would arrive at the office with a few extra minutes to enjoy some conversation over a steaming cup of coffee.  Yes, all was going well until I pulled my car out of the garage.  The car’s steering just didn’t feel right and there was a thumping sound as I rolled down the driveway. 

I stopped the car, turned off the radio, put the car back in gear, and gingerly eased it forward.  Yep, there was the thumping sound again and the same resistance in the steering wheel I had felt just a few moments before.  I pulled the car back into the garage, hopped out, and inspected the front passenger side which seemed to be the origin of the noise.  Sure enough, the front right tire was flat; I mean it was on the rim.

Well now, what was I going to do at 6:30 in the morning?  I couldn’t wake my neighbors, I couldn’t call a friend to help change a flat that early in the morning, and changing it myself would have been quite a comedy routine.  Fortunately for me, my car offers a feature which I took full advantage of Friday morning.  A series of three buttons, one for information, one for emergencies, and one for roadside assistance, are located just above my head in the center console.  I pressed the roadside assistance switch and in fewer than thirty-minutes, a technician arrived at my home, changed the tire, and sent me on my merry way!

That got me to thinking about the number of times people call roadside assistance on a daily basis.  So many times, I pass people along the highway who are just waiting for that magic truck to appear and help them out of their predicaments.  Sometimes, I see good Samaritans who will pull off to the roadside just to help someone in need.

Would it surprise you to learn that the idea of roadside assistance dates all the way back to the New Testament?  Don’t believe me?  The let’s spend a few moments together in Acts 8 as we see Phillip, one of the 12 disciples, rendering roadside assistance to the Treasurer of Ethiopia.
As our story opens, the Treasurer of Ethiopia is reading a passage from Isaiah. Phillip asks if he understands what he is reading to which the man categorically states his frustration in understanding because he has no one to explain the passage to him, “The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.” (Acts 8:31)

Do you see this man’s call for roadside assistance?  Can you hear the desperation in his voice as he pleads with Phillip for help? And that is exactly what Phillip did. He climbed up in the man’s carriage and gave expert service so this man would no longer be in need, “So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.”


The road of life is strewn with people who have been stranded by the difficulties and challenges they face.  They don’t know what to do. They don’t know whom to call. They don’t understand why no one will take the time to come alongside and help them.  As Christians, we have been given the solemn order to preach the gospel at all times and to help those who are in need.  Take a good look around you today and you will see so many who are experiencing difficulties.  Won’t you, like Phillip, offer them roadside assistance today?

Friday, August 18, 2017

Before I Was, He Knew!

S
aturday and Sunday mornings at our house were pretty typical.  We would sleep later, drink our coffee slower, and talk with each other longer, easing ourselves into the day ahead.  A visit to my parents’ home in North Carolina several years ago proved to be no exception to this rule.
During these visits, the conversation will invariably turn to events and stories from the past.   On one particular Sunday morning, we were standing in the kitchen, one of my very favorite haunts in any house, just talking about nothing in particular.  The conversation, however, took a turn toward the past. For a few moments, we took a stroll down memory lane, discussing the many ways God had provided for us as a family, and for me in particular.
I was born with several congenital abnormalities for which I have undergone numerous surgeries over the years.  One of these "little challenges" concerns my heart.  In June of 1975, I underwent open-heart surgery to repair a hole between my heart’s upper chambers.  The surgery was successful and I had no difficulties afterward.  I grew stronger and could run and play for longer periods without getting tired.
However, a few years after surgery, the doctors discovered another abnormality with my heart's electrical system that caused me to have sporadic, rapid, irregular heart rhythms.  Actually, they had suspected this problem all along due to my irregular electrocardiogram which did not change markedly after surgery.  They were able to determine the cause of the problem and were able to prescribe medications to keep it in check.
When I travel, I carry a copy of my medical record so that a physician will know what to do in case of an emergency.  In the record are letters between my pediatrician and my first cardiologist at Duke UniversityMedical Center.  Those letters indicate their assurance that, at some point, an irregular rhythm episode would occur and they had discussed possible means of treatment. 
As I read those letters, I couldn't help but be amazed at the way God had put in place the people to help me.  These two doctors, from different parts of the country, met each other in medical school years before I was born.  Nevertheless, God was already working, putting them together so that when I came along, they could provide the medical care I needed and assemble one of the finest medical teams to address this issue. 
Before I was, he knew what I would need and made provision for it.  Before my mom and dad married, before any of this, God knew.  Some would chalk this up to coincidence or luck.  In my experience, there is no such thing.  God either cares for us or he doesn't, he either knows everything or he doesn't, he is either who he says he is or he isn't, we either believe him or we don't.  I choose to believe God is exactly who he says he is and that he knows us and provides for us even when we don't yet exist.
David knew this to be true and penned the following words in Psalm 139:16"Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them."  David knew and understood how awesome God is.  He understood how wonderfully he had been fashioned and he also knew that if God could create everything that exists, then he knew how to take care of it and maintain it. 
Today you may be struggling.  The circumstances you are in may seem so overwhelming and daunting.  You may be wondering where God is and if he even knows or cares about where you are.  Rest assured he does.  He has been making plans for you for years, even before you were born.  Nothing enters your life without his knowledge.  If sparrows do not escape his attention when they fall, nothing in the life of his children goes unnoticed either.  Today's challenges only speak of tomorrow's victories.  Everything you need for this day, God will provide because before you were, he knew!!!

Thursday, August 17, 2017

The Point of No Return!

“T
hey’ve just reached the point of no return. There’ll be no turning back now!” The announcer’s voice boomed over the television set as the Saturn V rocket hurled heavenward, ferrying its cargo of three men and a landing craft toward the moon. 

Those few short words, spoken just moments before, indicated the crew had reached a critical milestone in the flight.  Attached to the very top of the rocket was a small tower equipped with three engines.  This attachment was known as the escape tower.  During launch, the commander of the flight kept his hand on a handle inside the command module.  At the first sign of danger, he could pull that lever and fire the escape tower’s rockets.  The tower would then pull the command module away from the rest of the rocket and land the astronauts safely in the ocean. 

There was, however, one catch to this procedure.  The escape tower could only be used if a problem occurred in the lower atmosphere.  Once the rocket reached a certain altitude the tower was useless. At that point, the commanding astronaut jettisoned the tower from the space craft, severing any possibility of a safe return to Earth. That is why the announcer’s words were at once both wonderful and ominous.  The announcement meant the astronauts were on their way out of earth’s orbit and headed toward their lunar destination. It also meant the crew was committed! The completion of their mission was the only safe way to return to Earth.

The disciples were faced with the same situation as the astronauts above.  They were faced with a moment of truth, a life-or-death-decision, and a choice to commit to Christ or to jettison him. The difference was the disciples had no escape tower and no guarantee of a safe return if they bailed out!

In John 6:66-69 we read these words of Jesus, “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. ‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’”

Wow! Way to go Peter! Jesus gave him the choice.  Peter’s hand was on the escape lever.  He could have pulled it, he could have separated from Christ, and he could have decided to bail out right then and there.  But Peter didn’t and neither did the other disciples. Instead, they passed the point of no return, they committed themselves to the mission, knowing the only way home was to accept and complete the assignment Jesus had for them.

And what about us?  We all face moments of truth.  As Christians, there will be a point of no return when Jesus asks us specifically if we will follow him or reject him.  The choice is ours. Our hands are on the escape lever as we hurl full speed ahead into life.  At a certain moment in our flight God will inform us that we have reached the time of commitment, the point of no return.  On this side of that point we can pull the escape lever and bail out.  But where will we go?  We can also take our hand off that lever and commit to the mission ahead.  The choice is ours.  What will our decision be?  Bail or commit? 

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

The Bridge on Mulberry Street


T
he bridge on Mulberry Street was very popular with the folks in my hometown of CherryvilleNorth Carolina.  For starters, it was (and still is) the only bridge in town and the only way to get from one side of the city to the other when a train comes through.  Cherryville is split into two sections by railroad tracks and when a train is barreling through, you only have two options: sit at one of the crossings and wait or make a dash for the bridge on Mulberry Street.
As a kid, I loved to ride my bike across that bridge.  When a train was coming, it was neat to stop at the very top of the bridge and watch the approaching engine and the heavy cars behind it.  As the train went under the bridge, it would shake and vibrate, the heat from the engine’s smoke stack would hit you right in the face, and the conductor would blow the whistle.   Needless to say, it was a blast!
That bridge was an important part of my childhood.  The bridge was originally made of wood and had remained that way since it was built.  In recent years, the bridge was refurbished and made safer with concrete supports and guardrails.  Nevertheless, the bridge is still on Mulberry Streetand it still provides safe passage from one side of town to the other when the trains come through.
In addition, to providing a convenient crossing, that bridge has also given me some wonderful opportunities to reflect.  I remember several summer evenings I would ride my bike to the bridge and look down the tracks as far as I could see in both directions.  In the distance I could see cars crossing the railroad tracks at several places and occasionally I could see a train coming way before I could hear the whistle or feel its vibrations.  I was never afraid of the oncoming train because I knew the bridge was strong and I knew it would keep me safe when the train arrived.
The bridge on Mulberry Street represents the times when God has provided a way for me to cross safely over many difficulties in my life.  Through the many changes, trials, heartaches, and challenges I encounter in life, I always find that God builds a bridge so I can safely cross over all the things life puts in my way.
The prophet Isaiah reminds his readers of the many times God provides safe passage for his people.  Isaiah 51:10 reads, Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea so that the redeemed might cross over?” Although Isaiah is reminding us of the parting of the Red Sea, God makes a way for all of us on a daily basis.
This is especially true when we consider the way he made for us at Calvary. Like my hometown of Cherryville, there was a gulf separating us from God.  However, the gulf was so wide and deep that there was no way we could cross it on our own.  Without a bridge, we were eternally separated from our Heavenly Father with no hope of reunion. 
Then God sent Jesus to die for us, to build a bridge across that gulf and give us safe passage from where we were to where we needed to be.  That bridge is still there, still strong, still sturdy, and still able to provide safe passage to everyone who chooses to cross over to a new life with God.
The next time I’m home, you can bet I’ll cross that bridge at least once, if not more.  I’ll stop at the top, lean over the railing, and watch the approaching train.  And, as I have done so many times in my life, I’ll thank God that there is a bridge on Mulberry Street. 

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Take As Directed

T
ake as directed!  These are the instructions written across the label of the prescription bottle containing my heart medication.  Twice a day, I open this bottle, remove one of the capsules, take the medicine, and continue on with my day.  It has just become a part of my daily routine.
For the past thirty-nine years, I have been taking medication to control episodes of irregular heart rhythms. Although the medications have changed over the years, the necessity of taking them each day has remained the same.  Some of the medications required four doses per day, some required three doses, and my present medication requires only two.
The potency of the drug determines how long I can go between doses.  The important thing is to maintain a constant level of medication in my body so my heart will always be protected and have the resources it needs in times of trouble.  If I don’t maintain the proper level of medication, then I run the risk of experiencing a rapid heart rhythm.
Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, also wrote a prescription to keep man’s heart in the proper working order.  When his disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he gave them the prayer that millions have learned by heart.  This prayer has been repeated in times of joy, times of sadness, times of fear, and times of isolation by people all over the world.
Yet, very few of us ever take notice of the wonderful truths contained within this brief conversation with God. Jesus’ third statement in this prayer reveals the secret to maintaining a healthy relationship with God and keeping our hearts pure before him.  Jesus says in Luke 11:3, Give us each day our daily bread.” 
In this one statement, Jesus conveys two essential truths of the Christian life.  First, God supplies us with our daily sustenance. He is the one who provides our food and all the necessities to sustain life.  We must always look to him as the source of all that we have, the wellspring from which our lives flow.  
When was the last time you thanked God for the several thousand times your heart beats in a day?  When was the last time you thanked him for the hundreds of breaths you draw?  When was the last time you thanked him for your ability to hear, see, smell, feel, taste, etc.?
Second, Jesus’ words can be applied spiritually as well.  He is the bread of life and we need to partake of him daily.  This is the only way to keep our hearts safe, protected, and acceptable before God.  God’s word is our heart medicine.  Without it, our hearts just don’t run correctly and they risk getting us into trouble. However, if we spend time in God’s word, feeding on it, concentrating on it, and making it a part of our lives, we will find that our relationship with God will stay healthy.
If you knew your heart wasn't working properly, you’d make an appointment with your doctor who would then send you to see a cardiologist.  Whatever the doctor prescribed, you would do in order to protect and heal your heart.  How much more important is it, then, to follow the prescription that God gives us?  Who knows the human heart better?  Who better than God knows what we need on a daily basis to keep us spiritually fit and in working order?  Take as directed!  Have you had your medicine today?

Monday, August 14, 2017

Made By Hand

I
t is no secret to anyone who knows me that I have no talent for working with my hands.  I often joke that I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler, even if that ruler is nailed down.  Believe me; this is not far from the truth!  No matter how much I want to, I simply don’t have the dexterity or the talent to create things with my hands.  In this area, my brother definitely got the lion’s share!

When Kevin was younger, he took some classes in ceramics from one of our local residents who had a kiln in her home. He enjoyed making all kinds of things, several of which my parents still have and use.  I remember him explaining how a piece of ceramic is made.  First, you have to select a mold, pour mud into it, remove the items from the mold, clean them up, fire them in a kiln, paint them, and fire them one more time.  There are a few other steps as well but this is the basic process.  He made some wonderful pieces and I couldn’t wait to see what he would bring home next.

When he went to college, he majored in art.  One of the courses he took was a pottery class.  He also made some very nice pieces but this time the process was different.  Instead of pouring mud into ready-made molds, he had to take clay and fashion a piece from a design already in his mind.  There were no guidelines to follow, no molds to give shape to the clay, and no pre-determined outcome for the piece.  Every piece was unique because it was made completely by hand.  Kevin could look at the finished product with great pride because he had created it from scratch, making sure that it was just the way he wanted it, and every piece he made was unique.

When it comes to his children, God is not in the ceramic business; he is in the pottery business.  He insists on using his own hands, fashioning us individually, making us just the way he wants us, shaping and molding us into the design he has in mind.  Like the potter, God has a definite design and purpose in mind for each of his creations.  This was something the prophet Jeremiah learned from the very moment God placed a call on his life.

Jeremiah 1:5 records God’s conversation with Jeremiah.  This verse reveals not only Jeremiah’s call but also the purpose for which God created him. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”  If we look very closely into this verse, we will see the plan God had in mind for Jeremiah. 

First, God knew Jeremiah before the he was born.  In fact, God says he knew the prophet long before he was formed.  Let that sink in!  Most of us find it hard to believe that someone takes time to think about us on a regular basis but God states just the opposite here.  He was thinking about Jeremiah before Jeremiah ever existed.  That means that God was planning every detail of his life and preparing Jeremiah for the call and for the purpose God would assign to him.

Second, God has a special plan for Jeremiah, a plan unique to him.  Before his birth, God set Jeremiah apart to accomplish a task and to fulfill a purpose in his great plan.  That purpose was to raise Jeremiah up to be a prophet, not only to Israel, but to the nations.  Jeremiah was not made from a mold; instead he was molded into the man God meant for him to be.

What a wonderful word of encouragement for us today!  God is still in the business of making us into the vessels he wants us to be.  Before we were ever born, before our parents were born or their parents were born, God already had plans for us.  He wants to mold us and shape us into pieces that can be used for his glory.  Every one of us is a unique work, made by God himself with special talents and abilities to carry out the plans he has for us. 

Today, as you go about your routine, let this truth fill your mind and your soul.  Like a fine piece of pottery, you were designed and made by hand and you bear the personal touch and the fingerprints of the very hand of God!