I have to be honest, when ever I fly I pray that the seat next to me will be empty. I like the room and would prefer it, but I also tell the Lord if he doesn't answer that prayer I am more then willing to share with whoever sits next to me. On one trip I was flying to Oregon to speak at a church. The flight was full and I was jammed in the middle seat, I pulled out my Bible hoping to get some last minute studying done on the flight. Just a few moments after pulling out my Bible, the man seated to my left began asking questions, and we began a conversation that lasted the entire flight. Somewhere in our conversation we began to talk about Christmas and the incarnation of Jesus. Though he was not a Christian he found it amazing that God would come to earth as a man. As time went on I had to just smile because I wasn't witnessing to the man, he was witnessing to himself. As we spoke of Jesus' birth, he told me a story that he insisted was true. It had to do with a family that had all become Christians except for the dad. He didn't mind his family becoming Christians, in fact he liked the changes that their new faith had brought about in his home. He had heard the message of Christ but felt it wasn't for him. One Christmas eve his family went off to the church service and he stayed at home. The night was very cold and snowy, and after they had been gone for a little bit, he began to hear a funny thumping at the windows of their enclose patio. At first he thought it was the wind, or maybe some snow dropping from the roof. After the noise continued and began to annoy him, he threw on a coat and opened the front door to check the noise on the patio. In an instant he found the cause of the thumping, it was a little bird that had somehow gotten trapped in the screened-in patio. He knew that if the bird remained in the patio it would soon freeze to death. He then began an hour long process of trying to shoo the bird out of the patio, to somewhere it might find warmth, either under the house or even in the house. He failed at every attempt to save the bird because the little guy was so afraid of him. He tried to communicate his good intentions to the bird, first by speaking in a calm voice.... "don't be afraid I'm trying to save you", then in a not so calm voice.... "you crazy bird listen to me I'm trying to save your stupid life!!". As he was doing all he could to save the bird, the thought struck him, that if he could for only a moment become a bird, that the little bird would not fear him and he could then save the birds life. That very moment his eyes were opened and the truth of the gospel hit him. This man suddenly understood Christmas, man's need for a savior, and why God had come as man. He stood on that cold patio and gave his life to the Lord. After the telling of the story, the man to my left didn't need much convincing either! What a wonderful season we are now celebrating, God's everlasting love toward us is so great that He would come to us as man.
Monday, December 13, 2010
God With Us
I have to be honest, when ever I fly I pray that the seat next to me will be empty. I like the room and would prefer it, but I also tell the Lord if he doesn't answer that prayer I am more then willing to share with whoever sits next to me. On one trip I was flying to Oregon to speak at a church. The flight was full and I was jammed in the middle seat, I pulled out my Bible hoping to get some last minute studying done on the flight. Just a few moments after pulling out my Bible, the man seated to my left began asking questions, and we began a conversation that lasted the entire flight. Somewhere in our conversation we began to talk about Christmas and the incarnation of Jesus. Though he was not a Christian he found it amazing that God would come to earth as a man. As time went on I had to just smile because I wasn't witnessing to the man, he was witnessing to himself. As we spoke of Jesus' birth, he told me a story that he insisted was true. It had to do with a family that had all become Christians except for the dad. He didn't mind his family becoming Christians, in fact he liked the changes that their new faith had brought about in his home. He had heard the message of Christ but felt it wasn't for him. One Christmas eve his family went off to the church service and he stayed at home. The night was very cold and snowy, and after they had been gone for a little bit, he began to hear a funny thumping at the windows of their enclose patio. At first he thought it was the wind, or maybe some snow dropping from the roof. After the noise continued and began to annoy him, he threw on a coat and opened the front door to check the noise on the patio. In an instant he found the cause of the thumping, it was a little bird that had somehow gotten trapped in the screened-in patio. He knew that if the bird remained in the patio it would soon freeze to death. He then began an hour long process of trying to shoo the bird out of the patio, to somewhere it might find warmth, either under the house or even in the house. He failed at every attempt to save the bird because the little guy was so afraid of him. He tried to communicate his good intentions to the bird, first by speaking in a calm voice.... "don't be afraid I'm trying to save you", then in a not so calm voice.... "you crazy bird listen to me I'm trying to save your stupid life!!". As he was doing all he could to save the bird, the thought struck him, that if he could for only a moment become a bird, that the little bird would not fear him and he could then save the birds life. That very moment his eyes were opened and the truth of the gospel hit him. This man suddenly understood Christmas, man's need for a savior, and why God had come as man. He stood on that cold patio and gave his life to the Lord. After the telling of the story, the man to my left didn't need much convincing either! What a wonderful season we are now celebrating, God's everlasting love toward us is so great that He would come to us as man.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Crossing The Line
"There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness."
Proverbs 30:12
There is a parental discipline technique that has been passed on from one generation to the next. My parents did it, and I'm sure their parents did it. It doesn't work, yet it seems every parent at one time or another uses it. I have seen it used at home, in stores, at church, in cars, and I'm betting it is used in many different cultures and tongues. I'm speaking of the dreaded count to three technique, as in, Bobby stop doing that.....one, two, three! I think there must be some power in the number three, why not say, Bobby, I'm going to count to twelve! It all begins of course with a strong "one", when the offense has just begun. When things intensify and clear disobedience is occurring, the count of "two" is given. If the count gets to "three", it must be done with a shout, and it has become clear that little Bobby has crossed some line set up by mom and dad, hopefully some sort of discipline will follow. Like I said it really doesn't work, but it illustrates that mom and dad are saying to the child that there is a line of disobedience or rebellion set, that cannot be crossed without some sort of consequences. Having said that, its important for us to know that God does not count to three. He has commands and standards and expects that we obey. He is very clear in setting the standards, and what the consequences of disobedience are. Man has never been able to live up to God's standards and God has clearly shown that He is patient and long-suffering toward this sinful world. Yet, I have wondered many times if we as mankind have crossed the line of arrogance and mutiny, and that God, will finally in one instant say enough, the line has been crossed. I just read of what I see as a line crossed, that grieves my heart. There is some web-site I've never heard of called Gawker.com, please stay away from it, my guess is its trashy. Well, this site has introduced to the internet world a couple, Pete and Alisha Arnold. Alisha is said to be 17 weeks pregnant, and the Arnolds have decided to let the people who visit the sight vote as to whether they should keep the baby until birth, or abort the baby. I don't have the right words to reflect my heart. My only solace and hope is that this is just some fake publicity stunt, because I can't fathom that it would be real. Still, it is a sad commentary on the depth to which the morality of our society has fallen. That a couple would think of it, that a web-site would publish it, and that people would vote on it, just screams out that we have crossed the line. That is the sad news, the good news is that this world is still under God's grace, and that this is the same rebellious world that Jesus died for. His love is such that He is even today, wooing this world unto salvation. How amazing that you and I have been raised up in this generation to bring forth the message of God's grace and salvation in Jesus. May these days drive us to pray, to intercede, and share the gospel. Alan Redpath had an exhortation that I keep filed away, it reminds me of the task set before us this very day, his exhortation was, "chin up, knees down!"
Proverbs 30:12
There is a parental discipline technique that has been passed on from one generation to the next. My parents did it, and I'm sure their parents did it. It doesn't work, yet it seems every parent at one time or another uses it. I have seen it used at home, in stores, at church, in cars, and I'm betting it is used in many different cultures and tongues. I'm speaking of the dreaded count to three technique, as in, Bobby stop doing that.....one, two, three! I think there must be some power in the number three, why not say, Bobby, I'm going to count to twelve! It all begins of course with a strong "one", when the offense has just begun. When things intensify and clear disobedience is occurring, the count of "two" is given. If the count gets to "three", it must be done with a shout, and it has become clear that little Bobby has crossed some line set up by mom and dad, hopefully some sort of discipline will follow. Like I said it really doesn't work, but it illustrates that mom and dad are saying to the child that there is a line of disobedience or rebellion set, that cannot be crossed without some sort of consequences. Having said that, its important for us to know that God does not count to three. He has commands and standards and expects that we obey. He is very clear in setting the standards, and what the consequences of disobedience are. Man has never been able to live up to God's standards and God has clearly shown that He is patient and long-suffering toward this sinful world. Yet, I have wondered many times if we as mankind have crossed the line of arrogance and mutiny, and that God, will finally in one instant say enough, the line has been crossed. I just read of what I see as a line crossed, that grieves my heart. There is some web-site I've never heard of called Gawker.com, please stay away from it, my guess is its trashy. Well, this site has introduced to the internet world a couple, Pete and Alisha Arnold. Alisha is said to be 17 weeks pregnant, and the Arnolds have decided to let the people who visit the sight vote as to whether they should keep the baby until birth, or abort the baby. I don't have the right words to reflect my heart. My only solace and hope is that this is just some fake publicity stunt, because I can't fathom that it would be real. Still, it is a sad commentary on the depth to which the morality of our society has fallen. That a couple would think of it, that a web-site would publish it, and that people would vote on it, just screams out that we have crossed the line. That is the sad news, the good news is that this world is still under God's grace, and that this is the same rebellious world that Jesus died for. His love is such that He is even today, wooing this world unto salvation. How amazing that you and I have been raised up in this generation to bring forth the message of God's grace and salvation in Jesus. May these days drive us to pray, to intercede, and share the gospel. Alan Redpath had an exhortation that I keep filed away, it reminds me of the task set before us this very day, his exhortation was, "chin up, knees down!"
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Give Thanks
"Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms" Psalm 95:2
Most everyone knows today is Thanksgiving day. This is a day we set aside to be grateful for all of our blessings, and yet it is very strange that so many need to be reminded to give thanks on Thanksgiving day! I watched the news last night for just a few minutes, and the commentators never once called Thanksgiving day....Thanksgiving day. When referring to my favorite holiday, they called it turkey day, the beginning of the shopping season, get away weekend, big football weekend, and even the beginning of the most stress filled time of the year. They never said it was a day set aside to reflect on how good God is. I know it is not within our human nature to be grateful, that is why most of the time thanksgiving or praise is spoken of in scripture, it is preceded by a command or exhortation to give thanks or praise. Today of all days should be a day that we reflect upon our God, and not wait for the command to be thankful, but with natural and spontaneous joy give thanks to our Loving Father. Oh how good the Lord is to us, He is so worthy of our love and praise.
Most everyone knows today is Thanksgiving day. This is a day we set aside to be grateful for all of our blessings, and yet it is very strange that so many need to be reminded to give thanks on Thanksgiving day! I watched the news last night for just a few minutes, and the commentators never once called Thanksgiving day....Thanksgiving day. When referring to my favorite holiday, they called it turkey day, the beginning of the shopping season, get away weekend, big football weekend, and even the beginning of the most stress filled time of the year. They never said it was a day set aside to reflect on how good God is. I know it is not within our human nature to be grateful, that is why most of the time thanksgiving or praise is spoken of in scripture, it is preceded by a command or exhortation to give thanks or praise. Today of all days should be a day that we reflect upon our God, and not wait for the command to be thankful, but with natural and spontaneous joy give thanks to our Loving Father. Oh how good the Lord is to us, He is so worthy of our love and praise.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Magnify The Lord
Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, let God be magnified!" Psalm 70:4
We all know that magnified means to enlarge or to increase. When you put something under a magnifying glass it looks bigger, my tired eyes are grateful for my reading glasses as they enlarge or magnify the small print for me. The psalmist is calling us to "let God be magnified". Now, God is God and He remains constant, He will never get bigger or more powerful. To magnify the Lord does not mean we can change God or make Him greater. What the psalmist is calling us to do is to magnify the truth of who God is, and to increase our perception of the reality of His omnipotence. God truly is big enough to handle our problems, but our tendency is to magnify our problems and not Him. Our difficult circumstances become our focus, and we mull things over and over in our minds, we work out different scenarios and plots, and in our imaginations the problem grows, and the molehill becomes a mountain. So many of us are masters at allowing the problem to become so magnified that not even God can handle it. The matter for us is to magnify the Lord, and to let God be God. As we change our focus, the problem will shrink back down to size. Remember, God is not stressing, He's not afraid or confused and wondering what to do. As you turn from magnifying the problem and begin to magnify the Lord, His peace will begin to rule and guard your heart.
We all know that magnified means to enlarge or to increase. When you put something under a magnifying glass it looks bigger, my tired eyes are grateful for my reading glasses as they enlarge or magnify the small print for me. The psalmist is calling us to "let God be magnified". Now, God is God and He remains constant, He will never get bigger or more powerful. To magnify the Lord does not mean we can change God or make Him greater. What the psalmist is calling us to do is to magnify the truth of who God is, and to increase our perception of the reality of His omnipotence. God truly is big enough to handle our problems, but our tendency is to magnify our problems and not Him. Our difficult circumstances become our focus, and we mull things over and over in our minds, we work out different scenarios and plots, and in our imaginations the problem grows, and the molehill becomes a mountain. So many of us are masters at allowing the problem to become so magnified that not even God can handle it. The matter for us is to magnify the Lord, and to let God be God. As we change our focus, the problem will shrink back down to size. Remember, God is not stressing, He's not afraid or confused and wondering what to do. As you turn from magnifying the problem and begin to magnify the Lord, His peace will begin to rule and guard your heart.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Remain Faithful
2 Timothy 2:6 "The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops."
A farmer does not dictate when to do his hard work, that work is determined by the seasons. The plowing, planting, watering, waiting, and the harvesting, are all done in the proper season, and those seasons are out of the control of the farmer. The farmer can't skip seasons, nor the work that must be done in each season. Wouldn't it be nice to just skip right through to the harvest? The hardworking farmer discerns the season and is faithful to do the work that each season requires, with an eye toward the goal of a generous harvest. A farmer who is not faithful in the plowing or planting seasons, can not expect the blessings of a good harvest. With this we are reminded of our walks with the Lord. We are to be faithful in whatever season we are in, and recognize that the season is not determined by us, but by our loving Father. There have been many times I would have liked to fast forward through, or flat out skip a season. But I didn't understand that it was for my benefit, and that it was the Lord's hand plowing or planting, and preparing for a harvest of good fruit. Trust the Lord and be faithful in whatever season the Lord has you in right now, He has begun a good work and is faithful to complete it. I pray that His Spirit might fill you with His joy, as you place your confidence in the Lord of the seasons and the harvest.
A farmer does not dictate when to do his hard work, that work is determined by the seasons. The plowing, planting, watering, waiting, and the harvesting, are all done in the proper season, and those seasons are out of the control of the farmer. The farmer can't skip seasons, nor the work that must be done in each season. Wouldn't it be nice to just skip right through to the harvest? The hardworking farmer discerns the season and is faithful to do the work that each season requires, with an eye toward the goal of a generous harvest. A farmer who is not faithful in the plowing or planting seasons, can not expect the blessings of a good harvest. With this we are reminded of our walks with the Lord. We are to be faithful in whatever season we are in, and recognize that the season is not determined by us, but by our loving Father. There have been many times I would have liked to fast forward through, or flat out skip a season. But I didn't understand that it was for my benefit, and that it was the Lord's hand plowing or planting, and preparing for a harvest of good fruit. Trust the Lord and be faithful in whatever season the Lord has you in right now, He has begun a good work and is faithful to complete it. I pray that His Spirit might fill you with His joy, as you place your confidence in the Lord of the seasons and the harvest.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Wise Guy?
Proverbs 26:12 "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."
We have seen them, we have heard them, and we know them, the wise guys and the wise girls who seem to know it all. From sports to parenting, from politics to dating, from preaching to shopping, they seem to have all the answers, and love to enlighten all who would listen. I was in a bagel shop the other day and overheard two buddies sharing their vast wisdom on everything. First they discussed how to make I-Phones better, they then moved on to how to make the New York Yankees better, from there they debated how to make some other guy's marriage better. I unfortunately had to leave as they were fixing the economy. The above proverb is so profound as it rebukes the worst kind fool, the fool who thinks he is wise. The placement of this verse is perfect in that it kind of sets you up for the truth to smack you between the eyes. In the first eleven verses Solomon rails on fools. By verse eleven it is easy to get angry at fools, you begin to apply the verses to those you consider fools, and you begin to thank God that you are not a fool. Just when you are feeling pretty good about your own wisdom, the devastating truth of verse twelve hits you, there is more hope for a fool, then for someone who thinks he is wise. Ouch! Yes, the truth hits close to home, and the truth does hurt. We are taught that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). I must recognize that I don't have my act together, I don't have all the answers, and I am in desperate need of the Lord's wisdom. As much as I may not want to admit it, I must settle this as fact, I am a dunce without the Lord. To walk in wisdom today and everyday, we must humble or foolish hearts, and be set to listen to and obey our God who alone is wise (1 Timothy 1:17).
We have seen them, we have heard them, and we know them, the wise guys and the wise girls who seem to know it all. From sports to parenting, from politics to dating, from preaching to shopping, they seem to have all the answers, and love to enlighten all who would listen. I was in a bagel shop the other day and overheard two buddies sharing their vast wisdom on everything. First they discussed how to make I-Phones better, they then moved on to how to make the New York Yankees better, from there they debated how to make some other guy's marriage better. I unfortunately had to leave as they were fixing the economy. The above proverb is so profound as it rebukes the worst kind fool, the fool who thinks he is wise. The placement of this verse is perfect in that it kind of sets you up for the truth to smack you between the eyes. In the first eleven verses Solomon rails on fools. By verse eleven it is easy to get angry at fools, you begin to apply the verses to those you consider fools, and you begin to thank God that you are not a fool. Just when you are feeling pretty good about your own wisdom, the devastating truth of verse twelve hits you, there is more hope for a fool, then for someone who thinks he is wise. Ouch! Yes, the truth hits close to home, and the truth does hurt. We are taught that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). I must recognize that I don't have my act together, I don't have all the answers, and I am in desperate need of the Lord's wisdom. As much as I may not want to admit it, I must settle this as fact, I am a dunce without the Lord. To walk in wisdom today and everyday, we must humble or foolish hearts, and be set to listen to and obey our God who alone is wise (1 Timothy 1:17).
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Schedule For The Day
"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ..." Philippians 3:8
How humbling and convicting is this verse. The apostle Paul is stating his priorities for life, and he says that he counts everything as rubbish compared to knowing Jesus. He is very simply and clearly telling us, that there is nothing more important in our lives then our relationship with the Lord. For Paul anything that he might contrast with Jesus would pale so much that it would be to him as trash. Now think about your plans for today, the priority list you have made, the order of things you need to accomplish today. Where have you placed Jesus on that list? Now, I know that we all, as Christians, make the sentimental confession that Jesus is first in our hearts and plans. But what is the concrete reality of your schedule today? Have you set aside time this day to get to know Jesus more, to commune with your Lord, to hear from His word, and to worship Him? If you haven't then you may want to check your priorities. Is there any rubbish you can move aside that you might be about the most important business of the day?
How humbling and convicting is this verse. The apostle Paul is stating his priorities for life, and he says that he counts everything as rubbish compared to knowing Jesus. He is very simply and clearly telling us, that there is nothing more important in our lives then our relationship with the Lord. For Paul anything that he might contrast with Jesus would pale so much that it would be to him as trash. Now think about your plans for today, the priority list you have made, the order of things you need to accomplish today. Where have you placed Jesus on that list? Now, I know that we all, as Christians, make the sentimental confession that Jesus is first in our hearts and plans. But what is the concrete reality of your schedule today? Have you set aside time this day to get to know Jesus more, to commune with your Lord, to hear from His word, and to worship Him? If you haven't then you may want to check your priorities. Is there any rubbish you can move aside that you might be about the most important business of the day?
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