Upside Down And Backwards

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rom December of 1988 through June of 1990, my brother, Kevin, and I were busy converting an old office building into our home.    I believed this process would require no more than six months.  Kevin, however, was not so enthusiastic about this deadline.  He knew it would be several months, perhaps more than a year, before the house was ready.

There was no heating system in the house, the wiring was too old, the walls needed to be replaced, the floors needed to be refinished, the building needed a new roof, and the basement needed to be waterproofed. In addition, the house also required several cosmetic repairs to complete the restoration.  New paint (inside and out), new wall paper, new flooring in the kitchen, new cabinet tops, etc. were needed to add the finishing touches  we wanted the house to have.   

One afternoon, the familiar sound of the miter saw met me as I got out of my car.  In the living room, Kevin was hunched over the saw, working with a long piece of crown molding.   To my horror, he had the piece of molding upside down!!  I quickly pointed this out, but he just kept on working.    

He started the saw, made the cut, climbed the ladder, turned the molding over, and put it into place.  It was a perfect fit!  After driving the last nail, he slowly descended the ladder and spoke with me.  "I wasn't ignoring you," he said, "but the cut needed to be precise.  Molding has to be cut upside down and backwards. The cut required my full concentration if it was to be perfect."

The prophet Isaiah understood the construction process.  He knew that sometimes God's methods of building look awkward to us; and sometimes they appear to be anything but practical.  We often find ourselves on God's worktable.  There is always something to be improved upon, removed, added, sanded, blasted, or chiseled.   

Life sometimes throws us a curve and in order to be molded, God must place us upside down and cut us backwards.  From our perspective, this is the most unnatural and contorted position possible.  We don't understand how in the world he could possibly use us like this.  There seems to be no method to this madness.  "Surely, this can't be from God," we think, "He always does things in a logical manner. Upside down and backwards just isn't the way he works!"

This last statement finds its answer in Isaiah 29:16.  The prophet writes, "Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?"  

Despite our objections and our indications that the situation is upside down and backwards, God pays us no attention.   He sees the entire project from drafting stage to finished product.  He has the full knowledge of what we will look like when he is finished.  Isaiah rightly reminds us we should not call God's methods into question.  The potter molds the clay, the carpenter molds the wood, and God molds us.  In all circumstances, the master molds, the material yields, and the result is perfection.

My first reaction when I saw Kevin working with the molding was to stop him.  I didn't believe he knew what he was doing; but I was wrong.  He was thinking on a plane much higher than mine.  God is the same way with us.  His thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways.  He thinks on planes and levels far above anything we can imagine  Left to us, life’s construction  would be a disaster; but yielded to God, it is a perfect fit every time.

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either the carpenter, nor the potter can make anything unless he holds the material, wood or clay, in his hand.  God is holding you in his hand right now.  Lovingly he sands, cuts, chisels, and shapes you until you fit perfectly into his plan.  Upside down and backwards, perhaps, but perfect every time!

Step Right This Way

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ach summer, the high desert of New Mexico in the southwest United States, becomes home to a host of young people eager to hike the trails, scale the mountains, explore the valleys, and walk the meadows of Philmont Scout Ranch. Some of these crews have waited several years to visit the ranch and to experience scouting's ultimate challenge.  However, before these eager youths can begin their journey, they must first get   directions for the road ahead.  They arrive with great expectations of what the backcountry holds; but they must develop a definite plan of action before beginning their wilderness experience.

One of the most important stops the crew makes at base camp is a visit to logistics. Here, the crew leader meets with a trip planner who provides vital information on the various aspects of the hike. Before their arrival, logistics is aware of the crew’s wishes and needs. Each crew is assigned a trip planner who indicates on a map the appropriate places to get food, fresh water, and to pitch camp. Every aspect of the trip is planned out BEFORE the crew leaves base camp.  They arrive with a selected trek in mind but logistics determines the route they will take and the time period they will follow.

This process teaches us a great truth about the plans God makes for us.  In Proverbs16:9, Solomon writes, "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." In this brief, but all-important passage of scripture, Solomon unlocks one of the great truths about God.  He is constantly and fully aware of our plans but he decides the paths we take to reach our destination.  How many of us have prayed for patience only to find that the pathway lies through difficulty and hardship until we learn what patience truly is?  How many times have we asked God to give us a forgiving spirit, only to be placed into situations that demanded us to forgive those who wronged us?  And how often have we asked God to teach us contentment and found ourselves removed from comforts and familiar surroundings until we learned to be at peace no matter what the circumstances?

Our heavenly father knows what we want, but more importantly, he knows what we need.  He also knows that the easiest route is not necessarily the best one or the one that will mold us and shape us according to the plans he has for us.  God is very interested in us and the paths we choose to tread; but he reserves the right to determine the paths we take to reach our destination. 

God is familiar with life's terrain.  He knows its high peaks and its low valleys.  He understands the uphill climb and the long, dusty roads.  He understands our frustrations and our discomfort with life's situations at times.  That is why he chooses the paths.  He knows where and when we need rest.  He knows how to restore us and supply us from his own, infinite resources at just the right time. 

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od's paths are not always easy; but they are always rewarding; designed to strengthen us, mature us, develop us, and transform us into the image of Christ.  Are you walking his paths today?

Shift Change

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hift change in a hospital is a very exciting time.  The outgoing shift makes final preparations to leave while the incoming shift gets ready to take over and complete the work already in progress. 

The most important aspect of this “changing of the guard” is the passing of information.  All the nurses, technicians, orderlies, doctors, etc. are briefed concerning the conditions of all the patients.  In addition, updates are given about any procedures occurring during the first shift and any changes of medication or therapy are also shared.

In June of 1975 I experienced my first real shift change.  It was on a Monday morning.  Doctors had just performed open-heart surgery the Friday before and I arrived on the ward over the weekend.  But at 7:00 a.m. Monday morning, everything changed!

The first shift supervisor’s name was Mrs. Strickland and when she arrived on the floor, things began to hop.  She was an excellent supervisor, making sure everything ran according to the book.  Nothing escaped her notice and I could tell that all the nurses respected her and were a little afraid of her as well.

It amazed me how one person could have that much influence, could pull that much weight, and could set the tone for so many other people.  Whatever Mrs. Strickland said, was law on that ward.  The interns and the doctors respected her as well and knew their orders would be followed to the letter.

The Old Testament records many such shift changes in the history of Israel.  In her history, Israel had many kings.  Some of them were good and some were evil but all of them set the tone for the nation.  The man on the throne, the man supervising God’s people, exemplified for his

people the manner in which God would be worshipped and honored during his reign.

2 Chronicles 33:1-3 records one of these shift changes.  Let’s take a look at what the scriptures say about a man called Manasseh. “Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years.  He did evil in the eyes of the Lord , following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.  He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them”

This was a devastating shift change for Israel.  Manasseh did not follow his father Hezekiah, but undid all his father had done.  He led the people astray (vs. 9) and encouraged them to worship other gods.  His supervision of Israel led to their demise and further separation from God.

Finally, the people were attacked and Manasseh was taken in chains to Babylon.  He cried out to God for forgiveness and God restored him and brought him back to Jerusalem where he tore down the idols and altars to foreign gods.  This time, the shift change went smoothly and God was honored and obeyed and the people were brought back to God.

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oday, you may be facing a shift change in your life.  You may be experiencing a change in job, a change in location, or a change in relationship.  Whatever the situation, let God be your supervisor.  Let him dictate the road ahead and make the decisions for you.  When we take matters into our own hands, shift change never goes smoothly, not for us or for those around us.  When God takes the floor, however, everything goes according to plan and always by the book!

You May Safely Cross Over

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Today's Title: You May Safely Cross Over

Today's Scripture: Joshua 3:15-16

It was a very typical Monday morning.  I had originally planned to get up earlier than usual to allow myself a little more time to get ready for work, a second or third cup of coffee, and a pleasant, leisurely drive to work.  Well, you can guess what happened, right?  The alarm clock went off on time but I dozed just a few minutes longer than I should have.  There was no coffee and my drive was anything but leisurely.  The traffic was awful and felt more like an Indy 500 race than a leisurely drive to the office. 

 I got off the Interstate at my usual exit and began my way toward the university.  This street is always congested but this morning it seemed to be more so. This was probably due to the fact that I was running behind and wanted to get to the office.  As I made my way around the last bend, I noticed an older gentleman in an orange vest sitting at an intersection.  He had a bright red stop sign beside his chair and he sat there very calmly in the cool morning air. 

This man was one of many volunteers who work for the local school systems.  His job is to stop traffic until school children have safely crossed over from one side to the other.  The power this man yields is incredible.  No matter the color of the traffic light, if he is in the crosswalk with a child, all cars, trucks, vans, scooters, and bicycles must stop until he has safely delivered a little boy or girl to the other side of the street.

The Old Testament book of Joshua has a very similar illustration for us today.  The Hebrew children were poised, ready to enter the Promised Land and to rout their enemies before them.  On the eve of their entrance, God informed Joshua that He would provide safe passage for the people across the Jordan River. Joshua was to instruct the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant before the people and the priests were to stand in the middle of the river.  What happened next is simply amazing!

Joshua 3:15-16 records this for us, “Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.”

Wow!  Don’t you wish you could have witnessed this!!  Notice the condition of the Jordan River—flood stage!  Notice God’s instruction to the priest—step into the water!  Notice the course of the Jordan River—toward the Dead Sea!  Notice the results—the water upstream stopped flowing and the water downstream was cut off!  Now I ask you, what better illustration of crossing over our problems into God’s promise exists than this?  Outside the crossing of the Red Sea, nothing!

God had promised to be with His people and to provide for them.  When it came time to cross over into the land, the waters of the Jordan, even though at flood stage, posed no threat and were, in fact, inconsequential.  The priests took the Ark, the symbol of God’s presence, and entered the water.  When we take God into the middle of our trials the result is always miraculous.  If we enter the water when, how, and where He tells us, we find that we have safe passage from where we are to where He has called us to be.

In essence, God walked with the people, holding a stop sign, and the waters ceased their flow.  The waters upstream piled up while the waters downstream just drifted away.  Like the Jordan River at flood stage, a life without Christ who lovingly walks with us through all of life’s difficulties, leads to certain death and eternal separation from God.  However, when we choose to become a follower of Jesus, we are able to cross over and enter the promise of God’s love, mercy, and grace.  We are able to inherit the kingdom He created for those who choose to follow Him.

Jesus, himself, spoke to this point.  In John’s gospel, Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24) 

What a wonderful promise this is.  Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we have crossed over the Jordan River, over the river of sin, over the river of death, and we have received life!  Just like the children in the crosswalk this morning, and just like the people crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land, we can walk confidently, secure in the knowledge that Christ Jesus walks with us in all of life’s difficult paths.  He looks at us and says, “You may safely cross over with me!”  Are you enjoying this kind of walk today?

A Good Look Around

 Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Monday, February 9, 2015

Today's Title: A Good Look Around

Today's Scripture: Psalm 19:1-3

Working at a major university is a very humbling experience.  At any given moment, in various classrooms all over campus, men and women stand in front of students and spew forth knowledge that spans the whole of human learning.  Courses are taught in all subjects ranging from ancient Greek literature to evolutionary psychology.  I have no idea what this last field of study entails.

But then again, that’s the way it is on every campus the world over.  There is so much to learn and so much to consider that it would take several lifetimes just to scratch the surface.   Every day on my way from our classroom building to the parking lot, I walk past the main library.  This building is several stories tall.  Inside is a wonderful collection of books, journals, newspapers, magazines, and computers.  It is indeed possible to access the whole of human knowledge in this one building.  What a daunting and humbling task that would be!

The seminary too has its own library.  It is a large building filled with books, articles, journals, magazines, and computers.  It represents the sum of knowledge written about God’s word.  As with the university’s library, it would take a lifetime to go through every book and article written on the various aspects found in the Bible.  On more than one occasion I have found myself overwhelmed as I perused the stacks, looking for a particular commentary or article about a specific idea found in the Scriptures.

All of this learning and knowledge can be, as I said, overwhelming.  It can also lead us to believe that without an academic degree we aren't truly educated and without a seminary degree we can’t fully understand God’s word.  Nothing could be farther from the truth, especially where this last statement is concerned.

The vast majority of the men and women in the Bible had no seminary training.  Abraham never studied theology, King David never took a class in Greek, Moses didn't study homiletics (preaching) and none of the twelve disciples had the credentials to be considered a serious candidate for the pastorate of a church by any present-day search committee.  However, their knowledge and understanding of God’s word was decidedly profound.  Their classroom was life and their library consisted of the things around them and in their history.  All they needed was a good look around to see God and to understand His work.

David speaks directly to this point in Psalm 19:1-3, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.”  David reminds us today that all creation speaks to us about God.  Every tree, every plant, every star in the sky, and the face of everyone we meet remind us of the great God we serve.  Study is important, spending time delving into God’s word is essential, but God makes Himself known to us everyday is so many different ways.

Wherever you are today in your walk with God, I trust you will take time to stop and take a good look around.  You will see Him at the office, you will see Him at lunch, you will see Him at the grocery store, and you will see Him in the night sky before you go to sleep.  God is the creator of all you see and He is constantly aware of where you are at any given moment.  Have you taken a good look around today?  Perhaps you should!

After Sunset

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Today's Title: After Sunset

Today's Scripture: Mark 1:32

The 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 the 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?

The Long Way Home

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Friday, January 2, 2015

Today's Title: The Long Way Home!

Today's Scripture: Exodus 13:17

 

Like most teenagers, I had a curfew.  My parents were glad to give me freedom as I could responsibly handle it but freedom didn’t mean I was absolutely free.  Freedom never means that; we are free within boundaries.  That is why we have laws, guidelines, instructions, and curfews.

 

My curfew was 11:00 p.m. but mom and dad did adjust that on occasion.  But sometimes on Friday evenings, after spending time with my friends, or just riding around town, I would decide to take the long way home.  Sometimes I did it to prolong the inevitable, bringing the night to a close. But sometimes I did it to reflect, and think about all types of things.  Sometimes the long way home was the most enjoyable and the most rewarding.

 

The story of the Exodus from Egypt by the Children of Israel is the story of the long way home.  For 400 years Egypt had enslaved God’s people and now the time had come for them to take possession of the land He promised to Abraham.  But they didn’t take the shortest route to get there.  Instead God took them along another route.

 

Exodus 13:17 gives us this account, “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”  Notice that God had them take the long way home.  Let’s see why this was the case.

 

God had done everything to bring the people out.  He had prepared their way but now they had to walk.  God’s loving kindness and His protection are seen in this passage.  The way through Philistine territory was indeed shorter but it was also fraught with obstacles.  The people had just experienced four centuries of slavery.  If they passed through Philistine country, they would face war and persecution.  God chose not to expose them to these hardships.

 

God would have protected them, God would have fought for them, but God wanted to lead them and to teach them to trust Him.  He did this on the long way home.  On this road they could rest and enjoy their journey to the land and the life God had promised Abraham.

 

The same is true for Christians today.  Perhaps God is calling you to another area of ministry or perhaps He has placed you in a new job or given you new responsibilities.  Don’t be surprised if your circumstances call for slow going for a time.  It may be that God is teaching you to trust Him more deeply, or to give you some much-needed rest.  The long way home is just that—a way home.  But just think of the lessons you will learn as you lean on God and learn to trust Him more.  Are you enjoying the journey today?



From Start To Finish

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Thursday, January 1, 2015

Today's Title: From Start To Finish!

Today's Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:12 

 

 

Happy New Year!  These words will be repeated thousands upon thousands of times today.  Well wishers the world over will call friends and relatives to express their hopes that the new year will bring peace, health, and prosperity.  It really is a wonderful way to start the new year but as we stand on the threshold of 2015 with hope, we are very much in the dark of what this year will hold.

 

For over four hundred years the Children of Israel had spent every new year in captivity and bondage to Pharaoh and his task masters.  Each new year resembled the year before and God's people, those whom He considered that apple of His eye, remained captive and enslaved with little reason or cause for hope.  But they clung to the promise that one day God would deliver them; and deliver them He did!

 

He had promised to lead them into a good land, "a land flowing with milk and honey" but in order to enter the land, they would have to learn to trust the Lord, to follow Him faithfully, and to look to Him to supply their every need.  God honored their faith and fulfilled His promise even though they disobeyed Him in the wilderness and wondered in a circle for forty years.

 

Still, God assured them that He would fulfill His promise.  In Deuteronomy 11:12 God makes the following statement, "It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end."  What wonderful words of assurance and promise and we can claim this same assurance and promise today as we embark on a new year.

 

The Children of Israel had no idea what the land looked like.  They did not know what the land contained but they knew that God had promised to provide for them and to bring them into this land.  Like the Children of Israel, we do not know what 2015 will bring.  We cannot see all the circumstances that will come our way.  But we do know that God sees it.  We know that He is already there and that He cares for us.  He has promised that every circumstance, every trial, every blessing, and every triumph will be for our good because He loves us.

 

Notice the last line of today's passage.  God's eyes were continually on the land from the beginning of the year to its end.  The same is true today.  God knows where we are.  He sees everything we do and is aware of every thing we are facing.  His eyes and His presence are with us not only on January 1 but also on December 31 and every day in between.  God is continually with us, continually leading us, and continually working for our good.  That is His promise and it will not fail.

 

So as we take the first steps into this new year, let us do so with confidence, knowing that we serve a God who is faithful, who will fulfill all His promises to us and who stands guard over us every moment of every day of every year.  God is continually with us from start to finish.  Forward march!

No Fear

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Monday, December 29, 2014

Today's Title: No Fear

Today's Scripture: Luke 2:10-11

Several years ago, T-shirts with the words No Fear emblazoned across the front were all the rage. Everyone from infants to adults sported the T-Shirts and the slogan was also plastered on everything from water bottles to jogging shorts.  Wearers of the slogan wanted to communicate to the world that fear was not part of their vocabulary.

But fear, or being afraid, is very much a part of our lives. We fear bad news from the doctor.  We fear learning about the amount of tax we owe to the government.  We are afraid when the phone rings at 3 a.m. in the morning and letters from bill collectors are never a welcomed site, especially after the holidays. And, last but not least, we fear the unknown.

So imagine how the shepherds felt as suddenly their evening is interrupted by an angel, something they had never seen before and certainly did not understand.  As we learned on Friday, they were terrified.  In fact they were, as we say in North Carolina, scared stiff!

But the angel's message was one of comfort, assurance, and hope. In Luke 2:10-11 we read, "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'"

God's first word to the shepherd is one of comfort.  There is no need to fear, no need to be afraid. The light has come and the darkness is over. The long awaited Messiah, he who was promised, whom the prophets foretold, is here.  Salvation has come and it's not very far away!  What a great message this was and the shepherds, as we will see tomorrow, wasted no time in acted on the angel's message.

God still works like this in our lives.  He is in control of every situation. He is in full control of our lives and even though it seems that the world is upside down and darkness is all around, God's message is one of comfort, one of assurance, and one of love.  Do not be afraid, whatever the circumstances. The same God who sent this message to the shepherds is still at work today.

Terrified

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Friday, December 26, 2014

Today's Title: Terrified

Today's Scripture: Luke 2:9c

“…[A]nd they were terrified.” (Luke 2:9)  That pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it?  The shepherds were beyond scared; they were completely immobilized, afraid to move, uncertain of what they were seeing and hearing, not knowing which way to turn.  These men were used to facing wild animals and thieves both bent on harming the sheep.  They knew what it was like  to face death and to overcome their fear in order to protect the flock.  But when they were faced with the presence of angels and the glory of God, they were completely undone.

As we will see Monday, the angel’s message is first one of comfort and then great news.  God understands that there are times in life when we are terrified.  Economic difficulties loom on the horizon, sudden illness or death visit us, unforeseen difficulties at work broadside us and our first reaction is one of sheer panic.  We shut down, grow terrified, and haven’t a clue what to do.  This often leads to paralysis in our walk with God.  We are terrified of him and what he might do to us and we find ourselves in the shepherds’ place with plenty of fear and precious little courage.

It is at times like these that God whispers to us not to be afraid.  The words, “fear not” or their equivalents appear in the scriptures some 365 times, enough for each day of the year.  I have to believe that if God placed so much importance on calming my fears, he must understand and know that fear is part of the warp and woof of human existence.

But it should come as no surprise that when the shepherds are paralyzed by fear, the good news comes that the Prince of Peace, the one who would dispel all fear, lies only a short distance away.  In the not-to-distant future, this infant will tell his disciples not to be afraid as he comes to them walking on the water.  He will also tell his followers not to worry and not to let their hearts be troubled or afraid.  Jesus, the peace maker, came to eradicate the fear in men’s hearts so that they could have a right relationship with their heavenly father.

Today you may find yourself in the field with the shepherds, afraid and terrified of the circumstances around you.  However, I would ask you to look very closely within the passage and see that God is present and is working in the very circumstances that cause us fear.  This means he is in control and that the news he has for us is good news, full of peace and hope.  Remember, if you are afraid today, take courage and place your faith in him who said, “Do not be afraid.”

Do You See What I See?

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Today's Title: Do You See What I See?

Today's Scripture: Luke 2:9a

So the shepherds are in the fields with their sheep and it is dark outside.  There are no street lights. No glaring headlights from the nearby Interstate reflect on them, and the lights of the city are far away.  The shepherds are gathered around the glow of their fire, talking of the day’s events, sharing 
their hopes and dreams and frustrations with each other, preparing to face the long, dark night ahead.

But in a flash, everything changes.  In Luke 2:9a we read these few words, “An angel of the Lord appeared to them…”  There in the darkness, in the remoteness of those fields, God sent his messenger to share the good news of Christ’s birth. I’m sure the shepherds wondered what was going on and if they were seeing things.  I imagine none of them spoke, afraid the others may not be seeing this strange site and afraid to mention it for fear of being accused of hallucinating or worse!

And yet, all of them did see it.  The darkness around them suddenly grew bright and God shared with them the wonderful news that his promise had been fulfilled.  This is just like God, isn’t it?  When we think we have been forgotten, when the darkness is all around us, when we feel abandoned or rejected, just at the proper time God shows up.  Everything takes on a different look as God reveals to us the wonderful promises and plans he has for us.

Although on the fringes of man’s society, the shepherds were squarely in the center of God’s plan.  He knew where they were and he knew that they, above all others, would take his message to heart, accept his invitation to see the Messiah, and spread the good news to all they met along the way.

This is what God still looks for today.  Will you accept his invitation to come to Christ?  Will you respond to him with the heart of a shepherd? Remember, it is in the dark that God’s presence is felt the most.  Is it dark where you are today? 

Timing Is Everything

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Friday, December 19, 2014

Today's Title: Timing Is Everything

Today's Scripture: Luke 2:6

Timing is everything! How often have you hear or said these words?  In today’s world, it is all about timing.  We run our lives by the clock.  Don’t believe me?  Just count the number of clocks in your house.  We are so enamored with time; we even strap clocks to our wrists and are constantly looking at them throughout the day. There is a time to get up, a time to get dressed, a time to eat, a time to leave for work, a time for lunch, etc.  The list just goes on and on. We like to believe that we control time but in reality time controls us.

It was no different for Mary and Joseph.  No, they didn’t have clocks all around their home and Joseph, as far as we know, didn’t have a designer-label sundial attached to his wrist.  But time played an important factor in their lives.  However, the timing affecting their travel to Bethlehem was under God’s design and control.

Luke 2:6 tells us the following, “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born…” On the surface this seems to be a very matter-of-fact statement.  We know Mary is pregnant and we know that their journey takes place just prior to the birth of Jesus.  But look very closely within this passage and locate the most important word, time.

The purpose of the journey now takes on a different air.  Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem in order to register for Caesar’s census.  But while they were in Bethlehem, the alarm on God’s clock sounded. From Joseph and Mary’s perspective, the time could not have been worse.  They are not at home.  Friends and loved one’s are not with them and the location of Christ’s birth is anything but what they had imagined it would be.

This is the way God works.  We have our time; he has his.  His timing is always perfect and always serves his purpose.  We may not understand—and in fact we usually won’t—his timing or the reasons for the circumstances he orchestrates; but rest assured that God knows exactly what he is doing and has selected both the time and place for his will to be accomplished.

Remember today as you go down life’s road that God is in full control of your life.  The little twists and turns, the detours, and the awkward and unseemly places into which you journey, are all hand-picked and designed by a loving father. The purpose he has for you may not be evident now, but when the time comes, he will work out his will for your life.  What is God up to?  Only time will tell!

On The Move

Carp's Daily Tidbits

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2

Date: Monday, December 15, 2014

Today's Title: On The Move

Today's Scripture: Luke 2:1

At this time of year, people are in constant motion, running here and there with greater fervor and focus than at any other time of the year.  That seems to be the mantra of almost anyone to whom you speak.  “I gotta go” or “I've got to get all this shopping done” or better yet, “Where has the time gone?”

For the next several days, we will be taking a journey through Luke 2.  We will take a look at the shepherds, the wise men, and all the circumstances regarding our Lord’s birth and the purpose for his coming to earth.  So, let’s get started.  I invite you to open your Bible and join me with the opening verse of Luke 2.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  You want to talk about movement?  The entire known world was in flux with people packing up all they had to report to their various destinations to be counted and recorded.  What a time that must have been when everyone, and I mean everyone, was going somewhere with no time to spare. 

Joseph and Mary pack up and head to Bethlehem to comply with Caesar’s demand that the entire world be recorded.  What lesson are we to learn from this brief passage?  What could God have possibly packed into these 19 words that will help us today?  A lot, actually.

In life, we are seldom in control of our circumstances. Things happen, events occur, and unforeseen situations rear their ugly heads at the most inopportune times.  It was the same with Joseph and Mary.  The day before Caesar’s decree, everything was normal; but the next morning, their world changed.  Joseph had to take his very pregnant wife from their home to the town of Bethlehem to register his family.

Joseph, in all likelihood, was not thrilled about traveling in the first place and he was most certainly concerned about Mary who was due to give birth very soon.  But the circumstances of life dictated that he go to Bethlehem and to Bethlehem he went.

Here is our lesson for today.  God is in control of our circumstances.  We may not understand the events surrounding us and we may not comprehend why we have to move when it would be easier to stay put. But had Abraham never moved there would have been no Isaac.  Had Moses not been moved, there would have been no Exodus.  Had David not moved into the valley, there would have been no victory over Goliath.   We could go on and on but the lesson is the same.  In order for God to bless us and use us, he sometimes will require that we move, leaving everything behind, heading toward a destination and events we do not know or fully understand.  Whatever the circumstance, to receive God’s best, we must move.

And so, we leave Mary and Joseph on the road to Bethlehem, traveling over a rocky road, in the dry and arid climate, on their way to fulfill God’s promise that he would send a deliverer to save mankind. Does God have you on the move today?  If so, get ready for him to do great things both in you and through you.