Good To See You

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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? 

The Power Bill

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nce a month I receive a nice little reminder in my mailbox.  It comes in a neat little envelope with my name and address appearing prominently in the window.  Just like clockwork, the mailman brings it at the same time and each month I open it, peek inside, pull out the papers, and look at the lovely charts, numbers, and explanations printed on the face of my power bill!

First, there is a billing summary of my charges complete with a reminder of how much I spent on power the month before, as if I want to be reminded of that!  Next comes the current usage and finally at the bottom is the total amount I owe for my power bill.  To top things off in a decorative manner, my electrical company provides a chart displaying my usage for the past twelve months.  The little bars go up and down showing me where I saved money as well as the months where I spent money--lots of it—for which the power company is very grateful!

A quick gander at the chart reveals that most of my power consumption occurs during the hottest and coldest months of the year.  This should come as no surprise to me or to anyone else.  It is during the winter and the summer months that I am powerless to ward off the biting cold or the sweltering heat.  So, I run my heating and my air conditioning units to protect and comfort me during these months.  The spikes in my power bill represent those times when I must use the resources available to me to make it through both the heat and the cold.

How much of God’s power are we using in our daily walk with Him?  If God presented us with a power bill indicating the amount of His power flowing through our lives would the spikes on the graph be high or low?  Would there be months when no power was used at all, a flat line as it were, indicating the times when we didn’t want or use God’s power?  Or would there be an even row of spikes showing that we call on God’s power all the time, realizing that we need Him on a daily basis if we are ever to live the Christian life as He intended?

For those Christians who maintain a close relationship with their Heavenly Father, the spikes on the graph would be pretty even.  Still, there would be times when the bars on the graph were very high, indicating a greater need to call on God’s power and strength to see them through.  No doubt these spikes would coincide with times of great struggle, trial, pain, disappointment and growth.  It seems that at those times in life when the road grows steeper, the way grows more difficult, and the path grows weary, that God gives us an extra portion of His grace to strengthen and sustain us.

The Apostle Paul knew this all to well.  In 2 Corinthians 12:8-10, he reminds his readers, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. “Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

In this passage, Paul is speaking of a “thorn in the flesh” that plagued him during his life. On three occasions, he asked the Lord to remove it from him and each time the Lord said, “No.”  God, however, did not leave Paul without an explanation.  This entire passage is one of great encouragement to Paul and to us.  God explains that our weaknesses are actually opportunities for Him to display His power through us.

In moments when we face tragedy, in moments of medical crises, in times of all types of difficulties, we find that God’s grace is indeed our strength, the power we need to continue.  It is during the times of our greatest weaknesses that God’s power reaches its greatest levels in our lives.  That is the promise of this passage.

Notice Paul says he is able to persevere in all types of struggles because he realizes that when he is weak, God becomes his strength.  So how would you rate your usage of God’s power in your life?  Is there a steady flow running through your life on a daily basis?  Are you constantly in contact with your Heavenly Father, drawing your strength and energy from Him for every situation in your life?  Are you thanking Him for the times when you need extra power and He provides for you in your moments of weakness, in the face of overwhelming odds and insurmountable circumstances? 

His grace is sufficient for your every need and His power is perfected, made complete, in our weaknesses.  Whatever you are facing in life today lay hold of the promise that God knows where you are. He understands your situation and He stands ready to provide all the strength you need to meet all the challenges life throws in your path.  What does the power bill of your life tell you about your usage of God’s power today?

Format Disk

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ne of the most deflating experiences is to sit down in front of your computer, turn it on, and be greeted with a warning that its internal systems are not functioning properly. All your important information is locked in the computer with no way for you to retrieve it.

Although you know it won’t help, you restart the computer several times, check all the connections, turn the screen on and off, and fiddle with the mouse and the keyboard, hoping against hope you can get the thing up and running again.           

This happened to me several months ago.   If you are one of the lucky one’s who has missed out on this little joyride, all I can say is pray it doesn’t happen soon and make sure you back up your information.  

 The computer had crashed, leaving me only one course of action. I picked up the phone and called the customer service hotline. As soon as I read them the message on the screen, they confirmed what I already knew. Hearing it again didn’t make me feel any better.

The technician told me to type in a command to format my hard drive. This would effectively remove all the information on the computer so I could begin restoring it.

I put in the command and the computer asked me the following question: Are you sure? Y or N. I just sat there and stared. I knew that if I selected no, my computer would remain just as it was, broken. However, selecting yes meant that all the information on the computer would be eternally destroyed.

Essentially, I was being asked if I wanted to kill my computer! After a few minutes, the technician reminded me what I had to do, so I did it. The computer erased the hard drive, leaving it completely empty. With help, I slowly began rebuilding my hard drive, replacing all the programs with brand new copies and restoring it to working order.

This is a wonderful illustration of God’s plan for our salvation. Internally, there is something wrong with us. It is called sin. Although we may not be aware of its presence, it is there and it is an integral part of who we are.

We come to a point in our lives when we must make a decision.  We must completely destroy all previous information, completely do away with our old habits and our old nature, and completely erase all that we once were. This comes as the result of the will. We must decide to retain our old nature or to kill it and let God rebuild us. This is what the prophet Ezekiel addressed in his writings. In Ezekiel 36:26, God says: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

You want to talk about a complete overhaul of your system, this is it!   In the same way that the hard drive stores all the computer’s  information, the human heart stores everything that makes us who we are. As long as there are flaws in our programming, as long as there are glitches in our internal system, and as long as we store faulty information, we do not work the way God intended.

However, when we allow God to format our hearts, removing all the bad programming, all the messed up files, all the flawed thoughts, and all the sin in our lives, we then stand ready to receive his new programming. He replaces the old system with a new one.

With the right programs now running, we are able to build new files, store new memories, and experience all the joy and the wonderful relationship that come with God’s salvation  The choice, however,  is up to us. We must decide whether we want our hearts formatted.  God does not force this decision on us; but he is always ready to help us make that change when we ask him. Format Disk? Are you sure? Select yes! You will never be the same again! And that’s a good thing!

Restored

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he table belonged to my grandmother.  As we made plans to complete the restoration on our house, grandmother was making plans for that old table.  Her father built it for his family and she had kept it all these years.

Although it had been in the family for three generations, the table was in very good shape.  It was well-built, solid, and it had no major blemishes or damage.  However, the table was in need of restoration. The old varnish needed to be removed and a new finish put in its place.  This was a job that grandmother wanted to participate in and supervise herself.

The first step in this long process involved removing years of old varnish in order to restore the wood to a lighter color suited to our dining room.  This first step took a long time and involved the most elbow grease.  Grandmother, along with my dad, used steel wool and harsh chemicals to dissolve and remove the old stain.  Every nook and cranny of the table received the same treatment until all the old covering had been removed.

Now the process of restoration could begin.  The wood was sanded, neutralized, and prepared to receive a new look.  Hours of work, lots of wiping, rubbing, sanding, and buffing transformed that table into a beautiful piece of furniture.  Along the way, there were stories about the table, jokes were told, and wonderful plans were made for its future.  Throughout the entire process, that table remained the center of attention until all the work was completed.  When finished, it became the center piece of our home.

God is in the restoration business.  He carefully, methodically, and constantly works with us, removing years of wear and tear in our lives.  He knows that underneath, down deep, we have infinite value.  God is also aware that we grow tired, frustrated, that we get banged up and scratched.  Instead of throwing us out, however, instead of assigning us to the trash dump, God loving undertakes the long process of restoring us so he can use us.

He strips away anything and everything that has discolored our lives.  This process may take a long time as God rubs, sands, buffs, and strips away layers of self-doubt, deceit, low self-esteem, fear, anxiety, and mistrust.  Lovingly, he stays at his task until the last remnants of these blemishes are completely wiped out of our lives.

Then he undertakes our restoration.  He applies ample layers of his love, grace, and mercy.  He stains us to conform to the exact image of his son, Jesus, so that we can be used in his service.  Along the way, there are stories of love, there is laughter, and great plans are made for our future.  God does all the work; we just have to be still.

The final and most important step was sealing the table’s surface.  After all that work, a coat of sealant protected the table from spills, nicks, and scratches.  God seals us as well with the Holy Spirit so that we will always look and be our best for him.  The sealant insures that all the work done before remains unchanged, perfect, and evident for all time.

Psalm 23:3 is a short statement but one of great importance.  It simply reads, “he restores my soul.”  This is one of the great things about our God.  His house is filled with restored furniture.  He alone sees the value when others don’t.  He knows that we need to be restored in order to serve his purposes.  God wants to restore us, to make our lives into centerpieces that reflect and testify to his glory.

Are you in the restoration process?  Just hang on because the finished product will be a wonder to behold!

Made From Scratch

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lour, a sifter, a mixing bowl, milk, shortening, a rolling pin, and a dough cutter indicated mom was making homemade biscuits for supper.  No matter what else we were having, those biscuits made the meal all the more special and delicious.  I loved to stand in the kitchen and watch her make fresh biscuits.  First she would combine the ingredients in the mixing bowl and make her dough.  She would place flour on the cabinet top and turn the dough out on to it.  With her hands, she would knead and punch the dough until it was shaped in to a firm ball.  Her hands always amazed me and I loved watching as they skillfully worked to prepare the dough for the oven.

The only step now was to cut the dough into the round pieces that would become biscuits.  Mom took her rolling pin and began preparing the dough for the cutter.  She would roll the dough, first one way, and then another, until it reached a uniform shape and the desired thickness.  She then took the cutter and began cutting out round portions and placing them into a greased pan.  Every time she made a cut, she would hold the biscuit and shape it, making sure each one was the right shape and size she wanted.  When she could no longer get more biscuits out of the remaining dough, she would take the scraps and form a smaller biscuit in her hand—she wasted nothing.

Although the biscuits looked the same, each one was different.  All of them had come from the same batch of dough but, after cutting them out, mom had shaped and formed each one.  Each biscuit was unique and had a character all its own.  When they were done, she carefully took them out of the oven and placed them into a breadbasket.  Once they arrived at the table, it didn’t take us long to devour them.  It was my self-appointed task to make sure the biscuits were distributed evenly with each member of our family receiving an equal amount of bread. 

Would it surprise you to learn that God went through the same process when He decided to make man?  Did you ever stop to consider that when God made man, He did so with very special care and planning?  My mom could have used brown and serve rolls with her meal; but she wanted to make the meal special by putting something of herself into it.  That’s why she went to such great pains to make homemade biscuits.  Store-bought bread just wouldn’t do.

Genesis 2:7 gives us a good glimpse into God’s creation of man. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. There are two very small but important words in this passage that tell us volumes about God’s plan and design for mankind.  The first is the word “formed.”  Heretofore in the creation story, God spoke things into being.  However, when it came time to create man, God formed him.  In order to do this, God had to measure out the ingredients, mix them together, and roll them out.  In order to make us, God got his hands dirty.  He rolled the clay into a firm ball and then, using his hands, God formed, molded, and fashioned his masterpiece.

After he created a man, God put something of himself into his creation.  The second word is “breathed.”  God filled Adam’s lungs with his own breath and brought him to life.  What an intimate relationship this was.  Just imagine the moment before Adam breathed his first breath.  The planet was complete, the air was pure, and no human had ever breathed it.  However, instead of air, Adam inhaled God’s very breath and took into himself the source of all life!!!  Wow!!  You want to talk about a breath of fresh air, I’d say this qualified!!!!

After God breathed into Adam, he became a living being.  Without God in our lives we do not live; we merely exist.  All the other things God created just existed.  Man was the only thing God imparted life to by placing something of Himself inside.  When Adam received God’s breath, he received life.  Just before his departure, Jesus appeared to his disciples, breathed on them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:22).  God’s breath always imparts life to those who receive it.

I still enjoy watching mom make fresh biscuits.  Although the process is always the same, each batch is different from all the rest.  Her hands always know when the dough is ready and they always form each biscuit into just the right shape and size she wants.  God is the same way with us.  He knows when the dough is ready, he knows just how much we need to be rolled, stretched, and cut in order to become what he wants us to be.  He takes us in his hands and molds us and shapes us until we are just the right size and shape for his purpose.  In order for God to shape us, he uses his hands to roll, pinch, push, and shape us into the very image of Christ. The process may not always be easy but it is worth it.  After all, would you rather have homemade biscuits or brown and serve rolls?  In my opinion, there’s no contest!!

A Note Of Thanks

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he post office can be a place of extreme joy or extreme disappointment, depending upon the contents of your mailbox. When I was in college, the post office was a place of extreme excitement. Around exam time, my parents would send me a care package, usually filled with homemade cookies which I stashed away in my room. I knew that if the other guys on my hall found them, they'd be gone in a flash. Hey, I'm an understanding sort of guy but when it comes to mom's homemade cookies the word share does not compute!!!

As I grew into real life, the post office began to lose its magical allure. Instead of boxes filled with homemade goodies and envelopes with spending money tucked inside, I began receiving statements and bills from various places. The phone company wrote regularly, the power company always seemed to remember me once a month and several businesses delighted in filling my mailbox with reminders of the big sales events they were hosting. Needless to say, going to the post office became less and less appealing. Instead of receiving cookies and treats in the mail, I was sending my hard-earned money to everyone. I began wondering if the mail system had any redeeming value whatsoever.

Then, one day, it happened. My mailbox was unusually full. In fact, the box was completely stuffed! There were the usual bills, some promotional flyers, the ever-popular notification that I had won $1 million dollars, and several survey forms from charitable organizations I had never heard of. That's when I spied a small envelope with my address written on it. It was almost lost in the shuffle of unimportant and mundane pieces of mail. As I inspected the envelope, I noticed it lacked a return address. Understandably, my curiosity was peaked and I quickly tore it open. Inside was a thank-you note in beautiful handwriting. A very dear friend had written to thank me for doing him a favor a few weeks before. What a breath of fresh air this was in comparison to all the other pieces of "junk" mail littering my mailbox.

Our lives, it seems, resemble the mailbox described in the preceding paragraph. They are crammed full of things that are so very unimportant. Our lives are filled with requests, notices, promises, promotions, and junk. Rarely, if ever, is there room for important things like giving thanks to God for all He has done for us. When we do get around to thanking Him, our gratitude is very small compared to the other, more "important" things taking up room in our lives.

In Leviticus 22:29, God gives a clear indication of the type of thanks He desires from His children. In this passage of Scripture, God says, “And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord, offer it of your own free will." Take a very close look at that requirement again. Thanksgiving must be of our own "free will" if it is to be pleasing and acceptable to God. Thanksgiving which comes from tradition, coercion, or from a sense of obligation is not true thanksgiving.

Today, the United States is celebrating its annual Thanksgiving holiday. We set aside this day to officially give thanks to God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us as a people and as a nation. Millions of people will gather with family and friends around a table filled with traditional foods. Before eating, thanks will be given for the year's blessings and everyone will sit down to eat. After just a few moments of fellowship, most people will abandon the table and will head for the nearest television to watch a football game or a movie. We give God a few minutes of thanks in return for His daily blessings and faithfulness to us. Something seems drastically out of balance here, doesn't it?

As long as our thanks to God is dictated by the calendar, the clock, or family tradition, we really aren't thanking Him. The Scripture says we are to do this deliberately of our own free will. Thanksgiving is not something that we do; rather, it is something that we are. Thanksgiving is an attitude, a fundamental part of our character. Our lives must reflect thanksgiving to God on a daily basis, not when it's convenient or politically correct to do so.

The thank-you note I found in my mailbox that day was very special to me. My friend didn't have to send it to me; he wanted to. Of his own free will, he went out, selected a card, thought about the message, inscribed it on the card, sealed the envelope, addressed it, and went to the post office to mail it. It required time and effort on his part as well as a real willingness to do it. That made the card all the more special to me.

Experience Required

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 quick perusal of a newspaper provides insight into the worlds of international politics, business, sports, and entertainment.  You can find the latest information concerning the weather, you can read other people’s opinions in the editorial section, and you can even work a crossword puzzle, or have your funny bone tickled by the comics section.  Finally, you will come to the classified section which can prove both informative and comical to the discerning reader.

The classified section is always chock full companies’ requests for employees.  There are always jobs to be had in several businesses on a daily basis.  A survey of these advertisements will quickly show one common thread among them.  The words, “Experience required” figure prominently and either provide an incentive for someone to answer the ad or move on to something else.

Have you ever been frustrated by those two little words?  Have you ever read through the classifieds, diligently seeking an opportunity to change jobs only to be thwarted and disappointed by the need for experience?  This is the catch for most college graduates.  They have all this knowledge and training but lack the experience needed for many of the jobs in the “real world.”

What are God’s requirements?   What kind of experience is he looking for?  It is a very different kind than that for which the world is searching.  This is seen very easily in the life of a familiar Old Testament character, David, the shepherd boy from Bethlehem.

When David arrives to check on his brothers, he is introduced to something very strange.  A giant, Goliath of Gath, is taunting the Israelite army, begging for a fight.  The soldiers, however, refuse to answer the ad, refuse to take up their arms, and refuse to fight.  They have all this training in war and the use of armor and weapons but they have no experience with God.

Enter David, the lowly shepherd.  He has no experience in battle, no experience in tactical warfare, and no experience with weapons. However, he does have first-hand experience of God’s might and, based on this, David answers Saul’s ad for a champion.   

In 1 Samuel 17:33-35, we find an exchange between these two men as they discuss David’s qualifications.“Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth."  But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.”

Here we have a classic difference of opinion.  Saul believes David to be unqualified because he lacks the necessary training.  He has never studied war, he has never learned to throw a spear, and he has never faced an enemy as big as Goliath.  David begs to differ.  His enemies have been the lion and the bear that delighted in taunting his flock.  They attacked without warning, intent on killing as many of the sheep as possible, something David could not and did not allow.

Although David’s experience is not exactly what Saul has in mind, it is more than adequate.  I mean, David stands head and shoulders above the rest of the applicant pool who have more knowledge and more training than he.  But they aren’t applying for the job!  David’s best response is found in verse 37, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."  How do you say no to that? You can’t and Saul didn’t!

Will you answer God’s classified ad today?  Do you have the experience of a personal relationship with him that equips you to face any of life’s circumstances?  When you read the words, “Experience required,” does this motivate you or dissuade you from answering God’s call?  All you have to do is apply, that is, apply God’s word to your life and you will have the necessary experience to answer any of life’s challenges!

Nothing To Wear

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k, how many times have you opened up your closet and just stared?  You have been invited to go out to eat, or to a party, or over to a friend's house and you have absolutely nothing to wear?  If the truth were known, your closet is probably hanging full of clothes that are both attractive and fashionable but for some reason you don't wear them because you don't like the way you look in them.  Moreover, you are worried what people's reaction to you will be in a particular outfit.

We spend way too much time worried about our outward appearance.  We spend both time and money to find just the right apparel so we will be accepted by our peers.  Someone once said that we buy things we don't need at prices we can't afford with money we don't have to impress people we don't like. I believe this comes pretty close to the truth for most of us.

John the Baptist's wardrobe would have driven any modern-day designer crazy. The scriptures tell us in Matthew 3:3-4 that "John's clothes were made of camel hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.  His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan."  Pardon me, but John doesn't sound like someone you'd invite to a nice restaurant, or someone you'd probably have in your home as a dinner guest.  Yet, people from all over the region went out to see John. 

What was it about him that caused people to travel such a great distance to see him?  It definitely couldn't be the clothes or his diet.  Could it have been John's message?  Could it have been the fact that John's words and actions spoke of a man who knew God and spent time with him? I believe it was for this very reason people went to see him.  John came preaching repentance, telling people that what they needed was to be forgiven.  He came to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah.  His message was real, timely, and touched the lives of those around him.

We are called to do the same thing.  People should be drawn to us because of the message we share.  What is it about your life today that attracts people?  Is it what you wear, or the person you are underneath the clothing?  Is it the words you use or the message you send?  Is it the claims you make or the actions you perform?  John had no great store of clothes in his wardrobe.  There were no Armani suits or Oscar de la Renta ties.  All he had to give and to present was the message of God, and that can be worn anywhere for any occasion.

Something Is Missing

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ave you ever felt that something was missing from your life?  I mean, you have all the pieces, or so you think, but they just don't all seem to fit together; something is missing.  When I was younger, my brother and I began collecting jigsaw puzzles.  Every week we would get our allowance and we would go to the local variety store and purchase puzzles.  Although there were several varieties and difficulty levels from which to choose, we decided to collect puzzles with only 100 pieces.  We would buy the puzzles, get on our bikes, dash home, and immediately begin putting them together.  Our mom, who loves puzzles, would sometimes help us, especially when we got into a confusing area of a puzzle.  She taught us to separate the border pieces and to assemble them first and from there, to construct the body of the puzzle.

We had hours of fun and gained a real sense of accomplishment from working those pieces until a completed puzzle emerged.  Once completed, we would start working other puzzles from our collection.  I remember one day, I was assembling one of the puzzles when I noticed one piece was missing.  I looked under the table, around on the floor, and under the furniture.  Nowhere was that piece to be found.  I searched in the other puzzles as well with the same result, no missing piece to be found.  The puzzle was 99% complete, but that one space troubled me.  I wanted to finish it, to complete the puzzle, to make it what it was supposed to be.  Instead, all I could see was the space left by the missing piece.  The entire puzzle suffered because one piece was missing.  It was no use trying to pretend the puzzle was complete without it, the evidence of that one missing piece was blatantly obvious.

Jesus must have enjoyed puzzles because today's scripture lesson addresses the idea of the missing piece.  The story of the Rich Young Ruler provides a wonderful example of what God wants to do in each of our lives.  This young man had come to Jesus desiring to know what he had to do to have eternal life.  Jesus told him to keep the law and the young man stated he had kept it since his youth.  Jesus did not dispute his claim but answered him in the following manner.  In Mark 10:21 we find these words, "Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

Jesus concentrated on that one missing piece in this young man's life.  He wasn't interested in the rest of the puzzle.  He didn't concentrate on what this young man owned or on his accomplishments.  He wasn't concerned with his knowledge, his status, or his ambitions.  The only thing Jesus focused on was the one area lacking in this man's life.  Jesus saw this young man from a different perspective.  He noticed the part of him that was missing; the part that kept him from being what he was meant to be.  In love, Jesus addressed the one thing that would satisfy this man's longing to be whole, complete, and satisfied.  Unfortunately, since he was very wealthy, this young man refused to follow Jesus' advice.

Today, Jesus still works like this!  He looks at your life and sees the one thing you lack.  Perhaps your faith is not what it should be.  Perhaps you are struggling with trusting God completely, or you might be wrestling with what the future holds for you.  All of these issues leave a void in your life, a missing piece.  You, like the Rich Young Ruler, search and search, but you can never find the piece that fits.  Then Jesus comes, looks at you in love, and says "One thing you lack!" The hard part is acknowledging he is right.  The exciting part is that if Jesus locates the missing piece, he, and only he, knows how to fill it.  So, what piece of the puzzle are you missing today?

Weight Lifting 101

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he weight room in our high school gym was one of the most popular places on campus.  This was especially true for the guys training for football, basketball, track and field, or baseball, a sport for which our town remains well-known and respected.  However, the weight room was not only used by student athletes.  Some of the teachers and coaches used the facilities to remain in good physical shape.

Each day after school, guys would pour into the gym, dress out, and begin their exercise routines.  Some would use free weights, others would use the available machines, and the rest would do exercises or spot for those lifting. All those using the weight room had one goal, to increase their strength, reduce their body fat, and build muscles.

The results of their labor were evident.  Not long after they started training, all the guys began taking on a different appearance.  They grew bigger and stockier.  Their increased size and strength evidenced their dedication to become physically fit.  However, there was another by -product which could not be seen but was just as real.  That by-product was pain. 

Before entering training, everyone knew that pain would be a part of the process.  In order to build muscle, you have to tear muscle.  Tearing a muscle is never fun and it is never done without pain. But without pain, without constant training and stretching, muscle does not grow, strength is not increased, and it is impossible to maintain good physical condition.

This same principle applies to our spiritual conditioning as well.  If we intend to grow spiritually, we must exercise our faith.  This is never easy and it is never pain-free.  If you've ever tested your faith, if you've every increased your ability to trust God, chances are you've paid a visit to God’s weight room.  The only way to grow more faith is to be torn, stretched, and strained so that your faith in him can grow.

This is what the Apostle James had in mind when he wrote the following, “because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:3-4).  

Just as an athlete’s goal is to perfect his body, so the goal of spiritual training is to perfect our souls.  Notice that James says that the goal of the spiritual workout is perfection.  He does not mean we will be perfect, we’re human.  However, he does suggest that we will be complete, lacking in nothing. 

God’s goal for us as Christians is to be complete in him.  We achieve this only by increasing our faith and our trust in him.  In order for our faith to grow, it must be tested, stretched, and strained.  Only when this happens can new and stronger faith grow. 

God does not leave us to go through this alone.  He is there beside us, watching us, making sure the load does not over burden us.  He knows just how much weight is needed to make us stronger in him.  So, are you up for some spiritual bench pressing today?

Recharge Your Batteries

B atteries!  The world runs on batteries!  If you don’t believe me, just look at the watch on your wrist, the radio on your desk, the smoke detector on the wall, the cell phone in your purse or pocket, and your car in the parking lot!  They all have one thing in common—they require batteries to function.  No matter how sophisticated we become, no matter how powerful new sources of energy prove to be, it seems we find ourselves increasingly dependent on the lowly battery.  What would we do without these little guys?

When I was growing up, I remember finding batteries all over the house. We stored them in drawers and there were several under my bed as well as in my closet.  The problem, however, was that when I needed a battery, the ones I found were no longer useful.  They had lost their charge through proper use, overuse, or no use.  Whenever I needed a battery for a new gadget, a new toy, or for something more useful, I usually had to go out and purchase new batteries, or better yet, tell mom I needed them. This usually meant a trip to the store, a wait in line, and being stopped by every traffic light between our house and the nearest convenience store.

But all that changed when my dad bought a battery charger with rechargeable batteries.  I remember him bringing the charger into our kitchen, plugging it in, and filling it with these special batteries.  The instructions were very clear.  The batteries had to be left alone for several hours while electricity traveled through the terminals to be stored inside.  I was fascinated by this process and walked by several times to see if the batteries were “done.” 

During this time of recharging, the batteries didn’t look as if anything was happening to them.  They simply lay there in their charger, soaking up the power being poured into them.  Finally, after several hours, the indicator panel informed me that the batteries were fully charged. I took them out and put them into one of my toys and, presto! The energy stored in them provided the necessary power the toy needed in order to work properly.  The hours of waiting during the recharging process paid off.

Jesus knew the importance and the necessity for recharging his disciples.  Long before the advent of the battery, long before the discovery of electricity, and long before the invention of portable electric devices, Jesus taught his disciples the need for rest.  He knew there must be time of inactivity and a time of drawing from God, and a time of renewing their strength.  Without this time, Jesus knew that burnout and ineffectiveness were inevitable.

On several occasions the Scriptures tell us that Jesus withdrew by himself to spend time in prayer, talking to God.  Jesus knew that in order to minister and demonstrate God’s love, he would have to spend time in God’s presence, recharging his mind and spirit for the work ahead.  Likewise, the disciples also needed times of spiritual renewal and refreshment and Jesus made sure they received them.

In Mark 6:31, Jesus tells his disciples, “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” This takes place just before the feeding of the five thousand.  The disciples had been following Jesus and working with the press of people all around them.  They hadn’t even had time to eat and they were physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted.  Ever been there?  So Jesus took them to a quiet place to rest, to relax, and to refresh their souls and their bodies.

So many times in our day-to-day-struggle on life’s road, we find ourselves completely worn out.  We are so tired and irritable that the witness we give for Christ seems to do more harm than good.  We don’t feel like being Christians, we don’t feel like praying, and quiet time is completely out of the question.  God fully understands these moments in our lives. He doesn’t get angry with us, He doesn’t figure out ways to make our lives more unbearable, and He doesn’t get offended when we are like this.  Instead, He makes a place for us—a place off the beaten path—where we can rest, sleep, and recharge our batteries.  Psalm 23 provides a wonderful picture of this as God makes a place in green pastures and beside still waters for the purpose of restoring our souls.

Today, you may be completely on the edge and at your wits’ end.  If this is so, take heart.  It may be that you will soon hear the voice of God calling you to rest.  When you hear that call, obey it.  Rest has its purpose and its place in the Christian walk.  It is the time when God does some of His best and most important work on us because that is the time we are still. Is it time for you to recharge your batteries today?

Molded Into Shape

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y kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in my home.  It seems I am always in there for something.  Either I’m making myself a quick snack, cleaning out the dishwasher, pouring myself a drink, or talking on the phone.  No matter what time of day or night, it is just a given that I will be in the kitchen at some point, even if I have no real reason to be there.

             

On the wall above my kitchen windows hangs a series of gelatin molds that belonged to my grandmother.  There are five of these molds and I brought them back with from North Carolinaafter my Christmas visit home.  These molds hung together in a pattern on a prominent wall in my grandmother’s kitchen.  They had been there for years and after her death, I asked my mom if I could have them. 

I wasted no time in installing the molds in my apartment.  The spot over my stove proved to be the perfect place for them and, after several attempts, I succeeded in spacing them evenly and hanging them in a straight line. When I moved into my house, the molds came with me. My mom hung them in the kitchen and they are the first things I notice when I head for a quick snack or sit down to a meal. My eyes are immediately drawn to them and every time I see them I am reminded of what is perhaps the greatest spiritual truth and reality in the whole of the Scriptures.

Have you ever stopped to consider just how a mold works?  Have you ever thought about the process that goes into the shaping of gelatin?  If you haven’t then lets briefly reflect on this process.  First, the gelatin must be changed from its powdered form into a liquid.  This requires water and heat, especially heat.  During this process, the mixture is constantly stirred until it is completely melted.  Once this is achieved, the gelatin is transferred into a mold.  The mold is completely filled to make sure there are no air bubbles inside.  Next, the mold and its contents are placed into the refrigerator and left alone for hours or overnight.  During this time, the mold is left alone, out of sight, in the dark and in the cold until the gelatin sets.  Finally, the mold is removed, placed into warm water, turned over, and the contents are dumped out.  If all has gone as planned, the gelatin bears the exact resemblance of the mold into which it was placed.

In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul talks about the importance of being molded into the image of Christ.  In fact, Paul says that this is God’s main objective for all those who believe in Him and accept the gift of salvation through His son, Jesus Christ. We find this in Romans 8:28-29, “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. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

Most people are familiar with these verses, especially verse 28.  Notice that Paul speaks with certainty.  He knows that all things work together for good.  But it is equally important to notice what Paul does not say.  He never says that all things are good, just that they work for good.  From the perspective of the gelatin, I dare say that being thrown into a pot of boiling water is not good nor is it fun. Likewise, being placed into a mold, turned upside down, and stuck into a cold, dark refrigerator can’t be the most wonderful thing either.  But all of these steps are necessary and they work to turn that liquid into a wonderful and refreshing dessert that all can enjoy.

The second part of this passage is equally, if not more important for us today.  Paul also states that God’s purpose for all those in Christ is to be conformed to the image of God’s son.  That word conformed is a bit bothersome, isn’t it?  To be conformed means we are shaped into something else.  We undergo a metamorphosis, much like a caterpillar into a butterfly, which requires us to die to our old nature in order to put on a new one.  Although everything we encounter in life is not necessarily good, God can and will use it to conform us more and more into the likeness of Jesus.  This is a lifetime process.  We are constantly being conformed into the image of Christ so that those around us will see him in our lives.

Does it seem that God has turned up the heat on you until you feel as if you are melting?  Do you feel you have been left in the dark with no one taking notice of you or your circumstances?  Take heart, both of these are indications that God is working in your life, molding and shaping you into the very image of Christ.  When He is finished, you will bear the wonderful likeness of Christ and you will be ready to share his love with those around you.  Are you being molded into shape today?

Comfort Zone

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n August of 1997, I was preparing to leave home and come to Fort Worth to attend seminary, one of the nicest things happened to me.  I had the privilege of working at a local community college in North Carolina for one year before leaving home.  As the time for my departure approached, several of my colleagues decided to give me a going away party!  I have fond memories of that day and the people who were there.  Of the many gifts I received, all of which serve as wonderful reminders of the people who gave them, one has taught me many lessons about God's love.

Several people pooled their resources and presented me with complete bedding set for my room.  It had sheets, a pillow sham, a pillow case, and a comforter which all matched!  You know how we guys are, as long as it fits the bed, we'll buy it.  But I had a very nice set of linens that went well together!!  The comforter was my favorite part of the set because it reminded me so much of God's love.

On cold evenings, I nestled under the comforter and felt its warmth.  When it was rainy and cold out, I took the comforter off the bed and wrapped up in it as I sat in my favorite chair.  It also proved a good listener, when there was no one to talk to, and it was a wonderful companion when I needed to be held and hugged.  It met so many needs at so many different times of my life.

God is just like this.  He is always near, always ready, and he always matches our situations.  He can hold us, shelter us from the cold, listen to us, wrap himself around us, or just hug us.  In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Paul writes "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."  

I am so glad that God is a comfort to me.  So many times, when I have needed to be held, loved, and comforted, he has been my stay.  And he will be yours as well.  So if you are feeling just a little out of sorts remember that God stands ready to comfort you.  His arms are open, and he is waiting to welcome you into his comfort zone today!

Do You Remember When?

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he screen saver on my computer is set to scroll through photographs from France, New Mexico, my home in Texas, and my hometown in North Carolina.  There are pictures of family, friends, and familiar places I’ve visited.  As I look at those snapshots, I easily remember the events taking place when I took the photographs.  I remember the places, the people, the weather, the conversation, the smells, and the time of day.  All these return to me as I carefully observe the pictures on my monitor.

Isn’t it funny how a single picture can do that?  One glimpse of the picture and our memories are flooded with sights, sounds, smells, and emotions tied directly to the circumstances caught for all time on film.  Everything around us comes to a grinding halt and for a few moments we are transported back in time, revisiting friends, family, places and events that were important to us.

The Children of Israel had several experiences like this in their history.  The Old Testament is full of examples where God reminded them of their past and how He acted on their behalf.  One such occurrence is found in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy.  In Deuteronomy 5:15, Moses records these words, “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.” 

What a photograph that must have been!  Can you imagine walking through the middle of a sea on dry ground?  Can you imagine the sound of the wind and the height of the water as it formed walls on both sides?  Can you imagine what the people must have felt with the Egyptians behind and the open sea before them?  It is a picture that escapes our ability to fully understand and imagine all the conditions surrounding it.  But the Israelites had been there.  They had witnessed this miracle first-hand and now God wants to make sure they don’t forget!

The passage above, though, does not concentrate on the waves, the water, the wind, the dry ground, or on the Egyptians.  The focus of the verse is not on what happened but on who caused it to happen.  God’s intention is clear.  He wants His people to remember all that He did for them and how He brought them from slavery and bondage into freedom.

As Christians, the message given so long ago by Moses is directly applicable to us.  Too often we pray that God will see us through some type of crisis and when it passes we forget His blessings and His actions on our behalf.  We forget all that God has done for us and only come to Him when we are in trouble or in dire circumstances.  But God would have us remember everything He has done for us in all our circumstances.  Remembering God’s love and protection in our past gives us faith and hope that He will continue to lead us through all our difficulties in the future.

God always brings us out from the slavery of sin into the freedom of His love and grace.  He wants us to remember that He loves us that He cares for us, that we are the apple of His eye, that nothing can touch us without His approval, and that He is aware of all that happens in our lives even when we don’t feel as if He does.  God’s word is sure, His love is constant, and His watchful eyes are always upon us.  We need to remember that today! 

So, how long has it been since you reviewed the photographs of your walk with God?  Why don’t you do that today?  You will hear God whispering to you, “Do you remember when….?”  And He will whisper again, “I do.  I remember everything and every trial we’ve walked through together.  I was there then, I am here now, and I will be with you in the way ahead, no matter what!  Remember!”