Sailing Along

T

here’s no better way to end a day than with a good slice of pecan pie and a hot cup of coffee.  One evening, while I was a student at Southwestern Seminary, I went to a local restaurant and did just that!  I ordered a slice of homemade pecan pie and a cup of coffee with just a shot of chocolate for flavor.  Normally, I would inhale the pie, gulp down the coffee, and race out the door in an endeavor to get back home and start working.  This evening, however, I decided that work and study would have to take a back seat as I took some down time to recharge my batteries and renew my strength.

I left the restaurant and decided to go home a different way, leaving behind the busy avenue I usually drive and opting instead for a leisurely drive through several residential sections, finally returning to the seminary.  As I did this, I left the radio off and I just asked God to speak to me, to teach me something new and refreshing about him and his word.  Somewhere, a few blocks away from the seminary campus, God came through.

The past several days had proved very challenging in several ways.  My schedule had been very hectic, my studies had been challenging, and my quiet time with God had been a real struggle.  Writing the Tidbits had also proven very difficult this particular week.  However, I was reminded that at times such as these, God gives us added grace and strength to push through them and to learn more about his love, his mercy, and his sufficiency.  That evening, God taught me this lesson again in one verse taken from the book of Genesis and I’d like to share that with you as today’s Tidbit.

The story of Noah and his ark is one of the most famous in the Bible.  All of us know that God called Noah to build a huge boat.  All of us know that the animals came to Noah in pairs. All of us know that before this time it had never rained on the earth.  And all of us know that it rained forty days and forty nights.  We are very familiar with the larger elements of the story but its real message is in the finer points, often overlooked when it is told.

Genesis 7:18 is a small nugget of gold buried deep within this wonderful story.  In this one statement, God shares with us one of the greatest truths about His grace, His love, His protection, and His mercy.  This small verse reads, “The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water.”  There are two great truths about life couched in this little statement.  First, life is full of difficult and trying times.  The first half of this passage describes the waters of the great flood.  They increased and they rose, finally covering the whole earth. 

In the Christian life, the waters rise.  Almost from nowhere, they come and they just keep coming.  We look for a break in the clouds, but there is none.  We hope that the waters will subside, but they only seem to increase.  They beat against us, they surround us, and they swallow everything and remove it from sight until all we see is water; water above us, water around us, and water over us.

However, God does not leave us to fend for ourselves, depending on our own strength to carry us through life’s torrents.  The second lesson is this: the ark floated on the surface of the water.  Think about that for just a minute.  This huge boat, weighing several tons, housing the animal life of the planet, carrying within it God’s promise to rebuild the earth, was worthless on dry land!  The ark was made to float, not to stay in dry dock.  In order for it to rise above the earth’s surface and above the mountains, the ark needed water, and lots of it.  The rain, the wind, the floods, and the crashing waves were all necessary for the ark to perform its function; and that function was to float.

Is it any different with you and me?  Life’s sea often becomes rocky and threatening.  The waves crash against our ships and wash over their bows.  We are rocked back and forth, almost to the point of capsizing.  Yet, through all of this, we float on the surface of the water.  True, we are jostled and tossed about, but we do not capsize and we do not founder!  God has placed us in his ark where we are safe and warm and dry.  No matter how much water there is around us, no matter how strong the winds blow, no matter how tall the waves are around us, God makes us float on the surface, withstanding all the storms life sends our way.

Noah floated on the surface of the water because he had faith in God and because Noah put his trust in Him.  Can that be said of us today?  Although the storms of life are raging all around, can you say with confidence that you are sailing along?  When the waves crash against you and the wind rips your sails, do you rest in the assurance that God has made you to float on the surface of the water?   Rest today in Christ, our ark, our protection, and our shield.  He alone makes it possible for us to float on the surface life’s stormy sea!

Leave The Night Light On

W

hen I think of home and all the wonderful memories I have from my childhood, one image in particular comes back repeatedly.  It is the image of the lights that burned during the night in our house.  My brother and I shared a room and each night before going to bed, we made sure the bathroom light was burning.  There was such a sense of security provided by that light.  As long as it burned, I knew everything would be all right.  I had no fear of the dark, of the things hiding under my bed, or lurking in my closet because I knew the bathroom light would keep me safe.

Some nights, when sleep eluded me, I would lie awake in my bed and look at the soft light coming from our bathroom.  There, in the stillness, the light would assure me that everything was okay. It provided companionship and dispelled the worries and fears I had of the dark.  The light was always faithful, ever vigilant, ever protecting, and ever present.  After a while, perhaps fifteen minutes or as much as an hour, I would drift off into a sound, worry-free sleep, secure in the knowledge the light would always be there to help me, to console me, and to protect me.

Most of us could share similar experiences from our childhood.  We all know what it's like to be afraid of the dark.  We can all identify with the child who fears the monsters under his bed or those hiding in his closet.  Even as adults, there are still monsters that haunt us late at night, and if we are truly honest, we would admit we still find great comfort in night lights.  We want something to take away the dark areas of our lives, those areas that frighten and paralyze us and prevent us from enjoying life to the full.

Would it surprise you to learn that the concept of the night-light can be traced back as far as the Exodus of the Hebrew children from Egypt?  It's true and our scripture today shows us that the children of Israel found great comfort and security in night-lights.  Exodus 13:21-22 says, "And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people."

The night-light God provided for his people was none other than his own presence.  There, on the desert floor, having no idea where they were headed, God provided guidance for them.  During the day, a great pillar of cloud went before them and at night, the pillar changed into fire, providing light for their journey.  Can you imagine what it would be like to open the flap of your tent and see the presence of the eternal God? 

On nights when sleep escaped you, or when you were afraid of the monsters in the dark, or when your mind was filled with all kinds of worries, all you had to do was open your tent, and you would see God's night-light.  This light burned all during the dark hours of the night.  It dispelled any fear, any threat, any worry on the part of his children.  There was great security, great peace, and great comfort in knowing the light was always there, always watching, always protecting, always burning.

On the campus of Southwestern seminary, the main classroom building stays lit all night long.  While I was a seminary student, I often imagined myself as one of the Hebrew children during the Exodus.  Whenever I couldn’t sleep, whenever I was lonely, whenever I just needed someone to listen to me, I would go look at that building.  In the soft light, I could hear God say so softly, yet so earnestly, "I am here.  You can sleep because I am awake; you need not be lonely for I am your friend. Come, talk to me, for I am here to listen.  Have no fear of the dark, for my presence is with you and my light can never be put out."

During all the difficult and trying times of my life, when it seems the darkness is all around, the pillar of fire continues on before me.  God never removed that pillar from before the people and I know he will never remove it from before or you me.  When darkness falls, it is wonderful to know that God always leaves the night-light on for us.  As the Psalmist writes in Psalm 21, "He who keeps you will not slumber.  Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep."  Today, as you walk with God, you have the confidence of knowing that no matter how dark the way seems, the light is always on. 

Rock-a-bye Baby!

I

t's amazing what you can learn in an elevator!!  One Monday evening, I was preparing to give the final exam to my French 4 students.  I arrived early in the afternoon so I could proof read the exam one last time before making copies.  As I entered the elevator to take me to the main office, a young woman got on with me.  In her arms she carried a large book, her purse, and a three-month old infant who was securely sleeping in his carrier.  Despite the jostling of the elevator and the people getting on and off at various floors, the little boy just kept on dozing.  Nothing, it seemed, could wake him.  His was the quiet, deep, and confident sleep of safety.  He had no worries, no problems, no concerns, and no cares.  He was at perfect peace and rest!

Watching him sleep brought back memories of my own childhood.  Every evening before going to bed, my mom used to rock me to sleep.  My brother and I would come in from playing with our friends.  We would bathe, get our pajamas on, and then we would go into the den that was located in the back of our house.  Mom would turn off the lights and the television and she would turn the radio to a very low volume.  We took turns being the first one to sit on her lap.

While she rocked my brother to sleep, I would lie on the couch and wait my turn.  In the dark, I listened to the sound of my mother's voice as she hummed soft and low.  I can still hear the rhythmic, steady, creaking of the rocking chair, and I can remember the calm, peaceful feeling that settled over our den.  When my turn came, I climbed up on her lap, and laid may head against her, and just relaxed.  Like the child in the elevator, everything melted away.  All the cares of the day vanished, I wasn't afraid of anything, and all that mattered was that mom was holding me.  It was my time and no one else's.

The book of Isaiah paints a similar picture for the children of Israel.  During every period of difficulty, God always provided a time for them to be reconciled to him.  After the long and difficult trials, God constantly sought to comfort them and to give them special time with him. Isaiah 66:13 describes such a time: “I will comfort you there as a child is comforted by its mother."

What a wonderful picture of love this is.  God speaks here of restoring Israel, of providing for her comfort, and for giving her a time of rest.  Can't you just see God taking his children in his lap, holding them close to him, hugging them, and rocking them to sleep?  Can't you just see him as he enfolds them in his arms, letting nothing harm them, protecting them from the world outside, providing a safe haven for them to enjoy.

How long has it been since this happened to you?  How long has it been since God took you into his arms, sat you on his lap, and rocked you to sleep?  This is not an oversimplification of God's relationship to us; rather it is exactly what God wants to do for us.  This is the type of relationship he intended for us to have with him from the beginning.

As a mother comforts her child, so God wants to comfort us.  My mother never wanted me to be unhappy.  When I was upset, she made me feel better.  When I hurt, she healed.  When I was cold, she made me warm.  When I was sick, she nursed me.  When I was afraid, she held me.  When I needed special attention, she rocked me.  Why would I believe that my Heavenly Father would do any less? 

When my mother rocked me to sleep, I was the most content I have ever been.  Nothing in all the world could ever replace that special bond and that wonderful feeling of comfort and security.  That is what God has in store for us.  He is waiting for us to come to him, to climb up on his lap, to place ourselves against him, and to experience true and lasting comfort.  Are you ready for your turn in the rocking chair?

Don't You Care?

S

ummers in North Carolina are known for their heat and for their humidity.  The air is so heavy with moisture that a quick walk to the mailbox and back can leave you wringing wet.  The month of August is especially this way when the summer reaches its hottest point and all outside activity comes to a standstill. 

In addition to the humidity, Carolina summers are also infamous for the severe thunderstorms that appear from nowhere.  The day can be perfectly clear with few clouds in the sky.  Suddenly, large, black clouds form on the horizon, the sky grows an eerie gray, the winds increase in intensity, and the rains come.  Added to all this, keen lightening and loud claps of thunder frequently accompany these storms.  At times, the thunderclaps are so loud they shake houses and buildings to their foundations.

One of my aunts dreaded thunderstorms, I remember her coming over to our house with my cousins, riding out the storm because she didn't want to be at home alone.  She would sit on our couch and every clap of thunder caused her to shudder and grow more frightened.  The storms scared me as well, especially when the power went out.  However, I knew we were safe as long as we remained inside and as long as one of my parents was with us. 

Luke's gospel records a very famous account of a great storm on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had been teaching all day and he and his disciples were tired.  They got into a boat to cross over to the other side of the lake.  Jesus, worn out from the day's work, fell asleep in the stern of the boat.  Suddenly, from nowhere, a huge storm formed over the lake.  The Sea of Galilee is known for sudden, tumultuous storms that form suddenly.  Due to the geography around the lake, these storms are usually accompanied by ferocious winds, causing large waves on the surface of the lake.  These storms have led to the sinking of many boats caught in the middle of the lake when they appeared.

Understandably, the disciples are afraid.  They see the winds, they feel the boat rocking back and forth, and they know the swelling waves could sink them.  Can't you just see them?  They are panicked, scared, and at their wits’ end.  They don't know what to do, or where to turn.  They only know they are in trouble!!  And where is Jesus?  Where is their friend and confidant?  Where is the one who promised to be with them?  He is in the stern of the ship, asleep!  Yes, in the middle of all this chaos, Jesus is sleeping!

The disciples wake him and fire one question at him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"(Mark 4:38).  Jesus, having been roused from a sound sleep isn't startled, angry, or the least bit agitated.  Their question doesn't offend or shock him.  However, instead of answering verbally, he demonstrates his care for them by calming the winds and the waves. 

This is always God's way.  He is not upset or shocked or agitated when we ask questions like the one the disciples asked Jesus.  Who among us hasn't wondered where God is at certain times in our lives?  Who among us hasn't asked why bad things happen if God loves us?  Who among us hasn't honestly wondered if God cared, really cared about his children?  We have all asked these questions and, perhaps, we are asking them now. 

Life's sea is not immune from storms. Nowhere in the Scriptures does God promise us that smooth sailing lies ahead for those who follow Christ.  On the contrary, Jesus promised us we would have difficulty in this life but that we should be happy for he has conquered the world.  Notice that Jesus is in the storm with them, not hiding out somewhere, but he is right there in the boat with them.  This is a great truth.  God is not way out in space, far from reach.  Instead, he is with us in our trials, sharing our difficulties, experiencing all the things we experience in life's challenging moments.

Like the disciples, we often accuse God of not caring, of not paying attention to our needs.  These questions and accusations are usually born out of frustration, anxiety, anger, and fear.  At such times, God does what he does best.  Instead of verbally telling us he loves us, he shows us.  He wraps his arms around us and holds us to his chest.  There it is safe, warm, peaceful, and free from all care.

Today, if you are experiencing a storm in your life, don't be afraid to call out to God.  He knows where you are, he knows you are afraid, he knows you are anxious, and he knows you are frustrated.  Do what the disciples did, go to him, make your request to him plainly, and let him show you how much he loves you!  Had it not been for the storm that day, the disciples would have never learned what it is to have God say, "Peace, be still!"

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.

God 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!

Good To See You!

S

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Remember Me!

T

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!!

Be Still!

L

iving in a house in close proximity to the members of your family can sometimes be a challenge.  This is especially true as little children grow older and begin to test the limits of mom and dad’s authority.  While they are encouraged to be independent, as they grow older, obedience remains part and parcel of belonging to a family.  Coming under mom and dad’s authority goes hand-in-hand with living under their roof.

Like any other kid, I too tested the limits of the boundaries established by my mom and dad.  Sometimes I would just stick my big toe into the forbidden waters of disobedience and at other times I jumped in whole hog.  I figured getting wet was half the fun and staying to swim for a while was the other half. It was usually about this time that my interests and my parents’ conflicted.  Guess who won?

I can remember so many times when I crossed the line.  My dad would then discipline me and I would just stew, believing I had been unjustly treated.  The more I thought about it the madder I got until I was just ready to explode.  That’s when daddy usually came to talk to me about what had transpired, to tell me why I had been disciplined.     

He would pick me up and hold me, repeating these two words, “Be still!”  That was the last thing I wanted I assure you!  I didn’t feel like being held, I didn’t feel like talking, and I didn’t

feel like being calm.  I wanted to run!  Daddy just held me, softly saying, “Be still, Blake. Be still!”

As I look back on it now, I am amazed at the patience and wisdom of my dad.  He knew I was hurting, he knew I wasn’t happy, he knew I didn’t like the discipline, and he knew I didn’t want to be still.  But he held me anyway, rocking me and telling me just to be still.  I can still hear his voice in my ear, reminding me to calm down and be quiet. No matter what my feelings at the time, two things were true: 1) daddy loved me enough to discipline me and 2) he loved me enough to hold on to me even when I was being stubborn.

Is it any different with our Heavenly Father?  How many times do we exert our own independence, putting our agenda ahead of God’s? We never put our bit toe into the water just to test it; we always jump in only to find the water is way over our heads.  Not content to admit we were wrong, however, we decide to stay awhile and get the most out of our stubbornness. 

This is when God steps in to intervene on our behalf, even though we don’t believe it at the time.  God knows that our disobedience, if left unchecked, will only serve to alienate us from Him.  This is something He neither wants nor will allow.

The process of bringing us back into a right relationship is sometimes painful but always necessary.  Afterward, we may not feel as if God loves us.  We may not understand why things turn out the way they do nor why God places us in very difficult situations.  We may be angry, confused, and more than a little dismayed.  But that is all right because we serve a God who loves us more than we can even imagine.

Even in the most difficult times, God picks us up, holds us on His lap, wraps His arms around us, and whispers, “Be still.”  This is the message of Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.”  The purpose of our stillness is to learn that the Lord is God.  He knows what is best for us.  He alone loves us as no other can.  He loves us enough to discipline us and he loves us enough to hold us when life’s way grows hard, even when it is due to our own stubborn disobedience.

I learned so much during the times when my dad held me.  I learned that he loved me, that he wanted to hold me, that he hurt when I hurt, and that he was so much smarter and wiser than I was.  How much more, then, does our Heavenly Father love us?  How much more does He long to hold us and comfort us during the difficult times of life—even when they are the result of our disobedience?  Are you being still today?

Leave The Light On

I

 grew up in a small town nestled in the Piedmont of Western North Carolina.  Our house on Main Street was the place I called home, and the place where I learned so many of life’s important lessons.  At the time, I didn’t know how important they were nor did I understand the role they would play later in life.  But now, as I look back on those years and on that house, so many sights, sounds, and experiences come sharply into focus and I see my childhood in such a different light.

Our home was wonderful. I always felt secure and safe within its walls, especially at night when I had climbed into bed and daddy closed the front door.  I can still hear that door and remember how deeply I slept, confident that that door would remained closed and that mom and dad would take care of me.

Before going to bed themselves, mom and dad would check in on each of us and they made sure that the bathroom light was always on.  Although the sleeping arrangements changed for me as my brother and sister came along, that light in the bathroom never changed. It burned each night, standing watch over us and no matter how dark it grew outside my window, the light from our bathroom reassured me that everything was and would be all right until sunrise the next morning.

The gospel of John has much to say about light and darkness. He mentions the word light no fewer than 15 times in his gospel. It is here that Jesus says of himself that he is the “light of the world” and John begins with the notion of a “light shining in darkness” that the “darkness can never put out.”  What a wonderful promise this is because, not matter our age, we are all afraid of the dark.

In John 12:46 Jesus says, “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.” Please notice the two truths that are in this statement. First and foremost, Jesus makes it very clear that the world is a dark place.  We need look no further than the front page of our newspapers to understand this truth.  But Jesus does not leave us in the dark! He says that his purpose in coming was to be the light to dispel the darkness so we would no longer have to live in fear or in the darkness of sin.

Back on Main Street, if I woke up during the night because of a bad dream, or if I needed a drink of water, or if I just thought there was something lurking in the corner of my room, the bathroom light provided comfort, reassuring me that all was well, that nothing in the darkness would harm me and, that if I needed to get out of bed, I would be able to see where I was going.  What a wonderful picture this is of Jesus.  He watches over us constantly, protecting us from things we can’t see, providing light so we won’t stumble, and making sure that when we feel alone and afraid, that we see and feel the comfort of his presence.  Do you know the security of having Jesus as your nightlight today? He will always leave the light on for you!

The Spider's Web

D

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?

After Sunset

T

he hefty 737 airliner rumbled down the runway gathering speed in its effort to leave the ground and become airborne.  Just a few more seconds and we would leave the earth behind and begin our ascent toward the magical altitude of 37,000 feet, destination Paris, France.  The captain pulled back on the stick and the bulky piece of metal jumped into the air and gently floated aloft, upheld by the cool air passing over its wings and lifting it gently higher into the sky.

The plane continued its ascent, passing through cloud banks, playing tag with the small clouds that drifted near its wings, and shaking ever so slightly as small bumps of turbulence were overcome with ease.  After a hard right bank, the pilot evened the plane out and the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport was soon nothing but a speck and a memory.  In the distance, the sun was making its way toward the western horizon, inching slowly downward, heading for the darkness of night and a well-earned rest.  All that remained was the soft drone of the engines and the conversations of passengers in the seats around me.

About three hours into the flight, I cast one last glance out my window and could see the final rays of sunshine disappear into the western sky.  The sun slipped below the horizon and night cast her velvety shawl over the clouds, bringing peace to the earth below.  What a wonderful sense of calm I experienced as I gazed at that sunset until the moon rose in the distance.  Then I closed blind, adjusted my blanket and settled in for my journey around the world, still thinking about the sunset I had seen at 37,000 feet.

There is something soothing about a sunset, whether it is viewed from terra firma or from 37,000 feet in the air.  It brings closure and is a welcomed rest from the work and hustle of daytime hours.  Perhaps this is why Mark paints the following scene of Jesus healing the sick and possessed after sunset.  In Mark 1:32 we read, “That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door.” In the cool of the evening, after the hustle and the bustle of the day, Jesus comes and heals the people of the village.  He takes away the cares of life and replaces them with his presence, his joy, and his peace.  After sunset and in the presence of Jesus, the troubles, cares, pressures, and problems of this life simply vanish.

Jesus is aware of the difficulties of life.  He knows when friends forsake us, he knows when unexpected trials and tribulations come, and he is aware of life’s most difficult and challenging moments.  He invites us to bring our burdens and our cares to him and to place them at his feet.  Have you spent time after sunset with Jesus? Wouldn’t you love to do that today?

Comfort Zone

I

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

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

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

God is just like this.  He is always near, always ready, and He always matches our situations.  He can hold us, shelter us from the cold, listen to us, wrap himself around us, or just hug us.  In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Paul writes "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."  

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

A Drive Through The Mountains

N

orth Carolina is a wonderful place. I don’t say that simply because it is my home state and I don’t mean to detract from any other state.  But you have to go with what you know and I know North Carolina.  Our home is in the western part of the state, not too far from the Blue Ridge Mountains.  During the fall of the year, a drive through the mountains is breathtaking.  At every turn it looks as if an artist stood on top of the mountains and threw paint all around.  Shades of yellow, orange, and red dot the landscape, turning it into a veritable smorgasbord for the eye and spirit.

I remember one summer trip to the mountains with my brother, my parents, and my grandmother.  We decided to get away from the routine of every-day-life and visit the mountains for a picnic and a chance to recharge our batteries.  The day was wonderful.  The sky was a deep blue, the air was warm with a gentle breeze, and the temperature was just right.  Everything about the day was memorable, especially the ride into the mountains.

My brother, my grandmother, and I were in the backseat of the car.  The ride to the mountains was very uneventful.  Traffic flowed very well and there were no construction crews or delays to stop the steady flow of cars heading for the highlands.  However, when we entered the mountains, our venture became an adventure.  If you’ve ever driven in the mountains, you know you simply cannot drive straight up the side.  You have to drive around the mountain, up and down steep grades, and into and out of valleys on your way to the top.  This can provide for some very interesting backseat acrobatics.

My brother, grandmother, and I were the acrobats.  As daddy drove around curves, the three of us were thrown together in all types of configurations.  Sometimes I was on my grandmother’s lap, sometimes she was on mine, and sometimes my poor brother ended up on the bottom of the pile.  We were slammed against one side of the car only to be catapulted to the other as my dad followed the next curve which happened to be in the opposite direction.  As we continued our “peaceful” assault on the mountain’s side, something spilled in the backseat and its effects were readily detectable in the car.  What spilled were our collective “tickle boxes.”  The ride up the mountain became so comical with all its twists and turns.  Every time we were thrown against each other or against the side of the car, we exploded into a roar of laughter.  We were physically exhausted when we reached the top, not so much from the curves but from laughing so hard.  It was a wonderful trip!

This story has been told and retold in my family for years and every time we tell it, we all remember the laughter we had as we climbed the mountain.  I want to concentrate on this very incident for our devotion this morning.  If you think about it, my family that day was in a valley.  It is impossible to climb up a mountain unless one begins lower in the valley.  In fact, mountains cannot exist without valleys.  When the mountains push toward the heavens they necessarily create low places, valleys, between them. Therefore, in order to experience any mountain’s summit and gaze from its top, you must pass through a valley.

The most famous valley in the whole of the Scriptures just might be the one David wrote about in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The valley of death is something we must all walk through but this valley is not something we must wait for; we are in it right now.  Everyday, our bodies die just a little bit more than the day before.  When a baby is born, its body begins to die at the very moment of birth and the process continues throughout its life.  However, everyone knows the baby to be alive and looks forward to a long life and future for this child.  It will be a life filled with happiness, joy, laughter, and some tears but what a wonderful road lies ahead for this newborn.

The most encouraging word in this passage is the word through.  God does not intend for us to set up camp in the valley.  We are not meant to live in the lowlands of the mountains but we must pass through them.  Passing through means we are making progress and always climbing upward even when we are in the valley.  Stopping to camp, however, means we have no intention and no desire to experience the mountaintop.  This is tragic! Unless we determine to pass through the valley and climb the mountain on the other side, we will never know the full joy of God’s provision, protection, and salvation for our lives.  We never go through the valley alone; the shepherd always goes with us.

A

re you in the valley today?  Hitch up your backpack, tighten your grip on your walking stick, dig your heels in a little deeper, and keep on going.  The mountain is waiting on you to take it and take it you can.  As one man quoted about his experience in the lowlands, “I’m not in the valley, I’m just between mountains!”  Can you say this today? 

I'm Scared

T

he voice was very soft; but even in a deep, sound sleep I could hear someone calling my name.  Just then, I felt a hand on my shoulder, shaking me awake, and that same soft voice called my name again.  I woke up and saw my little sister standing beside my bed.  I quickly glanced at the clock and noticed it was 3:00 a.m., far too early for this kid, or anybody for that matter, to be awake.

I asked Heather if she were sick, and she said no.  I asked her if she were cold, and she said no.  Then I asked the million dollar question.  I wanted to know if she was scared and she said yes. She had had a bad dream and decided she would be safer with me. So, she got out of bed, came to my room, walked over to my bed, and woke me up.  She wanted to know if I would lie down with her while she went back to sleep.  Although I was barely awake myself, there was no way I was going to send this little girl back to her bed to face alone all those things that go bump in the night.

I threw back the covers, took her by the hand, got her something to drink from the kitchen, went to her room and lay on her bed while she went to sleep.  It didn’t take long until she was in a deep, sound sleep, curled up against me.  I listened to her breathe as she lay there sleeping.  She was completely relaxed, secure in the knowledge that her big brother would keep anything from harming her during the night.  With me there, she didn’t worry about anything at all; she slept through the rest of the night.

All of us have been in Heather’s place at one time or another.  During the darkest part of the night, we have a bad dream, the phone rings unexpectedly, or we hear something that calls us to immediate attention, nerves on edge, with a thousand thoughts racing through our heads.  We can’t go back to sleep and it seems that every shadow and every noise indicates something is lurking in the darkness, waiting to take us hostage.  We have an overwhelming sense that we are surrounded and that there is no way out.

This was exactly the feeling experienced by Elisha’s servant.  The King of Aram was at war with Israel and Elisha (referred to as the man of God), through divine guidance, informed Israel’s king of all the places where Aram’s king was planning to ambush him.  The King of Aram was frustrated and sent soldiers to find and capture Elisha.  The prophet was in the city of Dothan and during the night soldiers from Aram surrounded it.

The next morning, Elisha’s servant went out and saw all those soldiers and chariots.  I imagine he pinched himself and found out he was awake. This was no dream, it was a waking nightmare!  The man told Elisha about the soldiers.  Essentially, he told the prophet he was scared, that he didn’t know what to do, and could Elisha do something about it.

Elisha opened his mouth and said, “Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  (2 Kings 2:16) This man probably thought Elisha was nuts!!  All he saw were those soldiers surrounding the city.  He saw no allies, he saw no cavalry rushing to his assistance, and there was seemingly no one to help.  Where did Elisha get this idea that an army was ready to take up arms and fight on their behalf?

That’s when Elisha prayed and asked God to open the young man’s eyes.  God answered Elisha’s prayer and the young man saw Aram’s army completely surrounded by horses and chariots of fire.  Elisha knew that God was his protection in all the circumstances of life.  He knew that God always takes care of His own, especially during the dark moments of life.  When his immediate circumstances looked hopeless, the hills all around him were filled with the mighty hosts of heaven.

Today, I want you to take encouragement from Elisha’s response.  It may be you are going through a very difficult time.  It may be that all around you seems hopeless and lost or you may feel you are completely surrounded with no one to help.  Like my sister, you are afraid of things lurking in the dark and don’t know if you can have peace.  Rest assured; you can!  At moments like this, we need to call on God’s name and ask Him to help us.  We need to let Him take us by the hand and provide comfort and shelter in times of trouble. 

W

hen He comes along side us, we are at peace because nothing can harm us as long as we are in His presence.  God’s provision, His faithfulness, and His watchful eye are the same for us today as they were for Elisha.  There is no situation too desperate or too threatening for our God.  He is always in full control and, even when we don’t see evidence of His presence, He is there.  The hills around you are completely filled with God’s protection.  Walk confidently with Him along the pathway of life today.  You won’t have to be scared ever again.

Come On In

I

 distinctly remember the first day my brother and I moved into our new home.  For eighteen long months we had worked, preparing the house for occupancy.  At last the long-awaited day arrived.  With the help of our parents and a few friends, we moved our furniture, our clothes, and all our belongings into the new house, cutting the apron strings with home and taking up the reigns of home ownership.  

It was exciting and frightening at the same time.  During the previous eighteen months, we had lived with our parents but our new home was across town, waiting for us to enter and set up house keeping.  During this time we were in limbo; we lived in one place but were looking forward to another.  Although we had enjoyed living with mom and dad, the time had come for us to move on and start a new life of our own.

A few days after moving into the house, I received a reality check. You know what these are, don’t you?  They are those little moments when you understand just how big the hole you’re in is and you know the shovel you are holding isn’t large enough to dig you out.  It had never occurred to me that the money we borrowed had to be paid back.  I had written checks to pay for the plumbing, the wiring, and all the other needs we had.  But that was the bank’s money, not mine.  Now I was faced with the reality that I had to use my money to repay the loan.  Talk about scared!

I imagine this is the way Joshua must have felt as he stood on the threshold of the Promised Land, ready to make his entrance with the children of Israel.  For forty years they had been wondering in the desert, walking in a great circle, paying for their disobedience to God.  The Lord was using this situation to prepare them to take possession of the land. The wonderings in the desert would teach them about God’s faithfulness and His trustworthiness.

Finally, the day came when they were to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land.  There must have been wonderful excitement in the camp that day.  The promise made to Abraham hundreds of years before was about to be fulfilled.  God had opened the door and had extended an invitation for His people to go into the land of promise.  The responsibilities for leading the people into the land and for conquering it fell to Moses’ servant, Joshua.

Can’t you just imagine Joshua’s fears and worries?  For the past forty years, the people had received their instructions and their leadership from Moses.  This great man of God had stood before Pharaoh, he had led them through the Red Sea, he had given them God’s law, and he had built the tabernacle in the wilderness.  How would Joshua ever fill Moses’ shoes?  Would the people listen to him? Would they respect him? Would they carry out his instructions?  The fear of the unknown must have plagued Joshua and weighed heavily on his mind.  God, however, had great plans for him and gave him wonderful words of reassurance.

In Joshua 1:1-3, God gives these words of encouragement to Joshua, “After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-to the Israelites.  I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.”

There are three things we need to learn from this passage of scripture today.  First, Joshua must face reality.  Moses is dead!  The people can no longer rely on his leadership.  This left the people and Joshua with not only a sense of loss, but also caused them great anxiety.  Their security blanket had been ripped right out from underneath them.  But God does not stop here.  The next sentence demonstrates that God’s plans do not change. 

Second, God tells Joshua that the people will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land He promised on oath to Abraham.  What wonderful reassurance this must have been.  God’s promises are not dependent on one individual or set of circumstances. God’s promises are dependent on Him and, therefore, can never fail. 

Finally, God restates His intention.  That intention is to fulfill His promise, to be with the people as they cross over and to settle them in the land just as He told Moses and just as He promised Abraham.  No matter how daunting the circumstance and no matter how impossible and hopeless the situation may seem, God’s promises remain true.  He will keep them all!

This morning, as we face the day ahead, we can and must draw great strength from these verses.  The events of yesterday are gone.  All of its successes, all of its comforts, and all of its security are forever in the past.  God is calling us to move forward into territory unknown to us but very familiar to Him.  He is calling us to move from where we are into the promises He has given us.  We can not dwell in the desert when God has called us to a land flowing with milk and honey.  We must get up, move forward, leave the past behind, enter the land, and possess it.

G

od has opened the door on this morning and He extends to us the following invitation:  “Come on in!”  The rest is up to us.  Personally, I’m going to wipe my feet on the welcome mat and go on in!  How about you?