Let Nothing Be Wasted

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he main hallway of West Lincoln High School hadn’t changed much in the 9 years I had been teaching there.  Every day kids would pass through on their way to classes, or on their way to the gym, or, if it were during fourth period, they would be on their way to the cafeteria for lunch.  I would walk down the hallway if I needed to go to the office to file a report, pick up a package, or see the ladies who ran the office and kept all of us on the straight and narrow.

But one afternoon, in the spring of 1995, the hallway at West Lincoln High School was suddenly different.  It was during my planning period and I was on my way back to my classroom after a quick visit to the lounge for a much-needed cup of coffee.  As I turned to make my way up the ramp connecting the upper hall to the main foyer, my world changed. It was there that I felt the call to enter the ministry.

In the weeks that followed, the feeling and the call grew stronger. Finally, I went to see my principal who told me that this was something I needed to pursue earnestly and sincerely.  So, I began looking at seminaries and learning all I could about answering God’s call on my life.

I made arrangements to visit a seminary a few hours from home.  What I had not yet done was to tell my parents I was going to seminary.  I mean how do you, at the age of 33, tell your mom and dad you’re leaving your job, you have no idea where you are going, and you have absolutely no idea how you are going to meet your financial obligations?

I just remember asking my mom one question.  I asked her, “Mom, please tell me that my life to this point has not been wasted!” She assured me it had not but I wasn’t totally convinced until I re-read the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand.

John records what I believe to be the most important statement about this miracle.  After the people have sat down, after the little boy has shared his lunch of five loaves and two fishes, and after all the people have eaten their fill, Jesus tells his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” (John 6:12).

Those last four words from Jesus jumped right off the page!  God is not in the business of wasting anything. No trial, no hardship, no difficulty, nothing is ever wasted in God’s plan.  Everything he does, every plan he makes, every situation he causes to come into our lives is not wasted.  All of it works for our good, just as Paul wrote in Romans 8:28.

Wherever you are today in your walk with the Lord, please know that everything you have gone through in the past, every single trial, hardship, or blessing has had its purpose and has made you the person and the Christian you are now.  God has been working on you, molding you and shaping you into the person he wants you to be and all the preparation has been for the work he has for you to do. No matter where you are or what you are facing you can be sure that nothing will be wasted!

A Tried and Trusted Friend

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y friend Larry has been around for as long as I can remember.  In fact, we have pictures of him dating back to my very early childhood, around the age of two or so.  Although every member of my family knew Larry, he and I were especially close and practically inseparable.  If I was watching television, Larry was with me.  If I decided to take a nap, Larry stood guard over me while I slept and sometimes he would even make it to the table for supper.  After eating, he and I would dart off to my room or somewhere else to play or just to talk.

Larry was a good listener.  I could talk to him about anything and he always listened, never interrupting, letting me get it all out in the open.  Larry gave great hugs as well.  He was never too busy and never too tired to comfort me.  He was always there; ready to listen, hug, laugh, and play when I needed it most.

As I grew older, Larry and I saw less and less of each other. In fact, for several years, I didn’t see him at all.  I almost forgot about him but from time to time he would cross my mind and a flood of wonderful memories came rushing back.  Finally, one day in August of 2002, Larry showed back up at my place.  He found me in Fort Worth, TX and has once again become a constant companion.

Ok, I have to make a confession.  Larry is not a person.  Larry is a lion, a talking toy produced by the Mattel ® Toy Corporation in the early 1960’s.  He is the first toy I remember and we have stayed together all these years.  When I pull Larry’s string, he talks.  His messages are few, simple, and always the same.  But those words that I heard as a boy still make me smile and laugh.

Larry is a tried & trusted friend.  He has been present during crises and triumphs, during skinned knees and skinned hearts, during times of sickness and times of excellent health, and on more occasions than I can count, he has stood watch over my bed while I slept, a lone sentinel in the night, protecting me from harm.  In all these years, Larry has never changed and as our friendship continues I know he will continue to be the same in the years ahead.

I have another friend who is even more constant and more trusted than Larry the Lion.  This friend is real and his name is Jesus.  He also has been present during every stage of my life, even before I was born.  He saw me when I was still a secret to my mother.  He was there at my birth, he was there when I accepted his gift of salvation, he was there in all of life’s challenges, during all of life’s joys, and during all of life’s disappointments.  Every night and all day long, he keeps watch over me, protecting me from harm, providing food, clothing, and shelter and meeting every need I have.

He is a good listener, understanding all my disappointments, hurts, and fears.  He is a great hugger, opening his arms wide to enfold me when I need it most, giving me the reassurance that he is still in control and that he cares for and loves me just as I am.  But when he speaks, his words carry such comfort, such strength, and such love.  At every turn, Jesus reassures me that just as he was with all those who walked this way before me, he will be with me as I walk it today and he will never leave me no matter how dark or steep the road grows in the days ahead. 

The writer of Hebrews 13:8 expresses this great truth like this, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  Do you know him as your tried and trusted friend today? 

Dimmer Switch Christianity

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ne of the most exciting events about refurbishing our home was turning on the lights!  We had worked for several months replacing all the old, tattered wiring with new copper wire placed safely in aluminum conduit.  Finally, when all the conduit was in place and most of the wire was threaded, we made the connections, took a long extension cord, and “plugged” the house into the temporary electrical service installed for this purpose.

I will never forget our excitement as three or four lights suddenly sprang to life.  Where once the house had been in total darkness, it was now bathed in bright spotlight.  This meant we could now work during the day or night finishing the restoration, transforming the house into a comfortable living space.

Later, when the house was completed and we put in all the light fixtures, we installed dimmer switches in the bedrooms.  This allowed me to adjust the amount of light in my bedroom according to my mood.  Reading a book, writing, or studying required all the available light the lamps could muster.  However, listening to soft music, taking a nap, or just relaxing, meant less light or no light was needed and I adjusted the lights accordingly. The dimmer switches worked wonderfully and allowed me to control the amount of power flowing so the room became as bright or as dark as I wanted.

Unfortunately, we often apply the principle of the dimmer switch to our walk with God.  We tailor our witness to reflect the mood of the person with whom we are sharing our faith or the circumstances in which we find ourselves.  Instead of sharing from our hearts, we step back and worry how we will be received and we adjust our witness so as not to offend or cause discomfort.  

Too often we water down our testimony or we refuse to speak about Jesus at all because we fear being rejected or ridiculed for our beliefs.  In essence, we dim the light of our witness, trying to control just how much of Jesus others can see in us.  At times we shine so brightly while at others, the light hovers just above a slight glow.  The result is an inconsistent witness, one that is different for different people and circumstances.  This simply must not be!  Jesus has not called us to take a dimmer switch approach to sharing the gospel.

In Matthew 5:15-16 we read, “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” This passage comes from the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7.  In this sermon, Jesus explains his ministry and brings new insights and understanding to the Law given through Moses and the way in which the believer is to conduct himself in his relationship to God.

The verse tells us very plainly that our witness is to be very bright, using the full power of Christ to share God’s love and salvation with all those around us.  Dimmer switch Christianity is not an option!  Jesus never selected his words or represented the power of God’s love in order to reflect a mood.  He spoke the truth to everyone he met and his witness was always the same no matter the person or situation.  This is what he has called us to do as his followers.  We must present the gospel at full power, never compromising its message regardless of the situation, person, or our mood at the time.

Are we shining examples of God’s love, mercy, and grace today?  Are we allowing our lights to shine full force in the darkness, drawing others to God and His son, Jesus Christ?  When we flip the switch to the “on” position, is it evident that the love of God burns brightly within us or do people have to search very hard to find it because we are using a dimmer switch?  Are we practicing dimmer switch Christianity today?

Start Your Engine!

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his morning I already have items that will require my attention at various points during the day. My calendar has appointments beginning just after I arrive in the office.  I also have some reports to review, a meeting to attend, some phone calls to make, and, no doubt, there will be plenty of e-mail to answer. My day is already full and I haven’t even left the house yet!  Does this sound familiar to you?  Some days just seemed to be filled with more responsibilities than others and before they get started, they are over.  That’s just the way it is.

The interesting part is this, all these activities represent a mere fraction of what today holds.  The items listed above are the things I have on my calendar; I have no idea what God has on His for today but I’m sure that I will find out before this day is over.  My car, sitting quietly in the garage, is waiting for me to jump in and start its engine.  I will point it in one direction but who knows, there may be several places it takes me that are simply not considerations at this moment. 

There is a story in the New Testament book of Acts that expresses this very idea.  Philip started his day heading in a southerly direction.  Before the day was over, however, he had made a new friend, ridden in a chariot, taught a Bible lesson, and had gone swimming.  None of these things were on his “to do” list for the day but the list was amended as the day progressed.

Let’s take a brief look at Philip’s day and see how events unfolded after he started his engine.Acts 8:27 simply says, “So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship"

At first glance this passage seems to be just a simple explanation of a routine journey from one place to another.  On the surface we know that Philip began his journey and met a man fromEthiopia who held an important position in the government.  We also learn that at this time Candace was queen of the Ethiopians and that the man’s purpose for being in Jerusalem was to worship.  But if that is all we see in this verse, we need to have our eyes examined.  There is so much more, a great lesson which centers around just two little phrases, “he started out” and “on his way.”

Just before today’s passage, Philip received instructions form an angel that he was to journey south.  So Philip started his journey. This is the most important point in today’s lesson.  So often we receive a clear directive from the Lord.  We know what we are to do, we are certain of where we need to go, and we become aware of the next step we are to take.  So often, however, we fail to start out, never quite getting on the road. Things creep in, other appointments clog our schedules and we find ourselves at the end of the day in the same place we occupied at the beginning.  Although we “did” a lot of things, we made no forward progress in our walk with the Lord.

But starting out was only the first part of the journey.  Philip started the engine and traveled in the indicated direction but there was an unforeseen stop along the way.  Actually, this is what the Lord had planned for Philip all along but Philip wasn’t aware of it until he heard the Ethiopian man reading from the book of Isaiah.  The angel told him to go to the man and when Philip did, he had an opportunity to explain the Scriptures and share the gospel with him.  None of this would have been possible had Philip not started his engine. 

And where are you headed today, my friend?  Have you started your engine?  Are you ready to start out, heading in the direction God has for you today?  Who knows what situations await you or whose life you may touch today.  Whatever you do and wherever you are, I pray that God will use you to touch those around you.  Don’t be surprised if you make several “unforeseen stops” along the way.  That is the blessing of the journey and the wonderful privilege of serving Jesus Christ.  Have you started your engine today?

On The Other Side of the Door

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here is something unique about the view from a hospital gurney. The ride from my hospital bed to the operating room seemed interminable because all I could see were the lights overhead as they passed by.  Voices unfamiliar to me were all around and my sense of direction was all out of whack!  Mom and dad were close by, following right behind as we made our way through the labyrinth of Duke University Medical Center on our way to the operating suite. 

When we arrived, the gurney came to an abrupt halt!  We had come to the green double doors that indicated the moment of separation had come.  On this side of the doors mom and dad were close by, giving me assurance that all would be well.  On the other side of the doors lay the operating room and the unknown.  After we said our goodbyes, the gurney moved forward, this time without mom and dad’s supervision, and I entered those unfamiliar surroundings all by myself!   

This is exactly how Joshua must have felt when the reality of Moses’s death and the realization that he would be the one leading the people into the Promised Land hit home. The journey to the Jordan River and the Promised Land had been a long one.  Joshua had experienced mana, the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day.  He had accompanied Moses to Mt. Sinai where God gave the ten commandments, and he lived through the 40 years of wondering in the wilderness.  He and Caleb were the only two of twelve spies left who had actually seen the Promised Land.  But none of this prepared him to take the reins from Moses and lead the people over the Jordan River to possess the land.

On this side of the doors lay the history of his people and all he had known.  On the other side, even though he knew the land was theirs, lay the unknown.  How would they conquer the land?  How long would it take?  Could he do it?  What would happen if he should fail?  The questions must have been innumerable in Joshua’s mind as he played out one scenario after another.

What Joshua needed was support and assurance and that is exactly what God gave him.  In Joshua 1:9 we find these words of comfort, assurance, and encouragement: ^“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Take a few moments, slow down, and read that verse again, very carefully.  Notice that it begins with a question as God reminds Joshua that he has given a direct command. Joshua is not to be afraid, he is not to be discouraged. No matter how long the conquest lasted, no matter how many cities he had to vanquish, and no matter the size of the armies he would encounter, God’s command was clear: be strong and courageous, do not be afraid.  These were not requests or suggestions; they were commands. But the commands were followed by the promise that God would be with Joshua every step of the way.  The word, wherever, means just that.  There was nowhere Joshua could go, no situation he could face, no obstacle he could encounter without God being right along beside him!

And how about today?  How about the situations in life that we face, the obstacles we encounter, and the situations that overwhelm us and seem to grow bigger and bigger with each passing moment?  God’s answer is exactly the same as it was on the day he spoke these words to Joshua.  No matter where we are, no matter what difficulties we face, no matter how impossible the circumstances, and no matter how dark the way ahead seems to be, the God we serve is with us wherever we go—no questions asked!  Just a few verses before this, God makes this promise to Joshua: “…As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Several hours after passing through those double doors I emerged. I was sleepy, tired, very sore, and completely changed.  On the other side of those doors God was waiting for me and, although surrounded by unfamiliar faces, voices, and difficult circumstances, I was not alone! And neither are you my friend, neither are you!

Sit Back and Enjoy the Ride

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ne particular Saturday morning, the weather was perfect.  The sun was shining, there were no clouds in the sky, the temperature was very mild, and there was little humidity to speak of.  It was the perfect day to tend to some much-needed errands before jetting off to attend a wedding Saturday evening.  So I got up early, made a few phone calls, ate a late breakfast, dressed, and headed out the door to tackle the day ahead.

First stop, the car wash.  My car was in desperate need of a bath and I don’t mean a quick suds and rinse.  What it needed was more like a blast from a water canon in order to remove all the “little surprises” left by several flocks of birds passing through the area.  So I headed down the road to visit a brand new carwash that opened only a few weeks ago.  I had a coupon and figured it couldn’t hurt.  Anything would have been an improvement in the appearance of my car.

I arrived at the car wash, spoke with the attendant who explained the different levels of service offered, made my selection, and drove around to wait my turn in line.  Finally, I was given the go ahead to maneuver my car into position.  I approached the entrance very slowly until the attendant motioned for me to stop my vehicle.  I complied with his request and he immediately applied a thick coat of suds and gave my car a thorough hand washing.  He then instructed me to inch forward and place my front tires into an automatic conveyer system that would conduct my car through the remaining portion of the wash.  He was very clear with his instructions:  “Place the car in neutral.  Take your hands off the wheel.  Don’t apply the brakes until you reach the end of the line.”

It had been a long time since I remained in the car while the car wash machines did their thing.  I noticed that as the conveyor system took charge, the car moved forward on its own.  The steering wheel moved but the car maintained its steady, forward pace.  I was no longer in control.  A sudden noise jolted in my seat.  Strong water jets pummeled my car with pressurized streams removing all the dirt and grime caked on the outside.  Then I was under attack by several blue swirling brushes that scrubbed the dirt from the sides of my car.  The windshield was also a prime target as huge, soapy strips of material covered it, totally obscuring my view.  The car continued to inch forward in spite of the fact I didn’t know where I was going and could see nothing. Finally, I arrived at the end of the line where my car was dried by several strong automatic fans.  When I exited the car wash, my car was clean.

As I drove a way, however, I realized I had just experienced something the Apostle Paul spoke of over two thousand years ago. In his writings, Paul used the term “in Christ” on numerous occasions.  But I wondered if I really had a true grasp of what Paul really meant.  After the car wash, I believe my understanding of that term has greatly deepened.

Like the car wash, being in Christ has certain elements that go along with it.  The first is relinquishing all control of our lives.  Jesus must take the wheel, steering us in the proper direction, even though we can’t see where we are going.  There will be sights and sounds along the way that frighten and worry us.  The path ahead may be completely obscured and at any moment the rough circumstances of life may brush against us, causing us pain and discomfort.  But none of these things can harm us as long as we are in Christ.  As long as I remained in my car, I didn’t get wet, I wasn’t’ beaten around by the brushes in the car wash, the killer soapy strips didn’t beat me about the head, and although I couldn’t see where I was going, the conveyor system had a firm grip on the car.  As long as I remained in the car, I was safe.  Although I was aware of all the commotion and the scrubbing action against my car outside, inside I was safe, comfortable, and dry.

In 1 Corinthians 1:4, Paul writes, “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”  This is such a comforting and revealing statement by the Apostle Paul to his readers.  Paul makes two wonderful observations in this sentence. Paul speaks of God’s grace and being in Christ in the same breath.  He rightly observes that we only receive God’s grace when we are in fact in Christ Jesus.  Being in Christ means that we have placed our lives in his hands and that we relinquish utter and total control to him. We go where he leads, when he leads, and obey his commands, trusting in him at all times.  When we place ourselves in Christ, he surrounds us and protects us from the things in life that would separate us from God.  This does not mean life will never be difficult.  It does not mean we will never be tempted again or that we will never have any trying circumstances in life.  But it does mean that we will never go through these times alone and it does mean we can and will come through them with God’s help.

On that Saturday, I did indeed learn a lesson about God’s grace and being in Christ.  Had it not been for the car, I would have been soaked, sprayed, scrubbed, soaped, and washed up.  However, inside the car, although aware of all the commotion on the outside, I was safe and calm on the inside.  The ride may not have been one I would have chosen on a daily basis, but I was able to sit back and enjoy it.  I was not upset by it because I knew that I was secure in the car and that nothing on the outside could penetrate its protection.  Keeping this in mind, we must ask ourselves one question:  Are we enjoying our ride down life’s highway today?  If we are in Christ, the answer is yes.  If not, help is just a prayer away!

How Low Can You Go?

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t was a gorgeous Friday afternoon. I had just finished teaching my last class and was enjoying the drive back home.  The sun was shining, the sky was clear, the music was pleasant, and I was feeling great!!  Everything was going my way, no problems in sight!

All that changed in a split second!  One glance at my instrument panel sent a wave of fear over me.  Suddenly, the music didn't seem so cheerful, the weather didn't seem so pleasant, and the weekend seemed like an eternity away.  The needle on my fuel gauge was parked right on empty.  There was no distance between the needle and the E!  I was riding on fumes, hoping against hope the car wouldn't stop on the freeway!

I quickly calculated the distance to the nearest gas station and began praying.  I was praying and driving, driving and praying, doing my best to remain calm in the face of this desperate situation.  I normally keep a close watch on my fuel levels but this particular week, I hadn't kept as close a watch and I was paying for it.

Finally, I saw my exit, left the freeway, and pulled into the filling station.  The gas wasn't the most inexpensive, but I didn't have any choice. I was just glad to have the opportunity to fill my tank, regardless of price!  While I stood there, slowing my breathing, I reflected on what had just happened. If I had paid closer attention to my gauges, I would have had no worries and I could have paid less for gas.  As it was, I was scared, worried, and a few bucks over budget for gasoline that week.

My adventure at the gas pump has a direct parallel in the New Testament.  In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins who were awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom so they could go in with him to the marriage feast.  Five of them brought extra oil for their lamps and five of them didn't.  When the bridegroom came, five of them were ready to go in but the other five were not.

Matthew 25:3 reveals Jesus’ assessment of those who were not ready, who didn't pay attention to their fuel levels. “The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.”  These five did only half the job!  They took their lamps, they made provision for the short term, but they brought no oil in case the party started later.  That is exactly what happened.  The bridegroom delayed his coming and their oil ran out.

When the groom came, they were unprepared to meet him.  They asked their five friends to share oil with them but they refused lest there not be enough oil for them.  While the five foolish virgins went to buy oil, the bridegroom came and they missed the party!

The application for us is a good one.  How low can we go before we realize we are in trouble?  How often do we pay attention to the fuel gauges in our spiritual lives?  Are we keeping our tanks full, drawing our supply from God and his word?  Are we refueling our lives from his provision, running on the fuel he provides?  Or are we like the five foolish virgins, making provision for the short term but never thinking ahead?

When we fail to keep our tanks filled, when we let them run dry, then we run a great risk.  We will stop to fill them at the nearest station, taking on lower grade fuel at a higher price and we always pay for it.  God never intends for this to happen to us. He provides the best fuel in constant supply.  All we need do is fill our tanks each day and keep a watch on our gauges.  The world cannot supply the fuel we need; it can only come from God.

So, what does your fuel gauge read?  Do you have a full tank, half of a tank, or are you slap on empty?  Are you enjoying the ride or are you panicking today?

All In One Place

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 was fortunate to grow up in a small North Carolina town.  It wasn’t exactly Mayberry, few towns are, but it did provide a nice environment in which to grow up and learn about life.  One of my favorite things to do was to go downtown.  Most of the activity in our community centered around the small stores and shops located on Main Street.  Here, you could find just about anything and everything you wanted. 

There were two drugstores, two men’s shops, two ladies’ shops, a dime store, a movie theater, a hotel, a small family-owned grocery store, three barber shops, a bank, a savings and loan association, a hardware store, a general mercantile, and two department stores.  You could spend all day downtown, browsing through the shops, pausing to talk to the store owners as well as the people on the street.  Everyone knew everyone else and there was always something to talk about and news to catch up on.

Usually, I would accompany one of my parents on these little jaunts downtown.  My mom would go to the grocery store or to one of the clothing stores to get something she needed.  My dad usually went to the hardware store, the general mercantile, or one of the men’s shops to find what he wanted.  I never gave much thought to the fact that we visited different stores for different things.  It just seemed to be the way things were done.  If my dad needed nails or screws, we went to the hardware. If my mom needed bread and milk, we went to the corner grocery.  And if we needed clothes, we went to one of the several shops downtown.

However, when I turned sixteen and was able to chauffeur myself around, I began to notice a difference in the way people shopped.  In the towns to the west and east of us, several large department stores had been built.  It was possible to go to these stores and purchase a number of different items under one roof.  The stores offered everything from house paint to shoestrings, from ink pens to motor oil, and cassette tapes to chewing gum.  In time, these large stores gave way to the super, mega stores we are accustomed to today where you can have your prescriptions filled while you wait to have new tires placed on your car.

In a way, our spiritual lives resemble my hometown during my childhood. We are constantly looking for answers to all of life’s questions.  We visit one place to find answers about life’s trials and challenges, we look in certain books to discover our “inner child”, we turn to various spas and exercise establishments to “feel good” about ourselves, and we chase after anyone who can teach us how to “take control” of our destinies.  However, all this running around trying to find satisfaction only leaves us unfulfilled and more confused and frustrated.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could find what we really needed and wanted in one place?  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could locate everything under one roof without having to run all over creation looking for an answer?

Well, there is such a place and the Apostle Paul knew just where to find it.  In his letter to the Philippians, he makes the following promise to his readers: “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) Notice that Paul does not encourage the Philippians to seek the answers to their questions in various places.  He never tells them to explore a certain new idea, or to run after such and such a promise.  Instead, Paul states very plainly that the answer to all of life’s questions is found in one person, Jesus Christ.

Not only does Jesus hold the answers to all of life’s most pressing questions, he is also the source that supplies all our needs.  Notice Paul’s words in this verse.  God meets all our needs—not some, but all—according to his riches in Jesus Christ.  You want to talk about finding everything under one roof, here it is.  No matter what your need, physical, emotional, financial, social, spiritual, relational, marital, etc., Jesus Christ stocks everything necessary to address and fulfill all of them.  There is no need too small or great that he cannot completely satisfy.  He has everything we need all in one place.  Won’t you pay him a visit today?

Busted!

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ost people would never associate mining with North Carolina. In fact, when most people think of North Carolina, they imagine rolling hills, lush forests, vast tracts of pasture lands, sand dunes along the coast, and trees of every variety.  This is all true and very accurately describes my home state, but there are other things about the area that people just don’t consider.

Very close to my hometown, was a large mine which removed lithium ore from the ground.  North Carolina is one of the leading states for the production of this mineral.  The mine employed many people in our area and provided for an interesting field trip for the local school children. I will never forget seeing that large hole in the ground nor the size of the equipment needed for removing the huge boulders left after blasting occurred.

One of the by-products of the mine was gravel.  Large boulders were crushed into smaller rock which was sold to companies and individuals to be used for various reasons.  I went with my dad once to the mine to get a load of gravel.  The parking lot behind his business used to be gravel and after so much wear and tear on the lot, it was time to replenish the old gravel with new.

We took a large dump truck, drove to the mine, paid for a load of gravel, and waited for it to be loaded.  While we were there, I watched them make gravel.  It was a very interesting process.  Large boulders were placed into a heavy piece of machinery which proceeded to break the large chunk into millions of small fragments and shards.  The noise was deafening but when it was over, the large boulder had been rendered into very small pieces which could then be used for driveways, flowerbeds, drainage ditches, etc.  The large rock was useless; but once broken into pieces, it had many new and useful applications.

This is a wonderful lesson for us today.  Many times, in the Christian life, we feel as if God is breaking us into smaller pieces.  He digs deep, pulls out a large chunk of our hearts, and then places it in the grinder.  Just when we feel we have nothing left to give, God takes what we have and crushes it into smaller pieces.  Although we don’t understand why, his purpose is to make us more useful for him.

Jesus demonstrated this at the feeding of the five thousand.  A little boy brought him five loaves and two fish.  Among so many people, they were nothing.  They would hardly feed a little boy, much less a throng of five thousand people.  Yet, when Jesus took those items in his hands, he fed the multitude, until all of them had as much as they wanted.

Matthew 14:19 shows how Jesus accomplished this task, “And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.”  Jesus gave thanks for the fish and the bread and then he broke them.  That is the secret we need to see today.

In their original form, these loaves and fish could only feed one little boy.  They were meant for his lunch, to sustain him until he arrived home for dinner.  However, when Jesus began to break them, they took on much more ability.  Not only did they feed the little lad, they fed the entire group with twelve baskets full of pieces left over.

Today, you may feel as if you are being broken and crushed.  From your perspective, this brings confusion and frustration.  From God’s perspective, however, it makes perfect sense.  He is using you to touch the lives of countless others, others who are tired and hungry for spiritual food.  Who knows how many people your life will touch if you will yield yourself to the Master’s hand?  Won’t you let him break you today?

Let's Face It!

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 simply love to read quotations. On the Internet, in a book, in magazines, you name it; I love to read the profound statements others have made.  This provides good food for thought and causes me to see things in a different perspective.

A few days ago, I was visiting one of my favorite Internet sites which boasts literally thousands of quotations. You can look them up by subject matter and author.  The site also provides several quotes at random on a daily basis.  One quote I found really caused me to stop and think: “Facing it, always facing it, that's the way to get through. Face it.”  The quote is from English novelist, Joseph Conrad.

I really like this perspective and for anyone who has ever faced a challenge or any of life’s difficulties it is understood that there are only two options from which to choose. We either turn and run from the situation or we face it—there simply is no other possibility open to us.

The prophet Isaiah knew all about facing difficult situations in life but he also knew that we do not, and should not try, to face them alone.  In Isaiah 43:2 we read, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Notice that the word through is mentioned three distinct times in this passage.  The writer speaks of water, rivers, and fire and at every turn he assures us that God will be with us.  We don’t face anything as God’s children on our own.  He is always with us in every trial, in every challenge, and in every one of life’s uncertainties.  They are uncertainties to us; not to God.

Jesus, himself, reminded his disciples of this fact just before his death. In John 16 Jesus promises his disciples two things: 1) that they would have trouble in the world, and 2) that he had overcome the world.  This does not mean that we, as Christians, will lead a worry-free life.  On the contrary, that we will have trouble is a promise but Jesus equally assures us he will be with us and that we will face no problem he has not overcome.

Joseph Conrad is correct.  We must face things in life to get through them and Isaiah reminds us that in every situation, every trial, every difficulty, and every pain that God is with us, through it all!!  Are you ready to face the challenges of the day ahead?  God is waiting on you!

The Search Party

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ne day, just after lunch, I stepped out on the west porch of the men’s dorm at Southwestern Seminary and watched a group of squirrels searching for nuts.  They scampered about the yard, feverishly digging, searching for nuts, or anything else that resembled food.  They took no notice of me or the fact that it was raining; the only thing on their agenda was locating and picking up nuts.  Their dedication to this task was total and was evidenced by the way they conducted their search. 

Each squirrel ran along the ground with its nose working overtime.  When they came upon a promising spot, they began feverishly digging, concentrating on the task at hand.  Suddenly, they stopped, pulled an object from the ground, and examined it thoroughly.  If they found a nut, they would scamper off and hide it, then they would return and begin the search over again.  However, if the object they removed was inedible, they tossed it aside and started the process all over again.  Occasionally, they would sit up on their hind legs, shake the rainwater from their fur, shoot me an inquisitive glance, and resume their endless and tireless search for nuts.

As I watched them, I suddenly became enthralled with their dedication to this task.  Here, on a soggy afternoon, in conditions that were anything but favorable, these squirrels methodically and assiduously continued their search for food.  The conditions outside and the presence of strangers did not deter them from the task at hand.  Instead, they gave their full concentration to one single goal, finding pecans.

This, I believe, is the kind of dedication the prophet Jeremiah was speaking of in his writing. Jeremiah 29:13 conveys a promise that God speaks to his people.  The Hebrew people have been held captive in Babylon and now the time for their return has come.  However, God doesn’t want them to be free only in the physical sense; instead, he wants them to experience the freedom that comes only in a loving and personal relationship with him.  Notice his words in this passage of scripture, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

This short statement contains both a promise and a condition.  First, God promises that he can be found.  This does not mean God hides from us, playing a game of hide-and-seek.  He is not running from us, daring us to discover His hideout.  No!  God wants us to enter into a personal relationship with him, to come to a deeper and more extensive knowledge than we have ever had.  However, for us to do this requires a decisive effort on our part. 

This leads to the second portion of the statement, that of the condition.  Notice that finding God requires two things on our part. First, we have to want to find God.  We don’t search for things unless we want to find them, unless we miss them, and unless we know that we are incomplete without them.  When these are the conditions behind our search, we look frantically, refusing to give up until we find what we are looking for.  Second, the search must be complete.  God wants nothing less than our whole person.  He will not be satisfied until he is the sole reason for our search.  Searching for God in this manner means that nothing deters us from this goal.  We pay no attention to the conditions around us nor are we concerned with the presence or the opinions of others.  Nothing is to detract us from finding God.

Like the squirrels that so diligently remained faithful to their search, we too will be rewarded. Our reward, however, will not be something temporary, our reward will be eternal.  God’s promise is that we would find him and when we find him we have all we need and all we desire.  Although the world is damp, soggy, cold, and inhospitable, we must live in it.  We must search diligently and deliberately to find God because the things of this life so often distract us from finding Him.  However, when we make the decision, when we exercise our will, when we seek Him with all our being, then we find Him.  How is your search going today?

It's Soup!

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ne Saturday, I had a hankering for some homemade vegetable soup.  Although I had never made vegetable soup before, I was pretty confident I had all the necessary ingredients.  A quick look in both my pantry and my refrigerator confirmed my belief.  Everything necessary to make soup was right at my fingertips.

I remember my mother made vegetable soup when it came time to clean out the refrigerator.  Leftover vegetables, meat, pasta, and home-canned tomatoes were all she needed to make an incredible meal.  She would bake a fresh cake of cornbread to go along with it.  Believe me; nothing was better on a cold winter’s evening than a bowl of that soup!

Before starting my own pot of soup, I checked in with headquarters back in North Carolina just to make sure I had everything down pat.  Mom was home and after she gave me a few pointers I gathered all the necessary ingredients.  From my refrigerator, I took some peas I had left over from an earlier meal.  In the freezer, I had a bag of mixed vegetables and some corn, and from the pantry I took the last jar of canned tomatoes and my only jar of tomato juice.

I dumped everything into my slow cooker.  First I placed the tomatoes and the juice, followed by all the vegetables, salt, pepper, and a dash of sugar.  I placed the lid on the cooker, and set it on the lowest setting so it would cook all day long.  Throughout the morning and afternoon hours, I ran several errands.  Each time I returned home, I was greeted with the wonderful aroma of homemade vegetable soup. 

Late in the afternoon, I paid a visit to some very close friends.  When asked what I had been doing all day, I told them about my errands and the pot of soup that had been cooking since morning.  What followed was wonderful.  I was given some cubes of beef bouillon to add to the mixture so the soup would be just perfect. 

Afterwards, I headed home, stopping by the grocery store to pick up some cornbread mix to complete my dinner. When I arrived home, the soup was still going strong. I added the bouillon, prepared the cornbread batter according to the instructions, and waited until everything was ready.

When it came time to eat, I cut the cornbread, ladled some soup into my bowl, poured myself something to drink, grabbed a napkin, and sat down to the table for supper.  I was so excited over that bowl of soup! It tasted so good and hit the spot.  It was piping hot and all the flavors had blended together!  What started out as a bunch of individual leftovers and frozen bits of vegetables had turned into a truly wonderful meal.

While eating, I couldn’t help but think of my mom’s favorite passage of scripture.   Romans 8:28 reads, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” The soup in my bowl was a tangible representation of this passage.  By themselves, none of the items in the soup seemed very important or useful.  The few bits of vegetables, the small amount of macaroni noodles, and the two small bouillon cubes, didn’t look like much by themselves. In fact, I couldn’t have done much with them individually.  However, when combined with the tomatoes, they made for a very hearty and healthy meal.  What I normally would have thrown out, I was able to turn into something I could eat and draw strength from.

This is exactly the way God works in our lives.  Things that seem unimportant, things that we would like to throw away, and things that seemingly have no value are just the things God uses to enrich our lives and teach us wonderful lessons about himself.  Sometimes God takes situations that have proven painful in the past.  Sometimes he uses the leftover portions of life that others believe should be thrown away.  He uses small handfuls of pain, disappointment, and grief that we have placed on the back shelf of our lives.  He mixes these all together with the right amounts of his love, his grace, his forgiveness, and his mercy and he makes something wonderful out of them.  It may take a while and he may apply heat and pressure but in the end everything melds together to produce in us a wonderful result we could not have experienced otherwise.

Today, it may seem that your life is filled with leftovers.  You’re not sure what to do with them and you don’t even know how they can be used for God’s glory.  Let me reassure you that God can take anything, no matter how insignificant or leftover we consider it to be, and he can turn that into the most wonderful thing in your life.  His purpose is always to bring us into a closer relationship with him. 

Won’t you let God work in your life?  Slowly but surely, he will take all the leftovers of and make something wonderful out of them.  Instead of seeing a bunch of scraps and wasted items, God will look at your life and say, “It’s soup!”  When this happens, you will be a source of encouragement, strength, and spiritual nourishment for those around you.  Hmm, I’m getting hungry; I think it’s time for another bowl of soup!  Have a great day!

Have You Been There?

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uring trips to France, most of our students spend several days shopping, trying to find perfect souvenir for that special someone.  They come armed with lists from people back home asking for everything from perfume to postcards.  Every member of our group has at least five people who all want a little piece of France, something to prove they know someone who has been there.

As for myself, I purchase very few, if any, souvenirs.  Instead, I take snapshots and try to drink in as many special moments as I can.  I visit the bakeshops, go to several cafés, visit a few restaurants, and take several walks in my favorite sections of the city.  I don’t come back with bags and pockets full of key chains, saltshakers, or little silver spoons. The only items I have that prove I visited France include my pictures, my airplane boarding passes, and the stamps in my passport proving I entered and exited the country.

I do, however, buy a few small items to bring back to the States for a very special people.  They want something from France, something that would prove the place exists so I accommodate them as best I can.  It is easy for me to speak of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Seine River, etc. because I have actually been there and have seen these things first-hand.  The fact I have been there in person causes those with whom I share my experiences to believe me.  They know I have been there and that gives them all the more reason to believe my stories and experiences are true.

Daily life is sometimes more adventurous than a trip to Europe.  We encounter all types of challenging experiences in life and we appreciate those people who fully understand by virtue of having experienced the same circumstances we are experiencing.   It is one thing to tell someone who is about to undergo surgery that you can understand their fear.  But if you’ve ever undergone the same surgery, you can give them insight and encouragement the average person can’t.  Someone who has never had surgery simply cannot empathize with someone who is facing a major operation.  What we want is someone who has been there and experienced the same thing first-hand.

There is a biblical basis for this and it is found in Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth.  Paul knew that sometimes life throws us curves and he also knew the road of life frequently takes uphill climbs.  Who better to encourage his fellow Christians than someone who spent time in prison, who was beaten, who was shipwrecked, and who was himself persecuted in so many ways?  Perhaps that is why Paul writes the following in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

In this passage Paul explains why it is we go through trials and difficulties in life.  Notice his words of encouragement that God, Himself, is our comfort.  God is our refuge and shield as the Psalmist says, but He is also our comfort.  God comforts us when we are hurting, when we are disappointed, when we are sick, and when we simply are tired of the journey.  He does this so that we can encourage and comfort others who are experiencing the same things in life.  Notice that he admonishes us to comfort others with the same comfort we received from God.  This means that not only do we understand the situation in which others find themselves, but we also can share the joy of God’s comfort with them because we have experienced it ourselves.

Wherever you are in your walk with God today, know this:  God is aware of your situation and he knows everything you are feeling and experiencing right now.  He wants to comfort and he will comfort you in every situation.  But don’t be surprised to find out that he will call on you to share that comfort with someone else who is hurting or who is facing trying circumstances.  You will be a source of encouragement and strength when they look at you and ask, “Have you been there?”  You can say with all confidence, “Yes, I have been there and I know that God has been there too because he was there with me.”  Are you ready to comfort someone today?