It's Time To Wash Your Hair

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 remember the touch of my mother’s hand when I was a little boy.  Most of the time, mom’s touch was gentle and affectionate. There were times, however, when her touch was a little stronger, like when I insisted on having my way over hers, bad move on my part!!  I remember that mom’s hands were always busy, preparing meals, washing clothes, cleaning house, or sewing.  But her hands were never too occupied or too tired to attend to scraped knees, running noses, or hurt feelings. Many times as I lay in a hospital bed, the mere touch of her hand did more than all the nurses and medications combined.

One of the things I remember most about mom’s touch happened on Saturday evenings.  We had the same ritual.  I would get my bath, and then mom would put me up on the kitchen counter, have me lie on my back, and she would wash my hair in the kitchen sink.  I remember her hands supporting my head as it hung in mid-air over the sink.  She always talked to me while she washed and we would joke, tease, and laugh during the whole process. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t always a bunch of roses.  In the summer time, when I had been outside playing, I would get sand and grit all in my hair.  When it came time to wash it out, it wasn’t fun.  Mom’s hands, though soft and reassuring, were also relentless in their determination to find every grain of sand in my head.  With my head dangling over the sink, she used both her hands to lather, search, scrub, and scratch, until every grain of sand was gone.  When I got up from the counter, I knew my head was completely clean, not only because I could feel it, but because mom had washed my hair and I knew nothing had escaped her attention.

In Psalm 51, David records the same experience, except David isn’t having his hair washed and his mom isn’t doing the honors.  Instead, David prays to God to cleanse his soul, to find anything and everything that makes his life spotty and unclean.  This entire Psalm was written after David’s adultery with Bathsheba (see 2 Samuel 11). Knowing he has done wrong and knowing he cannot cleanse his own heart, David comes before God’s throne and ask his Heavenly Father to make him clean. 

David knows the process will not be pleasant but he also knows that when God is finished he will be completely clean.  David’s specific request is found in Psalm 51:7 “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Read the last three words again very slowly and think about them.  What can be whiter than snow?  Yet David says that is exactly how clean he will be when God finishes with him.  David asked God to look into every nook and cranny of his life, to find all the grains of sin that were making it spotty, and to remove them. 

If you have ever asked God to cleanse you, then you know just how probing His hands can be.  They relentlessly search for the smallest speck of sin and they scrub and scrub, until it is completely gone. Although this is not the most enjoyable aspect of our relationship with God, it is one of the most productive.  God will not stand for any sin to stain our lives!  He has zero tolerance for sin because He knows that, left alone, it will continue to soil our lives and affect our relationship with Him.

When mom was washing my hair, she wouldn’t stop until she was satisfied all the sand was gone.  It didn’t matter if I was ready for her to be finished; the ordeal wasn’t over until she had removed all the sand from my hair.  She knew that if the dirt remained, it would be more difficult and more challenging to remove at a later time.  When it was time to wash my hair that is exactly what she did, right down to the last follicle.

If my mom would take such great pains to make sure my hair was clean, how much more important do you think our souls are to God?  With a loving touch, He searches us all over, making sure that our lives are free from sin.  Our part is to lie still and let Him work. He knows what He is doing, He knows what to look for, and He knows how to remove it from us.  But there is one proviso—we must ask Him to do it.  We must allow God to search us and cleanse us.  God is a gentleman and will not force Himself on us.  He waits until He is invited in and then He begins His work!

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hen was the last time you asked God to wash you?  When was the last time you let Him really inspect every part of your life to see if sin was lurking in a hidden corner?  When was the last time you willingly let God cleanse you and make you whiter than snow?  Don’t you think it’s time to wash your hair today?

An Exact Number

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay Where I Can See You

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ummer was always a wonderful time for me as a kid.  There was no school, I could go barefoot all day, I didn’t have to worry about doing homework, and I could see my friends anytime I wished.  In addition, summer was a time for vacations and that sometimes meant a trip to the beach! 

North Carolina has some of the most beautiful and tranquil beaches I’ve ever visited.  The sand is white, there is plenty of room to stretch out, and the beach goes on and on forever.  When I visit the beach now, I love to sit and watch the waves and listen to them thunder as the crash onto the shore.  I find this to be so relaxing and all the cares of this life just melt away and time stands still.

But as a little boy, the last thing I wanted to do was to sit on the beach.  I wanted to get into the water and play. My brother and I would play in the sand, dig holes, make tunnels, build castles, and fill our pails with seashells.  When we asked permission to take our rafts into the surf, my mom would give us permission, followed by a stern command, “Stay where I can see you!”

We would take our rafts into the surf and ride waves up on the shore.  Each time I landed on the sand, I would look up to make sure mom could see me and that I could see her.  The current would carry us down the beach so every once in a while we would look up, find mom and dad, walk back up the beach, and continue riding waves.  But we always stayed where mom could see us and where we could see her.  Losing sight of her meant we would be lost and then anything could happen.

There is a similar story in the book of Exodus.  The children of Israel were also surrounded by sand.  However, this was the sand of the desert with no water and no ocean in sight.  They weren’t building sandcastles either!  Instead, they were following God as He led them toward the Promised Land.  They carried with them the tabernacle, a portable temple used to worship God.  When they stopped to rest, they would set up the tabernacle and the pillar of cloud stationed itself over the tent.  God’s glory filled the tabernacle and as long as the cloud remained there, the people rested.

Moses records this for us in the very last verses of Exodus. There is a wonderful lesson of hope and encouragement neatly nestled in this passage of scripture. “So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels” (Exodus 40:38). Two great truths jump out at us from this one small verse.  First, the cloud of the Lord remained over the tabernacle by day and there was fire in the cloud at night.  God’s presence was always visible and it never left the people. God meant for His people to know that He was with them, day and night, constantly leading, guiding, and watching over them. 

Second, God’s presence remained in sight during all their travels.  God did not appear every other day and twice on Sunday.  He didn’t pop in for a visit every once in a while.  No!  God went everywhere His people went and He remained in full view of them all.  The people never wondered where God was or if He had forgotten them or abandoned them.  All they had to do was lift their eyes toward the tabernacle and see His presence.  He wanted to dwell with His people, to commune with them, to lead, to guide, and to protect them.

This is also true today.  True, God no longer appears in a pillar of cloud by day or a pillar of fire by night but His presence is always with us.  No matter where we go, no matter what we do, no matter how desperate or foreboding our situation may be, God is there.  His presence speaks to our hearts, we see Him working in our lives, and we know that He still leads us just as He led Moses and the people all those years ago. 

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f you are going through a lonely place, if you feel that you have been deserted, if your life feels more like a desert than a beach, take courage!  God led His people in the desert and when they set up a place of worship, His glory filled it and His presence was there, all the time and in full view.  The same is true today.  No matter our circumstances we must follow my mom’s advice.  We must hear God say to us from the desert floor of life, “Stay where I can see you!”   Can you see God today? 

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!

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ill 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!

Do You See The Light?

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he Outer Banks of North Carolina are famous for their serenity, for their pristine beaches, and for providing a haven of rest and relaxation to the weary traveler.  But they are also famous for the lighthouses that dot their shores.  Several of these lighthouses are famous and have been used for years to guide vessels at sea safely to harbors.

One of my end tables has a replica of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse.  It has very distinct markings, black and white diamonds.  It truly is a lovely structure.  Saturday morning found me cleaning my house.  As I dusted the den, I came to that replica.  I picked up the lighthouse, dusted it and the table, and returned it to its place. As I finished cleaning up, I thought about that lighthouse. 

Now, I have never visited the Outer Banks and I have never seen the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. However, I am sure of its existence and I know that if I were to go to the Outer Banks, I would find it faithfully performing its task of warning sailors of the dangerous pitfalls of the North Carolina Coast.  The lighthouse is there and working whether I see it or not and whether I believe in its existence or not.

In John’s gospel, we encounter a well-known figure who had doubts of his own. Thomas was a follower of Jesus Christ. Like his friends, he didn’t understand the death of his friend and master, Jesus.  He was afraid that the same fate would fall to him and, like the others, he kept a low profile. 

Not long afterward, his friends shared with him that they had seen Jesus. He had appeared to them, coming through a locked door and he stood and spoke to them.  Now Thomas was more than a little skeptical.  He didn’t want to accuse his friends of spreading rumors but he wanted to see the evidence for himself.  Soon thereafter, he got his opportunity.  Jesus appeared to the group and he spoke directly to Thomas and had him touch the scars in his hands and in his side.  Thomas was overwhelmed and bowed down and worshiped Jesus as his Lord and his God.

Jesus made the following statement found in John 20:29, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  Here, Jesus was speaking about all those who would believe on him without seeing him physically.  He was speaking about you and me for we have never seen the Lord.  We believe in him by faith and because we know in our hearts that Jesus is God’s son and that there is no salvation apart from him.

Today, the Cape Lookout Lighthouse stands on the North Carolina Coast looking out over the Atlantic Ocean.  Tonight, it will shine its light over the waters showing sailors the only way to arrive safely at their destination.  The light of Jesus shines today over the troubled seas of life.  His light shines in the darkness and in the storm and shows us the safe way home. 

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re we like Thomas, unbelieving unless we see for ourselves or does Jesus’ description apply to us today?  Are we blessed because we haven’t seen and still we believe?  Which situation applies in your life today?

Briers In The Woods

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avid Bame was my best friend and my next-door-neighbor.  As little boys, we would get into all kinds of mischief.  We would climb trees, play in the ditch behind our houses, ride bikes together, and play in the woods every chance we had.  Although we lived in the city, there was a large wooded lot next to David’s house.  Today, that lot has been cleared and isn’t very big.  But when we were boys, that lot was Sherwood Forest, dark, dense, filled with all kinds of ghosts, goblins, and briers!

We used to spend hours in the woods, playing, talking, planning, scheming, or just taking a walk.  The entrance to “the woods”, as we called them, was barred by a large brier bush.   I hate briers, and I remember more than one occasion where I refused to enter unless someone held that brier bush out of my way.  I didn’t want to be stuck and this fear immobilized me and kept me outside the entrance, waiting for someone to make the way safe.

This job usually fell to David.  He would go first, making sure the way was all right, moving any debris out of the way, and he would hold the brier bush back until I was safely inside.  While we were there, we would play and have a wonderful time.  When it was time to leave, however, I found that the same fear of those briers returned, keeping me locked inside the woods, unable to leave.  David again came to my rescue, holding back the brier bush until I was safely on the other side of the entrance.

This all seems so far away now.  The woods are gone, David lives in another place now, and my fear of briers has completely vanished.  Oh, I still hate being stuck; but my fear of briers no longer keeps me from walking in the woods. 

I have found that there are other types of briers in life, ones that stick and pull and block my path.  These briers are much more foreboding and much more painful than those found in that wooded lot so many years ago.  The briers of fear, uncertainty, unexpected loss, and every-day challenges continually fall across life’s path.  What I need is someone to walk ahead of me and hold back those brier bushes until I pass by.

Deuteronomy 1:29-31 assures me that there is someone who goes ahead of me and moves all the briers barring my way. “Then I said to you, 'Do not be shocked, nor fear them.   'The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,  and in the wilderness where you saw how  the LORD your God carried you, just as a man carries his son, in all the way which you have walked until you came to this place.”

Can God make it any clearer to us than this?  Is there any doubt as to who loves us and cares for us?  Can there be any question after reading this promise as to who carries us, fights our battles, and holds our hand through the most difficult times in life?

God reminds the Children of Israel of their exodus from Egypt.  He points to the fact that he brought them out, that he continued to fight for them, that he carried them in his arms just as a father carries his son, and he continued to do this on a daily basis.  

That promise is ours today as well because God never changes.  This same God who made a way through the sea, this same God who fought all of Israel’s battles, this same God who appeared in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, is the very same God who fights for you today.  It is his arm that carries you through times of difficulty and it is this same God who walks before you and holds back all the briers blocking your path today.

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  never feared entering the woods because I knew David would always hold back the briers and I knew he wouldn’t let them harm me.  How much more will God do the same for us today?  Are you walking a thorny path today?  Does it seem that the way ahead is covered over with briers and vines?  Look ahead, just up the path, and you will see your Heavenly Father clearing your way and bidding you to walk safely ahead.  No fear!  No struggle!  No briers!    

A Hole In The Wall

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he constant banging of the hammer, the whizzing of drills, and the rhythmic sound of the jackhammer had become a way of life for all the people working in my classroom building.  The university was bringing the building up to code by installing an exterior fire escape so that everyone would have safe passage out of the building in the event that fire or some other emergency forced an evacuation.

All summer, I watched as crews prepared the ground outside.  They dug a deep hole and proceeded to construct a huge foundation out of concrete and steel.  Then the actual construction of the fire escape began.  I arrived at the office one morning and already the workers were there with a large crane and several sturdy steel girders destined to become the framework for the fire escape.  By late afternoon, they had erected several large pieces and attached them to the exterior wall.  In a few more days, the exterior portion of the construction was completed and the interior renovations began.

As I approached the building the next morning, I couldn’t help but reflect on God’s promise that he will always make a way of escape for us in times of temptation or in times of trouble.  God never leaves us stranded and his way of escape is always close and adequate to our needs.  The catch is that we must recognize the way of escape and trust enough to take it.  The new fire escape on our building would provide a passage to safety in case of danger.  What a tragedy it would be if someone lost his life in our building simply because he refused to take the fire escape.  That would be unthinkable, wouldn’t it?  Yet everyday we, as Christians, refuse to take the escapes God has provided because we don’t recognize them or because the way of escape seems awkward to us.

No one knew more about awkward ways of escape than the Apostle Paul.  We must see him in Damascus running for his life.  The King has sent his ethnarch to capture Paul and kill him.  The city is under heavy guard.  Everywhere there are spies looking for Paul, ready to capture him and execute the king’s command on the spot.  The city gates are closed, locked, and guarded so they provide no means of safety.  All around him, Paul sees the enemy and there seems to be no way out!

But wait just a minute!  From a small home in the city wall a plan is hatched.  Paul’s disciples review their resources and find a large basket, a rope, and a window!  What kind cockamamie idea are they hatching? Can’t you just hear their conversation now? “Look boys, I think if we tie this rope to that basket, and a few of us hold the rope, we can help Paul escape!  All he has to do is get into the basket.  We will hold the rope and let it down slowly and, with a little luck, Paul will make it to safety!  No sweat!”’

With a little luck?  No sweat?  Who are they kidding?  Paul must have thought these guys checked their brains at the front desk!!!  But was he going to get a better offer from the king?  Hardly!  So, through a hole in the wall, Paul escaped death and continued to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.  He gives us this account in 2 Corinthians 11:32-34. “In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.”

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od still works like this today.  He always provides a means of escape out of every situation.  It may seem awkward and not what we expected but God’s way of escape always leads to safety and always provides us with the means of continuing his work.  So the next time you see a fire escape on the side of a building, remind yourself that God always looks out for you and always provides a means of escape, even if it is a hole in the wall!

What Do I Do Now?

             

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he end of the semester is always a hectic and challenging time.  People are cramming for final exams, working hard to complete final papers, and trying every so hard to get the next phase of their lives in order.  In fact, what happens after graduation causes more stress than in preparing for it.

After spending years in the books, the graduate is faced with an even more difficult question.  The years of preparation, all the time logged in the library, and all the knowledge gained are not sufficient to answer this simple question, “What do I do now?”  Standing on the mountain top of accomplishment only means that the valley of further challenges lies ahead.

The top of that mountain, while invigorating and exciting, is also very unnerving.  Once you are at the top, the only other direction is down; but down into what?  That is the great question and that is the great challenge.  Fortunately, as children of God, we do not face this question or this situation alone.  The Old Testament story of Joshua is a good example of preparation, graduation, and continuation in the plan God has chosen for those who love him.

For forty years, Joshua had been under the direct leadership and instruction of Moses.  He and Caleb were the only spies who believed the land could be taken and encouraged the people not to abandon God.  They people didn’t listen and they wandered in the desert for forty years.  When Moses set up the tent of meeting where he talked to God, Joshua was chosen to guard that tent.  So, whenever Moses spoke to God, Joshua wasn’t too far away.  He both saw and heard all that went on between Moses and God.

In addition, when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai, Joshua was the only person to accompany Moses on the mountain.  You see, all this was preparation for the role Joshua would play after Moses’ death.  He was in training, learning how to lead, learning how to trust God, and learning how live in God’s provision.  This requires much study and much time spent in the classroom alone with God.

Deuteronomy 31:23, however, shows what happened on Joshua’s graduation day. The Lord gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: "Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you."  Can’t you just see Joshua, diploma in hand, a smile on his face, feeling a strong sense of accomplishment?  Then God informs him that he is to replace Moses.  He goes pale, gets a lump in this throat, and says, “Okay, now what do I do?”

We need only look at God’s words to Joshua to get the answer to his question.  God told Joshua to be strong and courageous.  In other words, Joshua was to be strong by depending on God and trusting in him.  The result of this action is twofold: 1) Joshua will bring the people into the land God promised.  In other words, he will have a definite role to play in God’s plan for his people, and 2) God himself will be with him; Joshua will not go alone!

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oday you may be wondering what to do next, what step to take, and which direction you should choose.  Believe me, you are not alone!  Many Christians find themselves in Joshua’s situation, asking the same question he did.  God’s answer is the same.  “Be strong and courageous and I will be with you.”  The view from the mountain is wonderful, but the real test of leadership, the real test of faith, and the real test of trust come when we leave the mountain and follow God into the valley.  Do you have your hiking boots on today?

The Bridge On Mulberry Street

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he bridge on Mulberry Street was very popular with the folks in my hometown of Cherryville, North Carolina.  For starters, it was (and still is) the only bridge in town and the only way to get from one side of the city to the other when a train comes through.  Cherryville is split into two sections by railroad tracks and when a train is barreling through, you only have two options: sit at one of the crossings and wait or make a dash for the bridge on Mulberry Street.

As a kid, I loved to ride my bike across that bridge.  When a train was coming, it was neat to stop at the very top of the bridge and watch the approaching engine and the heavy cars behind it.  As the train went under the bridge, it would shake and vibrate, the heat from the engine’s smoke stack would hit you right in the face, and the conductor would blow the whistle.   Needless to say, it was a blast!

That bridge was an important part of my childhood.  The bridge was originally made of wood and had remained that way since it was built.  In recent years, the bridge was refurbished and made safer with concrete supports and guardrails.  Nevertheless, the bridge is still on Mulberry Street and it still provides safe passage from one side of town to the other when the trains come through.

In addition, to providing a convenient crossing, that bridge has also given me some wonderful opportunities to reflect.  I remember several summer evenings I would ride my bike to the bridge and look down the tracks as far as I could see in both directions.  In the distance I could see cars crossing the railroad tracks at several places and occasionally I could see a train coming way before I could hear the whistle or feel its vibrations.  I was never afraid of the oncoming train because I knew the bridge was strong and I knew it would keep me safe when the train arrived.

The bridge on Mulberry Street represents the times when God has provided a way for me to cross safely over many difficulties in my life.  Through the many changes, trials, heartaches, and challenges I encounter in life, I always find that God builds a bridge so I can safely cross over all the things life puts in my way.

The prophet Isaiah reminds his readers of the many times God provides safe passage for his people.  Isaiah 51:10 reads, “Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea so that the redeemed might cross over?” Although Isaiah is reminding us of the parting of the Red Sea, God makes a way for all of us on a daily basis.

This is especially true when we consider the way he made for us at Calvary. Like my hometown of Cherryville, there was a gulf separating us from God.  However, the gulf was so wide and deep that there was no way we could cross it on our own.  Without a bridge, we were eternally separated from our Heavenly Father with no hope of reunion. 

Then God sent Jesus to die for us, to build a bridge across that gulf and give us safe passage from where we were to where we needed to be.  That bridge is still there, still strong, still sturdy, and still able to provide safe passage to everyone who chooses to cross over to a new life with God.

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he next time I’m home, you can bet I’ll cross that bridge at least once, if not more.  I’ll stop at the top, lean over the railing, and watch the approaching train.  And, as I have done so many times in my life, I’ll thank God that there is a bridge on Mulberry Street.  Have a wonderful day!

Do You See The Light?

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he Outer Banks of North Carolina are famous for their serenity, for their pristine beaches, and for providing a haven of rest and relaxation to the weary traveler.  But they are also famous for the lighthouses that dot their shores.  Several of these lighthouses are famous and have been used for years to guide vessels at sea safely to harbors.

One of my end tables has a replica of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse.  It has very distinct markings, black and white diamonds.  It truly is a lovely structure.  Saturday morning found me cleaning my apartment.  As I dusted the den, I came to that replica.  I picked up the lighthouse, dusted it and the table, and returned it to its place. As I finished cleaning up, I thought about that lighthouse.

Now, I have never visited the Outer Banks and I have never seen the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. However, I am sure of its existence and I know that if I were to go to the Outer Banks, I would find it faithfully performing its task of warning sailors of the dangerous pitfalls of the North Carolina Coast.  The lighthouse is there and working whether I see it or not and whether I believe in its existence or not.

In John’s gospel, we encounter a well-known figure who had doubts of his own. Thomas was a follower of Jesus Christ. Like his friends, he didn’t understand the death of his friend and master, Jesus.  He was afraid that the same fate would fall to him and, like the others, he kept a low profile. 

Not long afterward, his friends shared with him that they had seen Jesus. He had appeared to them, coming through a locked door and he stood and spoke to them.  Now Thomas was more than a little skeptical.  He didn’t want to accuse his friends of spreading rumors but he wanted to see the evidence for himself.  Soon thereafter, he got his opportunity.  Jesus appeared to the group and he spoke directly to Thomas and had him touch the scars in his hands and in his side.  Thomas was overwhelmed and bowed down and worshiped Jesus as his Lord and his God.

Jesus made the following statement found in John 20:29, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Here, Jesus was speaking about all those who would believe on him without seeing him physically.  He was speaking about you and me for we have never seen the Lord.  We believe in him by faith and because we know in our hearts that Jesus is God’s son and that there is no salvation apart from him.

Today, the Cape Lookout Lighthouse stands on the North Carolina Coast looking out over the Atlantic Ocean.  Tonight, it will shine its light over the waters showing sailors the only way to arrive safely at their destination.  The light of Jesus shines today over the troubled seas of life.  His light shines in the darkness and in the storm and shows us the safe way home. 

A

re we like Thomas, unbelieving unless we see for ourselves or does Jesus’ description apply to us today?  Are we blessed because we haven’t seen and still we believe?  Which situation applies in your life today?

Your Call Is Important To Us

            

Y

ou know how it goes.  You need some information so you spend several minutes trying to find the correct number in the phone book.  Of course, the number you're looking for is always listed in the most illogical way and when you do find it, there are several numbers from which to choose.  You always select the wrong one and then begin eliminating numbers until you find the one you're looking for.   On a scale from 1 to 10, your frustration level is a 5. You take a deep breath, dial the number, and wait.  As luck would have it, the line is busy, so you hit the redial button, not once, but several times.  Finally, the line is clear and it begins to ring and your frustration eases off to level 2.

That's when it happens.  The phone on the other stops ringing and you hear the all-too-familiar recording telling you how glad they are you called.  The message goes something like this:  "All lines are busy.  You're call is important to us.  Please stay on the line and your call will be answered in the order in which it was received." 

You roll your eyes, take a deep breath, check your pulse, and bite your lip.  The frustration monitor is now at 8.  You begin questioning the sincerity of the recorded message that is now playing for the fifth time.  If your call were really that important, someone would be on the phone speaking with you, assisting you, and listening to you.

Several times a day, we find ourselves spending more time in conversation with a machine than we do with those closest to us.  What is amazing is that we actually spend time listening to and believing the machine

However, it is not the machine's message that upsets us as much as it is the fact that we feel unimportant.  Instead of receiving priority treatment, we are assigned a number, placed in long line, and our call is addressed by someone we don't know, in a place we've never heard of, asking questions we can't answer, helping us with a problem we didn't call to report.  No wonder we get frustrated!!

Isn't it wonderful to know that God does not work like this?  In the book of Psalms, David gives us example after example of God's interest and care for his children.  He refers to us as sheep receiving constant care from our great shepherd.  In the Psalms, we come to know God as our defender and protector, one who knows us intimately and who knew us before we were even formed.  Here, we understand that God planned all our days and that he seeks a deep and meaningful relationship with us.  In the Psalms we find strength, courage, reassurance, peace, comfort, and grace.

In Psalm 34:15, David writes, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry."  What a wonderful promise this is, especially when placed against the background of our world today.  God is never too busy to listen to us or to understand our situations. 

The first part of this verse speaks to God's awareness of his children.  His eyes are on us, no matter where we are, no matter what we are facing, no matter how difficult the trial.   We are precious to him and considered righteous, not because of what we've done on our own, but because of what Jesus Christ has done for us and because of who we are in him.

The second portion speaks to God's availability.  He is always aware of our needs and listens when we pray to him.  He gives us his undivided attention and is always open to our requests.  We have direct access to his throne, and can reach him at anytime, from any place, concerning anything, speaking any language, even the language of tears and silence.  His ears always hear us because God listens to our hearts.  No request is too large, no prayer is too small, no cry is too soft, and no praise is too loud.  Our God hears us, no matter what.

G

od does not own an answering machine!  You will never receive a message requesting you wait.  Instead, you will be speaking directly to God himself, not on the second, third, or fourth ring, but on the very first try!

These Are Mine

J

erry and Monica had been married for only a few months when they decided to take the plunge and buy their first home.  They spent weeks scouring the local papers and the Internet for available homes in their price range.  They found several that looked good on paper but they just didn't fit the image either one of them had for their own home. 

The houses were either too large, too small, had too much yard, too many neighbors, or not enough of either.  They were anything but just right.  However, after three weeks of intense research and endless visits, Monica found a lovely little house not far from their apartment.  She called Jerry at work and later that evening they visited the home.  Both of them fell in love with the little house and made an offer which the owners accepted.

Once their bid was accepted, Jerry and Monica began the endless process of signing forms, changing their address, and finding an insurance policy for the home.  They had to list everything they owned so that the insurance company would have an accurate record of their possessions.  In the event of fire, natural disaster, or theft, their items could be replaced as long as they had been duly cataloged with the insurance company. 

Monica spent days listing and labeling all their belonging, making sure not to overlook anything.  Finally, this process was complete and she presented the insurance company with a long list of personal items.  She kept a copy of the list and the policy in a file marked "Our Stuff."

Isn't it amazing how much importance we attach to things?  We know exactly what we own, how much it is worth, and we can give a detailed description of each item.  Would it surprise you to know that God looks on us in the same way as we view our possessions? Can you grasp the notion that we have infinite value to God and that he keeps an exact listing of our lives?  The scriptures tell us that even the hairs on our head are numbered.  He knows every intimate detail about us and he an exact record of every situation and circumstance we encounter.

Isaiah 43:1 demonstrates just how much we mean to our Heavenly Father.  God says, "But now, O Israel, the Lord who created you says: “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine."

Do not let this small verse of scripture slip past you because it is packed with power.  Four important truths are listed in this one sentence.  1) God created us.  He formed us, planned us, and made us for his glory.  2) We have no cause to be afraid.  God does not give us a spirit of fear and if he is for us, who can be against us?  3) He has ransomed us.  He provided his own son to pay the penalty for our sin.  He did this simply because he loved us and wanted to have a relationship with us. 4) He knows our names and we are his.  This is my favorite part of the sentence.  We are on his list of precious possessions.  He has placed our names on his list and when he looks at us he says, "These are mine!"  We belong to him and no one else can have us or lay any claim to us. 

S

o, the next time you feel as if you don't matter, or you feel that you don't belong, just remember.  God claims you as his own, he loves you, he has placed you on his list of precious possessions and he will always claim what is his.  You can count on that!

Mechanic On Duty

M

y drive home from work was unusually pleasant.  There didn't seem to be as many cars on the road, there was no new road construction tying up traffic, and everyone seemed to be in a very friendly mood.  I encountered no road hogs and none of those people who refuse to let you pass or get into the appropriate lane.  It just seemed too good to be true and I pinched myself just to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

As I exited the Interstate and headed back to the seminary, I passed a small service station.  This station was here before I came to seminary and I don’t doubt that it will still be here long after I am gone.  There are always several cars sitting outside the shop waiting to be repaired, inspected, or serviced.  In addition to the various signs advertising oil changes, wheel alignment, and tune-up service, there was another sign that simply read:  Mechanic On Duty!

Now, I am not mechanically inclined.  I know I’m supposed to change the oil in the car every so many thousand miles, that I have to rotate the tires regularly, and that the hoses, belts, and fluids need to be periodically checked.  I know these things need to be done but I don’t know how to do them.  I do not have the ability to discover minute problems and inconsistencies in my car’s engine.  That is why I take it to a mechanic.  He knows all about engines and can detect minute problems, listening and looking for things I would never even notice.

The mechanic knows the language of engines and can tell when one is in good running condition and when one needs repairs.  His ears and his eyes can detect abnormalities that completely escape my attention.  Engines are his specialty, not mine.  Left to me, the car would get the basic treatment but more serious problems would go undetected and wouldn't be repaired.

The role of the Holy Spirit in the Christian’s life is just like that of the mechanic.  When we go to the Lord in prayer, we often overlook abnormalities and inconsistencies in our lives.  We pull into the station for routine service, we offer routine prayers, we make routine requests, and we wait for a routine response.  While this may lead us to believe everything in our spiritual walk is fine, a good look under the hood would probably reveal areas of wear and tear, as well as some deterioration and corrosion.

What we need is a good mechanic, one who is always on duty, one who knows the language of our hearts and souls, even when we do not.  In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul describes such a mechanic.  He describes the role of the Holy Spirit in Romans 8:26 “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress.  For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray.  But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.”

What a relief this is to me personally.  So many times I go to God in prayer and I use the same words and make the same requests.  I am simply servicing my soul, maintaining it but not looking deeper, not attempting to find hidden areas that need repair or replacement.  The Holy Spirit, however, is always running thorough tests, always looking for potential problem areas, and constantly checking all the vital parts of my spiritual life to make sure they are in running order.  The Scriptures tell me that the Holy Spirit knows the language of the soul and that he communicates my needs to God.

The only catch in this process is the following:  In order for any mechanic to detect a problem, I must take my car in for service.  Thus, in order to get my spiritual life serviced and problems detected, I must go in for scheduled maintenance.  In other words, I must pray and spend time with God.

W

hen was the last time you had a tune-up?  When was the last time you let the Holy Spirit take a good look under your hood?  When was the last time every inch of your soul was inspected for wear and tear and possible deterioration and corrosion?  Don’t you think it’s time you made an appointment today for a good engine check?  There is always a mechanic on duty!