Uncategorized

by

FLAWS AND MISTAKES

As a wood worker, I have trained my eyes to see flaws.  When I write, I look for mistakes.  The need to look for flaws and mistakes seems inherent.  However, when I apply this need to my fellow man it can easily lead to judgement.  Judgement then becomes that sinful, self-centered method I use to make others less than me. This hinders my ability to love.  How can I love my brother as myself if I judge him less than me?

Sunday during a time of worship, I found myself praying, “Lord, don’t let the flaws I see in people hinder my ability to love them.”  As these words moved through my thoughts, I knew I was onto something.  I realized I was asking God to make me like him.  God loves me and all the people around me.  Since we are all sinners that fall short of the glory of God, he loves flawed mistaken people.

Today when I walk out into a world full of flawed people who make mistakes, I’ll try to remember that they are simply a reflection of my own flawed and mistaken self.  May the love God has shown to me ever flow from me to others.  I know God will answer my prayer.  The only hindrance will be my flawed and mistaken ability to receive his answer.

by

NOT AS I WILL

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  (Matthew 26:39)

I have often thought that life as a believer is like a roller coaster ride.  It starts with the climb of anticipation, and then it begins.  You drop in and away you go.  It’s scary and faster than you thought, but you adjust.  You roll with the curves.  You’re living the life.  Then when the trilling part is over, you take the slow approach to the end.  I thought that I had reached the slow part.  I was winding down waiting to depart.  Alas, I was mistaken.  I’m still living on the ride.  Life is still happening at a fast pace, and I’m trying to keep up.  Perhaps this Christian life has a more abrupt end.

Once you accept salvation through Jesus, you’re on the ride with him; you have no control over where it is going, you have put your trust in him.  You can jump out, but that usually ends badly.  Jesus took the ride.  He surrendered control to the will of God.  Thus his prayer, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  He asked for a change of direction, yet he stayed the course. 

This morning, I’m not asking for a change of direction.  I’m just asking for help to stay the course.  I can’t do it without his help.  The roller coaster ride of the Christian life is impossible alone.  I need Jesus all the time.  Besides, life is always much nicer with a friend by your side.  We get an all-powerful, all-knowing friend for our ride.

by

COPING SKILLS AND ETERNAL TRUTHS

Every once in a while, I’ve had enough!  When this happens and you are two, you throw a temper tantrum.  For me, being slightly older than two, I get grouchy and unpleasant to be around.  These moments come upon me at varied frequencies.  I had one of these episodes the other day.  There was too much to do, too many events and not enough time.  Oh, did I mention too little energy?  This too little energy plague seems to superimpose itself upon the lives of older people.   Unfortunately, this is now my category.  

Coping skills are something you develop as you mature.  It took me about twelve hours to remember I had them.  Fortunately, I was asleep part of that time so the damage was minor.  After my wife reminded me of a few truths I was avoiding, she went shopping, a convenient out.   Truth, God has blessed me with a beautiful and talented wife who knows how to bring me back to clear thinking.  She nailed me with these truths. First, God has blessed me with a loving family that is more important than the tasks I wish to accomplish.  Second, God is my provision, and he has always taken care of me and mine.  Simple truths are easy to forget and profoundly important to remember.  My coping skills are rooted in remembering these truths. 

There are other truths.  Heaven is my real home; I’m just a sojourner here.  I’m not really old because I’m going to live forever.  God is merciful, and his mercies are new every morning.  As I thought through the list of truths, I also remembered that Jesus doesn’t leave me alone in my difficulties.  He is always with me.

I recovered quite rapidly from my frump.  I am very thankful for my wife’s help, and I am very thankful for the eternal truths of God.  I am very blessed.  The next time the weight of life comes crashing down, I’ll have to read this blog, or my wife will remind me to read this blog.

by

TWO THINGS YOU WILL FIND IN HEAVEN

For those of us who trust in Jesus, heaven is our final destination.  I often think of heaven and what it might be like; however, some time ago I came to the conclusion that I really can’t comprehend a place without sin.  A place with no greed, selfishness, rude and obnoxious behavior is unthinkable.  My only experience is in a world darkened by sin, so I’m unable to comprehend a place without it.  I have no reference point.  So what will be in heaven?

As I was contemplating this question the other day, I came to two things that I am sure will be in heaven.  I could come up with others, but these two helped me put a foundation to my projection of what will be in heaven.  The Bible gives enough information to assure us that heaven will be the most wonderful place, but these two generalities fascinate my imagination and delight my soul.

The first is beauty.  Here on the earth, even after sins devastation, I find extraordinary beauty.  God has put so much beauty in his creation.  I’m sure heaven will be filled with unimaginable beauty.  The throne room in heaven, as described in Revelations chapter 4, is awe inspiring.  The four beasts sound terrifying, yet I question whether they are not beautiful.  From what I understand of God through his creation, beauty is always present, even in the most frightening things like a volcano.  Therefore, I’m sure as I walk the streets of heaven, I will find beauty beyond what I can imagine.

The second thing that I know I will find in heaven is love.  God is love (1 John 4:16).  So his heaven will surely be filled with love.  This is counter to the sin filled world I live in.    Love as described in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 states all the qualities that I desire in myself and others.  In my sinful nature I fall short of these qualities, but in heaven I will live in an atmosphere of love that will permeate my existence.  I can’t really comprehend this, yet I am convinced that love is the eternal attribute that will reign in heaven.

by

FIRSTBORN

I am one of eleven children.  Since I was born first, I have the position of oldest of the eleven.  For you who have explored the birth order exposés, you know what that means.  I think I’m in charge, I believe I’m important, and I am responsible.  I’ve spent the better part of my adult life trying to avoid being in charge and responsible yet inevitably winding up in charge and the responsible one.  It’s a plague!  My wife calls me a reluctant leader.  Anyway, unless you share this dubious family position, it’s hard to explain the burden and the pressure the position affords.  Sunday during our worship time at church, Jesus walked me through a progression that altered my perception and lifted the burden of this positional quandary.

As I began to worship, I raised my hands palm up to take a position of surrender.  I really wanted to maintain this position, but the weight of my arms was countering my desire.  Then I felt encouraged to turn my hands over.  I envisioned Jesus placing his hands under mine and holding up my arms.  I actually felt the weight of holding up my arms lessen.  I entered deeper into this vision experiencing the rest and wonder of it all.  Jesus then spoke to me, “You don’t have to carry the burden; I am with you. You are not the oldest; I am.”(See Romans 8:29)

From these moments with the Lord, I came away feeling lighter and relieved.  I have spent this week reciting to myself, “I’m not the firstborn!”  So this scripture that I’ve wrestled with most of my Christian walk has again proven true.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus is the firstborn!

by

QUIET BEAUTY

The earth is an amazing place and quite diverse in its features. And there is always quiet beauty to be found.  Spring, here in the Central Valley of California, is filled with blossoms and flowers.  The abundant rainfall we experienced this season has made the surrounding hills alive with wild flowers.  There is colorful beauty all around us.  My back yard is no exception.

IMG_0349

When I walk in my garden I find peaceful contentment.  The fragrance of the flowers and their varied colors work into my soul and cause me to relax.  I often feel closer to God.  It dawned on me that I’m actually experiencing God’s nature in the midst of his creation.  He made all of these wonderful things that I’m enjoying.  In the very nature of God there must be quiet beauty.

Zephaniah 3:17  “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

by

THE RESURRECTION

Romans 6:23  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. “

Jesus is alive!  He was raised from the dead on the third day.  We celebrate Easter because everything that Jesus came for is completed with his resurrection.   From his birth, to his death on the cross, and then his resurrection, the miraculous plan of God for our redemption was accomplished.  For us we can be confident that life does not end in death because Jesus overcame death.  God raised him from the dead, and he has promised to raise us.  Eternal life is his gift to us.

I like Paul’s analogy in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 where he compares resurrection to the planting of a seed.  You put a seed in the ground and bury it.  If conditions are right, a living plant rises from the ground.  What comes up is totally different in appearance than the seed you planted, but it has new life.  When we die and are buried, our bodies as we know them are finished, but when we are resurrected, we’ll have a new body.  Unlike the old body, our new body has eternal life which is God’s gift to us.

Jesus is alive!  All that we hope for is centered on this truth.  If Jesus is not alive than what do we have?  Yet, he is alive, and our future is secured.  Praises be to God!  We are like little children standing in awe and wonder at what God has done for us.  The greatest gift has been purchased, and it is now freely given to you and me.  Oh what amazing things you have done, our holy and wonderful God, through Christ Jesus our Lord.

by

THE RESTORATIVE PROPERTIES OF EASTER

I find it always happens when I’m busy.  You know.  I’m busy working to accomplish my goals focused on the cares of this world.  God begins to fade into the background as an abstract concept.  It is very easy to ignore God for a time.  Then Easter comes.  “Oh, Hi God, I’ve been busy.”  “I’m looking forward to eternity with you, but I have these things to take care of now.”  It sometimes takes me the whole of Easter week to refocus to the reality of God’s presence.

 When I’m busy, I’m full of pride and self-concern.  From this position to the humble place of kneeling at the foot of the cross is a long distance.  One of my favorite scripture for the journey is from 2 Corinthians 4:18, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  As I contemplate these words the tasks that so occupy my thoughts begin to fade.  Though I don’t see Jesus physically walking down the street, the reality of the steps he took some two thousand years ago, and there eternal significance, loom before my mental eyes, and I’m transported to his place of sacrificial love.

As the week proceeds and I think about what Jesus did, that which I am busy about dwindles to its temporary, insignificant place in the light of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  I can finally humbly kneel at the foot of his cross, and there I’m refreshed in my relationship with the God of creation.  And oh what peace I find there.  Burdens are lifted, and priorities are clarified. 

I pray that the restorative qualities of this week of Easter celebration may find you and work an eternal transformation in your soul.  Happy Easter!

by

WHY PRAY?

Have you ever thought why pray?  God’s going to do his plan.  He’s not going to alter it for me.  It’s a place of frustration.  I’ve been there.  In relationships we sometimes give the other the silent treatment when we’re angry or frustrated with them.  God is patient; he waits for us.  When we break the silence it is often with an expression of that anger and frustration.  God created humans.  He’s not going to be surprised by this.  However our communication with God is unlike our communication with our fellow humans because it is spiritual.  

When I speak with others I use motions and expressions as do they.  My communication is much more than verbal.  I recently taught a lady from China how to drive in America.  She spoke almost no English, and I speak no Mandarin Chinese.  We were successful.  She now has her license.  Communication happened even without the verbal aspect.

The communication dynamic is much different with God.  First, he already knows what we’re going to say, and he knows the motivation of our hearts that is behind what we’re going to say.  This leaves us with no opportunity for sly manipulation of the conversation.  We can’t read him as we speak, therefore no guile can be involved.  The conversation is straight forward.  His answer comes in his time from an all knowing perspective.  This causes us to learn patience and humility.

So why pray?  Communication is required in every relationship.  The most important relationship we have is with our creator.  We communicate with him through prayer.  We have his word to help us grow in our communications.  He wrote a whole book to help us.  So even though I don’t always understand God, and I’d like answers now and according to my will, I know he knows best.  I have learned to trust him.

One of the most beautiful pictures of our prayers is from Revelations 5:8. 

“And when he had taken it (the scroll), the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.  Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” 

If you are going through one of those times where you wonder “why pray”, I hope this has been helpful.  Just remember, your prayers are incense in the throne room of heaven.