When We Don't Ask

 

Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel.  I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!  And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.  2 Samuel 7:8-11

Loretta (my wife) and I had been having some struggles on how to best get our daughter to focus a bit more on her schoolwork as she had started to get lax.  As such, she had been faithfully praying over it as I had been.  It had been a while since I went to God with great despair and concern.  I felt that I had been pushing what I wanted more than I should and needed to ‘let go and let God.’

There is something about just meditating on letting God handle things.  It is like a sacred trust, and while we as followers of Jesus Christ know God’s word is true, there are times I might wander into the ‘God, are you really with me on this’ territory.  So, I just said the things I knew were true in my heart.  I prayed, “God, I want things to be better as you would want them to be.  I can’t do this.  Guide me to do what you see is right.”  That is where I left it.

The next day, God gave me a hint to give my wife something.  So, I sent her some money using my cash app with a little note saying, “Because sometimes, you shouldn’t have to ask.”  Later in the day, our daughter came to me, and we had a good long talk about school.  We had not talked like this all year.  Later that evening, our daughter came to us distraught about her heart being broken by a dear friend, and for the first time in a while, my wife and me were lock and step each moment of the conversation supporting her.  Had my daughter and me not had our long talk prior to then, she probably would not have talked to us at all.  It then occurred to me how we serve a God who not only meets our needs but also anticipates it even before we ask.  I am always amazed how God provides beyond what I ask for.

God’s provisions always exceed expectation.  I was reading today’s verses with an understanding of how God was so generous to King David.  Whether it had been a bear, lion, giant, or king, God always had David’s back often more than he would deserve.  I don’t believe when David slayed Goliath he did so with the expectation of becoming the greatest king of Israel.  He just wanted to do God’s will, and that is precisely the point.  David was not given God’s provision because it was what he wanted.  It was given because he loved God and was obedient to Him.  Thus, God provided for David despite his imperfections and as written in one article, “legendary indiscretions.”  God did not just give David victories or make him king.  He exceeded saying “Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!”  That’s well beyond what David asked for and a reminder to us how giving God truly is.

The omniscience of God is beyond anything we could possibly comprehend.  A preacher once told me about prayers that even when our prayers our poor, God intercedes with the Holy Spirit to strengthen them for what is truly needed.  This should give us assurance that when we pray to Him, we can be certain God not only hears us but also will answer.  Even when the answer is not what we would have wanted, we must trust that God is providing for us in a way we did not anticipate.  Let us remember that like with David, God always has our back.  Where has God provided for you in unexpected ways?  How can you be more thankful for Him in times when the answer seems to be ‘No?’  My prayer is we are always thankful for the completeness of God’s provisions even when we don’t ask.  Amen!

The Bank of Jesus Christ

I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble;
    the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
    never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.

The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever.  Psalm 121

 

Good people always put more into you than they expect back.  I’m not saying to ask to borrow $20 from them with the expectation to not pay it back.  In fact, I’d argue perhaps you might pay it back with interest much like the parable of talents (see Matthew 25:14-30).  However, these individuals see more in you than at times you see in yourself.  My wife saw something in me when I was ready to give up on school, and she pushed me through when I had little strength.  I liken it to the analogy of a bank.  She invested me believing I could be someone special.  It was more about me than her, and for that, I am forever grateful to her.

Most people invest in others with the expectation of a return.  However, it is not like one expects a direct payback.  Instead, they expect the return on investment to be the joy of seeing you fulfilling your potential.  Those are the people you want to not only surround yourself with but also be like.  Why?  Because like Jesus, they give freely and unconditionally.  Not with strings attached or expectation.  Furthermore, what if you have people in your life fail to support your vision and dreams and yet are in constant need of yours?  As a pastor asked, “Why are you expecting a return from friend who has insufficient funds?” 

We must be willing to put into our relationships the love that God puts into us.  Those who need someone in their corner to believe in them must trust in God to provide for them.  My initial thought about my wife is I might be too reliant on her and how much she invested in me.  That I might fall into a trap that she became ‘God’ to me.  However, the more accurate picture is as David pointed out in the 121^st Psalm God is watching over me so much so that He put her in my life even when I did not know I would need her.  Note the difference is I am not reliant on Loretta for strength.  I am reliant on God for strength for when I am weak, He in His infinite wisdom put someone in my life to build me up.  God worked through her to help me, and she is not God.  She is a constant reminder of just how amazing God is!

Additionally, as followers of Christ we are committed to be people who invest in others.  We can be counted on to give of ourselves toward others as Christ gave to us.  If we look to our relationships based on what we can get, we just are doing relationships wrong.  This is not to say we may need to end a relationship (see 'Toxic Relationships').  But a healthy relationship with Christ means we give all to Him not because of the price He paid on the cross.  We do so simply because we love Him so much!  In the Book of James, it says, “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” (James 2:17)  Our love for God produces those good deeds that we ‘invest’ in others, which in turn produces good deeds from them they too will invest in others.  In the bank analogy, this is like the Law of Compound Interest, but it grows God’s Kingdom.  Not our personal account.

We serve a God of abundance.  He gives us love, grace, and protection.  If we are to truly grow in our faith, we must give those very things to others for they are gifts to be shared from God.  It is true that we must invest wisely in giving those things, but if we invest, we gain far more than lose.  Let us remember that God invests in us, and then, give freely and wisely to others with the hope they too will invest like we invested in them.  Who invested into you mentally and spiritually that you can give thanks to today?  How can you focus on being more reliant on God for your strength?  Who will you invest those gifts God gave you in?  My prayer is that we are continually investing in the Bank of Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

No Matter What ...

 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”

 

Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”

 

“Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.

 

Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other.  But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

 

Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”

 

“That’s right,” Jesus said.  Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet.  You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.

 

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”  Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”  Luke 7:39-48

 

My children always see two sides of me.  There is the very loving and affectionate father the grandchildren see most if not all the time.  Then there is the very hard, rigid, and uncomfortable dad when they failed to meet the expectations set by the household.  I always prefer the former because that is always the easiest for me to portray, but at times, I must bring out the rigid side because I am trying to teach them something or divert them from the wrong path.  None of them really liked that side of me growing up, but of course as they got older and had their own children, they came to appreciate it.  I certainly pray the 16-year-old will say the same thing(smile) because no matter how uncomfortable I make them when they are wrong, I want them to know how much I love them no matter what.

 

This week, I was challenged by a theologian’s message on the two faces of Jesus.  There is the one side that is the righteous and just God who is uncompromising, and He will turn over tables creating chaos in mayhem in the Temple at Jerusalem.  Yet, there is the Jesus where an immoral woman knelt at His feet and washed them with her tears and perfume and was forgiven.  So here is the million-dollar question.  If this woman knew of Jesus and His reputation, why on earth would she, as an immoral sinner, be so bold as to come up to Him and kneel at His feet?  Keep in mind she is not just an ‘one off’ kind of sinner.  Jesus described her degree of sinfulness as “her sins – and they are many.”  Yet He forgave them all.  This is the level of love Jesus had for us.

 

The goodness of God transcends our situation.  As I read the story, I am moved by the situation of this woman.  She could easily be substituted as ‘The Prodigal Son’ in a way.  As I mentioned last week, the Prodigal Son was a no one with nowhere to go but back to his father’s house.  Upon hearing the Messiah was coming to town, she took her expensive perfume to see Him.  Yet instead of coming to ask for forgiveness of her sins, she is overcome by grief, and fell weeping upon His feet and wiping them with her hair (see Luke 7:37-38).  Thus, it makes sense that Simon, who must have known the woman and her sins, would look at her with a degree of disdain to think Jesus should not let her touch Him in any fashion.  Yet Jesus looks upon her with great love for she first loved Him.  She went through the process of coming to Jesus, laid down her sins falling to her knees, released her shame and guilt through  weeping and tears, and surrendering her perfume, her hair (P.S. Men, compliment the women in your life on their hair, please), and herself to Him.  That’s a pretty full list!  Jesus understood all this, and not only forgave her of her sins but also taught Simon a lesson in the process about God’s love as well.  We too often will miss one of these crucial steps.  Perhaps we do not fully lay down our burden or keep harboring the guilt and shame of our sinful pasts.  We might even withhold giving all of ourselves to God.  No matter which part of our story or what combination we may fall short of, we must give up control as the words Dave Lubben song, “Here’s my life.  I lay it down.  I surrender it all to you.”  For if we surrender it all, oh how much our God will give in turn to us.

 

Jesus is always enough.  Whether it is past transgression or current failure, He loves us so much.  He will give it all to us if we are willing to surrender it all to Him.  Let us be open and willing to take our burdens to God and lay them all down to Him.  What do you need to bring to God today?  How can you release the burdens of your past to Him?  Will you surrender it all to Him?  My prayer is we fear not the anger of God and remember His love is there for us no matter what.  Amen.

Toxic Relationships

 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.  The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!  I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”  Luke 15:15-19

 

I’m in a toxic relationship with my credit union.  It took me a while to come to that conclusion because I’m loyal to a fault toward people and things.  I joined this credit union before I was even married, which means I’ve been with them for nearly 30 years.  I loved that about the relationship.  But then, I realized a few things.  First, other places wanted to give me more benefits for less hassle.  As a Christian, I’m fully aware of the grass always being greener on the other side.  Thus, giving me more did not impress me.  Then, their offers for basic services were better, and their bankers actually talked with me.  They wanted to know me.  Not just who they did business with.  It was not just any customer service person on an 800-toll free line.  Then my credit union gave me the ultimate insult.  They denied me a special perk because they needed to see ‘more recent history.’  I thought to myself, “You mean near 30 years is not enough ‘history?’”  So, I found myself asking what do I do?  In my marriage, we fought through the first eight to ten years before hitting our stride, and to be clear, it is until death do we part.  But I married Loretta.  Not a credit union.  So, I realize this is a toxic relationship that I must get out from under, and yes, I asked myself if this is somehow my fault.  It is not.

 

Now I know this sounds silly because it is a banking institution and not a best friend or work relationship.  But I’m sure some of you are dealing with a ‘toxic’ relationship or maybe there is one that you are just not sure if it is.  How do you know when the relationship is no good for you?  Could it be someone who just needs help and you’re not seeing it?

 

A healthy relationship with God is a good way to know what is healthy versus what is bad for you.  Today’s verses focus on the story of the Prodigal Son.  We all tend to know who the Prodigal Son represents in the story, but the aspect I want to focus on is the moment he recognizes where he does not belong where he is.  Note the treatment of him.  He was so hungry, the food he fed the pigs ‘looked good to him.’  Imagine the desperation and needs he must have had, yet, the farmer, any passer byers, friends, or anyone else offered him nothing.  But, “[H]e finally came to his senses,” and realized this was not where he belonged.  The relationship with those around him forced a change not just because he could not live under those circumstances.  He realized there was something far better for him.  Of course, this is only a parable told by Jesus, but there is much to learn from this segment of the story.  First, there is the need and desperation of the son.  Second, the disregard of others that chose not to help him.  Finally, the understanding where one truly belongs and the need to walk away from the situation.  Put another way, we can always seek something in a toxic relationship only for it to never be given to us.  When comparing it to what God offers, we understand where our true loyalty should be.

 

We are so fortunate to have a God who has taught us how to love and be loved.  We all have relationships that require work and time.  Yet, there are some of these relationships that are just not worthy of our time.  While I am not one to say anyone should give up on their relationship, it is important that we reflect on how God would view it.  Ideally, their treatment of you equates to what you would expect from someone who both loves and respects as God would.  There is a reason Jesus says:

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.  (Matthew 22:37b-40)

Loving the Lord, your neighbor, and yourself are required elements in all relationships.  When any of those are missing, it is easy to see why a relationship may fail.  Let us strive to ensure all elements are intact for healthy God driven relationships with others.  What relationships in your life need closer examination under a Godly lens?  Are there levels of toxicity in your relationship that needs addressing?  My prayer is that we see God as a way to sift through our toxic relationships.  Amen.

Bigger Than That

 

On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,

‘God will strike the Shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”

Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”  Matthew 26:31-34

A friend of mine was having some challenges a month ago.  They had lost their brother to cancer earlier in the week, and then a close nephew committed suicide a couple of days later.  I could see how grieved she was, and the pain was visible on her face.  I hugged to console her, and her reaction showed it was not only appreciated but also vastly needed.  I saw her again this past weekend still looking a bit pained but clearly in better spirits than last month.  It was then she revealed something disturbing.  It was the type of thing that I had previously disassociated from some people as it went against my values as a Christian.  I paused for a moment to reevaluate things.  Do I cut ties courteously?  Do I raise my deep concern as I inform them of my decision to distance myself from her?  I chose a different path.  I let her know I loved her and chose to remain friends without discussing it further.  We may discuss it one day in the future, but when we do, I decided we would remain friends.  The relationship was more valuable than the issue between us.  Some things are just bigger than others.

God’s love for us is far bigger than anything we may do to separate us from it.  My situation gave me fresh insight into the conversation between Peter and Jesus and Peter’s denial of Jesus.  In all my years of doing devotional writing, I never focused on this in part because it is showed an ugly part of the relationship between God and me.  Jesus knew His most loyal disciple, Peter, would betray Him.  As a person who is both loyal to and honest with my friends, this had to be the most difficult thing for Jesus to deal with.  Yet, Jesus loved Peter deeply, and would entrust Him to lead the new Christians as He ascended to Heaven.  Later of course, Peter, having realized the fulfilment of Jesus’s prediction, “went away , weeping bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75b)  Bitterly in this case is not meant with anger but instead spoke to its intensity.  This story is invaluable as we gain greater understanding of our own relationship with Christ.  Yes, we all fall short of God’s glory at some point and in some way.  Yet, He looks at us, and get this because here is the most valuable part of the story.  He not only loves us but also still asks do we love Him.  This is the epitome of God’s grace; His extending a hand to us even when we knowingly failed Him.

Jesus’s love for us is bigger than anything else.  He did not shy away from His crucifixion as payment for our sins.  He simply confirmed with God that it was His will praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matthew 26:39b)  We were bigger to Him than His own life.  That’s how much He loves you.  How much do you acknowledge His love for you?  What will you do to depend your heart for Him today?  What relationship can you mend today that is bigger than what broke you apart?  My prayer is that we look to Jesus Christ realizing no matter how big our failures, His love for us is just bigger than that.  Amen.

Most Prized Possession

 

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.  He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.  James 1:17-18

My youngest daughter is quite a challenge.  Because of those challenges, my heart is a bit burdened today. I worry about her.  I ask God if I have given her the right direction.  She is not a wild child.  But today, she seemed to weigh on me.  When she wanders off the right path and makes a mistake, you ask yourself if you could have done something differently or pointed her in a direction that would have made everything alright.  Was I too harsh?  Will she make the right choices when she grows up?  Will she reach out to her mother and me when she cannot pick up the pieces?  It is difficult to know like God knows.  When I said that to myself, I then realized something.  She is a gift.

Through all that she has put me through, the many years of tireless arguments over the same things and pressing her repeatedly about what she should do, I’m still thankful to have her as my child.  She could have been any number of places.  But God gave her to Loretta and me.  Through all sixteen plus years, she has been a gift to us.  I am humbled and blessed to have that opportunity to be her Dad, and I need to remember how God saw me.  I certainly was not His best child, but He still loved on me, and He patiently waited to mold and grow me.  And when I was distant from Him, He did not leave me out in the wilderness.  He pursued me until I found my way back to His house.  Despite all our daughter puts us through, we always helped her find a way home.  That is what a good shepherd does with prized possessions.

We are all gifts to God.  When I say ‘gifts,’ I am not saying it in the sense we are to feel entitled or privileged.  Instead, it means to be viewed as something valuable.  If we understand who God is, then we know anything that He values is ultimately priceless, and above all things, we are those who He values most.  Another way to look at God’s value of us is to think of Jesus’s Parable of the Lost Sheep.  Listen how Jesus describes it:

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.  When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’  Luke 15:4-6

God does not have favorites or sees anyone either more or less valuable.  He sees all of us as His prized possessions not wanting to lose even one of us.  As such, all that we are and all we are given are from Him.  This is amazing to know and more importantly, invaluable to remember particularly at this time of the year.

Our greatest gift is the life God has given us.  Whether it is a child, spouse, family, and friend, all of it comes from Him, and no matter where you see yourself, take a moment to see yourself as God sees you.  The reason Jesus called it The Greatest Commandment is that we are to not only love God but to love our neighbors as … ourselves.  Thus, if we do it right, we do not see others as lesser nor greater.  We see what God sees: an abundance of gifts.  Let us celebrate this Christmas knowing the best gift was not gift wrapped.  It was wrapped in swaddling clothes.  Whose lives will you acknowledge as a gift to you?  How can you value your life as God values it?  My prayer is today we spend time remembering we are God’s most prized possession.  Amen, and Merry Christmas!

Giving Up Control To Get Control

 

Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.  For the Good News must first be preached to all nations.  But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.  Mark 13:8-11

One of the great things I never mentioned about my Dad was how much I admired him when he prayed for the family.  My Dad was a successful businessman, but as I have said previously, he was a man of faith long before then.  As a young man, he went to a prominent local church in Detroit, and he would sing in a quartet as a tenor.  I would not get to hear him sing like that much, but he had a beautiful tenor voice.  That is where I guess he grew comfortable in front of audiences, and he would often say grace over the meal not only at home but also at major family functions and church gatherings.  I marveled at his timing of words and connection with God, and every word flowed with ease.  I would aspire to be as connected, but for most of my adult life, I would always get nervous and struggle to find the right words to say.  But over time as my relationship with God grew and more journey taught me to trust Him more, the words suddenly came.  The family entrusted me with saying prayer more, and I was able to speak what was on both my mind and heart with a seamless connection with God.  There is a saying I heard that became a lifelong principle of mine.  Sometimes, you must give up control in the narrow sense to get control in the broader sense.  If you can give up control of what to say and how to say it, you can begin to trust God to fill you with the Holy Spirit to say exactly what is needed for His Glory.

Trusting God means believing what He put in you is the good that will come out.  I spoke a couple weeks ago about when Jesus poured out His wisdom, love, and knowledge to Peter to lead His people after He would ascend to Heaven.  As I read these verses, the situation Jesus described was dire.  Being handed over to the council and beaten in the synagogues is bad enough.  But then, you had to stand trial just because you claimed Christ.  Just an ordinary walk in the park in the name of Jesus, right?  I remember saying how God is a wonderful playwriter, and is a master of setting the stage.  In the story of Job, Satan said that when you take all away from Job, he will curse you.  God knew that Job would remain faithful, and of course, Job affirmed it having said:

Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.  Job 1:20b (NKJV)

Here, Jesus set this stage knowing that should we find ourselves under the most trying of circumstances and yet testify to God’s goodness in the face of such adversity, there can be no doubt not only who we serve but also who others should be willing to give their life to Christ.  It is why Billy Graham Sr. was such a great crusader for Christ for every word that flowed from His mouth was clearly words God intended to share with his audiences.  And upon hearing him, millions confessed and gave their lives to Christ.  When you reflect of today’s verses, it is not so difficult to understand how such a movement of God happened.

God is forever faithful.  When the right words seemingly cannot be found and you worry about what to say, we know we can simply close our eyes, and focus our mind and heart on Jesus.  His Spirit will fill you, and then, speak with confidence knowing the true living God is with you.  Do not focus on your past failed comments.  Let us surrender control to Him and be amazed.  What prayers will you go to Him focusing exclusively on the Holy Spirit within you?  How can you allow your words to melt into God’s words?  My prayer is that we give up control of our thoughts to God to get control of our walk of faith toward Him.  Amen.

Lost And Found

 

I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.  You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.  Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.  John 15:1-4

During my workday, I saw a news update that flashed on my phone.  “The Michigan – Ohio State football game has been cancelled,” it read.  Great.  Another thing lost to 2020.  I laughed writing that because when you think of the term 2020, that of course is an optometrist term for perfect vision.  How many of us saw this year coming?  Nonetheless, that news flash was indicative of a year that has been by far the most challenging for me, and I don’t think I would be out of bounds to say it has been equally challenging for you as well.  Whether it be lost quality time with family and friends, lost employment, a lost season for a child, or a lost loved one, we have experienced a level of loss this year that at times might be overwhelming to reflect upon.  Many of us have lost fellowship at church to maintain social distancing guidelines.  I would fall into this category minimizing my contact with others as one of the high at-risk categories to COVID-19.  Yet, I still miss my connections at Sunday services.  It is reasonable to say I may have even lost a bit in my connection with God.  Not in the sense that I am no longer aware of His presence.  Rather, there have been more days where I really must fight to feel that deep connection that once was natural.  With so much loss, one might very well give up hope, but I won’t.  In fact, today I feel stronger even as I know another holiday will be far different from any other.

You see through all that I’ve lost, I have found a lot as well.  Through losing greater connection with friends, I’ve gotten closer to my wife, my youngest daughter, and family as a whole.  I am grateful to my new small group I found this year that I’ve maintained contact with as they have also become my family.  I don’t say church family because being honest, they mean more to me than that.  And while I have struggled at times to connect with God, my awareness of His provisions, protection, love, and grace has grown exponentially.  I shared with someone when asked what I have gained out of this year is that I have found a greater capacity to love than I ever thought I could.  When I said it, I paused not because I questioned it.  It was because I was amazed by it, and that is so awesome about God.  He uses time, space, and situations to grow us in ways we never would on our own.

God never loses focus on our spiritual growth even as we may not at times see Him.  In reading today’s verses, I began to reflect on Jesus’s ability to share His wisdom.  Many of us lost so much this year.  But as we look at the things we lost, yes, there are some we mourn over such as a losing a loved one.  However, if we look at the bigger picture, some of the things we lost were part of God’s pruning of branches that might not help us grow.  Thus, what we might have found is something God intended for us to see.  I think of Isaiah 43:19 where it says, “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”  Perhaps now is a time for us to see things we would not have seen had we not gone through this challenging season.  A new friend, greater faith in God, or a positive habit forming (my making dinner for family?) might be ‘something new’ God has planned for you at this time.  Some of you may have been deceived that you have lost sight of God.  Understand a couple of things.  First, God knows exactly where you are.  He has never failed you, and knowing that, focus on Him as David did here:

When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. (Psalm 94:19)

Second, trust there is something to be gained in all that you have endured thus far.  There are too many verses that underline this, but Paul said it best in Romans:

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.  Romans 5:3-5

As we get closer to celebrating the birth of Christ, we realize that is also the sign that the year is over.  For all we have endured in the year of ‘perfect vision,’ it could be easy to dwell on what we lost.  However, I would challenge you to look for all that God has shown you this year.  Look for the new things God has shown you, and then, use them to build your faith toward a stronger relationship with Him.  What strength have you gained from God’s power?  How much favor has He given you in a time of such uncertainty?  Where has He taken your fear of the future and shown you confidence to move forward?  My prayer for you today is to take a different look at what God has placed both on your heart and in your spirit to see what is lost and found.  Amen, and I leave you with these words of Jesus:

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15:5

Pouring In

 

A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

“I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” John 21:17-19

 

Every Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I write about what I am thankful for.  More times than not it is about a person such as my wife or mom.  Other times, I have thanked the people who read our team’s devotions and the encouraging words you all offered me.  After hearing a sermon this past week, I am incredibly encouraged.  Encouraged that God knows and loves us so much.  And of course, I am thankful for that as well.  But there is a group of people who I am especially thankful for this year.  They are the people who helped mold me into the person I am today.  Let us call them people who poured into me all they could to make me who I am.

There were the teachers who saw something in me.  There was the high school principal that knew there was something worthwhile in me that I could not recognize.  There was an owner who saw talent in my abilities to lead others.  And of course, there were people in my current job role who built me up and encouraged me throughout.  This is not to say there were not a slew of family members who supplied their love and knowledge onto me.  They did.  But there are the ones who just saw me as some kid from Detroit and had nothing to gain from helping me yet gave me so much.  I am so incredibly thankful for them today.  They poured into me without any expectation of receiving anything.

God pours in to mold us into the person we become.  I think of the story of Simon Peter.  In a sermon, I was listening to how Jesus chose to go into the boat of Peter, but we miss the part that Jesus had a choice between two boats.  In Luke 5, it says:

One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God.  He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.  Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.  Luke 5:1-3

He had to know Peter was the one who would help to spread the Gospel, but much like we do not know God’s purpose for us, Peter did not.  Jesus saw something in Peter, and poured out His wisdom, love, and knowledge to him as well as the other Disciples.  But note where we are in today’s verses.  It is Peter, the one who denied Jesus three times yet loved Him more than the others, being asked three times how much he loved Him.  The reason if we think it through is not because Jesus wanted to make sure Peter loved Him because even Peter understood that He already knew that.  The greater rationale led me to believe a couple things.  First, the purpose was to humble Peter’s heart to focus on the task of minding the flock as Jesus was soon to ascend to Heaven.  Second, it was to pour into Peter a high level of confidence to ‘feed the sheep’ and ‘follow Him.’  Peter needed nothing more.  We often will question why God has put us in a situation.  However, as Peter found our question is not, “Why are you asking me this, Lord?”  It is to ask, “How do I follow you, Lord?”

God knows us.  We often spend too much time questioning ourselves and choosing to see only the ugliness that makes us who we are.  We simply forget that God knows everything about us, and no matter what ugliness you see, He still chose you.  On that basis alone, there must be plenty good within us because God does not make mistakes like that.  Let us be thankful for the love God pours out on us daily to see us grow into what He sees fit.  Are you glad God sees something in you?  How can you commit to follow Him closer today?  My prayer is that we are thankful for all God and others have poured into us.  Amen, and hoping your Thanksgiving was wonderful and blessed!

Just Trust

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

 

Do I trust you?  One of my favorite stories years ago was about a little girl named Starla Chapman, who was once stricken with cancer.  There were two things that brought her joy; God and the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.  On the night before she was to undergo chemotherapy, she uttered these two words to her parents.  Just trust.  She was only three years old, but clearly, she understood there was a higher power involved.  One might ask how could a three-year-old understand God better than others particularly at a time like that.  God after all gave us a wonderful mind for which we can use the process of deduction, put together ideas, be informing, and numerous other things.  With all this, could we be trusted to know what God needs us to know?  Then I remembered what Jesus said about children.  “Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.”” (Matthew 18:3) The heart of this verse (become like little children) referred to dependency and trust.

 

Being a servant of God deals with our ability to trust in Him and His word.  One of my favorite bible verses comes from 2 Corinthians 5:7, where Paul says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (KJV) The reason it has always resonated with me is that it explains what many people would not understand.  We choose to believe in God’s existence unequivocally and without question even though we have never physically seen God nor heard Him speak literally to us.  In a world that creates false heroes and imaginary people for relationships, one could certainly understand the world’s skepticism.  This is where our own understanding can be a stumbling block.  Logic would dictate I have not seen Him, thus, how can He exist?  No one has ever come from the grave.  How could Jesus?  We could continue to go down this path of deductive reasoning to ultimately stop to say God cannot exist.

 

But our experiences with God teaches us how real He is for there are so many testimonies as to how He just showed up where no other explanation makes sense.  How many of you have heard these testimonies?  “I was at rock bottom, I had nowhere to go, I was ready to give up,” are among many of the opening stories about where God found someone.  Each of those stories end with, “I have a brand-new life, God brought me home, and now I live for Him.”  There is no doubt that despite what people have said about God, no one can create true life transformation like Him.  None of us can admit to truly understanding that, but deep to our core we know it is true.  It is why when then atheist questions my faith, I simply remind them that God is not just one thing or experience.  He is a lifelong relationship that is a constant.  He is always with me, and as the verse says, “Make your paths straight.”  Ask the drug addict or alcoholic who turned their life to God or the homeless person having found a job and apartment to live at. What about when one needed a miracle, and then God delivered abundantly in their favor.  It is hard to imagine from the outside what God can do, but for those of us who know Him, we accept and submit to Him unconditionally not because of our understanding.  Instead, it is because of how He shows up not only consistently but also without fail

 

Trusting God is as important an aspect of our faith as loving Him.  We often hear loved ones say, “If you love me, you will trust me.”  Many times, that is done to manipulate others, but if you love someone, why would it be necessary for that to be said?  God is faithful to His word, and through our journey of faith, He has proven repeatedly just how committed He is to us.  Why would we have doubts now?  Let us trust Him and be worry free for as Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing,” (Matthew 6:25) Where does God require more trust from you?  What causes you to question God’s faithfulness today?  My prayer is that when we have questions or doubts about our situation, we follow little Starla's example and simply 'Just Trust.'  Amen,

 

Starla’s story: https://www.espn.com/college-football/bowls12/story/_/id/8812751/aj-mccarron-special-bond-starla-chapman-college-football

Listening As God Would

 

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.  Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.  So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.  John 1:19-21

Isn’t it a great discovery when God shows you how much you have grown in the Spirit?  Over this past week, I have had several challenging discussions.  They were often with people I disagreed with, and a few have hurled some very nasty accusations at me.  In that moment, I tried to realize how damaging it would be to travel down a similar path with them.  In one the midst of one conversation, a person was describing a hardship they were experiencing.  I was preparing to answer with a ‘well, if you would have done this’ speech.  However, I paused, and just listened to understand what they were feeling.  I empathized with and prayed for them.  At the end of the conversation, they thanked me for listening and being of comfort to them.  That is not normally me or at least had not been for most of my life.  But somehow, God reminded me what mattered at that moment.  It was to be there for them and not to lecture on what they should have done.

Listening with the heart of God leads to compassion and loving of others.  In reading today’s verses, there were two parts that I focused on.  The first, focusing on quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry, shows the wisdom of God’s word.  Listening is the easy part.  Or so one would be led to believe.  Being slow to speak and/or get angry are at times very challenging, but if you struggle with either or both issues, they are incredible impediments to listening.  If you want to talk more, you are inherently listening less, and if you are upset, it makes it incredibly difficult to focus on what is being said.  It all makes sense.  This is a prime example of what Paul wrote saying, “ I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” (Romans 7:15)  This is the where spiritual growth comes into play.  In remembering those times where we ‘do what we hate,’ we should ask questions. What drove me to that poor outcome?  Anger?  Need to get words in?  Strong opinion?  A bit of self-reflection goes a long way in knowing what prevented listening from occurring.

The second part of the verses I focused on is humbly accepting the word God plants in our hearts.  This is where spiritual growth occurs.  We are to first be humble.  No one likes to admit they are wrong, but humility in this case is the willingness to accept you are not God. As I mentioned last week, we all want control, but we must be willing to accept He is in control.  His cup is greater than ours.  Should we accept that, only then can our hearts be transformed to His heart.  The book of Ezekiel says it best:

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.  Ezekiel 36:26-27

God’s word is perfect.  It not only gives us structure and order but also shows love and compassion.  To go against it leads to strife and challenges.  But should we learn and grow from it, we can be both better and a shining example to others of what a Christ driven life is like.  Today, let us first listen to God’s word and then, be an ear to others showing the same love and patience He has for us.  How can you be a better listener like God is for you?  What impedes your ability to hear others?  My prayer is that the next time someone asks to talk, we remove our own agendas and listen to others as God would.  Amen.

Who's Your Side?

 

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry.  So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.  Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.  Jonah 4:1-6

 I am an election junkie.  With a lot that has been going on, I feel fully vested into this election.  As I was watching the results come in and going up and down with each positive and negative result, it began to feel like I had lost sight of what really matters.  Yes, I know God is ultimately in control, but yet, I still wanted my guy to win.  So, I began to challenge myself with something I read years ago.  Do I believe God is truly in control or are those just words that I say to myself when in reality I know that I truly want to be the one in control?  If it worked out my way, I would happily celebrate, but if it did not go my way, I would sulk and go into a state of depression.  How could this possibly happen?

It’s ok to acknowledge to God that you are struggling with control.  The story of Jonah is a prime example of God love and mercy for us.  God had Himself to Jonah and gave him a message to give to the city of Nineveh that they would be destroyed.  Jonah seemed all about it, but when God changed His mind after the city changed their ways, Jonah was annoyed and upset.  I was amused by his response to God saying, “Just kill me now Lord.  I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” (Jonah 4:3) The key here is to note Jonah’s commitment to his prediction and not the mercy God showed a group of people.  How often do we get caught up in what we want above what either God wants or what He feels is right?  This lesson is particularly helpful to those who may not have had the desired result they want.  Furthermore, it is important that we are honest with God and ourselves.  God, I do not understand.  How can you allow this to happen?  Then, pray for discernment.  It may not soothe the disappointment right away, but alas, our goal is not necessarily for us to have our way.  Remember when Jesus on the eve of His crucifixion said to God, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matthew 26:39b) Even Christ understood that God’s will was more important than His own.

God is there for us in our disappointments as well as our triumphs.  We should all aspire to view our disappointments as moments to take stock to understand exactly what God's will is for your life.  It does not matter who you are rooting for.  Take time to determine what God wants you to learn from it all and move forward with confidence.  When is the last time God disappointed you?  Were you honest in your prayers when things did not go your way?  My prayer is that we acknowledge God’s sovereignty to be thankful for His love and grace no matter who your side is.  Amen.

Being In It

 

 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.  And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.  The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.  Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.  John 16:7-11

 

What is the difference between being of the world and in the world?  They sound so similar.  I liken it to one of my favorite football players.  The player is ‘of’ the Miami Dolphins, which is my favorite football team.  The player is also ‘in’ the National Football League.  When you are of something, that is who you represent.  When you are in something, you are part of a similar but larger collective.  It’s a subtle but important difference.  We are all living ‘in’ the world, but we are ‘of’ the Christian faith.  But here is what’s important to remember.  All because a person is not ‘of’ the Christian faith does not mean that they are not ‘in’ our world for a reason.  In fact, one might argue God placed them ‘in’ our lives to introduce Christ to them.

We should always be conscious of the differences between people of this world versus in the world itself.  There are many times that I have heard others call people ‘evil’ and ‘of this world.’  I never truly bought into that, but I was not able to figure out why because people would commit sin and do things wrongfully.  It would make sense to call them evil or worldly, right?  But note what Jesus said here.  He said, “The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.”  He is not condemning an individual.  He condemned ‘the world’ or as it would be clearer The Devil.  Why is this important?  It means that no person can truly be judged by us as either ‘evil’ or ‘of this world.’  That’s not to say they won’t be sinful, commit evil acts, or either choose the world over Christ or refuse Him.  What it does mean is no one is beyond redemption.  In the book of Luke, Zechariah, prophesying the coming of Christ, said, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.” (Luke 1:68) Our role is not to levy our standards on others (note what Jesus said about the ruler of this world).  It is to tell those the message of Christ for if they are given His truth, they too can distinguish between being in the world versus being of the world.

God loves us.  It’s not about what we feel about others.  It’s about how God would want us to respond to them.  It is clear what He would say, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).  Let us focus on being the lover of God’s people and separate the evil of the world from the people who live in it.  Who have you wrongfully condemned?  Where can you replace judgment with love?  My prayer is that we show mercy toward others and recognize our opportunity to save those in the world to become of God's Kingdom.  Amen.