Learning To Lean

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everal summers ago I was working as a chaplain at Philmont Scout Ranch.  One of my duties as a chaplain was to go into the back country and conduct services for crews hiking the many miles of trail at Philmont.  We held regularly scheduled services for a few large camps serving as thoroughfares for a majority of the crews visiting Philmont.  We also did services by request, however, and for those services, we would pick an appropriate rendezvous point where we could meet a particular group.

It was my privilege to conduct several of these requested services during my two years at Philmont.  The young people and the adults looked forward to worshiping God in his creation.  There is perhaps no better setting in which to worship God than at the foot of a mountain, in the soft breezes of a shaded meadow, or by the cool waters of a gurgling stream.  In such a setting, you rapidly forget about the insignificant things of life and focus instead on God's glory and majesty.

On one such occasion, I had been asked to conduct services about an hour's drive from base camp.  I climbed into my suburban and drove to the camp where I found the crew eagerly awaiting the opportunity to have a service.  As I prepared my notes, I couldn't help noticing an older gentleman standing a few hundred yards away.  He was leaning on his hiking staff, looking out over a large valley.  Despite the noise of the crew members arriving for service, despite the commotion of preparing the place for worship, and despite the attempts of others to engage him in conversation, this man continued to lean upon his staff, looking intently at the beautiful scenery before him.

He did not attend our service, but remained fixed in that spot during it.  Intrigued, I approached him when the service was finished.  Whatever there was in that valley, I had to see it for myself.  This man had remained glued to the same spot for over an hour, simply leaning on his staff.  As I approached, he asked me a simple question, "Have you ever seen anything so lovely, chaplain?"  "I have been here several times," he continued, "and I never tire of this view.  I love to stand here, resting on my staff, drinking in the beauty of God's handiwork."

This man, clearly in his mid to late sixties, was talking from his heart with deep conviction.  I asked him why he didn't have a seat on one of several logs or stumps in the area. He kindly replied that he felt much better and much closer to God if he leaned on his staff.  It reminded him, he said, of God's all sustaining grace which supported him through life, even when he felt too tired to go on.

What a lesson that man taught me that day.  His words are so true and convey a lesson we all need to learn better.  This man's contentment was based solely on the ability of his staff to support him.  As long as he leaned on it, trusted it, and grasped it, the staff would hold him up, allowing him to drink in the view before him.  What a picture of the relationship we should all have with God.  1 Peter 5:7 encourages us to lean heavily upon God and to rely on his strength to support us.  The verse says, "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."  

Notice the two actions contained within this verse.  First, we are to cast, that is to toss, heave, unload, dump, etc. every care we have on God.  The word all means just that, all.  God stands ready to receive all our care, all our worry, all our difficulties, all our grief, all our fears!  He longs to remove from our shoulders everything weighing us down, preventing us from enjoying his presence

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Second, we can cast our cares on him because he cares for us.  We will never be able to fathom the depth of God's love for us nor the extent to which he cares for us.  We simply have to trust him, to love him, to lean upon him.  Leaning on God, realizing we are weak, admitting we need help, is the greatest place to be for the Christian.  It is here that we experience and understand the full extent of God's strength in our lives.  His love and grace strengthen us when we can't go on and they rejuvenate us when our strength is gone.

Today, won't you stop and enjoy the scenery God has provided for you?  Won't you stop, rest, and unload the burdens you are carrying?  God is calling to you, asking you to give him your cares, your burdens, your worries, and your fears.  Lean upon him, trust him, and let him care for you because there is none other who can care for us like he can.  Won't you let him care for you today?

Safely Sleep

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ur home on Main Street was a wonderful place to grow up.  We had great neighbors all around, there were plenty of other kids to play with and it seemed we never lacked for anything to do.  Mom would step out onto our back porch more than once to call us in, especially during the summer months when school was out.  Finally, as the last remnants of sunset gave way to the dark pall of night, we would head home for baths, and bed.

Each night before closing the house for the night, mom or dad would follow the same routine.  All the lights in the house were turned off, the thermostats were checked to make sure we were cool or toasty, mom and dad would stop by our rooms to kiss us good night, and the doors, both front and back, were firmly shut and the security latches fastened.

Peace then reigned in our home and we all settle down for a good night’s sleep. I never felt afraid, nervous, or worried about anything happening to our family.  Mom and dad were there, they had secured the house, and all was well with the world.

Today it is quite different. I go through the same routine each night as my parents did but the last thing I do is to make sure the security system is armed and all the outside lights are on.  Then, I hop into bed and Trixie, my cat, settles into one of her many favorite spots, and we go to sleep.

Isn’t it funny how we place so much confidence in locks and security systems?  David, the shepherd boy who became king, had no such options. Instead, as a shepherd, he looked to God for his safety and security.  He records this for us in Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

There are three great truths tucked neatly away in David’s words.  First, notice his confidence in the Lord.  Despite weather, despite intruders who would harm the sheep or try to steal them, despite the lion and the bear that could easily strike the flock, David says confidently that he will lie down and sleep.

Then notice how David plans to sleep.  He will lie down in peace and sleep in safety.  No cares, no worries, no things going bump in the middle of the night, just deep, peaceful, and restful sleep. David knows full well that God is on watch, that God will protect him and let no harm come to him.

Lastly, let us take notice of why David will sleep in peace.  David categorically states that he can and will sleep in peace and safety because the Lord, and he alone, will make this happen. In fact, David uses the word, dwell, to demonstrate his faith and confidence in God’s provision. To dwell means to remain constantly in that state. In essence David is saying I will lie down and sleep in peace and safety because Lord you, and no one else, constantly stand watch over me, be it day or night.

Tonight, I will make the rounds just as I am sure my mom and dad will make the rounds at their home.  Before I turn out the lights and settle in, I will remind myself that despite the locks, despite the outside lights, and despite the security system, I will sleep in peace and security because God alone will stand watch over me, just as he has every night of my life!  Do you know this security today?

Coming Home

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ou want to do what?”  I can still hear my father’s reaction when I proposed spending my junior year living and studying in France.  My college had a well-established year abroad program and several students took advantage of it each year.  Initially, my dad wasn’t too crazy about the idea but after much coaxing and cajoling on my part, he finally buckled, gave in, and I got to go.

I arrived in Europe on September 2, 1983 and began 10 months of study, travel, and new experiences.  It didn’t take me long to discover that a year abroad meant so much more than just seeing the Eiffel Tower or visiting Paris.  France was a completely different world with a different language, a different way of doing things, and different people who knew nothing about me.

Eventually, the novelty of being several hours from Paris, Rome, Munich, Geneva, Monte Carlo, and other famous places wore off.  Although I was able to adjust to the lifestyle and to master the language, I had this growing desire to return home and see my family.  As June 1984 approached I found myself getting more and more excited about the prospects of returning home and I began making my preparations.

Finally, the day arrived.  After a flight that lasted an eternity, I met my mom and dad at the airport.  My dad was the first person I saw and we hugged each other.  I will never forget that day.  The trip home went by very quickly while we caught up on the past ten months.  My dad did not take the most direct route to our home.  I didn’t think anything about it but when we crested the hill above our home, I saw a huge line of cars on both sides of the street. My mom said they decided to throw me a “little” homecoming party. 

I don’t know how many people were there but it was a wonderful surprise and a great way to come home.  All my friends and family members were there as well as food!!  I had forgotten how wonderful home cooking was, especially the taste of mom’s sweet tea!  What a way to come home!

Jesus told a similar story of a young man who also had a wonderful coming home party thrown in his honor.  He, too, had traveled abroad to live in a “far country.”  However, he didn’t go there to study or to improve himself in anyway.  Instead, he went as an act of rebellion, to prove to himself, to his father, and to others that he could live his life as he pleased.  He failed!

The attraction of the far land lost its allure for him.  He squandered his money and he had to find a way to earn a living.  He took a job, feeding hogs just to make ends meet.  Finally, he realized that he could go home and work for his father, so he packed his bags and left.

As he turned onto the road leading to his house, his father spied him.  His dad, it seems, had been looking forward to this day for a long time.  Let’s look at this father’s reaction to this son who returned home in shame and disgrace.  Luke 15:20b says, “"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

Surprised?  Instead of scolding this young man, instead of telling him, “I told you so,” and instead of giving him a lecture, this father runs to him, kisses him and welcomes him.  And that’s not all, he throws one heck of a coming home party to celebrate his son’s return.  It didn’t matter that the boy had rebelled or that he had gone far away and lost all he had.  All that mattered was his return.

Do you know of a better picture of God than this?  Before accepting Jesus Christ, we all live in the distant country of sin.  One day, sin loses its allure, we wake up to discover we are hungry with no means of feeding ourselves, and we decide to return home.  

We find it impossible to believe God will forgive us and that’s when we get a big surprise.  He has been looking for us all along, just waiting for our return.  He runs to us, hugs us, kisses, us and throws one heck of a party because we have come back to him.  It is said that we can’t go home again.  Fortunately, this phrase is not in God’s vocabulary!  How long has it been since you’ve been home?

Made From Scratch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Be Still!

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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?

The Spider's Web

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Do You Remember When?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sailing Along

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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!

Here He Comes

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here was he?  He couldn't be too far away!  It had been more than an hour since he called and the drive from work took only thirty minutes!  Wait, was that his car?  No, false alarm!  His car had a blue roof, not a black one.  What was taking him so long?  After all, I had been waiting all week for him to come get me, why was he making me wait?  One last look, just in case. Was it?  Could it be? Yes, it was his car and he was coming to get me! 

You may be asking yourself to whom I am referring in the above paragraph.  Well, it was my grandfather who had promised to pick me up one Friday afternoon on his way home from work so I could spend the night with him and my grandmother.  Nothing is more exciting to a young boy than a stay at grandma and grandpa's house.  Grandma always cooked my favorite foods and grandpa always shared roasted peanuts or Snickers candy bars with me as we watched the ball game or some TV show he liked to watch.  It was a wonderful time, but waiting for him to pick me up was torture.

We lived on Main Street and from our front yard there was a clear view of the road leading out of town.  You could see for at least a mile to where the road curved out of sight.  On this particular day, I stood at the corner of our front yard eagerly watching that curve.  Every time a white car came around the bend, I got excited.  Grandpa drove a white Buick Regal with a blue top and I was anxiously watching for him. Every white car that came into view elevated my hopes but none of them was his car.  Finally, a white car with a blue top came around the curve and I knew, even from that distance, that it was my granddad and I knew he was coming to get me.

Luke's gospel records a similar story of one family member anxiously waiting for the arrival of another.  However, this story had little to do with a grandson waiting for his grandfather.  Instead, Luke records the well-known story of the Prodigal Son who demanded his inheritance and then squandered it.  When he finally realized what he had done, he determined to return home and work as his father's slave.  Yet, his father desperately searched the horizon each day for his son's return.  He spent hours staring at the distant curve in the road, looking for him.  Daily he would position himself to see that curve in the distance.  At every possible moment, he would stop and search for his son.  Sometimes he believed he saw him, only to have his hopes shattered. At other times, he imagined his son coming up the road toward him, but then he realized it was someone else who resembled his son in appearance only.

But finally, one day, he lifted his eyes and there, on the horizon, he saw a familiar figure coming toward him.  Was it?  Could it be?  Yes, it was!  He ran all the way to meet his son.  The father's reaction is captured by Luke in the following way, "And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him." (Luke 15:20) This father was so happy to have his son home that all his previous actions and wrongdoing were forgotten.  The father received his son again, he loved him, and welcomed him home.

This is the kind of God we serve today.  We have all been in a distant land, squandering the lives God gave us.  We have misused his resources and lived selfishly. Yet, like this father, God stands watch, searching for us.  He scans the horizon; he longingly observes the bend in the road, anxiously anticipating our return.  He never gives up on us, he never loses heart, and he never tires of waiting.  Moreover, when we make that turn in the bend, he sees us from far away.  He runs to us, embraces us, and welcomes us home!  He forgives and forgets our sin, delighted to have us back with him where we belong.  Can you see him searching the horizon today?  Can you hear him say as you round the bend, "Here he comes!"?

Planning Ahead

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 question often asked in the course of any job interview goes something like this, "Where do you see yourself in five years?  What are your plans?"  Now if you're like me, you don't have a clue what you'll be doing in the next five minutes, much less five years.  However, we spend the majority of our time looking into the future, trying to position ourselves to get the perfect job, buy the perfect house, find the perfect mate, etc.

I learned a very valuable lesson while serving as one of ten chaplains at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM.  Each day, treks of hikers would enter Philmont for a ten-day adventure into the wild back country of the ranch.  Before starting on their trek, the hikers had to visit several checkpoints, get their food and equipment, and the leader of the trek had to meet with logistics to discuss the plan.  Everything had been provided as long as they followed the map and the plan given the crew at the start.  They were to pick up food on certain days at certain places and they were to follow certain trails to arrive at their various camps.  Communication was also provided at various staffed camps along the way.

What the hikers didn't know was that months before their arrival, plans had been made for them.  All the different itineraries were checked out, all the food was prepared and packaged, all the trails were prepared, and all the necessary emergency procedures had been implemented.  All this was done to ensure a safe journey and an enjoyable experience for them.  All they had to do was trust us.

God is just like this.  The prophet Jeremiah tells us in the 29th chapter of his book and the eleventh verse that God knows the plans He has for us. “For I know the plans I have for you, for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)  These plans are for our good, not our harm.  They will also give us hope and a future.  Everything we need, God has already provided.  He knows where we are going, even when we do not.  Our responsibility is just to trust Him. 

Think about it.  Plans are made with someone in mind and with the full knowledge of what will happen as the plan unfolds.  In addition, every conceivable situation has been thought out and addressed ahead of time.  All we have to do is walk with Him.  The hikers at Philmont came to have a good time.  They trusted us and did not worry about the journey ahead.  How much more then should we trust our Heavenly Father who knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning and who has prepared works in advance for us to do?  And what He begins in us He is faithful to accomplish!!!

Payback Time

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s I write this Tidbit, I feel a strong urgency to speak about an area of the Christian life with which we all struggle.  It is the feeling of utter frustration with life’s circumstances and an overwhelming sense that God has abandoned us in our most desperate hour.  All around us, life’s circumstances seem to be working against us and instead of one single trial we seem to be faced with a never-ending onslaught of difficult and impossible situations.

We wonder if following God is really worth it.  We wonder if we have made a mistake by taking up the cause of Christ.  Those around us who are not Christians seem to be getting along just fine, seemingly without a care in the world.  On our side of the fence, however, we find it difficult to find a moment’s peace. 

At times like this, our hearts melt within us and we become tired, weak, and dejected.  But I want to encourage you today to keep on believing, to keep on trusting, and to keep on walking with God.  There is no trial too difficult, no test too challenging, and no situation too hopeless that God cannot and will not come to our assistance.  In every situation, in every trial, in every circumstance, he has promised to be with us and his promise is true no matter what the circumstances of life indicate.

God tells us that his ways are not our ways and that means that whatever our circumstance, God is working.  Paul tells us clearly that God is working everything for our good.  The Scriptures never say that everything is good but that everything will work for our good.  I don’t understand all that when trials come and when life throws me one curve after another. I do, however, believe that God’s word is true and that everything that touches me must get his approval first.

A little-known passage of Scripture speaks volumes to us today regarding the challenging times of life.  The prophet Joel had the unenviable job of telling Israel that God was sending judgment upon them.  This judgment would come very swiftly and Joel uses the image of locusts that will attack everything and bring total destruction.  The four words he uses for locusts in Hebrew do not give a clear picture of his exact meaning regarding the locusts but judgment and difficult times are definitely on their way.

However, God does not leave his people without hope.  He gives them a glorious promise in Joel 2:25a, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten"  God’s message in this wonderful promise is clear.  After all the trials, after all the challenges, after God has prepared us to receive his blessings and to worship him and him only, then he will restore us.  His blessings and his grace will more than repay us for all the trials and difficulties we endure during the Christian walk.  God has not forgotten us and he has not forsaken us.  His love, his mercy, his forgiveness, and his grace are realities to those who belong to him through Jesus Christ. 

Wherever you are today and whatever your circumstances I want you to know you are being prayed for and that God is aware of everything you face.  You are his child and his love for you is boundless and immeasurable.  He knows everything about you and he promises that he will restore all ‘the years the locusts” of sin, and shame, and trial, and suffering, and difficulty, have eaten.  May his name be forever praised!!!!

Let Nothing Be Wasted

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

             

Make Your Bed

One day, I was watching my mom as she cleaned the house.  We were in her bedroom and she was making the bed.  Intrigued, I asked her to teach me how to make the bed.  Little did I know that I would soon inherit this responsibility for my own room.  At the time, it seemed like the grown up thing to do.  I wanted to learn to make the bed, so, she taught me.  From that moment on, making my bed became my responsibility and it had to be done every morning, no excuses!  The novelty of making my own bed soon wore off as the reality that this was expected of me settled in!   

To this day, I still make my bed every morning.  Ok, Ok, almost every morning.  I hope my mom is proud of me for listening to at least one thing she tried to instill in me those many years ago. I'm still working on keeping the space beneath my bed from becoming permanent storage.  Sorry Mom, I AM trying!!  Some lessons just take a little longer to learn!! 

Today's scripture comes from one of my favorite Psalms.  In this popular psalm, David speaks of God's presence and his care for his children.  David, of all biblical characters, knew what it was like to have a close relationship with God.  He understood and enjoyed an intimacy with God that is rare among believers.  It's not that this relationship is impossible, it's just that few of us actually pursue God to the same extent that David did. 

In Psalm 139:8 David writes, "If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there." Why, you may ask, did I choose this particular verse?  Why not address other, more positive ideas present in this psalm?  I chose this verse because I believe it makes one of the most assuring and positive claims in scripture. 

I have had many opportunities to make my bed in different places in the world.  I have made my bed in Australia.  I have made my bed in New Mexico, in Texas, in North Carolina, in Georgia, and several other states.  For two years I made my bed in France and I have also made it in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland. On several occasions, I have made my bed in hospitals as a patient and every time, I have found David's statement to be true. There has been no place I have visited where God was not.  

While living in France, God was there.  He provided shelter, food, clothing, and medical attention when I needed it.  He traveled with me to Italy when I made my bed in Rome and spoke to me of the cost of being a disciple as I visited the great Coliseum.  In Germany, I slept in the city of Munich and visited the concentration camp at Dachau, and God was there. 

Wherever I have made my bed, wherever I have lived, wherever I have visited, God's presence has been with me.  He has never abandoned me and he never will.  When David spoke of making his bed in hell, he did so to demonstrate that even in the most remote places and in the most adverse circumstances, God is there.  He knows where I am, he sees what I am doing, he is aware of my needs. 

No matter what the circumstances, no matter what the difficulties, no matter what the assignment, God bids me to make my bed in his presence and to sleep there in peace.  David, who penned the words found in our lesson today, also wrote these words in Psalm 4:8, "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."  This morning as you start your daily routine, remember to make your bed.  No matter where that is, God is there, watching over you, keeping you, guiding you, remembering you, and loving you today!!