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?

A Lesson On Main Street

 

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ain Street was a wonderful place!  On this street, I met my first and best friend, on this street I learned to walk, and on this street I learned to ride a bike.  I received my first skinned knee on Main Street; I got into my first fight on Main Street, and it was on Main Street that I learned just how much my mom, dad, brother, sister, family and friends loved me.

I remember so many occasions when the traffic on Main Street stopped my play and turned my thoughts elsewhere.  Some cars were headed toward town, and some were headed the other way, going to who knew where.  From our front yard, I could see in both directions.  To my left, I could see the stop light and some of the buildings of our town.  To my right, Main Street stretched a great distance until it curved out of sight.  I was convinced that this is where the world ended because when cars went around that curve they disappeared!

My dad worked just up the street from our home.  Every day he would come home for lunch and in the evening he would walk home for supper.  I can still see him as he walked down the sidewalk on Main Street and I remember running to meet him and jumping up into his arms and him carrying me the rest of the way home.  However, there was one time when dad’s walk home wasn’t’ the most pleasant experience for me.  It was the first time I remember him disciplining me and, like most other things in my life, it happened on Main Street.

It was around lunch time and I was standing in our front yard watching the cars go by.  Not satisfied with being an observer, I decided it would be fun to participate.  So, I began throwing small stones at the passing cars, not realizing what I was doing.  Several cars passed by and the stones fell harmlessly in front, behind, or on the other side of them.  One stone, however, performed perfectly, hitting a car and causing the driver to stop!  As luck would have it, my dad was walking down Main Street and saw the whole thing!  Moreover, he knew the driver of the car and that made it even worse.

When he got to me, he took my hand, led me into the house, and he gave me a spanking.  Then, he did something far worse, he made me call the lady whose car I had hit and apologize to her.  I remember daddy standing me up on the counter.  He dialed the number, got the lady on the phone, handed it to me, and made me apologize.  Through tears and sobs, I finally got it out.  There had been no damage to the car, but there had been damage to my character and daddy knew how to fix it!  It wasn’t fun at the time, but I learned my lesson and I learned respect for my dad.

The writer of Hebrews knew that the Christian life is not without its moments of discipline.  He understood that we get out of line, that we do things we shouldn’t or fail to do the things we should.  The writer also understood that God, like our human fathers, will not tolerate character flaws in us and He will discipline us so that we grow to spiritual maturity, doing what is right and pleasing in His sight.

In Hebrews 12:9-10, we have a vivid picture of why God disciplines His children. “Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!  Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.”

There are so many truths locked in these two verses.  Discipline teaches us respect for our earthly fathers because we know that they discipline in order to teach us right from wrong.  But they discipline us for only a little while, then we go out on our own, armed with the knowledge and experience they have provided.  But God disciplines us for life and He does so for our own good.  Left to ourselves, we would never lead holy lives.  We need God’s discipline and instruction in order to please Him.

God’s discipline does have a purpose.  The closing words of this passage tell us plainly that God disciplines us for one purpose and one purpose only, “that we may share in his holiness.”  Think about that!  God disciplines us so that we can have a relationship with Him.  He disciplines us in order to remove everything from us that keeps us from living according to His will and His commands. 

Just like my dad, God will not tolerate harmful behavior.  He will not let us get away with anything, not even a little stone-throwing.  God’s aim is not to make us comfortable, but to teach us right from wrong.  Sometimes that teaching involves discipline and God teaches His best lessons on Main Street!

Take As Directed

 

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ake as directed!  These are the instructions written across the label of the prescription bottle containing my heart medication.  Once a day, I open this bottle, remove one of the capsules, take the medicine, and continue on with my day.  It has just become a part of my daily routine.

For the past forty-eight years, I have been taking medication to control episodes of irregular heart rhythms. Although I now have a pacemaker, the necessity of taking medicine everyday remains the same.  Over the years, I've had to change medications. Some of the medications required four doses per day, some required three doses, and my present medication requires only one.

The potency of the drug determines how long I can go between doses.  The important thing is to maintain a constant level of medication in my body so my heart will always be protected and have the resources it needs in times of trouble.  If I don’t maintain the proper level of medication, then I run the risk of experiencing a rapid heart rhythm.

Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, also wrote a prescription to keep man’s heart in the proper working order.  When his disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he gave them the prayer that millions have learned by heart.  This prayer has been repeated in times of joy, times of sadness, times of fear, and times of isolation by people all over the world.

Yet, very few of us ever take notice of the wonderful truths contained within this brief conversation with God. Jesus’ third statement in this prayer reveals the secret to maintaining a healthy relationship with God and keeping our hearts pure before him.  Jesus says in Luke 11:3, ^“Give us each day our daily bread.” 

In this one statement, Jesus conveys two essential truths of the Christian life.  First, God supplies us with our daily sustenance. He is the one who provides our food and all the necessities to sustain life.  We must always look to him as the source of all that we have, the wellspring from which our lives flow.  

When was the last time you thanked God for the several thousand times your heart beats in a day?  When was the last time you thanked him for the hundreds of breaths you draw?  When was the last time you thanked him for your ability to hear, see, smell, feel, taste, etc.?

Second, Jesus’ words can be applied spiritually as well.  He is the bread of life and we need to partake of him daily.  This is the only way to keep our hearts safe, protected, and acceptable before God.  God’s word is our heart medicine.  Without it, our hearts just don’t run correctly and they risk getting us into trouble. However, if we spend time in God’s word, feeding on it, concentrating on it, and making it a part of our lives, we will find that our relationship with God will stay healthy.

If you knew your heart wasn't working properly, you’d make an appointment with your doctor who would then send you to see a cardiologist.  Whatever the doctor prescribed, you would do in order to protect and heal your heart.  How much more important is it, then, to follow the prescription that God gives us?  Who knows the human heart better?  Who better than God knows what we need on a daily basis to keep us spiritually fit and in working order?  Take as directed!  Have you had your medicine today?

Stand Still or Get Moving?

 

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ne of the most difficult challenges in the Christian life is deciding to stand still or to get moving.  At times it seems God places us into situations where He requires us to “be still and know that He is God” and at other times He would have us hit the road at full march.

We are usually reticent to move forward where the path is uncertain and we are most unwilling to stand still when we believe we know what is around the next bend.  We have our perspective and God has His.  The key is for us to make sure we are seeing things as best we can from God’s perspective and when we can’t see we must simply trust and obey.

This was the situation facing the Children of Israel as they left Egypt and approached the Red Sea.  All was going well. Pharaoh had freed them, they were on their way to the land God promised Abraham and everything seemed to be going according to plan.  That’s when they heard a rumble behind them, not the rumble of the sea in front of them but the rumble of Pharaoh’s chariots behind them.  What had been a steady walk to the Promised Land now seemed like more of a death march.

They were trapped.  Pharaoh behind, the sea in front and they had nowhere to go.  They raised their voices in protest to Moses, demanding to know why he had brought them into the desert to die instead of leaving them in Egypt. It should be noted, however, that no one “volunteered” to stay behind and tend the brick pits.  No, everyone lined up for the long march to freedom.

In Exodus 14, we get a brief look at two perspectives on the same situation.  Moses bids the people stand still while God tells them to get going.  Let’s look at this brief passage and see what it holds for us today.

Exodus 14:13-15 reads, “Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.” 

After seeing God miraculously move through the 10 plagues on Egypt, Moses wanted the people to know that God would fight for them once again.  He had not brought them out into the desert to abandon them and He had not resigned from leadership.  Moses knew that whenever we take things into our own hands we frustrate and thwart God’s efforts.  So Moses, fully trusting the Lord, told the people to stand still and see God’s salvation.

God, however, did not intend for His people to remain on the shore of the Red Sea.  He had called them to enter and take possession of the land He promised to Abraham.  God’s agenda called for them to move forward and although the sea lay before them, although they did not know what was about to happen, God was testing their faith. Moving forward into a body of water with no way to cross it save through God’s intervention is a total walk of faith.  And this is exactly what God wants from us—total faith!

There are times when God asks us to remain still, to rest, and to wait on Him.  There are other times when He simply asks us to “get moving.”  Our challenge is to move when He says move or to stay when He says stay.  We are not to rely on our understanding nor refuse to change our perspective on our situation.  God sees far beyond our capabilities and bids us move forward when there seems to be no clear path to tread.

So, where are you today?  Are you standing at the water’s edge, reluctant to take the step?  Are you more comfortable on the sea shore even though you hear the thunder of approaching chariots?  If you listen very carefully you can hear God whispering in your ear, “Trust me.  It’s time to get moving.”

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!”

That Don't Make No Sense

 

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hat don’t make no sense!”  Movie aficionados among you may recognize a quote from the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou?”  I must admit, the first time I saw it at my parents’ home I fell out in the floor laughing when I heard this line.  What could be more nonsensical than a band of three convicts, having escaped prison, searching for a buried treasure which doesn’t exist and in the process getting into more trouble than you can imagine?

Watching their exploits, I wondered what would happen next that could make the situation they were presently in seem harmless.  And, just about that time, I received my answer.  Something more fantastic, far beyond anything you can imagine occurred, and the boys found themselves in another fix, much worse, more complicated, and more serious than the preceding predicament.  In all honesty, the movie could be have been subtitled, “The Predicament du Jour!”

We are all familiar with this scenario, especially if we are living a life of faith.  Just about the time we have the next step figured out, just when we have the master blueprint all drawn, when every “T” is crossed and every “I” is dotted, that’s usually when the unforeseen happens and all our plans go up in smoke.  We look at the new situation life throws our way, we scratch our head, we may even shed a few tears, and we say, “God, that don’t make no sense!”  I’ll bet you didn’t know God spoke Southern, did you?

Well, lest we believe we are all alone when this happens, let us look at the life of a man who lived a long, long time ago; who understood that life “don’t make no sense” and that sometimes even our best and most noble attempts often fail.  The don’t fail because they are bad or wrong, they fail because God has something better for us, even though we can’t see or understand it from where we are now standing.

Genesis 41:1 gives us a very straightforward look at the life of Joseph.  The passage simply says, “When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream…” The whole of Joseph’s life can be summed up in this statement.  His was a life of waiting, of not understanding the difficult circumstances.  I am sure Joseph never understood why his brothers betrayed him, why Potipher’s wife tried to seduce him, why he was unfairly imprisoned, or why the cupbearer forgot him.  In fact, the Scriptures never tell us that Joseph ever received any of this information.

After trying to orchestrate his own exit from the prison by asking the cupbearer to speak to Pharaoh on his behalf, we find Joseph waiting two more years until Pharaoh had a dream.  But once Pharaoh had his dream, Joseph was positioned and ready for God’s use.  After all that had happened to him, after all the false accusations, after all the betrayal, and after all the long nights in a lonely prison wondering what had become of his world, Joseph found himself second only to Pharaoh in all the land of Egypt.

My fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to take great encouragement from this passage of scripture and from this man Joseph.  The last verse of Genesis 40 tells us the cupbearer forgot Joseph.  The cupbearer did; God didn’t.  For the next two years, he was with Joseph and he was already making preparations for Joseph’s promotion two years down the road, a promotion Joseph never dreamed of!

This is the way God works.  Whatever your present situation today, I pray you will know that God is not only above it; he is working beyond it!  It’s when life just “don’t’ make no sense” from our perspective that God does his greatest work in us and through us.  Stay the course! Hang in there! Trust God’s heart even when you can’t see his hand.  One day it will all make sense!  Who knows, that day just might be today!

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? 

Remember Me

 

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he last year of high school is one of the most memorable and most challenging for students.  All during the year, students constantly speak of their ardent desire for the school year to end.  They can't wait to receive their diplomas, leave home and family, attend university or get a job, and finally be out on their own.  These sentiments usually last until April and then, as the final six weeks of school approach, they suddenly realize that this portion of life is over.  Frantically, they seek some way of applying the brakes, of slowing life down, and avoiding the inevitable.  The excitement of finishing school and breaking all ties with home is replaced by the anxiety of what the future holds and the fear that they will be forgotten.

One of my former high school students embodied these very emotions with frightening precision.  At the start of his last year he was overjoyed to be finishing school and wanted nothing more than to be done with his studies and his hometown.  Yet, on graduation day, he stood before me with tears in his eyes and streaming down his cheeks asking me over and over not to forget him.  He had this terrible fear that no one would remember him, that his life to that point would have had no significance for anyone. 

This student, however, is not alone.  We all suffer from this same fear.  We are afraid that after we have served our purpose, we will be forgotten, thrown out, discarded, much like we discard containers after we have emptied them of their content.  Such a view of life, though extremely common, fails to take into account God's thoughts toward us.

Genesis 8:1a at first seems to be just an introduction to a new chapter.  But if you read it carefully, you will discover just how much God cares for you.  The opening line of chapter 8 begins with these words, "But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him on the ark..." But God remembered?  No, God never forgot Noah.  He knew where he was and he knew what Noah was doing.  I believe the verse might be better understood if read this way, "But God was thinking about Noah...."  That's right, thinking about him.

Although Noah was locked in the ark without knowing what the situation was on the outside, although he tended the animals day after day and week after week, and although he may have believed God had forgotten him, the scriptures tell us that God remembered him.  God's promise to Noah was that he would be saved and God kept that promise.  All the time Noah spent in the ark seemingly forgotten, he was in the process of being saved and perfected for the purpose God had for him.  God thought about Noah.  He saw him in the ark.  He saw him as he performed his daily duties.  He heard him when he prayed, and he sheltered him during the storm.

God does the same things for us on a daily basis. God thinks about us all the time.  He makes plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), he knows how many hairs are on our heads (Matthew 10:30), his thoughts toward us cannot be counted (Psalm 139:17-18), he hears our prayers (Psalm 55:17), and he shelters us (Psalm 61:3).  When we consider all that he does on our behalf we understand better what Genesis 8:1a means.  Although it may appear that God has abandoned us and that he has forgotten us in our moment of need, nothing could be farther from the truth.  Isaiah 43:3 assures us that whenever we pass through deep waters or walk through fires God is with us.  It is impossible for him to be with us and forget about us.  It simply will not happen. 

Today as you go about your routine and it seems to you that God is nowhere in sight and that he is very far away, let these words from Isaiah 49:14 -ff comfort and reassure you: "But Zion said, 'The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.' 'Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me."  He who remembers Israel and who keeps all his promises is faithful to remember you today!!

Stay Where You Are

 

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t all started one winter afternoon!  The weather forecasters had said that inclement winter weather was a distinct possibility and this time, at least, their predictions were right on target.  Around 2:30 in the afternoon, the skies opened up and rained down sleet.  As the ice pebbles hit against the building, all of us in the office pressed our noses against the windows, staring in amazement, mouths agape, just like thousands of school children who were no doubt doing the same thing.

The excitement from the sleet, however, soon gave way to concern about the drive home and the impending problems the ice would cause as literally thousands of people jammed the highways in order to arrive safely home before the brunt of the storm hit.  Classes were cancelled, schools and offices closed early, and people began making their way home.  My trip home from the university was uneventful and I arrived at my apartment safe and sound.

Later in the afternoon and all throughout the evening, the sleet continued to fall.  Sometimes it came down very hard, almost in sheets, and at other times it was barely noticeable. But all the while, the amount of accumulating ice continued to grow and the ground was soon covered in a blanket of white.  The next morning, I looked out and noticed that a significant amount of ice had accumulated during the night hours.  It was a beautiful view but one that was also fraught with danger.

The television news channels and the radio stations were all promoting the same warning: Stay where you are!  All of the anchormen and women repeated that message over and over, stressing the importance of remaining indoors and not braving the elements or the icy road conditions.  Although it appeared harmless, the ice was indeed deadly, causing cars, trucks, buses, etc. to lose traction and veer off the highway.  Unless absolutely necessary, everyone was urged to stay home where it was safe, dry, and warm until the icy conditions were gone.

Icy weather provides a deeper understanding of a passage of scripture from the book of Isaiah.  The prophet gives us a warning which we should consider as we walk with God.  Isaiah 50:11 reads, “But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment.”

There is a solemn and sober truth in this passage of scripture.  Israel was awaiting the coming of the Messiah and had in her mind the manner in which he would appear.  They believed the Messiah would overthrow Israel’s oppression and set up God’s kingdom in its place.  But the kingdom of God did not come by way of the sword but by way of the cross.  It did not come with an overthrow of a political government but with the overthrow of sin and death.  It did not come in the manner in which they thought it should so they walked by their own understanding and completely missed God’s plan for man’s salvation.

The same is true for us in our daily walk with the Lord.  When we lean on our own understanding, when we believe we know how we are to proceed, and when we fail to stay where we are when God tells us to rest, we place ourselves in great peril.  The conditions all around us tell us to stay where we are, but instead we venture forth, losing our footing, sliding off the chosen road, landing in the side ditches where we get into trouble and difficulty.  Just as God said through the prophet Isaiah, when we do things our own way instead of obeying God we always bear the consequences of our actions.

Wherever you are today in your walk with God, pay close attention to His commands.  It may be that the road ahead is covered with ice, impassable, and treacherous.  If God, who knows the way much better than you, has commanded you to stay where you are, don’t take a flashlight and strike out on your own.  Remain where you are in the safety of God’s presence until He sees fit to move you forward.  You will never be disappointed and you will never be in danger as long as you walk with Him.  Are you walking with God or ahead of Him today?

Office Hours

 

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he sign on my office door simply read J. Blake Carpenter, M-F 8:00 – 5:00.  This information also appeared on our website and provided contact information for students in the event they needed to come see me for any reason.  The university required that I provide such information for students and that I made myself readily available during times when we were not in class.  In addition, I also advised our language majors and minors so I saw a lot of people in the course of a semester.  The university did not dictate the times or the days for my office hours; it simply required me to have them.

During the course of a semester several of my students came by during the posted hours or made an appointment to see me.  Most of these meetings centered around a particular area of difficulty the student was encountering in class or revolved around questions about graduation, registration, or what courses should be taken next.  It usually took just a few minutes together to identify the problem, isolate the difficulty, and correct the student’s understanding so s/he could get on with his/her studies.

Some students liked to make an appointment, reserving a certain time slot so they knew they could see me.  At such a time, the student consulted his/her day planner, calendar, or smartphone and wrote himself/herself a note about the time and date of the meeting.  Just like clockwork, s/he showed up on time, we held our meeting, and all was right in the world!  Sometimes, students missed their appointments but I usually received a phone call, an e-mail, or an explanation as to why the appointment was missed.

Psalm 121:3-4 is all about appointments.  It may not seem so at first reading but if you take a closer look at these two verses, I believe you will understand that God makes Himself available to us at all times.  Much too often in the Christian life we want to make an appointment, juggling our personal schedules so we can grab just a few minutes here or there with our Heavenly Father.  We promise to get up earlier in order to spend more time with Him but invariable something happens and we find ourselves missing the appointment.  When this happens, feelings of guilt and embarrassment can creep into our lives making us feel uncomfortable because we didn’t keep our appointment with God.

Let’s take a look at this passage today and I think we will find words of great encouragement.  David’s words remind us that “He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” To me, the most beautiful part of this passage is found in the last eleven words.  In essence, the posted sign for God’s office reads “Sunday-Sunday, 24 hours per day.  No appointment necessary!! I am here all the time!” 

What an uplifting source of strength. What an encouragement for me to drop my day planner.  The God who keeps Israel, the God who spins everything in orbit, and the God who holds everything together is available to talk to me any moment of the day or night.  He is never “out to lunch”, He is never too busy, and He is never tired or on vacation.  God is always in the office.  I can come to Him anytime and He encourages me to do just that.  When was the last time you dropped by for an office visit with God?  This might be a good day to do just that.  I have no doubt you will find Him in the office, ready to meet with you today!  Drop that appointment book and knock on the door!

Trying to Make Up

 

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everal weeks ago, I stopped into a local pharmacy to buy something for a headache, you know the slow, nagging kind that just won't go away.   As I made my way toward the pain relievers, I walked down an entire aisle devoted solely to cosmetics.  I never knew there were so many different colors!  I mean, how many different shades constitute a blush?  And let's not even talk about eye shadow!!  Needless to say, my hat is off to you ladies who are able to negotiate these aisles with ease.  There is simply no way I could manage it!  I have a hard enough time deciding regular or double stuff Oreo's, and they are the same color!

All along the aisle were posters and pictures of beautiful models, advertising different brands of make-up to improve your looks and to make you a more successful and confident person.  Excuse me, but let's face one fact!  If these people need to use cosmetics to "make up" any deficit between what they are and what society believes they should be, do any of the rest of us have a chance? I don't think so!   Personally, I think we're sunk!! 

But this stroll down the cosmetic aisle only served to reinforce a stark truth about our society.  We are so enamored with the outward appearances of people.  We notice their hairstyle, their clothing, their shoes, etc.; but we neglect the people themselves.  As a society, we have set a standard that is impossible for us to reach on our own.  Although we speak of valuing inner beauty, we sell products to enhance and improve outward appearance.  In addition, we convey the idea that people, women in particular, need to use something to "make up" the deficit between themselves and "perfection."  The very name of the product, "make-up" only undergirds the notion that we aren't good enough on our own and must constantly work to make up for what we lack.

Unfortunately, this phenomenon touches our spiritual lives as well. It is difficult, if not impossible, for some Christians to accept the notion of God's grace.  Mercy is not receiving what we do deserve; but grace is receiving what we don't deserve.  It is by God's grace that we have obtained eternal life through Christ.  There was nothing we could do to receive it, it is God's gift that he offers freely to each person who believes Jesus Christ came to die and pay the penalty for sin.

However, we, as Christians, send the wrong message.  We are constantly "doing" things for God.  We serve on every committee the church organizes; we attend every bake sale, every Bible study, try out for every program, and make sure we read everything written about Christianity.  We teach Sunday school, work in the nursery, deliver meals to people who are home-bound, donate our clothes to the less fortunate, and send money to at least five missionaries or Christian organizations.  All the while, we buy into the idea that the more we do for God, the holier we are.  But nothing could be farther from the truth!!

Paul addresses this issue in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."  Here, Paul takes issue with the idea that we can earn our salvation by performing a certain number of works.  He states categorically that our salvation is a gift from God and not because of anything we have done.  We get caught up in appearances, believing we will "look" more like a Christian if we do things perceived by society as Christian.  This is the equivalent of applying cosmetics to dress up a person's looks.  No matter how much make-up is applied, it can do nothing to change the inner attitude or character of a person.

God saved us because he chose to, because he loved us, because we couldn't do it for ourselves.  We need to stop living as if our salvation depended on the number of church bazaar's we attend and start understanding that true life begins when we accept the gift of God's grace.  Constantly doing alienates us from God because we are too busy to spend time with him.  Accepting his grace, however, draws us closer to him because we understand just how much we need him and how much he loves us. 

Before you start your day, spend some time with your Heavenly Father.  You can go to him, blemishes and all, because he loves you.  He sees you just the way you are and he will never require you to "make up" any part of your life.  Instead, he will look at your heart, the real you, and accept you and love you for the person you are, not for the person you think you should be.

A Hot Potato

 

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aked potatoes may be one of man’s greatest inventions.  Now I know I’m treading on thin ice here.  First of all, man didn’t invent the potato; he did, however, figure out what to do with it.  Bake it in an oven, add butter, chives, cheese, salt, pepper, and of course sour cream, and you have a culinary masterpiece no matter what else is on the plate! 

I was reminded of this fact one evening when a friend of mine from the seminary joined me for dinner.  We decided to eat steak and when it came time to choose between steamed vegetables and a baked potato, well let’s just say the choice wasn’t very difficult to make.  In fact, it was a no-brainer!  When the waiter asked me if I wanted the potato with everything on it, I stared at him in disbelief.  Is there any other way to eat one?  Not in my book!

A few minutes and a dinner salad later, our steaks finally arrived.  The potato was wonderful, baked to perfection and scrumptious to the taste.  I marveled at how tender the potato was, given the fact that when these things are pulled from the ground, they are anything but soft and tender. Instead, potatoes are rock hard, dirty, and anything but appealing to the taste.  I have heard of some people who like to eat them raw but this was never an option for me.  Baked, fried, or mashed, these are the only ways for me to eat a potato.

I want us to think about that baked potato for just a few seconds—not as something to eat but as a lesson from God’s word.  In order for the potato to become soft, it must be placed into heat.  Once it exits from the flame the potato is forever changed.  It is no longer hard but rather is soft and very appealing. The potato cannot do this on its own; it must enter into the fire in order to be changed into a form that is suitable for enjoyment.

The book of Hebrews is a wonderful reminder of just how much Jesus Christ did for us on Calvary’s cross.  The writer goes to great lengths to point out that Jesus is superior to the angels and to Moses.  Christ’s sacrifice was also superior to all the sacrifices required by the law.  The giving of his life resulted in the removal of sins, not the covering of them.  Jesus died once for all whereas under the law, the high priest had to sacrifice once a year to cover the people’s sin.

Now back to the example of that potato.  In Hebrews 3:7-8, we read the following warning against unbelief, “So, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.”

The writer warns us against hardening our hearts to God’s forgiveness and mercy.  He reminds his readers that their forefathers tested God by refusing to enter the land promised to Abraham.  They hardened their hearts and refused to let God work in their lives to give them all the blessings he had in store for them.  Because of this hardness, because they refused to believe God’s promise, they could not enter into his blessings, mercy, and grace. They wondered in the desert for forty years until all those who left Egypt died in the wilderness.

What are our hearts like today?  Are they hard?  Are they closed to God’s message and his love?  Do we hear him calling us to service and are we refusing to follow him?  If this is the case, our hearts will always be like that potato pulled from the ground, hard, cold, dirty, and unsavory.  However, if we hear God’s voice and obey it, if we accept his free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, then our hearts will be changed.  They will become soft, tender, and a source of nourishment, providing an inviting aroma for all those we meet on a daily basis.  So, could you be considered a hot potato today?

The Spider's Web

 

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uring the summer months of 1991, I was doing final coursework for my teaching certification.  I took the courses at Appalachian State University, in Boone, North Carolina. Boone is a small college town nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The town is not far from the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the prettiest stretches of highway in the entire country.

One of my courses focused on presenting instruction, including the making of lesson plans and the delivering of a specific body of knowledge to my students.  A large portion of teaching involves reflection on the material being taught and the way the teacher intends to deliver it.  The teacher must know what the outcome will be so that all the instruction will be aimed toward that one goal.

Every day we had to keep a journal.  Our instructor wanted us to spend an hour walking in the woods, driving along the Parkway, or looking at a vista.  She then wanted us to reflect on our day and place our thoughts in the journal which she would read at the end of the course.  I wasn’t too sure about this idea at first but I soon learned to enjoy this time and I looked forward to it.

I found a beautiful trail just off the Parkway that wound through a dense grove of trees and ended at a beautiful waterfall.  One afternoon at the waterfall, I sat on a rock and just listened to the falling water.  The sound was almost deafening as hundreds of gallons of water per minute tumbled over the rock outcropping and crashed several feet below.  In the rising mist, not far from the fall itself, I saw a spider methodically building her web.  She was not deterred from her task by the falling water but continued her knitting, piecing together the various parts of her web.

I watched in utter amazement!  Very carefully and expertly, the spider joined one silk thread to another until a finished web emerged. She then climbed to the center of the web to rest and wait.  Her legs were sprawled out in every direction of the web.  Anything flying into the web or brushing against it immediately alerted the spider and she ran to that particular area of the web to take care of business. 

There is a great biblical truth to be found in the spider’s web.  Although the spider is blind, she succeeds in putting together one of nature’s most intricate architectural designs.  She knows exactly how the web is to be constructed and how it will look once it is finished.  That afternoon at the waterfall, the design was lost on me.  I had no idea what the web would look like nor how the spider would put it all together; but when she was finished, it was far prettier and more intricate than I had ever imagined.

God’s ways are just like this. He is always working, always putting things together, and always accomplishing His purposes.  Although we can’t see the end result, God knows exactly what it will be.  This fact is found in Isaiah 46:9-10, “Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, "My counsel shall stand,  And I will do all My pleasure,'”

These are great words of comfort, especially when things in the world seem to be upside down.  We often wonder if everything is falling apart and we also wonder if God is aware of what’s going on!  Rest assured He is.  He knows all that is happening and He is still in control.  If He takes notice of birds when they fall, how much more is He aware of what is happening in the world and in our individual lives?  The last part of this verse reminds us of the immutability of God’s word and that everything is done in accordance with His will.

The next time you have occasion to watch a spider do her work, take a few moments and observe.  In her activity be reminded that God holds the individual threads of your life.  He knows where they should be anchored and in exactly what order they should be joined.  He is busy knitting every facet of your life into an intricate and beautiful piece of architecture that will bring glory and honor to Him.  What are you learning from the spider’s web today?

The Water Cooler

 

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ummertime in a small town has to be one of the best memories a boy could have.  It seems there was always something happening to keep your curiosity peaked and your desire for mischief at an all-time high.  I remember summers as a time when families came together for reunions, when crowds cheered as the local baseball team won the state pennant, and when churches gathered their congregations on lazy Sunday afternoons for the all-important-and-ever-essential dinner on the ground.

Whenever anyone was having one of these events, my dad usually received a phone call to reserve equipment we provided whenever people were in need.  In addition to conducting funeral services for our community, we also provided tents, chairs, and water coolers to the public.  I remember going on trips with my dad as he delivered equipment to people, organizations, and churches that were planning events for large crowds.  Whenever the city had any type of event, they always called dad for tents and water coolers.  No matter the occasion, I have fond memories of watching my dad erect tents bearing our family name and placing water coolers in strategic locations so people would have a cool drink to slake their thirst.

Of all the equipment we loaned, the water coolers stick out in my memory.  They sat approximately knee-high, were made of metal, were gray in color, and had light blue plastic interiors that were designed to keep water at a cool temperature.  On the outside of the cooler at the bottom was a spout for dispensing cold water.  Ice filled the inside and as it melted it provided enough cold water to quench the thirst of a large number of people.  A church gathering or a large event required several of these coolers and we were more than happy to provide them.

Matthew’s gospel reminds us of the importance of small gestures, like providing water coolers.  In fact, in Matthew 10:42 Jesus speaks specifically about the importance of providing a cool drink of water to those who are thirsty.  “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” 

This is a wonderful passage of scripture because there are so many truths packed into it.  First, Jesus reminds us that even a cold cup of water given in his name brings great reward.  So often we believe we must do something great for the Lord.  By great, we usually mean going above and beyond the call of duty, accomplishing a goal no one has ever done or would ever dream of doing. 

Second, Jesus reminds us of the importance of doing these “ordinary acts” to those people who are around us on a daily basis.  We are to share the good news with everyone, especially those with whom we work and live from day to day.  When we do this, Jesus says we will not lose our reward.  He is not speaking of monetary compensation; rather, he is speaking of the reward God has for those who simply obey Him and share the truth of His son by word and deed.

I can still taste the water coming from the spout of those old water coolers.  They were by no means the center of attention at any of the events they attended but those events would have been incomplete without them.  People would not have stayed long had there not been something there to satisfy their thirst. 

Today, wherever you are, I pray you are playing the role of the water cooler.  The world is a hot and dry place, zapping the life from people on a daily basis.  Everywhere you look, you see people looking for ways to cool and quench their thirsts.  Remember that Jesus said that if we provide just a cool cup of water in his name to those within our reach, our effort would not be in vain.  Are you providing people with the cool, clear water that quenches their souls?  Are you pointing the way to Jesus Christ, the living water?  Are you being a water cooler today?

The Balance of my Time

 

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he floor of the United States House of Representatives can, and usually is, a lively and animated place.  Here, decisions are made that potentially affect every man, woman, and child on the face of the planet.  In recent years, television has made it possible for people around the globe to watch our government in action.  When I have time, I like to watch the debates, the discussions, and the brawls that occur in this chamber.

I have noticed, however, that no matter from which side of the aisle a speaker hails, certain protocols are always followed.  The members always address the presiding officer as the “Speaker” and they always use the phrase, “I yield the balance of my time to…”  I find this phrase very interesting as it applies not only to the political process but to daily life as well.

Psalm 90 addresses this issue of time and how much we have of it.  This psalm was not written by David but is instead a prayer of Moses.  It is a wonderful piece of scripture and I invite you to read it in its entirety.  However, only one verse is the focus of today’s Tidbit.  In Psalm 90:10, Moses makes the following statement, “The length of our days is seventy years- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.”  In this brief passage, Moses reveals just how short our lives are and how little time we have to impact the world for Jesus Christ.  But let’s put this in a more familiar perspective.

Although math is not my strong suit, I am able to do simple multiplication.  If we multiply 70 (the number of years promised us) by 365 (the number of days in the year) we arrive at the total of 25,550 days.  I am leaving out extra days for leap years because that is higher order mathematics, fully beyond my ability!!  Now that still sounds like a rather large number.  So let’s continue to make this more concrete.

If the total number of days represented dollars and your account was filled with $25,550 you would think yourself wealthy indeed.  However, if you spent $365 per day, you would have depleted the entire amount in only 70 days, a mere two months and 10 days.  Once depleted, there would be no more deposits made to your account; you would be out of money and flat broke.

The analogy is not too far off, is it?  What we don’t realize is that our bank accounts were filled with this many days at the moment of our birth.  The question is not will we spend them but how?  Each day finds our account total less than the day before and each year lessens our total by 365.  Isn’t it amazing that we would watch over that $25,550 with the utmost care yet we spend our days as if there were no tomorrow!  The truth is that today represents one less tomorrow than we had yesterday!

Returning to the statement made by the members of Congress and using the number of days in our lives form above, we can now ask ourselves the following question:  To whom are we yielding the balance of our time?  How much of our time do we give to God and to the furtherance of His kingdom?  How much of our daily time allotment do we yield to Him?  God has yielded all of eternity to us, given us all of His time, and made provision for us to live forever.  How much time are we giving Him?  Will we yield the balance of our time to God or will we be like Belshazzar who was weighed in the balance and found wanting? (Daniel 5:27)