Bring Back The Bubble Lights

Remember these?

For those who are too young, too sheltered, or too whatever, this is a bubble light, and they are awesome. As a child, these were a staple of our Christmas tree decorations. I spent untold hours watching in fascination as the mysterious fluid percolated, causing an unending stream of magical bubbles to rise to the top. It was pretty cool.

Of course, as it goes now-a-days, bubble lights were deemed too dangerous and went the way of the mercury thermometer. I guess the 'mysterious fluid' inside was poisonous, but Mom just told me not to drink it, so I didn't. Kind of like looking both ways before you cross the road, some advice is worth following.


Nothing is completely safe.

Despite our best efforts, it's still a dangerous world we live in. Take house fires. With all the advancements in home wiring systems, electronic safety features, less combustible building materials and decorations and so forth, you'd think house fires would be a thing of the past. But they're not. Everybody should have smoke detectors in their homes, because you just never know. No house is fireproof.

The same is true of our marriages. Our small group is going through the Fireproof Your Marriage study. It certainly isn't the newest rage in couples' Bible studies, but it is as applicable today as when it was put together. Our discussions tonight lead us to discuss some precautions we take to protect our marriages.


Sometimes, you just have to be careful.

Besides being poisonous, bubble lights were also a fire risk. If the tree ran out of water and the branches dried out, or if the lights were not put on right, things could get ugly. Really, the risk was slight, but it was there. We knew this, but instead of just throwing out something that brought us joy, we did something else. We talked about how to be careful. We checked the base of the tree often to make sure there was water in the stand. We took precautions.

You see, the risk wasn't just in the lights. The greater risk was our behavior. If the tree dried out, and the lights were buried deep in the branches, the built up heat could lead to combustion. Our actions, or lack thereof, greatly determined whether our Christmas tree would be a source of great joy, or disastrous calamity. We had to be careful with this wonderful part of our lives.

Which brings us to marriage.

My marriage is a treasure, and so is yours. Maybe you don't think so right now, but it is. Marriage is a gift and privilege afforded to us by God. This sacred union between husband and wife (and that is what God calls a marriage) is often used in the Bible to represent our relationship with God. That's a big deal. The Church is referred to as not the son, nor daughter, but rather the bride of Christ. That's how important marriage is to God.

As a great treasure, marriage must be protected. I'm not talking about the sociopolitical battle going on right now--that's a topic for another day. I'm talking about your exclusive relationship with your husband/wife. Wedding vows often include the phrase, "Forsaking all others," or something to that effect. As well as,"For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, til death do us part." Marriage is your responsibility for as long as you both shall live.

What does this have to do with bubble lights?

Maybe it's a stretch, but stick with me. Bubble lights were a treasure of sorts in our home. They gave our lives beauty, pleasure, and happiness. They also took work, and we had to be careful with them. If we didn't, the whole house could go up in flames.

Ah, now you see, don't you? The same is true of marriage. It is the most intimate and rewarding relationship we can have with another person. It is also rife with danger if we don't take care of it. Marriage itself is not dangerous. It's what we do with it.

Marriages can last.

Bubble lights are making a comeback. People have learned what the dangers are, and made adjustments. I pray the same will be true of marriage in the near future. Instead of throwing it away as so many have done, we need to learn to treat it as the treasure it is.

Bring back the bubble lights, and bring back what marriage used to be. Some things in life are worth taking care of.

So Much To Be Thankful For . . .

Where do I begin?

Everything starts with God. So shall I.

I am thankful for God, who loves and watches over me, who provides everything from the air I breathe and the food I eat, to the clothes I wear and the house in which I live. My wife, my children, and everything I have, down to the very fingers I use to type these words, are gifts from God.

His Son, through whom I have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. His love, through which all these are provided. That's something to be thankful for, wouldn't you say?

My family.

I have a wife who is faithful, loving, and generous, to name a few of her many attributes. Standing by my side all the day long, laying beside me at night, I am thankful for her. She is the better half of the two God has made into one. I love her. I thank God for love.

Three kids who are healthy, intelligent, active, and love the Lord. They are obedient, well-behaved, and, thanks to my wife, good-looking kids. My son is becoming a man seeking God's heart. My daughters are beautiful young ladies who bring joy to the world. My heart aches to know they are growing up. I couldn't be more proud. I couldn't be more thankful.

My Dad is gone, but I am thankful for who he was in my life. I miss him. I'm grateful for the memories, the lessons, the good times and the bad. I will see him again. That brings a smile.

My mom. So generous, so loving. Eager to be a part of our lives, gracious to give us our space. Willingly she sacrifices her wants and needs to watch soccer, basketball, cross-country, softball games. The on-call babysitter, no matter what. A fount of wisdom which is offered when asked, but not poured out with reckless abandon. We all love her. We are thankful.

Two successful sisters whom I love, and feel loved by in return. They played a large part in molding me into who I am (the good parts only, they would say). I don't do my part to stay as close as we should, but I know they are always there. I hope they realize the same.

Grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and
nephews . . . with family I am blessed.

Friends.

God-loving, faithful, call-in-the-middle-of-the-night friends. You are there. I know that. Thank you.

Those guys--you know who you are--who pick me up when I've fallen, or knock me down when I get out of line. That's brotherhood. Enough said.

So much more . . .

My country. My church. My pastors. My job. Our home. Our hope. Our future. Our past.

I'm thankful for it all. It's a good ride, this life.

Thank you God for letting me be part of it.

God, I Want To Know . . .

I've made a list of questions to ask God when I get to heaven.

I have come to the conclusion that's when I'll get my answers. I'm not sure how that conversation is going to go, but here's what I hope to get answered.

God . . .

Before In the beginning, what did you do? Without time, how did you know it was . . . time to begin? Knowing how it would go, was it hard to get started? Were you ever tempted to start
over . . . you know, other than the Flood?

Dinosaurs. Give me the real story, because I just haven't heard an answer that settles my soul. 

How big is big? How small is small? 

Does Satan really think he's still going to win?

 The Trinity. How are you Three in One? And throw in, if you would, how Jesus was 100% man and 100% God. I believe, but it just hasn't made sense to my mortal mind. 

Predestination and freewill. How does that really work?

You are eternal. I can almost understand having no end, but the idea of no beginning--I'm glad we have a lot of time (or, I guess, there is no time anymore) for you to explain that one to me.

The last half of the book of Daniel, and pretty much all of Revelation. One. Big. Question mark. And I've spent a lot of time trying to figure those out.

What was so special about Enoch?  Do he and Elijah have their bodies up here, or are they waiting around for the resurrection with the rest of us?

Unanswered prayers, those that I really thought were in your will. Why?

Answered prayers. How could I, among the billions, matter that much to you?

The list goes on and on. The hows, the whys, the whens . . . but you already know, don't you? I bet, when I get there, I won't even need this list. I bet you'll have the answers ready for me. 

To the Doubter

I know you.

Or at least, I know about you. In fact, I used to be you.

I heard about God. Even went to church as a kid. Grew up with Christmas and Easter, listened to the family pray over those celebrations. Went to Vacation Bible School, learned about David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lion's Den, Noah and the Ark. Heard about Jesus. Learned the Twelve Apostles. Recited the Lord's Prayer. Even learned how to be saved when I was 13, back in 1986.

It didn't stick.

I remember what it was like.

In High School it really didn't matter. Had a friend who was close to Jesus who did his best to lead me right. I didn't listen. Oh, I thought about it, but there were too many other things to worry about. School. Sports. Girls. My sister went to war. Would God really allow that? You know, if He was there?

I ended up at a Catholic Jesuit university, of all places. Most everyone around me had grown up Catholic and gone to private Catholic schools. They believed what they believed.

Not me. Not my roommate. We decided we were on our own. Seemed to us we were gonna live, then die, and the worms would take care of the rest. We did our best to convince everyone else they were wrong. I don't know that we changed anybody's mind, but they certainly didn't change ours, either.

Looking back, those were dark times. Seemed like fun then, but man, was I wandering around like a blind man! Pretty lucky to come out on the other side, really. If something had happened to me at that point . . .

Then it changed.

Yea, this the awkward, strange part. The part where I go all Jesus-freaky weird. The part where the television evangelist stretches his arms heavenward and exclaims, "I have seen the light! I have found Jees-ssus! I have been born again . . . washed in the blood . . . saved by the Lord. Amen!"

 Yea. That part.

It's true. Wouldn't have figured me to be one of them . . .  but then again I never figured I'd be married with three kids either. The dog, that made sense. Wife . . . maybe. Kids? Not likely. But now I wouldn't give them up for anything. I'd die for them. That's how much I've changed, know what I mean?

I found something else that meant that much to me. Besides my wife, besides my kids, I found God. Or He found me, or however it happened, we got together. It's a pretty boring story, really . . . no blinding light or near-death experience; no voice from heaven or crash to rock bottom. Just a guy who said I couldn't date his daughter unless I went to church.

So I did.

Now?

Now I'm an elder in the church. I'm teaching Sunday School (to adults; I'm not that sold on kids), writing blogs about God and what He does in my life. I'm still trying to convince people they're wrong, but now I'm on the other side of the fence.

I'm pretty different, I guess. But I'm still me.

I still do stupid things. Make mistakes. Swear I'll never do it again. Then do it again.

So what?

You tell me. I had what you have. The world at my fingertips. Nothing drastic happened to make me change my mind. I just found something better. That's not so strange, is it? I found something that made me happy, gave me reason and purpose, put a little stability in my life. I learned something new, and realized it was true. Applied it to my life. That's just common sense, man.

I don't know why it happened when it happened; it just did. I guess God was ready to take me on. I do know this: If I'd missed this bus, I would've been in a whole different place. Probably in more ways than one.

So what it comes down to is this. I've been there, done that. I've been here, done this. And I've never gone back.

To me, that pretty much says it all.

Even When it Rains

The rain comes.

Dark clouds billow across the sky, turning day to dusk. Cold winds howl as fallen leaves twist their way down deserted streets. Children turn mournful eyes upward, delaying response to mothers' calls. Sparrows burrow into the evergreens, seeking shelter. The warm rays of the sun fade, filtered to drab grayness, distant but never gone.

The first drops, fat pearls falling from above, splatter against windows shut tight. Streetlights flicker to life, poor imitators of the true light which ultimately gave them being. Man settles in, huddled together, praying his fortress will hold against the coming tide.

Such is life.

In your days, there will be rain. Not only the life-giving, warm rains of Spring, but cold November rains of Fall as well. Rains that bring not promise of green growth, but of mud and toil and chill. These are the rains we dread, the days we long for that which brings us warmth.

Your rain may be strife, or sickness, or fear. Your job in peril, your marriage in shambles, your children in danger of failing. Rains of the Fall take many forms, originating from a fall long ago. This is not the result of God's intent, but rather Man's desire.

God's rain brings life. The rain of Man seeks to destroy it.

Even then, the Sun is there.

Above the darkest, coldest rain, the Sun still shines. Now matter how dense the clouds, nor catastrophic the flood, the darkness is never complete. No veil, no barrier is sufficient to completely block the light. Even the dimmest gray is evidence and gives proof that the Sun continues to shine forth.

When life rains down, God remains. He is not distant. He is not overcome. His vision of you remains clear, even when yours is not. God will never leave us. He will never forsake us. Even in the rain.

What is Prayer?

Isn't it obvious?

Prayer is prayer, right? It's what you do in church, or before a meal, at bedtime, or when you rise in the morning. The Lord's Prayer, the Sinner's Prayer, an invocation or benediction as bookends to a wedding or funeral. That's what prayer is. Isn't it?


Yes and no.

 As with every aspect of our relationship with God, prayer is personal. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to define it. Jesus taught us how to pray. He gave us a model to follow which encompasses every aspect of life. What is God's will in your life overall, this week, right now? What is daily bread? How often do we need forgiveness, and to forgive others? What temptations do you face? Life is dynamic. It changes. One prayer, or type of prayer, cannot cover it all.


My prayers vary day to day, and even hour to hour. Not only in content, but in form. Sometimes I approach God on my knees with head bowed in humble submission. Other times I approach God with head held high and arms outstretched. One hour prayer pours out of my mouth in a flood, the next I can form not even a coherent thought, let alone put voice to what I feel.

Prayer reflects what is inside us.

Or at least it should.When joyful, I pray joyously. When hurt, I pray for healing. When tired--strength; guilty--forgiveness; thankful--thanksgiving.

Prayer is a conversation with God. Talk to Him. Adore Him for who He is. Confess your failings. Give thanks for what He provides. Pray for supplication (intervention) for yourself and others. That is the ACTS model of prayer, and it is a good place to start.

Prayer is a two way street.

Like any effective conversation, prayer involves two-way communication. Presenting a laundry list of needs to God is not necessarily prayer. You have to stop talking and listen. God may speak to you through His Word (the Bible), via another person, or the voice of the Holy Spirit inside you. I don't know how He will answer, but this I know: If you listen, He will speak.


True prayer is also honest. It is God to whom you pray. Nothing is hidden from Him. Whatever it is, He already knows. I believe prayer is less about us influencing God than God influencing us. That can only happen if you hear what He says.

What is prayer?

It's a conversation with Almighty God, who is our Creator and Lord, and also our Abba Father (Daddy). Prayer is talking and listening to the source of all wisdom, the provider of all things, and the one who loves us more than we can imagine. Prayer is a privilege, an honor, and a necessity.


Prayer is an important part of your relationship with God. The more time you spend conversing with Him, the closer you will become. When it comes right down to it, prayer is what you need it to be, when you need it.

And we could all use a little prayer. Don't you agree?

Shattered Dreams

A dream is an aperture, a window unto the world. Gazing out, everything seems so clear, so evident. There is life, perceived to be whole and complete, just before us. We see all. All that we desire, all which we seek, is there, there for the taking. Or so it seems.

And then it shatters.

Dreams are fragile, delicate. The slightest bump, the lightest rap at the wrong angle, or place, or moment in time and our dream, our window unto the world, explodes in a silvery spiderweb of chaos. Broken. Destroyed. Never to be again.

The world now viewed is all askew, a child's kaleidoscope gone mad. Fractures split reality from reality, certain from certain, hopes from life. Nothing is sure, all is incomplete. Snowflakes drifting in the wind have more order, rain blown in the torrent more direction than the future we perceive. There is no reason. There is no hope.

Until we see the truth.

The truth of dreams is just that; they are only dreams. They are not real nor reality. Dreams are the future for which we hope, not the future that must be. If the future ended with every shattered dream, there would be no future at all.

Beyond every shattered dream lies another, and another, and another. Without end they are lined up to eternity, waiting to be imagined. A chosen few will come to be, undergoing that fantastic metamorphosis from dream to reality. Most will not. Many should not. Myriads must remain just as they are. Dreams.

In your future lies a dream waiting to be realized. Before you can see it, dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of inferiors must be shattered to reveal the one which is yours for the taking, the one which God has ordained.

That is the truth.

Your dream is there.

Waiting to be imagined.

To Be Holy You Have To . . .

But just as he who called you is holy, be holy in all you do; for is it written, "Be holy, because I am holy." I Peter 1:16

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

As Christians, we are called, even commanded, to be holy. According to the passage from Hebrews above, holiness is essential and required if we are going to see God. That's pretty important. I want to see God. I want to be holy.

But what does that mean?

Holiness is a distinction, an identifiable quality of being reserved or allocated for a certain and special purpose. To be holy means to be separated and different from that which is ordinary. Clear as mud?


Simply put, in terms I can understand, holy means set apart. In Christian application, being holy means being set apart for God. If we are holy, we are different, distinct, and distinguishable from the rest of the world. As a Christian, you are supposed to be different.

Being different isn't easy.

The world has some not-so-flattering sayings regarding holiness. Holier than thou, holy-roller, and holy crap (or worse), to name a few. In a world that speaks of dung being holy on a daily basis, holiness is not taken seriously, or when it is, it's seen as something strange and unusual, which is not entirely wrong.

To be holy, we must live for God. Not for ourselves, or for the world, but God and God alone. That is strange and unusual. Most people, including many claiming Christianity, live to please themselves. Anyone who acts differently from that is immediately recognizable, and often stigmatized. It's not easy to be different, but God never said following Him would be easy.

Can we be holy?

We will never, in this life, match the holiness of God. Only He is perfect, truly set apart. We all sin. We all fall short. Satan would have us believe we shouldn't even try. If we know we are going to fail, why put forth the effort?


The answer to that is in the verses above. We are called to strive for holiness. The author of Hebrews says, "make every effort . . . to be holy." We are to be set apart from the rest of the world in what we do, what we say, and how we think. Holiness is less about actions than it is about motivation. You can do a lot of "good" things and fall far short of holiness.

What does it mean to be holy?

It means setting your mind on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2). Want to be holy? Put God front and center in your life. Constantly. Before you do or say anything, think about God. Where is He in your decision? Check your motivations. Why are doing, or thinking, this or that? Holiness is simple: Put God first. Simple, but not easy.


Holiness is about why you do what you do. Jesus fed the poor, healed the sick, and comforted the grieving. Even today, people would say those actions are "holy." They equate good works and kindness with holiness. Jesus also cleared the temple with a whip, called the Pharisees white-washed tombs, and referred to His disciples as stubborn and slow-minded. Was He any less holy then?

A holy person is not necessarily the perfectly peaceful angel with the halo pictured above. A holy person is one who does what God wants them to do. They put God first, and set themselves apart from the purposes of the world. They strive to be like Christ, who is God, because He, and He alone, is holy.

That's what it means to be holy.

Your Brother Will Rise Again

We have hope.

As we close the week of Veterans Day, remembering the heroes of our freedom, let us never forget that some have paid the ultimate price. When I speak with those who have served, often times their voice chokes off and gaze grows distant as they remember their fallen brothers. The ugly reality of war is this: Soldiers fall.

As Christians, however, we have a hope that extends far beyond the bonds of death.

Another reality.

While it is true that war claims the lives of many, everyone faces the same reality: Until the return of Jesus Christ, we are all going to die. I say this not to diminish the sacrifice of those who have fallen in battle, nor to whitewash the grief of those they have left behind. I point this out so that our eyes may be opened, not only to the reality of our mortality, but more important, the surety of our eternity.

Unless I see the return of my Lord Jesus Christ before my time comes, I will die, and so will you. No one can escape. Without some hope, some confidence in a life to come, I would face that day with dread and fear.

But I fear not.

The reason I do not fear death is simple. Wherever I fall, there I will not remain. Just as Jesus promised the sister of Lazarus, I will rise again. I do not expect Him to call me from the grave three days later as He did with His friend, but I have absolute confidence that I will rise.

In the meantime, as my body sleeps in this mortal place, my soul will be in heaven with my Father and those who have gone before me.

That being true, what is there to fear?

Your brother will rise again.

What a promise. What an assurance. Your Christian brothers and sisters, no matter when, where, or how they have gone, will rise again. In victory.

Could anyone hope for anything more?

 

No Greater Love

He said it, not me.

According to the words of none other than Jesus Christ himself, our veterans have shown the greatest love of all. I know the difference between Veteran's Day and Memorial Day, but as far as I am concerned, every veteran has demonstrated the love of which Jesus speaks. Jesus commanded His disciples, "Love each other as I have loved you (John 15:12). Then He defined the greatest love. Laying down your life for your friends.

Our veterans have laid down their lives.

Jesus died for us. He also laid down His life in other ways. He stepped off His heavenly throne to walk with us. Splendor and glory were traded for the rags of poverty. Power and authority He surrendered to be cursed, spit on, and hung on a cross. Understand this: Jesus gave up more than His body. He gave His all.

 No one joins the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard to get rich. They do not seek fame or fortune for they know from history they are as likely to be greeted with infamy and poverty. Many have been spit on and cursed. And yes, countless have died. For us. They laid down their lives. They gave their all.

How do we say thank you?


Start by saying thank you. Pay attention. When someone mentions military service, thank them. That's more than most people do. You are looking at a person who gave up so much for you; is a word of gratitude too much to ask in return?

I say thank you.

To all the men and women who have served, know that you have my sincerest gratitude. I cannot say that I know what it cost you, but I do know what I gained in return. You have shown me the greatest love. I pray that you feel mine in return.

Of Strength and Courage

What is strength?

God commanded Joshua to be strong. What did He mean? Joshua was about to embark on a mission which even Moses had not been able to complete. He was to take the Israelites across the Jordon into the Promised Land. Face enemies he did not know. Lead people who refused to be lead. Follow God's commands without fail. Have faith. Trust.

All he had to do was be strong.

Joshua needed strong arms to wield his sword and javelin, to fend off blows with his shield, and defeat the enemy. He needed strong legs to march all day, run after his foes over hill and valley, and climb through the rubble of Jericho. Joshua needed a strong body, but was that alone enough?

What is courage?

God instructed Joshua to be courageous. Does that mean he was never afraid? No, I think not. Courage is action in the face of fear. Without fear, courage cannot exist.

God did not tell Joshua, Do not be afraid. He told him, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged. Being terrified means giving in to fear, just as being discouraged means lacking courage. Fear is not wrong; it is the reaction to fear that matters.

Where do strength and courage come from?

 The answer is the second half of the verse. God knew that alone, Joshua would lack the strength and courage to do what needed to be done. Alone, he would fail. The solution? God would be with him. Every step of the way. No matter where Joshua went, God promised that He would be at his side.

So it is with us. Whether crossing oceans on vessels of steel to face the enemies of our nation, or standing up to the enemy of our soul at home, work, or school--alone we will fail. We do not have the strength, we do not have the courage, to stand by ourselves. For that reason, God will never leave us nor forsake us.

Whatever your fight, wherever you find your field of battle, remember Joshua 1:9.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you, wherever you go.

If God Be For Us . . .

How powerful is Romans Chapter 8?

There is no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus    Christ . . . has freed you from the power of sin that leads to    death . . .by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins . . . what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later . . . God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God . . . If God be for us, who can be against    us . . . For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

All of that from a single chapter in a single book in the Bible. Wow. With promises like that, if God be for us, who can be against us?

God has been with us.

I have the utmost respect, admiration, and gratitude for those who serve in the Armed Forces. I will say thank you a thousand times, and it will not be enough. I cannot know the price they paid for the freedoms I have.

I also know that it is God who causes nations to rise and fall, who decides the victor of every battle, who rules the land, the sea, the air. God, and Him alone. If He had not been with us, then many would have succeeded against us.

God is with us always.

Think again about Romans 8. No condemnation. Free from the power of sin. Glorious future. All things for our good. No one can stand against us. Nothing can separate us from His love.

Paul is talking about you, me, and everyone else who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Once your are His, you are His forever. Nothing can take that away.

With that in mind, I repeat once more, If God be for us, who can be against us?

We all face a battle.

Every Christian is a warrior, by choice or conscription, it matters not. We are in the Lord's army--all of us who believe--and the enemy will come our way. Our duty, as those who have gone before us, is to bravely face the battle to come.

I encourage you, as indeed I encourage myself as I write those words, to keep this one thing in mind.

If God be for us, who can be against us?

Our Good Shepherd

God tends to His flock every day.

Do you realize that God looks you over every day, as a shepherd examines his sheep? Ensuring you have access to good pasture and clean water. Providing a secure haven, safe from predators and storms. With knowing eye and gentle hands, He examines every part of your being, from top to bottom, looking for anything out of place. He cares for you as His prized possession.

Like sheep, we sometimes don't understand the Shepherd's care. We fail to understand that when His hand is upon us, He seeks only our good. When He removes something harmful from our lives, we recoil at the momentary discomfort. As He moves us to new pastures, we bleat and stall, often planting our feet and refusing to move.

Our Shepherd, though, knows best. Patiently, ever patiently, He guides us along, speaking soothing words. When we listen, we hear Him, but only when we stop bleating our complaints.

His flock is ever increasing.

Every day, God is seeking to increase His flock. Walking through the wilderness of the world, He calls to those who have no shepherd. Showing them His pastures, His streams, His barns and storehouses, He offers them a better life. Protection. Provision. Promise.

Some come to Him. Sadly, some do not. Always, always, all are accepted who heed His voice. Never once is one turned away.

He seeks the strays.

Even sheep in a flock stray. That is their nature. Our nature.

Mistaking weeds for better pasture, oblivious to the danger of wandering from the flock, we go off on our own. We are not fenced in; rather, He allows us freedom to roam. Our boundaries are well marked, the fields He has chosen for us broad and wide. But like sheep, we are not satisfied with enough. Content to follow the longings in our bellies, we slip away.

The Shepherd, though, knows. His watchful eye misses nothing. When one of His flock goes off alone, He is right behind them. Ever calling, He pursues the wanderer. Not in anger, not in frustration, but in love. Care. Concern. He wishes not for one of His sheep to fall prey to the dangers lurking.

Sometimes the sheep happily return with the Shepherd. Other times He guides them with His staff. Occasionally, when one has strayed too far, He has to carry them home in His arms. Binding their wounds, picking the burrs from their wool, He soothes their fears.

He is not angry, you see. Even in His discipline, He seeks not to do harm. Correcting in love, guiding in care, tears of joy flow down His cheeks.

He has found His stray, and tomorrow, when He tends His flock yet once more, He will do it all again. 

A Recipe For Success

 Who doesn't want a recipe for success?

I cannot think of a single person who does not want to succeed. From the most aggressive, goal driven mover and shaker to the meekest, come-what-may dreamer I know--everyone wants to succeed at something. The mover and shaker wants to make life happen. The dreamer wishes for nothing more than peace and quiet to allow her imagination to explore. I am somewhere in the middle.

Everybody has a goal, and desires to know how to get there.

In God's hands, your plan will succeed.

That sounds great! There is, however, a catch. You have to commit to the Lord whatever you do. Why is that a catch? Because so much of what we do is not committed to the Lord in any way, shape, or form. Not even close.

That business deal--why do you want it to succeed? Will it glorify God? Will His kingdom grow because of it? Or that relationship you so want to see flourish--why? Are you going to be closer to God, or farther away if it gets more serious?

Committing your plans to the Lord means letting His will be done, not yours. That might mean what you want isn't what happens. That's not failure--that's God succeeding.

Success is defined by God, not us.

We tend to define success as achieving what we set out to do. I don't think that's what Solomon meant when he wrote Proverb 16:3. The wisest man in the world understood that success can only be measured by God. Sometimes when we fail to get what we want, God succeeds. Jesus prayed that He would not have to face the cross, but also prayed for God's will to be done. Jesus didn't get what He asked for, but God certainly succeeded. Understand?

So it is with us. Committing whatever we do to the Lord means putting it in His capable hands and letting Him define success. Romans 8:28 says, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. When God works things out for our good, that is success. Even if, in our eyes, we fail. Let Him decide what it means to succeed.

Whatever it is, give it to God.

Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5), but with Him, we can do anything (Philippians 4:13). So whatever you do, commit it to the Lord, and let Him lead you to His success. 

Think You've Had a Bad Day?

Is this a bad day?

If so, I've had a few. How about when your kids spill Kool-Aid on the carpet, or put a ball through the flat screen TV? Are those bad days? Trouble at work. Trouble at home. Traffic. Cut yourself shaving. Does a morning with bitter coffee, or worse, no coffee, a bad day make?


Bad is a relative term. The word only has meaning in context or comparison. For example, a car wreck is bad when compared to a safe drive home. But a fender-bender is not bad compared to totaling your ride. See? Context and comparison.

How bad was your day, really?

This is dangerous territory, because I don't know your context, and my comparisons may not apply to you. I do believe, however, that we can all agree that we need not look far to find someone who has had a worse day than we have. I've worked in healthcare for 20 years, and I've seen a lot of people who've had some really bad days. Life changing days. In some cases, life ending days. Suddenly, a bad cup of coffee doesn't seem like such a big deal.


Look around. Watch the news, or read the newspaper. People are going through some really, truly, awful experiences every single day. Most of us don't have to look that far. The neighbor with cancer. The co-worker going through a divorce. The friend who lost his job. Bad things, really bad things, happen all around us, yet we let an argument with our spouse ruin our day.

The only bad day is one without Christ.

War. Catastrophic storms. Earthquakes. Famine. Disease. Destruction and misery affect people every day. Even then, nothing is as bad as it could be, as it would be, without Christ. Want to know the definition of a bad day? Facing those calamities without having God in your corner. Dying without the saving grace of Jesus Christ. That's a bad day. That's the worst day that could ever be.

If you have Christ, nothing else compares. Paul says it this way in Romans 8:18, I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us. Your worst day means nothing compared to your eternal future. Put that in your pocket and pull it out when things get tough. It puts this life in perspective.

With God, every day is a good day.

Psalm 118:24 says, This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Today is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice, and be glad.

At the end of the day, if you've got Christ, that's all that matters.

A Friend Closer Than a Brother

Proverbs 18:24

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Does that picture speak to you?

Look closely. Take in the wet, dirty floor and coarse walls. Smell the dank, musty air.  See the weeds growing up, seeking to block the view beyond.  Even the body of water upon which those boys gaze looks dirty.

That's life, sometimes.

Not every path is paved in gold, view of the future unobstructed, nor seas as clear as crystal.

Life gets messy, and that's a fact.

We all need someone we can count on.

You will hit hard times. We all do. Maybe--probably--you already have. The last thing you want when you are wading through the muck of life is to do it alone. And let's face it, when the proverbial crap hits the proverbial fan, how many of your companions are going to weather the storm with you?

Not very many.

You need someone who will stick with you, no matter what. That friend or friends who are willing to jump down in the pit with you. Who are willing to do whatever, endure whatever, experience whatever comes but will never, ever leave your side. They're willing to fight. They're willing to lose. They're willing to die, if that's what you need from them.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

We all need a friend like that.

Jesus already did it.

Those words in John 15 were spoken by Jesus. He knew what He was going to do. And in the previous verse He said: My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 

Jesus told us--no, commanded us to love each other as He loved us. And then, then He defines that love as being willing to die for our friends, just as He was.

That's a tough act to follow. 

To have that, you must be that.

Do you have a friend who would be willing to die for you? Before you answer, let me ask another question. Are you a friend who would die for someone else?

I have a short list of friends for whom I would give my life. I say short because, honestly, that's the way it is. The reason I'd be willing to die for them? I believe they'd do the same for me. Pray God such a day never comes, but if it does, I will not face it alone.

And neither would they.

Closer than a brother.

I don't know the true story behind the picture above, but I know what it says to me. Those young men are close, closer than even brothers. Sitting together in the muck and the mire, they face the ugliness together. No matter what, one will not leave the other. Ever.

That's friendship.
  

Joy, Patience, Faith

That first one is easy enough.

I can be joyful as I hope things go the way I want. Looking forward to eternity with Jesus, my true hope, certainly brings me joy. Paul, the author of Romans, could have stopped right there, and I would've been quite happy. Joyful, even.

But he didn't.

Patient in affliction?

Paul, I'd rather joyfully hope to avoid affliction, if you don't mind. But that's not the way it works, is it? We face affliction every day. Not sure what affliction is? It's the stuff of life we don't like. Irritations, aggravations, complications, and unpleasant situations, to name a few.

Somebody just spilled my Cheerios, and God wants me to be patient? Yep, He sure does.

Not just with the little things--the idiot three feet from your bumper with his bright lights burning a hole in your retinas, or the social media queen who thinks her smart phone is more important than the green, now yellow light backing up traffic for two blocks. Yes, we are supposed to be patient with those minor irritations in life.

What about the real issues? Health. Money. Marriage. Kids. When one of those go haywire, am I supposed to just take a deep breath and believe everything is going to be OK? That's what the Book says. Be patient. Let God work. He's good at what He does.

Patience has never been my strong suit, but I'm working on it.

Faithful in prayer.

I consider myself a faithful guy. I'm loyal to my wife, devoted to my kids, dependable at work. I go to church, teach Sunday School, read the Bible (almost) every day. I remember to pray most times before I eat, thank God when it's time to go to bed, and ask for strength when it's time to get up. That's pretty faithful, isn't it?

Paul most likely would disagree. In Romans 12:11, the verse before the one we are talking about, he says, "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." 

Zealous, fervent service to the Lord means more than joyfully hoping for the weekend, not screaming at the bad drivers around me, or mumbling a half-felt thank you around my french fries. That kind of service takes work. It takes effort. It means being intentional.

Joy, patience, and faith do not come naturally.

Paul says we have to be these things. God doesn't command us to do what comes naturally or easily. Most of the time, what we are supposed to do isn't the path of least resistance. I have to choose joy, practice patience, demonstrate faith. Those are action words, my friends, not pansy-waisted passive verbs without heart.

Being what God wants is a challenge. Are you up to it?